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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
+Of York, Mariner, Vol. 1, by Daniel Defoe
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe Of York, Mariner, Vol. 1
+       With An Account Of His Travels Round Three Parts Of The Globe,
+       Written By Himself, In Two Volumes
+
+Author: Daniel Defoe
+
+Release Date: February 23, 2004 [EBook #11239]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROBINSON CRUSOE, VOL. 1 ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, Charlie Kirschner
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+THE
+
+LIFE AND ADVENTURES
+
+OF
+
+ROBINSON CRUSOE,
+
+OF YORK, MARINER.
+
+WITH AN ACCOUNT OF
+
+HIS TRAVELS ROUND THREE PARTS OF THE GLOBE.
+
+_WRITTEN BY HIMSELF_.
+
+IN TWO VOLUMES.
+
+VOL.I.
+
+BY C. WHITTINGHAM;
+
+FOR J. CARPENTER, OLD BOND STREET; J. BOOKER, NEW BOND
+STREET; SHARPS AND HAILES, MUSEUM, PICCADILLY; AND
+GALE, CURTIS, AND FENNER, PATERNOSTER ROW; LONDON.
+
+1812.
+
+
+
+
+THE LIFE OF
+
+_DANIEL DE FOE_.
+
+
+
+Daniel De Foe was descended from a respectable family in the county of
+Northampton, and born in London, about the year 1663. His father, James
+Foe, was a butcher, in the parish of St. Giles's, Cripplegate, and a
+protestant dissenter. Why the subject of this memoir prefixed the _De_
+to his family name cannot now be ascertained, nor did he at any period
+of his life think it necessary to give his reasons to the public. The
+political scribblers of the day, however, thought proper to remedy this
+lack of information, and accused him of possessing so little of the
+_amor patriae_, as to make the addition in order that he might not be
+taken for an Englishman; though this idea could have had no other
+foundation than the circumstance of his having, in consequence of his
+zeal for King William, attacked the prejudices of his countrymen in his
+"Trueborn Englishman."
+
+After receiving a good education at an academy at Newington, young De
+Foe, before he had attained his twenty-first year, commenced his career
+as an author, by writing a pamphlet against a very prevailing sentiment
+in favour of the Turks, who were at that time laying siege to Vienna.
+This production, being very inferior to those of his maturer years, was
+very little read, and the indignant author, despairing of success with
+his pen, had recourse to the sword; or, as he termed it, when boasting
+of the exploit in his latter years, "displayed his attachment to liberty
+and protestanism," by joining the ill-advised insurrection under the
+Duke of Monmouth, in the west. On the failure of that unfortunate
+enterprise, he returned again to the metropolis; and it is not
+improbable, but that the circumstance of his being a native of London,
+and his person not much known in that part of the kingdom where the
+rebellion took place, might facilitate his escape, and be the means of
+preventing his being brought to trial for his share in the transaction.
+With the professions of a writer and a soldier, Mr. De Foe, in the year
+1685, joined that of a trader; he was first engaged as a hosier, in
+Cornhill, and afterwards as a maker of bricks and pantiles, near Tilbury
+Fort, in Essex; but in consequence of spending those hours in the
+hilarity of the tavern which he ought to have employed in the
+calculations of the counting-house, his commercial schemes proved
+unsuccessful; and in 1694 he was obliged to abscond from his creditors,
+not failing to attribute those misfortunes to the war and the severity
+of the times, which were doubtless owing to his own misconduct. It is
+much to his credit, however, that after having been freed from his debts
+by composition, and being in prosperous circumstances from King
+William's favour, he voluntarily paid most of his creditors both the
+principal and interest of their claims. This is such an example of
+honesty as it would be unjust to De Foe and to the world to conceal. The
+amount of the sums thus paid must have been very considerable, as he
+afterwards feelingly mentions to Lord Haversham, who had reproached him
+with covetousness; "With a numerous family, and no helps but my own
+industry, I have forced my way through a sea of misfortunes, and reduced
+my debts, exclusive of composition, from seventeen thousand to less than
+five thousand pounds."
+
+At the beginning of the year 1700, Mr. De Foe published a satire in
+verse, which excited very considerable attention, called the "Trueborn
+Englishman." Its purpose was to furnish a reply to those who were
+continually abusing King William and some of his friends as
+_foreigners_, by showing that the present race of Englishmen was a mixed
+and heterogeneous brood, scarcely any of which could lay claim to native
+purity of blood. The satire was in many parts very severe; and though it
+gave high offence, it claimed a considerable share of the public
+attention. The reader will perhaps be gratified by a specimen of this
+production, wherein he endeavours to account for--
+
+     "What makes this discontented land appear
+     Less happy now in times of peace, than war;
+     Why civil fends disturb the nation more,
+     Than all our bloody wars had done before:
+     Fools out of favour grudge at knaves in place,
+     And men are always honest in disgrace:
+     The court preferments make men knaves in course,
+     But they, who would be in them, would be worse.
+     'Tis not at foreigners that we repine,
+     Would foreigners their perquisites resign:
+     The grand contention's plainly to be seen,
+     To get some men put out, and some put in."
+
+It will be immediately perceived that De Foe could have no pretensions
+to the character of a _poet_; but he has, notwithstanding, some nervous
+and well-versified lines, and in choice of subject and moral he is in
+general excellent. The Trueborn Englishman concludes thus:
+
+     Could but our ancestors retrieve their fate,
+     And see their offspring thus degenerate;
+     How we contend for birth and names unknown,
+     And build on their past actions, not our own;
+     They'd cancel records, and their tombs deface,
+     And openly disown the vile degenerate race.
+     For fame of families is all a cheat;
+     'TIS PERSONAL VIRTUE ONLY MAKES US GREAT.
+
+For this defence of foreigners De Foe was amply rewarded by King
+William, who not only ordered him a pension, but, as his opponents
+denominated it, appointed him _pamphlet-writer general to the court_; an
+office for which he was peculiarly well calculated, possessing, with a
+strong mind and a ready wit, that kind of yielding conscience which
+allowed him to support the measures of his benefactors, though convinced
+they were injurious to his country. De Foe now retired to Newington with
+his family, and for a short time lived at ease; but the death of his
+royal patron deprived him of a generous protector, and opened a scene of
+sorrow which probably embittered his future life.
+
+He had always discovered a great inclination to engage in religious
+controversy, and the furious contest, civil and ecclesiastical, which
+ensued on the accession of Queen Anne, gave him an opportunity of
+gratifying his favourite passion. He therefore published a tract,
+entitled "The shortest Way with the Dissenters, or Proposals for the
+Establishment of the Church," which contained an ironical recommendation
+of persecution, but written in so serious a strain, that many persons,
+particularly Dissenters, at first mistook its real intention. The high
+church party however saw, and felt the ridicule, and, by their
+influence, a prosecution was commenced against him, and a proclamation
+published in the Gazette, offering a reward for his apprehension[1].
+When De Foe found with how much rigour himself and his pamphlet were
+about to be treated, he at first secreted himself; but his printer and
+bookseller being taken into custody, he surrendered, being resolved, as
+he expresses it, "to throw himself upon the favour of government, rather
+than that others should be ruined for his mistakes." In July, 1703, he
+was brought to trial, found guilty, and sentenced to be imprisoned, to
+stand in the pillory, and to pay a fine of two hundred marks. He
+underwent the infamous part of the punishment with great fortitude, and
+it seems to have been generally thought that he was treated with
+unreasonable severity. So far was he from being ashamed of his fate
+himself, that he wrote a hymn to the pillory, which thus ends, alluding
+to his accusers:
+
+     Tell them, the men that plac'd him here
+     Are scandals to the times;
+     Are at a loss to find his guilt,
+     And can't commit his crimes.
+
+Pope, who has thought fit to introduce him in his Dunciad, (probably
+from no other reason than party difference) characterizes him in the
+following line:
+
+     Earless on high stood unabash'd De Foe.
+
+This is one of those instances of injustice and malignity which so
+frequently occur in the Dunciad, and which reflect more dishonour on the
+author than on the parties traduced. De Foe lay friendless and
+distressed in Newgate, his family ruined, and himself without hopes of
+deliverance, till Sir Robert Harley, who approved of his principles, and
+foresaw that during a factious age such a genius could be converted to
+many uses, represented his unmerited sufferings to the Queen, and at
+length procured his release. The treasurer, Lord Godolphin, also sent a
+considerable sum to his wife and family, and to him money to pay his
+fine and the expense of his discharge. Gratitude and fidelity are
+inseparable from an honest man; and it was this benevolent act that
+prompted De Foe to support Harley, with his able and ingenious pen, when
+Anne lay lifeless, and his benefactor in the vicissitude of party was
+persecuted by faction, and overpowered, though not conquered,
+by violence.
+
+The talents and perseverance of De Foe began now to be properly
+estimated, and as a firm supporter of the administration, he was sent by
+Lord Godolphin to Scotland, on an errand which, as he says, was far from
+being unfit for a sovereign to direct, or an honest man to perform. His
+knowledge of commerce and revenue, his powers of insinuation, and, above
+all, his readiness of pen, were deemed of no small utility in promoting
+the union of the two kingdoms; of which he wrote an able history in
+1709, with two dedications, one to the Queen, and another to the Duke of
+Queensbury. Soon afterwards he unhappily, by some equivocal writings,
+rendered himself suspected by both parties, so that he once more retired
+to Newington, in hopes of spending the remainder of his days in peace.
+His pension being withdrawn, and wearied with politics, he began to
+compose works of a different kind.--The year 1715 may therefore be
+regarded as the period of De Foe's political life. Faction henceforth
+found other advocates, and parties procured other writers to disseminate
+their suggestions, and to propagate their falsehoods.
+
+In 1715 De Foe published the "Family Instructor;" a work inculcating the
+domestic duties in a lively manner, by narration and dialogue, and
+displaying much knowledge of life in the middle ranks of society.
+"Religious Courtship" also appeared soon after, which, like the "Family
+Instructor," is eminently religious and moral in its tendency, and
+strongly impresses on the mind that spirit of sobriety and private
+devotion for which the dissenters have generally been distinguished. The
+most celebrated of all his works, "The Life and Adventures of Robinson
+Crusoe," appeared in 1719. This work has passed through numerous
+editions, and been translated into almost all modern languages. The
+great invention which is displayed in it, the variety of incidents and
+circumstances which it contains, related in the most easy and natural
+manner, together with the excellency of the moral and religious
+reflections, render it a performance of very superior and uncommon
+merit, and one of the most interesting works that ever appeared. It is
+strongly recommended by Rosseau as a book admirably calculated to
+promote the purposes of natural education; and Dr. Blair says, "No
+fiction, in any language, was ever better supported than the Adventures
+of Robinson Crusoe. While it is carried on with that appearance of truth
+and simplicity, which takes a strong hold of the imagination of all
+readers, it suggests, at the same time, very useful instruction; by
+showing how much the native powers of man may be exerted for
+surmounting the difficulties of any external situation." It has been
+pretended, that De Foe surreptitiously appropriated the papers of
+Alexander Selkirk, a Scotch mariner, who lived four years alone on the
+island of Juan Fernandez, and a sketch of whose story had before
+appeared in the voyage of Captain Woodes Rogers. But this charge, though
+repeatedly and confidently brought, appears to be totally destitute of
+any foundation. De Foe probably took some general hints for his work
+from the story of Selkirk, but there exists no proof whatever, nor is it
+reasonable to suppose that he possessed any of his papers or memoirs,
+which had been published seven years before the appearance of Robinson
+Crusoe. As a farther proof of De Foe's innocence, Captain Rogers'
+Account of Selkirk may be produced, in which it is said that the latter
+had neither preserved pen, ink, or paper, and had, in a great measure,
+lost his language; consequently De Foe could not have received any
+written assistance, and we have only the assertion of his enemies to
+prove that he had any verbal.
+
+The great success of Robinson Crusoe induced its author to write a
+number of other lives and adventures, some of which were popular in
+their times, though at present nearly forgotten. One of his latest
+publications was "A Tour through the Island of Great Britain," a
+performance of very inferior merit; but De Foe was now the garrulous
+old man, and his spirit (to use the words of an ingenious biographer)
+"like a candle struggling in the socket, blazed and sunk, blazed and
+sunk, till it disappeared at length in total darkness." His laborious
+and unfortunate life was finished on the 26th of April, 1731, in' the
+parish of St. Giles's, Cripplegate.
+
+Daniel De Foe possessed very extraordinary talents; as a commercial
+writer, he is fairly entitled to stand in the foremost rank among his
+contemporaries, whatever may be their performances or their fame. His
+distinguishing characteristics are originality, spirit, and a profound
+knowledge of his subject, and in these particulars he has seldom been
+surpassed. As the author of Robinson Crusoe he has a claim, not only to
+the admiration, but to the gratitude of his countrymen; and so long as
+we have a regard for supereminent merit, and take an interest in the
+welfare of the rising generation, that gratitude will not cease to
+exist. But the opinion of the learned and ingenious Dr. Beattie will be
+the best eulogium that can be pronounced on that celebrated romance:
+"Robinson Crusoe," says the Doctor, "must be allowed, by the most rigid
+moralist, to be one of those novels which one may read, riot only with
+pleasure, but also with profit. It breathes throughout a spirit of
+piety and benevolence; it sets in a very striking light the importance
+of the mechanic arts, which they, who know not what it is to be without
+them, are so apt to under-value; it fixes in the mind a lively idea of
+the horrors of solitude, and, consequently, of the sweets of social
+life, and of the blessings we derive from conversation and mutual aid;
+and it shows how, by labouring with one's own hands, one may secure
+independence, and open for one's self many sources of health and
+amusement. I agree, therefore, with Rosseau, that it is one of the best
+books that can be put into the hands of children."
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: _St. James's, January 10, 1702-5._ "Whereas Daniel De Foe,
+alias De Fooe, is charged with writing a scandalous and seditious
+pamphlet, entitled 'The shortest Way with the Dissenters:' he is a
+middle-sized spare man, about 40 years old, of a brown complexion, and
+dark-brown coloured hair, but wears a wig, a hooked nose, a sharp chin,
+grey eyes, and a large mole near his mouth, was born in London, and for
+many years was a hose-factor, in Freeman's Yard, in Cornhill, and now is
+owner of the brick and pantile works near Tilbury Fort, in Essex;
+whoever shall discover the said Daniel De Foe, to one of her Majesty's
+Principal Secretaries of State, or any of her Majesty's Justices of
+Peace, so as he may be apprehended, shall have a reward of £50, which
+her Majesty has ordered immediately to be paid upon such discovery."
+_London Gaz._ No. 3879.]
+
+
+
+
+THE
+
+LIFE AND ADVENTURES
+
+OF
+
+ROBINSON CRUSOE.
+
+I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family,
+though not of that country, my father being a foreigner of Bremen, who
+settled first at Hull: he got a good estate by merchandise, and leaving
+off his trade, lived afterwards at York; from whence he had married my
+mother, whose relations were named Robinson, a very good family in that
+country, and from whom I was called Robinson Kreutznaer; but, by the
+usual corruption of words in England, we are now called, nay we call
+ourselves, and write, our name Crusoe; and so my companions always
+called me.
+
+I had two elder brothers, one of whom was lieutenant-colonel to an
+English regiment of foot in Flanders, formerly commanded by the famous
+Colonel Lockhart, and was killed at the battle near Dunkirk against the
+Spaniards. What became of my second brother I never knew, any more than
+my father or mother did know what was become of me.
+
+Being the third son of the family, and not bred to any trade, my head
+began to be filled very early with rambling thoughts: my father, who was
+very ancient, had given me a competent share of learning, as far as
+house-education and a country free-school generally go, and designed me
+for the law; but I would be satisfied with nothing but going to sea; and
+my inclination to this led me so strongly, against the will, nay, the
+commands of my father, and against all the entreaties and persuasions of
+my mother and other friends, that there seemed to be something fatal in
+that propension of nature, tending directly to the life of misery which
+was to befall me.
+
+My father, a wise and grave man, gave me serious and excellent counsel
+against what he foresaw was my design. He called me one morning into his
+chamber, where he was confined by the gout, and expostulated very warmly
+with me upon this subject: he asked me what reasons more than a mere
+wandering inclination I had for leaving my father's house and my native
+country, where I might be well introduced, and had a prospect of raising
+my fortune by application and industry, with a life of ease and
+pleasure. He told me it was for men of desperate fortunes on one hand,
+or of aspiring, superior fortunes on the other, who went abroad upon
+adventures, to rise by enterprise, and make themselves famous in
+undertakings of a nature out of the common road; that these things were
+all either too far above me, or too far below me; that mine was the
+middle state, or what might be called the upper station of low life,
+which he had found, by long experience, was the best state in the world,
+the most suited to human happiness, not exposed to the miseries and
+hardships, the labour and sufferings of the mechanic part of mankind,
+and not embarrassed with the pride, luxury, ambition, and envy of the
+upper part of mankind. He told me, I might judge of the happiness of
+this state by one thing, viz. that this was the state of life which all
+other people envied; that kings have frequently lamented the miserable
+consequences of being born to great things, and wish they had been
+placed in the middle of the two extremes, between the mean and the
+great; that the wise man gave his testimony to this, as the just
+standard of true felicity, when he prayed to have neither poverty
+nor riches.
+
+He bid me observe it, and I should always find, that the calamities of
+life were shared among the upper and lower part of mankind; but that the
+middle station had the fewest disasters, and was not exposed to so many
+vicissitudes as the higher or lower part of mankind; nay, they were not
+subjected to so many distempers and uneasinesses, either of body or
+mind, as those were, who, by vicious living, luxury, and extravagances,
+on one hand, or by hard labour, want of necessaries, and mean and
+insufficient diet, on the other hand, bring distempers upon themselves
+by the natural consequences of their way of living; that the middle
+station of life was calculated for all kind of virtues and all kind of
+enjoyments; that peace and plenty were the handmaids of a middle
+fortune; that temperance, moderation, quietness, health, society, all
+agreeable diversions, and all desirable pleasures, were the blessings
+attending the middle station of life; that this way men went silently
+and smoothly through the world, and comfortably out of it, not
+embarrassed with the labours of the hands or of the head, not sold to
+the life of slavery for daily bread, or harassed with perplexed
+circumstances, which rob the soul of peace, and the body of rest; not
+enraged with the passion of envy, or secret burning lust of ambition for
+great things; but, in easy circumstances, sliding gently through the
+world, and sensibly tasting the sweets of living, without the bitter,
+feeling that they are happy, and learning by every day's experience to
+know it more sensibly.
+
+After this, he pressed me earnestly, and in the most affectionate
+manner, not to play the young man, not to precipitate myself into
+miseries which nature, and the station of life I was born in, seemed to
+have provided against; that I was under no necessity of seeking my
+bread; that he would do well for me, and endeavour to enter me fairly
+into the station of life which he had been just recommending to me; and
+that if I was not very easy and happy in the world, it must be my mere
+fate or fault that must hinder it; and that he should have nothing to
+answer for, having thus discharged his duty in warning me against
+measures which he knew would be to my hurt: in a word, that as he would
+do very kind things for me if I would stay and settle at home as he
+directed, so he would not have so much hand in my misfortunes, as to
+give me any encouragement to go away: and to close all, he told me I had
+my elder brother for an example, to whom he had used the same earnest
+persuasions to keep him from going into the Low Country wars, but could
+not prevail, his young desires prompting him to run into the army, where
+he was killed; and though he said he would not cease to pray for me, yet
+he would venture to say to me, that if I did take this foolish step, God
+would not bless me, and I would have leisure hereafter to reflect upon
+having neglected his counsel, when there might be none to assist in
+my recovery.
+
+I observed in this last part of his discourse, which was truly
+prophetic, though I suppose my father did not know it to be so himself;
+I say, I observed the tears run down his face very plentifully, and
+especially when he spoke of my brother who was killed: and that when he
+spoke of my having leisure to repent, and none to assist me, he was so
+moved, that he broke off the discourse, and told me, his heart was so
+full he could say no more to me.
+
+I was sincerely affected with this discourse, as indeed who could be
+otherwise? and I resolved not to think of going abroad any more, but to
+settle at home according to my father's desire. But, alas! a few days
+wore it all off; and, in short, to prevent any of my father's further
+importunities, in a few weeks after I resolved to run quite away from
+him. However, I did not act so hastily neither as my first heat of
+resolution prompted, but I took my mother, at a time when I thought her
+a little pleasanter than ordinary, and told her, that my thoughts were
+so entirely bent upon seeing the world, that I should never settle to
+any thing with resolution enough to go through with it, and my father
+had better give me his consent than force me to go without it; that I
+was now eighteen years old, which was too late to go apprentice to a
+trade, or clerk to an attorney; that I was sure, if I did, I should
+never serve out my time, and I should certainly run away from my master
+before my time was out, and go to sea; and if she would speak to my
+father to let me go one voyage abroad, if I came home again, and did not
+like it, I would go no more, and I would promise, by a double diligence,
+to recover that time I had lost.
+
+This put my mother into a great passion: she told me, she knew it would
+be to no purpose to speak to my father upon any such subject; that he
+knew too well what was my interest to give his consent to any such thing
+so much for my hurt; and that she wondered how I could think of any such
+thing after such a discourse as I had had with my father, and such kind
+and tender expressions as she knew my father had used to me; and that,
+in short, if I would ruin myself, there was no help for me; but I might
+depend I should never have their consent to it: that for her part, she
+would not have so much hand in my destruction; and I should never have
+it to say, that my mother was willing when my father was not.
+
+Though my mother refused to move it to my father, yet, as I have heard
+afterwards, she reported all the discourse to him, and that my father,
+after showing a great concern at it, said to her with a sigh, "That boy
+might be happy if he would stay at home; but if he goes abroad, he will
+be the most miserable wretch that was ever born; I can give no
+consent to it."
+
+It was not till almost a year after this that I broke loose, though, in
+the mean time, I continued obstinately deaf to all proposals of settling
+to business, and frequently expostulating with my father and mother
+about their being so positively determined against what they knew my
+inclinations prompted me to. But being one day at Hull, where I went
+casually, and without any purpose of making an elopement at that time;
+but, I say, being there, and one of my companions then going by sea to
+London, in his father's ship, and prompting me to go with them, with the
+common allurement of seafaring men, viz. that it should cost me nothing
+for my passage, I consulted neither father or mother any more, not so
+much as sent them word of it; but leaving them to hear of it as they
+might, without asking God's blessing, or my father's, without any
+consideration of circumstances or consequences, and in an ill hour, God
+knows, on the first of September, 1651, I went on board a ship bound
+for London. Never any young adventurer's misfortunes, I believe, began
+sooner, or continued longer than mine. The ship was no sooner gotten out
+of the Humber, but the wind began to blow, and the waves to rise in a
+most frightful manner; and, as I had never been at sea before, I was
+most inexpressibly sick in body, and terrified in mind. I began now
+seriously to reflect upon what I had done, and how justly I was
+overtaken by the judgment of Heaven for wickedly leaving my father's
+house, and abandoning my duty. All the good counsel of my parents, my
+father's tears and my mother's entreaties, came now fresh into my mind;
+and my conscience, which was not yet come to the pitch of hardness to
+which it has been since, reproached me with the contempt of advice, and
+the breach of my duty to God and my father.
+
+All this while the storm increased, and the sea, which I had never been
+upon before, went very high, though nothing like what I have seen many
+times since; no, nor like what I saw a few days after: but it was enough
+to affect me then, who was but a young sailor, and had never known any
+thing of the matter. I expected every wave would have swallowed us up,
+and that every time the ship fell down, as I thought, in the trough or
+hollow of the sea, we should never rise more; and in this agony of mind
+I made many vows and resolutions, that if it would please God here to
+spare my life this one voyage, if ever I got once my foot upon dry land
+again, I would go directly home to my father, and never set it into a
+ship again while I lived; that I would take his advice, and never run
+myself into such miseries as these any more. Now I saw plainly the
+goodness of his observations about the middle station of life, how
+easy, how comfortably he had lived all his days, and never had been
+exposed to tempests at sea, or troubles on shore; and I resolved that I
+would, like a true repenting prodigal, go home to my father.
+
+These wise and sober thoughts continued during the storm, and indeed
+some time after; but the next day, as the wind was abated, and the sea
+calmer, I began to be a little inured to it: however, I was very grave
+for all that day, being also a little sea-sick still; but towards night
+the weather cleared up, the wind was quite over, and a charming fine
+evening followed; the sun went down perfectly clear, and rose so the
+next morning; and having little or no wind, and a smooth sea, the sun
+shining upon it, the sight was, as I thought, the most delightful that
+I ever saw.
+
+I had slept well in the night, and was now no more sea-sick, but very
+cheerful, looking with wonder upon the sea that was so rough and
+terrible the day before, and could be so calm and so pleasant in a
+little time after. And now, lest my good resolutions should continue, my
+companion, who had indeed enticed me away, came to me and said, "Well;
+Bob," clapping me on the shoulder, "how do you do after it? I warrant
+you were frightened, wa'n't you, last night, when it blew but a cap-full
+of wind?"--"A cap-full do you call it?" said I; "it was a terrible
+storm."--"A storm, you fool you," replied he, "do you call that a
+storm? why it was nothing at all; give us but a good ship and sea-room,
+and we think nothing of such a squall of wind as that; but you're but a
+fresh-water sailor. Bob, Come, let us make a bowl of punch, and we'll
+forget all that; do you see what charming weather it is now?" To make
+short this sad part of my story, we went the old way of all sailors; the
+punch was made, and I was made drunk with it; and in that one night's
+wickedness I drowned all my repentance, all my reflections upon my past
+conduct, and all my resolutions for my future. In a word, as the sea was
+returned to its smoothness of surface and settled calmness by the
+abatement of that storm, so the hurry of my thoughts being over, my
+fears and apprehensions of being swallowed up by the sea being
+forgotten, and the current of my former desires returned, I entirely
+forgot the vows and promises that I made in my distress. I found,
+indeed, some intervals of reflection; and serious thoughts did, as it
+were, endeavour to return again sometimes; but I shook them off, and
+roused myself from them as it were from a distemper, and applying myself
+to drinking and company, soon mastered the return of those fits, for so
+I called them; and I had in five or six days got as complete a victory
+over conscience, as any young fellow that resolved not to be troubled
+with it, could desire: but I was to have another trial for it still; and
+Providence, as in such cases generally it does, resolved to leave me
+entirely without excuse: for if I would not take this for a deliverance,
+the next was to be such a one as the worst and most hardened wretch
+among us would confess both the danger and the mercy of.
+
+The sixth day of our being at sea we came into Yarmouth Roads; the wind
+having been contrary, and the weather calm, we had made but little way
+since the storm. Here we were obliged to come to anchor, and here we
+lay, the wind continuing contrary, viz. at south-west, for seven or
+eight days, during which tune a great many ships from Newcastle came
+into the same roads, as the common harbour where the ships might wait
+for a wind for the River.
+
+We had not, however, rid here so long, but should have tided it up the
+river, but that the wind blew too fresh; and, after we had lain four or
+five days, blew very hard. However, the roads being reckoned as good as
+a harbour, the anchorage good, and our ground tackle very strong, our
+men were unconcerned, and not in the least apprehensive of danger, but
+spent the time in rest and mirth, after the manner of the sea; but the
+eighth day in the morning the wind increased, and we had all hands at
+work to strike our top-masts, and make every thing snug and close, that
+the ship might ride as easy as possible. By noon the sea went very high
+indeed, and our ship rode forecastle in, shipped several seas, and we
+thought once or twice our anchor had come home; upon which our master
+ordered out the sheet anchor; so that we rode with two anchors a-head,
+and the cables veered out to the better end.
+
+By this time it blew a terrible storm indeed; and now I began to see
+terror and amazement in the faces even of the seamen themselves. The
+master, though vigilant in the business of preserving the ship, yet as
+he went in and out of his cabin by me, I could hear him softly say to
+himself several times, "Lord, be merciful to us! we shall be all lost;
+we shall be all undone!" and the like. During these first hurries I was
+stupid, lying still in my cabin, which was in the steerage, and cannot
+describe my temper: I could ill reassume the first penitence which I had
+so apparently trampled upon, and hardened myself against. I thought the
+bitterness of death had been past, and that this would be nothing like
+the first: but when the master himself came by me, as I said just now,
+and said we should be all lost, I was dreadfully frighted: I got up but
+of my cabin, and looked out; but such a dismal sight I never saw; the
+sea went mountains high, and broke upon us every three or four minutes:
+when I could look about, I could see nothing but distress around us: two
+ships that rid near us, we found, had cut their masts by the board,
+being deep laden; and our men cried out, that a ship which rid about a
+mile a-head of us was foundered. Two more ships being driven from their
+anchors, were run out of the roads to sea, at all adventures, and that
+with not a mast standing. The light ships-fared the best, as not so much
+labouring in the sea; but two or three of them drove, and came close by
+us, running away with only their spritsail out before the wind.
+
+Towards evening the mate and boatswain begged the master of our ship to
+let them cut away the fore-mast, which he was very unwilling to do: but
+the boatswain protesting to him, that if he did not, the ship would
+founder, he consented; and when they had cut away the-fore-mast, the
+main-mast stood so loose, and shook the ship so much, they were obliged
+to cut her away also, and make a clear deck.
+
+Any one may judge what a condition I must be in at all this, who was
+but a young sailor, and who had been in such a fright before at but a
+little. But if I can express at this distance the thoughts that I had
+about me at that time, I was in tenfold more horror of mind upon account
+of my former convictions, and the having returned from them to the
+resolutions I had wickedly taken at first, than I was at death itself;
+and these, added to the terror of the storm, put me in such a condition,
+that I can by no words describe it. But the worst was not come yet; the
+storm continued with such fury, that the seamen themselves acknowledged
+they had never known a worse. We had a good ship, but she was deep
+laden, and wallowed in the sea, that the seamen every now and then cried
+out, she would founder. It was my advantage in one respect, that I did
+not know what they meant by _founder_, till I inquired. However, the
+storm was so violent, that I saw what is not often seen, the master, the
+boatswain, and some others more sensible than the rest, at their
+prayers, and expecting every moment when the ship would go to the
+bottom. In the middle of the night, and under all the rest of our
+distresses, one of the men that had been down on purpose to see, cried
+out, we had sprung a leak; another said, there was four foot water in
+the hold. Then all hands were called to the pump. At that very word my
+heart, as I thought, died within me, and I fell backwards upon the side
+of my bed where I sat, into the cabin. However, the men roused me, and
+told me, that I, that was able to do nothing before, was as well able to
+pump as another; at which I stirred up, and went to the pump and worked
+very heartily. While this was doing, the master seeing some light
+colliers, who, not able to ride out the storm, were obliged to slip and
+run away to sea, and would not come near us, ordered us to fire a gun as
+a signal of distress. I, who knew nothing what that meant, was so
+surprised, that I thought the ship had broke, or some dreadful thing had
+happened. In a word, I was so surprised, that I fell down in a swoon. As
+this was a time when every body had his own life to think of, nobody
+minded me, or what was become of me; but another man stept up to the
+pump, and thrusting me aside with his foot, let me lie, thinking I had
+been dead; and it was a great while before I came to myself.
+
+We worked on; but the water increasing in the hold, it was apparent that
+the ship would founder; and though the storm began to abate a little,
+yet as it was not possible she could swim till we might run into a port,
+so the master continued firing guns for help; and a light ship, who had
+rid it out just a-head of us, ventured a boat out to help us. It was
+with the utmost hazard the boat came near us, but it was impossible for
+us to get on board, or for the boat to lie near the ship's side, till at
+last the men rowing very heartily, and venturing their lives to save
+ours, our men cast them a rope over the stern with a buoy to it, and
+then veered it out a great length, which they, after great labour and
+hazard, took hold of, and we hauled them close under our stern, and got
+all into their boat. It was to no purpose for them or us, after we were
+in the boat, to think of reaching to their own ship; so all agreed to
+let her drive, and only to pull her in towards shore as much as we
+could; and our master promised them, that if the boat was staved upon
+shore he would make it good to their master: so partly rowing and partly
+driving, our boat went away to the northward, sloping towards the shore
+almost as far as Winterton Ness.
+
+We were not much more than a quarter of an hour out of our ship but we
+saw her sink, and then I understood for the first time what was meant by
+a ship foundering in the sea. I must acknowledge I had hardly eyes to
+look up when the seamen told me she was sinking; for from that moment
+they rather put me into the boat, than that I might be said to go in; my
+heart was, as it were, dead within me, partly with fright, partly with
+horror of mind, and the thoughts of what was yet before me.
+
+While we were in this condition, the men yet labouring at the oar to
+bring the boat near the shore, we could see (when, our boat mounting the
+waves, we were able to see the shore) a great many people running along
+the strand to assist us when we should come near; but we made but slow
+way towards the shore; nor were we able to reach it, till, being past
+the light-house at Winterton, the shore falls off to the westward,
+towards Cromer, and so the land broke off a little the violence of the
+wind. Here we got in, and, though not without much difficulty, got all
+safe on shore, and walked afterwards on foot to Yarmouth, where, as
+unfortunate men, we were used with great humanity, as well by the
+magistrates of the town, who assigned us good quarters, as by particular
+merchants and owners of ships, and had money given us sufficient to
+carry us either to London or back to Hull, as we thought fit.
+
+Had I now had the sense to have gone back to Hull, and have gone home, I
+had been happy, and my father, an emblem of our blessed Saviour's
+parable, had even killed the fatted calf for me; for hearing the ship I
+went away in was cast away in Yarmouth Roads, it was a great while
+before he had any assurance that I was not drowned.
+
+But my ill fate pushed me on now with an obstinacy that nothing could
+resist; and though I had several times loud calls from my reason, and my
+more composed judgment, to go home, yet I had no power to do it. I know
+not what to call this, nor will I urge that it is a secret overruling
+decree that hurries us on to be the instruments of our own destruction,
+even though it be before us, and that we rush upon it with our eyes
+open. Certainly, nothing but some such decreed unavoidable misery
+attending, and which it was impossible for me to escape, could have
+pushed me forward against the calm reasonings and persuasions of my most
+retired thoughts, and against two such visible instructions as I had met
+with in my first attempt.
+
+My comrade, who had helped to harden me before, and who was the master's
+son, was now less forward than I. The first time he spoke to me after we
+were at Yarmouth, which was not till two or three days, for we were
+separated in the town to several quarters; I say, the first time he saw
+me, it appeared his tone was altered, and looking very melancholy, and
+shaking his head, asked me how I did, and telling his father who I was,
+and how I had come this voyage only for a trial, in order to go farther
+abroad; his father turning to me with a very grave and concerned tone,
+"Young man," says he, "you ought never to go to sea any more; you ought
+to take this for a plain and visible token that you are not to be a
+seafaring man,"--"Why, Sir," said I, "will you go to sea no more?" "That
+is another case," said he; "it is my calling, and therefore my duty; but
+as you made this voyage for a trial, you see what a taste Heaven has
+given you of what you are to expect if you persist. Perhaps this has all
+befallen us on your account, like Jonah in the ship of Tarshish. Pray,"
+continues he, "what are you; and on what account did you go to sea?"
+Upon that I told him some of my story; at the end of which he burst out
+with a strange kind of passion; "What had I done," says he, "that such
+an unhappy wretch should come into my ship? I would not set my foot in
+the same ship with thee again for a thousand pounds," This indeed was,
+as I said, an excursion of his spirits, which were yet agitated by the
+sense of his loss, and was farther than he could have authority to go.
+However, he afterwards talked very gravely to me, exhorting me to go
+back to my father, and not tempt Providence to my ruin; told me I might
+see a visible hand of Heaven against me. "And young man," said he,
+"depend upon it, if you do not go back, wherever you go, you will meet
+with nothing but disasters and disappointments, till your father's words
+are fulfilled upon you."
+
+We parted soon after; for I made him little answer, and I saw him no
+more: which way he went, I know not. As for me, having some money in my
+pocket, I travelled to London by land; and there, as well as on the
+road, had many struggles with myself, what course of life I should
+take, and whether I should go home, or go to sea.
+
+As to going home, shame opposed the best notions that offered to my
+thoughts; and it immediately occurred to me how I should be laughed at
+among the neighbours, and should be ashamed to see, not my father and
+mother only, but even every body else; from whence I have since often
+observed, how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind
+is, especially of youth, to that reason which ought to guide them in
+such cases, viz. that they are not ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed
+to repent; nor ashamed of the action for which they ought justly to be
+esteemed fools, but are ashamed of the returning, which only can make
+them be esteemed wise men.
+
+In this state of life, however, I remained some time, uncertain what
+measures to take, and what course of life to lead. An irresistible
+reluctance continued to going home; and as I stayed a while, the
+remembrance of the distress I had been in wore off; and as that abated,
+the little notion I had in my desires to a return wore off with it, till
+at last I quite laid aside the thoughts of it, and looked out for
+a voyage.
+
+That evil influence which carried me first away from my father's house,
+that hurried me into the wild and indigested notion of raising my
+fortune; and that impressed those conceits so forcibly upon me, as to
+make me deaf to all good advice, and to the entreaties and even the
+commands of my father: I say, the same influence, whatever it was,
+presented the most unfortunate of all enterprises to my view; and I
+went on board a vessel bound to the coast of Africa; or, as our sailors
+vulgarly call it, a voyage to Guinea.
+
+It was my great misfortune that in all these adventures I did not ship
+myself as a sailor; whereby, though I might indeed have worked a little
+harder than ordinary, yet at the same time I had learnt the duty and
+office of a foremast-man; and in time might have qualified myself for a
+mate or lieutenant, if not for a master. But as it was always my fate to
+choose for the worse, so I did here; for having money in my pocket, and
+good clothes upon my back, I would always go on board in the habit of a
+gentleman; and so I neither had any business in the ship, or learnt
+to do any.
+
+It was my lot first of all to fall into pretty good company in London,
+which does not always happen to such loose and unguided young fellows as
+I then was; the devil generally not omitting to lay some snare for them
+very early: but it was not so with me. I first fell acquainted with the
+master of a ship who had been on the coast of Guinea; and who, having
+had very good success there, was resolved to go again; and who taking a
+fancy to my conversation, which was not at all disagreeable at that
+time, hearing me say I had a mind to see the world, told me if I would
+go the voyage with him I should be at no expense; I should be his
+messmate and his companion; and if I could carry any thing with me, I
+should have all the advantage of it that the trade would admit; and
+perhaps I might meet with some encouragement.
+
+I embraced the offer; and entering into a strict friendship with this
+captain, who was an honest and plain-dealing man, I went the voyage with
+him, and carried a small adventure with me, which, by the disinterested
+honesty of my friend the captain, I increased very considerably; for I
+carried about £40 in such toys and trifles as the captain directed me to
+buy. This £40 I had mustered together by the assistance of some of my
+relations whom I corresponded with, and who, I believe, got my father,
+or at least my mother, to contribute so much as that to my first
+adventure.
+
+This was the only voyage which I may say I was successful in all my
+adventures, and which I owe to the integrity and honesty of my friend
+the captain; under whom also I got a competent knowledge of the
+mathematics and the rules of navigation, learnt how to keep an account
+of the ship's course, take an observation, and, in short, to understand
+some things that were needful to be understood by a sailor: for, as he
+took delight to instruct me, I took delight to learn; and, in a word,
+this voyage made me both a sailor and a merchant: for I brought home
+five pounds nine ounces of gold-dust for my adventure, which yielded me
+in London at my return almost £300, and this filled me with those
+aspiring thoughts which have so completed my ruin.
+
+Yet even in this voyage I had my misfortunes too; particularly, that I
+was continually sick, being thrown into a violent calenture by the
+excessive heat of the climate; our principal trading being upon the
+coast, from the latitude of 15 degrees north even to the line itself.
+
+I was now set up for a Guinea trader; and my friend, to my great
+misfortune, dying soon after his arrival, I resolved to go the same
+voyage again, and I embarked in the same vessel with one who was his
+mate in his former voyage, and had now got the command of the ship. This
+was the unhappiest voyage that ever man made; for though I did not carry
+quite £100 of my new-gained wealth, so that I had £200 left, and which I
+lodged with my friend's widow, who was very just to me, yet I fell into
+terrible misfortunes in this voyage; and the first was this, viz. our
+ship making her course towards the Canary Islands, or rather between
+those islands and the African shore, was surprised in the grey of the
+morning by a Turkish rover, of Sallee, who gave chase to us with all the
+sail she could make. We crowded also as much canvass as our yards would
+spread, or our masts carry to have got clear; but finding the pirate
+gained upon us, and would certainly come up with us in a few hours, we
+prepared to fight; our ship having twelve guns, and the rover eighteen.
+About three in the afternoon he came up with us, and bringing to, by
+mistake, just athwart our quarter, instead of athwart our stern, as he
+intended, we brought eight of our guns to bear on that side, and poured
+in a broadside upon him, which made him sheer off again, after returning
+our fire, and pouring in also his small-shot from near 200 men which he
+had on board. However, we had not a man touched, all our men keeping
+close. He prepared to attack us again, and we to defend ourselves; but
+laying us on board the next time upon our other quarter, he entered
+sixty men upon our decks, who immediately fell to cutting and hacking
+the sails and rigging. We plied them with small-shot, half-pikes,
+powder-chests, and such like, and cleared our deck of them twice.
+However, to cut short this melancholy part of our story, our ship being
+disabled, and three of our men killed and eight wounded, we were obliged
+to yield, and were carried all prisoners into Sallee, a port belonging
+to the Moors.
+
+The usage I had there was not so dreadful as at first I apprehended; nor
+was I carried up the country to the emperor's court, as the rest of our
+men were, but was kept by the captain of the rover as his proper prize,
+and made his slave, being young and nimble, and fit for his business. At
+this surprising change of my circumstances, from a merchant to a
+miserable slave, I was perfectly overwhelmed; and now I looked back upon
+my father's prophetic discourse to me, that I should be miserable, and
+have none to relieve me, which I thought was now so effectually brought
+to pass, that I could not be worse; that now the hand of Heaven had
+overtaken me, and I was undone without redemption: but, alas! this was
+but a taste of the misery I was to go through, as will appear in the
+sequel of this story.
+
+As my new patron, or master, had taken me home to his house, so I was in
+hopes that he would take me with him when he went to sea again,
+believing that it would sometime or other be his fate to be taken by a
+Spanish or Portugal man of war; and that then I should be set at
+liberty. But this hope of mine was soon taken away; for when he went to
+sea, he left me on shore to look after his little garden, and do the
+common drudgery of slaves about his house; and when he came home again
+from his cruise, he ordered me to lie in the cabin to look after
+the ship.
+
+Here I meditated nothing but my escape, and what method I might take to
+effect it, but found no way that had the least probability in it:
+nothing presented to make the supposition of it rational; for I had
+nobody to communicate it to that would embark with me, no fellow slave,
+no Englishman, Irishman, or Scotchman there but myself; so that for two
+years, though I often pleased myself with the imagination, yet I never
+had the least encouraging prospect of putting it in practice.
+
+After about two years an odd circumstance presented itself, which put
+the old thought of making some attempt for my liberty again in my head.
+My patron lying at home longer than usual without fitting out his ship,
+which, as I heard, was for want of money, he used constantly, once or
+twice a week, sometimes oftener, if the weather was fair, to take the
+ship's pinnace, and go out into the road a-fishing; and as he always
+took me and a young Moresco with him to row the boat, we made him very
+merry, and I proved very dexterous in catching fish; insomuch that
+sometimes he would send me with a Moor, one of his kinsmen, and the
+youth of Moresco, as they called him, to catch a dish of fish for him.
+
+It happened one time, that going a-fishing in a stark calm morning, a
+fog rose so thick, that though we were not half a league from the shore
+we lost sight of it; and rowing we knew not whither or which way, we
+laboured all day, and all the next night, and when the morning came we
+found we had pulled off to sea instead of pulling in for the shore; and
+that we were at least two leagues from the shore: however, we got well
+in again, though with a great deal of labour and some danger; for the
+wind began to blow pretty fresh in the morning; but particularly we were
+all very hungry.
+
+But our patron, warned by this disaster, resolved to take more care of
+himself for the future; and having lying by him the long-boat of our
+English ship he had taken, he resolved he would not go a-fishing any
+more without a compass and some provision; so he ordered the carpenter
+of his ship, who also was an English slave, to build a little
+state-room, or cabin, in the middle of the long-boat, like that of a
+barge, with a place to stand behind it to steer and haul home the
+main-sheet; and room before for a hand or two to stand and work the
+sails: she sailed with what we call a shoulder of mutton sail; and the
+boom gibbed over the top of the cabin, which lay very snug and low, and
+had in it room for him to lie, with a slave or two, and a table to eat
+on, with some small lockers to put in some bottles of such liquor as he
+thought fit to drink; and particularly his bread, rice, and coffee.
+
+We went frequently out with this boat a-fishing, and as I was most
+dexterous to catch fish for him, he never went without me. It happened
+that he had appointed to go out in this boat, either for pleasure or for
+fish, with two or three Moors of some distinction in that place, and for
+whom he had provided extraordinarily, and had therefore sent on board
+the boat over-night a larger store of provisions than ordinary; and had
+ordered me to get ready three fuzees with powder and shot, which were on
+board his ship; for that they designed some sport of fowling as well
+as fishing.
+
+I got all things ready as he had directed, and waited the next morning
+with the boat washed clean, her ensign and pendants out, and every thing
+to accommodate his guests; when by and by my patron came on board alone,
+and told me his guests had put off going, upon some business that fell
+out, and ordered me with the man and boy, as usual, to go out with the
+boat and catch them some fish, for that his friends were to sup at his
+house; and commanded that as soon as I got some fish I should bring it
+home to his house; all which I prepared to do.
+
+This moment my former notions of deliverance darted into my thoughts,
+for now I found I was like to have a little ship at my command; and my
+master being gone, I prepared to furnish myself, not for fishing
+business, but for a voyage; though I knew not, neither did I so much as
+consider, whither I should steer; for any where, to get out of that
+place, was my way.
+
+My first contrivance was to make a pretence to speak to this Moor, to
+get something for our subsistence on board; for I told him we must not
+presume to eat of our patron's bread; he said, that was true: so he
+brought a large basket of rusk or biscuit of their kind, and three jars
+with fresh water, into the boat. I knew where my patron's case of
+bottles stood, which it was evident, by the make, were taken out of some
+English prize, and I conveyed them into the boat while the Moor was on
+shore, as if they had been there before for our master: I conveyed also
+a great lump of bees-wax into the boat, which weighed above half a
+hundred weight, with a parcel of twine or thread, a hatchet, a saw, and
+a hammer, all which were of great use to us afterwards, especially the
+wax to make candles. Another trick I tried upon him, which he innocently
+came into also; his name was Ismael, whom they call Muley, or Moley; so
+I called him: "Moley," said I, "our patron's guns are on board the boat;
+can you not get a little powder and shot? it may be we may kill some
+alcamies (a fowl like our curlews) for ourselves, for I know he keeps
+the gunner's stores in the ship."--"Yes," says he, "I'll bring some;"
+and accordingly he brought a great leather pouch which held about a
+pound and a half of powder, or rather more; and another with shot, that
+had five or six pounds, with some bullets, and put all into the boat: at
+the same time I had found some powder of my master's in the great cabin,
+with which I filled one of the large bottles in the case, which was
+almost empty, pouring what was in it into another; and thus furnished
+with every thing needful, we sailed out of the port to fish. The castle,
+which is at the entrance of the port, knew who we were, and took no
+notice of us: and we were not above a mile out of the port before we
+hauled in our sail, and set us down to fish. The wind blew from the
+N.N.E. which was contrary to my desire; for had it blown southerly, I
+had been sure to have made the coast of Spain, and at least reached to
+the bay of Cadiz; but my resolutions were, blow which way it would, I
+would be gone from that horrid place where I was, and leave the rest
+to fate.
+
+After we had fished some time and catched nothing, for when I had fish
+on my hook I would not pull them up, that he might not see them, I said
+to the Moor, "This will not do; our master will not be thus served; we
+must stand farther off." He, thinking no harm, agreed, and being in the
+head of the boat set the sails; and as I had the helm I run the boat out
+near a league farther, and then brought her to as if I would fish; when
+giving the boy the helm, I stepped forward to where the Moor was, and
+making as if I stooped for something behind him, I took him by surprise
+with my arm under his waist, and tossed him clear overboard into the
+sea. He rose immediately, for he swam like a cork, and called to me,
+begged to be taken in, told me he would go all over the world with me.
+He swam so strong after the boat, that he would have reached me very
+quickly, there being but little wind; upon which I stepped into the
+cabin, and fetching one of the fowling-pieces, I presented it at him,
+and told him, I had done him no hurt, and if he would be quiet I would
+do him none: "But," said I, "you swim well enough to reach to the shore,
+and the sea is calm; make the best of your way to shore, and I will do
+you no harm; but if you come near the boat I'll shoot you through the
+head, for I am resolved to have my liberty." so he turned himself about,
+and swam for the shore, and I make no doubt but he reached it with ease,
+for he was an excellent swimmer.
+
+I could have been content to have taken this Moor with me, and have
+drowned the boy, but there was no venturing to trust him. When he was
+gone I turned to the boy, whom they called Xury, and said to him,
+"Xury, if you will be faithful to me I'll make you a great man; but if
+you will not stroke your face to be true to me," that is, swear by
+Mahomet and his father's beard, "I must throw you into the sea too." The
+boy smiled in my face, and spoke so innocently, that I could not
+mistrust him; and swore to be faithful to me, and go all over the
+world with me.
+
+While I was in view of the Moor that was swimming, I stood out directly
+to sea with the boat, rather stretching to windward, that they might
+think me gone towards the Straits' mouth; (as indeed any one that had
+been in their wits must have been supposed to do) for who would have
+supposed we were sailed on to the southward to the truly Barbarian
+coast, where whole nations of Negroes were sure to surround us with the
+canoes, and destroy us; where we could never once go on shore but we
+should be devoured by savage beasts, or more merciless savages of
+human kind?
+
+But as soon as it grew dusk in the evening, I changed my course, and
+steered directly south and by east, bending my course a little toward
+the east, that I might keep in with the shore; and having a fair, fresh
+gale of wind, and a smooth, quiet sea, I made such sail that I believe
+by the next day at three o'clock in the afternoon, when I first made the
+land, I could not be less than 150 miles south of Sallee; quite beyond
+the Emperor of Morocco's dominions, or indeed of any other king
+thereabout, for we saw no people.
+
+Yet such was the fright I had taken at the Moors, and the dreadful
+apprehensions I had of falling into their hands, that I would not stop,
+or go on shore, or come to an anchor; the wind continuing fair till I
+had sailed in that manner five days; and then the wind shifting to the
+southward, I concluded also that if any of our vessels were in chase of
+me, they also would now give over; so I ventured to make to the coast,
+and come to an anchor in the mouth of a little river, I knew not what,
+or where; neither what latitude, what country, what nation, or what
+river: I neither saw, or desired to see any people; the principal thing
+I wanted was fresh water. We came into this creek in the evening,
+resolving to swim on shore as soon as it was dark, and discover the
+country; but, as soon as it was quite dark, we heard such dreadful
+noises of the barking, roaring, and howling of wild creatures, of we
+knew not what kinds, that the poor boy was ready to die with fear, and
+begged of me not to go on shore till day. "Well, Xury," said I, "then I
+won't; but it may be we may see men by day, who will be as bad to us as
+those lions."--"Then we give them the shoot gun," says Xury, laughing,
+"make them run wey." Such English Xury spoke by conversing among us
+slaves. However I was glad to see the boy so cheerful, and I gave him a
+dram (out of our patron's case of bottles) to cheer him up. After all,
+Xury's advice was good, and I took it; we dropped our little anchor, and
+lay still all night; I say still, for we slept none; for in two or three
+hours we saw vast great creatures (we knew not what to call them) of
+many sorts, come down to the sea-shore and run into the water, wallowing
+and washing themselves for the pleasure of cooling themselves; and they
+made such hideous howlings and yellings, that I never indeed heard
+the like.
+
+Xury was dreadfully frightened, and indeed so was I too; but we were
+both more frightened when we heard one of these mighty creatures come
+swimming towards our boat; we could not see him, but we might hear him
+by his blowing to be a monstrous huge and furious beast; Xury said it
+was a lion, and it might be so for aught I know; but poor Xury cried to
+me to weigh the anchor and row away: "No," says I, "Xury; we can slip
+our cable with the buoy to it, and go off to sea; they cannot follow us
+far." I had no sooner said so, but I perceived the creature (whatever it
+was) within two oars' length, which something surprised me; however, I
+immediately stepped to the cabin-door, and taking up my gun, fired at
+him; upon which he immediately turned about, and swam towards the
+shore again.
+
+But it is impossible to describe the horrible noises, and hideous cries
+and howlings, that were raised, as well upon the edge of the shore as
+higher within the country, upon the noise or report of the gun, a thing
+I have some reason to believe those creatures had never heard before:
+this convinced me that there was no going on shore for us in the night
+upon that coast, and how to venture on shore in the day was another
+question too; for to have fallen into the hands of any of the savages,
+had been as bad as to have fallen into the hands of lions and tigers; at
+least we were equally apprehensive of the danger of it.
+
+Be that as it would, we were obliged to go on shore somewhere or other
+for water, for we had not a pint left in the boat; when or where to get
+it, was the point: Xury said, if I would let him go on shore with one
+of the jars, he would find if there was any water, and bring some to me.
+I asked him why he would go? why I should not go, and he stay in the
+boat? The boy answered with so much affection, that made me love him
+ever after. Says he, "If wild mans come, they eat me, you go
+wey."--"Well, Xury," said I, "we will both go, and if the wild mans
+come, we will kill them, they shall eat neither of us." So I gave Xury a
+piece of rusk bread to eat, and a dram out of our patron's case of
+bottles which I mentioned before; and we hauled the boat in as near the
+shore as we thought was proper, and so waded to shore; carrying nothing
+but our arms, and two jars for water.
+
+I did not care to go out of sight of the boat, fearing the coming of
+canoes with savages down the river: but the boy seeing a low place about
+a mile up the country, rambled to it; and by and by I saw him come
+running towards me. I thought he was pursued by some savage, or frighted
+with some wild beast, and I run forward towards him to help him, but
+when I came nearer to him, I saw something hanging over his shoulders,
+which was a creature that he had shot, like a hare, but different in
+colour, and longer legs; however, we were very glad of it, and it was
+very good meat; but the great joy that poor Xury came with, was to tell
+me he had found good water, and seen no wild mans.
+
+But we found afterwards that we need not take such pains for water, for
+a little higher up the creek where we were, we found the water fresh
+when the tide was out, which flows but a little way up; so we filled
+our jars, and feasted on the hare we had killed, and prepared to go on
+our way, having seen no footsteps of any human creature in that part of
+the country.
+
+As I had been one voyage to this coast before, I knew very well that the
+islands of the Canaries, and the Cape de Verd islands also, lay not far
+off from the coast. But as I had no instruments to take an observation
+to know what latitude we were in, and not exactly knowing, or at least
+remembering what latitude they were in, and knew not where to look for
+them, or when to stand off to sea towards them; otherwise I might now
+easily have found some of these islands. But my hope was, that if I
+stood along this coast till I came to that part where the English
+traded, I should find some of their vessels upon their usual design of
+trade, that would relieve and take us in.
+
+By the best of my calculation, that place where I now was, must be that
+country, which, lying between the emperor of Morocco's dominions and the
+Negroes, lies waste, and uninhabited, except by wild beasts; the Negroes
+having abandoned it, and gone farther south for fear of the Moors; and
+the Moors not thinking it worth inhabiting, by reason of its barrenness;
+and indeed both forsaking it because of the prodigious numbers of
+tigers, lions, and leopards, and other furious creatures which harbour
+there; so that the Moors use it for their hunting only, where they go
+like an army, two or three thousand men at a time; and indeed for near
+an hundred miles together upon this coast, we saw nothing but a waste,
+uninhabited country by day, and heard nothing but howlings and roaring
+of wild beasts by night.
+
+Once or twice in the day-time I thought I saw the Pico of Teneriffe,
+being the high top of the Mountain Teneriffe in the Canaries; and had a
+great mind to venture out, in hopes of reaching thither; but having
+tried twice, I was forced in again by contrary winds, the sea also going
+too high for my little vessel; so I resolved to pursue my first design,
+and keep along the shore.
+
+Several times I was obliged to land for fresh water, after we had left
+this place; and once in particular, being early in the morning, we came
+to an anchor under a little point of land which was pretty high; and the
+tide beginning to flow, we lay still to go farther in. Xury, whose eyes
+were more about him than it seems mine were, calls softly to me, and
+tells me that we had best go farther off the shore; "for," says he,
+"look yonder lies a dreadful monster on the side of that hillock fast
+asleep." I looked where he pointed, and saw a dreadful monster indeed,
+for it was a terrible great lion that lay on the side of the shore,
+under the shade of a piece of the hill that hung as it were a little
+over him. "Xury," says I, "you shall go on shore and kill him." Xury
+looked frightened, and said, "Me kill! he eat me at one mouth;" one
+mouthful he meant: however, I said no more to the boy, but bad him lie
+still, and I took our biggest gun, which was almost musket-bore, and
+loaded it with a good charge of powder, and with two slugs, and laid it
+down; then I loaded another gun with two bullets; and the third (for we
+had three pieces) I loaded with five smaller bullets. I took the best
+aim I could with the first piece to have shot him in the head, but he
+lay so with his leg raised a little above his nose, that the slugs hit
+his leg about the knee, and broke the bone. He started up, growling at
+first, but finding his leg broke, fell down again, and then got up upon
+three legs, and gave the most hideous roar that ever I heard. I was a
+little surprised that I had not hit him on the head; however, I took up
+the second piece immediately, and, though he began to move off, fired
+again, and shot him in the head, and had the pleasure to see him drop,
+and make but little noise, but lie struggling for life. Then Xury took
+heart, and would have me let him go on shore; "Well, go," said I; so the
+boy jumped into the water, and taking a little gun in one hand, swam to
+shore with the other hand, and coming close to the creature, put the
+muzzle of the piece to his ear, and shot him in the head again, which
+dispatched him quite.
+
+This was game indeed to us, but this was no food; and I was very sorry
+to lose three charges of powder and shot upon a creature that was good
+for nothing to us. However, Xury said he would have some of him; so he
+comes on board, and asked me to give him the hatchet. "For what, Xury?"
+said I, "Me cut off his head," said he. However, Xury could not cut off
+his head, but he cut off a foot, and brought it with him, and it was a
+monstrous great one.
+
+I bethought myself however, that perhaps the skin of him might one way
+or other be of some value to us; and I resolved to take off his skin if
+I could. So Xury and I went to work with him; but Xury was much the
+better workman at it, for I knew very ill how to do it. Indeed it took
+us both up the whole day, but at last we got off the hide of him, and
+spreading it on the top of our cabin, the sun effectually dried it in
+two days' time, and it afterwards served me to lie upon.
+
+After this stop, we made on to the southward continually for ten or
+twelve days, living very sparing on our provisions, which began to abate
+very much, and going no oftener into the shore than we were obliged to
+for fresh water: my design in this was, to make the river Gambia or
+Senegal, that is to say, any where about the Cape de Verd, where I was
+in hopes to meet with some European ship; and if I did not, I knew not
+what course I had to take, but to seek for the islands, or perish there
+among the Negroes, I knew that all the ships from Europe, which sailed
+either to the coast of Guinea or to Brazil, or to the East Indies, made
+this Cape, or those islands; and in a word, I put the whole of my
+fortune upon this single point, either that I must meet with some ship,
+or must perish.
+
+When I had pursued this resolution about ten days longer, as I have
+said, I began to see that the land was inhabited; and in two or three
+places, as we sailed by, we saw people stand upon the shore to look at
+us; we could also perceive they were quite black, and stark naked. I was
+once inclined to have gone off shore to them; but Xury was my better
+counsellor, and said to me, "No go, no go." However, I hauled in nearer
+the shore that I might talk to them, and I found they run along the
+shore by me a good way: I observed they had no weapons in their hands,
+except one, who had a long slender stick, which Nury said was a lance,
+and that they would throw them a great way with a good aim; so I kept
+at a distance, but talked with them by signs as well as I could; and
+particularly made signs for something to eat; they beckoned to me to
+stop my boat, and they would fetch me some meat. Upon this I lowered the
+top of my sail, and lay by, and two of them ran up into the country, and
+in less than half an hour came back, and brought with them two pieces of
+dry flesh and some corn, such as is the produce of their country; but we
+neither knew what the one or the other was: however, we were willing to
+accept it, but how to come at it was our next dispute, for I was not for
+venturing on shore to them, and they were as much afraid of us: but they
+took a safe way for us all, for they brought it to the shore and laid it
+down, and went and stood a great way off till we fetched it on board,
+and then came close to us again.
+
+We made signs of thanks to them, for we had nothing to make them amends;
+but an opportunity offered that very instant to oblige them wonderfully;
+for while we were lying by the shore came two mighty creatures, one
+pursuing the other (as we took it) with great fury from the mountains
+towards the sea; whether it was the male pursuing the female, or whether
+they were in sport or in rage, we could not tell, any more than we could
+tell whether it was usual or strange, but I believe it was the latter;
+because, in the first place, those ravenous creatures seldom appear but
+in the night; and in the second place, we found the people terribly
+frightened, especially the women. The man that had the lance or dart did
+not fly from them, but the rest did; however, as the two creatures ran
+directly into the water, they did not seem to offer to fall upon any of
+the Negroes, but plunged themselves into the sea, and swam about, as if
+they had come for their diversion: at last, one of them began to come
+nearer our boat than I at first expected; but I lay ready for him, for I
+had loaded my gun with all possible expedition, and bade Xury load both
+the others. As soon as he came fairly within my reach, I fired, and shot
+him directly in the head: immediately he sunk down into the water, but
+rose instantly, and plunged up and down, as if he was struggling for
+life, and so indeed he was: he immediately made to the shore; but
+between the wound, which was his mortal hurt, and the strangling of the
+water, he died just before he reached the shore.
+
+It is impossible to express the astonishment of these poor creatures, at
+the noise and fire of my gun; some of them were even ready to die for
+fear, and fell down as dead with the very terror; but when they saw the
+creature dead, and sunk in the water, and that I made signs to them to
+come to the shore, they took heart and came to the shore, and began to
+search for the creature. I found him by his blood staining the water;
+and by the help of a rope, which I slung round him, and gave the Negroes
+to haul, they dragged him on shore, and found that it was a most curious
+leopard, spotted, and fine to an admirable degree; and the Negroes held
+up their hands with admiration, to think what it was I had killed
+him with.
+
+The other creature, frightened with the flash of fire and the noise of
+the gun, swam on shore, and ran up directly to the mountains from
+whence they came; nor could I, at that distance, know what it was. I
+found quickly the Negroes were for eating the flesh of this creature, so
+I was willing to have them take it as a favour from me; which, when I
+made signs to them that they might take him, they were very thankful
+for. Immediately they fell to work with him; and though they had no
+knife, yet, with a sharpened piece of wood, they took off his skin as
+readily, and much more readily, than we could have done with a knife.
+They offered me some of the flesh, which I declined, making as if I
+would give it them, but made signs for the skin, which they gave me very
+freely, and brought me a great deal more of their provisions, which,
+though I did not understand, yet I accepted. I then made signs to them
+for some water, and held out one of my jars to them, turning it bottom
+upward, to show that it was empty, and that I wanted to have it filled.
+They called immediately to some of their friends, and there came two
+women, and brought a great vessel made of earth, and burnt, as I
+suppose, in the sun; this they set down to me, as before, and I sent
+Xury on shore with my jars, and filled them all three. The women were as
+stark naked as the men.
+
+I was now furnished with roots and corn, such as it was, and water; and
+leaving my friendly Negroes, I made forward for about eleven days more,
+without offering to go near the shore, till I saw the land run out a
+great length into the sea, at about the distance of four or five leagues
+before me; and the sea being very calm, I kept a large offing, to make
+this point. At length, doubling the point, at about two leagues from
+the land, I saw plainly land on the other side, to seaward: then I
+concluded, as it was most certain indeed, that this was the Cape de
+Verd, and those the islands, called, from thence, Cape de Verd Islands.
+However, they were at a great distance, and I could not well tell what I
+had best to do; for if I should be taken with a gale of wind, I might
+neither reach one nor the other.
+
+In this dilemma, as I was very pensive, I stepped into the cabin, and
+sat me down, Xury having the helm; when, on a sudden, the boy cried out,
+Master, master, a ship with a sail! and the foolish boy was frightened
+out of his wits, thinking it must needs be some of his master's ships
+sent to pursue us, when I knew we were gotten far enough out of their
+reach. I jumped out of the cabin, and immediately saw, not only the
+ship, but what she was, viz. that it was a Portuguese ship, and, as I
+thought, was bound to the coast of Guinea, for Negroes. But, when I
+observed the course she steered, I was soon convinced they were bound
+some other way, and did not design to come any nearer to the shore: upon
+which, I stretched out to sea as much as I could, resolving to speak
+with them, if possible.
+
+With all the sail I could make, I found I should not be able to come in
+their way, but that they would be gone by before I could make any signal
+to them: but after I had crowded to the utmost, and began to despair,
+they, it seems, saw me, by the help of their perspective glasses, and
+that it was some European boat, which, they supposed, must belong to
+some ship that was lost; so they shortened sail, to let me come up. I
+was encouraged with this, and as I had my patron's ensign on board, I
+made a waft of it to them, for a signal of distress, and fired a gun,
+both which they saw; for they told me they saw the smoke, though they
+did not hear the gun. Upon these signals, they very kindly brought to,
+and lay by for me; and in about three hours' time I came up with them.
+
+They asked me what I was, in Portuguese, and in Spanish, and in French,
+but I understood none of them; but, at last, a Scotch sailor, who was on
+board, called to me, and I answered him, and told him I was an
+Englishman, that I had made my escape out of slavery from the Moors, at
+Sallee: they then bade me come on board, and very kindly took me in, and
+all my goods.
+
+It was an inexpressible joy to me, which any one will believe, that I
+was thus delivered, as I esteemed it, from such a miserable, and almost
+hopeless, condition as I was in; and I immediately offered all I had to
+the captain of the ship, as a return for my deliverance; but he
+generously told me, he would take nothing from me, but that all I had
+should be delivered safe to me, when I came to the Brazils. "For," says
+he, "I have saved your life on no other terms than I would be glad to be
+saved myself; and it may, one time or other, be my lot to be taken up in
+the same condition. Besides," continued he, "when I carry you to the
+Brazils, so great a way from your own country, if I should take from you
+what you have, you will be starved there, and then I only take away that
+life I have given. No, no, Seignior Inglese," (Mr. Englishman,) says he;
+"I will carry you thither in charity, and these things will help to buy
+your subsistence there, and your passage home again."
+
+As he was charitable, in this proposal, so he was just in the
+performance, to a tittle; for he ordered the seamen, that none should
+offer to touch any thing I had: then he took every thing into his own
+possession, and gave me back an exact inventory of them, that I might
+have them, even so much as my three earthen jars.
+
+As to my boat, it was a very good one; and that he saw, and told me he
+would buy it of me for the ship's use; and asked me what I would have
+for it? I told him, he had been so generous to me in every thing, that I
+could not offer to make any price of the boat, but left it entirely to
+him: upon which, he told me he would give me a note of hand to pay me
+eighty pieces of eight for it at Brazil; and when it came there, if any
+one offered to give more, he would make it up. He offered me also sixty
+pieces of eight more for my boy Xury, which I was loth to take; not that
+I was not willing to let the captain have him, but I was very loth to
+sell the poor boy's liberty, who had assisted me so faithfully in
+procuring my own. However, when I let him know my reason, he owned it to
+be just, and offered me this medium, that he would give the boy an
+obligation to set him free in ten years, if he turned Christian: upon
+this, and Xury saying he was willing to go to him, I let the
+captain have him.
+
+We had a very good voyage to the Brazils, and arrived in the Bay de
+Todos los Santos, or All Saints' Bay, in about twenty-two days after.
+And now I was once more delivered from the most miserable of all
+conditions of life; and what to do next with myself, I was now
+to consider.
+
+The generous treatment the captain gave me, I can never enough remember:
+he would take nothing of me for my passage, gave me twenty ducats for
+the leopard's skin, and forty for the lion's skin, which I had in my
+boat, and caused every thing I had in the ship to be punctually
+delivered to me; and what I was willing to sell, he bought of me; such
+as the case of bottles, two of my guns, and a piece of the lump of
+bees-wax,--for I had made candles of the rest: in a word, I made about
+two hundred and twenty pieces of eight of all my cargo; and with this
+stock, I went on shore in the Brazils.
+
+I had not been long here, before I was recommended to the house of a
+good honest man, like himself, who had an ingeino as they call it, (that
+is, a plantation and a sugar-house.) I lived with him some time, and
+acquainted myself, by that means, with the manner of planting and making
+of sugar: and seeing how well the planters lived, and how they got rich
+suddenly, I resolved, if I could get a licence to settle there, I would
+turn planter among them: endeavouring, in the mean time, to find out
+some way to get my money, which I had left in London, remitted to me. To
+this purpose, getting a kind of a letter of naturalization, I purchased
+as much land that was uncured as my money would reach, and formed a plan
+for my plantation and settlement; such a one as might be suitable to the
+stock which I proposed to myself to receive from England.
+
+I had a neighbour, a Portuguese of Lisbon, but: born of English parents,
+whose name was Wells, and in much such circumstances as I was. I call
+him my neighbour, because his plantation lay next to mine, and we went
+on very sociably together. My stock was but low, as well as his; and we
+rather planted for food than any thing else, for about two years.
+However, we began to increase, and our land began to come into order; so
+that Ihe third year we planted some tobacco, and made each of us a large
+piece of ground ready for planting canes in the year to come: but we
+both wanted help; and now I found, more than before, I had done wrong in
+parting with my boy Xury.
+
+But, alas! for me to do wrong, that never did right, was no great
+wonder. I had no remedy, but to go on: I had got into an employment
+quite remote to my genius, and directly contrary to the life I delighted
+in, and for which I forsook my father's house, and broke through all his
+good advice: nay, I was coining into the very middle station, or upper
+degree of low life, which my father advised me to before; and which, if
+I resolved to go on with, I might as well have staid at home, and never
+have fatigued myself in the world, as I had done: and I used often to
+say to myself, I could have done this as well in England, among my
+friends, as have gone five thousand miles off to do it among strangers
+and savages, in a wilderness, and at such a distance as never to hear
+from any part of the world that had the least knowledge of me.
+
+In this manner, I used to look upon my condition with the utmost regret.
+I had nobody to converse with, but now and then this neighbour; no work
+to be done, but by the labour of my hands: and I used to say, I lived
+just like a man cast away upon some desolate island, that had nobody
+there but himself. But how just has it been! and how should all men
+reflect, that when they compare their present conditions with others
+that are worse, Heaven may oblige them to make the exchange, and be
+convinced of their former felicity by their experience: I say, how just
+has it been, that the truly solitary life I reflected on, in an island
+of mere desolation, should be my lot, who had so often unjustly compared
+it with the life which I then led, in which, had I continued, I had, in
+all probability, been exceeding prosperous and rich.
+
+I was, in some degree, settled in my measures for carrying on the
+plantation, before my kind friend, the captain of the ship that took me
+up at sea, went back; for the ship remained there, in providing his
+lading, and preparing for his voyage, near three months; when, telling
+him what little stock I had left behind me in London, he gave me this
+friendly and sincere advice: "Seignior Inglese," says he, for so he
+always called me, "if you will give me letters, and a procuration here
+in form to me, with orders to the person who has your money in London,
+to send your effects to Lisbon, to such persons as I shall direct, and
+in such goods as are proper for this country, I will bring you the
+produce of them, God willing, at my return; but, since human affairs are
+all subject to changes and disasters, I would have you give orders for
+but one hundred pounds sterling, which, you say, is half your stock, and
+let the hazard be run for the first, so that if it come safe, you may
+order the rest the same way; and, if it miscarry, you may have the other
+half to have recourse to for your supply."
+
+This was so wholesome advice, and looked so friendly, that I could not
+but be convinced it was the best course I could take; so I accordingly
+prepared letters to the gentlewoman with whom I left my money, and a
+procuration to the Portuguese captain, as he desired me.
+
+I wrote the English captain's widow a full account of all my adventures;
+my slavery, escape, and how I had met with the Portuguese captain at
+sea, the humanity of his behaviour, and what condition I was now in,
+with all other necessary directions for my supply; and when this honest
+captain came to Lisbon, he found means, by some of the English merchants
+there, to send over, not the order only, but a full account of my story
+to a merchant at London, who represented it effectually to her:
+whereupon she not only delivered the money, but, out of her own pocket,
+sent the Portuguese captain a very handsome present for his humanity and
+charity to me.
+
+The merchant in London, vesting this hundred pounds in English goods,
+such as the captain had wrote for, sent them directly to him at Lisbon,
+and he brought them all safe to me at the Brazils: among which, without
+my direction, (for I was too young in my business to think of them,) he
+had taken care to have all sorts of tools, iron work, and utensils,
+necessary for my plantation, and which were of great use to me.
+
+When this cargo arrived, I thought my fortune made, for I was surprised
+with the joy of it; and my good steward, the captain, had laid out the
+five pounds, which my friend had sent him as a present for himself, to
+purchase and bring me over a servant, under bond for six years' service,
+and would not accept of any consideration, except a little tobacco,
+which I would have him accept, being of my own produce.
+
+Neither was this all: but my goods being all English manufactures, such
+as cloths, stuffs, baize, and things particularly valuable and desirable
+in the country, I found means to sell them to a very great advantage; so
+that I might say, I had more than four times the value of my first
+cargo, and was now infinitely beyond my poor neighbour, I mean in the
+advancement of my plantation: for the first thing I did, I bought me a
+Negro slave, and ail European servant also; I mean another besides that
+which the captain brought me from Lisbon.
+
+But as abused prosperity is oftentimes made the very means of our
+adversity, so was it with me. I went on the next year with great success
+in my plantation; I raised fifty great rolls of tobacco on my own
+ground, more than I had disposed of for necessaries among my neighbours;
+and these fifty rolls, being each of above a hundred weight, were well
+cured, and laid by against the return of the fleet from Lisbon: and now,
+increasing in business and in wealth, my head began to be full of
+projects and undertakings beyond my reach; such as are, indeed, often
+the ruin of the best heads in business. Had I continued in the station
+I was now in, I had room for all the happy things to have yet befallen
+me, for which my father so earnestly recommended a quiet, retired life,
+and which he had so sensibly described the middle station of life to be
+full of: but other things attended me, and I was still to be the wilful
+agent of all my own miseries; and, particularly, to increase my fault,
+and double the reflections upon myself, which in my future sorrows I
+should have leisure to make, all these miscarriages were procured by my
+apparent obstinate adhering to my foolish inclination, of wandering
+about, and pursuing that inclination, in contradiction to the clearest
+views of doing myself good in a fair and plain pursuit of those
+prospects, and those measures of life, which nature and Providence
+concurred to present me with, and to make my duty.
+
+As I had once done thus in breaking away from my parents, so I could not
+be content now, but I must go and leave the happy view I had of being a
+rich and thriving man in my new plantation, only to pursue a rash and
+immoderate desire of rising faster than the nature of the thing
+admitted; and thus I cast myself down again into the deepest gulph of
+human misery that ever man fell into, or perhaps could be consistent
+with life, and a state of health in the world.
+
+To come, then, by just degrees, to the particulars of this part of my
+story:--You may suppose, that having now lived almost four years in the
+Brazils, and beginning to thrive and prosper very well upon my
+plantation, I had not only learned the language, but had contracted an
+acquaintance and friendship among my fellow-planters, as well as among
+the merchants at St. Salvador, which was our port; and that, in my
+discourses among them, I had frequently given them an account of my two
+voyages to the coast of Guinea, the manner of trading with the Negroes
+there, and how easy it was to purchase on the coast for trifles--such
+as beads, toys, knives, scissars, hatchets, bits of glass, and the
+like--not only gold dust, Guinea grains, elephants' teeth, &c. but
+Negroes, for the service of the Brazils, in great numbers.
+
+They listened always very attentively to my discourses on these heads,
+but especially to that part which related to the buying Negroes; which
+was a trade, at that time, not only not far entered into, but, as far as
+it was, had been carried on by the assientos, or permission of the kings
+of Spain and Portugal, and engrossed from the public; so that few
+Negroes were bought, and those excessive dear.
+
+It happened, being in company with some merchants and planters of my
+acquaintance, and talking of those things very earnestly, three of them
+came to me the next morning, and told me they had been musing very much
+upon what I had discoursed with them of the last night, and they came to
+make a secret proposal to me: and, after enjoining me to secrecy, they
+told me that they had a mind to fit out a ship to go to Guinea; that
+they had all plantations as well as I, and were straitened for nothing
+so much as servants; that as it was a trade that could not be carried
+on, because they could not publicly sell the Negroes when they came
+home, so they desired to make but one voyage, to bring the Negroes on
+shore privately, and divide them among their own plantations: and, in a
+word, the question was, whether I would go their supercargo in the ship,
+to manage the trading part upon the coast of Guinea; and they offered me
+that I should have an equal share of the Negroes, without providing any
+part of the stock.
+
+This was a fair proposal, it must be confessed, had it been made to any
+one that had not a settlement and plantation of his own to look after,
+which was in a fair way of coming to be very considerable, and with a
+good stock upon it. But for me, that was thus entered and established,
+and had nothing to do but go on as I had begun, for three or four years
+more, and to have sent for the other hundred pounds from England; and
+who, in that time, and with that little addition, could scarce have
+failed of being worth three or four thousand pounds sterling, and that
+increasing too; for me to think of such a voyage, was the most
+preposterous thing that ever man, in such circumstances, could be
+guilty of.
+
+But I, that was born to be my own destroyer, could no more resist the
+offer, than I could restrain my first rambling designs, when my father's
+good counsel was lost upon me. In a word, I told them I would go with
+all my heart, if they would undertake to look after my plantation in my
+absence, and would dispose of it to such as I should direct, if I
+miscarried. This they all engaged to do, and entered into writings or
+covenants to do so; and I made a formal will, disposing of my plantation
+and effects, in case of my death; making the captain of the ship that
+had saved my life, as before, my universal heir; but obliging him to
+dispose of my effects as I had directed in my will; one half of the
+produce being to himself, and the other to be shipped to England.
+
+In short, I took all possible caution to preserve my effects, and to
+keep up my plantation: had I used half as much prudence to have looked
+into my own interest, and have made a judgment of what I ought to have
+done and not to have done I had certainly never gone away from so
+prosperous an undertaking, leaving all the probable views of a thriving
+circumstance, and gone a voyage to sea, attended with all its common
+hazards, to say nothing of the reasons I had to expect particular
+misfortunes to myself.
+
+But I was hurried on, and obeyed blindly the dictates of my fancy,
+rather than my reason: and accordingly, the ship being fitted out, and
+the cargo furnished, and all things done as by agreement, by my partners
+in the voyage, I went on board in an evil hour again, the 1st of
+September, 1659, being the same day eight years that I went from my
+father and mother at Hull, in order to act the rebel to their authority,
+and the fool to my own interest.
+
+Our ship was about one hundred and twenty tons burden, carried six guns,
+and fourteen men, besides the master, his boy, and myself; we had on
+board no large cargo of goods, except of such toys as were fit for our
+trade with the Negroes, such as beads, bits of glass, shells, and odd
+trifles, especially little looking-glasses, knives, scissars, hatchets,
+and the like.
+
+The same day I went on board we set sail, standing away to the northward
+upon our own coast, with design to stretch over for the African coast.
+When they came about ten or twelve degrees of northern latitude, which,
+it seems, was the manner of their course in those days, we had very good
+weather, only excessive hot all the way upon our own coast, till we came
+to the height of Cape St. Augustino; from whence, keeping farther off at
+sea, we lost sight of land, and steered as if we were bound for the isle
+Fernando de Noronha, holding our course N.E. by N. and leaving those
+isles on the east. In this course we passed the line in about twelve
+days' time, and were by our last observation, in 7 degrees 22 minutes
+northern latitude, when a violent tornado, or hurricane, took us quite
+out of our knowledge: it began from the south-east, came about to the
+north-west, and then settled in the north-east; from whence it blew in
+such a terrible manner, that for twelve days together we could do
+nothing but drive, and, scudding away before it, let it carry us whither
+ever fate and the fury of the winds directed; and, during these twelve
+days, I need not say that I expected every day to be swallowed up; nor,
+indeed, did any in the ship expect to save their lives.
+
+In this distress, we had, besides the terror of the storm, one of our
+men died of the calenture, and one man and a boy washed overboard. About
+the twelfth day, the weather abating a little, the master made an
+observation as well as he could, and found that he was in about 11
+degrees north latitude, but that he was 22 degrees of longitude
+difference, west from Cape St. Augustino; so that he found he was got
+upon the coast of Guiana, or the north part of Brazil, beyond the river
+Amazons, toward that of the river Oroonoque, commonly called the Great
+River; and began to consult with me what course he should take, for the
+ship was leaky and very much disabled, add he was going directly back to
+the coast of Brazil.
+
+I was positively against that; and looking over the charts of the
+sea-coast of America with him, we concluded there was no inhabited
+country for us to have recourse to, till we came within the circle of
+the Caribbee islands, and therefore resolved to stand away for
+Barbadoes; which by keeping off to sea, to avoid the in-draft of the bay
+or gulf of Mexico, we might easily perform, as we hoped, in about
+fifteen days' sail; whereas we could not possibly make our voyage to the
+coast of Africa without some assistance, both to our ship and ourselves.
+
+With this design, we changed our course, and steered away N.W. by W. in
+order to reach some of our English islands, where I hoped for relief:
+but our voyage was otherwise determined; for being in the latitude of 12
+degrees 18 minutes, a second storm came upon us, which carried us away
+with the same impetuosity westward, and drove us so out of the very way
+of all human commerce, that had all our lives been saved, as to the sea,
+we were rather in danger of being devoured by savages than ever
+returning to our own country.
+
+In this distress, the wind still blowing very hard, one of our men early
+in the morning cried out, Land! and we had no sooner run out of the
+cabin to look out, in hopes of seeing whereabouts in the world we were,
+but the ship struck upon a sand, and in a moment, her motion being so
+stopped, the sea broke over her in such a manner, that we expected we
+should all have perished immediately; and we were immediately driven
+into our close quarters, to shelter us from the very foam and spray
+of the sea.
+
+It is not easy for any one, who has not been in the like condition, to
+describe or conceive the consternation of men in such circumstances; we
+knew nothing where we were, or upon what land it was we were driven,
+whether an island or the main, whether inhabited or not inhabited; and
+as the rage of the wind was still great, though rather less than at
+first, we could not so much as hope to have the ship hold many minutes,
+without breaking in pieces, unless the wind, by a kind of miracle,
+should immediately turn about. In a word, we sat looking upon one
+another, and expecting death every moment, and every man acting
+accordingly, as preparing for another world; for there was little or
+nothing more for us to do in this: that which was our present comfort,
+and all the comfort we had, was, that, contrary to our expectation, the
+ship did not break yet, and that the master said the wind began
+to abate.
+
+Now, though we thought that the wind did a little abate, yet the ship
+having thus struck upon the sand, and sticking too fast for us to expect
+her getting off, we were in a dreadful condition indeed, and had nothing
+to do but to think of saving our lives as well as we could. We had a
+boat at our stern just before the storm, but she was first staved by
+dashing against the ship's rudder, and, in the next place, she broke
+away, and either sunk, or was driven off to sea; so there was no hope
+from her: we had another boat on board, but how to get her off into the
+sea was a doubtful thing; however, there was no room to debate, for we
+fancied the ship would break in pieces every minute, and some told us
+she was actually broken already.
+
+In this distress, the mate of our vessel laid hold of the boat, and with
+the help of the rest of the men, they got her flung over the ship's
+side; and getting all into her, let her go, and committed ourselves,
+being eleven in number, to God's mercy, and the wild sea: for though the
+storm was abated considerably, yet the sea went dreadful high upon the
+shore, and might be well called _den wild zee_, as the Dutch call the
+sea in a storm.
+
+And now our case was very dismal indeed; for we all saw plainly, that
+the sea went so high, that the boat could not live, and that we should
+be inevitably drowned. As to making sail, we had none; nor, if we had,
+could we have done any thing with it; so we worked at the oar towards
+the land, though with heavy hearts, like men going to execution; for we
+all knew that when the boat came nearer to the shore, she would be
+dashed in a thousand pieces by the breach of the sea. However, we
+committed our souls to God in the most earnest manner; and the wind
+driving us towards the shore, we hastened our destruction with our own
+hands, pulling as well as we could towards land.
+
+What the shore was--whether rock or sand, whether steep or shoal--we
+knew not; the only hope that could rationally give us the least shadow
+of expectation, was, if we might happen into some bay or gulf, or the
+mouth of some river, where by great chance we might have run our boat
+in, or got under the lee of the land, and perhaps made smooth water. But
+there was nothing of this appeared; and as we made nearer and nearer the
+shore, the land looked more frightful than the sea.
+
+After we had rowed, or rather driven, about a league and a half, as we
+reckoned it, a raging wave, mountain-like, came rolling astern of us,
+and plainly bade us expect the _coup de grace_. In a word, it took us
+with such a fury, that it overset the boat at once; and separating us,
+as well from the boat as from one another, gave us not time hardly to
+say, "O God!" for we were all swallowed up in a moment.
+
+Nothing can describe the confusion of thought which I felt, when I sunk
+into the water; for though I swam very well, yet I could not deliver
+myself from the waves so as to draw my breath, till that wave having
+driven me, or rather carried me, a vast way on towards the shore, and
+having spent itself, went back, and left me upon the land almost dry,
+but half dead with the water I took in. I had so much presence of mind,
+as well as breath left, that seeing myself nearer the main land than I
+expected, I got upon my feet, and endeavoured to make on towards the
+land as fast as I could, before another wave should return and take me
+up again; but I soon found it was impossible to avoid it; for I saw the
+sea come after me as high as a great hill, and as furious as an enemy,
+which I had no means or strength to contend with: my business was to
+hold my breath, and raise myself upon the water, if I could; and so, by
+swimming, to preserve my breathing, and pilot myself towards the shore,
+if possible; my greatest concern now being, that the wave, as it would
+carry me a great way towards the shore when it came on, might not carry
+me back again with it when it gave back towards the sea.
+
+The wave that came upon me again, buried me at once twenty or thirty
+feet deep in its own body; and I could feel myself carried with a mighty
+force and swiftness towards the shore a very great way; but I held my
+breath, and assisted myself to swim still forward with all my might. I
+was ready to burst with holding my breath, when, as I felt myself rising
+up, so, to my immediate relief, I found my head and hands shoot out
+above the surface of the water; and though it was not two seconds of
+time that I could keep myself so, yet it relieved me greatly, gave me
+breath, and new courage. I was covered again with water a good while,
+but not so long but I held it out; and finding the water had spent
+itself, and began to return, I struck forward against the return of the
+waves, and felt ground again with my feet. I stood still a few moments,
+to recover breath, and till the water went from me, and then took to my
+heels, and ran with what strength I had farther towards the shore. But
+neither would this deliver me from the fury of the sea, which came
+pouring in after me again; and twice more I was lifted up by the waves
+and carried forwards as before, the shore being very flat.
+
+The last time of these two had well nigh been fatal to me; for the sea
+having hurried me along, as before, landed me, or rather dashed me,
+against a piece of a rock, and that with such force, that it left me
+senseless, and indeed helpless, as to my own deliverance; for the blow
+taking my side and breast, beat the breath, as it were, quite out of my
+body; and had it returned again immediately, I must have been strangled
+in the water: but I recovered a little before the return of the waves,
+and seeing I should again be covered with the water, I resolved to hold
+fast by a piece of the rock, and so to hold my breath, if possible, till
+the wave went back. Now as the waves were not so high as the first,
+being nearer land, I held my hold till the wave abated, and then fetched
+another run, which brought me so near the shore, that the next wave,
+though it went over me, yet did not so swallow me up as to carry me
+away; and the next run I took, I got to the main land; where, to my
+great comfort, I clambered up the cliffs of the shore, and sat me down
+upon the grass, free from danger, and quite out of the reach of
+the water.
+
+I was now landed, and safe on shore, and began to look up and thank God
+that my life was saved, in a case wherein there were, some minutes
+before, scarce any room to hope. I believe it is impossible to express,
+to the life, what the ecstasies and transports of the soul are, when it
+is so saved, as I may say, out of the grave: and I did not wonder now at
+the custom, viz. that when a malefactor, who has the halter about his
+neck, is tied up, and just going to be turned off, and has a reprieve
+brought to him; I say, I do not wonder that they bring a surgeon with
+it, to let him blood that very moment they tell him of it, that the
+surprise may not drive the animal spirits from the heart, and
+overwhelm him.
+
+     For sudden joys, like griefs, confound at first.
+
+I walked about on the shore, lifting up my hands, and my whole being, as
+I may say, wrapt up in the contemplation of my deliverance; making a
+thousand gestures and motions, which I cannot describe; reflecting upon
+my comrades that were drowned, and that there should not be one soul
+saved but myself; for, as for them, I never saw them afterwards, or any
+sign of them, except three of their hats, one cap, and two shoes that
+were not fellows.
+
+I cast my eyes to the stranded vessel--when the breach and froth of the
+sea being so big I could hardly see it, it lay so far off--and
+considered, Lord! how was it possible I could get on shore?
+
+After I had solaced my mind with the comfortable part of my condition, I
+began to look round me, to see what kind of a place I was in, and what
+was next to be done; and I soon found my comforts abate, and that, in a
+word, I had a dreadful deliverance: for I was wet, had no clothes to
+shift me, nor any thing either to eat or drink, to comfort me; neither
+did I see any prospect before me, but that of perishing with hunger, or
+being devoured by wild beasts: and that which was particularly
+afflicting to me was, that I had no weapon, either to hunt and kill any
+creature for my sustenance, or to defend myself against any other
+creature that might desire to kill me for theirs. In a word, I had
+nothing about me but a knife, a tobacco-pipe, and a little tobacco in a
+box. This was all my provision; and this threw me into such terrible
+agonies of mind, that, for a while, I ran about like a madman. Night
+coming upon me, I began, with a heavy heart, to consider what would be
+my lot if there were any ravenous beasts in that country, seeing at
+night they always come abroad for their prey.
+
+All the remedy that offered to my thoughts; at that time, was, to get up
+into a thick bushy tree, like a fir, but thorny--which grew near me, and
+where I resolved to sit all night--and consider the next day what death
+I should die, for as yet I saw no prospect of life. I walked about a
+furlong from the shore, to see if I could find any fresh water to drink,
+which I did, to my great joy; and having drank, and put a little
+tobacco into my mouth to prevent hunger, I went to the tree, and getting
+up into it, endeavoured to place myself so, as that if I should fall
+asleep, I might not fall; and having cut me a short stick, like a
+truncheon, for my defence, I took up my lodging; and having been
+excessively fatigued, I fell fast asleep, and slept as comfortably as, I
+believe, few could have done in my condition; and found myself the most
+refreshed with it that I think I ever was on such an occasion.
+
+When I waked it was broad day, the weather clear, and the storm abated,
+so that the sea did not rage and swell as before; but that which
+surprised me most was, that the ship was lifted off in the night from
+the sand where she lay, by the swelling of the tide, and was driven up
+almost as far as the rock which I at first mentioned, where I had been
+so bruised by the wave dashing me against it. This being within about a
+mile from the shore where I was, and the ship seeming to stand upright
+still, I wished myself on board, that at least I might save some
+necessary things for my use.
+
+When I came down from my apartment in the tree, I looked about me again,
+and the first thing I found was the boat; which lay, as the wind and the
+sea had tossed her up, upon the land, about two miles on my right hand.
+I walked as far as I could upon the shore to have got to her; but found
+a neck, or inlet, of water between me and the boat, which was about half
+a mile broad; so I came back for the present, being more intent upon
+getting at the ship, where I hoped to find something for my present
+subsistence.
+
+A little after noon, I found the sea very calm, and the tide ebbed so
+far out, that I could come within a quarter of a mile of the ship: and
+here I found a fresh renewing of my grief; for I saw evidently, that if
+we had kept on board, we had been all safe; that is to say, we had all
+got safe on shore, and I had not been so miserable as to be left
+entirely destitute of all comfort and company, as I now was. This forced
+tears from my eyes again; but as there was little relief in that, I
+resolved, if possible, to get to the ship; so I pulled off my clothes,
+for the weather was hot to extremity, and took the water; but when I
+came to the ship, my difficulty was still greater to know how to get on
+board; for as she lay aground, and high out of the water, there was
+nothing within my reach to lay hold of. I swam round her twice, and the
+second time I spied a small piece of a rope, which I wondered I did not
+see at first, hang down by the fore-chains so low, as that with great
+difficulty, I got hold of it, and by the help of that rope got into the
+forecastle of the ship. Here I found that the ship was bulged, and had a
+great deal of water in her hold; but that she lay so on the side of a
+bank of hard sand, or rather earth, that her stern lay lifted up upon
+the bank, and her head low, almost to the water. By this means all her
+quarter was free, and all that was in that part was dry; for you may be
+sure my first work was to search and to see what was spoiled and what
+was free: and, first, I found that all the ship's provisions were dry
+and untouched by the water; and, being very well disposed to eat, I went
+to the bread-room, and filled my pockets with biscuit, and eat it as I
+went about other things, for I had no time to lose. I also found some
+rum in the great cabin, of which I took a large dram, and which I had
+indeed need enough of, to spirit me for what was before me. Now I wanted
+nothing but a boat, to furnish myself with many things which I foresaw
+would be very necessary to me.
+
+It was in vain to sit still and wish for what was not to be had, and
+this extremity roused my application: we had several spare yards, and
+two or three large spars of wood, and a spare top-mast or two in the
+ship; I resolved to fall to work with these, and flung as many overboard
+as I could manage for their weight, tying every one with a rope, that
+they might not drive away. When this was done, I went down the ship's
+side, and pulling them to me, I tied four of them fast together at both
+ends, as well as I could, in the form of a raft, and laying two or three
+short pieces of plank upon them, crossways, I found I could walk upon it
+very well, but that it was not able to bear any great weight, the pieces
+being too light: so I went to work, and with the carpenter's saw I cut a
+spare top-mast into three lengths, and added them to my raft, with a
+great deal of labour and pains. But the hope of furnishing myself with
+necessaries, encouraged me to go beyond what I should have been able to
+have done upon another occasion.
+
+My raft was now strong enough to bear any reasonable weight. My next
+care was what to load it with, and how to preserve what I laid upon it
+from the surf of the sea; but I was not long considering this. I first
+laid all the planks or boards upon it that I could get, and having
+considered well what I most wanted, I got three of the seamen's chests,
+which I had broken open and emptied, and lowered them down upon my raft;
+these I filled with provisions, viz. bread, rice, three Dutch cheeses,
+five pieces of dried goats' flesh, (which we lived much upon,) and a
+little remainder of European corn, which had been laid by for some fowls
+which we had brought to sea with us, but the fowls were killed. There
+had been some barley and wheat together, but, to my great
+disappointment, I found afterwards that the rats had eaten or spoiled it
+all. As for liquors, I found several cases of bottles belonging to our
+skipper, in which were some cordial waters; and, in all, about five or
+six gallons of rack. These I stowed by themselves, there being no need
+to put them into the chests, nor any room for them. While I was doing
+this, I found the tide began to flow, though very calm; and I had the
+mortification to see my coat, shirt, and waistcoat, which I had left on
+shore, upon the sand, swim away; as for my breeches, which were only
+linen, and open-knee'd, I swam on board in them, and my stockings.
+However, this put me upon rummaging for clothes, of which I found
+enough, but took no more than I wanted for present use, for I had other
+things which my eye was more upon; as, first, tools to work with on
+shore and it was after long searching that I found the carpenter's
+chest, which was indeed a very useful prize to me, and much more
+valuable than a ship-lading of gold would have been at that time. I got
+it down to my raft, even whole as it was, without losing time to look
+into it, for I knew in general what it contained.
+
+My next care was for some ammunition and arms. There were two very good
+fowling-pieces in the great cabin, and two pistols; these I secured
+first, with some powder-horns and a small bag of shot, and two old rusty
+swords. I knew there were three barrels of powder in the ship, but knew
+not where our gunner had stowed them; but with much search I found them,
+two of them dry and good, the third had taken water. Those two I got to
+my raft, with the arms. And now I thought myself pretty well freighted,
+and began to think how I should get to shore with them, having neither
+sail, oar, nor rudder; and the least cap-full of wind would have overset
+all my navigation.
+
+I had three encouragements: 1st, A smooth, calm sea: 2dly, The tide
+rising, and setting in to the shore: 3dly, What little wind there was,
+blew me towards the land. And thus, having found two or three broken
+oars belonging to the boat, and besides the tools which were in the
+chest, I found two saws, an axe, and a hammer; and with this cargo I put
+to sea. For a mile, or thereabouts, my raft went very well, only that I
+found it drive a little distant from the place where I had landed
+before; by which I perceived that there was some indraft of the water,
+and consequently I hoped to find some creek or river there, which I
+might make use of as a port to get to land with my cargo.
+
+As I imagined, so it was: there appeared before me a little opening of
+the land, and I found a strong current of the tide set into it; so I
+guided my raft, as well as I could, to get into the middle of the
+stream. But here I had like to have suffered a second shipwreck, which,
+if I had, I think verily would have broken my heart; for knowing nothing
+of the coast, my raft ran aground at one end of it upon a shoal, and not
+being aground at the other end, it wanted but a little that all my cargo
+had slipped off towards that end that was afloat, and so fallen into the
+water. I did my utmost, by setting my back against the chests, to keep
+them in their places, but could not thrust off the raft with all my
+strength; neither durst I stir from the posture I was in, but holding up
+the chests with all my might, I stood in that manner near half an hour,
+in which time the rising of the water brought me a little more upon a
+level; and a little after, the water still rising, my raft floated
+again, and I thrust her off with the oar I had into the channel, and
+then driving up higher, I at length found myself in the mouth of a
+little river, with land on both sides, and a strong current or tide
+running up. I looked on both sides for a proper place to get to shore,
+for I was not willing to be driven too high up the river; hoping, in
+time, to see some ship at sea, and therefore resolved to place myself as
+near the coast as I could.
+
+At length I spied a little cove on the right shore of the creek, to
+which, with great pain and difficulty, I guided my raft, and at last got
+so near, as that reaching ground with my oar, I could thrust her
+directly in; but here I had like to have dipped all my cargo into the
+sea again; for that shore lying pretty steep, that is to say, sloping,
+there was no place to land, but where one end of my float, if it ran on
+shore, would lie so high, and the other sink lower, as before, that it
+would endanger my cargo again. All that I could do, was to wait till the
+tide was at the highest, keeping the raft with my oar like an anchor, to
+hold the side of it fast to the shore, near a flat piece of ground,
+which I expected the water would flow over; and so it did. As soon as I
+found water enough, for my raft drew about a foot of water, I thrust her
+upon that flat piece of ground, and there fastened or moored her, by
+sticking my two broken oars into the ground; one on one-side, near one
+end, and one on the other side, near the other end: and thus I lay till
+the water ebbed away, and left my raft and all my cargo safe on shore.
+
+My next work was to view the country, and seek a proper place for my
+habitation, and where to stow my goods, to secure them from whatever
+might happen. Where I was, I yet knew not; whether on the continent, or
+on an island; whether inhabited, or not inhabited; whether in danger of
+wild beasts, or not. There was a hill, not above a mile from me, which
+rose up very steep and high, and which seemed to overtop some other
+hills, which lay as in a ridge from it, northward. I took out one of the
+fowling-pieces, and one of the pistols, and a horn of powder; and thus
+armed, I travelled for discovery up to the top of that hill; where,
+after I had, with great labour and difficulty, got up to the top, I saw
+my fate, to my great affliction, viz. that I was in an island, environed
+every way with the sea, no land to be seen, except some rocks, which lay
+a great way off, and two small islands, less than this, which lay about
+three leagues to the west.
+
+I found also that the island I was in was barren, and, as I saw good
+reason to believe, uninhabited, except by wild beasts, of whom, however,
+I saw none; yet I saw abundance of fowls, but knew not their kinds;
+neither, when I killed them, could I tell what was fit for food, and
+what not. At my coming back, I shot at a great bird, which I saw sitting
+upon a tree, on the side of a great wood. I believe it was the first gun
+that had been fired there since the creation of the world: I had no
+sooner fired, but from all the parts of the wood there arose an
+innumerable number of fowls, of many sorts, making a confused screaming,
+and crying, every one according to his usual note; but not one of them
+of any kind that I knew. As for the creature I killed, I took it to be a
+kind of a hawk, its colour and beak resembling it, but had no talons or
+claws more than common. Its flesh was carrion, and fit for nothing.
+
+Contented with this discovery, I came back to my raft, and fell to work
+to bring my cargo on shore, which took me up the rest of that day: what
+to do with myself at night I knew not, nor indeed where to rest: for I
+was afraid to lie down on the ground, not knowing but some wild beast
+might devour me; though, as I afterwards found, there was really no need
+for those fears.
+
+However, as well as I could, I barricadoed myself round with the chests
+and boards that I had brought on shore, and made a kind of a hut for
+that night's lodging. As for food, I yet saw not which way to supply
+myself, except that I had seen two or three creatures, like hares, run
+out of the wood where I shot the fowl.
+
+I now began to consider, that I might yet get a great many things out of
+the ship, which would be useful to me, and particularly some of the
+rigging and sails, and such other things as might come to land; and I
+resolved to make another voyage on board the vessel, if possible. And as
+I knew that the first storm that blew must necessarily break her all in
+pieces, I resolved to set all other things apart, till I got every thing
+out of the ship that I could get. Then I called a council, that is to
+say, in my thoughts, whether I should take back the raft; but this
+appeared impracticable: so I resolved to go as before, when the tide was
+down; and I did so, only that I stripped before I went from my hut;
+having nothing on but a chequered shirt, a pair of linen drawers, and a
+pair of pumps on my feet.
+
+I got on board the ship as before, and prepared a second raft; and
+having had experience of the first, I neither made this so unwieldy, nor
+loaded it so hard, but yet I brought away several things very useful to
+me: as, first, in the carpenter's stores, I found two or three bags of
+nails and spikes, a great screw-jack, a dozen or two of hatchets; and,
+above all, that most useful thing called a grind-stone. All these I
+secured together, with several things belonging to the gunner;
+particularly two or three iron crows, and two barrels of musket bullets,
+seven muskets, and another fowling-piece, with some small quantity of
+powder more; a large bag-full of small shot, and a great roll of
+sheet-lead; but this last was so heavy, I could not hoist it up to get
+it over the ship's side.
+
+Besides these things, I took all the men's clothes that I could find,
+and a spare fore-top sail, a hammock, and some bedding; and with this I
+loaded my second raft, and brought them all safe on shore, to my very
+great comfort.
+
+I was under some apprehensions, during my absence from the land, that at
+least my provisions might be devoured on shore: but when I came back, I
+found no sign of any visitor; only there sat a creature like a wild cat,
+upon one of the chests, which, when I came towards it, ran away a little
+distance, and then stood still. She sat very composed and unconcerned,
+and looked full in my face, as if she had a mind to be acquainted with
+me. I presented my gun to her, but, as she did not understand it, she
+was perfectly unconcerned at it, nor did she offer to stir away; upon
+which I tossed her a bit of biscuit, though, by the way, I was not very
+free of it, for my store was not great: however, I spared her a bit, I
+say, and she went to it, smelled of it, and ate it, and looked (as
+pleased) for more; but I thanked her, and could spare no more: so she
+marched off.
+
+Having got my second cargo on shore--though I was fain to open the
+barrels of powder, and bring them by parcels, for they were too heavy,
+being large casks--I went to work to make me a little tent, with the
+sail, and some poles, which I cut for that purpose; and into this tent I
+brought every thing that I knew would spoil either with rain or sun; and
+I piled all the empty chests and casks up in a circle round the tent, to
+fortify it from any sudden attempt either from man or beast.
+
+When I had done this, I blocked up the door of the tent with some boards
+within, and an empty chest set up on end without; and spreading one of
+the beds upon the ground, laying my two pistols just at my head, and my
+gun at length by me, I went to bed for the first time, and slept very
+quietly all night, for I was very weary and heavy; for the night before
+I had slept little, and had laboured very hard all day, as well to fetch
+all those things from the ship, as to get them on shore.
+
+I had the biggest magazine of all kinds now that ever was laid up, I
+believe, for one man: but I was not satisfied still: for while the ship
+sat upright in that posture, I thought I ought to get every thing out of
+her that I could: so every day, at low water, I went on board, and
+brought away something or other; but particularly the third time I went,
+I brought away as much of the rigging as I could, as also all the small
+ropes and rope-twine I could get, with a piece of spare canvass, which
+was to mend the sails upon occasion, and the barrel of wet gunpowder.
+In a word, I brought away all the sails first and last; only that I was
+fain to cut them in pieces, and bring as much at a time as I could; for
+they were no more useful to be sails, but as mere canvass only.
+
+But that which comforted me still more, was, that, last of all, after I
+had made five or six such voyages as these, and thought I had nothing
+more to expect from the ship that was worth my meddling with; I say,
+after all this, I found a great hogshead of bread, and three large
+runlets of rum or spirits, and a box of sugar, and a barrel of fine
+flour; this was surprising to me, because I had given over expecting any
+more provisions, except what was spoiled by the water. I soon emptied
+the hogshead of that bread, and wrapped it up, parcel by parcel, in
+pieces of the sails, which I cut out; and, in a word, I got all this
+safe on shore also.
+
+The next day I made another voyage, and now having plundered the ship of
+what was portable and fit to hand out, I began with the cables, and
+cutting the great cable into pieces, such as I could move, I got two
+cables and a hawser on shore, with all the iron-work I could get; and
+having cut down the spritsail-yard, and the mizen-yard, and every thing
+I could, to make a large raft, I loaded it with all those heavy goods;
+and came away; but my good luck began now to leave me; for this raft was
+so unwieldy, and so overladen, that after I was entered the little cove,
+where I had landed the rest of my goods, not being able to guide it so
+handily as I did the other, it overset, and threw me and all my cargo
+into the water; as for myself, it was no great harm, for I was near the
+shore; but as to my cargo, it was a great part of it lost, especially
+the iron, which I expected would have been of great use to me: however,
+when the tide was out, I got most of the pieces of cable ashore, and
+some of the iron, though with infinite labour; for I was fain to dip for
+it into the water, a work which fatigued me very much. After this I went
+every day on board, and brought away what I could get.
+
+I had been now thirteen days ashore, and had been eleven times on board
+the ship; in which time I had brought away all that one pair of hands
+could well be supposed capable to bring; though I believe verily, had
+the calm weather held, I should have brought away the whole ship, piece
+by piece; but preparing the twelfth time to go on board, I found the
+wind began to rise: however, at low water, I went on board; and though I
+thought I had rummaged the cabin so effectually, as that nothing could
+be found, yet I discovered a locker with drawers in it, in one of which
+I found two or three razors, and one pair of large scissars with some
+ten or a dozen of good knives and forks; in another I found about
+thirty-six pounds value in money, some European coin, some Brazil, some
+pieces of eight, some gold, and some silver.
+
+I smiled to myself at the sight of this money: "O drug!" said I aloud,
+"what art thou good for? Thou art not worth to me, no, not the taking
+off the ground; one of those knives is worth all this heap: I have no
+manner of use for thee; e'en remain where thou art, and go to the
+bottom, as a creature whose life is not worth saving." However, upon
+second thoughts, I took it away; and wrapping all this in a piece of
+canvass, I began to think of making another raft; but while I was
+preparing this, I found the sky over-cast, and the wind began to rise,
+and in a quarter of an hour it blew a fresh gale from the shore. It
+presently occurred to me, that it was in vain to pretend to make a raft
+with the wind off shore; and that it was my business to be gone before
+the tide of flood began, or otherwise I might not be able to reach the
+shore at all. Accordingly I let myself down into the water, and swam
+across the channel which lay between the ship and the sands, and even
+that with difficulty enough, partly with the weight of the things I had
+about me, and partly the roughness of the water; for the wind rose very
+hastily, and before it was quite high water it blew a storm.
+
+But I was got home to my little tent, where I lay, with all my wealth
+about me very secure. It blew very hard all that night, and in the
+morning, when I looked out, behold, no more ship was to be seen! I was a
+little surprised, but recovered myself with this satisfactory
+reflection, viz. that I had lost no time, nor abated no diligence, to
+get every thing out of her that could be useful to me, and that, indeed,
+there was little left in her that I was able to bring away, if I had had
+more time.
+
+I now gave over any more thoughts of the ship, or of any thing out of
+her, except what might drive on shore, from her wreck; as, indeed,
+divers pieces of her afterwards did; but those things were of small
+use to me.
+
+My thoughts were now wholly employed about securing myself against
+either savages, if any should appear, or wild beasts, if any were in the
+island; and I had many thoughts of the method how to do this, and what
+kind of dwelling to make, whether I should make me a cave in the earth,
+or a tent upon the earth: and in short, I resolved upon both; the manner
+and description of which, it may not be improper to give an account of.
+
+I soon found the place I was in was not for my settlement, particularly
+because it was upon a low, moorish ground, near the sea, and I believed
+it would not be wholesome; and more particularly because there was no
+fresh water near it: so I resolved to find a more healthy and more
+convenient spot of ground.
+
+I consulted several things in my situation, which I found would be
+proper for me: 1st, Health and fresh water, I just now mentioned: 2dly,
+Shelter from the heat of the sun: 3dly, Security from ravenous
+creatures, whether men or beasts: 4thly, A view to the sea, that if God
+sent any ship in sight, I might not lose any advantage for my
+deliverance, of which I was not willing to banish all my
+expectation yet.
+
+In search for a place proper for this, I found a little plain on the
+side of a rising hill, whose front towards this little plain was steep
+as a house-side, so that nothing could come down upon me from the top.
+On the side of this rock there was a hollow place, worn a little way in,
+like the entrance or door of a cave; but there was not really any cave,
+or way into the rock, at all.
+
+On the flat of the green, just before this hollow place, I resolved to
+pitch my tent. This plain was not above a hundred yards broad, and about
+twice as long, and lay like a green before my door; and, at the end of
+it, descended irregularly every way down into the low ground by the sea
+side. It was on the N.N.W. side of the hill; so that it was sheltered
+from the heat every day, till it came to a W. and by S. sun, or
+thereabouts, which, in those countries, is near the setting.
+
+Before I set up my tent, I drew a half-circle before the hollow place,
+which took in about ten yards in its semi-diameter from the rock, and
+twenty yards in its diameter, from its beginning and ending.
+
+In this half-circle I pitched two rows of strong stakes, driving them
+into the ground till they stood very firm like piles, the biggest end
+being out of the ground about five feet and a half and sharpened on the
+top. The two rows did not stand above six inches from one another.
+
+Then I took the pieces of cable which I cut in the ship, and laid them
+in rows, one upon another, within the circle, between these two rows of
+stakes, up to the top, placing other stakes in the inside, leaning
+against them, about two feet and a half high, like a spur to a post; and
+this fence was so strong, that neither man nor beast could get into it
+or over it. This cost me a great deal of time and labour, especially to
+cut the piles in the woods, bring them to the place, and drive them into
+the earth.
+
+The entrance into this place I made to be not by a door, but by a short
+ladder to go over the top; which ladder, when I was in, I lifted over
+after me; and so I was completely fenced in and fortified, as I thought,
+from all the world, and consequently slept secure in the night, which
+otherwise I could not have done; though, as it appeared afterwards,
+there was no need of all this caution from the enemies that I
+apprehended danger from.
+
+Into this fence, or fortress, with infinite labour, I carried all my
+riches, all my provisions, ammunition, and stores, of which you have the
+account above; and I made a large tent, which, to preserve me from the
+rains, that in one part of the year are very violent there, I made
+double, viz. one smaller tent within, and one larger tent above it, and
+covered the uppermost with a large tarpaulin, which I had saved among
+the sails.
+
+And now I lay no more for a while in the bed which I had brought on
+shore, but in a hammock, which was indeed a very good one, and belonged
+to the mate of the ship.
+
+Into this tent I brought all my provisions, and every thing that would
+spoil by the wet; and having thus enclosed all my goods, I made up the
+entrance which till now I had left open, and so passed and repassed, as
+I said, by a short ladder.
+
+When I had done this, I began to work my way into the rock, and bringing
+all the earth and stones that I dug down out through my tent, I laid
+them up within my fence in the nature of a terrace, so that it raised
+the ground within about a foot and an half; and thus I made me a cave,
+just behind my tent, which served me like a cellar to my house. It cost
+me much labour and many days, before all these things were brought to
+perfection; and therefore I must go back to some other things which took
+up some of my thoughts. At the same time it happened, after I had laid
+my scheme for the setting up my tent, and making the cave, that a storm
+of rain falling from a thick, dark cloud, a sudden flash of lightning
+happened, and after that, a great clap of thunder, as is naturally the
+effect of it. I was not so much surprised with the lightning, as I was
+with a thought, which darted into my mind as swift as the lightning
+itself: O my powder! My very heart sunk within me when I thought, that
+at one blast, all my powder might be destroyed; on which, not my defence
+only, but the providing me food, as I thought, entirely depended. I was
+nothing near so anxious about my own danger, though, had the powder took
+fire, I had never known who had hurt me.
+
+Such impression did this make upon me, that after the storm was over, I
+laid aside all my works, my building and fortifying, and applied myself
+to make bags and boxes, to separate the powder, and to keep it a little
+and a little in a parcel, in hope that whatever might come, it might not
+all take fire at once; and to keep it so apart, that it should not be
+possible to make one part fire another. I finished this work in about a
+fortnight; and I think my powder, which in all was about 240 lb. weight,
+was divided in not less than a hundred parcels. As to the barrel that
+had been wet, I did not apprehend any danger from that; so I placed it
+in my new cave, which, in my fancy, I called my kitchen, and the rest I
+hid up and down in holes among the rocks, so that no wet might come to
+it, marking very carefully where I laid it.
+
+In the interval of time while this was doing, I went out at least once
+every day with my gun, as well to divert myself, as to see if I could
+kill any thing fit for food; and, as near as I could, to acquaint myself
+with what the island produced. The first time I went out, I presently
+discovered that there were goats upon the island, which was a great
+satisfaction to me; but then it was attended with this misfortune to me,
+viz. that they were so shy, so subtle, and so swift of foot, that it was
+the most difficult thing in the world to come at them: but I was not
+discouraged at this, not doubting but I might now and then shoot one, as
+it soon happened; for after I had found their haunts a little, I laid
+wait in this manner for them: I observed, if they saw me in the valleys,
+though they were upon the rocks, they would run away as in a terrible
+fright; but if they were feeding in the valleys, and I was upon the
+rocks, they took no notice of me; from whence I concluded, that by the
+position of their optics, their sight was so directed downward, that
+they did not readily see objects that were above them: so, afterwards, I
+took this method--I always climbed the rocks first, to get above them,
+and then had frequently a fair mark. The first shot I made among these
+creatures, I killed a she-goat, which had a little kid by her, which she
+gave suck to, which grieved me heartily; but when the old one fell, the
+kid stood stock still by her, till I came and took her up; and not only
+so, but when I carried the old one with me, upon my shoulders, the kid
+followed me quite to my enclosure; upon which, I laid down the dam, and
+took the kid in my arms, and carried it over my pale, in hopes to have
+bred it up tame; but it would not eat; so I was forced to kill it, and
+eat it myself. These two supplied me with flesh a great while, for I ate
+sparingly, and preserved my provisions (my bread especially) as much as
+possibly I could.
+
+Having now fixed my habitation, I found it absolutely necessary to
+provide a place to make a fire in, and fuel to burn; and what I did for
+that, as also how I enlarged my cave, and what conveniences I made, I
+shall give a full account of in its proper place: but I must first give
+some little account of myself, and of my thoughts about living, which,
+it may well be supposed, were not a few.
+
+I had a dismal prospect of my condition; for as I was not cast away upon
+that island without being driven, as is said, by a violent storm, quite
+out of the course of our intended voyage; and a great way, viz. some
+hundreds of leagues, out of the ordinary course of the trade of mankind,
+I had great reason to consider it as a determination of Heaven, that in
+this desolate place, and in this desolate manner, I should end my life.
+The tears would run plentifully down my face when I made these
+reflections; and sometimes I would expostulate with myself why
+Providence should thus completely ruin its creatures, and render them so
+absolutely miserable; so abandoned without help, so entirely depressed,
+that it could hardly be rational to be thankful for such a life.
+
+But something always returned swift upon me to check these thoughts, and
+to reprove me: and particularly, one day, walking with my gun in my
+hand, by the sea side, I was very pensive upon the subject of my present
+condition, when reason, as it were, expostulated with me the other way,
+thus: "Well, you are in a desolate condition, it is true; but, pray
+remember, where are the rest of you? Did not you come eleven of you into
+the boat? Where are the ten? Why were not they saved, and you lost? Why
+were you singled out? Is it better to be here or there?" And then I
+pointed to the sea. All evils are to be considered with the good that is
+in them, and with what worse attends them.
+
+Then it occurred to me again, how well I was furnished for my
+subsistence, and what would have been my case if it had not happened
+(which was a hundred thousand to one) that the ship floated from the
+place where she first struck, and was driven so near to the shore, that
+I had time to get all these things out of her: what would have been my
+case, if I had been to have lived in the condition in which I at first
+came on shore, without necessaries of life, or necessaries to supply and
+procure them? "Particularly, said I aloud (though to myself,) what
+should I have done without a gun, without ammunition, without any tools
+to make any thing, or to work with, without clothes, bedding, a tent, or
+any manner of covering?" and that now I had all these to a sufficient
+quantity, and was in a fair way to provide myself in such a manner as to
+live without my gun, when my ammunition was spent: so that I had a
+tolerable view of subsisting, without any want, as long as I lived; for
+I considered, from the beginning, how I should provide for the accidents
+that might happen, and for the time that was to come, not only after my
+ammunition should be spent, but even after my health or strength
+should decay.
+
+I confess, I had not entertained any notion of my ammunition being
+destroyed at one blast, I mean my powder being blown up by lightning;
+and this made the thoughts of it so surprising to me, when it lightened
+and thundered, as I observed just now.
+
+And now being to enter into a melancholy relation of a scene of silent
+life, such, perhaps, as was never heard of in the world before, I shall
+take it from its beginning, and continue it in its order. It was, by my
+account, the 30th of September, when, in the manner as above said, I
+first set foot upon this horrid island; when the sun being to us in its
+autumnal equinox, was almost just over my head: for I reckoned myself,
+by observation, to be in the latitude of 9 degrees 22 minutes north
+of the Line.
+
+After I had been there about ten or twelve days, it came into my
+thoughts that I should lose my reckoning of time for want of books, and
+pen and ink, and should even forget the sabbath days from the working
+days: but, to prevent this, I cut it with my knife upon a large post, in
+capital letters; and making it into a great cross, I set it up on the
+shore where I first landed, viz. "I came on shore here on the 30th of
+September, 1659." Upon the sides of this square post I cut every day a
+notch with my knife, and every seventh notch was as long again as the
+rest, and every first day of the month as long again as that long one:
+and thus I kept my calendar, or weekly, monthly, and yearly reckoning
+of time.
+
+But it happened, that among the many things which I brought out of the
+ship, in the several voyages which, as above mentioned, I made to it, I
+got several things of less value, but not at all less useful to me,
+which I found, some time after, in rummaging the chests; as, in
+particular, pens, ink, and paper; several parcels in the captain's,
+mate's, gunner's, and carpenter's keeping; three or four compasses, some
+mathematical instruments, dials, perspectives, charts, and books of
+navigation; all which I huddled together, whether I might want them or
+no: also I found three very good bibles, which came to me in my cargo
+from England, and which I had packed up among my things; some Portuguese
+books also, and, among them, two or three popish prayer books, and
+several other books, all which I carefully secured. And I must not
+forget, that we had in the ship a dog, and two cats, of whose eminent
+history I may have occasion to say something, in its place: for I
+carried both the cats with me; and as for the dog, he jumped out of the
+ship himself, and swam on shore to me the day after I went on shore with
+my first cargo, and was a trusty servant to me for many years: I wanted
+nothing that he could fetch me, nor any company that he could make up to
+me, I only wanted to have him talk to me, but that would not do. As I
+observed before, I found pens, ink, and paper, and I husbanded them to
+the utmost; and I shall show that while my ink lasted, I kept things
+very exact, but after that was gone I could not; for I could not make
+any ink, by any means that I could devise.
+
+And this put me in mind that I wanted many things, notwithstanding all
+that I had amassed together; and of these, this of ink was one; as also
+a spade, pick-axe, and shovel, to dig or remove the earth; needles,
+pins, and thread: as for linen, I soon learned to want that without much
+difficulty.
+
+This want of tools made every work I did go on heavily; and it was near
+a whole year before I had entirely finished my little pale, or
+surrounded my habitation. The piles or stakes, which were as heavy as I
+could well lift, were a long time in cutting and preparing in the woods,
+and more, by far, in bringing home; so that I spent sometimes two days
+in cutting and bringing home one of those posts, and a third day in
+driving it into the ground; for which purpose, I got a heavy piece of
+wood at first, but at last bethought myself of one of the iron crows;
+which, however, though I found it, yet it made driving these posts or
+piles very laborious and tedious work. But what need I have been
+concerned at the tediousness of any thing I had to do, seeing I had time
+enough to do it in? nor had I any other employment, if that had been
+over, at least that I could foresee, except the ranging the island to
+seek for food; which I did, more or less, every day.
+
+I now began to consider seriously my condition, and the circumstance I
+was reduced to; and I drew up the state of my affairs in writing, not so
+much to leave them to any that were to come after me (for I was like to
+have but few heirs,) as to deliver my thoughts from daily poring upon
+them, and afflicting my mind: and as my reason began now to master my
+despondency, I began to comfort myself as well as I could, and to set
+the good against the evil, that I might have something to distinguish my
+case from worse; and I stated very impartially, like debtor and
+creditor, the comforts I enjoyed against the miseries I suffered, thus:
+
+     EVIL.
+
+     I am cast upon a horrible,
+     desolate island, void of all
+     hope of recovery.
+
+     I am singled out and separated,
+     as it were, from all the
+     world, to be miserable.
+
+     I am divided from mankind,
+     a solitaire; one banished
+     from human society.
+
+     I have no clothes to cover
+     me.
+
+     I am without any defence,
+     or means to resist any violence
+     of man or beast.
+
+     I have no soul to speak to,
+     or relieve me.
+
+
+     GOOD.
+
+     But I am alive; and not
+     drowned, as all my ship's company
+     were.
+
+     But I am singled out too
+     from all the ship's crew, to be
+     spared from death; and he
+     that miraculously save me
+     from death, can deliver me
+     from this condition.
+
+     But I am not starved, and
+     perishing in a barren place,
+     affording no sustenance.
+
+     But I am in a hot climate,
+     where, if I had clothes, I could
+     hardly wear them.
+
+     But I am cast on an island
+     where I see no wild beast to
+     hurt me, as I saw on the coast
+     of Africa: and what if I had
+     been shipwrecked there?
+
+     But God wonderfully sent
+     the ship in near enough to the
+     shore, that I have got out so
+     many necessary things as will
+     either supply my wants, or
+     enable me to supply myself,
+     even as long as I live.
+
+Upon the whole, here was an undoubted testimony, that there was scarce
+any condition in the world so miserable, but there was something
+negative, or something positive, to be thankful for in it: and let this
+stand as a direction, from the experience of the most miserable of all
+conditions in this world, that we may always find in it something to
+comfort ourselves from, and to set, in the description of good and evil,
+on the credit side of the account.
+
+Having now, brought my mind a little to relish my condition, and given
+over looking out to sea, to see if I could spy a ship; I say, giving
+over these things, I began to apply myself to accommodate my way of
+living, and to make things as easy to me as I could.
+
+I have already described my habitation, which was a tent under the side
+of a rock,--surrounded with a strong pale of posts and cables; but I
+might now rather call it a wall, for I raised a kind of wall against it
+of turfs, about two feet thick on the outside: and after some time (I
+think it was a year and a half) I raised rafters from it, leaning to the
+rock, and thatched or covered it with boughs of trees, and such things
+as I could get, to keep out the rain; which I found, at some times of
+the year, very violent.
+
+I have already observed how I brought all my goods into this pale, and
+into the cave which I had made behind me. But I must observe, too, that
+at first this was a confused heap of goods, which, as they lay in no
+order, so they took up all my place; I had no room to turn myself: so I
+set myself to enlarge my cave, and work farther into the earth; for it
+was a loose, sandy rock, which yielded easily to the labour I bestowed
+on it: and when I found I was pretty safe as to the beasts of prey, I
+worked sideways, to the right hand, into the rock, and then turning to
+the right again, worked quite out, and made me a door to come out in the
+outside of my pale or fortification.
+
+This gave me not only egress and regress, as it were, a back-way to my
+tent and to my storehouse, but gave me room to stow my goods.
+
+And now I began to apply myself to make such necessary things as I found
+I most wanted, particularly a chair and a table; for without these I was
+not able to enjoy the few comforts I had in the world; I could not
+write, or eat, or do several things with so much pleasure, without a
+table: so I went to work. And here I must needs observe, that as reason
+is the substance and original of the mathematics, so by stating, and
+squaring every thing by reason, and by making the most rational judgment
+of things, every man may be, in time, master of every mechanic art. I
+had never handled a tool in my life; and yet, in time, by labour,
+application, and contrivance, I found, at last, that I wanted nothing
+but I could have made, especially if I had had tools. However, I made
+abundance of things, even without tools; and some with no more tools
+than an adze and a hatchet, which perhaps were never made that way
+before, and that with infinite labour. For example, if I wanted a board,
+I had no other way but to cut down a tree, set it on an edge before me,
+and hew it flat on either side with my axe, till I had brought it to be
+as thin as a plank, and then dub it smooth with my adze. It is true, by
+this method I could make but one board of a whole tree; but this I had
+no remedy for but patience, any more than I had for a prodigious deal of
+time and labour which it took me up to make a plank or board: but my
+time or labour was little worth, and so it was as well employed one way
+as another.
+
+However, I made me a table and a chair, as I observed above, in the
+first place; and this I did out of the short pieces of boards that I
+brought on my raft from the ship. But when I wrought out some boards, as
+above, I made large shelves, of the breadth of a foot and a half, one
+over another, all along one side of my cave, to lay all my tools, nails,
+and iron-work on; and, in a word, to separate every thing at large in
+their places, that I might easily come at them. I knocked pieces into
+the wall of the rock, to hang my guns, and all things that would hang
+up: so that had my cave been seen, it looked like a general magazine of
+all necessary things; and I had every thing so ready at my hand, that it
+was a great pleasure to me to see all my goods in such order, and
+especially to find my stock of all necessaries so great.
+
+And now it was that I began to keep a journal of every day's employment;
+for, indeed, at first, I was in too much hurry, and not only hurry as to
+labour, but in much discomposure of mind; and my journal would, too,
+have been full of many dull things: for example, I must have said
+thus--"_Sept_. 30th. After I had got to shore, and had escaped drowning,
+instead of being thankful to God for my deliverance, having first
+vomited, with the great quantity of salt water which was gotten into my
+stomach, and recovering myself a little, I ran about the shore, wringing
+my hands, and beating my head and face, exclaiming at my misery, and
+crying out, 'I was undone, undone!' till, tired and faint, I was forced
+to lie down on the ground to repose; but durst not sleep, for fear of
+being devoured."
+
+Some days after this, and after I had been on board the ship, and got
+all that I could out of her, I could not forbear getting up to the top
+of a little mountain, and looking out to sea, in hopes of seeing a ship:
+then fancy that, at a vast distance, I spied a sail, please myself with
+the hopes of it, and, after looking steadily, till I was almost blind,
+lose it quite, and sit down and weep like a child, and thus increase my
+misery by my folly.
+
+But, having gotten over these things in some measure, and having settled
+my household-stuff and habitation, made me a table and a chair, and all
+as handsome about me as I could, I began to keep my journal: of which I
+shall here give you the copy (though in it will be told all these
+particulars over again) as long as it lasted; for, having no more ink, I
+was forced to leave it off.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+THE JOURNAL.
+
+_September_ 30th, 1659. I, poor miserable Robinson Crusoe, being
+shipwrecked, during a dreadful storm, in the offing, came on shore on
+this dismal unfortunate island, which I called the ISLAND OF DESPAIR;
+all the rest of the ship's company being drowned, and myself
+almost dead.
+
+All the rest of that day I spent in afflicting myself at the dismal
+circumstances I was brought to, viz. I had neither food, house, clothes,
+weapon, nor place to fly to: and, in despair of any relief, saw nothing
+but death before me; that I should either be devoured by wild beasts,
+murdered by savages, or starved to death for want of food. At the
+approach of night I slept in a tree, for fear of wild creatures; but
+slept soundly, though it rained all night.
+
+_October_ 1. In the morning I saw, to my great surprise, the ship had
+floated with the high tide, and was driven on shore again much nearer
+the island; which, as it was some comfort on one hand (for seeing her
+sit upright, and not broken in pieces, I hoped, if the wind abated, I
+might get on board, and get some food and necessaries out of her for my
+relief,) so, on the other hand, it renewed my grief at the loss of my
+comrades, who, I imagined, if we had all staid on board, might have
+saved the ship, or, at least, that they would not have been all drowned,
+as they were; and that, had the men been saved, we might perhaps have
+built us a boat, out of the ruins of the ship, to have carried us to
+some other part of the world. I spent great part of this day in
+perplexing myself on these things; but, at length, seeing the ship
+almost dry, I went upon the sand as near as I could, and then swam on
+board. This day also it continued raining, though with no wind at all.
+
+From the 1st of _October_ to the 24th. All these days entirely spent in
+many several voyages to get all I could out of the ship; which I brought
+on shore, every tide of flood, upon rafts. Much rain also in these days,
+though with some intervals of fair weather: but, it seems, this was the
+rainy season.
+
+_Oct_. 20. I overset my raft, and all the goods I had got upon it; but
+being in shoal water, and the things being chiefly heavy, I recovered
+many of them when the tide was out.
+
+_Oct_. 25. It rained all night and all day, with some gusts of wind;
+during which time the ship broke in pieces (the wind blowing a little
+harder than before) and was no more to be seen, except the wreck of her,
+and that only at low water. I spent this day in covering and securing
+the goods which I had saved, that the rain might not spoil them.
+
+_Oct_. 26. I walked about the shore almost all day, to find out a place
+to fix my habitation; greatly concerned to secure myself from any attack
+in the night, either from wild beasts or men. Towards night I fixed upon
+a proper place, under a rock, and marked out a semi-circle for my
+encampment; which I resolved to strengthen with a work, wall, or
+fortification, made of double piles, lined within with cables, and
+without with turf.
+
+From the 26th to the 30th, I worked very hard in carrying all my goods
+to my new habitation, though some part of the time it rained
+exceedingly hard.
+
+The 31st, in the morning, I went out into the island with my gun, to see
+for some food, and discover the country; when I killed a she-goat, and
+her kid followed me home, which I afterwards killed also, because it
+would not feed.
+
+_November_ 1. I set up my tent under a rock, and lay there for the first
+night; making it as large as I could, with stakes driven in to swing my
+hammock upon.
+
+_Nov_. 2. I set up all my chests and boards, and the pieces of timber
+which made my rafts; and with them formed a fence round me, a little
+within the place I had marked out for my fortification.
+
+_Nov_. 3. I went out with my gun, and killed two fowls like ducks, which
+were very good food. In the afternoon I went to work to make me a table.
+
+_Nov_. 4. This morning I began to order my times of work, of going out
+with my gun, time of sleep, and time of diversion; viz. every morning I
+walked out with my gun for two or three hours, if it did not rain; then
+employed myself to work till about eleven o'clock; then ate what I had
+to live on; and from twelve to two I lay down to sleep, the weather
+being excessive hot; and then, in the evening, to work again. The
+working part of this day and the next was wholly employed in making my
+table, for I was yet but a very sorry workman: though time and necessity
+made me a complete natural mechanic soon after, as I believe they would
+any one else.
+
+_Nov. 5._ This day went abroad with my gun and dog, and killed a wild
+cat; her skin pretty soft, but her flesh good for nothing: of every
+creature that I killed I took off the skins, and preserved them. Coming
+back by the sea-shore, I saw many sorts of sea-fowl which I did not
+understand: but was surprised, and almost frightened, with two or three
+seals; which, while I was gazing at them (not well knowing what they
+were) got into the sea, and escaped me for that time.
+
+_Nov. 6._ After my morning walk, I went to work with my table again, and
+finished it, though not to my liking: nor was it long before I learned
+to mend it.
+
+_Nov. 7._ Now it began to be settled fair weather. The 7th, 8th, 9th,
+10th, and part of the 12th (for the 11th was Sunday, according to my
+reckoning) I took wholly up to make me a chair, and with much ado,
+brought it to a tolerable shape, but never to please me; and, even in
+the making, I pulled it in pieces several times.
+
+_Note._ I soon neglected my keeping Sundays; for, omitting my mark for
+them on my post, I forgot which was which.
+
+_Nov. 13._ This day it rained; which refreshed me exceedingly, and
+cooled the earth: but it was accompanied with terrible thunder and
+lightning, which frightened me dreadfully, for fear of my powder. As
+soon as it was over, I resolved to separate my stock of powder into as
+many little parcels as possible, that it might not be in danger.
+
+_Nov. 14, 15, 16._ These three days I spent in making little square
+chests or boxes, which might hold about a pound, or two pounds at most,
+of powder: and so, putting the powder in, I stowed it in places as
+secure and as remote from one another as possible. On one of these three
+days I killed a large bird that was good to eat; but I knew not what
+to call it.
+
+_Nov. 17._ This day I began to dig behind my tent, into the rock, to
+make room for my farther convenience.
+
+_Note._ Three things I wanted exceedingly for this work, viz. a
+pick-axe, a shovel, and a wheel-barrow, or basket; so I desisted from my
+work, and began to consider how to supply these wants, and make me some
+tools. As for a pick-axe, I made use of the iron crows, which were
+proper enough, though heavy: but, the next thing was a shovel or spade;
+this was so absolutely necessary, that, indeed, I could do nothing
+effectually without it; but what kind of one to make I knew not.
+
+_Nov. 18._ The next day, in searching the woods, I found a tree of that
+wood, or like it, which, in the Brazils, they call the iron tree, from
+its exceeding hardness: of this, with great labour, and almost spoiling
+my axe, I cut a piece; and brought it home, too, with difficulty enough,
+for it was exceeding heavy. The excessive hardness of the wood, and my
+having no other way, made me a long while upon this machine; for I
+worked it effectually, by little and little, into the form of a shovel
+or spade; the handle exactly shaped like ours in England, only that the
+broad part having no iron shod upon it at bottom, it would not last me
+so long: however, it served well enough for the uses which I had
+occasion to put it to; but never was a shovel, I believe, made after
+that fashion, or so long a-making.
+
+I was still deficient: for I wanted a basket, or a wheel-barrow. A
+basket I could not make by any means, having no such things as twigs
+that would bend to make wicker-ware; at least, none yet found out: and
+as to the wheel-barrow, I fancied I could make all but the wheel, but
+that I had no notion of; neither did I know how to go about it: besides,
+I had no possible way to make iron gudgeons for the spindle or axis of
+the wheel to run in; so I gave it over: and, for carrying away the earth
+which I dug out of the cave, I made me a thing like a hod, which the
+labourers carry mortar in for the brick-layers. This was not so
+difficult to me as the making the shovel: and yet this and the shovel,
+and the attempt which I made in vain to make a wheel-barrow, took me up
+no less than four days; I mean, always excepting my morning walk with my
+gun, which I seldom omitted, and very seldom failed also bringing home
+something fit to eat.
+
+_Nov. 23._ My other work having now stood still, because of my making
+these tools, when they were finished I went on; and working every day,
+as my strength and time allowed, I spent eighteen days entirely in
+widening and deepening my cave, that it might hold my goods
+commodiously.
+
+_Note._ During all this time, I worked to make this room, or cave,
+spacious enough to accommodate me as a warehouse or magazine, a kitchen,
+a dining-room, and a cellar. As for a lodging, I kept to the tent;
+except that sometimes, in the wet season of the year, it rained so hard
+that I could not keep myself dry; which caused me afterwards to cover
+all my place within my pale with long poles, in the form of rafters,
+leaning against the rock, and load them with flags and large leaves of
+trees, like a thatch.
+
+_December 10._ I began now to think my cave or vault finished; when on a
+sudden (it seems I had made it too large) a great quantity of earth fell
+down from the top and one side: so much, that, in short, it frightened
+me, and not without reason too; for if I had been under it, I should
+never have wanted a grave-digger. Upon this disaster, I had a great deal
+of work to do over again, for I had the loose earth to carry out; and,
+which was of more importance, I had the ceiling to prop up, so that I
+might be sure no more would come down.
+
+_Dec. 11._ This day I went to work with it accordingly; and got two
+shores or posts pitched upright to the top, with two pieces of board
+across over each post; this I finished the next day; and setting more
+posts up with boards, in about a week more I had the roof secured; and
+the posts, standing in rows, served me for partitions to part off
+my house.
+
+_Dec. 17._ From this day to the 30th, I placed shelves, and knocked up
+nails on the posts, to hang every thing up that could be hung up: and
+now I began to be in some order within doors.
+
+_Dec. 20._ I carried every thing into the cave, and began to furnish my
+house, and set up some pieces of boards, like a dresser, to order my
+victuals upon; but boards began to be very scarce with me: also I made
+me another table.
+
+_Dec. 24._ Much rain all night and all day: no stirring out.
+
+_Dec. 25._ Rain all day.
+
+_Dec. 26._ No rain; and the earth much cooler than before, and
+pleasanter.
+
+_Dec. 27._ Killed a young goat; and lamed another, so that I catched it,
+and led it home in a string: when I had it home, I bound and splintered
+up its leg, which was broke.
+
+_N.B._ I took such care of it that it lived; and the leg grew well, and
+as strong as ever: but, by nursing it so long, it grew tame, and fed
+upon the little green at my door, and would not go away. This was the
+first time that I entertained a thought of breeding up some tame
+creatures, that I might have food when my powder and shot was all spent.
+
+_Dec. 28, 29, 30, 31._ Great heats, and no breeze; so that there was no
+stirring abroad, except in the evening, for food: this time I spent in
+putting all my things in order within doors.
+
+_January 1._ Very hot still; but I went abroad early and late with my
+gun, and lay still in the middle of the day. This evening, going farther
+into the vallies which lay towards the centre of the island, I found
+there was plenty of goats, though exceeding shy, and hard to come at;
+however, I resolved to try if I could not bring my dog to hunt them
+down. Accordingly, the next day, I went out with my dog, and set him
+upon the goats: but I was mistaken, for they all faced about upon the
+dog: and he knew his danger too well, for he would not come near them.
+
+_Jan. 3._ I began my fence or wall; which, being still jealous of my
+being attacked by somebody, I resolved to make very thick and strong.
+
+_N.B._ This wall being described before, I purposely omit what was said
+in the journal: it is sufficient to observe, that I was no less time
+than from the 3d of January to the 14th of April, working, finishing,
+and perfecting this wall; though it was no more than about 25 yards in
+length, being a half-circle, from one place in the rock to another
+place, about twelve yards from it, the door of the cave being in the
+centre, behind it.
+
+All this time I worked very hard; the rains hindering me many days, nay,
+sometimes weeks together: but I thought I should never be perfectly
+secure till this wall was finished; and it is scarce credible what
+inexpressible labour every thing was done with, especially the bringing
+piles out of the woods, and driving them into the ground; for I made
+them much bigger than I needed to have done.
+
+When this wall was finished, and the outside double-fenced, with a
+turf-wall raised up close to it, I persuaded myself that if any people
+were to come on shore there they would not perceive any thing like a
+habitation: and it was very well I did so, as may be observed hereafter,
+upon a very remarkable occasion.
+
+During this time, I made my rounds in the woods for game every day,
+when the rain permitted me, and made frequent discoveries, in these
+walks, of something or other to my advantage; particularly, I found a
+kind of wild pigeons, who build, not as wood-pigeons, in a tree, but
+rather as house-pigeons, in the holes of the rocks: and, taking some
+young ones, I endeavoured to breed them up tame, and did so; but when
+they grew older, they flew all away; which, perhaps, was at first for
+want of feeding them, for I had nothing to give them: however, I
+frequently found their nests, and got their young ones, which were very
+good meat. And now, in the managing my household affairs, I found myself
+wanting in many things, which I thought at first it was impossible for
+me to make; as indeed, as to some of them, it was: for instance, I could
+never make a cask to be hooped. I had a small runlet or two, as I
+observed before; but I could never arrive to the capacity of making one
+by them, though I spent many weeks about it: I could neither put in the
+heads, nor join the staves so true to one another as to make them hold
+water; so I gave that also over. In the next place, I was at a great
+loss for candle; so that as soon as it was dark, which was generally by
+seven o'clock, I was obliged to go to bed. I remember the lump of
+bees-wax with which I made candles in my African adventure; but I had
+none of that now; the only remedy I had was, that when I had killed a
+goat, I saved the tallow; and with a little dish made of clay, which I
+baked in the sun, to which I added a wick of some oakum, I made me a
+lamp; and this gave me light, though not a clear steady light like a
+candle. In the middle of all my labours it happened, that in rummaging
+my things, I found a little bag; which, as I hinted before, had been
+filled with corn, for the feeding of poultry; not for this voyage, but
+before, as I suppose, when the ship came from Lisbon. What little
+remainder of corn had been in the bag was all devoured with the rats,
+and I saw nothing in the bag but husks and dust; and being willing to
+have the bag for some other use (I think, it was to put powder in, when
+I divided it for fear of the lightning, or some such use,) I shook the
+husks of corn out of it, on one side of my fortification, under
+the rock.
+
+It was a little before the great rain just now mentioned, that I threw
+this stuff away; taking no notice of any thing, and not so much as
+remembering that I had thrown any thing there: when about a month after,
+I saw some few stalks of something green, shooting out of the ground,
+which I fancied might be some plant I had not seen; but I was surprised,
+and perfectly astonished, when, after a little longer time, I saw about
+ten or twelve ears come out, which were perfect green barley of the same
+kind as our European, nay, as our English barley.
+
+It is impossible to express the astonishment and confusion of my
+thoughts on this occasion: I had hitherto acted upon no religious
+foundation at all; indeed, I had very few notions of religion in my
+head, nor had entertained any sense of any thing that had befallen me,
+otherwise than as chance, or, as we lightly say, what pleases God;
+without so much as inquiring into the end of Providence in these things,
+or his order in governing events in the world. But after I saw barley
+grow there, in a climate which I knew was not proper for corn, and
+especially as I knew not how it came there, it startled me strangely;
+and I began to suggest, that God had miraculously caused this grain to
+grow without any help of seed sown, and that it was so directed purely
+for my sustenance, on that wild miserable place.
+
+This touched my heart a little, and brought tears out of my eyes; and I
+began to bless myself that such a prodigy of nature should happen upon
+my account: and this was the more strange to me, because I saw near it
+still, all along by the side of the rock, some other straggling stalks,
+which proved to be stalks of rice, and which I knew, because I had seen
+it grow in Africa, when I was ashore there.
+
+I not only thought these the pure productions of Providence for my
+support, but, not doubting that there was more in the place, I went over
+all that part of the island where I had been before, searching in every
+corner, and under every rock, for more of it; but I could not find any.
+At last it occurred to my thoughts, that I had shook out a bag of
+chicken's-meat in that place, and then the wonder began to cease: and I
+must confess, my religious thankfulness to God's providence began to
+abate too, upon the discovering that all this was nothing but what was
+common; though I ought to have been as thankful for so strange and
+unforeseen a providence, as if it had been miraculous: for it was really
+the work of Providence, as to me, that should order or appoint that ten
+or twelve grains of corn should remain unspoiled, when the rats had
+destroyed all the rest, as if it had been dropt from heaven; as also,
+that I should throw it out in that particular place, where, it being in
+the shade of a high rock, it sprang up immediately; whereas, if I had
+thrown it any where else, at that time, it would have been burnt up and
+destroyed.
+
+I carefully saved the ears of this corn, you may be sure, in their
+season, which was about the end of June; and, laying up every corn, I
+resolved to sow them all again; hoping, in time, to have some quantity
+sufficient to supply me with bread. But it was not till the fourth year
+that I could allow myself the least grain of this corn to eat, and even
+then but sparingly, as I shall show afterwards, in its order; for I lost
+all that I sowed the first season, by not observing the proper time; as
+I sowed just before the dry season, so that it never came up at all, at
+least not as it would have done; of which in its place.
+
+Besides this barley, there were, as above, twenty or thirty stalks of
+rice, which I preserved with the same care; and whose use was of the
+same kind, or to the same purpose, viz. to make me bread, or rather
+food; for I found ways to cook it up without baking, though I did that
+also after some time.--But to return to my Journal.
+
+I worked excessively hard these three or four months, to get my wall
+done; and the 14th of April I closed it up; contriving to get into it,
+not by a door, but over the wall, by a ladder, that there might be no
+sign on the outside of my habitation.
+
+_April 16._ I finished the ladder; so I went up with the ladder to the
+top, and then pulled it up after me, and let it down in the inside: this
+was a complete enclosure to me; for within I had room enough, and
+nothing could come at me from without, unless it could first mount
+my wall.
+
+The very next day after this wall was finished, I had almost all my
+labour overthrown at once, and myself killed; the case was thus:--As I
+was busy in the inside of it, behind my tent, just at the entrance into
+my cave, I was terribly frightened with a most dreadful surprising thing
+indeed; for, all on a sudden, I found the earth come crumbling down from
+the roof of my cave, and from the edge of the hill over my head, and two
+of the posts I had set up in the cave cracked in a frightful manner. I
+was heartily scared; but thought nothing of what really was the cause,
+only thinking that the top of my cave was falling in, as some of it had
+done before: and for fear I should be buried in it, I ran forward to my
+ladder, and not thinking myself safe there neither, I got over my wall
+for fear of the pieces of the hill which I expected might roll down upon
+me. I had no sooner stepped down upon the firm ground, than I plainly
+saw it was a terrible earthquake; for the ground I stood on shook three
+times at about eight minutes distance, with three such shocks as would
+have overturned the strongest building that could be supposed to have
+stood on the earth; and a great piece of the top of a rock, which stood
+about half a mile from me, next the sea, fell down, with such a terrible
+noise as I never heard in all my life. I perceived also that the very
+sea was put into a violent motion by it; and I believe the shocks were
+stronger under the water than on the island.
+
+I was so much amazed with the thing itself (having never felt the like,
+nor discoursed with any one that had) that I was like one dead or
+stupified; and the motion of the earth made my stomach sick, like one
+that was tossed at sea: but the noise of the falling of the rock awaked
+me, as it were; and rousing me from the stupified condition I was in,
+filled me with horror, and I thought of nothing but the hill falling
+upon my tent and my household goods, and burying all at once; this sunk
+my very soul within me a second time.
+
+After the third shock was over, and I felt no more for some time, I
+began to take courage; yet I had not heart enough to go over my wall
+again, for fear of being buried alive, but sat still upon the ground
+greatly cast down, and disconsolate, not knowing what to do. All this
+while, I had not the least serious religious thought; nothing but the
+common _Lord, have mercy upon me!_ and when it was over, that went
+away too.
+
+While I sat thus, I found the air overcast, and grow cloudy, as if it
+would rain; and soon after the wind rose by little, and little, so that
+in less than half an hour it blew a most dreadful hurricane: the sea
+was, all on a sudden, covered with foam and froth; the shore was covered
+with a breach of the water; the trees were torn up by the roots; and a
+terrible storm it was. This held about three hours, and then began to
+abate; and in two hours more it was quite calm, and began to rain very
+hard. All this while I sat upon the ground, very much terrified and
+dejected; when on a sudden it came into my thoughts, that these winds
+and rain being the consequence of the earthquake, the earthquake itself
+was spent and over, and I might venture into my cave again. With this
+thought my spirits began to revive; and the rain also helping to
+persuade me, I went in, and sat down in my tent; but the rain was so
+violent, that my tent was ready to be beaten down with it; and I was
+forced to get into my cave, though very much afraid and uneasy, for fear
+it should fall on my head. This violent rain forced me to a new work,
+viz. to cut a hole through my new fortification, like a sink, to let the
+water go out, which would else have drowned my cave. After I had been in
+my cave for some time, and found no more shocks of the earthquake
+follow, I began to be more composed. And now to support my spirits,
+which indeed wanted it very much, I went to my little store, and took a
+small sup of rum; which, however, I did then, and always, very
+sparingly, knowing I could have no more when that was gone. It continued
+raining all that night, and great part of the next day, so that I could
+not stir abroad; but my mind being more composed, I began to think of
+what I had best do; concluding, that if the island was subject to these
+earthquakes, there would be no living for me in a cave, but I must
+consider of building me some little hut in an open place, which I might
+surround with a wall, as I had done here, and so make myself secure from
+wild beasts or men; for if I staid where I was, I should certainly, one
+time or other, be buried alive.
+
+With these thoughts, I resolved to remove my tent from the place where
+it now stood, being just under the hanging precipice of the hill, and
+which, if it should be shaken again, would certainly fall upon my tent.
+I spent the two next days, being the 19th and 20th of April, in
+contriving where and how to remove my habitation. The fear of being
+swallowed alive affected me so, that I never slept in quiet; and yet the
+apprehension of lying abroad, without any fence, was almost equal to it:
+but still, when I looked about, and saw how every thing was put in
+order, how pleasantly I was concealed, and how safe from danger, it made
+me very loth to remove. In the mean time, it occurred to me that it
+would require a vast deal of time for me to do this; and that I must be
+contented to run the risk where I was, till I had formed a convenient
+camp, and secured it so as to remove to it. With this conclusion I
+composed myself for a time; and resolved that I would go to work with
+all speed to build me a wall with piles and cables, &c. in a circle as
+before, and set up my tent in it when it was finished; but that I would
+venture to stay where I was till it was ready, and fit to remove to.
+This was the 21st.
+
+_April_ 22. The next morning I began to consider of means to put this
+measure into execution; but I was at a great loss about the tools. I had
+three large axes, and abundance of hatchets (for we carried the hatchets
+for traffic with the Indians;) but with much chopping and cutting knotty
+hard wood, they were all full of notches, and dull; and though I had a
+grind-stone, I could not turn it and grind my tools too. This caused me
+as much thought as a statesman would have bestowed upon a grand point
+of politics, or a judge upon the life and death of a man. At length I
+contrived a wheel with a string, to turn it with my foot, that I might
+have both my hands at liberty.
+
+_Note._ I had never seen any such thing in England, or at least not to
+take notice how it was done, though since I have observed it is very
+common there: besides that, my grind-stone was very large and heavy.
+This machine cost me a full week's work to bring it to perfection.
+
+_April 28, 29._ These two whole days I took up in grinding my tools, my
+machine for turning my grind-stone performing very well.
+
+_April 30._ Having perceived that my bread had been low a great while, I
+now took a survey of it, and reduced myself to one biscuit-cake a day,
+which made my heart very heavy.
+
+_May 1._ In the morning, looking toward the sea-side, the tide being
+low, I saw something lie on the shore bigger than ordinary, and it
+looked like a cask: when I came to it, I found a small barrel, and two
+or three pieces of the wreck of the ship, which were driven on shore by
+the late hurricane; and looking towards the wreck itself, I thought it
+seemed to lie higher out of the water than it used to do. I examined the
+barrel that was driven on shore, and soon found it was a barrel of
+gunpowder; but it had taken water, and the powder was caked as hard as a
+stone: however, I rolled it farther on the shore for the present, and
+went on upon the sands, as near as I could to the wreck of the ship, to
+look for more.
+
+When I came down to the ship, I found it strangely removed. The
+forecastle, which lay before buried in sand, was heaved up at least six
+feet: and the stern (which was broke to pieces, and parted from the
+rest, by the force of the sea, soon after I had left rummaging of her)
+was tossed, as it were, up, and cast on one side: and the sand was
+thrown so high on that side next her stern, that I could now walk quite
+up to her when the tide was out; whereas there was a great piece of
+water before, so that I could not come within a quarter of a mile of the
+wreck without swimming. I was surprised with this at first, but soon
+concluded it must be done by the earthquake; and as by this violence the
+ship was more broke open than formerly, so many things came daily on
+shore, which the sea had loosened, and which the winds and water rolled
+by degrees to the land.
+
+This wholly diverted my thoughts from the design of removing my
+habitation; and I busied myself mightily, that day especially, in
+searching whether I could make any way into the ship: but I found
+nothing was to be expected of that kind, for all the inside of the ship
+was choked up with sand. However, as I had learned not to despair of any
+thing, I resolved to pull every thing to pieces that I could of the
+ship, concluding that every thing I could get from her would be of some
+use or other to me.
+
+_May 3._ I began with my saw, and cut a piece of a beam through, which I
+thought held some of the upper part or quarter deck together; and when I
+had cut it through, I cleared away the sand as well as I could from the
+side which lay highest; but the tide coming in, I was obliged to give
+over for that time.
+
+_May 4._ I went a-fishing, but caught not one fish that I durst eat of,
+till I was weary of my sport; when, just going to leave off, I caught a
+young dolphin. I had made me a long line of some rope-yarn, but I had no
+hooks; yet I frequently caught fish enough, as much as I cared to eat;
+all which I dried in the sun, and ate them dry.
+
+_May 5._ Worked on the wreck; cut another beam asunder, and brought
+three great fir-planks off from the decks; which I tied together, and
+made swim on shore when the tide of flood came on.
+
+_May 6._ Worked on the wreck; got several iron bolts out of her, and
+other pieces of iron-work; worked very hard, and came home very much
+tired, and had thoughts of giving it over.
+
+_May 7._ Went to the wreck again, but not with an intent to work; but
+found the weight of the wreck had broke itself down, the beams being
+cut; that several pieces of the ship seemed to lie loose; and the inside
+of the hold lay so open that I could see into it; but almost full of
+water and sand.
+
+_May 8._ Went to the wreck, and carried an iron crow to wrench up the
+deck, which lay now quite clear of the water and sand. I wrenched up two
+planks, and brought them on shore also with the tide. I left the iron
+crow in the wreck for next day.
+
+_May 9._ Went to the wreck, and with the crow made way into the body of
+the wreck, and felt several casks, and loosened them with the crow, but
+could not break them up. I felt also a roll of English lead, and could
+stir it; but it was too heavy to remove.
+
+_May 10--14._ Went every day to the wreck; and got a great many pieces
+of timber, and boards, or plank, and two or three hundred weight
+of iron.
+
+_May 15._ I carried two hatchets, to try if I could not cut a piece off
+the roll of lead, by placing the edge of one hatchet, and driving it
+with the other; but as it lay about a foot and a half in the water, I
+could not make any blow to drive the hatchet.
+
+_May 16._ It had blown hard in the night, and the wreck appeared more
+broken by the force of the water; but I staid so long in the woods, to
+get pigeons for food, that the tide prevented my going to the wreck
+that day.
+
+_May 17._ I saw some pieces of the wreck blown on shore, at a great
+distance, two miles off me, but resolved to see what they were, and
+found it was a piece of the head, but too heavy for me to bring away.
+
+_May 24._ Every day, to this day, I worked on the wreck; and with hard
+labour I loosened some things so much with the crow, that the first
+blowing tide several casks floated out, and two of the seamen's chests:
+but the wind blowing from the shore, nothing came to land that day but
+pieces of timber, and a hogshead, which had some Brazil pork in it; but
+the salt-water and the sand had spoiled it. I continued this work every
+day to the 15th of June, except the time necessary to get food; which I
+always appointed, during this part of my employment, to be when the tide
+was up, that I might be ready when it was ebbed out: and by this time I
+had gotten timber, and plank, and iron-work, enough to have built a
+good boat, if I had known how: and I also got, at several times, and in
+several pieces, near one hundred weight of the sheet-lead.
+
+_June 16._ Going down to the sea-side, I found a large tortoise, or
+turtle. This was the first I had seen; which, it seems, was only my
+misfortune, not any defect of the place, or scarcity: for had I happened
+to be on the other side of the island, I might have had hundreds of them
+every day, as I found afterwards; but perhaps had paid dear enough
+for them.
+
+_June 17._ I spent in cooking the turtle. I found in her threescore
+eggs: and her flesh was to me, at that time, the most savoury and
+pleasant that I ever tasted in my life; having had no flesh, but of
+goats and fowls, since I landed in this horrid place.
+
+_June 18._ Rained all that day, and I staid within. I thought, at this
+time, the rain felt cold, and I was somewhat chilly; which I knew was
+not usual in that latitude.
+
+_June 19._ Very ill, and shivering, as if the weather had been cold.
+
+_June 20._ No rest all night; violent pains in my head, and feverish.
+
+_June 21._ Very ill; frightened almost to death with the apprehensions
+of my sad condition, to be sick, and no help: prayed to God, for the
+first time since the storm off Hull; but scarce knew what I said, or
+why, my thoughts being all confused.
+
+_June 22._ A little better; but under dreadful apprehensions of
+sickness.
+
+_June 23._ Very bad again; cold and shivering, and then a violent
+head-ache.
+
+_June 24._ Much better.
+
+_June 25._ An ague very violent: the fit held me seven hours; cold fit,
+and hot, with faint sweats after it.
+
+_June 26._ Better; and having no victuals to eat, took my gun, but found
+myself very weak: however, I killed a she-goat, and with much difficulty
+got it home, and broiled some of it, and ate. I would fain have stewed
+it, and made some broth, but had no pot.
+
+_June 27._ The ague again so violent that I lay a-bed all day, and
+neither ate nor drank. I was ready to perish for thirst; but so weak, I
+had not strength to stand up, or to get myself any water to drink.
+Prayed to God again, but was light-headed: and when I was not, I was so
+ignorant that I knew not what to say; only lay and cried, "Lord, look
+upon me! Lord, pity me! Lord, have mercy upon me!" I suppose I did
+nothing else for two or three hours; till the fit wearing off, I fell
+asleep, and did not wake till far in the night. When I awoke, I found
+myself much refreshed, but weak, and exceeding thirsty: however, as I
+had no water in my whole habitation, I was forced to lie till morning,
+and went to sleep again. In this second sleep I had this terrible dream:
+I thought that I was sitting on the ground, on the outside of my wall,
+where I sat when the storm blew after the earthquake, and that I saw a
+man descend from a great black cloud, in a bright flame of fire, and
+light upon the ground: he was all over as bright as a flame, so that I
+could but just bear to look towards him: his countenance was most
+inexpressibly dreadful, impossible for words to describe: when he
+stepped upon the ground with his feet, I thought the earth trembled,
+just as it had done before in the earthquake; and all the air looked, to
+my apprehension, as if it had been filled with flashes of fire. He had
+no sooner landed upon the earth, but he moved forward towards me, with a
+long spear or weapon in his hand, to kill me; and when he came to a
+rising ground, at some distance, he spoke to me, or I heard a voice so
+terrible that it is impossible to express the terror of it: all that I
+can say I understood, was this: "Seeing all these things have not
+brought thee to repentance, now thou shalt die;" at which words I
+thought he lifted up the spear that was in his hand, to kill me.
+
+No one that shall ever read this account, will expect that I should be
+able to describe the horrors of my soul at this terrible vision; I mean,
+that even while it was a dream, I even dreamed of those horrors; nor is
+it any more possible to describe the impression that remained upon my
+mind when I awaked, and found it was but a dream.
+
+I had, alas! no divine knowledge: what I had received by the good
+instruction of my father was then worn out, by an uninterrupted series,
+for eight years, of seafaring wickedness, and a constant conversation
+with none but such as were, like myself, wicked and profane to the last
+degree. I do not remember that I had, in all that time, one thought that
+so much as tended either to looking upward towards God, or inward
+towards a reflection upon my own ways: but a certain stupidity of soul,
+without desire of good, or consciousness of evil, had entirely
+overwhelmed me; and I was all that the most hardened, unthinking, wicked
+creature among our common sailors, can be supposed to be; not having
+the least sense, either of the fear of God, in danger, or of
+thankfulness to him, in deliverances.
+
+In the relating what is already past of my story, this will be the more
+easily believed, when I shall add, that through all the variety of
+miseries that had to this day befallen me, I never had so much as one
+thought of its being the hand of God, or that it was a just punishment
+for my sin; either my rebellious behaviour against my father, or my
+present sins, which were great; or even as a punishment for the general
+course of my wicked life. When I was on the desperate expedition on the
+desert shores of Africa, I never had so much as one thought of what
+would become of me; or one wish to God to direct me whither I should go,
+or to keep me from the danger which apparently surrounded me, as well
+from voracious creatures as cruel savages: but I was quite thoughtless
+of a God or a Providence; acted like a mere brute, from the principles
+of nature, and by the dictates of common sense only; and indeed hardly
+that. When I was delivered and taken up at sea by the Portuguese
+captain, well used, and dealt with justly and honourably, as well as
+charitably, I had not the least thankfulness in my thoughts. When,
+again, I was shipwrecked, ruined, and in danger of drowning, on this
+island, I was as far from remorse, or looking on it as a judgment: I
+only said to myself often, that I was an unfortunate dog, and born to be
+always miserable.
+
+It is true, when I first got on shore here, and found all my ship's crew
+drowned, and myself spared, I was surprised with a kind of ecstasy, and
+some transports of soul, which, had the grace of God assisted, might
+have come up to true thankfulness; but it ended where it began, in a
+mere common flight of joy; or, as I may say, being glad I was alive,
+without the least reflection upon the distinguished goodness of the hand
+which had preserved me, and had singled me out to be preserved when all
+the rest were destroyed, or an inquiry why Providence had been thus
+merciful to me: just the same common sort of joy which seamen generally
+have, after they are got safe ashore from a shipwreck; which they drown
+all in the next bowl of punch, and forget almost as soon as it is over:
+and all the rest of my life was like it. Even when I was, afterwards, on
+due consideration, made sensible of my condition,--how I was cast on
+this dreadful place, out of the reach of human kind, out of all hope of
+relief, or prospect of redemption,--as soon as I saw but a prospect of
+living, and that I should not starve and perish for hunger, all the
+sense of my affliction wore off, and I began to be very easy, applied
+myself to the works proper for my preservation and supply, and was far
+enough from being afflicted at my condition, as a judgment from Heaven,
+or as the hand of God against me: these were thoughts which very seldom
+entered into my head.
+
+The growing up of the corn, as is hinted in my Journal, had, at first,
+some little influence upon me, and began to affect me with seriousness,
+as long as I thought it had something miraculous in it; but as soon as
+that part of the thought was removed, all the impression which was
+raised from it wore off also, as I have noted already. Even the
+earthquake, though nothing could be more terrible in its nature, or
+more immediately directing to the invisible Power which alone directs
+such things, yet no sooner was the fright over, but the impression it
+had made went off also. I had no more sense of God, or his judgments,
+much less of the present affliction of my circumstances being from his
+hand, than if I had been in the most prosperous condition of life. But
+now, when I began to be sick, and a leisure view of the miseries of
+death came to place itself before me; when my spirits began to sink
+under the burden of a strong distemper, and nature was exhausted with
+the violence of the fever; conscience, that had slept so long, began to
+awake; and I reproached myself with my past life, in which I had so
+evidently, by uncommon wickedness, provoked the justice of God to lay me
+under uncommon strokes, and to deal with me in so vindictive a manner.
+These reflections oppressed me for the second or third day of my
+distemper; and in the violence, as well of the fever as of the dreadful
+reproaches of my conscience, extorted from me some words like praying to
+God: though I cannot say it was a prayer attended either with desires or
+with hopes; it was rather the voice of mere fright and distress. My
+thoughts were confused; the convictions great upon my mind; and the
+horror of dying in such a miserable condition, raised vapours in my head
+with the mere apprehension: and, in these hurries of my soul, I knew not
+what my tongue might express: but it was rather exclamation, such as,
+"Lord, what a miserable creature am I! If I should be sick, I shall
+certainly die for want of help; and what will become of me?" Then the
+tears burst out of my eyes, and I could say no more for a good while. In
+this interval, the good advice of my father came to my mind, and
+presently his prediction, which I mentioned at the beginning of this
+story, viz. that if I did take this foolish step, God would not bless
+me; and I should have leisure hereafter to reflect upon having neglected
+his counsel, when there might be none to assist in my recovery. "Now,"
+said I, aloud, "my dear father's words are come to pass; God's justice
+has overtaken me, and I have none to help or hear me. I rejected the
+voice of Providence, which had mercifully put me in a station of life
+wherein I might have been happy and easy; but I would neither see it
+myself, nor learn from my parents to know the blessing of it. I left
+them to mourn over my folly; and now I am left to mourn under the
+consequences of it: I refused their help and assistance, who would have
+pushed me in the world, and would have made every thing easy to me; and
+now I have difficulties to struggle with, too great for even nature
+itself to support; and no assistance, no comfort, no advice." Then I
+cried out, "Lord, be my help, for I am in great distress." This was the
+first prayer, if I may call it so, that I had made for many years. But I
+return to my Journal.
+
+_June 28._ Having been somewhat refreshed with the sleep I had had, and
+the fit being entirely off, I got up; and though the fright and terror
+of my dream was very great, yet I considered that the fit of the ague
+would return again the next day, and now was my time to get something to
+refresh and support myself when I should be ill. The first thing I did
+was to fill a large square case-bottle with water; and set it upon my
+table, in reach of my bed: and to take off the chill or aguish
+disposition of the water, I put about a quarter of a pint of rum into
+it, and mixed them together. Then I got me a piece of the goat's flesh,
+and broiled it on the coals, but could eat very little. I walked about;
+but was very weak, and withal very sad and heavy-hearted under a sense
+of my miserable condition, dreading the return of my distemper the next
+day. At night, I made my supper of three of the turtle's eggs; which I
+roasted in the ashes, and ate, as we call it, in the shell: and this was
+the first bit of meat I had ever asked God's blessing to, as I could
+remember, in my whole life. After I had eaten, I tried to walk; but
+found myself so weak, that I could hardly carry the gun (for I never
+went out without that;) so I went but a little way, and sat down upon
+the ground, looking out upon the sea, which was just before me, and very
+calm and smooth. As I sat here, some such thoughts as these occurred to
+me: What is this earth and sea, of which I have seen so much? Whence is
+it produced? And what am I, and all the other creatures, wild and tame,
+human and brutal? Whence are we? Surely, we are all made by some secret
+power, who formed the earth and sea, the air and sky. And who is that?
+Then it followed most naturally, It is God that has made all. Well, but
+then, it came on strangely, if God has made all these things, he guides
+and governs them all, and all things that concern them; for the power
+that could make all things, must certainly have power to guide and
+direct them: if so, nothing can happen in the great circuit of his
+works, either without his knowledge or appointment.
+
+And if nothing happens without his knowledge, he knows that I am here,
+and am in this dreadful condition: and if nothing happens without his
+appointment, he has appointed all this to befall me. Nothing occurred to
+my thought, to contradict any of these conclusions: and therefore it
+rested upon me with the greatest force, that it must needs be that God
+had appointed all this to befall me; that I was brought to this
+miserable circumstance by his direction, he having the sole power, not
+of me only, but of every thing that happens in the world. Immediately it
+followed, Why has God done this to me? What have I done to be thus used?
+My conscience presently checked me in that inquiry, as if I had
+blasphemed; and methought it spoke to me like a voice, "Wretch! dost
+_thou_ ask what thou hast done? Look back upon a dreadful misspent life,
+and ask thyself, what thou hast _not_ done? Ask, why is it that thou
+wert not long ago destroyed? Why wert thou not drowned in Yarmouth
+Roads; killed in the fight when the ship was taken by the Sallee man of
+war; devoured by the wild beasts on the coast of Africa; or drowned
+_here_, when all the crew perished but thyself? Dost _thou_ ask what
+thou hast done?" I was struck dumb with these reflections, as one
+astonished, and had not a word to say; no, not to answer to myself; and,
+rising up pensive and sad, walked back to my retreat, and went over my
+wall, as if I bad been going to bed: but my thoughts were sadly
+disturbed, and I had no inclination to sleep; so I sat down in the
+chair, and lighted my lamp, for it began to be dark. Now, as the
+apprehension of the return of my distemper terrified me very much, it
+occurred to my thought, that the Brazilians take no physic but their
+tobacco for almost all distempers; and I had a piece of a roll of
+tobacco in one of the chests, which was quite cured; and some also that
+was green, and not quite cured.
+
+I went, directed by Heaven no doubt: for in this chest I found a cure
+both for soul and body. I opened the chest, and found what I looked for,
+viz. the tobacco; and as the few books I had saved lay there too, I took
+out one of the Bibles which I mentioned before, and which to this time I
+had not found leisure, or so much as inclination, to look into. I say, I
+took it out, and brought both that and the tobacco with me to the table.
+What use to make of the tobacco I knew not, as to my distemper, nor
+whether it was good for it or not; but I tried several experiments with
+it, as if I was resolved it should hit one way or other. I first took a
+piece of a leaf, and chewed it in my mouth; which, indeed, at first,
+almost stupified my brain; the tobacco being green and strong, and such
+as I had not been much used to. Then I took some and steeped it an hour
+or two in some rum, and resolved to take a dose of it when I lay down:
+and, lastly, I burnt some upon a pan of coals, and held my nose close
+over the smoke of it as long as I could bear it; as well for the heat,
+as almost for suffocation. In the interval of this operation, I took up
+the Bible, and began to read; but my head was too much disturbed with
+the tobacco to bear reading, at least at that time; only, having opened
+the book casually, the first words that occurred to me were these: "Call
+on me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt
+glorify me." These words were very apt to my case; and made some
+impression upon my thoughts at the time of reading them, though not so
+much as they did afterwards; for, as for being _delivered_, the word had
+no sound, as I may say, to me; the thing was so remote, so impossible in
+my apprehension of things, that, as the children of Israel said when
+they were promised flesh to eat, "Can God spread a table in the
+wilderness?" so I began to say, Can even God himself deliver me from
+this place? And as it was not for many years that any hopes appeared,
+this prevailed very often upon my thoughts: but, however, the words made
+a great impression upon me, and I mused upon them very often. It now
+grew late; and the tobacco had, as I said, dozed my head so much, that I
+inclined to sleep: so I left my lamp burning in the cave, lest I should
+want any thing in the night, and went to bed. But before I lay down, I
+did what I never had done in all my life; I kneeled down, and prayed to
+God to fulfil the promise to me, that if I called upon him in the day of
+trouble, he would deliver me. After my broken and imperfect prayer was
+over, I drank the rum in which I had steeped the tobacco; which was so
+strong and rank of the tobacco, that indeed I could scarce get it down:
+immediately upon this I went to bed. I found presently the rum flew up
+into my head violently; but I fell into a sound sleep, and waked no
+more till, by the sun, it must necessarily be near three o'clock in the
+afternoon the next day: nay, to this hour I am partly of opinion, that I
+slept all the next day and night, and till almost three the day after;
+for otherwise, I know not how I should lose a day out of my reckoning in
+the days of the week, as it appeared some years after I had done; for if
+I had lost it by crossing and re-crossing the Line, I should have lost
+more than one day; but certainly I lost a day in my account, and never
+knew which way. Be that, however, one way or the other, when I awaked I
+found myself exceedingly refreshed, and my spirits lively and cheerful:
+when I got up, I was stronger than I was the day before, and my stomach
+better, for I was hungry; and, in short, I had no fit the next day, but
+continued much altered for the better. This was the 29th.
+
+The 30th was my well day, of course; and I went abroad with my gun, but
+did not care to travel too far. I killed a sea-fowl or two, something
+like a brand goose, and brought them home; but was not very forward to
+eat them; so I ate some more of the turtle's eggs, which were very good.
+This evening I renewed the medicine, which I had supposed did me good
+the day before, viz. the tobacco steeped in rum; only I did not take so
+much as before, nor did I chew any of the leaf, or hold my head over the
+smoke: however, I was not so well the next day, which was the 1st of
+July, as I hoped I should have been; for I had a little of the cold fit,
+but it was not much.
+
+_July 2._ I renewed the medicine all the three ways; and dosed myself
+with it as at first, and doubled the quantity which I drank.
+
+_July 3._ I missed the fit for good and all, though I did not recover my
+full strength for some weeks after. While I was thus gathering strength,
+my thoughts ran exceedingly upon this scripture, "I will deliver thee;"
+and the impossibility of my deliverance lay much upon my mind, in bar of
+my ever expecting it: but as I was discouraging myself with such
+thoughts, it occurred to my mind that I pored so much upon my
+deliverance from the main affliction, that I disregarded the deliverance
+I had received; and I was, as it were, made to ask myself such questions
+as these, viz. Have I not been delivered, and wonderfully too, from
+sickness; from the most distressed condition that could be, and that was
+so frightful to me? and what notice have I taken of it? Have I done my
+part? God has delivered me, but I have not glorified him; that is to
+say, I have not owned and been thankful for that as a deliverance: and
+how can I expect a greater deliverance? This touched my heart very much;
+and immediately I knelt down, and gave God thanks aloud for my recovery
+from my sickness.
+
+_July 4._ In the morning I took the Bible; and beginning at the New
+Testament, I began seriously to read it; and imposed upon myself to read
+awhile every morning and every night; not binding myself to the number
+of chapters, but as long as my thoughts should engage me. It was not
+long after I set seriously to this work, that I found my heart more
+deeply and sincerely affected with the wickedness of my past life. The
+impression of my dream revived; and the words, "All these things have
+not brought thee to repentance," ran seriously in my thoughts. I was
+earnestly begging of God to give me repentance, when it happened
+providentially, the very same day, that, reading the scripture, I came
+to these words, "He is exalted a Prince and a Saviour; to give
+repentance, and to give remission." I threw down the book; and with my
+heart as well as my hands lifted up to heaven, in a kind of ecstasy of
+joy, I cried out aloud, "Jesus, thou son of David! Jesus, thou exalted
+Prince and Saviour! give me repentance!" This was the first time in all
+my life I could say, in the true sense of the words, that I prayed; for
+now I prayed with a sense of my condition, and with a true scripture
+view of hope, founded on the encouragement of the word of God: and from
+this time, I may say, I began to have hope that God would hear me.
+
+Now I began to construe the words mentioned above, "Call on me, and I
+will deliver thee," in a different sense from what I had ever done
+before; for then I had no notion of any thing being called
+_deliverance_, but my being delivered from the captivity I was in: for
+though I was indeed at large in the place, yet the island was certainly
+a prison to me, and that in the worst sense in the world. But now I
+learned to take it in another sense: now I looked back upon my past life
+with such horror, and my sins appeared so dreadful, that my soul sought
+nothing of God but deliverance from the load of guilt that bore down all
+my comfort. As for my solitary life, it was nothing; I did not so much
+as pray to be delivered from it, or think of it; it was all of no
+consideration, in comparison with this. And I add this part here, to
+hint to whoever shall read it, that whenever they come to a true sense
+of things, they will find deliverance from sin a much greater blessing
+than deliverance from affliction. But, leaving this part, I return to
+my Journal.
+
+My condition began now to be, though not less miserable as to my way of
+living, yet much easier to my mind: and my thoughts being directed, by
+constantly reading the Scripture and praying to God, to things of a
+higher nature, I had a great deal of comfort within, which, till now, I
+knew nothing of; also, as my health and strength returned, I bestirred
+me to furnish myself with every thing that I wanted, and make my way of
+living as regular as I could.
+
+From the 4th of July to the 14th, I was chiefly employed in walking
+about with my gun in my hand, a little and a little at a time, as a man
+that was gathering up his strength after a fit of sickness: for it is
+hardly to be imagined how low I was, and to what weakness I was reduced.
+The application which I made use of was perfectly new, and perhaps what
+had never cured an ague before; neither can I recommend it to any one to
+practise, by this experiment: and though it did carry off the fit, yet
+it rather contributed to weakening me; for I had frequent convulsions in
+my nerves and limbs for some time: I learned from it also this, in
+particular; that being abroad in the rainy season was the most
+pernicious thing to my health that could be, especially in those rains
+which came attended with storms and hurricanes of wind; for as the rain
+which came in the dry season was almost always accompanied with such
+storms, so I found that this rain was much more dangerous than the rain
+which fell in September and October.
+
+I had now been in this unhappy island above ten months: all possibility
+of deliverance from this condition seemed to be entirely taken from me;
+and I firmly believed that no human shape had ever set foot upon that
+place. Having secured my habitation, as I thought, fully to my mind, I
+had a great desire to make a more perfect discovery of the island, and
+to see what other productions I might find, which I yet knew nothing of.
+
+It was on the 15th of July that I began to take a more particular survey
+of the island itself. I went up the creek first, where, as I hinted, I
+brought my rafts on shore. I found, after I came about two miles up,
+that the tide did not flow any higher; and that it was no more than a
+little brook of running water, very fresh and good: but this being the
+dry season, there was hardly any water in some parts of it; at least,
+not any stream. On the banks of this brook I found many pleasant
+savannahs or meadows, plain, smooth, and covered with grass: and on the
+rising parts of them, next to the higher grounds (where the water as it
+might be supposed, never overflowed,) I found a great deal of tobacco,
+green, and growing to a very great and strong stalk: and there were
+divers other plants, which I had no knowledge of, or understanding
+about, and that might, perhaps, have virtues of their own, which I
+could not find out. I searched for the cassava root, which the Indians,
+in all that climate, make their bread of; but I could find none. I saw
+large plants of aloes, but did not understand them. I saw several
+sugar-canes, but wild; and, for want of cultivation, imperfect. I
+contented myself with these discoveries for this time; and came back,
+musing with myself what course I might take to know the virtue and
+goodness of any of the fruits or plants which I should discover; but
+could bring it to no conclusion; for, in short, I had made so little
+observation while I was in the Brazils, that I knew little of the plants
+in the field; at least, very little that might serve me to any purpose
+now in my distress.
+
+The next day, the 16th, I went up the same way again; and after going
+something farther than I had gone the day before, I found the brook and
+the savannahs begin to cease, and the country become more woody than
+before. In this part I found different fruits; and particularly I found
+melons upon the ground, in great abundance, and grapes upon the trees:
+the vines, indeed, had spread over the trees, and the clusters of grapes
+were now just in their prime, very ripe and rich. This was a surprising
+discovery, and I was exceedingly glad of them, but I was warned by my
+experience to eat sparingly of them; remembering that when I was ashore
+in Barbary, the eating of grapes killed several of our Englishmen, who
+were slaves there, by throwing them into fluxes and fevers. I found,
+however, an excellent use for these grapes; and that was, to cure or dry
+them in the sun, and keep them as dried grapes or raisins are kept;
+which I thought would be (as indeed they were) as wholesome and as
+agreeable to eat, when no grapes were to be had.
+
+I spent all that evening there, and went not back to my habitation;
+which, by the way, was the first night, as I might say, I had lain from
+home. At night, I took my first contrivance, and got up into a tree,
+where I slept well; and the next morning proceeded on my discovery,
+travelling near four miles, as I might judge by the length of the
+valley; keeping still due north, with a ridge of hills on the south and
+north sides of me. At the end of this march I came to an opening, where
+the country seemed to descend to the west; and a little spring of fresh
+water, which issued out of the side of the hill by me, ran the other
+way, that is, due east; and the country appeared so fresh, so green, so
+flourishing, every thing being in a constant verdure, or flourish of
+spring, that it looked like a planted garden. I descended a little on
+the side of that delicious vale, surveying it with a secret kind of
+pleasure (though mixed with other afflicting thoughts,) to think that
+this was all my own; that I was king and lord of all this country
+indefeasibly, and had a right of possession; and, if I could convey it,
+I might have it in inheritance as completely as any lord of a manor in
+England. I saw here abundance of cocoa trees, and orange, lemon, and
+citron trees, but all wild, and very few bearing any fruit; at least not
+then. However, the green limes that I gathered were not only pleasant to
+eat, but very wholesome; and I mixed their juice afterwards with water,
+which made it very wholesome, and very cool and refreshing. I found now
+I had business enough to gather and carry home; and I resolved to lay up
+a store, as well of grapes as limes and lemons to furnish myself for the
+wet season, which I knew was approaching. In order to this, I gathered a
+great heap of grapes in one place, a lesser heap in another place; and a
+great parcel of limes and melons in another place; and, taking a few of
+each with me, I travelled homeward; and resolved to come again, and
+bring a bag or sack, or what I could make to carry the rest home.
+Accordingly, having spent three days in this journey, I came home (so I
+must now call my tent and my cave:) but before I got thither, the grapes
+were spoiled; the richness of the fruits, and the weight of the juice,
+having broken and bruised them, they were good for little or nothing: as
+to the limes, they were good, but I could bring only a few.
+
+The next day, being the 19th, I went back, having made me two small bags
+to bring home my harvest; but I was surprised, when, coming to my heap
+of grapes, which were so rich and fine when I gathered them, I found
+them all spread about, trod to pieces, and dragged about, some here,
+some there, and abundance eaten and devoured. By this I concluded there
+were some wild creatures thereabouts which had done this, but what they
+were I knew not. However, as I found there was no laying them up in
+heaps, and no carrying them away in a sack; but that one way they would
+be destroyed, and the other way they would be crushed with their own
+weight; I took another course: I then gathered a large quantity of the
+grapes, and hung them upon the out-branches of the trees, that they
+might cure and dry in the sun; and as for the limes and lemons, I
+carried as many back as I could well stand under.
+
+When I came home from this journey, I contemplated with great pleasure
+the fruitfulness of that valley, and the pleasantness of the situation;
+the security from storms on that side; the water and the wood: and
+concluded that I had pitched upon a place to fix my abode in, which was
+by far the worst part of the country. Upon the whole, I began to
+consider of removing my habitation, and to look out for a place equally
+safe as where I was now situate; if possible, in that pleasant fruitful
+part of the island.
+
+This thought ran long in my head; and I was exceeding fond of it for
+some time, the pleasantness of the place tempting me: but when I came to
+a nearer view of it, I considered that I was now by the sea-side, where
+it was at least possible that something might happen to my advantage,
+and, by the same ill fate that brought me hither, might bring some other
+unhappy wretches to the same place; and though it was scarce probable
+that any such thing should ever happen, yet to enclose myself among the
+hills and woods in the centre of the island, was to anticipate my
+bondage, and to render such an affair not only improbable, but
+impossible; and that therefore I ought not by any means to remove.
+However, I was so enamoured of this place, that I spent much of my time
+there for the whole remaining part of the month of July; and though,
+upon second thoughts, I resolved, as above stated, not to remove; yet I
+built me a little kind of a bower, and surrounded it at a distance with
+a strong fence, being a double hedge, as high as I could reach, well
+staked, and filled between with brush-wood. Here I lay very secure,
+sometimes two or three nights together; always going over it with a
+ladder, as before: so that I fancied now I had my country and my
+sea-coast house. This work took me up till the beginning of August.
+
+I had but newly finished my fence, and began to enjoy my labour, when
+the rains came on, and made me stick close to my first habitation: for
+though I had made a tent like the other, with a piece of sail, and
+spread it very well, yet I had not the shelter of a hill to keep me from
+storms, nor a cave behind me to retreat into when the rains were
+extraordinary.
+
+About the beginning of August, as I said, I had finished my bower, and
+began to enjoy myself. The 3d of August, I found the grapes I had hung
+up were perfectly dried, and indeed were excellent good raisins of the
+sun: so I began to take them down from the trees; and it was very happy
+that I did so, as the rains which followed would have spoiled them, and
+I should have lost the best part of my winter food; for I had above two
+hundred large bunches of them. No sooner had I taken them all down, and
+carried most of them home to my cave, but it began to rain: and from
+hence, which was the 14th of August, it rained, more or less, every day
+till the middle of October; and sometimes so violently, that I could not
+stir out of my cave for several days.
+
+In this season, I was much surprised with the increase of my family. I
+had been concerned for the loss of one of my cats, who ran away from me,
+or, as I thought, had been dead; and I heard no more of her, till, to my
+astonishment, she came home with three kittens. This was the more
+strange to me, because, about the end of August, though I had killed a
+wild cat, as I called it, with my gun, yet I thought it was quite a
+different kind from our European cats: yet the young cats were the same
+kind of house-breed as the old one; and both of my cats being females, I
+thought it very strange. But from these three, I afterwards came to be
+so pestered with cats, that I was forced to kill them like vermin, or
+wild beasts, and to drive them from my house as much as possible.
+
+From the 14th of August to the 26th, incessant rain; so that I could not
+stir, and was now very careful not to be much wet. In this confinement,
+I began to be straitened for food; but venturing out twice, I one day
+killed a goat, and the last day, which was the 26th, found a very large
+tortoise, which was a treat to me. My food was now regulated thus: I ate
+a bunch of raisins for my breakfast; a piece of the goat's flesh, or of
+the turtle, broiled, for my dinner (for, to my great misfortune, I had
+no vessel to boil or stew any thing;) and two or three of the turtle's
+eggs for my supper.
+
+During this confinement in my cover by the rain, I worked daily two or
+three hours at enlarging my cave, and by degrees worked it on towards
+one side, till I came to the outside of the hill; and made a door, or
+way out, which came beyond my fence or wall: and so I came in and out
+this way. But I was not perfectly easy at lying so open: for as I had
+managed myself before, I was in a perfect enclosure; whereas now, I
+thought I lay exposed; and yet I could not perceive that there was any
+living thing to fear, the biggest creature that I had yet seen upon the
+island being a goat.
+
+_September_ 30. I was now come to the unhappy anniversary of my landing.
+I cast up the notches on my post, and found I had been on shore three
+hundred and sixty-five days. I kept this day as a solemn fast; setting
+it apart for religious exercise, prostrating myself on the ground with
+the most serious humiliation, confessing my sins to God, acknowledging
+his righteous judgments upon me, and praying to him to have mercy on me
+through Jesus Christ; and having not tasted the least refreshment for
+twelve hours, even till the going down of the sun, I then ate a biscuit
+and a bunch of grapes, and went to bed, finishing the day as I began it.
+I had all this time observed no sabbath-day; for as at first I had no
+sense of religion upon my mind, I had, after some time, omitted to
+distinguish the weeks, by making a longer notch than ordinary for the
+sabbath-day, and so did not really know what any of the days were: but
+now having cast up the days, as above, I found I had been there a year;
+so I divided it into weeks, and set apart every seventh day for a
+sabbath: though I found, at the end of my account, I had lost a day or
+two in my reckoning. A little after this, my ink beginning to fail me, I
+contented myself to use it more sparingly; and to write down only the
+most remarkable events of my life, without continuing a daily memorandum
+of other things.
+
+The rainy season and the dry season began now to appear regular to me,
+and I learned to divide them so as to provide for them accordingly; but
+I bought all my experience before I had it; and what I am going to
+relate was one of the most discouraging experiments that I had made
+at all.
+
+I have mentioned that I had saved the few ears of barley, and rice,
+which I had so surprisingly found sprung up, as I thought, of
+themselves. I believe there were about thirty stalks of rice, and about
+twenty of barley; and now I thought it a proper time to sow it after the
+rains; the sun being in its southern position, going from me.
+Accordingly I dug a piece of ground, as well as I could, with my wooden
+spade; and dividing it into two parts, I sowed my grain; but, as I was
+sowing, it casually occurred to my thoughts that I would not sow it all
+at first, because I did not know when was the proper time for it; so I
+sowed about two-thirds of the seed, leaving about a handful of each: and
+it was a great comfort to me afterwards that I did so, for not one grain
+of what I sowed this time came to any thing; for the dry month
+following, and the earth having thus had no rain after the seed was
+sown, it had no moisture to assist its growth, and never came up at all
+till the wet season had come again, and then it grew as if it had been
+but newly sown. Finding my first seed did not grow, which I easily
+imagined was from the drought, I sought for a moister piece of ground to
+make another trial in; and I dug up a piece of ground near my new bower,
+and sowed the rest of my seed in February, a little before the vernal
+equinox. This having the rainy month of March and April to water it,
+sprung up very pleasantly, and yielded a very good crop; but having only
+part of the seed left, and not daring to sow all that I had, I got but a
+small quantity at last, my whole crop not amounting to above half a peck
+of each kind. But by this experiment I was made master of my business,
+and knew exactly when was the proper time to sow; and that I might
+expect two seed-times, and two harvests, every year.
+
+While this corn was growing, I made a little discovery, which was of use
+to me afterwards. As soon as the rains were over, and the weather began
+to settle, which was about the month of November, I made a visit up the
+country to my bower; where, though I had not been some months, yet I
+found all things just as I left them. The circle or double hedge that I
+had made was not only firm and entire, but the stakes which I had cut
+out of some trees that grew thereabouts, were all shot out, and grown
+with long branches, as much as a willow-tree usually shoots the first
+year after lopping its head; but I could not tell what tree to call it
+that these stakes were cut from. I was surprised, and yet very well
+pleased, to see the young trees grow; and I pruned them, and led them to
+grow as much alike as I could: and it is scarce credible how beautiful a
+figure they grew into in three years: so that, though the hedge made a
+circle of about twenty-five yards in diameter, yet the trees, for such I
+might now call them, soon covered it, and it was a complete shade,
+sufficient to lodge under all the dry season. This made me resolve to
+cut some more stakes, and make me a hedge like this, in a semi-circle
+round my wall (I mean that of my first dwelling,) which I did; and
+placing the trees or stakes in a double row, at about eight yards
+distance from my first fence, they grew presently; and were at first a
+fine cover to my habitation, and afterwards served for a defence also;
+as I shall observe in its order.
+
+I found now that the seasons of the year might generally be divided, not
+into summer and winter, as in Europe, but into the rainy seasons and the
+dry seasons, which were generally thus: From the middle of February to
+the middle of April, rainy; the sun being then on or near the equinox.
+From the middle of April till the middle of August, dry; the sun being
+then north of the line. From the middle of August till the middle of
+October, rainy; the sun being then come back to the line. From the
+middle of October till the middle of February, dry; the sun being then
+to the south of the line.
+
+The rainy seasons held sometimes longer and sometimes shorter, as the
+winds happened to blow; but this was the general observation I made.
+After I had found, by experience, the ill consequences of being abroad
+in the rain, I took care to furnish myself with provisions beforehand,
+that I might not be obliged to go out: and I sat within doors as much as
+possible during the wet months. In this time I found much employment,
+and very suitable also to the time; for I found great occasion for many
+things which I had no way to furnish myself with, but by hard labour and
+constant application: particularly, I tried many ways to make myself a
+basket: but all the twigs I could get for the purpose proved so brittle,
+that they would do nothing. It proved of excellent advantage to me now,
+that when I was a boy, I used to take great delight in standing at a
+basketmaker's in the town where my father lived, to see them make their
+wicker-ware; and being, as boys usually are, very officious to help, and
+a great observer of the manner how they worked those things, and
+sometimes lending a hand, I had by these means full knowledge of the
+methods of it, so that I wanted nothing but the materials; when it came
+into my mind, that the twigs of that tree from whence I cut my stakes
+that grew might possibly be as tough as the sallows, willows, and
+osiers, in England; and I resolved to try. Accordingly, the next day, I
+went to my country house, as I called it; and cutting some of the
+smaller twigs, I found them to my purpose as much as I could desire:
+whereupon I came the next time prepared with a hatchet to cut down a
+quantity, which I soon found, for there was great plenty of them. These
+I set up to dry within my circle or hedge; and when they were fit for
+use, I carried them to my cave: and here, during the next season, I
+employed myself in making, as well as I could, several baskets; both to
+carry earth, or to carry or lay up any thing as I had occasion for.
+Though I did not finish them very handsomely, yet I made them
+sufficiently serviceable for my purpose: and thus, afterwards, I took
+care never to be without them; and as my wicker-ware decayed, I made
+more; especially strong deep baskets, to place my corn in, instead of
+sacks, when I should come to have any quantity of it.
+
+Having mastered this difficulty, and employed a world of time about it,
+I bestirred myself to see, if possible, how to supply two other wants. I
+had no vessel to hold any thing that was liquid, except two runlets,
+which were almost full of rum; and some glass bottles, some of the
+common size, and others (which were case-bottles) square, for the
+holding of waters, spirits, &c. I had not so much as a pot to boil
+anything; except a great kettle, which I saved out of the ship, and
+which was too big for such use as I desired it, viz. to make broth, and
+stew a bit of meat by itself. The second thing I would fain have had,
+was a tobacco-pipe; but it was impossible for me to make one; however, I
+found a contrivance for that too at last. I employed myself in planting
+my second row of stakes or piles, and also in this wicker-working, all
+the summer or dry season; when another business took me up more time
+than it could be imagined I could spare.
+
+I mentioned before, that I had a great mind to see the whole island; and
+that I had travelled up the brook, and so on to where I had built my
+bower, and where I had an opening quite to the sea, on the other side of
+the island. I now resolved to travel quite across to the sea-shore, on
+that side: so taking my gun, a hatchet, and my dog, and a larger
+quantity of powder and shot than usual; with two biscuit-cakes, and a
+great bunch of raisins in my pouch, for my store; I began my journey.
+When I had passed the vale where my bower stood, as above, I came within
+view of the sea, to the west; and it being a very clear day, I fairly
+descried land, whether an island or continent I could not tell; but it
+lay very high, extending from W. to W.S.W. at a very great distance; by
+my guess, it could not be less than fifteen or twenty leagues off.
+
+I could not tell what part of the world this might be; otherwise than
+that I knew it must be part of America; and, as I concluded, by all my
+observations, must be near the Spanish dominions; and perhaps was all
+inhabited by savages, where, if I should have landed, I had been in a
+worse condition than I was now. I therefore acquiesced in the
+dispositions of Providence, which I began now to own and to believe
+ordered every thing for the best; I say, I quieted my mind with this,
+and left off afflicting myself with fruitless wishes of being there.
+
+Besides, after some pause upon this affair, I considered that if this
+land was the Spanish coast, I should certainly, one time or other, see
+some vessel pass or repass one way or other; but if not, then it was the
+savage coast between the Spanish country and the Brazils, whose
+inhabitants are indeed the worst of savages; for they are cannibals, or
+men-eaters, and fail not to murder and devour all human beings that fall
+into their hands.
+
+With these considerations, walking very leisurely forward, I found this
+side of the island, where I now was, much pleasanter than mine; the open
+or savannah fields sweetly adorned with flowers and grass, and full of
+very fine woods. I saw abundance of parrots; and fain would have caught
+one, if possible, to have kept it to be tame, and taught it to speak to
+me. I did, after taking some pains, catch a young parrot: for I knocked
+it down with a stick, and, having recovered it, I brought it home: but
+it was some years before I could make him speak; however, at last I
+taught him to call me by my name very familiarly. But the accident that
+followed, though it be a trifle, will be very diverting in its place.
+
+I was exceedingly amused with this journey. I found in the low grounds
+hares, as I thought them to be, and foxes: but they differed greatly
+from all the other kinds I had met with; nor could I satisfy myself to
+eat them, though I killed several. But I had no need to be venturous:
+for I had no want of food, and of that which was very good too;
+especially these three sorts, viz. goats, pigeons, and turtle, or
+tortoise. With these, added to my grapes, Leadenhall-Market could not
+have furnished a table better than I, in proportion to the company; and
+though my case was deplorable enough, yet I had great cause for
+thankfulness; as I was not driven to any extremities for food; but had
+rather plenty, even to dainties.
+
+I never travelled on this journey above two miles outright in a day, or
+thereabouts; but I took so many turns and returns, to see what
+discoveries I could make, that I came weary enough to the place where I
+resolved to sit down for the night; and then I either reposed myself in
+a tree, or surrounded myself with a row of stakes, set upright in the
+ground, either from one tree to another, or so as no wild creature could
+come at me without waking me.
+
+As soon as I came to the sea-shore, I was surprised to see that I had
+taken up my lot on the worst side of the island: for here indeed the
+shore was covered with innumerable turtles; whereas, on the other side,
+I had found but three in a year and a half. Here was also an infinite
+number of fowls of many kinds; some of which I had seen, and some of
+which I had not seen before, and many of them very good meat; but such
+as I knew not the names of, except those called Penguins.
+
+I could have shot as many as I pleased, but was very sparing of my
+powder and shot; and therefore had more mind to kill a she-goat, if I
+could, which I could better feed on. But though there were many goats
+here, more than on my side the island, yet it was with much more
+difficulty that I could come near them; the country being flat and even,
+and they saw me much sooner than when I was upon a hill.
+
+I confess this side of the country was much pleasanter than mine; yet I
+had not the least inclination to remove; for as I was fixed in my
+habitation, it became natural to me, and I seemed all the while I was
+here to be as it were upon a journey, and from home. However, I
+travelled along the sea-shore towards the east, I suppose about twelve
+miles; and then setting up a great pole upon the shore for a mark, I
+concluded I would go home again; and that the next journey I took should
+be on the other side of the island, east from my dwelling, and so round
+till I came to my post again: of which in its place.
+
+I took another way to come back than that I went, thinking I could
+easily keep so much of the island in my view, that I could not miss my
+first dwelling by viewing the country: but I found myself mistaken; for
+being come about two or three miles, I found myself descended into a
+very large valley, but so surrounded with hills, and those hills covered
+with wood, that I could not see which was my way by any direction but
+that of the sun, nor even then, unless I knew very well the position of
+the sun at that time of the day. And it happened to my farther
+misfortune, that the weather proved hazy for three or four days while I
+was in this valley; and not being able to see the sun, I wandered about
+very uncomfortable, and at last was obliged to find out the sea-side,
+look for my post, and come back the same way I went; and then by easy
+journies I turned homeward, the weather being exceeding hot, and my gun,
+ammunition, hatchet, and other things very heavy.
+
+In this journey, my dog surprised a young kid, and seized upon it; and
+running to take hold of it, I caught it, and saved it alive from the
+dog. I had a great mind to bring it home if I could; for I had often
+been musing whether it might not be possible to get a kid or two, and so
+raise a breed of tame goats, which might supply me when my powder and
+shot should be all spent. I made a collar for this little creature, and
+with a string which I had made of some rope-yarn, which I always carried
+about me, I led him along, though with some difficulty, till I came to
+my bower, and there I enclosed him and left him; for I was very
+impatient to be at home, from whence I had been absent above a month.
+
+I cannot express what a satisfaction it was to me to come into my old
+hutch, and lie down in my hammock-bed. This little wandering journey,
+without a settled place of abode, had been so unpleasant to me, that my
+own house, as I called it to myself, was a perfect settlement to me,
+compared to that; and it rendered every thing about me so comfortable,
+that I resolved I would never go a great way from it again, while it
+should be my lot to stay on the island.
+
+I reposed myself here a week, to rest and regale myself after my long
+journey: during which, most of the time was taken up in the weighty
+affair of making a cage for my Pol, who began now to be more domestic,
+and to be mighty well acquainted with me. Then I began to think of the
+poor kid which I had penned within my little circle, and resolved to
+fetch it home, or give it some food: accordingly I went, and found it
+where I left it (for indeed it could not get out,) but was almost
+starved for want of food. I went and cut boughs of trees, and branches
+of such shrubs as I could find, and threw it over, and having fed it, I
+tied it as I did before, to lead it away; but it was so tame with being
+hungry, that I had no need to have tied it, for it followed me like a
+dog: and as I continually fed it, the creature became so loving, so
+gentle, and so fond, that it was from that time one of my domestics
+also, and would never leave me afterwards.
+
+The rainy season of the autumnal equinox was now come, and I kept the
+30th of September in the same solemn manner as before, being the
+anniversary of my landing on the island; having now been there two
+years, and no more prospect of being delivered than the first day I came
+there. I spent the whole day in humble and thankful acknowledgments for
+the many wonderful mercies which my solitary condition was attended
+with, and without which it might have been infinitely more miserable. I
+gave humble and hearty thanks to God for having been pleased to discover
+to me, that it was possible I might be more happy even in this solitary
+condition, than I should have been in the enjoyment of society, and in
+all the pleasures of the world: that he could fully make up to me the
+deficiencies of my solitary state, and the wont of human society, by his
+presence, and the communications of his grace to my soul; supporting,
+comforting, and encouraging me to depend upon his providence here, and
+to hope for his eternal presence hereafter.
+
+It was now that I began sensibly to feel how much more happy the life I
+now led was, with all its miserable circumstances, than the wicked,
+cursed, abominable life I led all the past part of my days: and now I
+changed both my sorrows and my joys: my very desires altered, my
+affections changed their gusts, and my delights were perfectly new from
+what they were at my first coming, or indeed for the two years past.
+
+Before, as I walked about, either on my hunting, or for viewing the
+country, the anguish of my soul at my condition would break out upon me
+on a sudden, and my very heart would die within me, to think of the
+woods, the mountains, the deserts I was in; and how I was a prisoner,
+locked up with the eternal bars and bolts of the ocean, in an
+uninhabited wilderness, without redemption. In the midst of the greatest
+composures of my mind, this would break out upon me like a storm, and
+make me wring my hands, and weep like a child: sometimes it would take
+me in the middle of my work, and I would immediately sit down and sigh,
+and look upon the ground for an hour or two together: this was still
+worse to me; but if I could burst into tears, or give vent to my
+feelings by words, it would go off; and my grief being exhausted,
+would abate.
+
+But now I began to exercise myself with new thoughts; I daily read the
+word of God, and applied all the comforts of it to my present state. One
+morning, being very sad, I opened the Bible upon these words, "I will
+never leave thee, nor forsake thee:" immediately it occurred that these
+words were to me; why else should they be directed in such a manner,
+just at the moment when I was mourning over my condition, as one
+forsaken of God and man? "Well then," said I, "if God does not forsake
+me, of what ill consequence can it be, or what matters it, though the
+world should forsake me; seeing on the other hand, if I had all the
+world, and should lose the favour and blessing of God, there would be no
+comparison in the loss?"
+
+From this moment I began to conclude in my mind, that it was possible
+for me to be more happy in this forsaken, solitary condition, than it
+was probable I should ever have been in any other particular state in
+the world; and with this thought I was going to give thanks to God for
+bringing me to this place. I know not what it was, but something shocked
+my mind at that thought and I durst not speak the words. "How canst thou
+be such a hypocrite," said I, even audibly, "to pretend to be thankful
+for a condition, which, however thou mayest endeavour to be contented
+with, thou wouldest rather pray heartily to be delivered from?" Here I
+stopped: but though I could not say I thanked God for being here, yet I
+sincerely gave thanks to God for opening my eyes, by whatever afflicting
+providences, to see the former condition of my life, and to mourn for my
+wickedness, and repent. I never opened the Bible, or shut it, but my
+very soul within me blessed God for directing my friend in England,
+without any order of mine, to pack it up among my goods; and for
+assisting me afterwards to save it out of the wreck of the ship.
+
+Thus, and in this disposition of mind, I began my third year; and though
+I have not given the reader the trouble of so particular an account of
+my works this year as the first, yet in general it may be observed, that
+I was very seldom idle; but having regularly divided my time, according
+to the several daily employments that were before me; such as, first, My
+duty to God, and the reading the Scriptures, which I constantly set
+apart some time for, thrice every day: secondly, Going abroad with my
+gun for food, which generally took me up three hours every morning, when
+it did not rain: thirdly, Ordering, curing, preserving, and cooking what
+I had killed or catched for my supply: these took up great part of the
+day; also it is to be considered, that in the middle of the day, when
+the sun was in the zenith, the violence of the heat was too great to
+stir out; so that about four hours in the evening was all the time I
+could be supposed to work in; with this exception, that sometimes I
+changed my hours of hunting and working, and went to work in the
+morning, and abroad with my gun in the afternoon.
+
+To this short time allowed for labour, I desire may be added the
+exceeding laboriousness of my work; the many hours which, for want of
+tools, want of help, and want of skill, every thing I did took up out of
+my time: for example, I was full two and forty days making me a board
+for a long shelf, which I wanted in my cave; whereas, two sawyers, with
+their tools and a saw-pit, would have cut six of them out of the same
+tree in half a day.
+
+My case was this; it was a large tree which was to be cut down, because
+my board was to be a broad one. This tree I was three days cutting down,
+and two more in cutting off the boughs, and reducing it to a log, or
+piece of timber. With inexpressible hacking and hewing, I reduced both
+the sides of it into chips, till it was light enough to move; then I
+turned it, and made one side of it smooth and flat as a board, from end
+to end; then turning that side downward, cut the other side, till I
+brought the plank to be about three inches thick, and smooth on both
+sides. Any one may judge the labour of my hands in such a piece of work;
+but labour and patience carried me through that, and many other things:
+I only observe this in particular, to show the reason why so much of my
+time went away with so little work, viz. that what might be a little to
+be done with help and tools, was a vast labour, and required a
+prodigious time to do alone, and by hand. Notwithstanding this, with
+patience and labour I went through many things; and, indeed, every thing
+that my circumstances made necessary for me to do, as will appear by
+what follows.
+
+I was now in the months of November and December, expecting my crop of
+barley and rice. The ground I had manured or dug up for them was not
+great; for, as I observed, my seed of each was not above the quantity of
+half a peck, having lost one whole crop by sowing in the dry season: but
+now my crop promised very well; when, on a sudden, I found I was in
+danger of losing it all again by enemies of several sorts, which it was
+scarce possible to keep from it; as, first, the goats, and wild
+creatures which I called hares, who, tasting the sweetness of the blade,
+lay in it night and day, as soon as it came up, and ate it so close,
+that it could get no time to shoot up into stalk.
+
+I saw no remedy for this, but by making an enclosure about it with a
+hedge, which I did with a great deal of toil; and the more, because it
+required speed. However, as my arable land was but small, suited to my
+crop, I got it tolerably well fenced in about three weeks' time; and
+shooting some of the creatures in the day-time, I set my dog to guard it
+in the night, tying him up to a stake at the gate, where he would stand
+and bark all night long; so in a little time the enemies forsook the
+place, and the corn grew very strong and well, and began to ripen apace.
+
+But as the beasts ruined me before, while my corn was in the blade, so
+the birds were as likely to ruin me now, when it was in the ear: for
+going along by the place to see how it throve, I saw my little crop
+surrounded with fowls, I know not of how many sorts, who stood, as it
+were, watching till I should be gone. I immediately let fly among them
+(for I always had my gun with me;) I had no sooner shot, but there rose
+up a little cloud of fowls, which I had not seen at all, from among the
+corn itself.
+
+This touched me sensibly, for I foresaw that in a few days they would
+devour all my hopes; that I should be starved, and never be able to
+raise a crop at all; and what to do I could not tell: however, I
+resolved not to lose my corn, if possible, though I should watch it
+night and day. In the first place, I went among it, to see what damage
+was already done, and found they had spoiled a good deal of it; but that
+as it was yet too green for them, the loss was not so great, but that
+the remainder was likely to be a good crop, if it could be saved.
+
+I staid by it to load my gun, and then coming away, I could easily see
+the thieves sitting upon all the trees about me, as if they only waited
+till I was gone away; and the event proved it to be so; for as I walked
+off, as if gone, I was no sooner out of their sight, than they dropt
+down, one by one, into the corn again. I was so provoked, that I could
+not have patience to stay till more came on, knowing that every grain
+they eat now was, as it might be said, a peck-loaf to me in the
+consequence; so coming up to the hedge, I fired again, and killed three
+of them. This was what I wished for; so I took them up, and served them
+as we serve notorious thieves in England, viz. hanged them in chains,
+for a terror to others. It is impossible to imagine that this should
+have such an effect as it had; for the fowls not only never came to the
+corn, but, in short, they forsook all that part of the island, and I
+could never see a bird near the place as long as my scare-crows hung
+there. This I was very glad of, you may be sure; and about the latter
+end of December, which was our second harvest of the year, I reaped
+my corn.
+
+I was sadly put to it for a scythe or sickle to cut it down: and all I
+could do was to make one as well as I could, out of one of the broad
+swords, or cutlasses, which I saved among the arms out of the ship.
+However, as my first crop was but small, I had no great difficulty to
+cut it down: in short, I reaped it my way, for I cut nothing off but the
+ears, and carried it away in a great basket which I had made, and so
+rubbed it out with my hands; and at the end of all my harvesting, I
+found that out of my half peck of seed I had near two bushels of rice,
+and above two bushels and a half of barley; that is to say, by my guess,
+for I had no measure.
+
+However, this was great encouragement to me; and I foresaw that, in
+time, it would please God to supply me with bread; and yet here I was
+perplexed again; for I neither knew how to grind, or make meal of my
+corn, or indeed how to clean it and part it; nor if made into meal, how
+to make bread of it; and if how to make it, yet I knew not how to bake
+it: these things being added to my desire of having a good quantity for
+store, and to secure a constant supply, I resolved not to taste any of
+this crop, but to preserve it all for seed against the next season; and,
+in the mean tune, to employ all my study and hours of working to
+accomplish this great work of providing myself with corn and bread.
+
+It might be truly said, that now I worked for my bread. It is a little
+wonderful, and what I believe few people have thought much upon, viz.
+the strange multitude of little things necessary in the providing,
+producing, curing, dressing, making, and finishing this one article
+of bread.
+
+I, that was reduced to a mere state of nature, found this to my daily
+discouragement, and was made more sensible of it every hour, even after
+I had got the first handful of seed-corn which, as I have said, came up
+unexpectedly, and indeed to a surprise.
+
+First, I had no plough to turn up the earth; no spade or shovel to dig
+it: well, this I conquered by making a wooden spade, as I observed
+before; but this did my work but in a wooden manner; and though it cost
+me a great many days to make it, yet, for want of iron, it not only wore
+out the sooner, but made my work the harder, and performed it much
+worse. However, this I bore with, and was content to work it out with
+patience, and bear with the badness of the performance. When the corn
+was sown, I had no harrow, but was forced to go over it myself, and drag
+a great heavy bough of a tree over it, to scratch it, as it may be
+called, rather than rake or harrow it. When it was growing and grown, I
+have observed already how many things I wanted to fence it, secure it,
+mow or reap it, cure and carry it home, thrash, part it from the chaff,
+and save it: then I wanted a mill to grind it, sieves to dress it, yeast
+and salt to make it into bread, and an oven to bake it; and yet all
+these things I did without, as shall be observed; and the corn was an
+inestimable comfort and advantage to me: all this, as I said, made every
+thing laborious and tedious to me, but that there was no help for;
+neither was my time so much loss to me, because, as I had divided it, a
+certain part of it, was every day appointed to these works; and as I
+resolved to use none of the corn for bread till I had a greater quantity
+by me, I had the next six months to apply myself wholly, by labour and
+invention, to furnish myself with utensils proper for the performing all
+the operations necessary for making corn fit for my use.
+
+But now I was to prepare more land; for I had seed enough to sow above
+an acre of ground. Before I did this, I had a week's work at least to
+make me a spade; which, when it was done, was but a sorry one indeed,
+and very heavy, and required double labour to work with it: however, I
+went through that, and sowed my seed in two large flat pieces of ground,
+as near my house as I could find them to my mind, and fenced them in
+with a good hedge; the stakes of which were all cut off that wood which
+I had set before, and knew it would grow; so that, in one year's time, I
+knew I should have a quick or living hedge, that would want but little
+repair. This work took me up full three months; because a great part of
+the time was in the wet season, when I could not go abroad. Within
+doors, that is, when it rained, and I could not go out, I found
+employment on the following occasions; always observing, that while I
+was at work, I diverted myself with talking to my parrot, and teaching
+him to speak; and I quickly learned him to know his own name, and at
+last to speak it out pretty loud, Pol; which was the first word I ever
+heard spoken in the island by any mouth but my own. This, therefore, was
+not my work, but an assistant to my work; for now, as I said, I had a
+great employment upon my hands, as follows: I had long studied, by some
+means or other, to make myself some earthen vessels, which indeed I
+wanted much, but knew not where to come at them: however, considering
+the heat of the climate, I did not doubt but if I could find out any
+clay, I might botch up some such pot as might, being dried in the sun,
+be hard and strong enough to bear handling, and to hold any thing that
+was dry, and required to be kept so; and as this was necessary in the
+preparing corn, meal, &c. which was the thing I was upon, I resolved to
+make some as large as I could, and fit only to stand like jars, to hold
+what should be put into them.
+
+It would make the reader pity me, or rather laugh at me, to tell how
+many awkward ways I took to raise this pastil; what odd, misshapen, ugly
+things I made; how many of them fell in, and how many fell out, the clay
+not being stiff enough to bear its own weight; how many cracked by the
+over violent heat of the sun, being set out too hastily; and how many
+fell in pieces with only removing, as well before as after they were
+dried: and, in a word, how, after having laboured hard to find the
+clay, to dig it, to temper it, to bring it home, and work it, I could
+not make above two large earthen ugly things (I cannot call them jars)
+in about two months' labour.
+
+However, as the sun baked these two very dry and hard, I lifted them
+very gently up, and set them down again in two great wicker baskets,
+which I had made on purpose for them, that they might not break; and as
+between the pot and the basket there was a little room to spare, I
+stuffed it full of the rice and barley-straw; and these two pots being
+to stand always dry, I thought would hold my dry corn, and perhaps the
+meal, when the corn was bruised.
+
+Though I miscarried so much in my design for large pots, yet I made
+several smaller things with better success; such as little round pots,
+flat dishes, pitchers, and pipkins, and any thing my hand turned to; and
+the heat of the sun baked them very hard.
+
+But all this would not answer my end, which was to get an earthen pot to
+hold liquids, and bear the fire, which none of these could do. It
+happened some time after, making a pretty large fire for cooking my
+meat, when I went to put it out after I had done with it, I found a
+broken piece of one of my earthen-ware vessels in the fire, burnt as
+hard as a stone, and red as a tile. I was agreeably surprised to see it;
+and said to myself, that certainly they might be made to burn whole, if
+they would burn broken.
+
+This set me to study how to order my fire, so as to make it burn some
+pots. I had no notion of a kiln, such as the potters burn in, or of
+glazing them with lead, though I had some lead to do it with; but I
+placed three large pipkins and two or three pots in a pile, one upon
+another, and placed my fire-wood all round it, with a great heap of
+embers under them. I plied the fire with fresh fuel round the outside,
+and upon the top, till I saw the pots in the inside red-hot quite
+through, and observed that they did not crack at all: when I saw them
+clear red, I let them stand in that heat about five or six hours, till I
+found one of them, though it did not crack, did melt or run; for the
+sand which was mixed with the clay melted by the violence of the heat,
+and would have run into glass, if I had gone on; so I slacked my fire
+gradually, till the pots began to abate of the red colour; and watching
+them all night, that I might not let the fire abate too fast, in the
+morning I had three very good, I will not say handsome, pipkins, and two
+other earthen pots, as hard burnt as could be desired; and one of them
+perfectly glazed with the running of the sand.
+
+After this experiment, I need not say that I wanted no sort of
+earthen-ware for my use; but I must needs say, as to the shapes of them,
+they were very indifferent, as any one may suppose, as I had no way of
+making them but as the children make dirt pies, or as a woman would make
+pies that never learned to raise paste.
+
+No joy at a thing of so mean a nature was ever equal to mine, when I
+found I had made an earthen pot that would bear the fire; and I had
+hardly patience to stay till they were cold, before I set one on the
+fire again, with some water in it, to boil me some meat, which it did
+admirably well; and with a piece of a kid I made some very good broth;
+though I wanted oatmeal, and several other ingredients requisite to make
+it so good as I would have had it been.
+
+My next concern was to get a stone mortar to stamp or beat some corn in;
+for as to the mill, there was no thought of arriving to that perfection
+of art with one pair of hands. To supply this want I was at a great
+loss; for, of all trades in the world, I was as perfectly unqualified
+for a stonecutter, as for any whatever; neither had I any tools to go
+about it with. I spent many a day to find out a great stone big enough
+to cut hollow, and make fit for a mortar; but could find none at all,
+except what was in the solid rock, and which I had no way to dig or cut
+out: nor, indeed, were the rocks in the island of sufficient hardness,
+as they were all of a sandy crumbling stone, which would neither bear
+the weight of a heavy pestle, nor would break the corn without filling
+it with sand: so, after a great deal of time lost in searching for a
+stone, I gave it over, and resolved to look out a great block of hard
+wood, which I found indeed much easier; and getting one as big as I had
+strength to stir, I rounded it, and formed it on the outside with my axe
+and hatchet; and then, with the help of fire, and infinite labour, made
+a hollow place in it, as the Indians in Brazil make their canoes. After
+this, I made a great heavy pestle, or beater, of the wood called
+iron-wood; and this I prepared and laid by against I had my next crop of
+corn, when I proposed to myself to grind, or rather pound, my corn into
+meal, to make my bread.
+
+My next difficulty was to make a sieve, or searce, to dress my meal,
+and to part it from the bran and the husk, without which I did not see
+it possible I could have any bread. This was a most difficult thing,
+even but to think on; for I had nothing like the necessary thing to make
+it; I mean fine thin canvass or stuff, to searce the meal through. Here
+I was at a full stop for many months; nor did I really know what to do;
+linen I had none left, but what was mere rags; I had goats'-hair, but
+neither knew how to weave it nor spin it; and had I known how, here were
+no tools to work it with: all the remedy I found for this was, at last
+recollecting I had, among the seamen's clothes which were saved out of
+the ship, some neckcloths of calico or muslin, with some pieces of these
+I made three small sieves, proper enough for the work; and thus I made
+shift for some years: how I did afterwards, I shall show in its place.
+
+The baking part was the next thing to be considered, and how I should
+make bread when I came to have corn: for, first, I had no yeast: as to
+that part there was no supplying the want, so I did not concern myself
+much about it; but for an oven I was indeed puzzled. At length I found
+out an expedient for that also, which was this; I made some earthen
+vessels, very broad, but not deep, that is to say, about two feet
+diameter, and not above nine inches deep: these I burned in the fire, as
+I had done the other, and laid them by; and when I wanted to bake, I
+made a great fire upon my hearth, which I had paved with some square
+tiles, of my own making and burning also; but I should not call
+them square.
+
+When the fire-wood was burned into embers, or live coals, I drew them
+forward upon the hearth, so as to cover it all over, and there let them
+lie till the hearth was very hot; then sweeping away all the embers, I
+set down my loaf, or loaves, and covering them with the earthen pot,
+drew the embers all round the outside of the pot, to keep in and add to
+the heat; and thus, as well as in the best oven in the world, I baked my
+barley-loaves, and became, in a little time, a good pastry-cook into the
+bargain; for I made myself several cakes and puddings of the rice; but
+made no pies, as I had nothing to put into them except the flesh of
+fowls or goats.
+
+It need not be wondered at, if all these things took me up most part of
+the third year of my abode here; for, it is to be observed, in the
+intervals of these things, I had my new harvest and husbandry to manage:
+I reaped my corn in its season, and carried it home as well as I could,
+and laid it up in the ear, in my large baskets, till I had time to rub
+it out; for I had no floor to thrash it on, or instrument to thrash
+it with.
+
+And now, indeed, my stock of corn increasing, I really wanted to build
+my barns bigger: I wanted a place to lay it up in; for the increase of
+the corn now yielded me so much, that I had of the barley about twenty
+bushels, and of rice as much, or more, insomuch that now I resolved to
+begin to use it freely; for my bread had been quite gone a great while:
+I resolved also to see what quantity would be sufficient for me a whole
+year, and to sow but once a year.
+
+Upon the whole, I found that the forty bushels of barley and rice were
+much more than I could consume in a year; so I resolved to sow just the
+same quantity every year that I sowed the last, in hopes that such a
+quantity would fully provide me with bread, &c.
+
+All the while these things were doing, you may be sure my thoughts ran
+many times upon the prospect of land which I had seen from the other
+side of the island; and I was not without some secret wishes that I was
+on shore there; fancying, that seeing the main land, and an inhabited
+country, I might find some way or other to convey myself farther, and
+perhaps at last find some means of escape.
+
+But all this while I made no allowance for the dangers of such a
+condition, and that I might fall into the hands of savages, and perhaps
+such as I might have reason to think far worse than the lions and tigers
+of Africa; that if I once came in their power, I should run a hazard of
+more than a thousand to one of being killed, and perhaps of being eaten;
+for I had heard that the people of the Caribbean coast were cannibals,
+or man-eaters; and I knew, by the latitude, that I could not be far off
+from that shore. Then supposing they were not cannibals, yet that they
+might kill me, as they had many Europeans who had fallen into their
+hands, even when they have been ten or twenty together; much more I, who
+was but one, and could makee little or no defence; all these things, I
+say, which I ought to have considered well of, and did cast up in my
+thoughts afterwards, took up none of my apprehensions at first; yet my
+head ran mightily upon the thought of getting over to the shore.
+
+Now I wished for my boy Xury, and the long-boat with the
+shoulder-of-mutton sail, with which I sailed above a thousand miles on
+the coast of Africa; but this was in vain: then I thought I would go and
+look at our ship's boat, which, as I have said, was blown up upon the
+shore a great way, in the storm, when we were first cast away. She lay
+nearly where she did at first, but not quite; having turned, by the
+force of the waves and the winds, almost bottom upward, against a high
+ridge of beachy rough sand; but no water about her, as before. If I had
+had hands to have refitted her, and to have launched her into the water,
+the boat would have done very well, and I might have gone back into the
+Brazils with her easily enough; but I might have foreseen, that I could
+no more turn her and set her upright upon her bottom, than I could
+remove the island; however, I went to the woods, and cut levers and
+rollers, and brought them to the boat, resolving to try what I could do;
+suggesting to myself, that if I could but turn her down, and repair the
+damage she had received, she would be a very good boat, and I might
+venture to sea in her.
+
+I spared no pains, indeed, in this piece of fruitless toil, and spent, I
+think, three or four weeks about it: at last, finding it impossible to
+heave her up with my little strength, I fell to digging away the sand,
+to undermine her, and so as to make her fall down, setting pieces of
+wood to thrust and guide her right in the fall.
+
+But when I had done this, I was unable to stir her up again, or to get
+under her, much less to move her forward towards the water; so I was
+forced to give it over: and yet, though I gave over the hopes of the
+boat, my desire to venture over the main increased, rather than
+diminished, as the means for it seemed impossible.
+
+At length, I began to think whether it was not possible to make myself a
+canoe, or periagua, such as the natives of those climates make, even
+without tools, or, as I might say, without hands, of the trunk of a
+great tree. This I not only thought possible, but easy, and pleased
+myself extremely with the idea of making it, and with my having much
+more convenience for it than any of the Negroes or Indians; but not at
+all considering the particular inconveniences which I lay under more
+than the Indians did, viz. the want of hands to move it into the water
+when it was made, a difficulty much harder for me to surmount than all
+the consequences of want of tools could be to them: for what could it
+avail me, if, after I had chosen my tree, and with much trouble cut it
+down, and might be able with my tools to hew and dub the outside into
+the proper shape of a boat, and burn or cut out the inside to make it
+hollow, so as to make a boat of it; if, after all this, I must leave it
+just where I found it, and was not able to launch it into the water?
+
+One would imagine, if I had had the least reflection upon my mind of my
+circumstances while I was making this boat, I should have immediately
+thought how I was to get it into the sea: but my thoughts were so intent
+upon my voyage in it, that I never once considered how I should get it
+off the land; and it was really, in its own nature, more easy for me to
+guide it over forty-five miles of sea, than the forty-five fathoms of
+land, where it lay, to set it afloat in the water.
+
+I went to work upon this boat the most like a fool that ever man did,
+who had any of his senses awake. I pleased myself with the design,
+without determining whether I was able to undertake it; not but that the
+difficulty of launching my boat came often into my head; but I put a
+stop to my own inquiries into it, by this foolish answer: Let me first
+make it; I warrant I will find some way or other to get it along when
+it is done.
+
+This was a most preposterous method; but the eagerness of my fancy
+prevailed, and to work I went. I felled a cedar tree, and I question
+much whether Solomon ever had such a one for the building of the Temple
+at Jerusalem; it was five feet ten inches diameter at the lower part
+next the stump, and four feet eleven inches diameter at the end of
+twenty-two feet, where it lessened, and then parted into branches. It
+was not without infinite labour that I felled this tree; I was twenty
+days hacking and hewing at the bottom, and fourteen more getting the
+branches and limbs, and the vast spreading head of it, cut off: after
+this, it cost me a month to shape it and dub it to a proportion, and to
+something like the bottom of a boat, that it might swim upright as it
+ought to do. It cost me near three months more to clear the inside, and
+work it out so as to make an exact boat of it: this I did, indeed,
+without fire, by mere mallet and chisel, and by the dint of hard labour,
+till I had brought it to be a very handsome periagua, and big enough to
+have carried six and twenty men, and consequently big enough to have
+carried me and all my cargo.
+
+When I had gone through this work, I was extremely delighted with it.
+The boat was really much bigger than ever I saw a canoe or periagua,
+that was made of one tree, in my life. Many a weary stroke it had cost,
+you may be sure; and there remained nothing but to get it into the
+water; which, had I accomplished, I make no question but I should have
+begun the maddest voyage, and the most unlikely to be performed, that
+ever was undertaken.
+
+But all my devices to get it into the water failed me; though they cost
+me inexpressible labour too. It lay about one hundred yards from the
+water, and not more; but the first inconvenience was, it was up hill
+towards the creek. Well, to take away this discouragement, I resolved to
+dig into the surface of the earth, and so make a declivity: this I
+begun, and it cost me a prodigious deal of pains; (but who grudge pains
+that have their deliverance in view?) when this was worked through, and
+this difficulty managed, it was still much the same, for I could no more
+stir the canoe than I could the other boat. Then I measured the distance
+of ground, and resolved to cut a dock or canal, to bring the water up to
+the canoe, seeing I could not bring the canoe down to the water. Well, I
+began this work; and when I began to enter upon it, and calculate how
+deep it was to be dug, how broad, how the stuff was to be thrown out, I
+found by the number of hands I had, having none but my own, that it must
+have been ten or twelve years before I could have gone through with it;
+for the shore lay so high, that at the upper end it must have been at
+least twenty feet deep; this attempt, though with great reluctancy, I
+was at length obliged to give over also.
+
+This grieved me heartily; and now I saw, though too late, the folly of
+beginning a work before we count the cost, and before we judge rightly
+of our own strength to go through with it.
+
+In the middle of this work, I finished my fourth year in this place, and
+kept my anniversary with the same devotion, and with as much comfort as
+before; for, by a constant study and serious application to the word of
+God, and by the assistance of his grace, I gained a different knowledge
+from what I had before; I entertained different notions of things; I
+looked now upon the world as a thing remote, which I had nothing to do
+with, no expectation from, and, indeed, no desires about: in a word, I
+had nothing to do with it, nor was ever likely to have; I thought it
+looked, as we may perhaps look upon it hereafter, viz. as, a place I had
+lived in, but was come out of it; and well might I say, as father
+Abraham to Dives, "Between me and thee is a great gulf fixed."
+
+In the first place, I was here removed from all the wickedness of the
+world; I had neither the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, nor the
+pride of life. I had nothing to covet, for I had all that I was now
+capable of enjoying: I was lord of the whole manor; or, if I pleased, I
+might call myself king or emperor over the whole country which I had
+possession of; there were no rivals; I had no competitor, none to
+dispute sovereignty or command with me: I might have raised
+ship-loadings of corn, but I had no use for it; so I let as little grow
+as I thought enough for my occasion. I had tortoise or turtle enough,
+but now and then one was as much as I could put to any use: I had timber
+enough to have built a fleet of ships; and I had grapes enough to have
+made wine, or to have cured into raisins, to have loaded that fleet when
+it had been built.
+
+But all I could make use of was all that was valuable: I had enough to
+eat and supply my wants, and what was the rest to me? If I killed more
+flesh than I could eat, the dog must eat it, or vermin; if I sowed more
+corn than I could eat, it must be spoiled; the trees that I cut down
+were lying to rot on the ground; I could make no more use of them than
+for fuel, and that I had no other occasion for but to dress my food.
+
+In a word, the nature and experience of things dictated to me, upon just
+reflection, that all the good things of this world, are of no farther
+good to us than for our use; and that whatever we may heap up to give
+others, we enjoy only as much as we can use, and no more. The most
+covetous griping miser in the world would have been cured of the vice of
+covetousness, if he had been in my case; for I possessed infinitely more
+than I knew what to do with. I had no room for desire, except it was for
+things which I had not, and they were comparatively but trifles, though
+indeed of great use to me. I had, as I hinted before, a parcel of money,
+as well gold as silver, about thirty-six pounds sterling. Alas! there
+the nasty, sorry, useless stuff lay: I had no manner of business for
+it; and I often thought within myself, that I would have given a handful
+of it for a gross of tobacco-pipes, or for a hand-mill to grind my corn;
+nay, I would have given it all for sixpenny-worth of turnip and carrot
+seed from England, or for a handful of peas and beans, and a bottle of
+ink. As it was, I had not the least advantage by it, or benefit from it;
+but there it lay in a drawer, and grew mouldy with the damp of the cave
+in the wet seasons; and if I had had the drawer full of diamonds, it had
+been the same case,--they had been of no manner of value to me because
+of no use.
+
+I had now brought my state of life to be much more comfortable in itself
+than it was at first, and much easier to my mind, as well as to my body.
+I frequently sat down to meat with thankfulness, and admired the hand of
+God's providence, which had thus spread my table in the wilderness: I
+learned to look more upon the bright side of my condition, and less upon
+the dark side, and to consider what I enjoyed, rather than what I
+wanted: and this gave me sometimes such secret comforts, that I cannot
+express them; and which I take notice of here, to put those discontented
+people in mind of it, who cannot enjoy comfortably what God has given
+them, because they see and covet something that he has not given them.
+All our discontents about what we want, appeared to me to spring from
+the want of thankfulness for what we have.
+
+Another reflection was of great use to me, and doubtless would be so to
+any one that should fall into such distress as mine was; and this was,
+to compare my present condition with what I at first expected it would
+be; nay, with what it would certainly have been, if the good providence
+of God had not wonderfully ordered the ship to be cast up near to the
+shore, where I not only could come at her, but could bring what I got
+out of her to the shore, for my relief and comfort; without which, I had
+wanted for tools to work, weapons for defence, and gunpowder and shot
+for getting my food.
+
+I spent whole hours, I may say whole days, in representing to myself, in
+the most lively colours, how I must have acted if I had got nothing out
+of the ship. I could not have so much as got any food, except fish and
+turtles; and that, as it was long before I found any of them, I must
+have perished; that I should have lived, if I had not perished, like a
+mere savage; that if I had killed a goat or a fowl, by any contrivance,
+I had no way to flay or open it, or part the flesh from the skin and the
+bowels, or to cut it up; but must gnaw it with my teeth, and pull it
+with my claws, like a beast.
+
+These reflections made me very sensible of the goodness of Providence to
+me, and very thankful for my present condition, with all its hardships
+and misfortunes: and this part also I cannot but recommend to the
+reflection of those who are apt, in their misery, to say, Is any
+affliction like mine? Let them consider how much worse the cases of some
+people are, and their case might have been, if Providence had
+thought fit.
+
+I had another reflection, which assisted me also to comfort my mind with
+hopes; and this was comparing my present condition with what I had
+deserved, and had therefore reason to expect from the hand of
+Providence. I had lived a dreadful life, perfectly destitute of the
+knowledge and fear of God. I had been well instructed by my father and
+mother; neither had they been wanting to me, in their endeavours to
+infuse an early religious awe of God into my mind, a sense of my duty,
+and what the nature and end of my being required of me. But, alas!
+falling early into the seafaring life, which, of all lives, is the most
+destitute of the fear of God, though his terrors are always before them;
+I say, falling early into the seafaring life, and into seafaring
+company, all that little sense of religion which I had entertained was
+laughed out of me by my messmates; by a hardened despising of dangers,
+and the views of death, which grew habitual to me; by my long absence
+from all manner of opportunities to converse with any thing but what was
+like myself, or to hear any thing that was good, or tending towards it.
+
+So void was I of every thing that was good, or of the least sense of
+what I was, or was to be, that in the greatest deliverances I enjoyed
+(such as my escape from Sallee, my being taken up by the Portuguese
+master of a ship, my being planted so well in the Brazils, my receiving
+the cargo from England, and the like,) I never had once the words, Thank
+God, so much as on my mind, or in my mouth; nor in the greatest distress
+had I so much as a thought to pray to him, or so much as to say, Lord,
+have mercy upon me! no, nor to mention the name of God, unless it was to
+swear by, and blaspheme it.
+
+I had terrible reflections upon my mind for many months, as I have
+already observed, on account of my wicked and hardened life past; and
+when I looked about me, and considered what particular providences had
+attended me since my coming into this place, and how God had dealt
+bountifully with me,--had not only punished me less than my iniquity had
+deserved, but had so plentifully provided for me,--this gave me great
+hopes that my repentance was accepted, and that God had yet mercies in
+store for me.
+
+With these reflections, I worked my mind up, not only to a resignation
+to the will of God in the present disposition of my circumstances, but
+even to a sincere thankfulness for my condition; and that I, who was yet
+a living man, ought not to complain, seeing I had not the due punishment
+of my sins; that I enjoyed so many mercies which I had no reason to have
+expected in that place, that I ought never more to repine at my
+condition, but to rejoice, and to give daily thanks for that daily
+bread, which nothing but a crowd of wonders could have brought; that I
+ought to consider I had been fed by a miracle, even as great as that of
+feeding Elijah by ravens; nay, by a long series of miracles: and that I
+could hardly have named a place in the uninhabitable part of the world
+where I could have been cast more to my advantage; a place where, as I
+had no society, which was my affliction on one hand, so I found no
+ravenous beasts, no furious wolves or tigers, to threaten my life; no
+venomous or poisonous creatures which I might feed on to my hurt; no
+savages to murder and devour me. In a word, as my life was a life of
+sorrow one way, so it was a life of mercy another; and I wanted nothing
+to make it a life of comfort, but to make myself sensible of God's
+goodness to me, and care over me in this condition; and after I did make
+a just improvement of these things, I went away, and was no more sad.
+
+I had now been here so long, that many things which I brought on shore
+for my help were either quite gone, or very much wasted, and near spent.
+
+My ink, as I observed, had been gone for some time, all but a very
+little, which I eked out with water, a little and a little, till it was
+so pale, it scarce left any appearance of black upon the paper. As long
+as it lasted, I made use of it to minute down the days of the month on
+which any remarkable thing happened to me: and, first, by casting up
+times past, I remember that there was a strange concurrence of days in
+the various providences which befel me, and which, if I had been
+superstitiously inclined to observe days as fatal or fortunate, I might
+have had reason to have looked upon with a great deal of curiosity.
+
+First, I had observed, that the same day that I broke away from my
+father and my friends, and ran away to Hull, in order to go to sea, the
+same day afterwards I was taken by the Sallee man of war, and made a
+slave: the same day of the year that I escaped out of the wreck of the
+ship in Yarmouth Roads, that same day-year afterwards I made my escape
+from Sallee in the boat: and the same day of the year I was born on,
+viz. the 30th of September, that same day I had my life so miraculously
+saved twenty-six years after, when I was cast on shore in this island:
+so that my wicked life and my solitary life began both on one day.
+
+The next thing to my ink being wasted, was that of my bread, I mean the
+biscuit which I brought out of the ship; this I had husbanded to the
+last degree, allowing myself but one cake of bread a day for above a
+year; and yet I was quite without bread for near a year before I got any
+corn of my own; and great reason I had to be thankful that I had any at
+all, the getting it being, as has been already observed, next to
+miraculous.
+
+My clothes, too, began to decay mightily: as to linen, I had none for a
+great while, except some chequered shirts which I found in the chests of
+the other seamen, and which I carefully preserved, because many times I
+could bear no clothes on but a shirt; and it was a very great help to me
+that I had, among all the men's clothes of the ship, almost three dozen
+of shirts. There were also, indeed, several thick watch-coats of the
+seamen's which were left, but they were too hot to wear: and though it
+is true that the weather was so violently hot that there was no need of
+clothes, yet I could not go quite naked, no, though I had been inclined
+to it, which I was not, nor could I abide the thought of it, though, I
+was all alone. The reason why I could not go quite naked was, I could
+not bear the heat of the sun so well when quite naked as with some
+clothes on; nay, the very heat frequently blistered my skin: whereas,
+with a shirt on, the air itself made some motion, and whistling under
+the shirt, was twofold cooler than without it. No more could I ever
+bring myself to go out in the heat of the sun without a cap or hat; the
+heat of the sun beating with such violence as it does in that place,
+would give me the head-ach presently, by darting so directly upon my
+head, without a cap or hat on, so that I could not bear it; whereas, if
+I put on my hat, it would presently go away.
+
+Upon these views, I began to consider about putting the few rags I had,
+which I called clothes, into some order: I had worn out all the
+waistcoats I had, and my business was now to try if I could not make
+jackets out of the great watch-coats that I had by me, and with such
+other materials as I had; so I set to work a tailoring, or rather,
+indeed; a botching, for I made most piteous work of it. However, I made
+shift to make two or three new waistcoats, which I hoped would serve me
+a great while: as for breeches or drawers, I made but a very sorry shift
+indeed till afterwards.
+
+I have mentioned, that I saved the skins of all the creatures that I
+killed, I mean four-footed ones; and I had hung them up, stretched out
+with sticks, in the sun, by which means some of them were so dry and
+hard that they were fit for little, but others I found very useful. The
+first thing I made of these was a great cap for my head, with the hair
+on the outside, to shoot off the rain; and this I performed so well,
+that after this I made me a suit of clothes wholly of the skins, that is
+to say, a waistcoat, and breeches open at the knees, and both loose; for
+they were rather wanting to keep me cool than warm. I must not omit to
+acknowledge that they were wretchedly made; for if I was a bad
+carpenter, I was a worse tailor. However, they were such as I made very
+good shift with; and when I was abroad, if it happened to rain, the hair
+of my waistcoat and cap being uppermost, I was kept very dry.
+
+After this I spent a great deal of time and pains to make me an
+umbrella: I was indeed in great want of one, and had a great mind to
+make one; I had seen them made in the Brazils, where they were very
+useful in the great heats which are there; and I felt the heats every
+jot as great here, and greater too, being nearer the equinox: besides,
+as I was obliged to be much abroad, it was a most useful thing to me, as
+well for the rains as the heats. I took a world of pains at it, and was
+a great while before I could make any thing likely to hold; nay, after I
+thought I had hit the way, I spoiled two or three before I made one to
+my mind; but at last I made one that answered indifferently well; the
+main difficulty I found was to make it to let down: I could make it
+spread, but if it did not let down too, and draw in, it was not portable
+for me any way but just over my head, which would not do. However, at
+last, as I said, I made one to answer, and covered it with skins, the
+hair upwards, so that it cast off the rain like a pent-house, and kept
+off the sun so effectually, that I could walk out in the hottest of the
+weather with greater advantage than I could before in the coolest; and
+when I had no need of it, could close it, and carry it under my arm.
+
+Thus I lived mighty comfortably, my mind being entirely composed by
+resigning to the will of God, and throwing myself wholly upon the
+disposal of his providence. This made my life better than sociable; for
+when I began to regret the want of conversation, I would ask myself,
+whether thus conversing mutually with my own thoughts, and, as I hope I
+may say, with even God himself, by ejaculations, was not better than the
+utmost enjoyment of human society in the world?
+
+I cannot say that after this, for five years, any extraordinary thing
+happened to me, but I lived on in the same course, in the same posture
+and place, just as before; the chief things I was employed in, besides
+my yearly labour of planting my barley and rice, and curing my raisins,
+of both which I always kept up just enough to have sufficient stock of
+one year's provision beforehand; I say, besides this yearly labour, and
+my daily pursuit of going out with my gun, I had one labour, to make me
+a canoe, which at last I finished: so that by digging a canal to it of
+six feet wide, and four feet deep, I brought it into the creek, almost
+half a mile. As for the first, which was so vastly big, as I made it
+without considering beforehand, as I ought to do, how I should be able
+to launch it, so, never being able to bring it into the water, or bring
+the water to it, I was obliged to let it lie where it was, as a
+memorandum to teach me to be wiser the next time: indeed, the next time,
+though I could not get a tree proper for it, and was in a place where I
+could not get the water to it at any less distance than, as I have said,
+near half a mile, yet as I saw it was practicable at last, I never gave
+it over: and though I was near two years about it, yet I never grudged
+my labour, in hopes of having a boat to go off to sea at last.
+
+However, though my little periagua was finished, yet the size of it was
+not at all answerable to the design which I had in view when I made the
+first; I mean, of venturing over to the _terra firma_, where it was
+above forty miles broad; accordingly, the smallness of my boat assisted
+to put an end to that design, and now I thought no more of it. As I had
+a boat, my next design was to make a cruise round the island; for as I
+had been on the other side in one place, crossing, as I have already
+described it, over the land, so the discoveries I made in that little
+journey made me very eager to see other parts of the coast; and now I
+had a boat, I thought of nothing but sailing round the island.
+
+For this purpose, that I might do every thing with discretion and
+consideration, I fitted up a little mast in my boat, and made a sail to
+it out of some of the pieces of the ship's sails which lay in store, and
+of which I had a great stock by me. Having fitted my mast and sail, and
+tried the boat, I found she would sail very well: then I made little
+lockers, or boxes, at each end of my boat, to put provisions,
+necessaries, ammunition, &c. into, to be kept dry, either from rain or
+the spray of the sea; and a little long hollow place I cut in the inside
+of the boat, where I could lay my gun, making a flap to hang down over
+it, to keep it dry.
+
+I fixed my umbrella also in a step at the stern, like a mast, to stand
+over my head, and keep the heat of the sun off me, like an awning; and
+thus I every now and then took a little voyage upon the sea, but never
+went far out, nor far from the little creek. At last, being eager to
+view the circumference of my little kingdom, I resolved upon my cruise;
+and accordingly I victualled my ship for the voyage, putting in two
+dozen of loaves (cakes I should rather call them) of barley bread, an
+earthen pot full of parched rice (a food I ate a great deal of,) a
+little bottle of rum, half a goat, and powder and shot for killing more,
+and two large watch-coats, of those which, as I mentioned before, I had
+saved out of the seamen's chests; these I took, one to lie upon, and the
+other to cover me in the night.
+
+It was the 6th of November, in the sixth year of my reign, or my
+captivity, which you please, that I set out on this voyage, and I found
+it much longer than I expected; for though the island itself was not
+very large, yet when I came to the east side of it, I found a great
+ledge of rocks lie out about two leagues into the sea, some above water,
+some under it; and beyond that a shoal of sand, lying dry half a league
+more, so that I was obliged to go a great way out to sea to double
+the point.
+
+When first I discovered them, I was going to give over my enterprise,
+and come back again, not knowing how far it might oblige me to go out to
+sea, and, above all, doubting how I should get back again; so I came to
+an anchor; for I had made me a kind of an anchor with a piece of a
+broken grappling which I got out of the ship.
+
+Having secured my boat, I took my gun and went on shore, climbing up on
+a hill, which seemed to overlook that point, where I saw the full extent
+of it, and resolved to venture.
+
+In my viewing the sea from that hill where I stood, I perceived a
+strong, and indeed a most furious current, which ran to the east, and
+even came close to the point; and I took the more notice of it, because
+I saw there might be some danger, that when I came into it, I might be
+carried out to sea by the strength of it, and not be able to make the
+island again: and, indeed, had I not got first upon this hill, I believe
+it would have been so; for there was the same current on the other side
+the island, only that it set off at a farther distance, and I saw there
+was a strong eddy under the shore; so I had nothing to do but to get out
+of the first current, and I should presently be in an eddy.
+
+I lay here, however, two days, because the wind blowing pretty fresh at
+E.S.E. and that being just contrary to the said current, made a great
+breach of the sea upon the point; so that it was not safe for me to keep
+too close to the shore for the breach, nor to go too far off because of
+the stream.
+
+The third day, in the morning, the wind having abated over-night, the
+sea was calm, and I ventured: but I am a warning piece again to all
+rash and ignorant pilots; for no sooner was I come to the point, when I
+was not even my boat's length from the shore, but I found myself in a
+great depth of water, and a current like the sluice of a mill; it
+carried my boat along with it with such violence, that all I could do
+could not keep her so much as on the edge of it; but I found it hurried
+me farther and farther out from the eddy, which was on my left hand.
+There was no wind stirring to help me, and all I could do with my
+paddles signified nothing: and now I began to give myself over for lost;
+for as the current was on both sides of the island, I knew in a few
+leagues distance they must join again, and then I was irrecoverably
+gone; nor did I see any possibility of avoiding it; so that I had no
+prospect before me but of perishing, not by the sea, for that was calm
+enough, but of starving for hunger. I had indeed found a tortoise on the
+shore, as big almost as I could lift, and had tossed it into the boat;
+and I had a great jar of fresh water, that is to say, one of my earthen
+pots; but what was all this to being driven into the vast ocean, where,
+to be sure, there was no shore, no main land or island, for a thousand
+leagues at least?
+
+And now I saw how easy it was for the providence of God to make even the
+most miserable condition of mankind worse. Now I looked back upon my
+desolate solitary island, as the most pleasant place in the world; and
+all the happiness my heart could wish for was to be but there again. I
+stretched out my hands to it, with eager wishes: "O happy desert!" said
+I, "I shall never see thee more. O miserable creature! whither am I
+going!" Then I reproached myself with my unthankful temper, and how I
+had repined at my solitary condition; and now what would I give to be on
+shore there again! Thus we never see the true state of our condition
+till it is illustrated to us by its contraries, nor know how to value
+what we enjoy, but by the want of it. It is scarce possible to imagine
+the consternation I was now in, being driven from my beloved island (for
+so it appeared to me now to be) into the wide ocean, almost two leagues,
+and in the utmost despair of ever recovering it again. However, I worked
+hard, till indeed my strength was almost exhausted, and kept my boat as
+much to the northward, that is, towards the side of the current which
+the eddy lay on, as possibly I could; when about noon, as the sun passed
+the meridian, I thought I felt a little breeze of wind in my face,
+springing up from S.S.E. This cheered my heart a little, and especially
+when, in about half an hour more, it blew a pretty gentle gale. By this
+time I was got at a frightful distance from the island, and had the
+least cloudy or hazy weather intervened, I had been undone another way
+too; for I had no compass on board, and should never have known how to
+have steered towards the island, if I had but once lost sight of it; but
+the weather continuing clear, I applied myself to get up my mast again,
+and spread my sail, standing away to the north as much as possible, to
+get out of the current.
+
+Just as I had set my mast and sail, and the boat began to stretch away,
+I saw even by the clearness of the water some alteration of the current
+was near; for where the current was so strong, the water was foul; but
+perceiving the water clear, I found the current abate; and presently I
+found to the east, at about half a mile, a breach of the sea upon some
+rocks: these rocks I found caused the current to part again, and as the
+main stress of it ran away more southerly, leaving the rocks to the
+north-east, so the other returned by the repulse of the rocks, and made
+a strong eddy, which ran back again to the north-west, with a very
+sharp stream.
+
+They who know what it is to have a reprieve brought to them upon the
+ladder, or to be rescued from thieves just going to murder them, or who
+have been in such-like extremities, may guess what my present surprise
+of joy was, and how gladly I put my boat into the stream of this eddy;
+and the wind also freshening, how gladly I spread my sail to it, running
+cheerfully before the wind, and with a strong tide or eddy under foot.
+
+This eddy carried me about a league in my way back again, directly
+towards the island, but about two leagues more to the northward than the
+current which carried me away at first: so that when I came near the
+island, I found myself open to the northern shore of it, that is to say,
+the other end of the island, opposite to that which I went out from.
+
+When I had made something more than a league of way by the help of this
+current or eddy, I found it was spent, and served me no farther.
+However, I found that being between two great currents, viz. that on the
+south side, which had hurried me away, and that on the north, which lay
+about a league on the other side; I say, between these two, in the wake
+of the island, I found the water at least still, and running no way; and
+having still a breeze of wind fair for me, I kept on steering directly
+for the island, though not making such fresh way as I did before.
+
+About four o'clock in the evening, being then within a league of the
+island, I found the point of the rocks which occasioned this disaster,
+stretching out, as is described before, to the southward, and casting
+off the current more southerly, had, of course, made another eddy to the
+north, and this I found very strong, but not directly setting the way my
+course lay, which was due west, but almost full north. However, having a
+fresh gale, I stretched across this eddy, slanting north-west: and, in
+about an hour, came within about a mile of the shore, where, it being
+smooth water, I soon got to land.
+
+When I was on shore, I fell on my knees, and gave God thanks for my
+deliverance, resolving to lay aside all thoughts of my deliverance by my
+boat; and refreshing myself with such things as I had, I brought my boat
+close to the shore, in a little cove that I had spied under some trees,
+and laid me down to sleep, being quite spent with the labour and fatigue
+of the voyage.
+
+I was now at a great loss which way to get home with my boat: I had run
+so much hazard, and knew too much of the case, to think of attempting it
+by the way I went out; and what might be at the other side (I mean the
+west side) I knew not, nor had I any mind to run any more ventures; so I
+only resolved in the morning to make my way westward along the shore,
+and to see if there was no creek where I might lay up my frigate in
+safety, so as to have her again, if I wanted her. In about three miles,
+or thereabouts, coasting the shore, I came to a very good inlet or bay,
+about a mile over, which narrowed till it came to a very little rivulet
+or brook, where I found a very convenient harbour for my boat, and where
+she lay as if she had been in a little dock made on purpose for her.
+Here I put in, and having stowed my boat very safe, I went on shore, to
+look about me, and see where I was.
+
+I soon found I had but a little passed by the place where I had been
+before, when I travelled on foot to that shore; so taking nothing out of
+my boat but my gun and umbrella, for it was exceeding hot, I began my
+march. The way was comfortable enough after such a voyage as I had been
+upon, and I reached my old bower in the evening, where I found every
+thing standing as I left it; for I always kept it in good order, being,
+as I said before, my country house.
+
+I got over the fence, and laid me down in the shade, to rest my limbs,
+for I was very weary, and fell asleep: but judge you, if you can, that
+read my story, what a surprise I must be in, when I was awaked out of my
+sleep by a voice, calling me by my name several times, "Robin, Robin,
+Robin Crusoe; poor Robin Crusoe! Where are you, Robin Crusoe? Where are
+you? Where have you been!"
+
+I was so dead asleep at first, being fatigued with rowing, or paddling,
+as it is called, the first part of the day, and with walking the latter
+part, that I did not wake thoroughly; but dozing between sleeping and
+waking, thought I dreamed that somebody spoke to me; but as the voice
+continued to repeat Robin Crusoe, Robin Crusoe, at last I began to wake
+more perfectly, and was at first dreadfully frightened, and started up
+in the utmost consternation; but no sooner were my eyes open, but I saw
+my Pol sitting on the top of the hedge; and immediately knew it was he
+that spoke to me; for just in such bemoaning language I had used to talk
+to him, and teach him; and he had learned it so perfectly, that he would
+sit upon my finger, and lay his bill close to my face, and cry, "Poor
+Robin Crusoe! Where are you? Where have you been? How came you here?"
+and such things as I had taught him.
+
+However, even though I knew it was the parrot, and that indeed it could
+be nobody else, it was a good while before I could compose myself.
+First, I was amazed how the creature got thither, and then, how he
+should just keep about the place, and no where else: but as I was well
+satisfied it could be nobody but honest Pol, I got over it; and holding
+out my hand, and calling him by his name, Pol, the sociable creature
+came to me, and sat upon my thumb, as he used to do and continued
+talking to me, Poor Robin Crusoe! and how did I come here? and where had
+I been? just as if he had been overjoyed to see me again: and so I
+carried him home along with me.
+
+I now had enough of rambling to sea for some time, and had enough to do
+for many days, to sit still, and reflect upon the danger I had been in.
+I would have been very glad to have had my boat again on my side of the
+island; but I knew not how it was practicable to get it about. As to the
+east side of the island, which I had gone round, I knew well enough
+there was no venturing that way; my very heart would shrink, and my very
+blood run chill, but to think of it; and as to the other side of the
+island, I did not know how it might be there; but supposing the current
+ran with the same force against the shore at the east as it passed by it
+on the other, I might run the same risk of being driven down the stream,
+and carried by the island, as I had been before of being carried away
+from it; so, with these thoughts, I contented myself to be without any
+boat, though it had been the product of so many months' labour to make
+it, and of so many more to get it into the sea.
+
+In this government of my temper I remained near a year, lived a very
+sedate, retired life, as you may well suppose; and my thoughts being
+very much composed, as to my condition, and fully comforted in resigning
+myself to the dispositions of Providence, I thought I lived really very
+happily in all things, except that of society.
+
+I improved myself in this time in all the mechanic exercises which my
+necessities put me upon applying myself to; and I believe I could, upon
+occasion, have made a very good carpenter, especially considering how
+few tools I had.
+
+Besides this, I arrived at an unexpected perfection in my earthen-ware,
+and contrived well enough to make them with a wheel, which I found
+infinitely easier and better; because I made things round and shapable,
+which before were filthy things indeed to look on. But I think I was
+never more vain of my own performance, or more joyful for any thing I
+found out, than for my being able to make a tobacco-pipe; and though it
+was a very ugly clumsy thing when it was done, and only burnt red, like
+other earthen-ware, yet as it was hard and firm, and would draw the
+smoke, I was exceedingly comforted with it, for I had been always used
+to smoke: and there were pipes in the ship, but I forgot them at first,
+not thinking that there was tobacco in the island; and afterwards, when
+I searched the ship again, I could not come at any pipes at all.
+
+In my wicker-ware also I improved much, and made abundance of necessary
+baskets, as well as my invention showed me; though not very handsome,
+yet they were such as were very handy and convenient for my laying
+things up in, or fetching things home. For example, if I killed a goat
+abroad, I could hang it up in a tree, flay it, dress it, and cut it in
+pieces, and bring it home in a basket; and the like by a turtle: I could
+cut it up, take out the eggs, and a piece or two of the flesh, which was
+enough for me, and bring them home in a basket, and leave the rest
+behind me. Also large deep baskets were the receivers of my corn, which
+I always rubbed out as soon as it was dry, and cured, and kept it in
+great baskets.
+
+I began now to perceive my powder abated considerably; this was a want
+which it was impossible for me to supply, and I began seriously to
+consider what I must do when I should have no more powder; that is to
+say, how I should do to kill any goats. I had, as is observed, in the
+third year of my being here, kept a young kid, and bred her up tame, and
+I was in hopes of getting a he-goat: but I could not by any means bring
+it to pass, till my kid grew an old goat; and as I could never find in
+my heart to kill her, she died at last of mere age.
+
+But being now in the eleventh year of my residence, and, as I have said,
+my ammunition growing low, I set myself to study some art to trap and
+snare the goats, to see whether I could not catch some of them alive;
+and particularly, I wanted a she-goat great with young. For this
+purpose, I made snares to hamper them; and I do believe they were more
+than once taken in them; but my tackle was not good, for I had no wire,
+and I always found them broken, and my bait devoured. At length I
+resolved to try a pitfall: so I dug several large pits in the earth, in
+places where I had observed the goats used to feed, and over those pits
+I placed hurdles, of my own making too, with a great weight upon them;
+and several times I put ears of barley and dry rice, without setting the
+trap; and I could easily perceive that the goats had gone in and eaten
+up the corn, for I could see the marks of their feet. At length I set
+three traps in one night, and going the next morning, I found them all
+standing, and yet the bait eaten and gone; this was very discouraging.
+However, I altered my traps; and, not to trouble you with particulars,
+going one morning to see my traps, I found in one of them a large old
+he-goat, and in one of the others three kids, a male and two females.
+
+As to the old one, I knew not what to do with him; he was so fierce, I
+durst not go into the pit to him; that is to say, to go about to bring
+him away alive, which was what I wanted: I could have killed him, but
+that was not my business, nor would it answer my end; so I even let him
+out, and he ran away, as if he had been frightened out of his wits. But
+I did not then know what I afterwards learnt, that hunger will tame a
+lion. If I had let him stay there three or four days without food, and
+then have carried him some water to drink, and then a little corn, he
+would have been as tame as one of the kids; for they are mighty
+sagacious, tractable creatures, where they are well used.
+
+However, for the present I let him go, knowing no better at that time:
+then I went to the three kids, and taking them one by one, I tied them
+with strings together, and with some difficulty brought them all home.
+
+It was a good while before they would feed; but throwing them some sweet
+corn, it tempted them, and they began to be tame. And now I found that
+if I expected to supply myself with goat's flesh when I had no powder or
+shot left, breeding some up tame was my only way; when, perhaps, I might
+have them about my house like a flock of sheep. But then it occurred to
+me, that I must keep the tame from the wild, or else they would always
+run wild when they grew up: and the only way for this was, to have some
+enclosed piece of ground, well fenced, either with hedge or pale, to
+keep them in so effectually, that those within might not break out, or
+those without break in.
+
+This was a great undertaking for one pair of hands; yet as I saw there
+was an absolute necessity for doing it, my first work was to find out a
+proper piece of ground, where there was likely to be herbage for them
+to eat, water for them to drink, and cover to keep them from the sun.
+
+Those who understand such enclosures will think I had very little
+contrivance, when I pitched upon a place very proper for all these
+(being a plain open piece of meadow land, or savannah, as our people
+call it in the western colonies,) which had two or three little drills
+of fresh water in it, and at one end was very woody; I say, they will
+smile at my forecast, when I shall tell them, I began my enclosing this
+piece of ground in such a manner, that my hedge or pale must have been
+at least two miles about. Nor was the madness of it so great as to the
+compass, for if it was ten miles about, I was like to have time enough
+to do it in; but I did not consider that my goats would be as wild in so
+much compass as if they had had the whole island, and I should have so
+much room to chase them in, that I should never catch them.
+
+My hedge was begun and carried on, I believe about fifty yards, when
+this thought occurred to me; so I presently stopped short, and, for the
+first beginning, I resolved to enclose a piece of about 150 yards in
+length, and 100 yards in breadth; which, as it would maintain as many as
+I should have in any reasonable time, so, as my stock increased, I could
+add more ground to my enclosure.
+
+This was acting with some prudence, and I went to work with courage. I
+was about three months hedging in the first piece; and, till I had done
+it, I tethered the three kids in the best part of it, and used them to
+feed as near me as possible, to make them familiar; and very often I
+would go and carry them some ears of barley, or a handful of rice, and
+feed them out of my hand: so that after my enclosure was finished, and I
+let them loose, they would follow me up and down, bleating after me for
+a handful of corn.
+
+This answered my end; and in about a year and a half I had a flock of
+about twelve goats, kids and all; and in two years more, I had three and
+forty, besides several that I took and killed for my food. After that I
+enclosed five several pieces of ground to feed them in, with little pens
+to drive them into, to take them as I wanted, and gates out of one piece
+of ground into another.
+
+But this was not all; for now I not only had goat's flesh to feed on
+when I pleased, but milk too; a thing which, indeed, in the beginning, I
+did not so much as think of, and which, when it came into my thoughts,
+was really an agreeable surprise: for now I set up my dairy, and had
+sometimes a gallon or two of milk in a day. And as nature, who gives
+supplies of food to every creature, dictates even naturally how to make
+use of it, so I, that had never milked a cow, much less a goat, or seen
+butter or cheese made, only when I was a boy, after a great many essays
+and miscarriages, made me both butter and cheese at last, and also salt
+(though I found it partly made to my hand by the heat of the sun upon
+some of the rocks of the sea,) and never wanted it afterwards. How
+mercifully can our Creator treat his creatures, even in those conditions
+in which they seemed to be overwhelmed in destruction! How can he
+sweeten the bitterest providences, and give us cause to praise him for
+dungeons and prisons! What a table was here spread for me in a
+wilderness, where I saw nothing, at first, but to perish for hunger!
+
+It would have made a stoic smile, to have seen me and my little family
+sit down to dinner: there was my majesty, the prince and lord of the
+whole island; I had the lives of all my subjects at my absolute command;
+I could hang, draw, give liberty, and take it away; and no rebels among
+all my subjects. Then to see how like a king I dined too, all alone,
+attended by my servants! Pol, as if he had been my favourite, was the
+only person permitted to talk to me. My dog, who was now grown very old
+and crazy, and had found no species to multiply his kind upon, sat
+always at my right hand; and two cats, one on one side of the table, and
+one on the other, expecting now and then a bit from my hand, as a mark
+of special favour.
+
+But these were not the two cats which I brought on shore at first, for
+they were both of them dead, and had been interred near my habitation by
+my own hand; but one of them having multiplied by I know not what kind
+of creature, these were two which I had preserved tame; whereas the rest
+run wild in the woods, and became indeed troublesome to me at last; for
+they would often come into my house, and plunder me too, till at last I
+was obliged to shoot them, and did kill a great many; at length they
+left me.--With this attendance, and in this plentiful manner, I lived;
+neither could I be said to want any thing but society: and of that, some
+time after this, I was like to have too much.
+
+I was something impatient, as I have observed, to have the use of my
+boat, though very loth to run any more hazards; and therefore sometimes
+I sat contriving ways to get her about the island, and at other times I
+sat myself down contented enough without her. But I had a strange
+uneasiness in my mind to go down to the point of the island, where, as I
+have said, in my last ramble, I went up the hill to see how the shore
+lay, and how the current set, that I might see what I had to do: this
+inclination increased upon me every day, and at length I resolved to
+travel thither by land, following the edge of the shore. I did so; but
+had any one in England been to meet such a man as I was, it must either
+have frightened him, or raised a great deal of laughter: and as I
+frequently stood still to look at myself, I could not but smile at the
+notion of my travelling through Yorkshire, with such an equipage, and in
+such a dress. Be pleased to take a sketch of my figure, as follows:
+
+I had a great high shapeless cap, made of a goat's skin, with a flap
+hanging down behind, as well to keep the sun from me as to shoot the
+rain off from running into my neck: nothing being so hurtful in these
+climates as the rain upon the flesh, under the clothes.
+
+I had a short jacket of goat's skin, the skirts coming down to about the
+middle of the thighs, and a pair of open-kneed breeches of the same; the
+breeches were made of the skin of an old he-goat, whose hair hung down
+such a length on either side, that, like pantaloons, it reached to the
+middle of my legs; stockings and shoes I had none, but had made me a
+pair of somethings, I scarce know what to call them, like buskins, to
+flap over my legs, and lace on either side like spatterdashes: but of a
+most barbarous shape, as inded were all the rest of my clothes.
+
+I had on a broad belt of goat's skin dried, which I drew together with
+two thongs of the same, instead of buckles; and in a kind of a frog on
+either side of this, instead of a sword and dagger, hung a little saw
+and a hatchet; one on one side, and one on the other. I had another
+belt, not so broad, and fastened in the same manner, which hung over my
+shoulder; and at the end of it, under my left arm, hung two pouches,
+both made of goat's skin too; in one of which hung my powder, in the
+other my shot. At my back I carried my basket, and on my shoulder my
+gun; and over my head a great clumsy ugly goat's skin umbrella, but
+which, after all, was the most necessary thing I had about me, next to
+my gun. As for my face, the colour of it was really not so mulatto-like
+as one might expect from a man not at all careful of it, and living
+within nine or ten degrees of the equinox. My beard I had once suffered
+to grow till it was about a quarter of a yard long; but as I had both
+scissars and razors sufficient, I had cut it pretty short, except what
+grew on my upper lip, which I had trimmed into a large pair of Mahometan
+whiskers, such as I had seen worn by some Turks at Sallee; for the Moors
+did not wear such, though the Turks did: of these mustachios or
+whiskers, I will not say they were long enough to hang my hat upon them,
+but they were of a length and shape monstrous enough, and such as, in
+England, would have passed for frightful.
+
+But all this is by the bye; for, as to my figure, I had so few to
+observe me that it was of no manner of consequence; so I say no more to
+that part. In this kind of figure I went my new journey, and was out
+five or six days. I travelled first along the sea-shore, directly to the
+place where I first brought my boat to an anchor, to get upon the rocks;
+and having no boat now to take care of, I went over the land, a nearer
+way, to the same height that I was upon before; when looking forward to
+the point of the rocks which lay out, and which I was obliged to double
+with my boat, as is said above, I was surprised to see the sea all
+smooth and quiet; no rippling, no motion, no current, any more there
+than in any other places. I was at a strange loss to understand this,
+and resolved to spend some time in the observing it, to see if nothing
+from the sets of the tide had occasioned it; but I was presently
+convinced how it was, viz. that the tide of ebb setting from the west,
+and joining with the current of waters, from some great river on the
+shore, must be the occasion of this current; and that according as the
+wind blew more forcibly from the west, or from the north, this current
+came nearer, or went farther from the shore; for waiting thereabouts
+till evening, I went up to the rock again, and then the tide of ebb
+being made, I plainly saw the current again as before, only that it ran
+farther off, being near half a league from the shore; whereas in my
+case, it set close upon the shore, and hurried me and my canoe along
+with it; which, at another time, it would not have done.
+
+This observation convinced me, that I had nothing to do but to observe
+the ebbing and the flowing of the tide, and I might very easily bring my
+boat about the island again: but when I began to think of putting it in
+practice, I had such a terror upon my spirits at the remembrance of the
+danger I had been in, that I could not think of it again with any
+patience; but, on the contrary, I took up another resolution, which was
+more safe, though more laborious; and this was, that I would build, or
+rather make me another periagua or canoe; and so have one for one side
+of the island, and one for the other.
+
+You are to understand, that now I had, as I may call it, two plantations
+in the island; one, my little fortification or tent, with the wall about
+it, under the rock, with the cave behind me, which, by this time, I had
+enlarged into several apartments or caves, one within another. One of
+these, which was the driest and largest, and had a door out beyond my
+wall or fortification, that is to say, beyond where my wall joined to
+the rock, was all filled up with the large earthen pots, of which I have
+given an account, and with fourteen or fifteen great baskets, which
+would hold five or six bushels each, where I laid up my stores of
+provision, especially my corn, some in the ear, cut off short from the
+straw, and the other rubbed out with my hand.
+
+As for my wall, made, as before, with long stakes or piles, those piles
+grew all like trees, and were by this time grown so big, and spread so
+very much, that there was not the least appearance, to any one's view,
+of any habitation behind them.
+
+Near this dwelling of mine, but a little farther within the land, and
+upon lower ground, lay my two pieces of corn land, which I kept duly
+cultivated and sowed, and which duly yielded me their harvest in its
+season: and whenever I had occasion for more corn, I had more land
+adjoining as fit as that.
+
+Besides this, I had my country seat; and I had now a tolerable
+plantation there also: for, first, I had my little bower, as I called
+it, which I kept in repair; that is to say, I kept the hedge which
+encircled it in constantly fitted up to its usual height, the ladder
+standing always in the inside: I kept the trees, which at first were no
+more than my stakes, but were now grown very firm and tall, always cut
+so, that they might spread and grow thick and wild, and make the more
+agreeable shade; which they did effectually to my mind. In the middle of
+this I had my tent always standing, being a piece of a sail spread over
+poles, set up for that purpose, and which never wanted any repair or
+renewing; and under this I had made me a squab or couch, with the skins
+of the creatures I had killed, and with other soft things; and a blanket
+laid on them, such as belonged to our sea-bedding, which I had saved,
+and a great watch-coat to cover me; and here, whenever I had occasion to
+be absent from my chief seat, I took up my country habitation.
+
+Adjoining to this I had my enclosures for my cattle, that is to say, my
+goats; and as I had taken an inconceivable deal of pains to fence and
+enclose this ground, I was so anxious to see it kept entire, lest the
+goats should break through, that I never left off, till, with infinite
+labour, I had stuck the outside of the hedge so full of small stakes,
+and so near to one another, that it was rather a pale than a hedge, and
+there was scarce room to put a hand through between them; which
+afterwards, when those stakes grew, as they all did in the next rainy
+season, made the enclosure strong like a wall,--indeed, stronger
+than any wall.
+
+This will testify for me that I was not idle, and that I spared no pains
+to bring to pass whatever appeared necessary for my comfortable support;
+for I considered the keeping up a breed of tame creatures thus at my
+hand would be a living magazine of flesh, milk, butter, and cheese for
+me as long as I lived in the place, if it were to be forty years; and
+that keeping them in my reach depended entirely upon my perfecting my
+enclosures to such a degree, that I might be sure of keeping them
+together; which, by this method, indeed, I so effectually secured, that
+when these little stakes began to grow, I had planted them so very
+thick, that I was forced to pull some of them up again.
+
+In this place also I had my grapes growing, which I principally depended
+on for my winter store of raisins, and which I never failed to preserve
+very carefully, as the best and most agreeable dainty of my whole diet:
+and indeed they were not only agreeable, but medicinal, wholesome,
+nourishing, and refreshing to the last degree.
+
+As this was also about half-way between my other habitation and the
+place where I had laid up my boat, I generally stayed and lay here in my
+way thither; for I used frequently to visit my boat; and I kept all
+things about, or belonging to her, in very good order: sometimes I went
+out in her to divert myself, but no more hazardous voyages would I go,
+nor scarce ever above a stone's cast or two from the shore, I was so
+apprehensive of being hurried out of my knowledge again by the currents
+or winds, or any other accident. But now I come to a new scene of
+my life.
+
+It happened one day, about noon, going towards my boat, I was
+exceedingly surprised with the print of a man's naked foot on the shore,
+which was very plain to be seen in the sand. I stood like one
+thunder-struck, or as if I had seen an apparition; I listened, I looked
+round me, but I could hear nothing, nor see any thing; I went up to a
+rising ground, to look farther; I went up the shore, and down the shore,
+but it was all one; I could see no other impression but that one. I went
+to it again to see if there were any more, and to observe if it might
+not be my fancy; but there was no room for that, for there was exactly
+the print of a foot, toes, heel, and every part of a foot: how it came
+thither I knew not, nor could I in the least imagine; but, after
+innumerable fluttering thoughts, like a man perfectly confused and out
+of myself, I came home to my fortification, not feeling, as we say, the
+ground I went on, but terrified to the last degree: looking behind me at
+every two or three steps, mistaking every bush and tree, and fancying
+every stump at a distance to be a man. Nor is it possible to describe
+how many various shapes my affrighted imagination represented things to
+me in, how many wild ideas were found every moment in my fancy, and what
+strange unaccountable whimsies came into my thoughts by the way.
+
+When I came to my castle (for so I think I called it ever after this,) I
+fled into it like one pursued; whether I went over by the ladder, as
+first contrived, or went in at the hole in the rock, which I had called
+a door, I cannot remember; no, nor could I remember the next morning;
+for never frightened hare fled to cover, or fox to earth, with more
+terror of mind than I to this retreat.
+
+I slept none that night; the farther I was from the occasion of my
+fright, the greater my apprehensions were; which is something contrary
+to the nature of such things, and especially to the usual practice of
+all creatures in fear; but I was so embarrassed with my own frightful
+ideas of the thing, that I formed nothing but dismal imaginations to
+myself, even though I was now a great way off it. Sometimes I fancied it
+must be the Devil, and reason joined in with me upon this supposition;
+for how should any other thing in human shape come into the place? Where
+was the vessel that brought them? What marks were there of any other
+footsteps? And how was it possible a man should come there? But then to
+think that Satan should take human shape upon him in such a place, where
+there could be no manner of occasion for it, but to leave the print of
+his foot behind him, and that even for no purpose too, for he could not
+be sure I should see it,--this was an amusement the other way. I
+considered that the Devil might have found out abundance of other ways
+to have terrified me than this of the single print of a foot; that as I
+lived quite on the other side of the island, he would never have been so
+simple as to leave a mark in a place where it was ten thousand to one
+whether I should ever see it or not, and in the sand too, which the
+first surge of the sea, upon a high wind, would have defaced entirely:
+all this seemed inconsistent with the thing itself, and with all the
+notions we usually entertain of the subtilty of the Devil.
+
+Abundance of such things as these assisted to argue me out of all
+apprehensions of its being the Devil; and I presently concluded then,
+that it must be some more dangerous creature, viz. that it must be some
+of the savages of the main land over against me, who had wandered out to
+sea in their canoes, and either driven by the currents or by contrary
+winds, had made the island, and had been on shore, but were gone away
+again to sea; being as loth, perhaps, to have stayed in this desolate
+island as I would have been to have had them.
+
+While these reflections were rolling upon my mind, I was very thankful
+in my thoughts that I was so happy as not to be thereabouts at that
+time, or that they did not see my boat, by which they would have
+concluded that some inhabitants had been in the place, and perhaps have
+searched farther for me: then terrible thoughts racked my imagination
+about their having found my boat, and that there were people here; and
+that if so, I should certainly have them come again in greater numbers,
+and devour me; that if it should happen so that they should not find me,
+yet they would find my enclosure, destroy all my corn, and carry away
+all my flock of tame goats, and I should perish at last for mere want.
+
+Thus my fear banished all my religious hope, all that former confidence
+in God, which was founded upon such wonderful experience as I had had of
+his goodness, as if he that had fed me by miracle hitherto could not
+preserve, by his power, the provision which he had made for me by his
+goodness. I reproached myself with my laziness, that would not sow any
+more corn one year than would just serve me till the next season, as if
+no accident would intervene to prevent my enjoying the crop that was
+upon the ground; and this I thought so just a reproof, that I resolved
+for the future to have two or three years' corn beforehand; so that
+whatever might come, I might not perish for want of bread.
+
+How strange a chequer-work of Providence is the life of man! and by what
+secret different springs are the affections hurried about, as different
+circumstances present! To-day we love what to-morrow we hate; to-day we
+seek what to-morrow we shun; to-day we desire what to-morrow we fear,
+nay, even tremble at the apprehensions of; this was exemplified in me,
+at this time, in the most lively manner imaginable; for I, whose only
+affliction was that I seemed banished from human society, that I was
+alone, circumscribed by the boundless ocean, cut off from mankind, and
+condemned to what I called silent life; that I was as one whom Heaven
+thought not worthy to be numbered among the living, or to appear among
+the rest of his creatures; that to have seen one of my own species would
+have seemed to me a raising me from death to life, and the greatest
+blessing that Heaven itself, next to the supreme blessing of salvation,
+could bestow; I say, that I should now tremble at the very apprehensions
+of seeing a man, and was ready to sink into the ground at but the shadow
+or silent appearance of a man's having set his foot in the island.
+
+Such is the uneven state of human life; and it afforded me a great many
+curious speculations afterwards, when I had a little recovered my first
+surprise. I considered that this was the station of life the infinitely
+wise and good providence of God had determined for me; that as I could
+not foresee what the ends of divine wisdom might be in all this, so I
+was not to dispute his sovereignty, who, as I was his creature, had an
+undoubted right, by creation, to govern and dispose of me absolutely as
+he thought fit; and who, as I was a creature that had offended him, had
+likewise a judicial right to condemn me to what punishment he thought
+fit; and that it was my part to submit to bear his indignation, because
+I had sinned against him. I then reflected, that as God, who was not
+only righteous, but omnipotent, had thought fit thus to punish and
+afflict me, so he was able to deliver me; that if he did not think fit
+to do so, it was my unquestioned duty to resign myself absolutely and
+entirely to his will; and, on the other hand, it was my duty also to
+hope in him, pray to him, and quietly to attend the dictates and
+directions of his daily providence.
+
+These thoughts took me up many hours, days, nay, I may say, weeks and
+months; and one particular effect of my cogitations on this occasion I
+cannot omit: One morning early, lying in my bed, and filled with
+thoughts about my danger from the appearances of savages, I found it
+discomposed me very much; upon which these words of the Scripture came
+into my thoughts, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will
+deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Upon this, rising cheerfully
+out of my bed, my heart was not only comforted, but I was guided and
+encouraged to pray earnestly to God for deliverance: when I had done
+praying, I took up my Bible, and opening it to read, the first words
+that presented to me were, "Wait on the Lord, and be of good cheer, and
+he shall strengthen thy heart; wait, I say, on the Lord." It is
+impossible to express the comfort this gave me. In answer, I thankfully
+laid down the book, and was no more sad, at least on that occasion.
+
+In the middle of these cogitations, apprehensions, and reflections, it
+came into my thoughts one day, that all this might be a mere chimera of
+my own, and that this foot might be the print of my own foot, when I
+came on shore from my boat: this cheered me up a little too, and I began
+to persuade myself it was all a delusion; that it was nothing else but
+my own foot: and why might I not come that way from the boat, as well as
+I was going that way to the boat? Again, I considered also, that I could
+by no means tell, for certain, where I had trod, and where I had not;
+and that if, at last, this was only the print of my own foot, I had
+played the part of those fools who try to make stories of spectres and
+apparitions, and then are frightened at them more than any body.
+
+Now I began to take courage, and to peep abroad again, for I had not
+stirred out of my castle for three days and nights, so that I began to
+starve for provisions; for I had little or nothing within doors but some
+barley-cakes and water: then I knew that my goats wanted to be milked
+too, which usually was my evening diversion; and the poor creatures were
+in great pain and inconvenience for want of it; and, indeed, it almost
+spoiled some of them, and almost dried up their milk. Encouraging
+myself, therefore, with the belief that this was nothing but the print
+of one of my own feet, and that I might be truly said to start at my own
+shadow, I began to go abroad again, and went to my country-house to milk
+my flock: but to see with what fear I went forward, how often I looked
+behind me, how I was ready, every now and then, to lay down my basket,
+and run for my life, it would have made any one have thought I was
+haunted with an evil conscience, or that I had been lately most terribly
+frightened; and so, indeed, I had. However, as I went down thus two or
+three days, and having seen nothing, I began to be a little bolder, and
+to think there was really nothing in it but my own imagination; but I
+could not persuade myself fully of this till I should go down to the
+shore again, and see this print of a foot, and measure it by my own, and
+see if there was any similitude or fitness, that I might be assured it
+was my own foot: but when I came to the place, first, it appeared
+evidently to me, that when I laid up my boat, I could not possibly be on
+shore any where thereabouts: secondly, when I came to measure the mark
+with my own foot, I found my foot not so large by a great deal. Both
+these things filled my head with new imaginations, and gave me the
+vapours again to the highest degree, so that I shook with cold like one
+in an ague; and I went home again, filled with the belief that some man
+or men had been on shore there; or, in short, that the island was
+inhabited, and I might be surprised before I was aware; and what course
+to take for my security I knew not.
+
+O what ridiculous resolutions men take when possessed with fear! It
+deprives them of the use of those means which reason offers for their
+relief. The first thing I proposed to myself was, to throw down my
+enclosures, and turn all my tame cattle wild into the woods, lest the
+enemy should find them, and then frequent the island in prospect of the
+same or the like booty: then to the simple thing of digging up my two
+corn fields, lest they should find such a grain there, and still be
+prompted to frequent the island: then to demolish my bower and tent,
+that they might not see any vestiges of habitation, and be prompted to
+look farther, in order to find out the persons inhabiting.
+
+These were the subject of the first night's cogitataions after I was
+come home again, while the apprehensions which had so over-run my mind
+were fresh upon me, and my head was full of vapours, as above. Thus fear
+of danger is ten thousand times more terrifying than danger itself, when
+apparent to the eyes; and we find the burthen of anxiety greater, by
+much, than the evil which we are anxious about: and, which was worse
+than all this, I had not that relief in this trouble from the
+resignation I used to practise, that I hoped to have. I looked, I
+thought, like Saul, who complained not, only that the Philistines were
+upon him, but that God had forsaken him; for I did not now take due ways
+to compose my mind, by crying to God in my distress, and resting upon
+his providence, as I had done before, for my defence and deliverance;
+which, if I had done, I had at least been more cheerfully supported
+under this new surprise, and perhaps carried through it with more
+resolution.
+
+This confusion of my thoughts kept me awake all night; but in the
+morning I fell asleep; and having, by the amusement of my mind, been, as
+it were, tired, and my spirits exhausted, I slept very soundly, and
+waked much better composed than I had ever been before. And now I began
+to think sedately; and, upon the utmost debate with myself, I concluded
+that this island, which was so exceeding pleasant, fruitful, and no
+farther from the main land than as I had seen, was not so entirely
+abandoned as I might imagine; that although there were no stated
+inhabitants who lived on the spot, yet that there might sometimes come
+boats off from the shore, who, either with design, or perhaps never but
+when they were driven by cross winds, might come to this place; that I
+had lived here fifteen years now, and had not met with the least shadow
+or figure of any people yet; and that if at any time they should be
+driven here, it was probable they went away again as soon as ever they
+could, seeing they had never thought fit to fix here upon any occasion;
+that the most I could suggest any danger from, was from any casual
+accidental landing of straggling people from the main, who, as it was
+likely, if they were driven hither, were here against their wills, so
+they made no stay here, but went off again with all possible speed;
+seldom staying one night on shore, lest they should not have the help of
+the tides and daylight back again; and that, therefore, I had nothing to
+do but to consider of some safe retreat, in case I should see any
+savages land upon the spot.
+
+Now I began sorely to repent that I had dug my cave so large as to bring
+a door through again, which door, as I said, came out beyond where my
+fortification joined to the rock: upon maturely considering this,
+therefore, I resolved to draw me a second fortification, in the same
+manner of a semi-circle, at a distance from my wall, just where I had
+planted a double row of trees about twelve years before, of which I made
+mention: these trees having been planted so thick before, they wanted
+but few piles to be driven between them, that they might be thicker and
+stronger, and my wall would be soon finished: so that I had now a double
+wall; and my outer wall was thickened with pieces of timber, old cables,
+and every thing I could think of, to make it strong; having in it seven
+little holes, about as big as I might put my arm out at. In the inside
+of this, I thickened my wall to about ten feet thick, with continually
+bringing earth out of my cave, and laying it at the foot of the wall,
+and walking upon it; and through the seven holes I contrived to plant
+the muskets, of which I took notice that I had got seven on shore out of
+the ship; these I planted like my cannon, and fitted them into frames,
+that held them like a carriage, so that I could fire all the seven guns
+in two minutes' time: this wall I was many a weary month in finishing,
+and yet never thought myself safe till it was done.
+
+When this was done, I stuck all the ground without my wall, for a great
+length every way, as full with stakes, or sticks, of the osier-like
+wood, which I found so apt to grow, as they could well stand; insomuch,
+that I believe I might set in near twenty thousand of them, leaving a
+pretty large space between them and my wall, that I might have room to
+see an enemy, and they might have no shelter from the young trees, if
+they attempted to approach my outer wall.
+
+Thus, in two years' time, I had a thick grove; and in five or six years'
+time I had a wood before my dwelling, growing so monstrous thick and
+strong, that it was indeed perfectly impassable; and no men, of what
+kind soever, would ever imagine that there was any thing beyond it, much
+less a habitation. As for the way which I proposed to myself to go in
+and out (for I left no avenue,) it was by setting two ladders, one to a
+part of the rock which was low, and then broke in, and left room to
+place another ladder upon that; so when the two ladders were taken down,
+no man living could come down to me without doing himself mischief; and
+if they had come down, they were still on the outside of my outer wall.
+
+Thus I took all the measures human prudence could suggest for my own
+preservation; and it will be seen, at length, that they were not
+altogether without just reason; though I foresaw nothing at that time
+more than my mere fear suggested to me.
+
+While this was doing, I was not altogether careless of my other affairs;
+for I had a great concern upon me for my little herd of goats; they were
+not only a ready supply to me on every occasion, and began to be
+sufficient for me, without the expense of powder and shot, but also
+without the fatigue of hunting after the wild ones; and I was loth to
+lose the advantage of them, and to have them all to nurse up
+over again.
+
+For this purpose, after long consideration, I could think of but two
+ways to preserve them: one was, to find another convenient place to dig
+a cave under ground, and to drive them into it every night; and the
+other was, to enclose two or three little bits of land, remote from one
+another, and as much concealed as I could, where I might keep about half
+a dozen young goats in each place; so that if any disaster happened to
+the flock in general, I might be able to raise them again with little
+trouble and time: and this, though it would require a great deal of time
+and labour, I thought was the most rational design.
+
+Accordingly, I spent some time to find out the most retired parts of the
+island; and I pitched upon one, which was as private, indeed, as my
+heart could wish for: it was a little damp piece of ground, in the
+middle of the hollow and thick woods, where, as is observed, I almost
+lost myself once before, endeavouring to come back that way from the
+eastern part of the island. Here I found a clear piece of land, near
+three acres, so surrounded with woods, that it was almost an enclosure
+by nature; at least, it did not want near so much labour to make it so
+as the other pieces of ground I had worked so hard at.
+
+I immediately went to work with this piece of ground, and in less than a
+month's time I had so fenced it round, that my flock, or herd, call it
+which you please, who were not so wild now as at first they might be
+supposed to be, were well enough secured in it: so, without any farther
+delay, I removed ten young she-goats and two he-goats to this piece;
+and when they were there, I continued to perfect the fence, till I had
+made it as secure as the other; which, however, I did at more leisure,
+and it took me up more time by a great deal. All this labour I was at
+the expense of, purely from my apprehensions on the account of the print
+of a man's foot which I had seen; for, as yet, I never saw any human
+creature come near the island; and I had now lived two years under this
+uneasiness, which, indeed, made my life much less comfortable than it
+was before, as may be well imagined by any who know what it is to live
+in the constant snare of the fear of man. And this I must observe, with
+grief too, that the discomposure of my mind had too great impressions
+also upon the religious part of my thoughts: for the dread and terror of
+falling into the hands of savages and cannibals lay so upon my spirits,
+that I seldom found myself in a due temper for application to my Maker,
+at least not with the sedate calmness and resignation of soul which I
+was wont to do: I rather prayed to God as under great affliction and
+pressure of mind, surrounded with danger, and in expectation every night
+of being murdered and devoured before morning; and I must testify from
+my experience, that a temper of peace, thankfulness, love, and
+affection, is much the more proper frame for prayer than that of terror
+and discomposure; and that under the dread of mischief impending, a man
+is no more fit for a comforting performance of the duty of praying to
+God, than he is for a repentance on a sick bed; for these discomposures
+affect the mind, as the others do the body; and the discomposure of the
+mind must necessarily be as great a disability as that of the body, and
+much greater; praying to God being properly an act of the mind, not
+of the body.
+
+But to go on: after I had thus secured one part of my little living
+stock, I went about the whole island, searching for another private
+place to make such another deposit; when, wandering more to the west
+point of the island than I had ever done yet, and looking out to sea, I
+thought I saw a boat upon the sea, at a great distance. I had found a
+perspective-glass or two in one of the seamen's chests, which I saved
+out of our ship, but I had it not about me; and this was so remote, that
+I could not tell what to make of it, though I looked at it till my eyes
+were not able to hold to look any longer: whether it was a boat or not,
+I do not know, but as I descended from the hill I could see no more of
+it; so I gave it over; only I resolved to go no more out without a
+perspective-glass in my pocket. When I was come down the hill to the end
+of the island, where, indeed, I had never been before, I was presently
+convinced that the seeing the print of a man's foot was not such a
+strange thing in the island as I imagined: and, but that it was a
+special providence that I was cast upon the side of the island where the
+savages never came, I should easily have known that nothing was more
+frequent than for the canoes from the main, when they happened to be a
+little too far out at sea, to shoot over to that side of the island for
+harbour: likewise, as they often met and fought in their canoes, the
+victors, having taken any prisoners, would bring them over to this
+shore, where, according to their dreadful customs, being all cannibals,
+they would kill and eat them; of which hereafter.
+
+When I was come down the hill to the shore, as I said above, being the
+S.W. point of the island, I was perfectly confounded and amazed; nor is
+it possible for me to express the horror of my mind, at seeing the shore
+spread with skulls, hands, feet, and other bones of human bodies; and
+particularly, I observed a place where there had been a fire made, and a
+circle dug in the earth, like a cock-pit, where I supposed the savage
+wretches had sat down to their inhuman feastings upon the bodies of
+their fellow creatures.
+
+I was so astonished with the sight of these things, that I entertained
+no notions of any danger to myself from it for a long while: all my
+apprehensions were buried in the thoughts of such a pitch of inhuman,
+hellish brutality, and the horror of the degeneracy of human nature,
+which, though I had heard of it often, yet I never had so near a view of
+before: in short, I turned away my face from the horrid spectacle; my
+stomach grew sick, and I was just at the point of fainting, when nature
+discharged the disorder from my stomach; and having vomited with
+uncommon violence, I was a little relieved, but could not bear to stay
+in the place a moment; so I got me up the hill again with all the speed
+I could, and walked on towards my own habitation.
+
+When I came a little out of that part of the island, I stood still
+awhile, as amazed, and then recovering myself, I looked up with the
+utmost affection of my soul, and, with a flood of tears in my eyes, gave
+God thanks, that had cast my first lot in a part of the world where I
+was distinguished from such dreadful creatures as these; and that,
+though I had esteemed my present condition very miserable, had yet given
+me so many comforts in it, that I had still more to give thanks for than
+to complain of: and this, above all, that I had, even in this miserable
+condition, been comforted with the knowledge of Himself, and the hope of
+His blessing; which was a felicity more than sufficiently equivalent to
+all the misery which I had suffered, or could suffer.
+
+In this frame of thankfulness, I went home to my castle, and began to be
+much easier now, as to the safety of my circumstances, than ever I was
+before: for I observed that these wretches never came to this island in
+search of what they could get; perhaps not seeking, not wanting, or not
+expecting, any thing here; and having often, no doubt, been up in the
+covered, woody part of it, without finding any thing to their purpose. I
+knew I had been here now almost eighteen years, and never saw the least
+footsteps of human creature there before; and I might be eighteen years
+more as entirely concealed as I was now, if I did not discover myself to
+them, which I had no manner of occasion to do; it being my only business
+to keep myself entirely concealed where I was, unless I found a better
+sort of creatures than cannibals to make myself known to. Yet I
+entertained such an abhorrence of the savage wretches that I have been
+speaking of, and of the wretched inhuman custom of their devouring and
+eating one another up, that I continued pensive and sad, and kept close
+within my own circle, for almost two years after this; when I say my
+own circle, I mean by it my three plantations, viz. my castle, my
+country-seat, which I called my bower, and my enclosure in the woods:
+nor did I look after this for any other use than as an enclosure for my
+goats; for the aversion which nature gave me to these hellish wretches
+was such, that I was as fearful of seeing them as of seeing the Devil
+himself. I did not so much as go to look after my boat all this time,
+but began rather to think of making me another; for I could not think of
+ever making any more attempts to bring the other boat round the island
+to me, lest I should meet with some of these creatures at sea; in which
+if I had happened to have fallen into their hands, I knew what would
+have been my lot.
+
+Time, however, and the satisfaction I had that I was in no danger of
+being discovered by these people, began to wear off my uneasiness about
+them; and I began to live just in the same composed manner as before;
+only with this difference, that I used more caution, and kept my eyes
+more about me, than I did before, lest I should happen to be seen by any
+of them; and particularly, I was more cautious of firing my gun, lest
+any of them being on the island should happen to hear it. It was
+therefore a very good providence to me that I had furnished myself with
+a tame breed of goats, and that I had no need to hunt any more about the
+woods, or shoot at them; and if I did catch any of them after this, it
+was by traps and snares, as I had done before: so that for two years
+after this, I believe I never fired my gun once off, though I never went
+out without it; and, which was more, as I had saved three pistols out
+of the ship, I always carried them out with me, or at least two of them,
+sticking them in my goat-skin belt. I also furbished up one of the great
+cutlasses that I had out of the ship, and made me a belt to hang it on
+also; so that I was now a most formidable fellow to look at when I went
+abroad, if you add to the former description of myself, the particular
+of two pistols, and a great broad-sword hanging at my side in a belt,
+but without a scabbard.
+
+Things going on thus, as I have said, for some time, I seemed, excepting
+these cautions, to be reduced to my former calm sedate way of living.
+All these things tended to show me, more and more, how far my condition
+was from being miserable, compared to some others; nay, to many other
+particulars of life, which it might have pleased God to have made my
+lot. It put me upon reflecting how little repining there would be among
+mankind at any condition of life, if people would rather compare their
+condition with those that were worse, in order to be thankful, than be
+always comparing them with those which are better, to assist their
+murmurings and complainings.
+
+As in my present condition there were not really many things which I
+wanted, so, indeed, I thought that the frights I had been in about these
+savage wretches, and the concern I had been in for my own preservation,
+had taken off the edge of my invention for my own conveniences; and I
+had dropped a good design, which I had once bent my thoughts too much
+upon, and that was, to try if I could not make some of my barley into
+malt, and then try to brew myself some beer. This was really a whimsical
+thought, and I reproved myself often for the simplicity of it; for I
+presently saw there would be the want of several things necessary to the
+making my beer, that it would be impossible for me to supply: as, first,
+casks to preserve it in, which was a thing that, as I have observed
+already, I could never compass; no, though I spent not only many days,
+but weeks, nay, months, in attempting it, but to no purpose. In the next
+place, I had no hops to make it keep, no yeast to make it work, no
+copper or kettle to make it boil; and yet, with all these things
+wanting, I verily believe, had not the frights and terrors I was in
+about the savages intervened, I had undertaken it, and perhaps brought
+it to pass too; for I seldom gave any thing over without accomplishing
+it, when once I had it in my head to begin it. But my invention now ran
+quite another way; for, night and day, I could think of nothing but how
+I might destroy some of these monsters in their cruel, bloody
+entertainment, and, if possible, save the victim they should bring
+hither to destroy. It would take up a larger volume than this whole work
+is intended to be, to set down all the contrivances I hatched, or rather
+brooded upon, in my thoughts, for the destroying these creatures, or at
+least frightening them so as to prevent their coming hither any more:
+but all this was abortive; nothing could be possible to take effect,
+unless I was to be there to do it myself: and what could one man do
+among them, when perhaps there might be twenty or thirty of them
+together, with their darts, or their bows and arrows, with which they
+could shoot as true to a mark as I could with my gun?
+
+Sometimes I thought of digging a hole under the place where they made
+their fire, and putting in five or six pounds of gunpowder, which, when
+they kindled their fire, would consequently take fire, and blow up all
+that was near it: but as, in the first place, I should be unwilling to
+waste so much powder upon them, my store being now within the quantity
+of one barrel, so neither could I be sure of its going off at any
+certain time, when it might surprise them; and, at best, that it would
+do little more than just blow the fire about their ears, and fright
+them, but not sufficient to make them forsake the place: so I laid it
+aside; and then proposed that I would place myself in ambush in some
+convenient place, with my three guns all double-loaded, and, in the
+middle of their bloody ceremony, let fly at them, when I should be sure
+to kill or wound perhaps two or three at every shot; and then falling in
+upon them with my three pistols, and my sword, I made no doubt but that
+if there were twenty I should kill them all. This fancy pleased my
+thoughts for some weeks; and I was so full of it, that I often dreamed
+of it, and sometimes that I was just going to let fly at them in my
+sleep. I went so far with it in my imagination, that I employed myself
+several days to find out proper places to put myself in ambuscade, as I
+said, to watch for them; and I went frequently to the place itself,
+which was now grown more familiar to me: but while my mind was thus
+filled with thoughts of revenge, and a bloody putting twenty or thirty
+of them to the sword, as I may call it, the horror I had at the place,
+and at the signals of the barbarous wretches devouring one another,
+abetted my malice. Well, at length, I found a place in the side of the
+hill, where I was satisfied I might securely wait till I saw any of
+their boats coming: and might then, even before they would be ready to
+come on shore, convey myself, unseen, into some thickets of trees, in
+one of which there was a hollow large enough to conceal me entirely and
+there I might sit and observe all their bloody doings, and take my full
+aim at their heads, when they were so close together as that it would be
+next to impossible that I should miss my shot, or that I could fail
+wounding three or four of them at the first shot. In this place, then, I
+resolved to fix my design; and, accordingly, I prepared two muskets and
+my ordinary fowling-piece. The two muskets I loaded with a brace of
+slugs each, and four or five smaller bullets, about the size of
+pistol-bullets; and the fowling-piece I loaded with near a handful of
+swan-shot, of the largest size: I also loaded my pistols with about four
+bullets each; and in this posture, well provided with ammunition for a
+second and third charge, I prepared myself for my expedition.
+
+After I had thus laid the scheme of my design, and, in my imagination,
+put it in practice, I continually made my tour every morning up to the
+top of the hill, which was from my castle, as I called it, about three
+miles, or more, to see if I could observe any boats upon the sea, coming
+near the island, or standing over towards it: but I began to tire of
+this hard duty, after I had, for two or three months, constantly kept
+my watch, but came always back without any discovery; there having not,
+in all that time, been the least appearance, not only on or near the
+shore, but on the whole ocean, so far as my eyes or glasses could reach
+every way.
+
+As long as I kept my daily tour to the hill to look out, so long also I
+kept up the vigour of my design, and my spirits seemed to be all the
+while in a suitable form for so outrageous an execution as the killing
+twenty or thirty naked savages, for an offence which I had not at all
+entered into a discussion of in my thoughts, any farther than my
+passions were at first fired by the horror I conceived at the unnatural
+custom of the people of that country; who, it seems, had been suffered
+by Providence, in his wise disposition of the world, to have no other
+guide than that of their own abominable and vitiated passions; and,
+consequently, were left, and perhaps had been so for some ages, to act
+such horrid things, and receive such dreadful customs, as nothing but
+nature, entirely abandoned by Heaven, and actuated by some hellish
+degeneracy, could have run them into. But now, when, as I have said, I
+began to be weary of the fruitless excursion which I had made so long
+and so far every morning in vain, so my opinion of the action itself
+began to alter; and I began, with cooler and calmer thoughts, to
+consider what I was going to engage in; what authority or call I had to
+pretend to be judge and executioner upon these men as criminals, whom
+Heaven had thought fit, for so many ages, to suffer, unpunished, to go
+on, and to be, as it were, the executioners of his judgments one upon
+another. How far these people were offenders against me, and what right
+I had to engage in the quarrel of that blood which they shed
+promiscuously upon one another, I debated this very often with myself,
+thus: How do I know what God himself judges in this particular case? It
+is certain these people do not commit this as a crime; it is not against
+their own consciences reproving, or their light reproaching them; they
+do not know it to be an offence, and then commit it in defiance of
+divine justice, as we do in almost all the sins we commit. They think it
+no more a crime to kill a captive taken in war, than we do to kill an
+ox; nor to eat human flesh, than we do to eat mutton.
+
+When I considered this a little, it followed necessarily that I was
+certainly in the wrong in it; that these people were not murderers in
+the sense that I had before condemned them in my thoughts, any more than
+those Christians were murderers who often put to death the prisoners
+taken in battle; or more frequently, upon many occasions, put whole
+troops of men to the sword, without giving quarter, though they threw
+down their arms and submitted. In the next place, it occurred to me,
+that although the usage they gave one another was thus brutish and
+inhuman, yet it was really nothing to me; these people had done me no
+injury: that if they attempted me, or I saw it necessary, for my
+immediate preservation, to fall upon them, something might be said for
+it; but that I was yet out of their power, and they really had no
+knowledge of me, and consequently no design upon me; and therefore it
+could not be just for me to fall upon them: that this would justify the
+conduct of the Spaniards in all their barbarities practised in America,
+where they destroyed millions of these people: who, however they were
+idolaters and barbarians, and had several bloody and barbarous rites in
+their customs, such as sacrificing human bodies to their idols, were
+yet, as to the Spaniards, very innocent people; and that the rooting
+them out of the country is spoken of with the utmost abhorrence and
+detestation by even the Spaniards themselves at this time, and by all
+other Christian nations in Europe, as a mere butchery, a bloody and
+unnatural piece of cruelty, unjustifiable either to God or man; and for
+which the very name of a Spaniard is reckoned to be frightful and
+terrible to all people of humanity, or of Christian compassion; as if
+the kingdom of Spain were particularly eminent for the produce of a race
+of men who were without principles of tenderness, or the common bowels
+of pity to the miserable, which is reckoned to be a mark of generous
+temper in the mind.
+
+These considerations really put me to a pause, and to a kind of a full
+stop; and I began, by little and little, to be off my design, and to
+conclude I had taken wrong measures in my resolution to attack the
+savages; and that it was not my business to meddle with them, unless
+they first attacked me; and this it was my business, if possible, to
+prevent; but that if I were discovered and attacked by them, I knew my
+duty. On the other hand, I argued with myself, that this really was the
+way not to deliver myself, but entirely to ruin and destroy myself; for
+unless I was sure to kill every one that not only should be on shore at
+that time, but that should ever come on shore afterwards, if but one of
+them escaped to tell their country-people what had happened, they would
+come over again by thousands to revenge the death of their fellows, and
+I should only bring upon myself a certain destruction, which, at
+present, I had no manner of occasion for. Upon the whole, I concluded,
+that neither in principle nor in policy, I ought, one way or other, to
+concern myself in this affair: that my business was, by all possible
+means, to conceal myself from them, and not to leave the least signal to
+them to guess by that there were any living creatures upon the island, I
+mean of human shape. Religion joined in with this prudential resolution;
+and I was convinced now, many ways, that I was perfectly out of my duty
+when I was laying all my bloody schemes for the destruction of innocent
+creatures, I mean innocent as to me. As to the crimes they were guilty
+of towards one another, I had nothing to do with them; they were
+national, and I ought to leave them to the justice of God, who is the
+governor of nations, and knows how, by national punishments, to make a
+just retribution for national offences, and to bring public judgments
+upon those who offend in a public manner, by such ways as best please
+him. This appeared so clear to me now, that nothing was a greater
+satisfaction to me than that I had not been suffered to do a thing which
+I now saw so much reason to believe would have been no less a sin than
+that of wilful murder, if I had committed it; and I gave most humble
+thanks on my knees to God, that had thus delivered me from
+blood-guiltiness; beseeching him to grant me the protection of his
+providence, that I might not fall into the hands of the barbarians, or
+that I might not lay my hands upon them, unless I had a more clear call
+from Heaven to do it, in defence of my own life.
+
+In this disposition I continued for near a year after this; and so far
+was I from desiring an occasion for falling upon these wretches, that in
+all that time I never once went up the hill to see whether there were
+any of them in sight, or to know whether any of them had been on shore
+there or not, that I might not be tempted to renew any of my
+contrivances against them, or be provoked, by any advantage which might
+present itself, to fall upon them: only this I did, I went and removed
+my boat, which I had on the other side of the island, and carried it
+down to the east end of the whole island, where I ran it into a little
+cove, which I found under some high rocks, and where I knew, by reason
+of the currents, the savages durst not, at least would not come, with
+their boats, upon any account whatever. With my boat I carried away
+every thing that I had left there belonging to her, though not necessary
+for the bare going thither, viz. a mast and sail which I had made for
+her, and a thing like an anchor, but which, indeed, could not be called
+either anchor or grapnel; however, it was the best I could make of its
+kind: all these I removed, that there might not be the least shadow of
+any discovery, or any appearance of any boat, or of any human
+habitation, upon the island. Besides this, I kept myself, as I said,
+more retired than ever, and seldom went from my cell, other than upon my
+constant employment, viz. to milk my she-goats, and manage my little
+flock in the wood, which, as it was quite on the other part of the
+island, was quite out of danger; for certain it is, that these savage
+people, who sometimes haunted this island, never came with any thoughts
+of finding any thing here, and consequently never wandered off from the
+coast; and I doubt not but they might have been several times on shore
+after my apprehensions of them had made me cautious, as well as before.
+Indeed, I looked back with some horror upon the thoughts of what my
+condition would have been if I had chopped upon them and been discovered
+before that, when, naked and unarmed, except with one gun, and that
+loaded often only with small shot, I walked every where, peeping and
+peering about the island to see what I could get; what a surprise should
+I have been in, if, when I discovered the print of a man's foot, I had,
+instead of that, seen fifteen or twenty savages, and found them pursuing
+me, and by the swiftness of their running, no possibility of my escaping
+them! The thoughts of this sometimes sunk my very soul within me, and
+distressed my mind so much, that I could not soon recover it, to think
+what I should have done, and how I should not only have been unable to
+resist them, but even should not have had presence of mind enough to do
+what I might have done; much less what now, after so much consideration
+and preparation, I might be able to do. Indeed, after serious thinking
+of these things, I would be very melancholy, and sometimes it would last
+a great while; but I resolved it all, at last, into thankfulness to that
+Providence which had delivered me from so many unseen dangers, and had
+kept from me those mischiefs which I could have no way been the agent in
+delivering myself from, because I had not the least notion of any such
+thing depending, or the least supposition of its being possible. This
+renewed a contemplation which often had come to my thoughts in former
+time, when first I began to see the merciful dispositions of Heaven, in
+the dangers we run through in this life; how wonderfully we are
+delivered when we know nothing of it; how, when we are in a quandary,
+(as we call it) a doubt or hesitation, whether to go this way, or that
+way, a secret hint shall direct us this way, when we intended to go that
+way: nay, when sense, our own inclination, and perhaps business, has
+called to go the other way, yet a strange impression upon the mind, from
+we know not what springs, and by we know not what power, shall over-rule
+us to go this way; and it shall afterwards appear, that had we gone that
+way which we should have gone, and even to our imagination ought to have
+gone, we should have been ruined and lost. Upon these, and many like
+reflections, I afterwards made it a certain rule with me, that whenever
+I found those secret hints or pressings of mind, to doing or not doing
+any thing that presented, or going this way or that way, I never failed
+to obey the secret dictate; though I knew no other reason for it than
+that such a pressure, or such a hint, hung upon my mind. I could give
+many examples of the success of this conduct in the course of my life,
+but more especially in the latter part of my inhabiting this unhappy
+island; besides many occasions which it is very likely I might have
+taken notice of, if I had seen with the same eyes then that I see with
+now. But it is never too late to be wise; and I cannot but advise all
+considering men, whose lives are attended with such extraordinary
+incidents as mine, or even though not so extraordinary, not to slight
+such secret intimations of Providence, let them come from what invisible
+intelligence they will. That I shall not discuss, and perhaps cannot
+account for; but certainly they are a proof of the converse of spirits,
+and a secret communication between those embodied and those unembodied,
+and such a proof as can never be withstood; of which I shall have
+occasion to give some very remarkable instances in the remainder of my
+solitary residence in this dismal place.
+
+I believe the reader of this will not think it strange if I confess that
+these anxieties, these constant dangers I lived in, and the concern that
+was now upon me, put an end to all invention, and to all the
+contrivances that I had laid for my future accommodations and
+conveniences. I had the care of my safety more now upon my hands than
+that of my food. I cared not to drive a nail, or chop a stick of wood
+now, for fear the noise I might make should be heard: much less would I
+fire a gun, for the same reason: and, above all, I was intolerably
+uneasy at making any fire, lest the smoke, which is visible at a great
+distance in the day, should betray me. For this reason I removed that
+part of my business which required fire, such as burning of pots and
+pipes, &c. into my new apartment in the woods; where, after I had been
+some time, I found, to my unspeakable consolation, a mere natural cave
+in the earth, which went in a vast way, and where, I dare say, no
+savage, had he been at the mouth of it, would be so hardy as to venture
+in; nor, indeed, would any man else, but one who, like me, wanted
+nothing so much as a safe retreat.
+
+The mouth of this hollow was at the bottom of a great rock, where by
+mere accident (I would say, if I did not see abundant reason to ascribe
+all such things now to Providence,) I was cutting down some thick
+branches of trees to make charcoal; and before I go on, I must observe
+the reason of my making this charcoal, which was thus: I was afraid of
+making a smoke about my habitation, as I said before; and yet I could
+not live there without baking my bread, cooking my meat, &c.; so I
+contrived to burn some wood here, as I had seen done in England, under
+turf, till it became chark, or dry coal: and then putting the fire out,
+I preserved the coal to carry home, and perform the other services for
+which fire was wanting, without danger of smoke. But this is by the
+by:--While I was cutting down some wood here, I perceived that behind a
+very thick branch of low brush-wood, or under-wood, there was a kind of
+hollow place: I was curious to look in it, and getting with difficulty
+into the mouth of it, I found it was pretty large: that is to say,
+sufficient for me to stand upright in it, and perhaps another with me:
+but I must confess to you that I made more haste out than I did in,
+when, looking farther into the place, and which was perfectly dark, I
+saw two broad shining eyes of some creature, whether devil or man I knew
+not, which twinkled like two stars; the dim light from the cave's mouth
+shining directly in, and making the reflection. However, after some
+pause, I recovered myself, and began to call myself a thousand fools,
+and to think, that he that was afraid to see the devil was not fit to
+live twenty years in an island all alone; and that I might well think
+there was nothing in this cave that was more frightful than myself. Upon
+this, plucking up my courage, I took up a firebrand, and in I rushed
+again, with the stick flaming in my hand: I had not gone three steps in,
+but I was almost as much frightened as I was before; for I heard a very
+loud sigh, like that of a man in some pain, and it was followed by a
+broken noise, as of words half-expressed, and then a deep sigh again. I
+stepped back, and was indeed struck with such a surprise, that it put me
+into a cold sweat; and if I had had a hat on my head, I will not answer
+for it, that my hair might not have lifted it off. But still plucking up
+my spirits as well as I could, and encouraging myself a little with
+considering that the power and presence of God was every where, and was
+able to protect me, upon this I stepped forward again, and by the light
+of the firebrand, holding it up a little over my head, I saw lying on
+the ground a most monstrous, frightful, old he-goat just making his
+will, as we say, and gasping for life; and dying, indeed, of mere old
+age. I stirred him a little to see if I could get him out, and he
+essayed to get up, but was not able to raise himself; and I thought with
+myself he might even lie there; for if he had frightened me, so he would
+certainly fright any of the savages, if any one of them should be so
+hardy as to come in there while he had any life in him.
+
+I was now recovered from my surprise, and began to look round me, when I
+found the cave was but very small, that is to say, it might be about
+twelve feet over, but in no manner of shape, neither round nor square,
+no hands having ever been employed in making it but those of mere
+Nature. I observed also that there was a place at the farther side of it
+that went in further, but was so low that it required me to creep upon
+my hands and knees to go into it, and whither it went I knew not: so
+having no candle, I gave it over for that time; but resolved to come
+again the next day, provided with candles and a tinder-box, which I had
+made of the lock of one of the muskets, with some wild fire in the pan.
+
+Accordingly, the next day I came provided with six large candles of my
+own making (for I made very good candles now of goats' tallow, but was
+hard set for candle-wick, using sometimes rags or rope-yarn, and
+sometimes the dried rind of a weed like nettles;) and going into this
+low place, I was obliged to creep upon all fours, as I have said, almost
+ten yards; which, by the way, I thought was a venture bold enough,
+considering that I knew not how far it might go, nor what was beyond it.
+When I had got through the strait, I found the roof rose higher up, I
+believe near twenty feet; but never was such a glorious sight seen in
+the island, I dare say, as it was, to look round the sides and roof of
+this vault or cave; the wall reflected an hundred thousand lights to me
+from my two candles. What it was in the rock, whether diamonds, or any
+other precious stones, or gold, which I rather supposed it to be, I
+knew not. The place I was in was a most delightful cavity or grotto of
+its kind, as could be expected, though perfectly dark; the floor was dry
+and level, and had a sort of a small loose gravel upon it, so that there
+was no nauseous or venomous creature to be seen, neither was there any
+damp or wet on the sides or roof: the only difficulty in it was the
+entrance; which, however, as it was a place of security, and such a
+retreat as I wanted, I thought that was a convenience; so that I was
+really rejoiced at the discovery, and resolved, without any delay, to
+bring some of those things which I was most anxious about to this place;
+particularly, I resolved to bring hither my magazine of powder, and all
+my spare arms, viz. two fowling-pieces, for I had three in all, and
+three muskets, for of them I had eight in all: so I kept at my castle
+only five, which stood ready-mounted, like pieces of cannon, on my
+outmost fence; and were ready also to take out upon any expedition. Upon
+this occasion of removing my ammunition, I happened to open the barrel
+of powder, which I took up out of the sea, and which had been wet; and I
+found that the water had penetrated about three or four inches into the
+powder on every side, which, caking, and growing hard, had preserved the
+inside like a kernel in the shell; so that I had near sixty pounds of
+very good powder in the centre of the cask: this was a very agreeable
+discovery to me at that time; so I carried all away thither, never
+keeping above two or three pounds of powder with me in my castle, for
+fear of a surprise of any kind: I also carried thither all the lead I
+had left for bullets.
+
+I fancied myself now like one of the ancient giants, which were said to
+live in caves and holes in the rocks, where none could come at them; for
+I persuaded myself, while I was here, that if five hundred savages were
+to hunt me, they could never find me out; or, if they did, they would
+not venture to attack me here. The old goat, whom I found expiring, died
+in the mouth of the cave the next day after I made this discovery: and I
+found it much easier to dig a great hole there, and throw him in and
+cover him with earth, than to drag him out; so I interred him there, to
+prevent offence to my nose.
+
+I was now in the twenty-third year of my residence in this island; and
+was so naturalized to the place, and the manner of living, that could I
+have but enjoyed the certainty that no savages would come to the place
+to disturb me, I could have been content to have capitulated for
+spending the rest of my time there, even to the last moment, till I had
+laid me down and died, like the old goat in the cave. I had also arrived
+to some little diversions and amusements, which made the time pass a
+great deal more pleasantly with me than it did before: as, first, I had
+taught my Pol, as I noted before, to speak; and he did it so familiarly,
+and talked so articulately and plain, that it was very pleasant to me;
+for I believe no bird ever spoke plainer; and he lived with me no less
+than six and twenty years: how long he might have lived afterwards I
+know not, though I know they have a notion in the Brazils that they
+live a hundred years. My dog was a very pleasant and loving companion to
+me for no less than sixteen years of my time, and then died of mere old
+age. As for my cats, they multiplied, as I have observed, to that
+degree, that I was obliged to shoot several of them at first, to keep
+them from devouring me and all I had; but, at length, when the two old
+ones I brought with me were gone, and after some time continually
+driving them from me, and letting them have no provision with me, they
+all ran wild into the woods, except two or three favourites, which I
+kept tame, and whose young, when they had any, I always drowned; and
+these were part of my family. Besides these, I always kept two or three
+household kids about me, whom I taught to feed out of my hand; and I had
+two more parrots, which talked pretty well, and would all call Robin
+Crusoe, but none like my first; nor, indeed, did I take the pains with
+any of them that I had done with him. I had also several tame sea-fowls,
+whose names I knew not, that I caught upon the shore, and cut their
+wings; and the little stakes which I had planted before my castle wall
+being now grown up to a good thick grove, these fowls all lived among
+these low trees, and bred there, which was very agreeable to me; so
+that, as I said above, I began to be very well contented with the life I
+led, if I could have been secured from the dread of the savages. But it
+was otherwise directed; and it may not be amiss for all people who shall
+meet with my story, to make this just observation from it, viz. How
+frequently, in the course of our lives, the evil which in itself we seek
+most to shun, and which, when we are, fallen into, is the most dreadful
+to us, is oftentimes the very means or door of our deliverance, by which
+alone we can be raised again from the affliction we are fallen into. I
+could give many examples of this in the course of my unaccountable life;
+but in nothing was it more particularly remarkable than in the
+circumstances of my last years of solitary residence in this island.
+
+It was now the month of December, as I said above, in my twenty-third
+year; and this, being the southern solstice (for winter I cannot call
+it,) was the particular time of my harvest, and required my being pretty
+much abroad in the fields: when going out pretty early in the morning,
+even before it was thorough daylight, I was surprised with seeing a
+light of some fire upon the shore, at a distance from me of about two
+miles, towards the end of the island where I had observed some savages
+had been, as before, and not on the other side; but, to my great
+affliction, it was on my side of the island.
+
+I was indeed terribly surprised at the sight, and stopped short within
+my grove, not daring to go out, lest I might be surprised, and yet I had
+no more peace within, from the apprehensions I had that if these
+savages, in rambling over the island, should find my corn standing or
+cut, or any of my works and improvements, they would immediately
+conclude that there were people in the place, and would then never give
+over till they had found me out. In this extremity, I went back directly
+to my castle, pulled up the ladder after me, and made all things without
+look as wild and natural as I could.
+
+Then I prepared myself within, putting myself in a posture of defence:
+I loaded all my cannon, as I called them, that is to say, my muskets,
+which were mounted upon my new fortification, and all my pistols, and
+resolved to defend myself to the last gasp; not forgetting seriously to
+commend myself to the divine protection, and earnestly to pray to God to
+deliver me out of the hands of the barbarians. I continued in this
+posture about two hours; and began to be mighty impatient for
+intelligence abroad, for I had no spies to send out. After sitting
+awhile longer, and musing what I should do in this, I was not able to
+bear sitting in ignorance any longer; so setting up my ladder to the
+side of the hill, where there was a flat place, as I observed before,
+and then pulling the ladder up after me, I set it up again, and mounted
+to the top of the hill; and pulling out my perspective-glass, which I
+had taken on purpose, I laid me down flat on my belly on the ground, and
+began to look for the place. I presently found there were no less than
+nine naked savages, sitting round a small fire they had made, not to
+warm them, for they had no need of that, the weather being extremely
+hot, but, as I supposed, to dress some of their barbarous diet of human
+flesh, which they had brought with them, whether alive or dead, I
+could not tell.
+
+They had two canoes with them, which they had hauled up upon the shore;
+and as it was then tide of ebb, they seemed to me to wait for the return
+of the flood to go away again. It is not easy to imagine what confusion
+this sight put me into, especially seeing them come on my side of the
+island, and so near me too; but when I considered their coming must be
+always with the current of the ebb, I began, afterwards, to be more
+sedate in my mind, being satisfied that I might go abroad with safety
+all the time of the tide of flood, if they were not on shore before: and
+having made this observation, I went abroad about my harvest-work with
+the more composure.
+
+As I expected, so it proved; for as soon as the tide made to the
+westward, I saw them all take boat, and row (or paddle, as we call it)
+away. I should have observed, that for an hour or more before they went
+off, they went a dancing; and I could easily discern their postures and
+gestures by my glass. I could not perceive, by my nicest observation,
+but that they were stark naked, and had not the least covering upon
+them; but whether they were men or women, I could not distinguish.
+
+As soon as I saw them shipped and gone, I took two guns upon my
+shoulders, and two pistols in my girdle, and my great sword by my side,
+without a scabbard, and with all the speed I was able to make, went away
+to the hill where I had discovered the first appearance of all; and as
+soon as I got thither, which was not in less than two hours (for I could
+not go apace, being so loaden with arms as I was,) I perceived there had
+been three canoes more of savages at that place; and looking out
+farther, I saw they were all at sea together, making over for the main.
+This was a dreadful sight to me, especially as, going down to the shore,
+I could see the marks of horror, which the dismal work they had been
+about had left behind it, viz. the blood, the bones, and part of the
+flesh, of human bodies, eaten and devoured by those wretches with
+merriment and sport. I was so filled with indignation at the sight, that
+I now began to premeditate the destruction of the next that I saw there,
+let them be whom or how many soever. It seemed evident to me that the
+visits which they made thus to this island were not very frequent, for
+it was above fifteen months before any more of them came on shore there
+again; that is to say, I neither saw them; nor any footsteps or signals
+of them, in all that time; for, as to the rainy seasons, then they are
+sure not to come abroad, at least not so far: yet all this while I lived
+uncomfortably, by reason of the constant apprehensions of their coming
+upon me by surprise: from whence I observe, that the expectation of evil
+is more bitter than the suffering, especially if there is no room to
+shake off that expectation, or those apprehensions.
+
+During all this time I was in the murdering humour, and took up most of
+my hours, which should have been better employed, in contriving how to
+circumvent and fall upon them, the very next time I should see them;
+especially if they should be divided, as they were the last time, into
+two parties: nor did I consider at all, that if I killed one party,
+suppose ten or a dozen, I was still the next day, or week, or month, to
+kill another, and so another, even _ad infinitum_, till I should be at
+length no less a murderer than they were in being man-eaters, and
+perhaps much more so. I spent my days now in great perplexity and
+anxiety of mind, expecting that I should, one day or other, fall into
+the hands of these merciless creatures; and if I did at any time
+venture abroad, it was not without looking round me with the greatest
+care and caution imaginable. And now I found, to my great comfort, how
+happy it was that I had provided a tame flock or herd of goats; for I
+durst not, upon any account, fire my gun, especially near that side of
+the island where they usually came, lest I should alarm the savages; and
+if they had fled from me now, I was sure to have them come again, with
+perhaps two or three hundred canoes with them, in a few days, and then I
+knew what to expect. However, I wore out a year and three months more
+before I ever saw any more of the savages, and then I found them again,
+as I shall soon observe. It is true, they might have been there once or
+twice, but either they made no stay, or at least I did not see them: but
+in the month of May, as near as I could calculate, and in my four and
+twentieth year, I had a very strange encounter with them; of which in
+its place.
+
+The perturbation of my mind, during this fifteen or sixteen months'
+interval, was very great; I slept unquiet, dreamed always frightful
+dreams, and often started out of my sleep in the night: in the day great
+troubles overwhelmed my mind; and in the night, I dreamed often of
+killing the savages, and of the reasons why I might justify the doing of
+it. But, to wave all this for a while.--It was in the middle of May, on
+the sixteenth day, I think, as well as my poor wooden calendar would
+reckon, for I marked all upon the post still; I say, it was on the
+sixteenth of May that it blew a very great storm of wind all day, with a
+great deal of lightning and thunder, and a very foul night it was after
+it. I knew not what was the particular occasion of it, but as I was
+reading in the Bible, and taken up with very serious thoughts about my
+present condition, I was surprised with the noise of a gun, as I
+thought, fired at sea. This was, to be sure, a surprise quite of a
+different nature from any I had met with before; for the notions this
+put into my thoughts were quite of another kind. I started up in the
+greatest haste imaginable, and, in a trice, clapped my ladder to the
+middle place of the rock, and pulled it after me; and mounting it the
+second time, got to the top of the hill the very moment that a flash of
+fire bid me listen for a second gun, which accordingly, in about half a
+minute, I heard; and, by the sound, knew that it was from that part of
+the sea where I was driven down the current in my boat. I immediately
+considered that this must be some ship in distress, and that they had
+some comrade, or some other ship in company, and fired these guns for
+signals of distress, and to obtain help. I had the presence of mind, at
+that minute, to think, that though I could not help them, it might be
+they might help me: so I brought together all the dry wood I could get
+at hand, and making a good handsome pile, I set it on fire upon the
+hill. The wood was dry, and blazed freely; and though the wind blew very
+hard, yet it burnt fairly out, so that I was certain, if there was any
+such thing as a ship, they must needs see it, and no doubt they did; for
+as soon as ever my fire blazed up I heard another gun, and after that
+several others, all from the same quarter, I plied my fire all night
+long, till daybreak; and when it was broad day, and the air cleared up,
+I saw something at a great distance at sea, full east of the island,
+whether a sail or a hull I could not distinguish, no, not with my glass;
+the distance was so great, and the weather still something hazy also; at
+least it was so out at sea.
+
+I looked frequently at it all that day, and soon perceived that it did
+not move; so I presently concluded that it was a ship at anchor; and
+being eager, you may be sure, to be satisfied, I took my gun in my hand,
+and ran towards the south side of the island, to the rocks where I had
+formerly been carried away with the current; and getting up there, the
+weather by this time being perfectly clear, I could plainly see, to my
+great sorrow, the wreck of a ship, cast away in the night upon those
+concealed rocks which I found when I was out in my boat; and which
+rocks, as they checked the violence of the stream, and made a kind of
+counter-stream, or eddy, were the occasion of my recovering from the
+most desperate, hopeless condition that ever I had been in, all my life.
+Thus, what is one man's safety is another man's destruction; for it
+seems these men, whoever they were, being out of their knowledge, and
+the rocks being wholly under water, had been driven upon them in the
+night, the wind blowing hard at E.N.E. Had they seen the island, as I
+must necessarily suppose they did not, they must, as I thought, have
+endeavoured to have saved themselves on shore by the help of their boat;
+but their firing off guns for help, especially when they saw, as I
+imagined, my fire, filled me with many thoughts: first, I imagined that
+upon seeing my light, they might have put themselves into their boat,
+and endeavoured to make the shore; but that the sea going very high,
+they might have been cast away: other times I imagined that they might
+have lost their boat before, as might be the case many ways; as,
+particularly, by the breaking of the sea upon their ship, which many
+times obliges men to stave, or take in pieces, their boat, and sometimes
+to throw it overboard with their own hands: other times I imagined they
+had some other ship or ships in company, who, upon the signals of
+distress they had made, had taken them up and carried them off: other
+times I fancied they were all gone off to sea in their boat, and being
+hurried away by the current that I had been formerly in, were carried
+out into the great ocean, where there was nothing but misery and
+perishing; and that, perhaps, they might by this time think of starving,
+and of being in a condition to eat one another.
+
+As all these were but conjectures at best, so, in the condition I was
+in, I could do no more than look on upon the misery of the poor men, and
+pity them; which had still this good effect on my side, that it gave me
+more and more cause to give thanks to God, who had so happily and
+comfortably provided for me in my desolate condition; and that of two
+ships' companies who were now cast away upon this part of the world, not
+one life should be spared but mine. I learned here again to observe,
+that it is very rare that the providence of God casts us into any
+condition of life so low, or any misery so great, but we may see
+something or other to be thankful for, and may see others in worse
+circumstances than our own. Such certainly was the case of these men, of
+whom I could not so much as see room to suppose any of them were saved;
+nothing could make it rational so much as to wish or expect that they
+did not all perish there, except the possibility only of their being
+taken up by another ship in company; and this was but mere possibility
+indeed, for I saw not the least sign or appearance of any such thing. I
+cannot explain, by any possible energy of words, what a strange longing
+or hankering of desires I felt in my soul upon this sight, breaking out
+sometimes thus: "O that there had been but one or two, nay, or but one
+soul, saved out of this ship, to have escaped to me, that I might but
+have had one companion, one fellow-creature to have spoken to me, and to
+have conversed with!" In all the time of my solitary life, I never felt
+so earnest, so strong a desire after the society of my fellow-creatures,
+or so deep a regret at the want of it.
+
+There are some secret moving springs in the affections, which, when they
+are set a going by some object in view, or, though not in view, yet
+rendered present to the mind by the power of imagination, that motion
+carries out the soul, by its impetuosity, to such violent, eager
+embracings of the object, that the absence of it is insupportable. Such
+were these earnest wishings that but one man had been saved. I believe I
+repeated the words, "O that it had been but one!" a thousand times; and
+my desires were so moved by it, that when I spoke the words my hands
+would clinch together, and my fingers would press the palms of my
+hands, so that if I had had any soft thing in my hand, it would have
+crushed it involuntarily; and the teeth in my head would strike
+together, and set against one another so strong, that for some time I
+could not part them again. Let the naturalists explain these things, and
+the reason and manner of them: all I can say to them is, to describe the
+fact, which was even surprising to me, when I found it, though I knew
+not from whence it proceeded: it was doubtless the effect of ardent
+wishes, and of strong ideas formed in my mind, realizing the comfort
+which the conversation of one of my fellow-christians would have been to
+me.--But it was not to be; either their fate or mine, or both, forbade
+it: for, till the last year of my being on this island, I never knew
+whether any were saved out of that ship or no; and had only the
+affliction, some days after, to see the corpse of a drowned boy come on
+shore at the end of the island which was next the shipwreck. He had no
+clothes on but a seaman's waistcoat, a pair of open-kneed linen drawers,
+and a blue linen shirt; but nothing to direct me so much as to guess
+what nation he was of: he had nothing in his pockets but two
+pieces-of-eight and a tobacco-pipe;--the last was to me of ten times
+more value than the first.
+
+It was now calm, and I had a great mind to venture out in my boat to
+this wreck, not doubting but I might find something on board that might
+be useful to me: but that did not altogether press me so much as the
+possibility that there might be yet some living creature on board, whose
+life I might not only save, but might, by saving that life, comfort my
+own to the last degree; and this thought clung so to my heart, that I
+could not be quiet night or day, but I must venture out in my boat on
+board this wreck; and committing the rest to God's providence, I thought
+the impression was so strong upon my mind that it could not be resisted,
+that it must come from some invisible direction, and that I should be
+wanting to myself if I did not go.
+
+Under the power of this impression, I hastened back to my castle,
+prepared every thing for my voyage, took a quantity of bread, a great
+pot of fresh water, a compass to steer by, a bottle of rum (for I had
+still a great deal of that left,) and a basket of raisins: and thus,
+loading myself with every thing necessary, I went down to my boat, got
+the water out of her, put her afloat, loaded all my cargo in her, and
+then went home again for more. My second cargo was a great bag of rice,
+the umbrella to set up over my head for a shade, another large pot of
+fresh water, and about two dozen of my small loaves, or barley-cakes,
+more than before, with a bottle of goat's milk and a cheese: all which,
+with great labour and sweat, I carried to my boat; and praying to God to
+direct my voyage, I put out; and rowing, or paddling, the canoe along
+the shore, came at last to the utmost point of the island on the
+north-east side. And now I was to launch out into the ocean, and either
+to venture or not to venture. I looked on the rapid currents which ran
+constantly on both sides of the island at a distance, and which were
+very terrible to me, from the remembrance of the hazard I had been in
+before, and my heart began to fail me; for I foresaw that if I was
+driven into either of those currents, I should be carried a great way
+out to sea, and perhaps out of my reach, or sight of the island again;
+and that then, as my boat was but small, if any little gale of wind
+should rise, I should be inevitably lost.
+
+These thoughts so oppressed my mind, that I began to give over my
+enterprise; and having hauled my boat into a little creek on the shore,
+I stepped out, and sat me down upon a rising bit of ground, very pensive
+and anxious, between fear and desire, about my voyage; when, as I was
+musing, I could perceive that the tide was turned, and the flood come
+on; upon which my going was impracticable for so many hours. Upon this,
+presently it occurred to me, that I should go up to the highest piece of
+ground I could find, and observe, if I could how the sets of the tide,
+or currents, lay when the flood came in, that I might judge whether, if
+I was driven one way out, I might not expect to be driven another way
+home, with the same rapidness of the currents. This thought was no
+sooner in my head than I cast my eye upon a little hill, which
+sufficiently overlooked the sea both ways, and from whence I had a clear
+view of the currents, or sets of the tide, and which way I was to guide
+myself in my return. Here I found, that as the current of the ebb set
+out close by the south point of the island, so the current of the flood
+set in close by the shore of the north side; and that I had nothing to
+do but to keep to the north side of the island in my return, and I
+should do well enough.
+
+Encouraged with this observation, I resolved, the next morning, to set
+out with the first of the tide; and reposing myself for the night in my
+canoe, under the great watch-coat I mentioned, I launched out. I first
+made a little out to sea, full north, till I began to feel the benefit
+of the current, which set eastward, and which carried me at a great
+rate; and yet did not so hurry me as the current on the south side had
+done before, so as to take from me all government of the boat; but
+having a strong steerage with my paddle, I went at a great rate directly
+for the wreck, and in less than two hours I came up to it. It was a
+dismal sight to look at: the ship, which, by its building, was Spanish,
+stuck fast, jammed in between two rocks; all the stern and quarter of
+her were beaten to pieces with the sea; and as her forecastle, which
+stuck in the rocks, had run on with great violence, her mainmast and
+foremast were brought by the board, that is to say, broken short off;
+but her bowsprit was sound, and the head and bow appeared firm. When I
+came close to her, a dog appeared upon her, who, seeing me coming,
+yelped and cried; and as soon as I called him, jumped into the sea to
+come to me; I took him into the boat, but found him almost dead with
+hunger and thirst. I gave him a cake of my bread, and he devoured it
+like a ravenous wolf that had been starving a fortnight in the snow: I
+then gave the poor creature some fresh water, with which, if I would
+have let him, he would have burst himself. After this, I went on board;
+but the first sight I met with was two men drowned in the cook-room, or
+forecastle of the ship, with their arms fast about one another. I
+concluded, as is indeed probable, that when the ship struck, it being in
+a storm, the sea broke so high, and so continually over her, that the
+men were not able to bear it, and were strangled with the constant
+rushing in of the water, as much as if they had been under water.
+Besides the dog, there was nothing left in the ship that had life; nor
+any goods, that I could see, but what were spoiled by the water. There
+were some casks of liquor, whether wine or brandy I knew not, which lay
+lower in the hold, and which, the water being ebbed out, I could see;
+but they were too big to meddle with. I saw several chests, which I
+believed belonged to some of the seamen; and I got two of them into the
+boat, without examining what was in them. Had the stern of the ship been
+fixed, and the fore-part broken off, I am persuaded I might have made a
+good voyage; for, by what I found in these two chests, I had room to
+suppose the ship had a great deal of wealth on board; and, if I may
+guess from the course she steered, she must have been bound from Buenos
+Ayres, or the Rio de la Plata, in the south part of America, beyond the
+Brazils, to the Havanna, in the Gulf of Mexico, and so perhaps to Spain.
+She had, no doubt, a great treasure in her, but of no use, at that time,
+to any body; and what became of her crew, I then knew not.
+
+I found, besides these chests, a little cask full of liquor, of about
+twenty gallons, which I got into my boat with much difficulty. There
+were several muskets in the cabin, and a great powder-horn, with about
+four pounds of powder in it; as for the muskets, I had no occasion for
+them, so I left them, but took the powder-horn. I took a fireshovel and
+tongs, which I wanted extremely; as also two little brass kettles, a
+copper pot to make chocolate, and a gridiron: and with this cargo, and
+the dog, I came away, the tide beginning to make home again; and the
+same evening, about an hour within night, I reached the island again,
+weary and fatigued to the last degree. I reposed that night in the boat;
+and in the morning I resolved to harbour what I had got in my new cave,
+and not carry it home to my castle. After refreshing myself, I got all
+my cargo on shore, and began to examine the particulars. The cask of
+liquor I found to be a kind of rum, but not such as we had at the
+Brazils, and, in a word, not at all good; but when I came to open the
+chests, I found several things of great use to me: for example, I found
+in one a fine case of bottles, of an extraordinary kind, and filled with
+cordial waters, fine and very good; the bottles held about three pints
+each, and were tipped with silver. I found two pots of very good
+succades, or sweetmeats, so fastened also on the top, that the salt
+water had not hurt them; and two more of the same, which the water had
+spoiled. I found some very good shirts, which were very welcome to me;
+and about a dozen and a half of white linen handkerchiefs and coloured
+neckcloths; the former were also very welcome, being exceeding
+refreshing to wipe my face in a hot day. Besides this, when I came to
+the till in the chest, I found there three great bags of
+pieces-of-eight, which held about eleven hundred pieces in all; and in
+one of them, wrapped up in a paper, six doubloons of gold, and some
+small bars or wedges of gold; I suppose they might all weigh near a
+pound. In the other chest were some clothes, but of little value; but,
+by the circumstances, it must have belonged to the gunner's mate; though
+there was no powder in it, except two pounds of fine glazed powder, in
+three small flasks, kept, I suppose, for charging their fowling-pieces
+on occasion. Upon the whole, I got very little by this voyage that was
+of any use to me; for, as to the money, I had no manner of occasion for
+it; it was to me as the dirt under my feet; and I would have given it
+all for three or four pair of English shoes and stockings, which were
+things I greatly wanted, but had none on my feet for many years. I had
+indeed got two pair of shoes now, which I took off the feet of the two
+drowned men whom I saw in the wreck, and I found two pair more in one of
+the chests, which were very welcome to me; but they were not like our
+English shoes, either for ease or service, being rather what we call
+pumps than shoes. I found in this seaman's chest about fifty
+pieces-of-eight in rials, but no gold: I suppose this belonged to a
+poorer man than the other, which seemed to belong to some officer. Well,
+however, I lugged this money home to my cave, and laid it up, as I had
+done that before which I brought from our own ship: but it was a great
+pity, as I said, that the other part of this ship had not come to my
+share; for I am satisfied I might have loaded my canoe several times
+over with money; and, thought I, if I ever escape to England, it might
+lie here safe enough till I may come again and fetch it.
+
+Having now brought all my things on shore, and secured them, I went back
+to my boat, and rowed or paddled her along the shore to her old
+harbour, where I laid her up, and made the best of my way to my old
+habitation, where I found every thing safe and quiet. I began now to
+repose myself, live after my old fashion, and take care of my family
+affairs; and, for a while, I lived easy enough, only that I was more
+vigilant than I used to be, looked out oftener, and did not go abroad so
+much; and if at any time I did stir with any freedom, it was always to
+the east part of the island, where I was pretty well satisfied the
+savages never came, and where I could go without so many precautions,
+and such a load of arms and ammunition as I always carried with me if I
+went the other way. I lived in this condition near two years more; but
+my unlucky head, that was always to let me know it was born to make my
+body miserable, was all these two years filled with projects and
+designs, how, if it were possible, I might get away from this island:
+for, sometimes I was for making another voyage to the wreck, though my
+reason told me that there was nothing left there worth the hazard of my
+voyage; sometimes for a ramble one way, sometimes another; and I believe
+verily, if I had had the boat that I went from Sallee in, I should have
+ventured to sea, bound any where, I knew not whither. I have been, in
+all my circumstances, a _memento_ to those who are touched with the
+general plague of mankind, whence, for aught I know, one half of their
+miseries flow; I mean that of not being satisfied with the station
+wherein God and nature hath placed them: for, not to look back upon my
+primitive condition, and the excellent advice of my father, the
+opposition to which was, as I may call it, my _original sin_, my
+subsequent mistakes of the same kind had been the means of my coming
+into this miserable condition; for had that Providence, which so happily
+seated me at the Brazils as a planter, blessed me with confined desires,
+and I could have been contented to have gone on gradually, I might have
+been, by this time, I mean in the time of my being in this island, one
+of the most considerable planters in the Brazils; nay, I am persuaded,
+that by the improvements I had made in that little time I lived there,
+and the increase I should probably have made if I had remained, I might
+have been worth a hundred thousand moidores: and what business had I to
+leave a settled fortune, a well-stocked plantation, improving and
+increasing, to turn supercargo to Guinea to fetch negroes, when patience
+and time would have so increased our stock at home, that we could have
+bought them at our own door from those whose business it was to fetch
+them? and though it had cost us something more, yet the difference of
+that price was by no means worth saving at so great a hazard. But as
+this is usually the fate of young heads, so reflection upon the folly of
+it is as commonly the exercise of more years, or of the dear-bought
+experience of time: so it was with me now; and yet so deep had the
+mistake taken root in my temper, that I could not satisfy myself in my
+station, but was continually poring upon the means and possibility of my
+escape from this place: and that I may, with the greater pleasure to the
+reader, bring on the remaining part of my story, it may not be improper
+to give some account of my first conceptions on the subject of this
+foolish scheme for my escape, and how, and upon what foundation I acted.
+
+I am now to be supposed retired into my castle, after my late voyage to
+the wreck, my frigate laid up and secured under water, as usual, and my
+condition restored to what it was before; I had more wealth, indeed,
+than I had before, but was not at all the richer; for I had no more use
+for it than the Indians of Peru had before the Spaniards came there.
+
+It was one of the nights in the rainy season in March, the four and
+twentieth year of my first setting foot in this island of solitude, I
+was lying in my bed, or hammock, awake; very well in health, had no
+pain, no distemper, no uneasiness of body, nor any uneasiness of mind,
+more than ordinary, but could by no means close my eyes, that is, so as
+to sleep; no, not a wink all night long, otherwise than as follows:--It
+is impossible to set down the innumerable crowd of thoughts that whirled
+through that great thoroughfare of the brain, the memory, in this
+night's time: I ran over the whole history of my life in miniature, or
+by abridgment, as I may call it, to my coming to this island, and also
+of that part of my life since I came to this island. In my reflections
+upon the state of my case since I came on shore on this island, I was
+comparing the happy posture of my affairs in the first years of my
+habitation here, compared to the life of anxiety, fear, and care, which
+I had lived in, ever since I had seen the print of a foot in the sand;
+not that I did not believe the savages had frequented the island even
+all the while, and might have been several hundreds of them at times on
+shore there; but I had never known it, and was incapable of any
+apprehensions about it; my satisfaction was perfect, though my danger
+was the same, and I was as happy in not knowing my danger as if I had
+never really been exposed to it. This furnished my thoughts with many
+very profitable reflections, and particularly this one: How infinitely
+good that Providence is, which has provided, in its government of
+mankind, such narrow bounds to his sight and knowledge of things; and
+though he walks in the midst of so many thousand dangers, the sight of
+which, if discovered to him, would distract his mind and sink his
+spirits, he is kept serene and calm, by having the events of things hid
+from his eyes, and knowing nothing of the dangers which surround him.
+
+After these thoughts had for some time entertained me, I came to reflect
+seriously upon the real danger I had been in for so many years in this
+very island, and how I had walked about in the greatest security, and
+with all possible tranquillity, even when perhaps nothing but the brow
+of a hill, a great tree, or the casual approach of night, had been
+between me and the worst kind of destruction, viz. that of falling into
+the hands of cannibals and savages, who would have seized on me with the
+same view as I would on a goat or a turtle, and have thought it no more
+a crime to kill and devour me, than I did of a pigeon or curlew. I would
+unjustly slander myself, if I should say I was not sincerely thankful to
+my great Preserver, to whose singular protection I acknowledged, with
+great humility, all these unknown deliverances were due, and without
+which I must inevitably have fallen into their merciless hands.
+
+When these thoughts were over, my head was for some time taken up in
+considering the nature of these wretched creatures, I mean the savages,
+and how it came to pass in the world, that the wise Governor of all
+things should give up any of his creatures to such inhumanity, nay, to
+something so much below even brutality itself, as to devour its own
+kind: but as this ended in some (at that time) fruitless speculations,
+it occurred to me to inquire, what part of the world these wretches
+lived in? how far off the coast was, from whence they came? what they
+ventured over so far from home for? what kind of boats they had? and why
+I might not order myself and my business so, that I might be as able to
+go over thither as they were to come to me?
+
+I never so much as troubled myself to consider what I should do with
+myself when I went thither; what would become of me, if I fell into the
+hands of the savages; or how I should escape from them, if they attacked
+me; no, nor so much as how it was possible for me to reach the coast,
+and not be attacked by some or other of them, without any possibility of
+delivering myself; and if I should not fall into their hands, what I
+should do for provision, or whither I should bend my course: none of
+these thoughts, I say, so much as came in my way; but my mind was wholly
+bent upon the notion of my passing over in my boat to the main land. I
+looked upon my present condition as the most miserable that could
+possibly be; that I was not able to throw myself into any thing, but
+death, that could be called worse; and if I reached the shore of the
+main, I might perhaps meet with relief, or I might coast along, as I did
+on the African shore, till I came to some inhabited country, and where I
+might find some relief; and after all, perhaps, I might fall in with
+some Christian ship that might take me in; and if the worst came to the
+worst, I could but die, which would put an end to all these miseries at
+once. Pray note, all this was the fruit of a disturbed mind, an
+impatient temper, made desperate, as it were, by the long continuance of
+my troubles, and the disappointments I had met in the wreck I had been
+on board of, and where I had been so near obtaining what I so earnestly
+longed for, viz. somebody to speak to, and to learn some knowledge from
+them of the place where I was, and of the probable means of my
+deliverance. I was agitated wholly by these thoughts; all my calm of
+mind, in my resignation to Providence, and waiting the issue of the
+dispositions of Heaven, seemed to be suspended; and I had, as it were,
+no power to turn my thoughts to any thing but to the project of a voyage
+to the main; which came upon me with such force, and such an impetuosity
+of desire, that it was not to be resisted.
+
+When this had agitated my thoughts for two hours or more, with such
+violence that it set my very blood into a ferment, and my pulse beat as
+if I had been in a fever, merely with the extraordinary fervour of my
+mind about it, nature, as if I had been fatigued and exhausted with the
+very thought of it, threw me into a sound sleep. One would have thought
+I should have dreamed of it, but I did not, nor of any thing relating
+to it: out I dreamed that as I was going out in the morning, as usual,
+from my castle, I saw upon the shore two canoes and eleven savages
+coming to land, and that they brought with them another savage, whom
+they were going to kill, in order to eat him; when, on a sudden, the
+savage that they were going to kill jumped away, and ran for his life;
+and I thought, in my sleep, that he came running into my little thick
+grove before my fortification, to hide himself; and that I, seeing him
+alone, and not perceiving that the others sought him that way, showed
+myself to him, and smiling upon him, encouraged him: that he kneeled
+down to me, seeming to pray me to assist him; upon which I showed him my
+ladder, made him go up, and carried him into my cave, and he became my
+servant: and that as soon as I had got this man, I said to myself, "Now
+I may certainly venture to the main land; for this fellow will serve me
+as a pilot, and will tell me what to do, and whither to go for
+provisions, and whither not to go for fear of being devoured; what
+places to venture into, and what to shun." I waked with this thought;
+and was under such inexpressible impressions of joy at the prospect of
+my escape in my dream, that the disappointments which I felt upon coming
+to myself, and finding that it was no more than a dream, were equally
+extravagant the other way, and threw me into a very great dejection
+of spirits.
+
+Upon this, however, I made this conclusion; that my only way to go about
+to attempt an escape was, if possible, to get a savage into my
+possession; and, if possible, it should be one of their prisoners whom
+they had condemned to be eaten, and should bring hither to kill. But
+these thoughts still were attended with this difficulty, that it was
+impossible to effect this without attacking a whole caravan of them, and
+killing them all; and this was not only a very desperate attempt, and
+might miscarry, but, on the other hand, I had greatly scrupled the
+lawfulness of it to myself; and my heart trembled at the thoughts of
+shedding so much blood, though it was for my deliverance. I need not
+repeat the arguments which occurred to me against this, they being the
+same mentioned before: but though I had other reasons to offer now, viz.
+that those men were enemies to my life, and would devour me if they
+could; that it was self-preservation, in the highest degree, to deliver
+myself from this death of a life, and was acting in my own defence as
+much as if they were actually assaulting me, and the like; I say, though
+these things argued for it, yet the thoughts of shedding human blood for
+my deliverance were very terrible to me, and such as I could by no means
+reconcile myself to for a great while. However, at last, after many
+secret disputes with myself, and after great perplexities about it (for
+all these arguments, one way and another, struggled in my head a long
+time,) the eager prevailing desire of deliverance at length mastered all
+the rest; and I resolved, if possible, to get one of those savages into
+my hands, cost what it would. My next thing was to contrive how to do
+it, and this indeed was very difficult to resolve on: but as I could
+pitch upon no probable means for it, so I resolved to put myself upon
+the watch, to see them when they came on shore, and leave the rest to
+the event; taking such measures as the opportunity should present, let
+what would be.
+
+With these resolutions in my thoughts, I set myself upon the scout as
+often as possible, and indeed so often, that I was heartily tired of it;
+for it was above a year and a half that I waited; and for great part of
+that time went out to the west end, and to the south-west corner of the
+island, almost every day, to look for canoes, but none appeared. This
+was very discouraging, and began to trouble me much; though I cannot say
+that it did in this case (as it had done some time before) wear off the
+edge of my desire to the thing; but the longer it seemed to be delayed,
+the more eager I was for it: in a word, I was not at first so careful to
+shun the sight of these savages, and avoid being seen by them, as I was
+now eager to be upon them. Besides, I fancied myself able to manage one,
+nay, two or three savages, if I had them, so as to make them entirely
+slaves to me, to do whatever I should direct them, and to prevent their
+being able at any time to do me any hurt. It was a great while that I
+pleased myself with this affair; but nothing still presented; all my
+fancies and schemes came to nothing, for no savages came near me for a
+great while.
+
+About a year and a half after I entertained these notions (and by long
+musing had, as it were, resolved them all into nothing, for want of an
+occasion to put them into execution,) I was surprised, one morning
+early, with seeing no less than five canoes all on shore together on my
+side the island, and the people who belonged to them all landed, and out
+of my sight. The number of them broke all my measures; for seeing so
+many, and knowing that they always came four or six, or sometimes more,
+in a boat, I could not tell what to think of it, or how to take my
+measures, to attack twenty or thirty men single-handed; so lay still in
+my castle, perplexed and discomforted: however, I put myself into all
+the same postures for an attack that I had formerly provided, and was
+just ready for action, if any thing had presented. Having waited a good
+while, listening to hear if they made any noise, at length, being very
+impatient, I set my guns at the foot of my ladder, and clambered up to
+the top of the hill, by my two stages, as usual; standing so, however,
+that my head did not appear above the hill, so that they could not
+perceive me by any means. Here I observed, by the help of my
+perspective-glass, that they were no less than thirty in number; that
+they had a fire kindled, and that they had meat dressed. How they had
+cooked it I knew not, or what it was; but they were all dancing, in I
+know not how many barbarous gestures and figures, their own way,
+round the fire.
+
+While I was thus looking on them, I perceived, by my perspective, two
+miserable wretches dragged from the boats, where, it seems, they were
+laid by, and were now brought out for the slaughter. I perceived one of
+them immediately fall, being knocked down, I suppose, with a club or
+wooden sword, for that was their way, and two or three others were at
+work immediately, cutting him open for their cookery, while the other
+victim was left standing by himself, till they should be ready for him.
+In that very moment, this poor wretch seeing himself a little at
+liberty, and unbound, nature inspired him with hopes of life, and he
+started away from them, and ran with incredible swiftness along the
+sands, directly towards me, I mean towards that part of the coast where
+my habitation was. I was dreadfully frightened, I must acknowledge, when
+I perceived him run my way, and especially when, as I thought, I saw him
+pursued by the whole body: and now I expected that part of my dream was
+coming to pass, and that he would certainly take shelter in my grove:
+but I could not depend, by any means, upon my dream for the rest of it,
+viz. that the other savages would not pursue him thither, and find him
+there. However, I kept my station, and my spirits began to recover, when
+I found that there was not above three men that followed him; and still
+more was I encouraged when I found that he outstripped them exceedingly
+in running, and gained ground of them; so that if he could but hold it
+for half an hour, I saw easily he would fairly get away from them all.
+
+There was between them and my castle the creek, which I mentioned often
+in the first part of my story, where I landed my cargoes out of the
+ship; and this I saw plainly he must necessarily swim over, or the poor
+wretch would be taken there: but when the savage escaping came thither,
+he made nothing of it, though the tide was then up; but plunging in,
+swam through in about thirty strokes, or thereabouts, landed, and ran on
+with exceeding strength and swiftness. When the three persons came to
+the creek, I found that two of them could swim, but the third could
+not, and that, standing on the other side, he looked at the others, but
+went no farther, and soon after went softly back again; which, as it
+happened, was very well for him in the end. I observed, that the two who
+swam were yet more than twice as long swimming over the creek as the
+fellow was that fled from them. It came now very warmly upon my
+thoughts, and indeed irresistibly, that now was the time to get me a
+servant, and perhaps a companion or assistant, and that I was called
+plainly by Providence to save this poor creature's life. I immediately
+ran down the ladders with all possible expedition, fetched my two guns,
+for they were both at the foot of the ladders, as I observed above, and
+getting up again, with the same haste, to the top of the hill, I crossed
+towards the sea, and having a very short cut, and all down hill, placed
+myself in the way between the pursuers and the pursued, hallooing aloud
+to him that fled, who, looking back, was at first, perhaps, as much
+frightened at me as at them; but I beckoned with my hand to him to come
+back; and, in the mean time, I slowly advanced towards the two that
+followed; then rushing at once upon the foremost, I knocked him down
+with the stock of my piece. I was loth to fire, because I would not have
+the rest hear; though, at that distance, it would not have been easily
+heard, and being out of sight of the smoke too, they would not have
+easily known what to make of it. Having knocked this fellow down, the
+other who pursued him stopped, as if he had been frightened, and I
+advanced apace towards him: but as I came nearer, I perceived presently
+he had a bow and arrow, and was fitting it to shoot at me; so I was
+then necessitated to shoot at him first, which I did, and killed him at
+the first shot. The poor savage who fled, but had stopped, though he saw
+both his enemies fallen and killed, as he thought, yet was so frightened
+with the fire and noise of my piece, that he stood stock-still, and
+neither came forward nor went backward, though he seemed rather inclined
+still to fly, than to come on. I hallooed again to him, and made signs
+to come forward, which he easily understood, and came a little way; then
+stopped again, and then a little farther, and stopped again; and I could
+then perceive that he stood trembling, as if he had been taken prisoner,
+and had just been to be killed, as his two enemies were. I beckoned to
+him again to come to me, and gave him all the signs of encouragement
+that I could think of; and he came nearer and nearer, kneeling down
+every ten or twelve steps, in token of acknowledgment for saving his
+life. I smiled at him, and looked pleasantly, and beckoned to him to
+come still nearer: at length he came close to me; and then he kneeled
+down again, kissed the ground, and laid his head upon the ground, and
+taking me by the foot, set my foot upon his head; this, it seems, was in
+token of swearing to be my slave for ever. I took him up, and made much
+of him, and encouraged him all I could. But there was more work to do
+yet; for I perceived the savage whom I knocked down was not killed, but
+stunned with the blow, and began to come to himself: so I pointed to
+him, and showed him the savage, that he was not dead; upon this he spoke
+some words to me, and though I could not understand them, yet I thought
+they were pleasant to hear; for they were the first sound of a man's
+voice that I had heard, my own excepted, for above twenty-five years.
+But there was no time for such reflections now; the savage who was
+knocked down recovered himself so far as to sit up upon the ground, and
+I perceived that my savage began to be afraid; but when I saw that, I
+presented my other piece at the man, as if I would shoot him: upon this
+my savage, for so I call him now, made a motion to me to lend him my
+sword, which hung naked in a belt by my side, which I did. He no sooner
+had it, but he runs to his enemy, and, at one blow, cut off his head so
+cleverly, no executioner in Germany could have done it sooner or better;
+which I thought very strange for one who, I had reason to believe, never
+saw a sword in his life before, except their own wooden swords: however,
+it seems, as I learned afterwards, they make their wooden swords so
+sharp, so heavy, and the wood is so hard, that they will cut off heads
+even with them, aye, and arms, and that at one blow too. When he had
+done this, he comes laughing to me, in sign of triumph, and brought me
+the sword again, and with abundance of gestures, which I did not
+understand, laid it down, with the head of the savage that he had
+killed, just before me. But that which astonished him most, was to know
+how I killed the other Indian so far off: so pointing to him, he made
+signs to me to let him go to him; so I bade him go, as well as I could.
+When he came to him, he stood like one amazed, looking at him, turning
+him first on one side, then on the other, looked at the wound the bullet
+had made, which, it seems, was just in his breast, where it had made a
+hole, and no great quantity of blood had followed; but he had bled
+inwardly, for he was quite dead. He took up his bow and arrows, and came
+back; so I turned to go away, and beckoned him to follow me, making
+signs to him that more might come after them. Upon this, he made signs
+to me that he should bury them with sand, that they might not be seen by
+the rest, if they followed; and so I made signs to him again to do so.
+He fell to work; and, in an instant, he had scraped a hole in the sand
+with his hands, big enough to bury the first in, and then dragged him
+into it, and covered him; and did so by the other also: I believe he had
+buried them both in a quarter of an hour. Then calling him away, I
+carried him, not to my castle, but quite away to my cave, on the farther
+part of the island: so I did not let my dream come to pass in that part,
+viz. that he came into my grove for shelter. Here I gave him bread and
+a bunch of raisins to eat, and a draught of water, which I found he was
+indeed in great distress for, by his running; and having refreshed him,
+I made signs for him to go and lie down to sleep, showing him a place
+where I had laid some rice-straw, and a blanket upon it, which I used to
+sleep upon myself sometimes; so the poor creature lay down, and went
+to sleep.
+
+He was a comely handsome fellow, perfectly well made, with straight
+strong limbs, not too large, tall, and well shaped; and, as I reckon,
+about twenty-six years of age. He had a very good countenance, not a
+fierce and surly aspect, but seemed to have something very manly in his
+face; and yet he had all the sweetness and softness of an European in
+his countenance too, especially when he smiled. His hair was long and
+black, not curled like wool; his forehead very high and large; and a
+great vivacity and sparkling sharpness in his eyes. The colour of his
+skin was not quite black, but very tawny; and yet not an ugly, yellow,
+nauseous tawny, as the Brazilians and Virginians, and other natives of
+America are, but of a bright kind of a dun olive colour, that had in it
+something very agreeable, though not very easy to describe. His face was
+round and plump; his nose small, not flat like the Negroes; a very good
+mouth, thin lips, and his fine teeth well set, and as white as ivory.
+
+After he had slumbered, rather than slept, about half an hour, he awoke
+again, and came out of the cave to me, for I had been milking my goats,
+which I had in the enclosure just by: when he espied me, he came
+running to me, laying himself down again upon the ground, with all the
+possible signs of an humble thankful disposition, making a great many
+antic gestures to show it. At last, he lays his head flat upon the
+ground, close to my foot, and sets my other foot upon his head, as he
+had done before; and after this, made all the signs to me of subjection,
+servitude, and submission, imaginable, to let me know how he would serve
+me so long as he lived. I understood him in many things, and let him
+know I was very well pleased with him. In a little time I began to speak
+to him, and teach him to speak to me; and, first, I let him know his
+name should be FRIDAY, which was the day I saved his life: I called him
+so for the memory of the time. I likewise taught him to say Master; and
+then let him know that was to be my name: I likewise taught him to say
+Yes and No, and to know the meaning of them. I gave him some milk in an
+earthen pot, and let him see me drink it before him, and sop my bread in
+it; and gave him a cake of bread to do the like, which he quickly
+complied with, and made signs that it was very good for him. I kept
+there with him all that night; but as soon as it was day, I beckoned to
+him to come with me, and let him know I would give him some clothes; at
+which he seemed very glad, for he was stark naked. As we went by the
+place where he had buried the two men, he pointed exactly to the place,
+and showed me the marks that he had made to find them again, making
+signs to me that we should dig them up again, and eat them. At this I
+appeared very angry, expressed my abhorrence of it, made as if I would
+vomit at the thoughts of it, and beckoned with my hand to him to come
+away; which he did immediately, with great submission. I then led him up
+to the top of the hill, to see if his enemies were gone; and pulling out
+my glass, I looked, and saw plainly the place where they had been, but
+no appearance of them or their canoes; so that it was plain they were
+gone, and had left their two comrades behind them, without any search
+after them.
+
+But I was not content with this discovery; but having now more courage,
+and consequently more curiosity, I took my man Friday with me, giving
+him the sword in his hand, with the bow and arrows at his back, which I
+found he could use very dexterously, making him carry one gun for me,
+and I two for myself; and away we marched to the place where these
+creatures had been; for I had a mind now to get some fuller intelligence
+of them. When I came to the place, my very blood ran chill in my veins,
+and my heart sunk within me, at the horror of the spectacle; indeed, it
+was a dreadful sight, at least it was so to me, though Friday made
+nothing of it. The place was covered with human bones, the ground dyed
+with their blood, and great pieces of flesh left here and there,
+half-eaten, mangled, and scorched; and, in short, all the tokens of the
+triumphant feast they had been making there, after a victory over their
+enemies. I saw three skulls, five hands, and the bones of three or four
+legs and feet, and abundance of other parts of the bodies; and Friday,
+by his signs, made me understand that they brought over four prisoners
+to feast upon; that three of them were eaten up, and that he, pointing
+to himself, was the fourth; that there had been a great battle between
+them and their next king, whose subject, it seems, he had been one of,
+and that they had taken a great number of prisoners; all which were
+carried to several places by those who had taken them in the fight, in
+order to feast upon them, as was done here by these wretches upon those
+they brought hither.
+
+I caused Friday to gather all the skulls, bones, flesh, and whatever
+remained, and lay them together in a heap, and make a great fire upon
+it, and burn them all to ashes. I found Friday had still a hankering
+stomach after some of the flesh, and was still a cannibal in his nature;
+but I discovered so much abhorrence at the very thoughts of it, and at
+the least appearance of it, that he durst not discover it: for I had, by
+some means, let him know, that I would kill him if he offered it.
+
+When he had done this, we came back to our castle; and there I fell to
+work for my man Friday: and, first of all, I gave him a pair of linen
+drawers, which I had out of the poor gunner's chest I mentioned, which I
+found in the wreck; and which, with a little alteration, fitted him very
+well: and then I made him a jerkin of goat's-skin, as well as my skill
+would allow (for I was now grown a tolerable good tailor;) and I gave
+him a cap, which I made of hare's-skin, very convenient and fashionable
+enough: and thus he was clothed for the present, tolerably well, and was
+mighty well pleased to see himself almost as well clothed as his master.
+It is true, he went awkwardly in these clothes at first; wearing the
+drawers was very awkward to him; and the sleeves of the waistcoat
+galled his shoulders, and the inside of his arms; but a little easing
+them where he complained they hurt him, and using himself to them, he
+took to them at length very well.
+
+The next day after I came home to my hutch with him, I began to consider
+where I should lodge him; and that I might do well for him, and yet be
+perfectly easy myself, I made a little tent for him in the vacant place
+between my two fortifications, in the inside of the last and in the
+outside of the first. As there was a door or entrance there into my
+cave, I made a formal framed door case, and a door to it of boards, and
+set it up in the passage, a little within the entrance; and causing the
+door to open in the inside, I barred it up in the night, taking in my
+ladders too; so that Friday could no way come at me in the inside of my
+innermost wall, without making so much noise in getting over that it
+must needs waken me; for my first wall had now a complete roof over it
+of long poles, covering all my tent, and leaning up to the side of the
+hill; which was again laid across with smaller sticks, instead of laths,
+and then thatched over a great thickness with the rice-straw, which was
+strong, like reeds; and at the hole or place which was left to go in or
+out by the ladder, I had placed a kind of trap-door, which, if it had
+been attempted on the outside, would not have opened at all, but would
+have fallen down, and make a great noise: as to weapons, I took them all
+into my side every night. But I needed none of all this precaution; for
+never man had a more faithful, loving, sincere servant, than Friday was
+to me; without passions, sullenness, or designs, perfectly obliged and
+engaged; his very affections were tied to me, like those of a child to a
+father; and I dare say, he would have sacrificed his life for the saving
+mine, upon any occasion whatsoever: the many testimonies he gave me of
+this put it out of doubt, and soon convinced me that I needed to use no
+precautions, as to my safety on his account.
+
+This frequently gave me occasion to observe, and that with wonder, that
+however it had pleased God, in his providence, and in the government of
+the works of his hands, to take from so great a part of the world of his
+creatures the best uses to which their faculties and the powers of their
+souls are adapted, yet that he has bestowed upon them the same powers,
+the same reason, the same affections, the same sentiments of kindness
+and obligation, the same passions and resentments of wrongs, the same
+sense of gratitude, sincerity, fidelity, and all the capacities of doing
+good, and receiving good, that he has given to us; and that when he
+pleases to offer them occasions of exerting these, they are as ready,
+nay, more ready, to apply them to the right uses for which they were
+bestowed, than we are. This made me very melancholy sometimes, in
+reflecting, as the several occasions presented, how mean a use we make
+of all these, even though we have these powers enlightened by the great
+lamp of instruction, the Spirit of God, and by the knowledge of his word
+added to our understanding; and why it has pleased God to hide the like
+saving knowledge from so many millions of souls, who, if I might judge
+by this poor savage, would make a much better use of it than we did.
+From hence, I sometimes was led too far, to invade the sovereignty of
+Providence, and as it were arraign the justice of so arbitrary a
+disposition of things, that should hide that light from some, and reveal
+it to others, and yet expect a like duty from both; but I shut it up,
+and checked my thoughts with this conclusion: first, That we did not
+know by what light and law these should be condemned; but that as God
+was necessarily, and, by the nature of his being, infinitely holy and
+just, so it could not be, but if these creatures were all sentenced to
+absence from himself, it was on account of sinning against that light,
+which, as the Scripture says, was a law to themselves, and by such rules
+as their consciences would acknowledge to be just, though the foundation
+was not discovered to us; and, secondly, That still, as we all are the
+clay in the hand of the potter, no vessel could say to him, "Why hast
+thou formed me thus?"
+
+But to return to my new companion:--I was greatly delighted with him,
+and made it my business to teach him every thing that was proper to make
+him useful, handy, and helpful; but especially to make him speak, and
+understand me when I spoke: and he was the aptest scholar that ever was;
+and particularly was so merry, so constantly diligent, and so pleased
+when he could but understand me, or make me understand him, that it was
+very pleasant to me to talk to him. Now my life began to be so easy,
+that I began to say to myself, that could I but have been safe from more
+savages, I cared not if I was never to remove from the place where
+I lived.
+
+After I had been two or three days returned to my castle, I thought
+that, in order to bring Friday off from his horrid way of feeding, and
+from the relish of a cannibal's stomach, I ought to let him taste other
+flesh; so I took him out with me one morning to the woods. I went,
+indeed, intending to kill a kid out of my own flock, and bring it home
+and dress it; but as I was going, I saw a she-goat lying down in the
+shade, and two young kids sitting by her. I catched hold of
+Friday;--Hold, said I; stand still; and made signs to him not to stir:
+immediately I presented my piece, shot, and killed one of the kids. The
+poor creature, who had, at a distance, indeed, seen me kill the savage,
+his enemy, but did not know, nor could imagine, how it was done, was
+sensibly surprised, trembled and shook, and looked so amazed, that I
+thought he would have sunk down. He did not see the kid I shot at, or
+perceive I had killed it, but ripped up his waistcoat, to feel whether
+he was not wounded; and, as I found presently, thought I was resolved to
+kill him: for he came and kneeled down to me, and embracing my knees,
+said a great many things I did not understand; but I could easily see
+the meaning was, to pray me not to kill him.
+
+I soon found a way to convince him that I would do him no harm; and
+taking him up by the hand, laughed at him, and pointing to the kid which
+I had killed, beckoned to him to run and fetch it, which he did: and
+while he was wondering, and looking to see how the creature was killed,
+I loaded my gun again. By and by, I saw a great fowl, like a hawk,
+sitting upon a tree, within shot; so, to let Friday understand a little
+what I would do, I called him to me again, pointed at the fowl, which
+was indeed a parrot, though I thought it had been a hawk; I say,
+pointing to the parrot, and to my gun, and to the ground under the
+parrot, to let him see I would make it fall, I made him understand that
+I would shoot and kill that bird; accordingly, I fired, and bade him
+look, and immediately he saw the parrot fall. He stood like one
+frightened again, notwithstanding all I had said to him; and I found he
+was the more amazed, because he did not see me put any thing into the
+gun, but thought that there must be some wonderful fund of death and
+destruction in that thing, able to kill man, beast, bird, or any thing
+near or far off; and the astonishment this created in him was such, as
+could not wear off for a long time; and I believe, if I would have let
+him, he would have worshipped me and my gun. As for the gun itself, he
+would not so much as touch it for several days after; but he would speak
+to it, and talk to it, as if it had answered him, when he was by
+himself; which, as I afterwards learned of him, was to desire it not to
+kill him. Well, after his astonishment was a little over at this, I
+pointed to him to run and fetch the bird I had shot, which he did, but
+staid some time; for the parrot, not being quite dead, had fluttered
+away a good distance from the place where she fell: however, he found
+her, took her up, and brought her to me; and as I had perceived his
+ignorance about the gun before, I took this advantage to charge the gun
+again, and not to let him see me do it, that I might be ready for any
+other mark that might present; but nothing more offered at that time: so
+I brought home the kid, and the same evening I took the skin off, and
+cut it out as well as I could; and having a pot fit for that purpose, I
+boiled or stewed some of the flesh, and made some very good broth. After
+I had begun to eat some, I gave some to my man, who seemed very glad of
+it, and liked it very well; but that which was strangest to him, was to
+see me eat salt with it. He made a sign to me that the salt was not good
+to eat; and putting a little into his own mouth, he seemed to nauseate
+it, and would spit and sputter at it, washing his mouth with fresh water
+after it: on the other hand, I took some meat into my mouth without
+salt, and I pretended to spit and sputter for want of salt, as fast as
+he had done at the salt; but it would not do; he would never care for
+salt with his meat or in his broth; at least, not for a great while, and
+then but a very little.
+
+Having thus fed him with boiled meat and broth, I was resolved to feast
+him the next day with roasting a piece of the kid: this I did, by
+hanging it before the fire on a string, as I had seen many people do in
+England, setting two poles up, one on each side of the fire, and one
+across on the top, and tying the string to the cross stick, letting the
+meat turn continually. This Friday admired very much; but when he came
+to taste the flesh, he took so many ways to tell me how well he liked
+it, that I could not but understand him: and at last he told me, as well
+as he could, he would never eat man's flesh any more, which I was very
+glad to hear.
+
+The next day, I set him to work to beating some corn out, and sifting it
+in the manner I used to do, as I observed before; and he soon understood
+how to do it as well as I, especially after he had seen what the
+meaning of it was, and that it was to make bread of; for after that I
+let him see me make my bread, and bake it too; and in a little time
+Friday was able to do all the work for me, as well as I could do
+it myself.
+
+I began now to consider, that having two mouths to feed instead of one,
+I must provide more ground for my harvest, and plant a larger quantity
+of corn than I used to do; so I marked out a larger piece of land, and
+began the fence in the same manner as before, in which Friday worked not
+only very willingly and very hard, but did it very cheerfully: and I
+told him what it was for; that it was for corn to make more bread,
+because he was now with me, and that I might have enough for him and
+myself too. He appeared very sensible of that part, and let me know that
+he thought I had much more labour upon me on his account, than I had for
+myself; and that he would work the harder for me, if I would tell him
+what to do.
+
+This was the pleasantest year of all the life I led in this place;
+Friday began to talk pretty well, and understand the names of almost
+every thing I had occasion to call for, and of every place I had to send
+him to, and talked a great deal to me; so that, in short, I began now to
+have some use for my tongue again, which, indeed, I had very little
+occasion for before, that is to say, about speech. Besides the pleasure
+of talking to him, I had a singular satisfaction in the fellow himself:
+his simple unfeigned honesty appeared to me more and more every day, and
+I began really to love the creature; and, on his side, I believe he
+loved me more than it was possible for him ever to love any
+thing before.
+
+I had a mind once to try if he had any hankering inclination to his own
+country again; and having taught him English so well that he could
+answer me almost any question, I asked him whether the nation that he
+belonged to never conquered in battle? At which he smiled, and said,
+"Yes, yes, we always fight the better:" that is, he meant, always get
+the better in fight; and so we began the following discourse:
+
+_Master_. You always fight the better; how came you to be taken prisoner
+then, Friday?
+
+_Friday_. My nation beat much for all that.
+
+_Master_. How beat? If your nation beat them, how came you to be taken?
+
+_Friday_. They more many than my nation in the place where me was; they
+take one, two, three, and me: my nation over-beat them in the yonder
+place, where me no was; there my nation take one, two, great thousand.
+
+_Master_. But why did not your side recover you from the hands of your
+enemies then?
+
+_Friday_. They run one, two, three, and me, and make go in the canoe; my
+nation have no canoe that time.
+
+_Master_. Well, Friday, and what does your nation do with the men they
+take? Do they carry them away and eat them, as these did?
+
+_Friday_. Yes, my nation eat mans too; eat all up.
+
+_Master_. Where do they carry them?
+
+_Friday_. Go to other place, where they think.
+
+_Master_. Do they come hither?
+
+_Friday_. Yes, yes, they come hither; come other else place.
+
+_Master_. Have you been here with them?
+
+_Friday_. Yes, I have been here (points to the N.W. side of the island,
+which, it seems, was their side.)
+
+By this I understood that my man Friday had formerly been among the
+savages who used to come on shore on the farther part of the island, on
+the same man-eating occasions he was now brought for; and, some time
+after, when I took the courage to carry him to that side, being the same
+I formerly mentioned, he presently knew the place, and told me he was
+there once when they eat up twenty men, two women, and one child: he
+could not tell twenty in English, but he numbered them, by laying so
+many stones in a row, and pointing to me to tell them over.
+
+I have told this passage, because it introduces what follows; that after
+I had this discourse with him, I asked him how far it was from our
+island to the shore, and whether the canoes were not often lost. He told
+me there was no danger, no canoes ever lost; but that, after a little
+way out to sea, there was a current and wind, always one way in the
+morning, the other in the afternoon. This I understood to be no more
+than the sets of the tide, as going out or coming in; but I afterwards
+understood it was occasioned by the great draft and reflux of the mighty
+river Oroonoko, in the mouth or gulf of which river, as I found
+afterwards, our island lay; and that this land which I perceived to the
+W. and N.W. was the great island Trinidad, on the north point of the
+mouth of the river. I asked Friday a thousand questions about the
+country, the inhabitants, the sea, the coast, and what nations were
+near: he told me all he knew, with the greatest openness imaginable. I
+asked him the names of the several nations of his sort of people, but
+could get no other name than Caribs: from whence I easily understood,
+that these were the Caribbees, which our maps place on the part of
+America which reaches from the mouth of the river Oroonoko to Guiana,
+and onwards to St. Martha. He told me that up a great way beyond the
+moon, that was, beyond the setting of the moon, which must be west from
+their country, there dwelt white bearded men, like me, and pointed to my
+great whiskers, which I mentioned before; and that they had killed much
+mans, that was his word: by all which I understood, he meant the
+Spaniards, whose cruelties in America had been spread over the whole
+country, and were remembered by all the nations, from father to son.
+
+I inquired if he could tell me how I might go from this island and get
+among those white men; he told me, Yes, yes, you may go in two canoe. I
+could not understand what he meant, or make him describe to me what he
+meant by two canoe; till, at last, with great difficulty, I found he
+meant it must be in a large boat, as big as two canoes. This part of
+Friday's discourse began to relish with me very well; and from this time
+I entertained some hopes that, one time or other, I might find an
+opportunity to make my escape from this place, and that this poor savage
+might be a means to help me.
+
+During the long time that Friday had now been with me, and that he began
+to speak to me, and understand me, I was not wanting to lay a foundation
+of religious knowledge in his mind: particularly I asked him one time,
+Who made him? The poor creature did not understand me at all, but
+thought I had asked him who was his father: but I took it up by another
+handle, and asked him who made the sea, the ground we walked on, and the
+hills and woods? He told me, it was one old Benamuckee, that lived
+beyond all; he could describe nothing of this great person, but that he
+was very old, much older, he said, than the sea or the land, than the
+moon or the stars. I asked him then, if this old person had made all
+things, why did not all things worship him? He looked very grave, and
+with a perfect look of innocence said, All things say O to him. I asked
+him if the people who die in his country went away any where? He said,
+Yes; they all went to Benamuckee: then I asked him whether these they
+eat up went thither too? He said, Yes.
+
+From these things I began to instruct him in the knowledge of the true
+God: I told him that the great Maker of all things lived up there,
+pointing up towards heaven; that he governed the world by the same power
+and providence by which he made it; that he was omnipotent, and could do
+every thing for us, give every thing to us, take every thing from us;
+and thus, by degrees, I opened his eyes. He listened with great
+attention, and received with pleasure the notion of Jesus Christ being
+sent to redeem us, and of the manner of making our prayers to God, and
+his being able to hear us, even in heaven. He told me one day, that if
+our God could hear us up beyond the sun, he must needs be a greater God
+than their Benamuckee, who lived but a little way off, and yet could not
+hear till they went up to the great mountains where he dwelt to speak to
+him. I asked him if ever he went thither to speak to him? He said, No;
+they never went that were young men; none went thither but the old men,
+whom he called their Oowokakee; that is, as I made him explain it to me,
+their religious, or clergy; and that they went to say O (so he called
+saying prayers,) and then came back, and told them what Benamuckee said.
+By this I observed, that there is priestcraft even among the most
+blinded, ignorant pagans in the world; and the policy of making a secret
+of religion, in order to preserve the veneration of the people to the
+clergy, is not only to be found in the Roman, but perhaps among all
+religions in the world, even among the most brutish and
+barbarous savages.
+
+I endeavoured to clear up this fraud to my man Friday; and told him,
+that the pretence of their old men going up to the mountains to say O to
+their god Benamuckee was a cheat; and their bringing word from thence
+what he said was much more so; that if they met with any answer, or
+spake with any one there, it must be with an evil spirit: and then I
+entered into a long discourse with him about the devil, the original of
+him, his rebellion against God, his enmity to man, the reason of it, his
+setting himself up in the dark parts of the world to be worshipped
+instead of God, and as God, and the many stratagems he made use of to
+delude mankind to their ruin; how he had a secret access to our
+passions and to our affections, and to adapt his snares to our
+inclinations, so as to cause us even to be our own tempters, and run
+upon our destruction by our own choice.
+
+I found it was not so easy to imprint right notions in his mind about
+the devil, as it was about the being of a God: nature assisted all my
+arguments to evidence to him even the necessity of a great First Cause,
+and over-ruling, governing Power, a secret, directing Providence, and of
+the equity and justice of paying homage to him that made us, and the
+like; but there appeared nothing of this kind in the notion of an evil
+spirit; of his original, his being, his nature, and, above all, of his
+inclination to do evil, and to draw us in to do so too: and the poor
+creature puzzled me once in such a manner, by a question merely natural
+and innocent, that I scarce knew what to say to him. I had been talking
+a great deal to him of the power of God, his omnipotence, his aversion
+to sin, his being a consuming fire to the workers of iniquity; how, as
+he had made us all, he could destroy us and all the world in a moment;
+and he listened with great seriousness to me all the while. After this,
+I had been telling him how the devil was God's enemy in the hearts of
+men, and used all his malice and skill to defeat the good designs of
+Providence, and to ruin the kingdom of Christ in the world, and the
+like. "Well," says Friday, "but you say God is so strong, so great; is
+he not much strong, much might as the devil?"--"Yes, yes," says I,
+"Friday, God is stronger than the devil: God is above the devil, and
+therefore we pray to God to tread him down under our feet, and enable us
+to resist his temptations, and quench his fiery darts."--"But," says he
+again, "if God much stronger, much might as the devil, why God no kill
+the devil, so make him no more do wicked?" I was strangely surprised at
+this question; and, after all, though I was now an old man, yet I was
+but a young doctor, and ill qualified for a casuist, or a solver of
+difficulties; and, at first, I could not tell what to say; so I
+pretended not to hear him, and asked him what he said; but he was too
+earnest for an answer, to forget his question, so that he repeated it in
+the very same broken words as above. By this time I had recovered myself
+a little, and I said, "God will at last punish him severely; he is
+reserved for the judgment, and is to be cast into the bottomless pit, to
+dwell with everlasting fire." This did not satisfy Friday; but he
+returns upon me, repeating my words, "_Reserve at last_! me no
+understand: but why not kill the devil now; not kill great ago?"--"You
+may as well ask me," said I, "why God does not kill you and me, when we
+do wicked things here that offend him: we are preserved to repent and be
+pardoned." He mused some time on this: "Well, well," says he, mighty
+affectionately, "that well: so you, I, devil, all wicked, all preserve,
+repent, God pardon all." Here I was run down again by him to the last
+degree; and it was a testimony to me, how the mere notions of nature,
+though they will guide reasonable creatures to the knowledge of a God,
+and of a worship or homage due to the supreme being of God, as the
+consequence of our nature, yet nothing but divine revelation can form
+the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and of redemption purchased for us, of a
+Mediator of the new covenant, and of an Intercessor at the footstool of
+God's throne; I say, nothing but a revelation from Heaven can form these
+in the soul; and that, therefore, the gospel of our Lord and Saviour
+Jesus Christ, I mean the Word of God, and the Spirit of God, promised
+for the guide and sanctifier of his people, are the absolutely necessary
+instructors of the souls of men in the saving knowledge of God, and the
+means of salvation.
+
+I therefore diverted the present discourse between me and my man, rising
+up hastily, as upon some sudden occasion of going out; then sending him
+for something a good way off, I seriously prayed to God that he would
+enable me to instruct savingly this poor savage; assisting, by his
+Spirit, the heart of the poor ignorant creature to receive the light of
+the knowledge of God in Christ, reconciling him to himself, and would
+guide me to speak so to him from the word of God, as his conscience
+might be convinced, his eyes opened, and his soul saved. When he came
+again to me, I entered into a long discourse with him upon the subject
+of the redemption of man by the Saviour of the world, and of the
+doctrine of the gospel preached from heaven, viz. of repentance towards
+God, and faith in our blessed Lord Jesus. I then explained to him as
+well as I could; why our blessed Redeemer took not on him the nature of
+angels, but the seed of Abraham; and how, for that reason, the fallen
+angels had no share in the redemption; that he came only to the lost
+sheep of the house of Israel, and the like.
+
+I had, God knows, more sincerity than knowledge in all the methods I
+took for this poor creature's instruction, and must acknowledge, what I
+believe all that act upon the same principle will find, that in laying
+things open to him, I really informed and instructed myself in many
+things that either I did not know, or had not fully considered before,
+but which occurred naturally to my mind upon searching into them, for
+the information of this poor savage; and I had more affection in my
+inquiry after things upon this occasion than ever I felt before: so
+that, whether this poor wild wretch was the better for me or no, I had
+great reason to be thankful that ever he came to me; my grief sat
+lighter upon me; my habitation grew comfortable to me beyond measure:
+and when I reflected, that in this solitary life which I had been
+confined to, I had not only been moved to look up to heaven myself, and
+to seek to the hand that had brought me here, but was now to be made an
+instrument, under Providence, to save the life, and, for aught I knew,
+the soul, of a poor savage, and bring him to the true knowledge of
+religion, and of the Christian doctrine, that he might know Christ
+Jesus, in whom is life eternal; I say, when I reflected upon all these
+things, a secret joy ran through every part of my soul, and I frequently
+rejoiced that ever I was brought to this place, which I had so often
+thought the most dreadful of all afflictions that could possibly have
+befallen me.
+
+I continued in this thankful frame all the remainder of my time; and the
+conversation which employed the hours between Friday and me was such,
+as made the three years which we lived there together perfectly and
+completely happy, if any such thing as complete happiness can he formed
+in a sublunary state. This savage was now a good Christian, a much
+better than I; though I have reason to hope, and bless God for it, that
+we were equally penitent, and comforted, restored penitents. We had here
+the word of God to read, and no farther off from his Spirit to instruct,
+than if we had been in England. I always applied myself, in reading the
+Scriptures, to let him know, as well as I could, the meaning of what I
+read; and he again, by his serious inquiries and questionings, made me,
+as I said before, a much better scholar in the Scripture-knowledge than
+I should ever have been by my own mere private reading. Another thing I
+cannot refrain from observing here also, from experience in this retired
+part of my life, viz. how infinite and inexpressible a blessing it is
+that the knowledge of God; and of the doctrine of salvation by Christ
+Jesus, is so plainly laid down in the word of God, so easy to be
+received and understood, that, as the bare reading the Scripture made me
+capable of understanding enough of my duty to carry me directly on to
+the great work of sincere repentance for my sins, and laying hold of a
+Saviour for life and salvation, to a stated reformation in practice, and
+obedience to all God's commands, and this without any teacher or
+instructor, I mean human; so the same plain instruction sufficiently
+served to the enlightening this savage creature, and bringing him to be
+such a Christian, as I have known few equal to him in my life.
+
+As to all the disputes, wrangling, strife, and contention which have
+happened in the world about religion, whether niceties in doctrines, or
+schemes of church-government, they were all perfectly useless to us,
+and, for aught I can yet see, they have been so to the rest of the
+world. We had the sure guide to heaven, viz. the word of God; and we
+had, blessed be God, comfortable views of the Spirit of God teaching and
+instructing us by his word, leading us into all truth, and making us
+both willing and obedient to the instruction of his word. And I cannot
+see the least use that the greatest knowledge of the disputed points of
+religion, which have made such confusions in the world, would have been
+to us, if we could have obtained it.--But I must go on with the
+historical part of things, and take every part in its order.
+
+After Friday and I became more intimately acquainted, and that he could
+understand almost all I said to him, and speak pretty fluently, though
+in broken English, to me, I acquainted him with my own history, or at
+least so much of it as related to my coming to this place; how I had
+lived here, and how long: I let him into the mystery, for such it was to
+him, of gunpowder and bullet, and taught him how to shoot. I gave him a
+knife; which he was wonderfully delighted with; and I made him a belt,
+with a frog hanging to it, such as in England we wear hangers in; and in
+the frog, instead of a hanger, I gave him a hatchet, which was not only
+as good a weapon, in some cases, but much more useful upon other
+occasions.
+
+I described to him the country of Europe, particularly England, which I
+came from; how we lived, how we worshipped God, how we behaved to one
+another, and how we traded in ships to all parts of the world. I gave
+him an account of the wreck which I had been on board of, and showed
+him, as near as I could, the place where she lay; but she was all beaten
+in pieces before, and gone. I showed him the ruins of our boat, which we
+lost when we escaped, and which I could not stir with my whole strength
+then; but was now fallen almost all to pieces. Upon seeing this boat,
+Friday stood musing a great while, and said nothing. I asked him what it
+was he studied upon? At last, says he, "Me see such boat like come to
+place at my nation." I did not understand him a good while; but, at
+last, when I had examined farther into it, I understood by him, that a
+boat, such as that had been, came on shore upon the country where he
+lived; that is, as he explained it, was driven thither by stress of
+weather. I presently imagined that some European ship must have been
+cast away upon their coast, and the boat might get loose, and drive
+ashore; but was so dull, that I never once thought of men making their
+escape from a wreck thither, much less whence they might come: so I only
+inquired after a description of the boat.
+
+Friday described the boat to me well enough; but brought me better to
+understand him when he added with some warmth, "We save the white mans
+from drown." Then I presently asked him, if there were any white mans,
+as he called them, in the boat? "Yes," he said; "the boat full of white
+mans." I asked him how many? He told upon his fingers seventeen, I
+asked him then what became of them? He told me, "They live, they dwell
+at my nation."
+
+This put new thoughts into my head; for I presently imagined that these
+might be the men belonging to the ship that was cast away in the sight
+of my island, as I now called it; and who, after the ship was struck on
+the rock, and they saw her inevitably lost, had saved themselves in
+their boat, and were landed upon that wild shore among the savages. Upon
+this, I inquired of him more critically what was become of them; he
+assured me they lived still there; that they had been there about four
+years; that the savages let them alone, and gave them victuals to live
+on. I asked him how it came to pass they did not kill them, and eat
+them? He said, "No, they make brother with them;" that is, as I
+understood him, a truce; and then he added, "They no eat mans but when
+make the war fight;" that is to say, they never eat any men but such as
+come to fight with them, and are taken in battle.
+
+It was after this some considerable time, that being upon the top of the
+hill, at the east side of the island, from whence, as I have said, I
+had, in a clear day, discovered the main or continent of America,
+Friday, the weather being very serene, looks very earnestly towards the
+main land, and, in a kind of surprise, fells a jumping and dancing, and
+calls out to me, for I was at some distance from him. I asked him what
+was the matter? "O joy!" says he; "O glad! there see my country, there
+my nation!" I observed an extraordinary sense of pleasure appeared in
+his face, and his eyes sparkled, and his countenance discovered a
+strange eagerness, as if he had a mind to be in his own country again.
+This observation of mine put a great many thoughts into me, which made
+me at first not so easy about my new man Friday as I was before; and I
+made no doubt but that if Friday could get back to his own nation again,
+he would not only forget all his religion, but all his obligation to me,
+and would be forward enough to give his countrymen an account of me, and
+come back perhaps with a hundred or two of them, and make a feast upon
+me, at which he might be as merry as he used to be with those of his
+enemies, when they were taken in war. But I wronged the poor honest
+creature very much, for which I was very sorry afterwards. However, as
+my jealousy increased, and held me some weeks, I was a little more
+circumspect, and not so familiar and kind to him as before: in which I
+was certainly in the wrong too; the honest, grateful creature, having no
+thought about it, but what consisted with the best principles, both as a
+religious Christian, and as a grateful friend; as appeared afterwards,
+to my full satisfaction.
+
+While my jealousy of him lasted, you may be sure I was every day pumping
+him, to see if he would discover any of the new thoughts which I
+suspected were in him: but I found every thing he said was so honest and
+so innocent, that I could find nothing to nourish my suspicion; and, in
+spite of all my uneasiness, he made me at last entirely his own again;
+nor did he, in the least, perceive that I was uneasy, and therefore I
+could not suspect him of deceit.
+
+One day, walking up the same hill, but the weather being hazy at sea, so
+that we could not see the continent, I called to him, and said, "Friday,
+do not you wish yourself in your own country, your own nation?"--"Yes,"
+he said, "I be much O glad to be at my own nation." "What would you do
+there?" said I: "would you turn wild again, eat men's flesh again, and
+be a savage as you were before?" He looked full of concern, and shaking
+his head, said, "No, no, Friday tell them to live good; tell them to
+pray God; tell them to eat corn-bread, cattle-flesh, milk; no eat man
+again."--"Why then," said I to him, "they will kill you." He looked
+grave at that, and then said, "No, no; they no kill me, they willing
+love learn." He meant by this, they would be willing to learn. He added,
+they learned much of the bearded mans that came in the boat. Then I
+asked him if he would go back to them. He smiled at that, and told me
+that he could not swim so far. I told him, I would make a canoe for him.
+He told me he would go, if I would go with him. "I go!" says I, "why,
+they will eat me if I come there."--"No, no," says he, "me make they no
+eat you; me make they much love you," He meant, he would tell them how I
+had killed his enemies, and saved his life, and so he would make them
+love me. Then he told me, as well as he could, how kind they were to
+seventeen white men, or bearded men, as he called them, who came on
+shore there in distress.
+
+From this time, I confess I had a mind to venture over, and see if I
+could possibly join with those bearded men, who, I made no doubt, were
+Spaniards and Portuguese: not doubting but if I could, we might find
+some method to escape from thence, being upon the continent, and a good
+company together, better than I could from an island forty miles off the
+shore, and alone, without help. So, after some days, I took Friday to
+work again, by way of discourse; and told him I would give him a boat to
+go back to his own nation; and accordingly I carried him to my frigate,
+which lay on the other side of the island, and having cleared it of
+water (for I always kept it sunk in water,) I brought it out, showed it
+him, and we both went into it. I found he was a most dexterous fellow at
+managing it, and would make it go almost as swift again as I could. So
+when he was in, I said to him, "Well, now, Friday, shall we go to your
+nation?" He looked very dull at my saying so; which, it seems, was
+because he thought the boat too small to go so far: I then told him I
+had a bigger; so the next day I went to the place where the first boat
+lay which I had made, but which I could not get into the water. He said
+that was big enough: but then, as I had taken no care of it, and it had
+lain two or three and twenty years there, the sun had split and dried
+it, that, it was in a manner rotten. Friday told me such a boat would do
+very well, and would carry "much enough vittle, drink, bread;" that was
+his way of talking.
+
+Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over
+with him to the continent, that I told him we would go and make one as
+big as that, and he should go home in it. He answered not one word, but
+looked very grave and sad. I asked him what was the matter with him? He
+asked me again, "Why you angry mad with Friday? what me done?" I asked
+him what he meant: I told him I was not angry with him at all. "No
+angry!" says he, repeating the words several times, "why send Friday
+home away to my nation?"--"Why," says I, "Friday, did not you say you
+wished you were there?"--"Yes, yes," says he, "wish be both there; no
+wish Friday there, no master there." In a word, he would not think of
+going there without me. "I go there, Friday!" says I, "what shall I do
+there?" He returned very quick upon me at this: "You do great deal much
+good," says he; "you teach wild mans be good, sober, tame mans; you tell
+them know God, pray God, and live new life."--"Alas! Friday," says I,
+"thou knowest not what thou sayest; I am but an ignorant man
+myself."--"Yes, yes," says he, "you teachee me good, you teachee them
+good."--"No, no, Friday," says I, "you shall go without me; leave me
+here to live by myself, as I did before." He looked confused again at
+that word; and running to one of the hatchets which he used to wear, he
+takes it up hastily, and gives it to me. "What must I do with this?"
+says I to him. "You take kill Friday," says he. "What must I kill you
+for?" said I again. He returns very quick, "What you send Friday away
+for? Take kill Friday, no send Friday away." This he spoke so earnestly,
+that I saw tears stand in his eyes: in a word, I so plainly discovered
+the utmost affection in him to me, and a firm resolution in him, that I
+told him then, and often after, that I would never send him away from
+me, if he was willing to stay with me.
+
+Upon the whole, as I found, by all his discourse, a settled affection to
+me, and that nothing should part him from me, so I found all the
+foundation of his desire to go to his own country was laid in his ardent
+affection to the people, and his hopes of my doing them good; a thing,
+which, as I had no notion of myself, so I had not the least thought, or
+intention, or desire of undertaking it. But still I found a strong
+inclination to my attempting an escape, as above, founded on the
+supposition gathered from the discourse, viz. that there were seventeen
+bearded men there: and, therefore, without any more delay, I went to
+work with Friday, to find out a great tree proper to fell, and make a
+large periagua, or canoe, to undertake the voyage. There were trees
+enough in the island to have built a little fleet, not of periaguas, or
+canoes, but even of good large vessels: but the main thing I looked at
+was, to get one so near the water that we might launch it when it was
+made, to avoid the mistake I committed at first. At last, Friday pitched
+upon a tree; for I found he knew much better than I what kind of wood
+was fittest for it; nor can I tell, to this day, what wood to call the
+tree we cut down, except that it was very like the tree we call fustic,
+or between that and the Nicaragua wood, for it was much of the same
+colour and smell. Friday was for burning the hollow or cavity of this
+tree out, to make it for a boat, but I showed him how to cut it with
+tools; which, after I had showed him how to use, he did very handily:
+and in about a month's hard labour we finished it, and made it very
+handsome; especially when, with our axes, which I showed him how to
+handle, we cut and hewed the outside into the true shape of a boat.
+After this, however, it cost us near a fortnight's time to get her
+along, as it were inch by inch, upon great rollers into the water; but
+when she was in, she would have carried twenty men with great ease.
+
+When she was in the water, and though she was so big, it amazed me to
+see with what dexterity, and how swift my man Friday would manage her,
+turn her, and paddle her along. So I asked him if he would, and if we
+might venture over in her. "Yes," he said, "we venture over in her very
+well, though great blow wind." However, I had a farther design that he
+knew nothing of, and that was to make a mast and a sail, and to fit her
+with an anchor and cable. As to a mast, that was easy enough to get; so
+I pitched upon a straight young cedar tree, which I found near the
+place, and which there were great plenty of in the island: and I set
+Friday to work to cut it down, and gave him directions how to shape and
+order it. But as to the sail, that was my particular care. I knew I had
+old sails, or rather pieces of old sails enough; but as I had had them
+now six and twenty years by me, and had not been very careful to
+preserve them, not imagining that I should ever have this kind of use
+for them, I did not doubt but they were all rotten, and, indeed, most of
+them were so. However, I found two pieces, which appeared pretty good,
+and with these I went to work; and with a great deal of pains, and
+awkward stitching, you may be sure, for want of needles, I, at length,
+made a three-cornered ugly thing, like what we call in England a
+shoulder of mutton sail, to go with a boom at bottom, and a little short
+sprit at the top, such as usually our ships' long-boats sail with, and
+such as I best knew how to manage, as it was such a one I had to the
+boat in which I made my escape from Barbary, as related in the first
+part of my story.
+
+I was near two months performing this last work, viz. rigging and
+fitting my mast and sails; for I finished them very complete, making a
+small stay, and a sail, or fore-sail, to it, to assist, if we should
+turn to windward; and, which was more than all, I fixed a rudder to the
+stern of her to steer with. I was but a bungling shipwright, yet, as I
+knew the usefulness, and even necessity of such a thing, I applied
+myself with so much pains to do it, that at last I brought it to pass;
+though, considering the many dull contrivances I had for it that failed,
+I think it cost me almost as much labour as making the boat.
+
+After all this was done, I had my man Friday to teach as to what
+belonged to the navigation of my boat; for, though he knew very well how
+to paddle a canoe, he knew nothing what belonged to a sail and a rudder;
+and was the most amazed when he saw me work the boat to and again in the
+sea by the rudder, and how the sail gibbed, and filled this way, or that
+way, as the course we sailed changed; I say, when he saw this, he stood
+like one astonished and amazed. However, with a little use, I made all
+these things familiar to him, and he became an expert sailor, except
+that as to the compass; I could make him understand very little of that.
+On the other hand, as there was very little cloudy weather, and seldom
+or never any fogs in those parts, there was the less occasion for a
+compass, seeing the stars were always to be seen by night, and the shore
+by day, except in the rainy seasons, and then nobody cared to stir
+abroad, either by land or sea.
+
+I was now entered on the seven and twentieth year of my captivity in
+this place; though the three last years that I had this creature with me
+ought rather to be left out of the account, my habitation being quite of
+another kind than in all the rest of the time. I kept the anniversary of
+my landing here with the same thankfulness to God for his mercies as at
+first; and if I had such cause of acknowledgment at first, I had much
+more so now, having such additional testimonies of the care of
+Providence over me, and the great hopes I had of being effectually and
+speedily delivered; for I had an invincible impression upon my thoughts
+that my deliverance was at hand, and that I should not be another year
+in this place. I went on, however, with my husbandry; digging, planting,
+and fencing, as usual. I gathered and cured my grapes, and did every
+necessary thing as before.
+
+The rainy season was, in the mean time, upon me, when I kept more within
+doors than at other times. We had stowed our new vessel as secure as we
+could, bringing her up into the creek, where, as I said in the
+beginning, I landed my rafts from the ship; and hauling her up to the
+shore, at high-water mark, I made my man Friday dig a little dock, just
+big enough to hold her, and just deep enough to give her water enough to
+float in; and then, when the tide was out, we made a strong dam across
+the end of it, to keep the water out; and so she lay dry, as to the
+tide, from the sea; and to keep the rain off, we laid a great many
+boughs of trees, so thick, that she was as well thatched as a house; and
+thus we waited for the months of November and December, in which I
+designed to make my adventure.
+
+When the settled season began to come in, as the thought of my design
+returned with the fair weather, I was preparing daily for the voyage:
+and the first thing I did was to lay by a certain quantity of
+provisions, being the stores for our voyage: and intended, in a week or
+a fortnight's time, to open the dock, and launch out our boat. I was
+busy one morning upon something of this kind, when I called to Friday,
+and bid him go to the sea-shore, and see if he could find a turtle, or
+tortoise, a thing which we generally got once a week, for the sake of
+the eggs as well as the flesh. Friday had not been long gone, when he
+came running back and flew over my outer-wall, or fence, like one that
+felt not the ground, or the steps he set his feet on; and before I had
+time to speak to him, he cries out to me, "O master! O master! O sorrow!
+O bad!"--"What's the matter, Friday?" says I. "O yonder, there," says
+he, "one, two, three canoe; one, two, three!" By this way of speaking, I
+concluded there were six; but, on inquiry, I found it was but three.
+"Well, Friday," says I, "do not be frightened." So I heartened him up
+as well as I could: however, I saw the poor fellow was most terribly
+scared; for nothing ran in his head but that they were come to look for
+him, and would cut him in pieces, and eat him; and the poor fellow
+trembled so, that I scarce knew what to do with him. I comforted him as
+well as I could, and told him I was in as much danger as he, and that
+they would eat me as well as him. "But," says I, "Friday, we must
+resolve to fight them. Can you fight, Friday!"--"Me shoot," says he;
+but there come many great number."--No matter for that," said I, again;
+"our guns will fright them that we do not kill." So I asked him whether,
+if I resolved to defend him, he would defend me, and stand by me, and do
+just as I bid him. He said, "Me die, when you bid die, master." So I
+went and fetched a good dram of rum and gave him; for I had been so good
+a husband of my rum, that I had a great deal left. When he drank it, I
+made him take the two fowling-pieces, which we always carried, and
+loaded them with large swan-shot, as big as small pistol-bullets; then I
+took four muskets, and loaded them with two slugs, and five small
+bullets each; and my two pistols I loaded with a brace of bullets each;
+I hung my great sword, as usual, naked by my side, and gave Friday his
+hatchet. When I had thus prepared myself, I took my perspective-glass,
+and went up to the side of the hill, to see what I could discover; and I
+found quickly, by my glass, that there were one and twenty savages,
+three prisoners, and three canoes; and that their whole business seemed
+to be the triumphant banquet upon these three human bodies; a barbarous
+feast indeed! but nothing more than, as I had observed, was usual with
+them. I observed also, that they were landed, not where they had done
+when Friday made his escape, but nearer to my creek: where the shore was
+low, and where a thick wood came almost close down to the sea. This,
+with the abhorrence of the inhuman errand these wretches came about,
+filled me with such indignation, that I came down again to Friday, and
+told him I was resolved to go down to them, and kill them all; and asked
+him if he would stand by me. He had now got over his fright, and his
+spirits being a little raised with the dram I had given him, he was very
+cheerful, and told me, as before, he would die when I bid die.
+
+In this fit of fury, I took and divided the arms which I had charged, as
+before, between us: I gave Friday one pistol to stick in his girdle, and
+three guns upon his shoulder; and I took one pistol, and the other three
+guns, myself; and in this posture we marched out. I took a small bottle
+of rum in my pocket, and gave Friday a large bag with more powder and
+bullets; and, as to orders, I charged him to keep close behind me, and
+not to stir, or shoot, or do any thing, till I bid him; and, in the mean
+time, not to speak a word. In this posture, I fetched a compass to my
+right hand of near a mile, as well to get over the creek as to get into
+the wood, so that I might come within shot of them before I should be
+discovered, which I had seen, by my glass, it was easy to do.
+
+While I was making this march, my former thoughts returning, I began to
+abate my resolution: I do not mean that I entertained any fear of their
+number; for, as they were naked, unarmed wretches, it is certain I was
+superior to them; nay, though I had been alone. But it occurred to my
+thoughts, what call, what occasion, much less what necessity I was in,
+to go and dip my hands in blood, to attack people who had neither done
+or intended me any wrong? Who, as to me, were innocent, and whose
+barbarous customs were their own disaster; being, in them, a token
+indeed of God's having left them, with the other nations of that part of
+the world, to such stupidity, and to such inhuman courses; but did not
+call me to take upon me to be a judge of their actions, much less an
+executioner of his justice; that, whenever he thought fit, he would take
+the cause into his own hands, and, by national vengeance, punish them,
+as a people, for national crimes; but that, in the mean time, it was
+none of my business; that, it was true, Friday might justify it, because
+he was a declared enemy, and in a state of war with those very
+particular people, and it was lawful for him to attack them; but I could
+not say the same with respect to myself. These things were so warmly
+pressed upon my thoughts all the way as I went, that I resolved I would
+only go and place myself near them, that I might observe their barbarous
+feast, and that I would act then as God should direct; but that, unless
+something offered that was more a call to me than yet I knew of, I would
+not meddle with them.
+
+With this resolution I entered the wood; and, with all possible
+weariness and silence, Friday following close at my heels, I marched
+till I came to the skirt of the wood, on the side which was next to
+them, only that one corner of the wood lay between me and them. Here I
+called softly to Friday, and showing him a great tree, which was just at
+the corner of the wood, I bade him go to the tree, and bring me word if
+he could see there plainly what they were doing. He did so; and came
+immediately back to me, and told me they might be plainly viewed there;
+that they were all about their fire, eating the flesh of one of their
+prisoners, and that another lay bound upon the sand, a little from them,
+which, he said, they would kill next, and which fired the very soul
+within me. He told me it was not one of their nation, but one of the
+bearded men he had told me of, that came to their country in the boat. I
+was filled with horror at the very naming the white-bearded man; and,
+going to the tree, I saw plainly, by my glass, a white man, who lay upon
+the beach of the sea, with his hands and his feet tied with flags, or
+things like rushes, and that he was an European, and had clothes on.
+
+There was another tree, and a little thicket beyond it, about fifty
+yards nearer to them than the place where I was, which, by going a
+little way about, I saw I might come at undiscovered, and that then I
+should be within half a shot of them: so I withheld my passion, though I
+was indeed enraged to the highest degree; and going back about twenty
+paces, I got behind some bushes, which held all the way till I came to
+the other tree; and then came to a little rising ground, which gave me a
+full view of them, at the distance of about eighty yards.
+
+I had now not a moment to lose, for nineteen of the dreadful wretches
+sat upon the ground, all close huddled together, and had just sent the
+other two to butcher the poor Christian, and bring him, perhaps, limb by
+limb, to their fire; and they were stooping down to untie the bands at
+his feet. I turned to Friday--"Now, Friday," said I, "do as I bid thee."
+Friday said he would. "Then, Friday," says I, "do exactly as you see me
+do; fail in nothing." So I set down one of the muskets and the
+fowling-piece upon the ground, and Friday did the like by his; and with
+the other musket I took my aim at the savages, bidding him to do the
+like: then asking him if he was ready, he said, "Yes." "Then fire at
+them," said I; and the same moment I fired also.
+
+Friday took his aim so much better than I, that on the side that he
+shot, he killed two of them, and wounded three more; and on my side, I
+killed one, and wounded two. They were, you may be sure, in a dreadful
+consternation; and all of them who were not hurt jumped upon their feet,
+but did not immediately know which way to run, or which way to look, for
+they knew not from whence their destruction came. Friday kept his eyes
+close upon me, that, as I had bid him, he might observe what I did; so,
+as soon as the first shot was made, I threw down the piece, and took up
+the fowling-piece, and Friday did the like: he saw me cock and present;
+he did the same again. "Are you ready, Friday?" said I.--"Yes," says he.
+"Let fly, then," says I, "in the name of God!" and with that, I fired
+again among the amazed wretches, and so did Friday; and as our pieces
+were now loaden with what I called swan-shot, or small pistol-bullets,
+we found only two drop, but so many were wounded, that they ran about
+yelling and screaming like mad creatures, all bloody, and most of them
+miserably wounded, whereof three more fell quickly after, though not
+quite dead.
+
+"Now, Friday," says I, laying down the discharged pieces, and taking up
+the musket which was yet loaden, "follow me;" which he did with a great
+deal of courage; upon which I rushed out of the wood, and showed myself,
+and Friday close at my foot. As soon as I perceived they saw me, I
+shouted as loud as I could, and bade Friday do so too; and running as
+fast as I could, which, by the way, was not very fast, being loaded with
+arms as I was, I made directly towards the poor victim, who was, as I
+said, lying upon, the beach, or shore, between the place where they sat
+and the sea. The two butchers, who were just going to work with him, had
+left him at the surprise of our first fire, and fled in a terrible
+fright to the sea-side, and had jumped into a canoe, and three more of
+the rest made the same way. I turned to Friday, and bade him step
+forwards, and fire at them; he understood me immediately, and running
+about forty yards, to be nearer them, he shot at them, and I thought he
+had killed them all, for I saw them all fall of a heap into the boat,
+though I saw two of them up again quickly: however, he killed two of
+them, and wounded the third so, that he lay down in the bottom of the
+boat as if he had been dead.
+
+While my man Friday fired at them, I pulled out my knife and cut the
+flags that bound the poor victim; and loosing his hands and feet, I
+lifted him up, and asked him in the Portuguese tongue, what he was. He
+answered in Latin, Christianus; but was so weak and faint that he could
+scarce stand or speak. I took my bottle out of my pocket, and gave it
+him, making signs that he should drink, which he did; and I gave him a
+piece of bread, which he eat. Then I asked him what countryman he was:
+and he said, Espagniole; and being a little recovered, let me know, by
+all the signs he could possibly make, how much he was in my debt for his
+deliverance. "Seignior," said I, with as much Spanish as I could make
+up, "we will talk afterwards, but we must fight now: if you have any
+strength left, take this pistol and sword, and lay about you." He took
+them very thankfully; and no sooner had he the arms in his hands, but,
+as if they had put new vigour into him, he flew upon his murderers like
+a fury, and had cut two of them in pieces in an instant; for the truth
+is, as the whole was a surprise to them, so the poor creatures were so
+much frightened with the noise of our pieces, that they fell down for
+mere amazement and fear, and had no more power to attempt their own
+escape, than their flesh had to resist our shot: and that was the case
+of those five that Friday shot at in the boat; for as three of them fell
+with the hurt they received, so the other two fell with the fright.
+
+I kept my piece in my hand still without firing, being willing to keep
+my charge ready, because I had given the Spaniard my pistol and sword:
+so I called to Friday, and bade-him run up to the tree from whence we
+first fired, and fetch the arms which lay there that had been
+discharged, which he did with great swiftness; and then giving him my
+musket, I sat down myself to load all the rest again, and bade them come
+to me when they wanted. While I was loading these pieces, there happened
+a fierce engagement between the Spaniard and one of the savages, who
+made at him with one of their great wooden swords, the same-like weapon
+that was to have killed him before, if I had not prevented it. The
+Spaniard, who was as bold and brave as could be imagined, though weak,
+had fought this Indian a good while, and had cut him two great wounds on
+his head; but the savage being a stout, lusty fellow, closing in with
+him, had thrown him down, being faint, and was wringing my sword out of
+his hand; when the Spaniard, though undermost, wisely quitting the
+sword, drew the pistol from his girdle, shot the savage through the
+body, and killed him upon the spot, before I, who was running to help
+him, could come near him.
+
+Friday being now left to his liberty, pursued the flying wretches, with
+no weapon in his hand but his hatchet; and with that he dispatched those
+three, who, as I said before, were wounded at first, and fallen, and all
+the rest he could come up with: and the Spaniard coming to me for a gun,
+I gave him one of the fowling-pieces, with which he pursued two of the
+savages, and wounded them both; but, as he was not able to run, they
+both got from him into the wood, where Friday pursued them, and killed
+one of them, but the other was too nimble for him; and though he was
+wounded, yet had plunged himself into the sea, and swam, with all his
+might, off to those two who were left in the canoe, which three in the
+canoe, with one wounded, that we knew not whether he died or no, were
+all that escaped our hands of one and twenty; the account of the whole
+is as follows: three killed at our first shot from the tree; two killed
+at the next shot; two killed by Friday in the boat; two killed by Friday
+of those at first wounded; one killed by Friday in the wood; three
+killed by the Spaniard; four killed, being found dropped here and there,
+of their wounds, or killed by Friday in his chase of them; four escaped
+in the boat, whereof one wounded, if not dead.--Twenty-one in all.
+
+Those that were in the canoe worked hard to get out of gun-shot, and
+though Friday made two or three shots at them, I did not find that he
+hit any of them. Friday would fain have had me take one of their
+canoes, and pursue them; and, indeed, I was very anxious about their
+escape, lest carrying the news home to their people, they should come
+back perhaps with two or three hundred of the canoes, and devour us by
+mere multitude; so I consented to pursue them by sea, and running to one
+of their canoes, I jumped in, and bade Friday follow me; but when I was
+in the canoe, I was surprised to find another poor creature lie there,
+bound hand and foot, as the Spaniard was, for the slaughter, and almost
+dead with fear, not knowing what was the matter; for he had not been
+able to look up over the side of the boat, he was tied so hard neck and
+heels, and had been tied so long, that he had really but little life
+in him.
+
+I immediately cut the twisted flags or rushes, which they had bound him
+with, and would have helped him up; but he could not stand or speak, but
+groaned most piteously, believing, it seems, still, that he was only
+unbound in order to be killed. When Friday came to him, I bade him speak
+to him, and tell him of his deliverance; and, pulling out my bottle,
+made him give the poor wretch a dram; which, with the news of his being
+delivered, revived him, and he sat up in the boat. But when Friday came
+to hear him speak, and look in his face, it would have moved any one to
+tears to have seen how Friday kissed him, embraced him, hugged him,
+cried, laughed, hallooed, jumped about, danced, sung; then cried again,
+wrung his hands, beat his own face and head; and then sung and jumped
+about again, like a distracted creature. It was a good while before I
+could make him speak to me, or tell me what was the matter; but when he
+came a little to himself, he told me that it was his father.
+
+It is not easy for me to express how it moved me to see what ecstasy and
+filial affection had worked in this poor savage at the sight of his
+father, and of his being delivered from death; nor, indeed, can I
+describe half the extravagances of his affection after this; for he went
+into the boat, and out of the boat, a great many times: when he went in
+to him, he would sit down by him, open his breast, and hold his father's
+head close to his bosom for many minutes together, to nourish it; then
+he took his arms and ancles, which were numbed and stiff with the
+binding, and chafed and rubbed them with his hands; and I, perceiving
+what the case was, gave him some rum out of my bottle to rub them with,
+which did them a great deal of good.
+
+This affair put an end to our pursuit of the canoe with the other
+savages, who were now got almost out of sight; and it was happy for us
+that we did not, for it blew so hard within two hours after, and before
+they could be got a quarter of their way, and continued blowing so hard
+all night, and that from the north-west, which was against them, that I
+could not suppose their boat could live, or that they ever reached their
+own coast.
+
+But, to return to Friday; he was so busy about his father, that I could
+not find in my heart to take him off for some time: but after I thought
+he could leave him a little, I called him to me, and he came jumping and
+laughing, and pleased to the highest extreme; then I asked him if he
+had given his father any bread. He shook his head, and said, "None; ugly
+dog eat all up self," I then gave him a cake of bread, out of a little
+pouch I carried on purpose; I also gave him a dram for himself, but he
+would not taste it, but carried it to his father. I had in my pocket two
+or three bunches of raisins, so I gave him a handful of them for his
+father. He had no sooner given his father these raisins, but I saw him
+come out of the boat, and run away, as if he had been bewitched, he ran
+at such a rate; for he was the swiftest fellow on his feet that ever I
+saw: I say, he ran at such a rate, that he was out of sight, as it were,
+in an instant; and though I called, and hallooed out too, after him, it
+was all one, away he went; and in a quarter of an hour I saw him come
+back again, though not so fast as he went; and as he came nearer, I
+found his pace slacker, because he had something in his hand. When he
+came up to me, I found he had been quite home for an earthen jug, or
+pot, to bring his father some fresh water, and that he had two more
+cakes or loaves of bread; the bread he gave me, but the water he carried
+to his father; however, as I was very thirsty too, I took, a little sup
+of it. The water revived his father more than all the rum or spirits I
+had given him, for he was just fainting with thirst.
+
+When his father had drank, I called to him to know, if there was any
+water left: he said, "Yes;" and I bade him give it to the poor Spaniard,
+who was in as much want of it as his father; and I sent one of the
+cakes, that Friday brought, to the Spaniard too, who was indeed very
+weak, and was reposing himself upon a green place under the shade of a
+tree; and whose limbs were also very stiff and very much swelled with
+the rude bandage he had been tied with. When I saw that, upon Friday's
+coming to him with the water, he sat up and drank, and took the bread,
+and began to eat, I went to him and gave him a handful of raisins: he
+looked up in my face with all the tokens of gratitude and thankfulness
+that could appear in any countenance; but was so weak, notwithstanding
+he had so exerted himself in the fight, that he could not stand up upon
+his feet; he tried to do it two or three times, but was really not able,
+his ancles were so swelled and so painful to him; so I bade him sit
+still, and caused Friday to rub his ancles, and bathe them with rum, as
+he had done his father's.
+
+I observed the poor affectionate creature, every two minutes, or perhaps
+less, all the while he was here, turn his head about, to see if his
+father was in the same place and posture as he left him sitting; and at
+last he found he was not to be seen; at which he started up, and,
+without speaking a word, flew with that swiftness to him, that one could
+scarce perceive his feet to touch the ground as he went: but when he
+came, he only found he had laid himself down to ease his limbs, so
+Friday came back to me presently; and then I spoke to the Spaniard to
+let Friday help him up, if he could, and lead him to the boat, and then
+he should carry him to our dwelling, where I would take care of him: but
+Friday, a lusty strong fellow, took the Spaniard quite up upon his back,
+and carried him away to the boat, and set him down softly upon the side
+or gunnel of the canoe, with his feet in the inside of it; and then
+lifting him quite in, he set him close to his father; and presently
+stepping out again, launched the boat off, and paddled it along the
+shore faster than I could walk, though the wind blew pretty hard too: so
+he brought them both safe into our creek, and leaving them in the boat,
+ran away to fetch the other canoe. As he passed me, I spoke to him, and
+asked him whither he went. He told me, "Go fetch more boat:" so away he
+went like the wind, for sure never man or horse ran like him; and he had
+the other canoe in the creek almost as soon as I got to it by land; so
+he wafted me over, and then went to help our new guests out of the boat,
+which he did; but they were neither of them able to walk, so that poor
+Friday knew not what to do.
+
+To remedy this, I went to work in my thought, and calling to Friday to
+bid them sit down on the bank while he came to me, I soon made a kind of
+a hand-barrow to lay them on, and Friday and I carried them both up
+together upon it, between us.
+
+But when we got them to the outside of our wall, or fortification, we
+were at a worse loss than before, for it was impossible to get them
+over, and I was resolved not to break it down: so I set to work again;
+and Friday and I, in about two hours' time, made a very handsome tent,
+covered with old sails, and above that with boughs of trees, being in
+the space without our outward fence, and between, that and the grove of
+young wood which I had planted: and here we made them two beds of such
+things as I had, viz. of good rice-straw, with blankets laid upon it,
+to lie on, and another to cover them, on each bed.
+
+My island was now peopled, and I thought myself very rich in subjects;
+and it was a merry reflection, which I frequently made, how like a king
+I looked. First of all, the whole country was my own mere property, so
+that I had an undoubted right of dominion. Secondly, my people were
+perfectly subjected; I was absolutely lord and lawgiver; they all owed
+their lives to me, and were ready to lay down their lives, if there had
+been occasion for it, for me. It was remarkable, too, I had but three
+subjects, and they were of three different religions: my man Friday was
+a Protestant, his father was a Pagan and a cannibal, and the Spaniard
+was a Papist: however, I allowed liberty of conscience throughout my
+dominions:--But this is by the way.
+
+As soon as I had secured my two weak rescued prisoners, and given them
+shelter, and a place to rest them upon, I began to think of making some
+provision for them; and the first thing I did, I ordered Friday to take
+a yearling goat, betwixt a kid and a goat, out of my particular flock,
+to be killed; when I cut off the hinder-quarter, and chopping it into
+small pieces, I set Friday to work to boiling and stewing, and made them
+a very good dish, I assure you, of flesh and broth, having put some
+barley and rice also into the broth: and as I cooked it without doors,
+for I made no fire within my inner wall, so I carried it all into the
+new tent, and having set a table there for them, I sat down, and eat my
+dinner also with them, and, as well as I could, cheered them, and
+encouraged them. Friday was my interpreter, especially to his father,
+and, indeed, to the Spaniard too; for the Spaniard spoke the language of
+the savages pretty well.
+
+After we had dined, or rather supped, I ordered Friday to take one of
+the canoes, and go and fetch our muskets and other fire-arms, which, for
+want of time, we had left upon the place of battle: and, the next day, I
+ordered him to go and bury the dead bodies of the savages, which lay
+open to the sun, and would presently be offensive. I also ordered him to
+bury the horrid remains of their barbarous feast, which I knew were
+pretty much, and which I could not think of doing myself; nay, I could
+not bear to see them, if I went that way; all which he punctually
+performed, and effaced the very appearance of the savages being there;
+so that when I went again, I could scarce know where it was, otherwise
+than by the corner of the wood pointing to the place.
+
+I then began to enter into a little conversation with my two new
+subjects: and, first, I set Friday to inquire of his father what he
+thought of the escape of the savages in that canoe, and whether we might
+expect a return of them, with a power too great for us to resist. His
+first opinion was, that the savages in the boat never could live out the
+storm which blew that night they went off, but must, of necessity, be
+drowned, or driven south to those other shores, where they were as sure
+to be devoured as they were to be drowned, if they were cast away: but,
+as to what they would do, if they came safe on shore, he said he knew
+not; but it was his opinion, that they were so dreadfully frightened
+with the manner of their being attacked, the noise, and the fire, that
+he believed they would tell the people they were all killed by thunder
+and lightning, not by the hand of man; and that the two which appeared,
+viz. Friday and I, were two heavenly spirits, or furies, come down to
+destroy them, and not men with weapons. This, he said, he knew; because
+he heard them all cry out so, in their language, one to another; for it
+was impossible for them to conceive that a man could dart fire, and
+speak thunder, and kill at a distance, without lifting up the hand, as
+was done now: and this old savage was in the right; for, as I understood
+since, by other hands, the savages never attempted to go over to the
+island afterwards, they were so terrified with the accounts given by
+those four men (for, it seems, they did escape the sea,) that they
+believed whoever went to that enchanted island would be destroyed with
+fire from the gods. This, however, I knew not; and therefore was under
+continual apprehensions for a good while, and kept always upon my guard,
+with all my army: for, as there were now four of us, I would have
+ventured upon a hundred of them, fairly in the open field, at any time.
+
+In a little time, however, no more canoes appearing, the fear of their
+coming wore off; and I began to take my former thoughts of a voyage to
+the main into consideration; being likewise assured, by Friday's
+father, that I might depend upon good usage from their nation, on his
+account, if I would go. But my thoughts were a little suspended when I
+had a serious discourse with the Spaniard, and when I understood that
+there were sixteen more of his countrymen and Portuguese, who, having
+been cast away, and made their escape to that side, lived there at
+peace, indeed, with the savages, but were very sore put to it for
+necessaries, and indeed for life. I asked him all the particulars of
+their voyage, and found they were a Spanish ship, bound from the Rio de
+la Plata to the Havanna, being directed to leave their loading there,
+which was chiefly hides and silver, and to bring back what European
+goods they could meet with there; that they had five Portuguese seamen
+on board, whom they took out of another wreck; that five of their own
+men were drowned, when first the ship was lost, and that these escaped,
+through infinite dangers and hazards, and arrived, almost starved, on
+the cannibal coast, where they expected to have been devoured every
+moment. He told me they had some arms with them, but they were perfectly
+useless, for that they had neither powder nor ball, the washing of the
+sea having spoiled all their powder, but a little, which they used, at
+their first landing, to provide themselves some food.
+
+I asked him what he thought would become of them there, and if they had
+formed any design of making their escape. He said they had many
+consultations about it; but that having neither vessel, nor tools to
+build one, nor provisions of any kind, their councils always ended in
+tears and despair. I asked him how he thought they would receive a
+proposal from me, which might tend towards an escape; and whether, if
+they were all here, it might not be done. I told him with freedom, I
+feared mostly their treachery and ill usage of me, if I put my life in
+their hands; for that gratitude was no inherent virtue in the nature of
+man, nor did men always square their dealings by the obligations they
+had received, so much as they did by the advantages they expected. I
+told him it would be very hard that I should be the instrument of their
+deliverance, and that they should afterwards make me their prisoner in
+New Spain, where an Englishman was certain to be made a sacrifice, what
+necessity, or what accident soever brought him thither; and that I had
+rather be delivered up to the savages, and be devoured alive, than fall
+into the merciless claws of the priests, and be carried into the
+Inquisition. I added, that otherwise I was persuaded, if they were all
+here, we might, with so many hands, build a bark large enough to carry
+us all away, either to the Brazils, southward, or to the islands, or
+Spanish coast, northward; but that if, in requital, they should, when I
+had put weapons into their hands, carry me by force among their own
+people, I might be ill used for my kindness to them, and make my case
+worse than it was before.
+
+He answered, with a great deal of candour and ingenuousness, that their
+condition was so miserable, and that they were so sensible of it, that,
+he believed, they would abhor the thought of using any man unkindly that
+should contribute to their deliverance; and that if I pleased, he would
+go to them with the old man, and discourse with them about it and return
+again, and bring me their answer; that he would make conditions with
+them upon their solemn oath, that they should be absolutely under my
+leading, as their commander and captain; and that they should swear upon
+the holy sacraments and gospel, to be true to me, and go to such
+Christian country as that I should agree to, and no other, and to be
+directed wholly and absolutely by my orders, till they were landed
+safely in such country as I intended; and that he would bring a contract
+from them, under their hands, for that purpose. Then he told me he would
+first swear to me himself, that he would never stir from me as long as
+he lived, till I gave him orders; and that he would take my side to the
+last drop of his blood, if there should happen the least breach of faith
+among his countrymen. He told me they were all of them very civil,
+honest men, and they were under the greatest distress imaginable, having
+neither weapons or clothes, nor any food, but at the mercy and
+discretion of the savages; out of all hopes of ever returning to their
+own country; and that he was sure, if I would undertake their relief,
+they would live and die by me.
+
+Upon these assurances, I resolved to venture to relieve them, if
+possible, and to send the old savage and this Spaniard over to them to
+treat. But when we had got all things in readiness to go, the Spaniard
+himself started an objection, which had so much prudence in it, on one
+hand, and so much sincerity on the other hand, that I could not but be
+very well satisfied in it; and, by his advice, put off the deliverance
+of his comrades for at least half a year. The case was thus: He had been
+with us now about a month, during which time I had let him see in what
+manner I had provided, with the assistance of Providence, for my
+support; and he saw evidently what stock of corn and rice I had laid up;
+which, though it was more than sufficient for myself, yet it was not
+sufficient, without good husbandry, for my family, now it was increased
+to four; but much less would it be sufficient if his countrymen, who
+were, as he said, sixteen, still alive, should come over; and, least of
+all, would it be sufficient to victual our vessel, if we should build
+one, for a voyage to any of the Christian colonies of America; so he
+told me he thought it would be more adviseable to let him and the other
+two dig and cultivate some more land, as much as I could spare seed to
+sow, and that we should wait another harvest, that we might have a
+supply of corn for his countrymen, when they should come; for want might
+be a temptation to them to disagree, or not to think themselves
+delivered, otherwise than out of one difficulty into another. "You
+know," says he, "the children of Israel, though they rejoiced at first
+for their being delivered out of Egypt, yet rebelled even against God
+himself, that delivered them, when they came to want bread in the
+wilderness."
+
+His caution was so seasonable, and his advice so good, that I could not
+but be very well pleased with his proposal, as well as I was satisfied
+with his fidelity: so we fell to digging all four of us, as well as the
+wooden tools we were furnished with permitted; and in about a month's
+time, by the end of which it was seed-time, we had got as much land
+cured and trimmed up as we sowed two and twenty bushels of barley on,
+and sixteen jars of rice; which was, in short, all the seed we had to
+spare: nor, indeed, did we leave ourselves barley sufficient for our own
+food, for the six months that we had to expect our crop; that is to say,
+reckoning from the time we set our seed aside for sowing; for it is not
+to be supposed it is six months in the ground in that country.
+
+Having now society enough, and our number being sufficient to put us out
+of fear of the savages, if they had come, unless their number had been
+very great, we went freely all over the island, whenever we found
+occasion; and as here we had our escape or deliverance upon our
+thoughts, it was impossible, at least for me, to have the means of it
+out of mine. For this purpose, I marked out several trees which I
+thought fit for our work, and I set Friday and his father to cutting
+them down; and then I caused the Spaniard, to whom I imparted my
+thoughts on that affair, to oversee and direct their work. I showed them
+with what indefatigable pains I had hewed a large tree into single
+planks, and I caused them to do the like, till they had made about a
+dozen large planks of good oak, near two feet broad, thirty-five feet
+long, and from two inches to four inches thick: what prodigious labour
+it took up, any one may imagine.
+
+At the same time, I contrived to increase my little flock of tame goats
+as much as I could; and, for this purpose, I made Friday and the
+Spaniard go out one day, and myself with Friday the next day (for we
+took our turns,) and by this means we got about twenty young kids to
+breed up with the rest; for whenever we shot the dam, we saved the kids,
+and added them to our flock. But, above all, the season for curing the
+grapes coming on, I caused such a prodigious quantity to be hung up in
+the sun, that, I believe, had we been at Alicant, where the raisins of
+the sun are cured, we could have filled sixty or eighty barrels; and
+these, with our bread, was a great part of our food, and was very good
+living too, I assure you, for it is exceeding nourishing.
+
+It was now harvest, and our crop in good order: it was not the most
+plentiful increase I had seen in the island, but, however, it was enough
+to answer our end; for from twenty-two bushels of barley we brought in
+and threshed out above two hundred and twenty bushels, and the like in
+proportion of the rice; which was store enough for our food to the next
+harvest, though all the sixteen Spaniards had been on shore with me; or
+if we had been ready for a voyage, it would very plentifully have
+victualled our ship to have carried us to any part of the world, that is
+to say, any part of America. When we had thus housed and secured our
+magazine of corn, we fell to work to make more wicker-ware, viz. great
+baskets, in which we kept it; and the Spaniard was very handy and
+dexterous at this part, and often blamed me that I did not make some
+things for defence of this kind of work; but I saw no need of it.
+
+And now having a full supply of food for all the guests I expected, I
+gave the Spaniard leave to go over to the main, to see what he could do
+with those he had left behind them there. I gave him a strict charge not
+to bring any man with him who would not first swear, in the presence of
+himself and the old savage, that he would no way injure, fight with, or
+attack the person he should find in the island, who was so kind as to
+send for them in order to their deliverance; but that they would stand
+by him, and defend him against all such attempts, and wherever they
+went, would be entirely under and subjected to his command; and that
+this should be put in writing, and signed with their hands. How they
+were to have done this, when I knew they had neither pen nor ink, was a
+question which we never asked. Under these instructions, the Spaniard
+and the old savage, the father of Friday, went away in one of the canoes
+which they might be said to come in, or rather were brought in, when
+they came as prisoners to be devoured by the savages. I gave each of
+them a musket, with a firelock on it, and about eight charges of powder
+and ball, charging them to be very good husbands of both, and not to use
+either of them but upon urgent occasions.
+
+This was a cheerful work, being the first measures used by me, in view
+of my deliverance, for now twenty-seven years and some days. I gave them
+provisions of bread, and of dried grapes, sufficient for themselves for
+many days, and sufficient for all the Spaniards for about eight days'
+time; and wishing them a good voyage, I saw them go; agreeing with them
+about a signal they should hang out at their return, by which I should
+know them again, when they came back, at a distance, before they came on
+shore. They went away with a fair gale, on the day that the moon was at
+full, by my account in the month of October; but as for an exact
+reckoning of days, after I had once lost it, I could never recover it
+again; nor had I kept even the number of years so punctually as to be
+sure I was right; though, as it proved, when I afterwards examined my
+account, I found I had kept a true reckoning of years.
+
+It was no less than eight days I had waited for them, when a strange and
+unforeseen accident intervened, of which the like has not perhaps been
+heard of in history. I was fast asleep in my hutch one morning, when my
+man Friday came running in to me, and called aloud, "Master, master,
+they are come, they are come!" I jumped up, and, regardless of danger, I
+went out as soon as I could get my clothes on, through my little grove,
+which, by the way, was by this time grown to be a very thick wood; I
+say, regardless of danger, I went without my arms, which was not my
+custom to do: but I was surprised, when turning my eyes to the sea, I
+presently saw a boat at about a league and a half distance, standing in
+for the shore, with a shoulder of mutton sail, as they call it, and the
+wind blowing pretty fair to bring them in: also I observed presently,
+that they did not come from that side which the shore lay on, but from
+the southernmost end of the island. Upon this, I called Friday in, and
+bade him lie close, for these were not the people we looked for, and
+that we might not know yet whether they were friends or enemies. In the
+next place, I went in to fetch my perspective-glass, to see what I could
+make of them; and having taken the ladder out, I climbed up to the top
+of the hill, as I used to do when I was apprehensive of any thing, and
+to take my view the plainer, without being discovered. I had scarce set
+my foot upon the hill, when my eye plainly discovered a ship lying at an
+anchor, at about two leagues and a half distance from me, S.S.E. but not
+above a league and a half from the shore. By my observation, it appeared
+plainly to be an English ship, and the boat appeared to be an English
+long-boat.
+
+I cannot express the confusion I was in; though the joy of seeing a
+ship, and one that I had reason to believe was manned by my own
+countrymen, and consequently friends, was such as I cannot describe; but
+yet I had some secret doubts hung about me, I cannot tell from whence
+they came, bidding me keep upon my guard. In the first place, it
+occurred to me to consider what business an English ship could have in
+that part of the world, since it was not the way to or from any part of
+the world where the English had any traffic; and I knew there had been
+no storms to drive them in there, as in distress; and that if they were
+really English, it was most probable that they were here upon no good
+design; and that I had better continue as I was, than fall into the
+hands of thieves and murderers.
+
+Let no man despise the secret hints and notices of danger, which
+sometimes are given him when he may think there is no possibility of its
+being real. That such hints and notices are given us, I believe few that
+have made any observations of things can deny; that they are certain
+discoveries of an invisible world, and a converse of spirits, we cannot
+doubt; and if the tendency of them seems to be to warn us of danger, why
+should we not suppose they are from some friendly agent (whether
+supreme, or inferior and subordinate, is not the question,) and that
+they are given for our good?
+
+The present question abundantly confirms me in the justice of this
+reasoning; for had I not been made cautious by this secret admonition,
+come it from whence it will, I had been undone inevitably, and in a far
+worse condition than before, as you will see presently. I had not kept
+myself long in this posture, but I saw the boat draw near the shore, as
+if they looked for a creek to thrust in at, for the convenience of
+landing; however, as they did not come quite far enough, they did not
+see the little inlet where I formerly landed my rafts, but run their
+boat on shore upon the beach, at about half a mile from me, which was
+very happy for me; for otherwise they would have landed just at my door,
+as I may say, and would soon have beaten me out of my castle, and
+perhaps have plundered me of all I had. When they were on shore, I was
+fully satisfied they were Englishmen, at least most of them; one or two
+I thought were Dutch, but it did not prove so; there were in all eleven
+men, whereof three of them I found were unarmed, and, as I thought,
+bound; and when the first four or five of them were jumped on shore,
+they took those three out of the boat, as prisoners: one of the three I
+could perceive using the most passionate gestures of entreaty,
+affliction, and despair, even to a kind of extravagance; the other two,
+I could perceive, lifted up their hands sometimes, and appeared
+concerned, indeed, but not to such a degree as the first. I was
+perfectly confounded at the sight, and knew not what the meaning of it
+should be. Friday called out to me in English, as well as he could, "O
+master! you see English mans eat prisoner as well as savage
+mans."--"Why, Friday," says I, "do you think they are going to eat them
+then?"--"Yes," says Friday, "they will eat them."--"No, no," says I,
+"Friday; I am afraid they will murder them, indeed, but you may be sure
+they will not eat them."
+
+All this while I had no thought of what the matter really was, but stood
+trembling with the horror of the sight, expecting every moment when the
+three prisoners should be killed; nay, once I saw one of the villains
+lift up his arm with a great cutlass, as the seamen call it, or sword,
+to strike one of the poor men; and I expected to see him fall every
+moment; at which all the blood in my body seemed to run chill in my
+veins. I wished heartily now for my Spaniard, and the savage that was
+gone with him, or that I had any way to have come undiscovered within
+shot of them, that I might have rescued the three men, for I saw no
+fire-arms they had among them; but it fell out to my mind another way.
+After I had observed the outrageous usage of the three men by the
+insolent seamen, I observed the fellows run scattering about the island,
+as if they wanted to see the country. I observed that the three other
+men had liberty to go also where they pleased; but they sat down all
+three upon the ground, very pensive, and looked like men in despair.
+This put me in mind of the first time when I came on shore, and began to
+look about me; how I gave myself over for lost; how wildly I looked
+round me; what dreadful apprehensions I had; and how I lodged in the
+tree all night, for fear of being devoured by wild beasts. As I knew
+nothing, that night, of the supply I was to receive by the providential
+driving of the ship nearer the land by the storms and tide, by which I
+have since been so long nourished and supported; so these three poor
+desolate men knew nothing how certain of deliverance and supply they
+were, how near it was to them, and how effectually and really they were
+in a condition of safety, at the same time that they thought themselves
+lost, and their case desperate. So little do we see before us in the
+world, and so much reason have we to depend cheerfully upon the great
+Maker of the world, that he does not leave his creatures so absolutely
+destitue, but that, in the worst circumstances, they have always
+something to be thankful for, and sometimes are nearer their deliverance
+than they imagine; nay, are even brought to their deliverance by the
+means by which they seem to be brought to their destruction.
+
+It was just at the top of high water when these people came on shore;
+and partly while they rambled about to see what kind of a place they
+were in, they had carelessly staid till the tide was spent, and the
+water was ebbed considerably away, leaving their boat aground. They had
+left two men in the boat, who, as I found afterwards, having drank a
+little too much brandy, fell asleep; however, one of them waking a
+little sooner than the other, and finding the boat too fast aground for
+him to stir it, hallooed out for the rest, who were straggling about;
+upon which they all soon came to the boat: but it was past all their
+strength to launch her, the boat being very heavy, and the shore on that
+side being a soft oozy sand, almost like a quicksand. In this condition,
+like true seamen, who are perhaps the least of all mankind given to
+forethought, they gave it over, and away they strolled about the country
+again; and I heard one of them say aloud to another, calling them off
+from the boat, "Why, let her alone, Jack, can't you? she'll float next
+tide:" by which I was fully confirmed in the main inquiry of what
+countrymen they were. All this while I kept myself very close, not once
+daring to stir out of my castle, any farther than to my place of
+observation, near the top of the hill; and very glad I was to think how
+well it was fortified. I knew it was no less than ten hours before the
+boat could float again, and by that time it would be dark, and I might
+be at more liberty to see their motions, and to hear their discourse, if
+they had any. In the mean time, I fitted myself up for a battle, as
+before, though with more caution, knowing I had to do with another kind
+of enemy than I had at first. I ordered Friday also, whom I had made an
+excellent marksman with his gun, to load himself with arms. I took
+myself two fowling-pieces, and I gave him three muskets. My figure,
+indeed, was very fierce; I had my formidable goat-skin coat on, with the
+great cap I have mentioned, a naked sword by my side, two pistols in my
+belt, and a gun upon each shoulder.
+
+It was my design, as I said above, not to have made any attempt till it
+was dark: but about two o'clock, being the heat of the day, I found
+that, in short, they were all gone straggling into the woods, and, as I
+thought, laid down to sleep. The three poor distressed men, too anxious
+for their condition to get any sleep, were, however, sat down under the
+shelter of a great tree, at about a quarter of a mile from me, and, as I
+thought, out of sight of any of the rest. Upon this I resolved to
+discover myself to them, and learn something of their condition;
+immediately I marched in the figure as above, my man Friday at a good
+distance behind me, as formidable for his arms as I, but not making
+quite so staring a spectre-like figure as I did. I came as near them
+undiscovered as I could, and then, before any of them saw me, I called
+aloud to them in Spanish, "What are ye, gentlemen?" They started up at
+the noise; but were ten times more confounded when they saw me, and the
+uncouth figure that I made. They made no answer at all, but I thought I
+perceived them just going to fly from me, when I spoke to them in
+English: "Gentlemen," said I, "do not be surprised at me: perhaps you
+may have a friend near, when you did not expect it."--"He must be sent
+directly from Heaven then," said one of them very gravely to me, and
+pulling off his hat at the same time to me; "for our condition is past
+the help of man."--"All help is from Heaven, Sir," said I: "But can you
+put a stranger in the way how to help you? for you seem to be in some
+great distress. I saw you when you landed; and when you seemed to make
+application to the brutes that came with you, I saw one of them lift up
+his sword to kill you."
+
+The poor man, with tears running down his face, and trembling, looking
+like one astonished, returned, "Am I talking to God or man? Is it a real
+man or an angel?"--"Be in no fear about that, Sir," said I; "if God had
+sent an angel to relieve you, he would have come better clothed, and
+armed after another manner than you see me: pray lay aside your fears; I
+am a man, an Englishman, and disposed to assist you: you see I have one
+servant only; we have arms and ammunition; tell us freely, can we serve
+you? What is your case?"--"Our case," said he, "Sir, is too long to tell
+you, while our murderers are so near us; but, in short, Sir, I was
+commander of that ship, my men have mutinied against me; they have been
+hardly prevailed on not to murder me; and at last have set me on shore
+in this desolate place, with these two men with me, one my mate, the
+other a passenger, where we expected to perish, believing the place to
+be uninhabited, and know not yet what to think of it."--"Where are these
+brutes, your enemies?" said I: "Do you know where they are
+gone?"--"There they lie, Sir," said he, pointing to a thicket of trees;
+"my heart trembles for fear they have seen us, and heard you speak; if
+they have, they will certainly murder us all."--"Have they any
+fire-arms?" said I. He answered, "they had only two pieces, one of which
+they left in the boat." "Well then," said I, "leave the rest to me; I
+see they are all asleep, it is an easy thing to kill them all: but shall
+we rather take them prisoners?" He told me there were two desperate
+villains among them, that it was scarce safe to show any mercy to; but
+if they were secured, he believed all the rest would return to their
+duty. I asked him which they were? He told me he could not at that
+distance distinguish them, but he would obey my orders in any thing I
+would direct. "Well," says I, "let us retreat out of their view or
+hearing, lest they awake, and we will resolve further." So they
+willingly went back with me, till the woods covered us from them.
+
+"Look you, Sir," said I, "if I venture upon your deliverance, are you
+willing to make two conditions with me?" He anticipated my proposals, by
+telling me, that both he and the ship, if recovered, should be wholly
+directed and commanded by me in every thing; and, if the ship was not
+recovered, he would live and die with me in what part of the world
+soever I would send him; and the two other men said the same. "Well,"
+says I, "my conditions are but two: first, That while you stay in this
+island with me, you will not pretend to any authority here; and if I put
+arms in your hands, you will, upon all occasions, give them up to me,
+and do no prejudice to me or mine upon this island; and, in the mean
+time, be governed by my orders: secondly, That if the ship is, or may be
+recovered, you will carry me and my man to England, passage free."
+
+He gave me all the assurances that the invention or faith of man could
+devise, that he would comply with these most reasonable demands; and,
+besides, would owe his life to me, and acknowledge it upon all
+occasions, as long as he lived. "Well then," said I, "here are three
+muskets for you, with powder and ball: tell me next what you think is
+proper to be done." He showed all the testimonies of his gratitude that
+he was able, but offered to be wholly guided by me. I told him I thought
+it was hard venturing any thing; but the best method I could think of
+was to fire upon them at once, as they lay, and if any were not killed
+at the first volley, and offered to submit, we might save them, and so
+put it wholly upon God's providence to direct the shot. He said very
+modestly, that he was loath to kill them, if he could help it: but that
+those two were incorrigible villains, and had been the authors of all
+the mutiny in the ship, and if they escaped, we should be undone still;
+for they would go on board and bring the whole ship's company, and
+destroy us all. "Well then," says I, "necessity legitimates my advice,
+for it is the only way to save our lives." However, seeing him still
+cautious of shedding blood, I told him they should go themselves, and
+manage as they found convenient.
+
+In the middle of this discourse we heard some of them awake, and soon
+after we saw two of them on their feet. I asked him if either of them
+were the heads of the mutiny? He said, No. "Well then," said I, "you may
+let them escape; and Providence seems to have awakened them on purpose
+to save themselves.--Now," says I, "if the rest escape you, it is your
+fault." Animated with this, he took the musket I had given him in his
+hand, and a pistol in his belt, and his two comrades with him, with each
+a piece in his hand; the two men who were with him going first, made
+some noise, at which one of the seamen who was awake turned about, and
+seeing them coming, cried out to the rest; but it was too late then, for
+the moment he cried out they fired; I mean the two men, the captain
+wisely reserving his own piece. They had so well aimed their shot at the
+men they knew, that one of them was killed on the spot, and the other
+very much wounded; but not being dead, he started up on his feet, and
+called eagerly for help to the other; but the captain stepping to him,
+told him it was too late to cry for help, he should call upon God to
+forgive his villany; and with that word knocked him down with the stock
+of his musket, so that he never spoke more: there were three more in the
+company, and one of them was also slightly wounded. By this time I was
+come; and when they saw their danger, and that it was in vain to resist,
+they begged for mercy. The captain told them he would spare their lives,
+if they would give him any assurance of their abhorrence of the
+treachery they had been guilty of, and would swear to be faithful to him
+in recovering the ship, and afterwards in carrying her back to Jamaica,
+from whence they came. They gave him all the protestations of their
+sincerity that could be desired, and he was willing to believe them, and
+spare their lives, which I was not against, only that I obliged him to
+keep them bound hand and foot while they were on the island.
+
+While this was doing, I sent Friday with the captain's mate to the boat,
+with orders to secure her, and bring away the oars and sails, which they
+did: and by and by three straggling men, that were (happily for them)
+parted from the rest, came back upon hearing the guns fired; and seeing
+the captain, who before was their prisoner, now their conqueror, they
+submitted to be bound also; and so our victory was complete.
+
+It now remained that the captain and I should inquire into one another's
+circumstances: I began first, and told him my whole history, which he
+heard with an attention even to amazement; and particularly at the
+wonderful manner of my being furnished with provisions and ammunition;
+and, indeed, as my story is a whole collection of wonders, it affected
+him deeply. But when he reflected from thence upon himself, and how I
+seemed to have been preserved there on purpose to save his life, the
+tears ran down his face, and he could not speak a word more. After this
+communication was at an end, I carried him and his two men into my
+apartment, leading them in just where I came out, viz. at the top of the
+house, where I refreshed them with such provisions as I had, and showed
+them all the contrivances I had made, during my long, long inhabiting
+that place.
+
+All I showed them, all I said to them, was perfectly amazing; but,
+above all, the captain admired my fortification, and how perfectly I had
+concealed my retreat with a grove of trees, which, having been now
+planted near twenty years, and the trees growing much faster than in
+England, was become a little wood, and so thick, that it was impassable
+in any part of it, but at that one side where I had reserved my little
+winding passage into it. I told him this was my castle and my residence,
+but that I had a seat in the country, as most princes have, whither I
+could retreat upon occasion, and I would show him that too another time:
+but at present our business was to consider how to recover the ship. He
+agreed with me as to that; but told me, he was perfectly at a loss what
+measures to take, for that there were still six and twenty hands on
+board, who having entered into a cursed conspiracy, by which they had
+all forfeited their lives to the law, would be hardened in it now by
+desperation, and would carry it on, knowing that, if they were subdued,
+they would be brought to the gallows as soon as they came to England, or
+to any of the English colonies; and that, therefore, there would be no
+attacking them with so small a number as we were.
+
+I mused for some time upon what he had said, and found it was a very
+rational conclusion, and that, therefore, something was to be resolved
+on speedily, as well to draw the men on board into some snare for their
+surprise, as to prevent their landing upon us, and destroying us. Upon
+this, it presently occurred to me, that in a little while the ship's
+crew, wondering what was become of their comrades, and of the boat,
+would certainly come on shore in their other boat, to look for them;
+and that then, perhaps, they might come armed, and be too strong for us:
+this he allowed to be rational. Upon this, I told him the first thing we
+had to do was to stave the boat, which lay upon the beach, so that they
+might not carry her off: and taking every thing out of her, leave her so
+far useless as not to be fit to swim: accordingly we went on board, took
+the arms which were left on board out of her, and whatever else we found
+there, which was a bottle of brandy, and another of rum, a few
+biscuit-cakes, a horn of powder, and a great lump of sugar in a piece of
+canvass (the sugar was five or six pounds;) all which was very welcome
+to me, especially the brandy and sugar, of which I had none left for
+many years.
+
+When we had carried all these things on shore, (the oars, mast, sail,
+and rudder of the boat were carried away before, as above,) we knocked a
+great hole in her bottom, that if they had come strong enough to master
+us, yet they could not carry off the boat. Indeed, it was not much in my
+thoughts that we could be able to recover the ship; but my view was,
+that if they went away without the boat, I did not much question to make
+her fit again to carry us to the Leeward Islands, and call upon our
+friends the Spaniards in my way; for I had them still in my thoughts.
+
+While we were thus preparing our designs, and had first, by main
+strength, heaved the boat upon the beach so high, that the tide would
+not float her off at high water mark, and besides, had broke a hole in
+her bottom too big to be quickly stopped, and were set down musing what
+we should do, we heard the ship fire a gun, and saw her make a waft with
+her ensign as a signal for the boat to come on board: but no boat
+stirred; and they fired several times, making other signals for the
+boat. At last, when all their signals and firing proved fruitless, and
+they found the boat did not stir, we saw them, by the help of my
+glasses, hoist another boat out, and row towards the shore; and we
+found, as they approached, that there were no less than ten men in her;
+and that they had fire-arms with them.
+
+As the ship lay almost two leagues from the shore, we had a full view of
+them as they came, and a plain sight even of their faces; because the
+tide having set them a little to the east of the other boat, they rowed
+up under shore, to come to the same place where the other had landed,
+and where the boat lay; by this means, I say, we had a full view of
+them, and the captain knew the persons and characters of all the men in
+the boat, of whom, he said, there were three very honest fellows, who,
+he was sure, were led into this conspiracy by the rest, being
+overpowered and frightened; but that as for the boatswain, who, it
+seems, was the chief officer among them, and all the rest, they were as
+outrageous as any of the ship's crew, and were no doubt made desperate
+in their new enterprise; and terribly apprehensive he was that they
+would be too powerful for us. I smiled at him, and told him that men in
+our circumstances were past the operation of fear; that seeing almost
+every condition that could be was better than that which we were
+supposed to be in, we ought to expect that the consequence, whether
+death or life, would be sure to be a deliverance, I asked him what he
+thought of the circumstances of my life, and whether a deliverance were
+not worth venturing for? "And where, Sir," said I, "is your belief of my
+being preserved here on purpose to save your life, which elevated you a
+little while ago? For my part," said I, "there seems to me but one thing
+amiss in all the prospect of it."--"What is that?" says he. "Why," said
+I, "it is, that as you say there are three or four honest fellows among
+them, which should be spared, had they been all of the wicked part of
+the crew I should have thought God's providence had singled them out to
+deliver them into your hands; for depend upon it, every man that comes
+ashore are our own, and shall die or live as they behave to us." As I
+spoke this with a raised voice and cheerful countenance, I found it
+greatly encouraged him; so we set vigorously to our business.
+
+We had, upon the first appearance of the boat's coming from the ship,
+considered of separating our prisoners; and we had, indeed, secured them
+effectually. Two of them, of whom the captain was less assured than
+ordinary, I sent with Friday, and one of the three delivered men, to my
+cave, where they were remote enough, and out of danger of being heard or
+discovered, or of finding their way out of the woods if they could have
+delivered themselves: here they left them bound, but gave them
+provisions; and promised them, if they continued there quietly, to give
+them their liberty in a day or two; but that if they attempted their
+escape, they should be put to death without mercy. They promised
+faithfully to bear their confinement with patience, and were very
+thankful that they had such good usage as to have provisions and light
+left them; for Friday gave them candles (such as we made ourselves) for
+their comfort; and they did not know but that he stood centinel over
+them at the entrance.
+
+The other prisoners had better usage; two of them were kept pinioned,
+indeed, because the captain was not free to trust them; but the other
+two were taken into my service, upon the captain's recommendation, and
+upon their solemnly engaging to live and die with us; so with them and
+the three honest men we were seven men well armed; and I made no doubt
+we should be able to deal well enough with the ten that were coming,
+considering that the captain had said there were three or four honest
+men among them also. As soon as they got to the place where their other
+boat lay, they ran their boat into the beach, and came all on shore,
+hauling the boat up after them, which I was glad to see; for I was
+afraid they would rather have left the boat at an anchor, some distance
+from the shore, with some hands in her, to guard her, and so we should
+not be able to seize the boat. Being on shore, the first thing they did,
+they ran all to their other boat; and it was easy to see they were under
+a great surprise to find her stripped, as above, of all that was in her,
+and a great hole in her bottom. After they had mused a while upon this,
+they set up two or three great shouts, hallooing with all their might,
+to try if they could make their companions hear; but all was to no
+purpose: then they came all close in a ring, and fired a volley of their
+small arms, which, indeed, we heard, and the echoes made the woods
+ring; but it was all one; those in the cave we were sure could not hear,
+and those in our keeping, though they heard it well enough, yet durst
+give no answer to them. They were so astonished at the surprise of this,
+that, as they told us afterwards, they resolved to go all on board
+again, to their ship, and let them know that the men were all murdered,
+and the long-boat staved; accordingly, they immediately launched their
+boat again, and got all of them on board.
+
+The captain was terribly amazed, and even confounded at this, believing
+they would go on board the ship again, and set sail, giving their
+comrades over for lost, and so he should still lose the ship, which he
+was in hopes we should have recovered; but he was quickly as much
+frightened the other way.
+
+They had not been long put off with the boat, but we perceived them all
+coming on shore again; but with this new measure in their conduct, which
+it seems they consulted together upon, viz. to leave three men in the
+boat, and the rest to go on shore, and go up into the country to look
+for their fellows. This was a great disappointment to us, for now we
+were at a loss what to do; as our seizing those seven men on shore would
+be no advantage to us, if we let the boat escape; because they would
+then row away to the ship, and then the rest of them would be sure to
+weigh and set sail, and so our recovering the ship would be lost.
+However, we had no remedy but to wait and see what the issue of things
+might present. The seven men came on shore, and the three who remained
+in the boat put her off to a good distance from the shore, and came to
+an anchor to wait for them; so that it was impossible for us to come at
+them in the boat. Those that came on shore kept close together, marching
+towards the top of the little hill under which my habitation lay; and we
+could see them plainly, though they could not perceive us. We could have
+been very glad they would have come nearer to us, so that we might have
+fired at them, or that they would have gone farther off, that we might
+have come abroad. But when they were come to the brow of the hill, where
+they could see a great way into the valleys and woods, which lay towards
+the north-east part, and where the island lay lowest, they shouted and
+hallooed till they were weary; and not caring, it seems, to venture far
+from the shore, nor far from one another, they sat down together under a
+tree, to consider of it. Had they thought fit to have gone to sleep
+there, as the other part of them had done, they had done the job for us;
+but they were too full of apprehensions of danger to venture to go to
+sleep, though they could not tell what the danger was they had to
+fear neither.
+
+The captain made a very just proposal to me upon this consultation of
+theirs, viz. that perhaps they would all fire a volley again, to
+endeavour to make their fellows hear, and that we should all sally upon
+them, just at the Juncture when their pieces were all discharged, and
+they would certainly yield, and we should have them without bloodshed. I
+liked this proposal, provided it was done while we were near enough to
+come up to them before they could load their pieces again. But this
+event did not happen; and we lay still a long time, very irresolute what
+course to take. At length I told them there would be nothing done, in my
+opinion, till night; and then, if they did not return to the boat,
+perhaps we might find a way to get between them and the shore, and so
+might use some stratagem with them in the boat to get them on shore. We
+waited a great while, though very impatient for their removing; and were
+very uneasy, when, after long consultations, we saw them all start up,
+and march down towards the sea: it seems they had such dreadful
+apprehensions upon them of the danger of the place, that they resolved
+to go on board the ship again, give their companions over for lost, and
+so go on with their intended voyage with the ship.
+
+As soon as I perceived them to go towards the shore, I imagined it to
+be, as it really was, that they had given over their search, and were
+for going back again; and the captain, as soon as I told him my
+thoughts, was ready to sink at the apprehensions of it: but I presently
+thought of a stratagem to fetch them back again, and which answered my
+end to a tittle. I ordered Friday and the captain's mate to go over the
+little creek westward, towards the place where the savages came on shore
+when Friday was rescued, and as soon as they came to a little rising
+ground, at about half a mile distance, I bade them halloo out, as loud
+as they could, and wait till they found the seamen heard them; that as
+soon as ever they heard the seamen answer them, they should return it
+again; and then keeping out of sight, take a round, always answering
+when the others hallooed, to draw them as far into the island, and among
+the woods, as possible, and then wheel about again to me, by such ways
+as I directed them.
+
+They were just going into the boat when Friday and the mate hallooed:
+and they presently heard them, and answering, run along the shore
+westward, towards the voice they heard, when they were presently stopped
+by the creek, where the water being up, they could not get over, and
+called for the boat to come up and set them over; as, indeed, I
+expected. When they had set themselves over, I observed that the boat
+being gone a good way into the creek, and, as it were, in a harbour
+within the land, they took one of the three men out of her, to go along
+with them, and left only two in the boat, having fastened her to the
+stump of a little tree on the shore. This was what I wished for; and
+immediately leaving Friday and the captain's mate to their business, I
+took the rest with me, and crossing the creek out of their sight, we
+surprised the two men before they were aware; one of them lying on the
+shore, and the other being in the boat. The fellow on shore was between
+sleeping and waking, and going to start up; the captain, who was
+foremost, ran in upon him, and knocked him down; and then called out to
+him in the boat to yield, or he was a dead man. There needed very few
+arguments to persuade a single man to yield, when he saw five men upon
+him, and his comrade knocked down; besides, this was, it seems, one of
+the three who were not so hearty in the mutiny as the rest of the crew,
+and therefore was easily persuaded not only to yield, but afterwards to
+join very sincerely with us. In the mean time, Friday and the captain's
+mate so well managed their business with the rest, that they drew them,
+by hallooing and answering, from one hill to another, and from one wood
+to another, till they not only heartily tired them, but left them where
+they were very sure they could not reach back to the boat before it was
+dark; and, indeed, they were heartily tired themselves also, by the time
+they came back to us.
+
+We had nothing now to do but to watch for them in the dark, and to fall
+upon them, so as to make sure work with them. It was several hours after
+Friday came back to me before they came back to their boat; and we could
+hear the foremost of them, long before they came quite up, calling to
+those behind to come along; and could also hear them answer, and
+complain how lame and tired they were, and not able to come any faster;
+which was very welcome news to us. At length they came up to the boat:
+but it is impossible to express their confusion when they found the boat
+fast aground in the creek, the tide ebbed out, and their two men gone.
+We could hear them call to one another in a most lamentable manner,
+telling one another they were got into an enchanted island; that either
+there were inhabitants in it, and they should all be murdered, or else
+there were devils and spirits in it, and they should be all carried away
+and devoured. They hallooed again, and called their two comrades by
+their names a great many times; but no answer. After some time, we could
+see them, by the little light there was, run about, wringing their
+hands like men in despair; and that sometimes they would go and sit down
+in the boat, to rest themselves: then come ashore again, and walk about
+again, and so the same thing over again. My men would fain have had me
+give them leave to fall upon them at once in the dark; but I was willing
+to take them at some advantage, so to spare them, and kill as few of
+them as I could; and especially I was unwilling to hazard the killing
+any of our men, knowing the others were very well armed. I resolved to
+wait, to see if they did not separate; and, therefore, to make sure of
+them, I drew my ambuscade nearer, and ordered Friday and the captain to
+creep upon their hands and feet, as close to the ground as they could,
+that they might not be discovered, and get as near them as they could
+possibly, before they offered to fire.
+
+They had not been long in that posture, when the boatswain, who was the
+principal ringleader of the mutiny, and had now shown himself the most
+dejected and dispirited of all the rest, came walking towards them, with
+two more of the crew: the captain was so eager at having this principal
+rogue so much in his power, that he could hardly have patience to let
+him come so near as to be sure of him, for they only heard his tongue
+before: but when they came nearer, the captain and Friday, starting up
+on their feet, let fly at them. The boatswain was killed upon the spot;
+the next man was shot in the body, and fell just by him, though he did
+not die till an hour or two after; and the third run for it. At the
+noise of the fire, I immediately advanced with my whole army,
+which was now eight men, viz. myself, generalissimo; Friday, my
+lieutenant-general; the captain and his two men, and the three prisoners
+of war, whom we had trusted with arms. We came upon them, indeed, in the
+dark, so that they could not see our number; and I made the man they had
+left in the boat, who was now one of us, to call them by name, to try if
+I could bring them to a parley, and so might perhaps reduce them to
+terms; which fell out just as we desired: for indeed it was easy to
+think, as their condition then was, they would be very willing to
+capitulate. So he calls out as loud as he could, to one of them, "Tom
+Smith! Tom Smith!" Tom Smith answered immediately, "Is that Robinson?"
+For it seems he knew the voice. The other answered, "Aye aye; for God's
+sake, Tom Smith, throw down your arms and yield, or you are all dead men
+this moment."--"Who must we yield to? Where are they?" says Smith again.
+"Here they are," says he; "here's our captain and fifty men with him;
+have been hunting you these two hours: the boatswain is killed, Will Fry
+is wounded, and I am a prisoner; and if you do not yield, you are all
+lost."--"Will they give us quarter then?" says Tom Smith, "and we will
+yield."--"I'll go and ask, if you promise to yield," says Robinson: so
+he asked the captain; and the captain himself then calls out, "You,
+Smith, you know my voice; if you lay down your arms immediately, and
+submit, you shall have your lives, all but Will Atkins."
+
+Upon this Will Atkins cried out, "For God's sake, captain, give me
+quarter; what have I done? They have all been as bad as I:" which, by
+the way, was not true neither; for, it seems, this Will Atkins was the
+first man that laid hold of the captain, when they first mutinied, and
+used him barbarously, in tying his hands, and giving him injurious
+language. However, the captain told him he must lay down his arms at
+discretion, and trust to the governor's mercy: by which he meant, me,
+for they all called me governor. In a word, they all laid down their
+arms, and begged their lives; and I sent the man that had parleyed with
+them, and two more, who bound them all; and then my great army of fifty
+men, which, particularly with those three, were in all but eight, came
+up and seized upon them, and upon their boat; only that I kept myself
+and one more out of sight for reasons of state.
+
+Our next work was to repair the boat, and think of seizing the ship: and
+as for the captain, now he had leisure to parley with them, he
+expostulated with them upon the villany of their practices with him, and
+at length upon the further wickedness of their design, and how certainly
+it must bring them to misery and, distress in the end, and perhaps to
+the gallows. They all appeared very penitent, and begged hard for their
+lives. As for that, he told them they were none of his prisoners, but
+the commander's of the island; that they thought they had set him on
+shore in a barren, uninhabited island; but it had pleased God so to
+direct them, that it was inhabited, and that the governor was an
+Englishman; that he might hang them all there, if he pleased; but as he
+had given them all quarter, he supposed he would send them to England,
+to be dealt with there as justice required, except Atkins, whom he was
+commanded by the governor to advise to prepare for death, for that he
+would be hanged in the morning.
+
+Though this was all but a fiction of his own, yet it had its desired
+effect: Atkins fell upon his knees, to beg the captain to intercede with
+the governor for his life; and all the rest begged of him, for God's
+sake, that they might not be sent to England.
+
+It now occurred to me, that the time of our deliverance was come, and
+that it would be a most easy thing to bring these fellows in to be
+hearty in getting possession of the ship; so I retired in the dark from
+them, that they might not see what kind of a governor they had, and
+called the captain to me: when I called, as at a good distance, one of
+the men was ordered to speak again, and say to the captain, "Captain,
+the commander calls for you;" and presently the captain replied, "Tell
+his excellency I am just a coming." This more perfectly amused them, and
+they all believed that the commander was just by with his fifty men.
+Upon the captain's coming to me, I told him my project for seizing the
+ship, which he liked wonderfully well, and resolved to put it in
+execution the next morning. But, in order to execute it with more art,
+and to be secure of success, I told him we must divide the prisoners,
+and that he should go and take Atkins, and two more of the worst of
+them, and send them pinioned to the cave where the others lay. This was
+committed to Friday, and the two men who came on shore with the captain.
+They conveyed them to the cave, as to a prison: and it was, indeed, a
+dismal place, especially to men in their condition. The others I
+ordered to my bower, as I called it, of which I have given a full
+description; and as it was fenced in, and they pinioned, the place was
+secure enough, considering they were upon their behaviour.
+
+To these in the morning I sent the captain, who was to enter into a
+parley with them; in a word, to try them, and tell me whether he thought
+they might be trusted or no to go on board and surprise the ship. He
+talked to them of the injury done him, of the condition they were
+brought to, and that though the governor had given them quarter for
+their lives as to the present action, yet that if they were sent to
+England, they would all be hanged in chains, to be sure; but that if
+they would join in so just an attempt as to recover the ship, he would
+have the governor's engagement for their pardon.
+
+Any one may guess how readily such a proposal would be accepted by men
+in their condition; they fell down on their knees to the captain, and
+promised, with the deepest imprecations, that they would be faithful to
+him to the last drop, and that they should owe their lives to him, and
+would go with him all over the world; that they would own him as a
+father as long as they lived. "Well," says the captain, "I must go and
+tell the governor what you say, and see what I can do to bring him to
+consent to it." So he brought me an account of the temper he found them
+in, and that he verily believed they would be faithful. However, that we
+might be very secure, I told him he should go back again and choose out
+those five, and tell them, that they might see he did not want men, that
+he would take out those five to be his assistants, and that the
+governor would keep the other two, and the three that were sent
+prisoners to the castle (my cave) as hostages for the fidelity of those
+five; and that if they proved unfaithful in the execution, the five
+hostages should be hanged in chains alive on the shore. This looked
+severe, and convinced them that the governor was in earnest: however,
+they had no way left them but to accept it; and it was now the business
+of the prisoners, as much as of the captain, to persuade the other five
+to do their duty.
+
+Our strength was now thus ordered for the expedition: first, The
+captain, his mate, and passenger: second, Then the two prisoners of the
+first gang, to whom, having their character from the captain, I had
+given their liberty, and trusted them with arms: third, The other two
+that I had kept till now in my bower pinioned, but, on the captain's
+motion, had now released: fourth, These five released at last: so that
+they were twelve in all, besides five we kept prisoners in the cave
+for hostages.
+
+I asked the captain if he was willing to venture with these hands on
+board the ship: but as for me and my man Friday, I did not think it was
+proper for us to stir, having seven men left behind; and it was
+employment enough for us to keep them asunder, and supply them with
+victuals. As to the five in the cave, I resolved to keep them fast, but
+Friday went in twice a day to them, to supply them with necessaries; and
+I made the other two carry provisions to a certain distance, where
+Friday was to take it.
+
+When I showed myself to the two hostages, it was with the captain, who
+told them I was the person the governor had ordered to look after them:
+and that it was the governor's pleasure they should not stir any where
+but by my direction; that if they did, they would be fetched into the
+castle, and be laid in irons: so that as we never suffered them to see
+me as a governor, I now appeared as another person, and spoke of the
+governor, the garrison, the castle, and the like, upon all occasions.
+
+The captain now had no difficulty before him, but to furnish his two
+boats, stop the breach of one, and man them. He made his passenger
+captain of one, with four of the men; and himself, his mate, and five
+more, went in the other; and they contrived their business very well,
+for they came up to the ship about midnight. As soon as they came within
+call of the ship, he made Robinson hail them, and tell them they had
+brought off the men and the boat, but that it was a long time before
+they had found them, and the like, holding them in a chat till they came
+to the ship's side; when the captain and the mate entering first, with
+their arms, immediately knocked down the second mate and carpenter with
+the but end of their muskets, being very faithfully seconded by their
+men; they secured all the rest that were upon the mainland quarterdecks,
+and began to fasten the hatches, to keep them down that were below; when
+the other boat and their men entering at the fore-chains, secured the
+forecastle of the ship, and the scuttle which went down into the
+cook-room, making three men they found there prisoners. When this was
+done, and all safe upon deck, the captain ordered the mate, with three
+men, to break into the round-house, where the new rebel captain lay, who
+having taken the alarm, had got up, and with two men and a boy had got
+fire-arms in their hands; and when the mate, with a crow, split open the
+door, the new captain and his men fired boldly among them, and wounded
+the mate with a musket ball, which broke his arm, and wounded two more
+of the men, but killed nobody. The mate calling for help, rushed,
+however, into the round-house, wounded as he was, and with his pistol
+shot the new captain through the head, the bullet entering at his mouth,
+and came out again behind one of his ears, so that he never spoke a word
+more: upon which the rest yielded, and the ship was taken effectually,
+without any more lives lost.
+
+As soon as the ship was thus secured, the: captain ordered seven guns to
+be fired, which was the signal agreed upon with me to give me notice of
+his success, which you may be sure I was very glad to hear, having sat
+watching upon the shore for it till near two o'clock in the morning.
+Having thus heard the signal plainly, I laid me down; and it having been
+a day of great fatigue to me, I slept very sound, till I was something
+surprised with the noise of a gun; and presently starting up, I heard a
+man call me by the name of Governor, Governor, and presently I knew the
+captain's voice; when climbing up to the top of the hill, there he
+stood, and pointing to the ship, he embraced me in his arms. "My dear
+friend and deliverer," says he, "there's your ship, for she is all
+your's, and so are we, and all that belong to her." I cast my eyes to
+the ship, and there she rode within little more than half a mile of the
+shore; for they had weighed her anchor as soon as they were masters of
+her, and the weather being fair, had brought her to an anchor just
+against the mouth of the little creek; and the tide being up, the
+captain had brought the pinnace in near the place where I at first
+landed my rafts, and so landed just at my door, I was at first ready to
+sink down with the surprise; for I saw my deliverance, indeed, visibly
+put into my hands, all things easy, and a large ship just ready to carry
+me away whither I pleased to go. At first, for some time, I was not able
+to answer him one word; but as he had taken me in his arms, I held fast
+by him, or I should have fallen to the ground. He perceived the
+surprise, and immediately pulls a bottle out of his pocket, and gave me
+a dram of cordial, which he had brought on purpose for me. After I had
+drank it, I sat down upon the ground; and though it brought me to
+myself, yet it was a good while before I could speak a word to him. All
+this time the poor man was in as great an ecstasy as I, only not under
+any surprise, as I was; and he said a thousand kind and tender things to
+me, to compose and bring me to myself: but such was the flood of joy in
+my breast, that it put all my spirits into confusion; at last it broke
+out into tears; and in a little while after I recovered my speech. I
+then took my turn, and embraced him as my deliverer, and we rejoiced
+together. I told him I looked upon him as a man sent from Heaven to
+deliver me, and that the whole transaction seemed to be a chain of
+wonders; that such things as these were the testimonies we had of a
+secret hand of Providence governing the world, and an evidence that the
+eye of an infinite power could search into the remotest corner of the
+world, and send help to the miserable whenever he pleased. I forgot not
+to lift up my heart in thankfulness to Heaven; and what heart could
+forbear to bless him, who had not only in a miraculous manner provided
+for me in such a wilderness, and in such a desolate condition, but from
+whom every deliverance must always be acknowledged to proceed?
+
+When we had talked a while, the captain told me he had brought me some
+little refreshment, such as the ship afforded, and such as the wretches
+that had been so long his masters had not plundered him of. Upon this he
+called aloud to the boat, and bade his men bring the things ashore that
+were for the governor; and, indeed, it was a present as if I had been
+one that was not to be carried away with them, but as if I had been to
+dwell upon the island still. First, he had brought me a case of bottles
+full of excellent cordial waters, six large bottles of Madeira wine,
+(the bottles held two quarts each,) two pounds of excellent good
+tobacco, twelve good pieces of the ship's beef, and six pieces of pork,
+with a bag of peas, and about an hundred weight of biscuit: he also
+brought me a box of sugar, a box of flour, a bag full of lemons, and two
+bottles of lime juice, and abundance of other things. But, besides
+these, and what was a thousand times more useful to me, he brought me
+six new clean shirts, six very good neckcloths, two pair of gloves, one
+pair of shoes, a hat, and one pair of stockings, with a very good suit
+of clothes of his own, which had been worn but very little; in a word,
+he clothed me from head to foot. It was a very kind and agreeable
+present, as any one may imagine, to one in my circumstances; but never
+was any thing in the world of that kind so unpleasant, awkward, and
+uneasy, as it was to me to wear such clothes at first.
+
+After these ceremonies were past, and after all his good things were
+brought into my little apartment, we began to consult what was to be
+done with the prisoners we had; for it was worth considering whether we
+might venture to take them away with us or no, especially two of them,
+whom he knew to be incorrigible and refractory to the last degree; and
+the captain said he knew they were such rogues, that there was no
+obliging them; and if he did carry them away, it must be in irons, as
+malefactors, to be delivered over to justice at the first English colony
+he could come at; and I found that the captain himself was very anxious
+about it. Upon this I told him, that if he desired it, I would undertake
+to bring the two men he spoke of to make it their own request that he
+should leave them upon the island. "I should be very glad of that," says
+the captain, "with all my heart."--"Well," says I, "I will send for
+them up, and talk with them for you," So I caused Friday and the two
+hostages, for they were now discharged, their comrades having performed
+their promise; I say, I caused them to go to the cave, and bring up the
+five men, pinioned as they were, to the bower, and keep them there till
+I came. After some time, I came thither dressed in my new habit; and now
+I was called governor again. Being all met, and the captain with me, I
+caused the men to be brought before me, and I told them I had got a full
+account of their villanous behaviour to the captain, and how they had
+run away with the ship, and were, preparing to commit farther robberies,
+but that Providence had ensnared them in their own ways, and that they
+were fallen into the pit which they had dug for others. I let them know
+that by my direction the ship had been seized; that she lay now in the
+road; and they might see, by and by, that their new captain had received
+the reward of his villany, and that they would see him hanging at the
+yard-arm: that as to them, I wanted to know what they had to say why I
+should not execute them as pirates, taken in the fact, as by my
+commission they could not doubt but I had authority so to do.
+
+One of them answered in the name of the rest, that they had nothing to
+say but this, that when they were taken, the captain promised them their
+lives, and they humbly implored my mercy. But I told them I knew not
+what mercy to show them; for as for myself, I had resolved to quit the
+island with all my men, and had taken passage with the captain to go for
+England; and as for the captain, he could not carry them to England
+other than as prisoners, in irons, to be tried for mutiny, and running
+away with the ship; the consequence of which, they must needs know,
+would be the gallows; so that I could not tell what was best for them,
+unless they had a mind to take their fate in the island; if they desired
+that, as I had liberty to leave the island, I had some inclination to
+give them their lives, if they thought they could shift on shore. They
+seemed very thankful for it, and said they would much rather venture to
+stay there than be carried to England to be hanged: so I left it on
+that issue.
+
+However, the captain seemed to make some difficulty of it, as if he
+durst not leave them there. Upon this I seemed a little angry with the
+captain, and told him that they were my prisoners, not his; and that
+seeing I had offered them so much favour, I would be as good as my word;
+and that if he did not think fit to consent to it I would set them at
+liberty, as I found them; and if he did not like it, he might take them
+again if he could catch them. Upon this they appeared very thankful, and
+I accordingly set them at liberty, and bade them retire into the woods
+to the place whence they came, and I would leave them some fire-arms,
+some ammunition, and some directions how they should live very well, if
+they thought fit. Upon this I prepared to go on board the ship; but told
+the captain I would stay that night to prepare my things, and desired
+him to go on board, in the mean time, and keep all right in the ship,
+and send the boat on shore next day for me; ordering him, at all events,
+to cause the new captain, who was killed, to be hanged at the yard-arm,
+that these men might see him.
+
+When the captain was gone, I sent for the men up to me to my apartment,
+and entered seriously into discourse with them on their circumstances. I
+told them I thought they had made a right choice; that if the captain
+had carried them away, they would certainly be hanged. I showed them the
+new captain hanging at the yard-arm of the ship, and told them they had
+nothing less to expect.
+
+When they had all declared their willingness to stay, I then told them I
+would let them into the story of my living there, and put them into the
+way of making it easy to them: accordingly, I gave them the whole
+history of the place, and of my coming to it; showed them my
+fortifications, the way I made my bread, planted my corn, cured my
+grapes; and, in a word, all that was necessary to make them easy. I told
+them the story also of the seventeen Spaniards that were to be expected,
+for whom I left a letter, and made them promise to treat them in common
+with themselves. Here it may be noted, that the captain had ink on
+board, who was greatly surprised that I never hit upon a way of making
+ink of charcoal and water, or of something else, as I had done things
+much more difficult.
+
+I left them my fire-arms, viz. five-muskets, three fowling-pieces; and
+three swords. I had above a barrel and a half of powder left; for after
+the first year or two I used but little, and wasted none. I gave them a
+description of the way I managed the goats, and directions to milk and
+fatten them, and to make both butter and cheese: in a word, I gave them
+every part of my own story; and told them I should prevail with the
+captain to leave them two barrels of gunpowder more, and some garden
+seeds, which I told them I would have been very glad of: also I gave
+them the bag of peas which the captain had brought me to eat, and bade
+them be sure to sow and increase them.
+
+Having done all this, I left them the next day, and went on board the
+ship. We prepared immediately to sail, but did not weigh that night. The
+next morning early, two of the five men came swimming to the ship's
+side, and making a most lamentable complaint of the other three, begged
+to be taken into the ship, for God's sake, for they should be murdered,
+and begged the captain to take them on board, though he hanged them
+immediately. Upon this, the captain pretended to have no power without
+me; but after some difficulty, and after their solemn promises of
+amendment, they were taken on board, and were some time after soundly
+whipped and pickled: after which they proved very honest and
+quiet fellows.
+
+Some time after this, the boat was ordered on shore, the tide being up,
+with the things promised to the men; to which the captain, at my
+intercession, caused their chests and clothes to be added, which they
+took, and were very thankful for. I also encouraged them, by telling
+them that if it lay in my power to send any vessel to take them in, I
+would not forget them.
+
+When I took leave of this island, I carried on board, for reliques, the
+great goat-skin cap I had made, my umbrella, and one of my parrots; also
+I forgot not to take the money I formerly mentioned, which had lain by
+me so long useless, that it was grown rusty or tarnished, and could
+hardly pass for silver, till it had been a little rubbed and handled; as
+also the money I found in the wreck of the Spanish ship. And thus I left
+the island, the 19th of December, as I found by the ship's account, in
+the year 1686, after I had been upon it eight and twenty years, two
+months, and nineteen days; being delivered from this second captivity
+the same day of the month that I first made my escape in the long-boat,
+from among the Moors of Sallee. In this vessel, after a long voyage, I
+arrived in England the 11th of June, in the year 1687, having been
+thirty-five years absent.
+
+When I came to England, I was as perfect a stranger to all the world as
+if I had never been known there. My benefactor and faithful steward,
+whom I had left my money in trust with, was alive, but had had great
+misfortunes in the world; was become a widow the second time, and very
+low in the world. I made her very easy as to what she owed me, assuring
+her I would give her no trouble; but on the contrary, in gratitude for
+her former care and faithfulness to me, I relieved her as my
+little-stock would afford; which, at that time, would indeed allow me to
+do but little for her; but I assured her I would never forget her former
+kindness to me; nor did I forget her when I had sufficient to help her,
+as shall be observed in its proper place. I went down afterwards into
+Yorkshire; but my father was dead, and my mother and all the family
+extinct, except that I found two sisters, and two of the children of one
+of my brothers; and as I had been long ago given over for dead, there
+had been no provision made for me: so that, in a word, I found nothing
+to relieve or assist me; and that the little money I had would not do
+much for me as to settling in the world.
+
+I met with one piece of gratitude, indeed, which I did not expect; and
+this was, that the master of the ship whom I had so happily delivered,
+and by the same means saved the ship and cargo, having given a very
+handsome account to the owners of the manner how I had saved the lives
+of the men, and the ship, they invited me to meet them, and some other
+merchants concerned, and all together made me a very handsome compliment
+upon the subject, and a present of almost £200 sterling.
+
+But after making several reflections upon the circumstances of my life,
+and how little way this would go towards settling me in the world, I
+resolved to go to Lisbon, and see if I might not come by some
+information of the state of my plantation in the Brazils, and of what
+was become of my partner, who, I had reason to suppose, had some years
+past given me over for dead. With this view I took shipping for Lisbon,
+where I arrived in April following; my man Friday accompanying me very
+honestly in all these ramblings, and proving a most faithful servant
+upon all occasions. When I came to Lisbon, I found out, by inquiry, and
+to my particular satisfaction, my old friend the captain of the ship who
+first took me up at sea off the shore of Africa. He was now grown old,
+and had left off going to sea, having put his son, who was far from a
+young man, into his ship, and who still used the Brazil trade. The old
+man did not know me; and, indeed, I hardly knew him: but I soon brought
+him to my remembrance, and as soon brought myself to his remembrance,
+when I told him who I was.
+
+After some passionate expressions of the old acquaintance between us, I
+inquired, you may be sure, after my plantation and my partner. The old
+man told me he had not been in the Brazils for about nine years; but
+that he could assure me, that when he came away my partner was living;
+but the trustees, whom I had joined with him to take cognizance of my
+part, were both dead: that, however, he believed I would have a very
+good account of the improvement of the plantation; for that upon the
+general belief of my being cast away and drowned, my trustees had given
+in the account of the produce of my part of the plantation to the
+procurator-fiscal, who had appropriated it, in case I never came to
+claim it, one-third to the king, and two-thirds to the monastery of St.
+Augustine, to be expended for the benefit of the poor, and for the
+conversion of the Indians to the Catholic faith; but that if I appeared,
+or any one for me, to claim the inheritance, it would be restored; only
+that the improvement or annual production, being distributed to
+charitable uses, could not be restored: but he assured me that the
+steward of the king's revenue from lands, and the provedore, or steward
+of the monastery, had taken great care all along that the incumbent,
+that is to say, my partner, gave every year a faithful account of the
+produce, of which they had duly received my moiety. I asked him if he
+knew to what height of improvement he had brought the plantation, and
+whether he thought it might be worth looking after; or whether, on my
+going thither, I should meet with any obstruction to my possessing my
+just right in the moiety. He told me he could not tell exactly to what
+degree the plantation was improved; but this he knew, that my partner
+was grown exceeding rich upon the enjoying his part of it; and that, to
+the best of his remembrance, he had heard that the king's third of my
+part, which was, it seems, granted away to some other monastery or
+religious house, amounted to above two hundred moidores a year: that as
+to my being restored to a quiet possession of it, there was no question
+to be made of that, my partner being alive to witness my title, and my
+name being also enrolled in the register of the country; also he told
+me, that the survivors of my two trustees were very fair honest people,
+and very wealthy; and he believed I would hot only have their assistance
+for putting me in possession, but would find a very considerable sum of
+money in their hands for my account, being the produce of the farm while
+their fathers held the trust, and before it was given up, as above;
+which, as he remembered, was for about twelve years.
+
+I showed myself a little concerned and uneasy at this account, and
+inquired of the old captain how it came to pass that the trustees should
+thus dispose of my effects, when he knew that I had made my will, and
+had made him, the Portuguese captain, my universal heir, &c.
+
+He told me that was true; but that as there was no proof of my being
+dead, he could not act as executor, until some certain account should
+come of my death; and, besides, he was not willing to intermeddle with a
+thing so remote: that it was true he had registered my will, and put in
+his claim; and could he have given any account of my being dead or
+alive, he would have acted by procuration, and taken possession of the
+ingeino, (so they called the sugar-house) and have given his son, who
+was now at the Brazils, orders to do it. "But," says the old man, "I
+have one piece of news to tell you, which perhaps may not be so
+acceptable to you as the rest; and that is, believing you were lost, and
+all the world believing so also, your partner and trustees did offer to
+account with me, in your name, for six or eight of the first years'
+profits, which I received. There being at that time great disbursements
+for increasing the works, building an ingeino, and buying slaves, it did
+not amount to near so much as afterwards it produced: however," says the
+old man, "I shall give you a true account of what I have received in
+all, and how I have disposed of it."
+
+After a few days' farther conference with this ancient friend, he
+brought me an account of the first six years' income of my plantation,
+signed by my partner and the merchant-trustees, being always delivered
+in goods, viz. tobacco in roll, and sugar in chests, besides rum,
+molasses, &c. which is the consequence of a sugar-work; and I found, by
+this account, that every year the income considerably increased; but, as
+above, the disbursements being large, the sum at first was small:
+however, the old man let me see that he was debtor to me four hundred
+and seventy moidores of gold, besides sixty chests of sugar, and fifteen
+double rolls of tobacco, which were lost in his ship; he having been
+shipwrecked coming home to Lisbon, about eleven years after my leaving
+the place. The good man then began to complain of his misfortunes, and
+how he had been obliged to make use of my money to recover his losses,
+and buy him a share in a new ship. "However, my old friend," says he,
+"you shall not want a supply in your necessity; and as soon as my son
+returns, you shall be fully satisfied." Upon this, he pulls out an old
+pouch, and gives me one hundred and sixty Portugal moidores in gold; and
+giving the writings of his title to the ship, which his son was gone to
+the Brazils in, of which he was a quarter-part owner, and his son
+another, he puts them both into my hands for security of the rest.
+
+I was too much moved with the honesty and kindness of the poor man to be
+able to bear this; and remembering what he had done for me, how he had
+taken me up at sea, and how generously he had used me on all occasions,
+and particularly how sincere a friend he was now to me, I could hardly
+refrain weeping at what he had said to me; therefore I asked him if his
+circumstances admitted him to spare so much money at that time, and if
+it would not straiten him? He told me he could not say but it might
+straiten him a little; but, however, it was my money, and I might want
+it more than he.
+
+Every thing the good man said was full of affection, and I could hardly
+refrain from tears while he spoke; in short, I took one hundred of the
+moidores, and called for a pen and ink to give him a receipt for them:
+then I returned him the rest, and told him if ever I had possession of
+the plantation, I would return the other to him also, (as, indeed, I
+afterwards did;) and that as to the bill of sale of his part in his
+son's ship, I would not take it by any means; but that if I wanted the
+money, I found he was honest enough to pay me; and if I did not, but
+came to receive what he gave me reason to expect, I would never have a
+penny more from him.
+
+When this was past, the old man asked me if he should put me into a
+method to make my claim to my plantation? I told him I thought to go
+over to it myself. He said I might do so if I pleased; but that if I did
+not, there were ways enough to secure my right, and immediately to
+appropriate the profits to my use: and as there were ships in the river
+of Lisbon just ready to go away to Brazil, he made me enter my name in a
+public register, with his affidavit, affirming, upon oath, that I was
+alive, and that I was the same person who took up the land for the
+planting the said plantation at first. This being regularly attested by
+a notary, and a procuration affixed, he directed me to send it, with a
+letter of his writing, to a merchant of his acquaintance at the place;
+and then proposed my staying with him till an account came of
+the return.
+
+Never was any thing more honourable than the proceedings upon this
+procuration; for in less than seven months I received a large packet
+from the survivors of my trustees, the merchants, for whose account I
+went to sea, in which were the following particular letters and
+papers enclosed.
+
+First, There was the account-current of the produce of my farm or
+plantation, from the year when their fathers had balanced with my old
+Portugal captain, being for six years; the balance appeared to be one
+thousand one hundred and seventy-four moidores in my favour.
+
+Secondly, There was the account of four years more, while they kept the
+effects in their hands, before the government claimed the
+administration, as being the effects of a person not to be found, which
+they called civil death; and the balance of this, the value of the
+plantation increasing, amounted to nineteen thousand four hundred and
+forty-six crusadoes, being about three thousand two hundred and
+forty moidores.
+
+Thirdly, There was the prior of Augustine's account, who had received
+the profits for above fourteen years; but not being to account for what
+was disposed of by the hospital, very honestly declared he had eight
+hundred and seventy-two moidores not distributed, which he acknowledged
+to my account: as to the king's part, that refunded nothing.
+
+There was a letter of my partner's, congratulating me very
+affectionately upon my being alive, giving me an account how the estate
+was improved, and what it produced a year; with a particular of the
+number of squares or acres that it contained, how planted, how many
+slaves there were upon it, and making two and twenty crosses for
+blessings, told me he had said so many _Ave Marias_ to thank the blessed
+Virgin that I was alive; inviting me very passionately to come over and
+take possession of my own; and, in the mean time, to give him orders to
+whom he should deliver my effects, if I did not come myself; concluding
+with a hearty tender of his friendship, and that of his family; and sent
+me, as a present, seven fine leopards' skins, which he had, it seems,
+received from Africa, by some other ship that he had sent thither, and
+who, it seems, had made a better voyage than I. He sent me also five
+chests of excellent sweetmeats, and a hundred pieces of gold uncoined,
+not quite so large as moidores. By the same fleet, my two
+merchant-trustees shipped me one thousand two hundred chests of sugar,
+eight hundred rolls of tobacco, and the rest of the whole account
+in gold.
+
+I might well say now, indeed, that the latter end of Job was better than
+the beginning. It is impossible to express the flutterings of my very
+heart when I found all my wealth about me; for as the Brazil ships come
+all in fleets, the same ships which brought my letters brought my goods:
+and the effects were safe in the river before the letters came to my
+hand. In a word, I turned pale, and grew sick; and had not the old man
+run and fetched me a cordial, I believe the sudden surprise of joy had
+overset nature, and I had died upon the spot: nay, after that, I
+continued very ill, and was so some hours till a physician being sent
+for, and something of the real cause of my illness being known, he
+ordered me to be let blood; after which I had relief, and grew well: but
+I verily believe, if I had not been eased by a vent given in that manner
+to the spirits, I should have died.
+
+I was now master, all on a sudden, of above five thousand pounds
+sterling in money, and had an estate, as I might well call it, in the
+Brazils, of above a thousand pounds a year, as sure as an estate of
+lands in England; and, in a word, I was in a condition which I scarce
+knew how to understand, or how to compose myself for the enjoyment of
+it. The first thing I did was to recompense my original benefactor, my
+good old captain, who had been first charitable to me in my distress,
+kind to me in my beginning, and honest to me at the end. I showed him
+all that was sent to me; I told him, that next to the providence of
+Heaven, which disposed all things, it was owing to him; and that it now
+lay on me to reward him, which I would do a hundredfold: so I first
+returned to him the hundred moidores I had received of him; then I sent
+for a notary, and caused him to draw up a general release or discharge
+from the four hundred and seventy moidores, which he had acknowledged he
+owed me, in the fullest and firmest manner possible. After which I
+caused a procuration to be drawn, empowering him to be my receiver of
+the annual profits of my plantation, and appointing my partner to
+account with him, and make the returns by the usual fleets to him in my
+name; and a clause in the end, being a grant of one hundred moidores a
+year to him during his life, out of the effects, and fifty moidores a
+year to his son after him, for his life: and thus I requited my old man.
+
+I was now to consider which way to steer my course next, and what to do
+with the estate that Providence had thus put into my hands; and, indeed,
+I had more care upon my head now than I had in my silent state of life
+in the island, where I wanted nothing but what I had, and had nothing
+but what I wanted; whereas I had now a great charge upon me, and my
+business was how to secure it. I had never a cave now to hide my money
+in, or a place where it might lie without lock or key, till it grew
+mouldy and tarnished before any body would meddle with it: on the
+contrary, I knew not where to put it, or whom to trust with it. My old
+patron, the captain, indeed, was honest, and that was the only refuge I
+had. In the next place, my interest in the Brazils seemed to summon me
+thither; but now I could not tell how to think of going thither till I
+had settled my affairs, and left my effects in some safe hands behind
+me. At first I thought of my old friend the widow, who I knew was
+honest, and would be just to me; but then she was in years, and but
+poor, and, for aught. I knew, might be in debt; so that, in a word, I
+had no way but to go back to England myself, and take my effects
+with me.
+
+It was some months, however, before I resolved upon this; and therefore,
+as I had rewarded the old captain fully, and to his satisfaction, who
+had been my former benefactor, so I began to think of my poor widow,
+whose husband had been my first benefactor, and she, while it was in her
+power, my faithful steward and instructor. So the first thing I did, I
+got a merchant in Lisbon to write to his correspondent in London, not
+only to pay a bill, but to go find her out, and carry her in money a
+hundred pounds from me, and to talk with her, and comfort her in her
+poverty, by telling her she should, if I lived, have a further supply:
+at the same time I sent my two sisters in the country a hundred pounds,
+each, they being, though not in want, yet not in very good
+circumstances; one having been married and left a widow; and the other
+having a husband not so kind to her as he should be. But among all my
+relations or acquaintances, I could not yet pitch upon one to whom I
+durst commit the gross of my stock, that I might go away to the
+Brazils, and leave things safe behind me; and this greatly perplexed me.
+
+I had once a mind to have gone to the Brazils, and have settled myself
+there, for I was, as it were, naturalized to the place; but I had some
+little scruple in my mind about religion, which insensibly drew me back.
+However, it was not religion that kept me from going there for the
+present; and as I had made no scruple of being openly of the religion of
+the country all the while I was among them, so neither did I yet; only
+that, now and then, having of late thought more of it than formerly,
+when I began to think of living and dying among them, I began to regret
+my having professed myself a papist, and thought it might not be the
+best religion to die with.
+
+But, as I have said, this was not the main thing that kept me from going
+to the Brazils, but that really I did not know with whom to leave my
+effects behind me; so I resolved, at last, to go to England with it,
+where, if I arrived, I concluded I should make some acquaintance, or
+find some relations that would be faithful to me; and, accordingly, I
+prepared to go to England with all my wealth.
+
+In order to prepare tilings for my going home, I first, the Brazil fleet
+being just going away, resolved to give answers suitable to the just and
+faithful account of things I had from thence; and, first, to the prior
+of St. Augustine I wrote a letter full of thanks for their just
+dealings, and the offer of the eight hundred and seventy-two moidores
+which were undisposed of, which I desired might be given, five hundred
+to the monastery, and three hundred and seventy-two to the poor, as the
+prior should direct; desiring the good padre's prayers for me, and the
+like. I wrote next a letter of thanks to my two trustees, with all the
+acknowledgment that so much justice and honesty called for; as for
+sending them any present, they were far above having any occasion for
+it. Lastly, I wrote to my partner, acknowledging his industry in the
+improving the plantation, and his integrity in increasing the stock of
+the, works; giving him instructions for his future government of my
+part, according to the powers I had left with my old patron, to whom I
+desired him to send whatever became due to me, till he should hear from
+me more particularly; assuring him that it was my intention not only to
+come to him, but to settle myself there for the remainder of my life. To
+this I added a very handsome present of some Italian silks for his wife
+and two daughters, for such the captain's son informed me he had; with
+two pieces of fine English broad-cloth, the best I could get in Lisbon,
+five pieces of black baize, and some Flanders lace of a good value.
+
+Having thus settled my affairs, sold my cargo, and turned all my effects
+into good bills of exchange, my next difficulty was, which way to go to
+England: I had been accustomed enough to the sea, and yet I had a
+strange aversion to go to England by sea at that time; and though I
+could give no reason for it, yet the difficulty increased upon me so
+much, that though I had once shipped my baggage in order to go, yet I
+altered my mind, and that not once, but two or three times.
+
+It is true; I had been very unfortunate by sea, and this might be some
+of the reasons; but let no man slight the strong impulses of his own
+thoughts in cases of such moment: two of the ships which I had singled
+out to go in, I mean more particularly singled out than any other,
+having put my things on board one of them, and in the other to have
+agreed with the captain; I say, two of these ships miscarried, viz. one
+was taken by the Algerines, and the other was cast away on the Start,
+near Torbay, and all the people drowned, except three; so that in either
+of those vessels I had been made miserable.
+
+Having been thus harassed in my thoughts, my old pilot, to whom I
+communicated every thing, pressed me earnestly not to go by sea, but
+either to go by land to the Groyne, and cross over the Bay of Biscay to
+Rochelle, from whence it was but an easy and safe journey by land to
+Paris, and so to Calais and Dover; or to go up to Madrid, and so all the
+way by laud through France. In a word, I was so prepossessed against my
+going by sea at all, except from Calas to Dover, that I resolved to
+travel all the way by land; which, as I was not in haste, and did not
+value the charge, was by much the pleasanter way: and to make it more
+so, my old captain brought an English gentleman, the son of a merchant
+in Lisbon, who was willing to travel with me; after which we picked up
+two more English merchants also, and two young Portuguese gentlemen, the
+last going to Paris only; so that in all there were six of us, and five
+servants; the two merchants and the two Portuguese contenting themselves
+with one servant between two, to save the charge; and as for me, I got
+an English sailor to travel with me as a servant, besides my man Friday,
+who was too much a stranger to be capable of supplying the place of a
+servant on the road.
+
+In this manner I set out from Lisbon; and our company being very well
+mounted and armed, we made a little troop, whereof they did me the
+honour to call me captain, as well because I was the oldest man, as
+because I had two servants, and, indeed, was the original of the
+whole journey.
+
+As I have troubled you with none of my sea journals, so I shall trouble
+you now with none of my land journal; but some adventures that happened
+to us in this tedious and difficult journey I must not omit.
+
+When we came to Madrid, we being all of us strangers to Spain, were
+willing to stay some time to see the court of Spain, and to see what was
+worth observing; but it being the latter part of the summer, we hastened
+away, and set out from Madrid about the middle of October; but when we
+came to the edge of Navarre, we were alarmed, at several towns on the
+way, with an account that so much snow was fallen on the French side of
+the mountains, that several travellers were obliged to come back to
+Pampeluna, after having attempted, at an extreme hazard, to pass on.
+
+When we came to Pampeluna itself, we found it so indeed; and to me, that
+had been always used to a hot climate, and to countries where I could
+scarce bear any clothes on, the cold was insufferable: nor, indeed, was
+it more painful than surprising, to come but ten days before out of Old
+Castile, where the weather was not only warm, but very hot, and
+immediately to feel a wind from the Pyrenean mountains so very keen, so
+severely cold, as to be intolerable, and to endanger benumbing and
+perishing of our fingers and toes.
+
+Poor Friday was really frightened when he saw the mountains all covered
+with snow, and felt cold weather, which he had never seen or felt before
+in his life. To mend the matter, when we came to Pampeluna, it continued
+snowing with so much violence, and so long, that the people said winter
+was come before its time; and the roads, which were difficult before,
+were now quite impassable; for, in a word, the snow lay in some places
+too thick for us to travel, and being not hard frozen, as is the case in
+the northern countries, there was no going without being in danger of
+being buried alive every step. We stayed no less than twenty days at
+Pampeluna; when seeing the winter coming on, and no likelihood of its
+being better, for it was the severest winter all over Europe that had
+been known in the memory of man, I proposed that we should all go away
+to Fontarabia, and there take shipping for Bourdeaux, which was a very
+little voyage. But while I was considering this, there came in four
+French gentlemen, who having been stopped on the French side of the
+passes, as we were on the Spanish, had found out a guide, who,
+traversing the country near the head of Languedoc, had brought them over
+the mountains by such ways, that they were not much incommoded with the
+snow; for where they met with snow in any quantity, they said it was
+frozen hard enough to bear them and their horses. We sent, for this
+guide, who told us he would undertake to carry us the same way with no
+hazard from the snow, provided we were armed sufficiently to protect
+ourselves from wild beasts; for, he said, upon these great snows it was
+frequent for some wolves to show themselves at the foot of the
+mountains, being made ravenous for want of food, the ground being
+covered with snow. We told him we were well enough prepared for such
+creatures as they were, if he would ensure us from a kind of two-legged
+wolves, which, we were told, we were in most danger from, especially on
+the French side of the mountains. He satisfied us that there was no
+danger of that kind in the way that we were to go: so we readily agreed
+to follow him, as did also twelve other gentlemen, with their servants,
+some French, some Spanish, who, as I said, had attempted to go, and were
+obliged to come back again.
+
+Accordingly, we set out from Pampeluna, with our guide, on the 15th of
+November; and, indeed, I was surprised, when, instead of going forward,
+he came directly back with us on the same road that we came from Madrid,
+about twenty miles; when having passed two rivers, and come into the
+plain country, we found ourselves in a warm climate again, where the
+country was pleasant, and no snow to be seen; but on a sudden, turning
+to his left, he approached the mountains another way: and though it is
+true the hills and precipices looked dreadful, yet he made so many
+tours, such meanders, and led us by such winding ways, that we
+insensibly passed the height of the mountains without being much
+encumbered with the snow; and, all on a sudden, he showed us the
+pleasant fruitful provinces of Languedoc and Gascony, all green and
+flourishing, though, indeed, at a great distance, and we had some rough
+way to pass still.
+
+We were a little uneasy, however, when we found it snowed one whole day
+and a night so fast, that we could not travel; but he bid us be easy; we
+should soon be past it all: we found, indeed, that we began to descend
+every day, and to come more north than before; and so depending upon our
+guide, we went on.
+
+It was about two hours before night, when our guide being something
+before us, and not just in sight, out rushed three monstrous wolves, and
+after them a bear, out of a hollow way adjoining to a thick wood: two of
+the wolves made at the guide, and had he been far before us, he would
+have been devoured before we could have helped him; one of them fastened
+upon his horse, and the other attacked the man with that violence, that
+he had not time, or presence of mind enough, to draw his pistol, but
+hallooed and cried out to us most lustily. My man Friday being next me,
+I bade him ride up, and see what was the matter. As soon as Friday came
+in sight of the man, he hallooed out as loud as the other, "O master! O
+master!" but, like a bold fellow, rode directly up to the poor man, and
+with his pistol shot the wolf that attacked him in the head.
+
+It was happy for the poor man that it was my man Friday; for he having
+been used to such creatures in his country, he had no fear upon him, but
+went close up to him and shot him, as above; whereas any other of us
+would have fired at a farther distance, and have perhaps either missed
+the wolf, or endangered shooting the man.
+
+But it was enough to have terrified a bolder man than I; and, indeed, it
+alarmed all our company, when, with the noise of Friday's pistol, we
+heard on both sides the most dismal howling of wolves; and the noise,
+redoubled by the echo of the mountains, appeared to us as if there had
+been a prodigious number of them; and perhaps there was not such a few
+as that we had no cause of apprehensions: however, as Friday had killed
+this wolf, the other that had fastened upon the horse left him
+immediately, and fled, without doing him any damage, having happily
+fastened upon his head, where the bosses of the bridle had stuck in his
+teeth. But the man was most hurt; for the raging creature had bit him
+twice, once in the arm, and the other time a little above his knee; and
+though he had made some defence, he was just as it were tumbling down by
+the disorder of his horse, when Friday came up and shot the wolf.
+
+It is easy to suppose that at the noise of Friday's pistol we all mended
+our pace, and rode up as fast as the way, which was very difficult,
+would give us leave, to see what was the matter. As soon as we came
+clear of the trees, which blinded us before, we saw clearly what had
+been the case, and how Friday had disengaged the poor guide, though we
+did not presently discern what kind of creature it was he had killed.
+
+But never was a fight managed so hardily, and in such a surprising
+manner, as that which followed between Friday and the bear, which gave
+us all, though at first we were surprised and afraid for him, the
+greatest diversion imaginable. As the bear is a heavy clumsy creature,
+and does not gallop as the wolf does, who is swift and light, so he has
+two particular qualities, which generally are the rule of his actions:
+first, as to men, who are not his proper prey, (he does not usually
+attempt them, except they first attack him, unless he be excessive
+hungry, which it is probable might now be the case, the ground being
+covered with snow,) if you do not meddle with him, he will not meddle
+with you; but then you must take care to be very civil to him, and give
+him the road, for he is a very nice gentleman; he will not go a step out
+of his way for a prince; nay, if you are really afraid, your best way is
+to look another way, and keep going on; for sometimes if you stop, and
+stand still, and look steadfastly at him, he takes it for an affront;
+but if you throw or toss any thing at him, and it hits him, though it
+were but a bit of stick as big as your finger, he thinks himself abused,
+and sets all other business aside to pursue his revenge, and will have
+satisfaction in point of honour;--this is his first quality: the next
+is, if he be once affronted, he will never leave yon, night nor day,
+till he has his revenge, but follows, at a good round rate, till he
+overtakes yon.
+
+My man Friday had delivered our guide, and when we came up to him, he
+was helping him off from his horse, for the man was both hurt and
+frightened, when, on a sudden, we espied the bear come out of the wood,
+and a vast monstrous one it was, the biggest by far that ever I saw. We
+were all a little surprised when we saw him; but when Friday saw him,
+it was easy to see joy and courage in the fellow's countenance: "O, O,
+O!" says Friday, three times, pointing to him; "O master! you give me
+te leave, me shakee te hand with him; me makee you good laugh."
+
+I was surprised to see the fellow so well pleased; "You fool," says I,
+"he will eat you up,"--"Eatee me up! eatee me up!" says Friday, twice
+over again; "me eatee him up; me' makee you good laugh; you all stay
+here, me show you good laugh." So down he sits, and gets off his boots
+in a moment, and puts on a pair of pumps, (as we call the flat shoes
+they wear, and which he had in his pocket,) gives my other servant his
+horse, and with his gun away he flew, swift like the wind.
+
+The bear was walking softly on, and offered to meddle with nobody, till
+Friday coming pretty near, calls to him, as if the bear could understand
+him, "Hark ye, hark ye," says Friday, "me speakee with you." We followed
+at a distance; for now being come down on the Gaseony side of the
+mountains, we were entered a vast great forest, where the country was
+plain and pretty open, though it had many trees in it scattered here and
+there. Friday, who had, as we say, the heels of the bear, came up with
+him quickly, and takes up a great stone and throws it at him, and hit
+him just on the head, but did him no more harm than if he had thrown it
+against a wall; but it answered Friday's end, for the rogue was so void
+of fear that he did it purely to make the bear follow him, and show us
+some laugh, as he called it. As soon as the bear felt the blow, and saw
+him, he turns about, and comes after him, taking devilish long strides,
+and shuffling on at a strange rate, so as would have put a horse to a
+middling gallop: away runs Friday, and takes his course as if he run
+towards us for help; so we all resolved to fire at once upon the bear,
+and deliver my man; though I was angry at him heartily for bringing the
+bear back upon us, when he was going about his own business another way:
+and especially I was angry that he had turned the bear upon us, and then
+run away; and I called out, "You dog, is this your making us laugh? Come
+away, and take your horse, that we may shoot the creature." He heard me,
+and cried out, "No shoot, no shoot; stand still, and you get much
+laugh:" and as the nimble creature ran two feet for the bear's one, he
+turned on a sudden, on one side of us, and seeing a great oak tree fit
+for his purpose, he beckoned to us to follow; and doubling his pace, he
+gets nimbly up the tree, laying his gun down upon the ground, at about
+five or six yards from the bottom of the tree. The bear soon came to the
+tree, and we followed at a distance: the first thing he did, he stopped
+at the gun, smelt to it, but let it lie, and up he scrambles into the
+tree, climbing like a cat, though so monstrous heavy. I was amazed at
+the folly, as I thought it, of my man, and could not for my life see any
+thing to laugh at yet, till seeing the bear get up the tree, we all rode
+near to him.
+
+When we came to the tree, there was Friday got out to the small end of a
+large branch, and the bear got about half way to him. As soon as the
+bear got out to that part where the limb of the tree was weaker,--"Ha!"
+says he to us, "now you see me teachee the bear dance:" so he falls a
+jumping and shaking the bough, at which the bear began to totter, but
+stood still, and began to look behind him, to see how he should get
+back; then, indeed, we did laugh heartily. But Friday had not done with
+him by a great deal; when seeing him stand still, he calls out to him
+again, as if he had supposed the bear could speak English, "What, you
+come no farther? pray you come farther:" so he left jumping and shaking
+the tree; and the bear, just as if he understood what he said, did come
+a little farther; then he fell a jumping again, and the bear stopped
+again. We thought now was a good time to knock him in the head, and
+called to Friday to stand still, and we would shoot the bear: but he
+cried out earnestly, "O pray! O pray! no shoot, me shoot by and then;"
+he would have said by and by. However, to shorten the story, Friday
+danced so much, and the bear stood so ticklish, that we had laughing
+enough, but still could not imagine what the fellow would do: for first
+we thought he depended upon shaking the bear off; and we found the bear
+was too cunning for that too; for he would not go out far enough to be
+thrown down, but clings fast with his great broad claws and feet, so
+that we could not imagine what would be the end of it, and what the jest
+would be at last. But Friday put us out of doubt quickly: for seeing the
+bear cling fast to the bough, and that he would not be persuaded to come
+any farther, "Well, well," says Friday, "you no come farther, me go; you
+no come to me, me come to you:" and upon this he goes out to the smaller
+end of the bough, where it would bend with his weight, and gently lets
+himself down by it, sliding down the bough, till he came near enough to
+jump down on his feet, and away he runs to his gun, takes it up, and
+stands still. "Well," said I to him, "Friday, what will you do now? Why
+don't you shoot him?"--"No shoot," says Friday, "no yet; me shoot now,
+me no kill; me stay, give you one more laugh:" and, indeed, so he did,
+as you will see presently; for when the bear saw his enemy gone, he
+comes back from the bough where he stood, but did it mighty cautiously,
+looking behind him every step, and coming backward till he got into the
+body of the tree; then with the same hinder end foremost, he came down
+the tree, grasping it with his claws, and moving one foot at a time,
+very leisurely. At this juncture, and just before he could set his hind
+foot on the ground, Friday stepped up close to him, clapped the muzzle
+of his piece into his ear, and shot him dead. Then the rogue turned
+about to see if we did not laugh; and when he saw we were pleased, by
+our looks, he falls a laughing himself very loud. "So we kill bear in
+my country," says Friday. "So you kill them?" says I: "why, you have no
+guns."--"No," says he, "no gun, but shoot great much long arrow." This
+was a good diversion to us; but we were still in a wild place, and our
+guide very much hurt, and what to do we hardly knew: the howling of
+wolves ran much in my head; and, indeed, except the noise I once heard
+on the shore of Africa, of which I have said something already, I never
+heard any thing that filled me with so much horror.
+
+These things, and the approach of night, called us off, or else, as
+Friday would have had us, we should certainly have taken the skin of
+this monstrous creature off, which was worth saving; but we had near
+three leagues to go, and our guide hastened us; so we left him, and went
+forward on our journey.
+
+The ground was still covered with snow, though not so deep and dangerous
+as on the mountains; and the ravenous creatures, as we heard afterwards,
+were come down into the forest and plain country, pressed by hunger, to
+seek for food, and had done a great deal of mischief in the villages,
+where they surprised the country people, killed a great many of their
+sheep and horses, and some people too. We had one dangerous place to
+pass, which our guide told us, if there were more wolves in the country
+we should find them there; and this was a small plain, surrounded with
+woods on every side, and a long narrow defile, or lane, which we were to
+pass to get through the wood, and then we should come to the village
+where we were to lodge. It was within half an hour of sunset when we
+entered the first wood, and a little after sunset when we came into the
+plain; we met with nothing in the first wood, except that, in a little
+plain within the wood, which was not above two furlongs over, we saw
+five great wolves cross the road, full speed, one after another, as if
+they had been in chase of some prey, and had it in view; they took no
+notice of us, and were gone out of sight in a few moments. Upon this our
+guide, who, by the way, was but a fainthearted fellow, bid us keep in a
+ready posture, for he believed there were more wolves a coming. We kept
+our arms ready, and our eyes about us; but we saw no more wolves till we
+came through that wood, which was near half a league, and entered the
+plain. As soon as we came into the plain, we had occasion enough to look
+about us: the first object we met with was a dead horse, that is to say,
+a poor horse which the wolves had killed, and at least a dozen of them
+at work, we could not say eating of him, but picking of his bones
+rather; for they had eaten up all the flesh before. We did not think fit
+to disturb them at their feast, neither did they take much notice of us.
+Friday would have let fly at them, but I would not suffer him by any
+means; for I found we were like to have more business upon our hands
+than we were aware of. We were not gone half over the plain, when we
+began to hear the wolves howl in the wood on our left in a frightful
+manner, and presently after we saw about a hundred coming on directly
+towards us, all in a body, and most of them in a line, as regularly as
+an army drawn up by experienced officers. I scarce knew in what manner
+to receive them, but found, to draw ourselves in a close line was the
+only way; so we formed in a moment: but that we might not have, too
+much interval, I ordered that only every other man should fire, and that
+the others who had not fired should stand ready to give them a second
+volley immediately, if they continued to advance upon us; and then that
+those who had fired at first should not pretend to load their fusees
+again, but stand ready every one with a pistol, for we were all armed
+with a fusee and a pair of pistols each man; so we were, by this method,
+able to fire six volleys, half of us at a time: however, at present we
+had no necessity; for upon firing the first volley, the enemy made a
+full stop, being terrified as well with the noise as with the fire; four
+of them being shot in the head, dropped; several others were wounded,
+and went bleeding off, as we could see by the snow. I found they
+stopped, but did not immediately retreat; whereupon, remembering that I
+had been told that the fiercest creatures were terrified at the voice of
+a man, I caused all the company to halloo as loud as we could; and I
+found the notion not altogether mistaken; for upon our shout they began
+to retire, and turn about. I then ordered a second volley to be fired in
+their rear, which put them to the gallop, and away they went to the
+woods. This gave us leisure to charge our pieces again; and that we
+might lose no time, we kept going: but we had but little more than
+loaded our fusees, and put ourselves in readiness, when we heard a
+terrible noise in the same wood, on our left, only that it was farther
+onward, the same way we were to go.
+
+The night was coming on, and the light began to be dusky, which made it
+worse on our side; but the noise increasing, we could easily perceive
+that it was the howling and yelling of those hellish creatures; and, on
+a sudden, we perceived two or three troops of wolves, one on our left,
+one behind us, and one in our front, so that we seemed to be surrounded
+with them: however, as they did not fall upon us, we kept our way
+forward, as fast as we could make our horses go, which, the way being
+very rough, was only a good hard trot. In this manner we came in view of
+the entrance of a wood, through which we were to pass, at the farther
+side of the plain; but we were greatly surprised, when coming nearer the
+lane or pass, we saw a confused number of wolves standing just at the
+entrance. On a sudden, at another opening of the wood, we heard the
+noise of a gun, and looking that way, out rushed a horse, with a saddle
+and a bridle on him, flying like the wind, and sixteen or seventeen
+wolves after him, full speed; indeed the horse had the heels of them,
+but as we supposed that he could not hold it at that rate, we doubted
+not but they would get up with him at last; no question but they did.
+
+But here we had a most horrible sight; for riding up to the entrance
+where the horse came out, we found the carcasses of another horse and of
+two men, devoured by the ravenous creatures; and one of the men was no
+doubt the same whom we heard fire the gun, for there lay a gun just by
+him fired off; but as to the man, his head and the upper part of his
+body were eaten up. This filled us with horror, and we knew not what
+course to take; but the creatures resolved us soon, for they gathered
+about us presently, in hopes of prey; and I verily believe there were
+three hundred of them. It happened very much to our advantage, that at
+the entrance into the wood, but a little way from it, there lay some
+large timber-trees, which had been cut down the summer before, and I
+suppose lay there for carriage. I drew my little troop in among those
+trees, and placing ourselves in a line behind one long tree, I advised
+them all to alight, and keeping that tree before us for a breastwork, to
+stand in a triangle, or three fronts, enclosing our horses in the
+centre. We did so, and it was well we did; for never was a more furious
+charge than the creatures made upon us in this place. They came on with
+a growling kind of noise, and mounted the piece of timber, which, as I
+said, was our breastwork, as if they were only rushing upon their prey;
+and this fury of theirs, it seems, was principally occasioned by their
+seeing our horses behind us. I ordered our men to fire as before, every
+other man; and they took their aim so sure, that they killed several of
+the wolves at the first volley; but there was a necessity to keep a
+continual firing, for they came on like devils, those behind pushing on
+those before.
+
+When we had fired a second volley of our fusees, we thought they stopped
+a little, and I hoped they would have gone off, but it was but a moment,
+for others came forward again; so we fired two volleys of our pistols;
+and I believe in these four firings we had killed seventeen or eighteen
+of them, and lamed twice as many, yet they came on again. I was loath to
+spend our shot too hastily; so I called my servant, not my man Friday,
+for he was better employed, for, with the greatest dexterity imaginable,
+he had charged my fusee and his own while we were engaged; but, as I
+said, I called my other man, and giving him a horn of powder, I bade him
+lay a train all along the piece of timber, and let it be a large train.
+He did so; and had but just time to get away, when the wolves came up to
+it, and some got upon it, when I, snapping an uncharged pistol close to
+the powder, set it on fire: those that were upon the timber were
+scorched with it, and six or seven of them fell, or rather jumped in
+among us, with the force and fright of the fire; we dispatched these in
+an instant, and the rest were so frightened with the light, which the
+night, for it was now very near dark, made more terrible, that they drew
+back a little; upon which I ordered our last pistols to be fired off in
+one volley, and after that we gave a shout: upon this the wolves turned
+tail, and we sallied immediately upon near twenty lame ones, that we
+found struggling on the ground, and fell a cutting them with our
+swords, which answered our expectation; for the crying and howling they
+made was better understood by their fellows; so that they all fled
+and left us.
+
+We had, first and last, killed about threescore of them; and had it been
+daylight, we had killed many more. The field of battle being thus
+cleared, we made forward again, for we had still near a league to go. We
+heard the ravenous creatures howl and yell in the woods as we went,
+several times, and sometimes we fancied we saw some of them, but the
+snow dazzling our eyes, we were not certain: in about an hour more we
+came to the town where we were to lodge, which we found in a terrible
+fright, and all in arms; for, it seems, the night before, the wolves and
+some bears had broke into the village, and put them in such terror, that
+they were obliged to keep guard night and day, but especially in the
+night, to preserve their cattle, and, indeed, their people.
+
+The next morning our guide was so ill, and his limbs swelled so much
+with the rankling of his two wounds, that he could go no farther; so we
+were obliged to take a new guide here, and go to Thoulouse, where we
+found a warm climate, a fruitful pleasant country, and no snow, no
+wolves, nor any thing like them: but when we told our story at
+Thoulouse, they told us it was nothing but what was ordinary in the
+great forest at the foot of the mountains, especially when the snow lay
+on the ground; but they inquired much what kind of a guide we had got,
+who would venture to bring us that way in such a severe season; and told
+us it was surprising we were not all devoured. When we told them how we
+placed ourselves, and the horses in the middle, they blamed us
+exceedingly, and told us it was fifty to one but we had been all
+destroyed; for it was the sight of the horses which made the wolves so
+furious, seeing their prey; and that, at other times, they are really
+afraid of a gun; but being excessive hungry, and raging on that account,
+the eagerness to come at the horses had made them senseless of danger;
+and that if we had not, by the continued fire, and at last by the
+stratagem of the train of powder, mastered them, it had been great odds
+but that we had been torn to pieces: whereas, had we been content to
+have sat still on horseback, and fired as horsemen, they would not have
+taken the horses so much for their own, when men were on their backs, as
+otherwise; and withal they told us, that at last, if we had stood all
+together, and left our horses, they would have been so eager to have
+devoured them, that we might have come off safe, especially having our
+fire-arms in our hands, and being so many in number. For my part, I was
+never so sensible of danger in my life; for seeing above three hundred
+devils come roaring and open-mouthed to devour us, and having nothing to
+shelter us, or retreat to, I gave myself over for lost; and, as it was,
+I believe I shall never care to cross those mountains again; I think I
+would much rather go a thousand leagues by sea, though I was sure to
+meet with a storm once a week.
+
+I have nothing uncommon to take notice of in my passage through France,
+nothing but what other travellers have given an account of, with much
+more advantage than I can. I travelled from Thoulouse to Paris, and
+without any considerable stay came to Calais, and landed safe at Dover,
+the 14th of Jan. after having a severe cold season to travel in.
+
+I was now come to the centre of my travels, and had in a little time all
+my new-discovered estate safe about me; the bills of exchange which I
+brought with me having been very currently paid.
+
+My principal guide and privy counsellor was my good ancient widow; who,
+in gratitude for the money I had sent her, thought no pains too much,
+nor care too great, to employ for me; and I trusted her so entirely with
+every thing, that I was perfectly easy as to the security of my effects:
+and, indeed, I was very happy from the beginning, and now to the end, in
+the unspotted integrity of this good gentlewoman.
+
+And now having resolved to dispose of my plantation in the Brazils, I
+wrote to my old friend at Lisbon; who having offered it to the two
+merchants, the survivors of my trustees, who lived in the Brazils, they
+accepted the offer, and remitted thirty-three thousand pieces-of-eight
+to a correspondent of theirs at Lisbon, to pay for it.
+
+In return, I signed the instrument of sale in the form which they sent
+from Lisbon, and sent it to my old man, who sent me the bills of
+exchange for 32,800 pieces-of-eight for the estate; reserving the
+payment of 100 moidores a year to him (the old man) during his life, and
+50 moidores afterwards to his son for his life, which I had promised
+them; and which the plantation was to make good as a rent-charge. And
+thus I have given the first part of a life of fortune and adventure, a
+life of Providence's chequer-work, and of a variety which the world will
+seldom be able to show the like of: beginning foolishly, but closing
+much more happily than any part of it ever gave me leave so much as
+to hope for.
+
+Any one would think, that in this state of complicated good fortune, I
+was past running any more hazards, and so indeed I had been, if other
+circumstances had concurred: but I was inured to a wandering life, had
+no family, nor many relations; nor, however rich, had I contracted much
+acquaintance; and though I had sold my estate in the Brazils, yet I
+could not keep that country out of my head, and had a great mind to be
+upon the wing again; especially I could not resist the strong
+inclination I had to see my island, and to know if the poor Spaniards
+were in being there. My true friend, the widow, earnestly dissuaded me
+from it, and so far prevailed with me, that, for almost seven years, she
+prevented my running abroad; during which time I took my two nephews,
+the children of one of my brothers, into my care: the eldest having
+something of his own, I bred up as a gentleman, and gave him a
+settlement of some addition to his estate, after my decease. The other I
+put out to a captain of a ship: and after five years, finding him a
+sensible, bold, enterprising young fellow, I put him into a good ship,
+and sent him to sea: and this young fellow afterwards drew me in, as old
+as I was, to farther adventures myself.
+
+In the mean time, I in part settled myself here; for, first of all, I
+married, and that not either to my disadvantage or dissatisfaction, and
+had three children, two sons and one daughter; but my wife dying, and my
+nephew coming home with good success from a voyage to Spain, my
+inclination to go abroad, and his importunity, prevailed, and engaged
+me to go in his ship as a private trader to the East Indies: this was in
+the year 1694.
+
+In this voyage I visited my new colony in the island, saw my successors
+the Spaniards, had the whole story of their lives, and of the villains I
+left there; how at first they insulted the poor Spaniards, how they
+afterwards agreed, disagreed, united, separated, and how at last the
+Spaniards were obliged to use violence with them; how they were
+subjected to the Spaniards; how honestly the Spaniards used them; an
+history, if it were entered into, as full of variety and wonderful
+accidents as my own part: particularly also as to their battles with the
+Caribbeans, who landed several times upon the island, and as to the
+improvement they made upon the island itself; and how five of them made
+an attempt upon the main land, and brought away eleven men and five
+women prisoners; by which, at my coming, I found about twenty young
+children on the island.
+
+Here I stayed about twenty days; left them supplies of all necessary
+things, and particularly of arms, powder, shot, clothes, tools, and two
+workmen, which I brought from England with me; viz. a carpenter and
+a smith.
+
+Besides this, I shared the lands into parts with them, reserved to
+myself the property of the whole, but gave them such parts respectively,
+as they agreed on; and, having settled all things with them, and engaged
+them not to leave the place, I left them there.
+
+From thence I touched at the Brazils, from whence I sent a bark, which
+I bought there, with more people, to the island; and in it, besides
+other supplies, I sent seven women, being such as I found proper for
+service, or for wives to such as would take them. As to the Englishmen,
+I promised them to send them some women from England, with a good cargo
+of necessaries, if they would apply themselves to planting; which I
+afterwards could not perform: the fellows proved very honest and
+diligent, after they were mastered, and had their properties set apart
+for them. I sent them also from the Brazils five cows, three of them
+being big with calf, some sheep, and some hogs, which, when I came again
+were considerably increased.
+
+But all these things, with an account how three hundred Caribbees came
+and invaded them, and ruined their plantations, and how they fought with
+that whole number twice, and were at first defeated and one of them
+killed; but at last a storm destroying their enemies canoes, they
+famished or destroyed almost all the rest, and renewed and recovered the
+possession of their plantation, and still lived upon the island.
+
+All these things, with some very surprising incidents in some new
+adventures of my own, for ten years more, I shall give a farther account
+of in another volume.
+
+END OF, VOL.I.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life and Adventures of Robinson
+Crusoe Of York, Mariner, Vol. 1, by Daniel Defoe
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+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
+<head>
+  <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" />
+
+  <title>The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.</title>
+
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+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
+Of York, Mariner, Vol. 1, by Daniel Defoe
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe Of York, Mariner, Vol. 1
+       With An Account Of His Travels Round Three Parts Of The Globe,
+       Written By Himself, In Two Volumes
+
+Author: Daniel Defoe
+
+Release Date: February 23, 2004 [EBook #11239]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROBINSON CRUSOE, VOL. 1 ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, Charlie Kirschner
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+  <hr class="full" />
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageiii" id="pageiii"></a>[pg iii]</span>
+<h3>THE</h3>
+
+<h2>LIFE AND ADVENTURES</h2>
+
+<h4>OF</h4>
+
+<h1>ROBINSON CRUSOE,</h1>
+
+<h3>OF YORK, MARINER.</h3>
+
+<h4>WITH AN ACCOUNT OF</h4>
+
+<h3>HIS TRAVELS ROUND THREE PARTS OF THE GLOBE.</h3>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h3><i>WRITTEN BY HIMSELF</i>.</h3>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h4>IN TWO VOLUMES.</h4>
+
+<h3>VOL.I.</h3>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width:35%;"><a href="images/000.jpg"><img width = "100%" src="images/000.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
+
+
+
+<h4>1812.</h4>
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="pagev" id="pagev"></a>[pg v]</span>
+
+<h2>THE LIFE OF</h2>
+
+<h2><i>DANIEL DE FOE</i>.</h2>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>Daniel De Foe was descended from a respectable
+family in the county of Northampton, and born
+in London, about the year 1663. His father, James
+Foe, was a butcher, in the parish of St. Giles's,
+Cripplegate, and a protestant dissenter. Why the
+subject of this memoir prefixed the <i>De</i> to his family
+name cannot now be ascertained, nor did he at any
+period of his life think it necessary to give his reasons
+to the public. The political scribblers of the
+day, however, thought proper to remedy this lack
+of information, and accused him of possessing so
+little of the <i>amor patriae</i>, as to make the addition in
+order that he might not be taken for an Englishman;
+though this idea could have had no other foundation
+than the circumstance of his having, in consequence
+of his zeal for King William, attacked the prejudices
+of his countrymen in his "Trueborn Englishman."</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="pagevi" id="pagevi"></a>[pg vi]</span>
+
+<p>After receiving a good education at an academy
+at Newington, young De Foe, before he had attained
+his twenty-first year, commenced his career as an
+author, by writing a pamphlet against a very prevailing
+sentiment in favour of the Turks, who were
+at that time laying siege to Vienna. This production,
+being very inferior to those of his maturer
+years, was very little read, and the indignant author,
+despairing of success with his pen, had recourse to
+the sword; or, as he termed it, when boasting of the
+exploit in his latter years, "displayed his attachment
+to liberty and protestanism," by joining the
+ill-advised insurrection under the Duke of Monmouth,
+in the west. On the failure of that unfortunate
+enterprise, he returned again to the metropolis;
+and it is not improbable, but that the circumstance
+of his being a native of London, and his person
+not much known in that part of the kingdom
+where the rebellion took place, might facilitate his
+escape, and be the means of preventing his being
+brought to trial for his share in the transaction.
+With the professions of a writer and a soldier, Mr.
+De Foe, in the year 1685, joined that of a trader;
+he was first engaged as a hosier, in Cornhill, and
+afterwards as a maker of bricks and pantiles, near
+Tilbury Fort, in Essex; but in consequence of spending
+those hours in the hilarity of the tavern which
+he ought to have employed in the calculations of
+the counting-house, his commercial schemes proved
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="pagevii" id="pagevii"></a>[pg vii]</span>
+unsuccessful; and in 1694 he was obliged to abscond
+from his creditors, not failing to attribute those
+misfortunes to the war and the severity of the times,
+which were doubtless owing to his own misconduct.
+It is much to his credit, however, that after having
+been freed from his debts by composition, and being
+in prosperous circumstances from King William's
+favour, he voluntarily paid most of his creditors
+both the principal and interest of their claims. This
+is such an example of honesty as it would be unjust
+to De Foe and to the world to conceal. The amount
+of the sums thus paid must have been very considerable,
+as he afterwards feelingly mentions to
+Lord Haversham, who had reproached him with
+covetousness; "With a numerous family, and no
+helps but my own industry, I have forced my way
+through a sea of misfortunes, and reduced my debts,
+exclusive of composition, from seventeen thousand
+to less than five thousand pounds."</p>
+
+<p>At the beginning of the year 1700, Mr. De Foe
+published a satire in verse, which excited very considerable
+attention, called the "Trueborn Englishman."
+Its purpose was to furnish a reply to those
+who were continually abusing King William and
+some of his friends as <i>foreigners</i>, by showing that
+the present race of Englishmen was a mixed and
+heterogeneous brood, scarcely any of which could
+lay claim to native purity of blood. The satire
+was in many parts very severe; and though it gave
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageviii" id="pageviii"></a>[pg viii]</span>
+high offence, it claimed a considerable share of the
+public attention. The reader will perhaps be gratified
+by a specimen of this production, wherein he
+endeavours to account for&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem">  <div class="stanza">
+<p>"What makes this discontented land appear</p>
+<p>Less happy now in times of peace, than war;</p>
+<p>Why civil fends disturb the nation more,</p>
+<p>Than all our bloody wars had done before:</p>
+<p>Fools out of favour grudge at knaves in place,</p>
+<p>And men are always honest in disgrace:</p>
+<p>The court preferments make men knaves in course,</p>
+<p>But they, who would be in them, would be worse.</p>
+<p>'Tis not at foreigners that we repine,</p>
+<p>Would foreigners their perquisites resign:</p>
+<p>The grand contention's plainly to be seen,</p>
+<p>To get some men put out, and some put in."</p>
+  </div>  </div>
+
+<p>It will be immediately perceived that De Foe could
+have no pretensions to the character of a <i>poet</i>; but
+he has, notwithstanding, some nervous and well-versified
+lines, and in choice of subject and moral he
+is in general excellent. The Trueborn Englishman
+concludes thus:</p>
+
+<div class="poem">  <div class="stanza">
+<p>Could but our ancestors retrieve their fate,</p>
+<p>And see their offspring thus degenerate;</p>
+<p>How we contend for birth and names unknown,</p>
+<p>And build on their past actions, not our own;</p>
+<p>They'd cancel records, and their tombs deface,</p>
+<p>And openly disown the vile degenerate race.</p>
+<p>For fame of families is all a cheat;</p>
+<p>'TIS PERSONAL VIRTUE ONLY MAKES US GREAT.</p>
+  </div>  </div>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="pageix" id="pageix"></a>[pg ix]</span>
+
+<p>For this defence of foreigners De Foe was amply
+rewarded by King William, who not only ordered
+him a pension, but, as his opponents denominated it,
+appointed him <i>pamphlet-writer general to the court</i>;
+an office for which he was peculiarly well calculated,
+possessing, with a strong mind and a ready wit, that
+kind of yielding conscience which allowed him to
+support the measures of his benefactors, though convinced
+they were injurious to his country. De Foe
+now retired to Newington with his family, and for a
+short time lived at ease; but the death of his royal
+patron deprived him of a generous protector, and
+opened a scene of sorrow which probably embittered
+his future life.</p>
+
+<p>He had always discovered a great inclination to
+engage in religious controversy, and the furious contest,
+civil and ecclesiastical, which ensued on the
+accession of Queen Anne, gave him an opportunity
+of gratifying his favourite passion. He therefore
+published a tract, entitled "The shortest Way with
+the Dissenters, or Proposals for the Establishment
+of the Church," which contained an ironical recommendation
+of persecution, but written in so serious
+a strain, that many persons, particularly Dissenters,
+at first mistook its real intention. The high church
+party however saw, and felt the ridicule, and, by
+their influence, a prosecution was commenced against
+him, and a proclamation published in the Gazette,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="pagex" id="pagex"></a>[pg x]</span>
+offering a reward for his apprehension<a id="footnotetag1" name="footnotetag1"></a><a href="#footnote1"><sup>1</sup></a>. When De
+Foe found with how much rigour himself and his
+pamphlet were about to be treated, he at first
+secreted himself; but his printer and bookseller
+being taken into custody, he surrendered, being resolved,
+as he expresses it, "to throw himself upon
+the favour of government, rather than that others
+should be ruined for his mistakes." In July, 1703,
+he was brought to trial, found guilty, and sentenced
+to be imprisoned, to stand in the pillory, and to pay
+a fine of two hundred marks. He underwent the
+infamous part of the punishment with great fortitude,
+and it seems to have been generally thought
+that he was treated with unreasonable severity. So
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="pagexi" id="pagexi"></a>[pg xi]</span>
+far was he from being ashamed of his fate himself,
+that he wrote a hymn to the pillory, which thus
+ends, alluding to his accusers:</p>
+
+<div class="poem">  <div class="stanza">
+<p>Tell them, the men that plac'd him here</p>
+<p>Are scandals to the times;</p>
+<p>Are at a loss to find his guilt,</p>
+<p>And can't commit his crimes.</p>
+  </div>  </div>
+
+<p>Pope, who has thought fit to introduce him in his
+Dunciad, (probably from no other reason than party
+difference) characterizes him in the following line:</p>
+
+<div class="poem">  <div class="stanza">
+<p>Earless on high stood unabash'd De Foe.</p>
+  </div>  </div>
+
+<p>This is one of those instances of injustice and malignity
+which so frequently occur in the Dunciad, and
+which reflect more dishonour on the author than on
+the parties traduced. De Foe lay friendless and
+distressed in Newgate, his family ruined, and himself
+without hopes of deliverance, till Sir Robert
+Harley, who approved of his principles, and foresaw
+that during a factious age such a genius could be
+converted to many uses, represented his unmerited
+sufferings to the Queen, and at length procured his
+release. The treasurer, Lord Godolphin, also sent
+a considerable sum to his wife and family, and to
+him money to pay his fine and the expense of his
+discharge. Gratitude and fidelity are inseparable
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="pagexii" id="pagexii"></a>[pg xii]</span>
+from an honest man; and it was this benevolent act
+that prompted De Foe to support Harley, with his
+able and ingenious pen, when Anne lay lifeless, and
+his benefactor in the vicissitude of party was persecuted
+by faction, and overpowered, though not conquered,
+by violence.</p>
+
+<p>The talents and perseverance of De Foe began
+now to be properly estimated, and as a firm supporter
+of the administration, he was sent by Lord
+Godolphin to Scotland, on an errand which, as he
+says, was far from being unfit for a sovereign to
+direct, or an honest man to perform. His knowledge
+of commerce and revenue, his powers of insinuation,
+and, above all, his readiness of pen, were
+deemed of no small utility in promoting the union
+of the two kingdoms; of which he wrote an able
+history in 1709, with two dedications, one to the
+Queen, and another to the Duke of Queensbury.
+Soon afterwards he unhappily, by some equivocal
+writings, rendered himself suspected by both parties,
+so that he once more retired to Newington, in hopes
+of spending the remainder of his days in peace.
+His pension being withdrawn, and wearied with
+politics, he began to compose works of a different
+kind.&mdash;The year 1715 may therefore be regarded
+as the period of De Foe's political life. Faction
+henceforth found other advocates, and parties procured
+other writers to disseminate their suggestions,
+and to propagate their falsehoods.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="pagexiii" id="pagexiii"></a>[pg xiii]</span>
+
+<p>In 1715 De Foe published the "Family Instructor;"
+a work inculcating the domestic duties in a
+lively manner, by narration and dialogue, and displaying
+much knowledge of life in the middle ranks
+of society. "Religious Courtship" also appeared
+soon after, which, like the "Family Instructor," is
+eminently religious and moral in its tendency, and
+strongly impresses on the mind that spirit of sobriety
+and private devotion for which the dissenters have
+generally been distinguished. The most celebrated
+of all his works, "The Life and Adventures of
+Robinson Crusoe," appeared in 1719. This work has
+passed through numerous editions, and been translated
+into almost all modern languages. The great
+invention which is displayed in it, the variety of incidents
+and circumstances which it contains, related
+in the most easy and natural manner, together with
+the excellency of the moral and religious reflections,
+render it a performance of very superior and uncommon
+merit, and one of the most interesting works
+that ever appeared. It is strongly recommended
+by Rosseau as a book admirably calculated to promote
+the purposes of natural education; and Dr.
+Blair says, "No fiction, in any language, was ever
+better supported than the Adventures of Robinson
+Crusoe. While it is carried on with that appearance
+of truth and simplicity, which takes a strong
+hold of the imagination of all readers, it suggests,
+at the same time, very useful instruction; by showing
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="pagexiv" id="pagexiv"></a>[pg xiv]</span>
+how much the native powers of man may be exerted
+for surmounting the difficulties of any external situation."
+It has been pretended, that De Foe surreptitiously
+appropriated the papers of Alexander
+Selkirk, a Scotch mariner, who lived four years
+alone on the island of Juan Fernandez, and a sketch
+of whose story had before appeared in the voyage
+of Captain Woodes Rogers. But this charge, though
+repeatedly and confidently brought, appears to be
+totally destitute of any foundation. De Foe probably
+took some general hints for his work from the
+story of Selkirk, but there exists no proof whatever,
+nor is it reasonable to suppose that he possessed
+any of his papers or memoirs, which had been published
+seven years before the appearance of Robinson
+Crusoe. As a farther proof of De Foe's innocence,
+Captain Rogers' Account of Selkirk may be
+produced, in which it is said that the latter had
+neither preserved pen, ink, or paper, and had, in a
+great measure, lost his language; consequently De
+Foe could not have received any written assistance,
+and we have only the assertion of his enemies to
+prove that he had any verbal.</p>
+
+<p>The great success of Robinson Crusoe induced
+its author to write a number of other lives and
+adventures, some of which were popular in their
+times, though at present nearly forgotten. One of
+his latest publications was "A Tour through the
+Island of Great Britain," a performance of very
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="pagexv" id="pagexv"></a>[pg xv]</span>
+inferior merit; but De Foe was now the garrulous
+old man, and his spirit (to use the words of an ingenious
+biographer) "like a candle struggling in
+the socket, blazed and sunk, blazed and sunk, till
+it disappeared at length in total darkness." His
+laborious and unfortunate life was finished on the
+26th of April, 1731, in' the parish of St. Giles's,
+Cripplegate.</p>
+
+<p>Daniel De Foe possessed very extraordinary talents;
+as a commercial writer, he is fairly entitled
+to stand in the foremost rank among his contemporaries,
+whatever may be their performances or their
+fame. His distinguishing characteristics are originality,
+spirit, and a profound knowledge of his subject,
+and in. these particulars he has seldom been
+surpassed. As the author of Robinson Crusoe he
+has a claim, not only to the admiration, but to the
+gratitude of his countrymen; and so long as we
+have a regard for supereminent merit, and take an
+interest in the welfare of the rising generation, that
+gratitude will not cease to exist. But the opinion
+of the learned and ingenious Dr. Beattie will be
+the best eulogium that can be pronounced on that
+celebrated romance: "Robinson Crusoe," says the
+Doctor, "must be allowed, by the most rigid moralist,
+to be one of those novels which one may read,
+riot only with pleasure, but also with profit. It
+"breathes throughout a spirit of piety and benevolence;
+it sets in a very striking light the importance
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="pagexvi" id="pagexvi"></a>[pg xvi]</span>
+of the mechanic arts, which they, who know not
+what it is to be without them, are so apt to under-value;
+it fixes in the mind a lively idea of the horrors
+of solitude, and, consequently, of the sweets
+of social life, and of the blessings we derive from
+conversation and mutual aid; and it shows how,
+by labouring with one's own hands, one may secure
+independence, and open for one's self many sources
+of health and amusement. I agree, therefore, with
+Rosseau, that it is one of the best books that can
+be put into the hands of children."</p>
+
+<p>FOOTNOTES:</p>
+
+<blockquote class="footnote"><a id="footnote1" name="footnote1"></a><b>Footnote 1:</b><a href="#footnotetag1"> (return) </a></blockquote>
+<blockquote>
+ "<i>St. James's, January 10, 1702-5.</i>
+"Whereas Daniel De Foe, alias De Fooe, is charged
+with writing a scandalous and seditious pamphlet, entitled
+'The shortest Way with the Dissenters:' he is a middle-sized
+spare man, about 40 years old, of a brown complexion,
+and dark-brown coloured hair, but wears a wig, a hooked
+nose, a sharp chin, grey eyes, and a large mole near his
+mouth, was born in London, and for many years was a hose-factor,
+in Freeman's Yard, in Cornhill, and now is owner of
+the brick and pantile works near Tilbury Fort, in Essex;
+whoever shall discover the said Daniel De Foe, to one of
+her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, or any of her
+Majesty's Justices of Peace, so as he may be apprehended,
+shall have a reward of £50, which her Majesty has ordered
+immediately to be paid upon such discovery." <i>London Gaz.</i> No. 3879.]
+</blockquote>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page001" id="page001"></a>[pg 001]</span>
+
+
+
+
+<h1>THE</h1>
+
+<h1>LIFE AND ADVENTURES</h1>
+
+<h1>OF</h1>
+
+<h1>ROBINSON CRUSOE.</h1>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width:35%;"><a href="images/001.jpg"><img width = "100%" src="images/001.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
+
+<p>I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York,
+of a good family, though not of that country, my
+father being a foreigner of Bremen, who settled first
+at Hull: he got a good estate by merchandise, and
+leaving off his trade, lived afterwards at York; from
+whence he had married my mother, whose relations
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page002" id="page002"></a>[pg 002]</span>
+were named Robinson, a very good family in that
+country, and from whom I was called Robinson
+Kreutznaer; but, by the usual corruption of words
+in England, we are now called, nay we call ourselves,
+and write, our name Crusoe; and so my companions
+always called me.</p>
+
+<p>I had two elder brothers, one of whom was lieutenant-colonel
+to an English regiment of foot in Flanders,
+formerly commanded by the famous Colonel
+Lockhart, and was killed at the battle near Dunkirk
+against the Spaniards. What became of my second
+brother I never knew, any more than my father or
+mother did know what was become of me.</p>
+
+<p>Being the third son of the family, and not bred to
+any trade, my head began to be filled very early with
+rambling thoughts: my father, who was very ancient,
+had given me a competent share of learning, as far
+as house-education and a country free-school generally
+go, and designed me for the law; but I would
+be satisfied with nothing but going to sea; and my
+inclination to this led me so strongly, against the will,
+nay, the commands of my father, and against all the
+entreaties and persuasions of my mother and other
+friends, that there seemed to be something fatal in
+that propension of nature, tending directly to the
+life of misery which was to befall me.</p>
+
+<p>My father, a wise and grave man, gave me serious
+and excellent counsel against what he foresaw was
+my design. He called me one morning into his
+chamber, where he was confined by the gout, and
+expostulated very warmly with me upon this subject:
+he asked me what reasons more than a mere wandering
+inclination I had for leaving my father's house
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page003" id="page003"></a>[pg 003]</span>
+and my native country, where I might be well introduced,
+and had a prospect of raising my fortune by
+application and industry, with a life of ease and
+pleasure. He told me it was for men of desperate
+fortunes on one hand, or of aspiring, superior fortunes
+on the other, who went abroad upon adventures,
+to rise by enterprise, and make themselves
+famous in undertakings of a nature out of the common
+road; that these things were all either too far
+above me, or too far below me; that mine was the
+middle state, or what might be called the upper
+station of low life, which he had found, by long experience,
+was the best state in the world, the most
+suited to human happiness, not exposed to the miseries
+and hardships, the labour and sufferings of the
+mechanic part of mankind, and not embarrassed
+with the pride, luxury, ambition, and envy of the
+upper part of mankind. He told me, I might judge
+of the happiness of this state by one thing, viz.
+that this was the state of life which all other people
+envied; that kings have frequently lamented the
+miserable consequences of being born to great things,
+and wish they had been placed in the middle of the
+two extremes, between the mean and the great; that
+the wise man gave his testimony to this, as the just
+standard of true felicity, when he prayed to have
+neither poverty nor riches.</p>
+
+<p>He bid me observe it, and I should always find,
+that the calamities of life were shared among the
+upper and lower part of mankind; but that the middle
+station had the fewest disasters, and was not exposed
+to so many vicissitudes as the higher or lower
+part of mankind; nay, they were not subjected to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page004" id="page004"></a>[pg 004]</span>
+so many distempers and uneasinesses, either of body
+or mind, as those were, who, by vicious living, luxury,
+and extravagances, on one hand, or by hard labour,
+want of necessaries, and mean and insufficient diet,
+on the other hand, bring distempers upon themselves
+by the natural consequences of their way of living;
+that the middle station of life was calculated for all
+kind of virtues and all kind of enjoyments; that
+peace and plenty were the handmaids of a middle
+fortune; that temperance, moderation, quietness,
+health, society, all agreeable diversions, and all desirable
+pleasures, were the blessings attending the
+middle station of life; that this way men went silently
+and smoothly through the world, and comfortably
+out of it, not embarrassed with the labours of the
+hands or of the head, not sold to the life of slavery
+for daily bread, or harassed with perplexed circumstances,
+which rob the soul of peace, and the body
+of rest; not enraged with the passion of envy, or
+secret burning lust of ambition for great things; but,
+in easy circumstances, sliding gently through the
+world, and sensibly tasting the sweets of living,
+without the bitter, feeling that they are happy, and
+learning by every day's experience to know it more
+sensibly.</p>
+
+<p>After this, he pressed me earnestly, and in the
+most affectionate manner, not to play the young
+man, not to precipitate myself into miseries which
+nature, and the station of life I was born in, seemed
+to have provided against; that I was under no necessity
+of seeking my bread; that he would do well
+for me, and endeavour to enter me fairly into the
+station of life which he had been just recommending
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page005" id="page005"></a>[pg 005]</span>
+to me; and that if I was not very easy and happy
+in the world, it must be my mere fate or fault that
+must hinder it; and that he should have nothing to
+answer for, having thus discharged his duty in warning
+me against measures which he knew would be
+to my hurt: in a word, that as he would do very
+kind things for me if I would stay and settle at
+home as he directed, so he would not have so much
+hand in my misfortunes, as to give me any encouragement
+to go away: and to close all, he told me
+I had my elder brother for an example, to whom he
+had used the same earnest persuasions to keep him
+from going into the Low Country wars, but could
+not prevail, his young desires prompting him to run
+into the army, where he was killed; and though he
+said he would not cease to pray for me, yet he would
+venture to say to me, that if I did take this foolish
+step, God would not bless me, and I would have
+leisure hereafter to reflect upon having neglected
+his counsel, when there might be none to assist in
+my recovery.</p>
+
+<p>I observed in this last part of his discourse, which
+was truly prophetic, though I suppose my father did
+not know it to be so himself; I say, I observed the
+tears run down his face very plentifully, and especially
+when he spoke of my brother who was killed:
+and that when he spoke of my having leisure to repent,
+and none to assist me, he was so moved, that
+he broke off the discourse, and told me, his heart
+was so full he could say no more to me.</p>
+
+<p>I was sincerely affected with this discourse, as
+indeed who could be otherwise? and I resolved not
+to think of going abroad any more, but to settle at
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page006" id="page006"></a>[pg 006]</span>
+home according to my father's desire. But, alas!
+a few days wore it all off; and, in short, to prevent
+any of my father's further importunities, in a few
+weeks after I resolved to run quite away from him.
+However, I did not act so hastily neither as my first
+heat of resolution prompted, but I took my mother,
+at a time when I thought her a little pleasanter than
+ordinary, and told her, that my thoughts were so
+entirely bent upon seeing the world, that I should
+never settle to any thing with resolution enough to
+go through with it, and my father had better give
+me his consent than force me to go without it; that
+I was now eighteen years old, which was too late to
+go apprentice to a trade, or clerk to an attorney;
+that I was sure, if I did, I should never serve out my
+time, and I should certainly run away from my
+master before my time was out, and go to sea; and
+if she would speak to my father to let me go one
+voyage abroad, if I came home again, and did not
+like it, I would go no more, and I would promise,
+by a double diligence, to recover that time I had
+lost.</p>
+
+<p>This put my mother into a great passion: she
+told me, she knew it would be to no purpose to
+speak to my father upon any such subject; that he
+knew too well what was my interest to give his consent
+to any such thing so much for my hurt; and
+that she wondered how I could think of any such
+thing after such a discourse as I had had with my
+father, and such kind and tender expressions as she
+knew my father had used to me; and that, in short,
+if I would ruin myself, there was no help for me;
+but I might depend I should never have their consent
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page007" id="page007"></a>[pg 007]</span>
+to it: that for her part, she would not have so
+much hand in my destruction; and I should never
+have it to say, that my mother was willing when my
+father was not.</p>
+
+<p>Though my mother refused to move it to my
+father, yet, as I have heard afterwards, she reported
+all the discourse to him, and that my father, after
+showing a great concern at it, said to her with a
+sigh, "That boy might be happy if he would stay
+at home; but if he goes abroad, he will be the most
+miserable wretch that was ever born; I can give no
+consent to it."</p>
+
+<p>It was not till almost a year after this that I broke
+loose, though, in the mean time, I continued obstinately
+deaf to all proposals of settling to business,
+and frequently expostulating with my father and
+mother about their being so positively determined
+against what they knew my inclinations prompted
+me to. But being one day at Hull, where I went
+casually, and without any purpose of making an
+elopement at that time; but, I say, being there, and
+one of my companions then going by sea to London,
+in his father's ship, and prompting me to go with
+them, with the common allurement of seafaring
+men, viz. that it should cost me nothing for my
+passage, I consulted neither father or mother any
+more, not so much as sent them word of it; but
+leaving them to hear of it as they might, without
+asking God's blessing, or my father's, without any
+consideration of circumstances or consequences, and
+in an ill hour, God knows, on the first of September,
+1651, I went on board a ship bound for London.
+Never any young adventurer's misfortunes, I believe,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page008" id="page008"></a>[pg 008]</span>
+began sooner, or continued longer than mine. The
+ship was no sooner gotten out of the Humber, but
+the wind began to blow, and the waves to rise in a
+most frightful manner; and, as I had never been at
+sea before, I was most inexpressibly sick in body,
+and terrified in mind. I began now seriously to
+reflect upon what I had done, and how justly I was
+overtaken by the judgment of Heaven for wickedly
+leaving my father's house, and abandoning my duty.
+All the good counsel of my parents, my father's tears
+and my mother's entreaties, came now fresh into my
+mind; and my conscience, which was not yet come
+to the pitch of hardness to which it has been since,
+reproached me with the contempt of advice, and the
+breach of my duty to God and my father.</p>
+
+<p>All this while the storm increased, and the sea,
+which I had never been upon before, went very
+high, though nothing like what I have seen many
+times since; no, nor like what I saw a few days
+after: but it was enough to affect me then, who was
+but a young sailor, and had never known any thing
+of the matter. I expected every wave would have
+swallowed us up, and that every time the ship fell
+down, as I thought, in the trough or hollow of the
+sea, we should never rise more; and in this agony
+of mind I made many vows and resolutions, that if
+it would please God here to spare my life this one
+voyage, if ever I got once my foot upon dry land
+again, I would go directly home to my father, and
+never set it into a ship again while I lived; that I
+would take his advice, and never run myself into
+such miseries as these any more. "Now I saw plainly
+the goodness of his observations about the middle
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page009" id="page009"></a>[pg 009]</span>
+station of life, how easy, how comfortably he had
+lived all his days, and never had been exposed to
+tempests at sea, or troubles on shore; and I resolved
+that I would, like a true repenting prodigal, go
+home to my father.</p>
+
+<p>These wise and sober thoughts continued during
+the storm, and indeed some time after; but the next
+day, as the wind was abated, and the sea calmer, I
+began to be a little inured to it: however, I was
+very grave for all that day, being also a little sea-sick
+still; but towards night the weather cleared up, the
+wind was quite over, and a charming fine evening
+followed; the sun went down perfectly clear, and
+rose so the next morning; and having little or no
+wind, and a smooth sea, the sun shining upon it, the
+sight was, as I thought, the most delightful that I
+ever saw.</p>
+
+<p>I had slept well in the night, and was now no more
+sea-sick, but very cheerful, looking with wonder upon
+the sea that was so rough and terrible the day before,
+and could be so calm and so pleasant in a little
+time after. And now, lest my good resolutions
+should continue, my companion, who had indeed
+enticed me away, came to me and said, "Well;
+Bob," clapping me on the shoulder, "how do you
+do after it? I warrant you were frightened, wa'n't
+you, last night, when it blew but a cap-full of wind?"&mdash;"A
+cap-full do you call it?? said I; "it was a terrible
+storm."&mdash;" A storm, you fool you," replied he,
+"do you call that a storm? why it was nothing at
+all; give us but a good ship and sea-room, and we
+think nothing of such a squall of wind as that; but
+you're but a fresh-water sailor. Bob, Come, let us
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page010" id="page010"></a>[pg 010]</span>
+make a bowl of punch, and we'll forget all that; do
+you see what charming weather it is now?" To make
+short this sad part of my story, we went the old way
+of all sailors; the punch was made, and I was made
+drunk with it; and in that one night's wickedness I
+drowned all my repentance, all my reflections upon
+my past conduct, and all my resolutions for my
+future. In a word, as the sea was returned to its
+smoothness of surface and settled calmness by the
+abatement of that storm, so the hurry of my thoughts
+being over, my fears and apprehensions of being
+swallowed up by the sea being forgotten, and the
+current of my former desires returned, I entirely
+forgot the vows and promises that I made in my
+distress. I found, indeed, some intervals of reflection;
+and serious thoughts did, as it were, endeavour
+to return again sometimes; but I shook them
+off, and roused myself from them as it were from a
+distemper, and applying myself to drinking and
+company, soon mastered the return of those fits, for
+so I called them; and I had in five or six days got
+as complete a victory over conscience, as any young
+fellow that resolved not to be troubled with it, could
+desire: but I was to have another trial for it still;
+and Providence, as in such cases generally it does,
+resolved to leave me entirely without excuse: for if
+I would not take this for a deliverance, the next was
+to be such a one as the worst and most hardened
+wretch among us would confess both the danger and
+the mercy of.</p>
+
+<p>The sixth day of our being at sea we came into
+Yarmouth Roads; the wind having been contrary,
+and the weather calm, we had made but little way
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page011" id="page011"></a>[pg 011]</span>
+since the storm. Here we were obliged to come to
+anchor, and here we lay, the wind continuing contrary,
+viz. at south-west, for seven or eight days,
+during which tune a great many ships from Newcastle
+came into the same roads, as the common harbour
+where the ships might wait for a wind for the
+River.</p>
+
+<p>We had not, however, rid here so long, but should
+have tided it up the river, but that the wind blew too
+fresh; and, after we had lain four or five days, blew
+very hard. However, the roads being reckoned as
+good as a harbour, the anchorage good, and our
+ground tackle very strong, our men were unconcerned,
+and not in the least apprehensive of danger,
+but spent the time in rest and mirth, after the manner
+of the sea; but the eighth day in the morning the
+wind increased, and we had all hands at work to
+strike our top-masts, and make every thing snug and
+close, that the ship might ride as easy as possible.
+By noon the sea went very high indeed, and our ship
+rode forecastle in, shipped several seas, and we
+thought once or twice our anchor had come home;
+upon which our master ordered out the sheet anchor;
+so that we rode with two anchors a-head, and the
+cables veered out to the better end.</p>
+
+<p>By this time it blew a terrible storm indeed; and
+now I began to see terror and amazement in the faces
+even of the seamen themselves. The master, though
+vigilant in the business of preserving the ship, yet
+as he went in and out of his cabin by me, I could
+hear him softly say to himself several times, "Lord,
+be merciful to us! we shall be all lost; we shall
+be all undone!" and the like. During these first
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page012" id="page012"></a>[pg 012]</span>
+hurries I was stupid, lying still in my cabin, which was
+in the steerage, and cannot describe my temper: I
+could ill reassume the first penitence which I had
+so apparently trampled upon, and hardened myself
+against. I thought the bitterness of death had been
+past, and that this would be nothing like the first:
+but when the master himself came by me, as I said
+just now, and said we should be all lost, I was
+dreadfully frighted: I got up but of my cabin, and
+looked out; but such a dismal sight I never saw;
+the sea went mountains high, and broke upon us
+every three or four minutes: when I could look
+about, I could see nothing but distress around us:
+two ships that rid near us, we found, had cut their
+masts by the board, being deep laden; and our
+men cried out, that a ship which rid about a mile
+a-head of us was foundered. Two more ships being
+driven from their anchors, were run out of the roads
+to sea, at all adventures, and that with not a mast
+standing. The light ships-fared the best, as not so
+much labouring in the sea; but two or three of
+them drove, and came close by us, running away
+with only their spritsail out before the wind.</p>
+
+<p>Towards evening the mate and boatswain begged
+the master of our ship to let them cut away the
+fore-mast, which he was very unwilling to do: but
+the boatswain protesting to him, that if he did not,
+the ship would founder, he consented; and when
+they had cut away the-fore-mast, the main-mast
+stood so loose, and shook the ship so much, they
+were obliged to cut her away also, and make a clear
+deck.</p>
+
+<p>Any one may judge what a condition I must be in
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page013" id="page013"></a>[pg 013]</span>
+at all this, who was but a young sailor, and who had
+been in such a fright before at but a little. But if
+I can express at this distance the thoughts that I
+had about me at that time, I was in tenfold more
+horror of mind upon account of my former convictions,
+and the having returned from them to the
+resolutions I had wickedly taken at first, than I was
+at death itself; and these, added to the terror of
+the storm, put me in such a condition, that I can by
+no words describe it. But the worst was not come
+yet; the storm continued with such fury, that the
+seamen themselves acknowledged they had never
+known a worse. We had a good ship, but she was
+deep laden, and wallowed in the sea, that the
+seamen every now and then cried out, she would
+founder. It was my advantage in one respect, that
+I did not know what they meant by <i>founder</i>, till I
+inquired. However, the storm was so violent, that
+I saw what is not often seen, the master, the boatswain,
+and some others more sensible than the rest,
+at their prayers, and expecting every moment when
+the ship would go to the bottom. In the middle of
+the night, and under all the rest of our distresses,
+one of the men that had been down on purpose to
+see, cried out, we had sprung a leak; another said,
+there was four foot water in the hold. Then all
+hands were called to the pump. At that very word
+my heart, as I thought, died within me, and I fell
+backwards upon the side of my bed where I sat,
+into the cabin. However, the men roused me, and
+told me, that I, that was able to do nothing before,
+was as well able to pump as another; at which I
+stirred up, and went to the pump and worked very
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page014" id="page014"></a>[pg 014]</span>
+heartily. While this was doing, the master seeing
+some light colliers, who, not able to ride out the
+storm, were obliged to slip and run away to sea, and
+would not come near us, ordered us to fire a gun as
+a signal of distress. I, who knew nothing what that
+meant, was so surprised, that I thought the ship had
+broke, or some dreadful thing had happened. In a
+word, I was so surprised, that I fell down in a swoon.
+As this was a time when every body had his own
+life to think of, nobody minded me, or what was
+become of me; but another man stept up to the
+pump, and thrusting me aside with his foot, let me
+lie, thinking I had been dead; and it was a great
+while before I came to myself.</p>
+
+<p>We worked on; but the water increasing in the
+hold, it was apparent that the ship would founder;
+and though the storm began to abate a little, yet as
+it was not possible she could swim till we might run
+into a port, so the master continued firing guns for
+help; and a light ship, who had rid it out just a-head
+of us, ventured a boat out to help us. It was with
+the utmost hazard the boat came near us, but it was
+impossible for us to get on board, or for the boat to
+lie near the ship's side, till at last the men rowing
+very heartily, and venturing their lives to save ours,
+our men cast them a rope over the stern with a buoy
+to it, and then veered it out a great length, which
+they, after great labour and hazard, took hold of, and
+we hauled them close under our stern, and got all
+into their boat. It was to no purpose for them or
+us, after we were in the boat, to think of reaching
+to their own ship; so all agreed to let her drive, and
+only to pull her in towards shore as much as we
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page015" id="page015"></a>[pg 015]</span>
+could; and our master promised them, that if the
+boat was staved upon shore he would make it good
+to their master: so partly rowing and partly driving,
+our boat went away to the northward, sloping towards
+the shore almost as far as Winterton Ness.</p>
+
+<p>We were not much more than a quarter of an
+hour out of our ship but we saw her sink, and then
+I understood for the first time what was meant by a
+ship foundering in the sea. I must acknowledge I
+had hardly eyes to look up when the seamen told
+me she was sinking; for from that moment they
+rather put me into the boat, than that I might be
+said to go in; my heart was, as it were, dead within
+me, partly with fright, partly with horror of mind,
+and the thoughts of what was yet before me.</p>
+
+<p>While we were in this condition, the men yet
+labouring at the oar to bring the boat near the shore,
+we could see (when, our boat mounting the waves,
+we were able to see the shore) a great many people
+running along the strand to assist us when we should
+come near; but we made but slow way towards
+the shore; nor were we able to reach it, till,
+being past the light-house at Winterton, the shore
+falls off to the westward, towards Cromer, and so the
+land broke off a little the violence of the wind.
+Here we got in, and, though not without much difficulty,
+got all safe on shore, and walked afterwards
+on foot to Yarmouth, where, as unfortunate men,
+we were used with great humanity, as well by the
+magistrates of the town, who assigned us good
+quarters, as by particular merchants and owners of
+ships, and had money given us sufficient to carry us
+either to London or back to Hull, as we thought
+fit.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page016" id="page016"></a>[pg 016]</span>
+
+<p>Had I now had the sense to have gone back to
+Hull, and have gone home, I had been happy, and
+my father, an emblem of our blessed Saviour's parable,
+had even killed the fatted calf for me; for
+hearing the ship I went away in was cast away in
+Yarmouth Roads, it was a great while before he
+had any assurance that I was not drowned.</p>
+
+<p>But my ill fate pushed me on now with an obstinacy
+that nothing could resist; and though I had
+several times loud calls from my reason, and my
+more composed judgment, to go home, yet I had no
+power to do it. I know not what to call this, nor
+will I urge that it is a secret overruling decree that
+hurries us on to be the instruments of our own
+destruction, even though it be before us, and that
+we rush upon it with our eyes open. Certainly,
+nothing but some such decreed unavoidable misery
+attending, and which it was impossible for me to
+escape, could have pushed me forward against the
+calm reasonings and persuasions of my most retired
+thoughts, and against two such visible instructions
+as I had met with in my first attempt.</p>
+
+<p>My comrade, who had helped to harden me before,
+and who was the master's son, was now less forward
+than I. The first time he spoke to me after we were
+at Yarmouth, which was not till two or three days,
+for we were separated in the town to several quarters;
+I say, the first time he saw me, it appeared his
+tone was altered, and looking very melancholy, and
+shaking his head, asked me how I did, and telling
+his father who I was, and how I had come this voyage
+only for a trial, in order to go farther abroad;
+his father turning to me with a very grave and
+concerned tone, "Young man," says he, "you
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page017" id="page017"></a>[pg 017]</span>
+ought never to go to sea any more; you ought to
+take this for a plain and visible token that you are
+not to be a seafaring man,"&mdash;"Why, Sir," said I,
+"will you go to sea no more?" "That is another
+case," said he; "it is my calling, and therefore my
+duty; but as you made this voyage for a trial, you
+see what a taste Heaven has given you of what you
+are to expect if you persist. Perhaps this has all
+befallen us on your account, like Jonah in the ship
+of Tarshish. Pray," continues he, "what are you;
+and on what account did you go to sea?" Upon that
+I told him some of my story; at the end of which
+he burst out with a strange kind of passion; "What
+had I done," says he, "that such an unhappy
+wretch should come into my ship? I would not set
+my foot in the same ship with thee again for a thousand
+pounds," This indeed was, as I said, an excursion
+of his spirits, which were yet agitated by the
+sense of his loss, and was farther than he could
+have authority to go. However, he afterwards
+talked very gravely to me, exhorting me to go back
+to my father, and not tempt Providence to my ruin;
+told me I might see a visible hand of Heaven against
+me. "And young man," said he, "depend upon
+it, if you do not go back, wherever you go, you will
+meet with nothing but disasters and disappointments,
+till your father's words are fulfilled upon you."</p>
+
+<p>We parted soon after; for I made him little
+answer, and I saw him no more: which way he went,
+I know not. As for me, having some money in my
+pocket, I travelled to London by land; and there, as
+well as on the road, had many struggles with myself,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page018" id="page018"></a>[pg 018]</span>
+what course of life I should take, and whether I
+should go home, or go to sea.</p>
+
+<p>As to going home, shame opposed the best notions
+that offered to my thoughts; and it immediately
+occurred to me how I should be laughed at among
+the neighbours, and should be ashamed to see, not
+my father and mother only, but even every body
+else; from whence I have since often observed, how
+incongruous and irrational the common temper of
+mankind is, especially of youth, to that reason which
+ought to guide them in such cases, viz. that they are
+not ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed to repent;
+nor ashamed of the action for which they ought
+justly to be esteemed fools, but are ashamed of the
+returning, which only can make them be esteemed
+wise men.</p>
+
+<p>In this state of life, however, I remained some
+time, uncertain what measures to take, and what
+course of life to lead. An irresistible reluctance
+continued to going home; and as I stayed a while,
+the remembrance of the distress I had been in wore
+off; and as that abated, the little notion I had in my
+desires to a return wore off with it, till at last I
+quite laid aside the thoughts of it, and looked out
+for a voyage.</p>
+
+<p>That evil influence which carried me first away
+from my father's house, that hurried me into the
+wild and indigested notion of raising my fortune;
+and that impressed those conceits so forcibly upon
+me, as to make me deaf to all good advice, and to
+the entreaties and even the commands of my father:
+I say, the same influence, whatever it was, presented
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page019" id="page019"></a>[pg 019]</span>
+the most unfortunate of all enterprises to my view;
+and I went on board a vessel bound to the coast of
+Africa; or, as our sailors vulgarly call it, a voyage
+to Guinea.</p>
+
+<p>It was my great misfortune that in all these adventures
+I did not ship myself as a sailor; whereby,
+though I might indeed have worked a little harder
+than ordinary, yet at the same time I had learnt the
+duty and office of a foremast-man; and in time might
+have qualified myself for a mate or lieutenant, if not
+for a master. But as it was always my fate to choose
+for the worse, so I did here; for having money in
+my pocket, and good clothes upon my back, I would
+always go on board in the habit of a gentleman;
+and so I neither had any business in the ship, or
+learnt to do any.</p>
+
+<p>It was my lot first of all to fall into pretty good
+company in London, which does not always happen
+to such loose and unguided young fellows as I then
+was; the devil generally not omitting to lay some
+snare for them very early: but it was not so with
+me. I first fell acquainted with the master of a ship
+who had been on the coast of Guinea; and who,
+having had very good success there, was resolved to
+go again; and who taking a fancy to my conversation,
+which was not at all disagreeable at that
+time, hearing me say I had a mind to see the world,
+told me if I would go the voyage with him I should
+be at no expense; I should be his messmate and his
+companion; and if I could carry any thing with me,
+I should have all the advantage of it that the trade
+would admit; and perhaps I might meet with some
+encouragement.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page020" id="page020"></a>[pg 020]</span>
+
+<p>I embraced the offer; and entering into a strict
+friendship with this captain, who was an honest and
+plain-dealing man, I went the voyage with him, and
+carried a small adventure with me, which, by the
+disinterested honesty of my friend the captain, I
+increased very considerably; for I carried about
+£40 in such toys and trifles as the captain directed
+me to buy. This £40 I had mustered together by
+the assistance of some of my relations whom I corresponded
+with, and who, I believe, got my father,
+or at least my mother, to contribute so much as that
+to my first adventure.</p>
+
+<p>This was the only voyage which I may say I was
+successful in all my adventures, and which I owe to
+the integrity and honesty of my friend the captain;
+under whom also I got a competent knowledge of
+the mathematics and the rules of navigation, learnt
+how to keep an account of the ship's course, take an
+observation, and, in short, to understand some things
+that were needful to be understood by a sailor: for,
+as he took delight to instruct me, I took delight to
+learn; and, in a word, this voyage made me both a
+sailor and a merchant: for I brought home five
+pounds nine ounces of gold-dust for my adventure,
+which yielded me in London at my return almost
+£300, and this filled me with those aspiring thoughts
+which have so completed my ruin.</p>
+
+<p>Yet even in this voyage I had my misfortunes too;
+particularly, that I was continually sick, being
+thrown into a violent calenture by the excessive heat
+of the climate; our principal trading being upon
+the coast, from the latitude of 15 degrees north
+even to the line itself.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page021" id="page021"></a>[pg 021]</span>
+
+<p>I was now set up for a Guinea trader; and my
+friend, to my great misfortune, dying soon after his
+arrival, I resolved to go the same voyage again, and
+I embarked in the same vessel with one who was his
+mate in his former voyage, and had now got the
+command of the ship. This was the unhappiest
+voyage that ever man made; for though I did not
+carry quite £100 of my new-gained wealth, so that
+I had £200 left, and which I lodged with my friend's
+widow, who was very just to me, yet I fell into terrible
+misfortunes in this voyage; and the first was
+this, viz. our ship making her course towards the
+Canary Islands, or rather between those islands and
+the African shore, was surprised in the grey of the
+morning by a Turkish rover, of Sallee, who gave
+chase to us with all the sail she could make. We
+crowded also as much canvass as our yards would
+spread, or our masts carry to have got clear; but
+finding the pirate gained upon us, and would certainly
+come up with us in a few hours, we prepared
+to fight; our ship having twelve guns, and the rover
+eighteen. About three in the afternoon he came up
+with us, and bringing to, by mistake, just athwart our
+quarter, instead of athwart our stern, as he intended,
+we brought eight of our guns to bear on that side,
+and poured in a broadside upon him, which made
+him sheer off again, after returning our fire, and
+pouring in also his small-shot from near 200 men
+which he had on board. However, we had not a
+man touched, all our men keeping close. He prepared
+to attack us again, and we to defend ourselves;
+but laying us on board the next time upon our other
+quarter, he entered sixty men upon our decks, who
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page022" id="page022"></a>[pg 022]</span>
+immediately fell to cutting and hacking the sails
+and rigging. We plied them with small-shot, half-pikes,
+powder-chests, and such like, and cleared our
+deck of them twice. However, to cut short this melancholy
+part of our story, our ship being disabled,
+and three of our men killed and eight wounded, we
+were obliged to yield, and were carried all prisoners
+into Sallee, a port belonging to the Moors.</p>
+
+<p>The usage I had there was not so dreadful as at
+first I apprehended; nor was I carried up the country
+to the emperor's court, as the rest of our men
+were, but was kept by the captain of the rover as
+his proper prize, and made his slave, being young
+and nimble, and fit for his business. At this surprising
+change of my circumstances, from a merchant
+to a miserable slave, I was perfectly overwhelmed;
+and now I looked back upon my father's
+prophetic discourse to me, that I should be miserable,
+and have none to relieve me, which I thought
+was now so effectually brought to pass, that I could
+not be worse; that now the hand of Heaven had
+overtaken me, and I was undone without redemption:
+but, alas! this was but a taste of the misery
+I was to go through, as will appear in the sequel of
+this story.</p>
+
+<p>As my new patron, or master, had taken me home
+to his house, so I was in hopes that he would take
+me with him when he went to sea again, believing
+that it would sometime or other be his fate to be
+taken by a Spanish or Portugal man of war; and
+that then I should be set at liberty. But this hope
+of mine was soon taken away; for when he went to
+sea, he left me on shore to look after his little garden,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page023" id="page023"></a>[pg 023]</span>
+and do the common drudgery of slaves about
+his house; and when he came home again from his
+cruise, he ordered me to lie in the cabin to look
+after the ship.</p>
+
+<p>Here I meditated nothing but my escape, and
+what method I might take to effect it, but found no
+way that had the least probability in it: nothing
+presented to make the supposition of it rational;
+for I had nobody to communicate it to that would
+embark with me, no fellow slave, no Englishman,
+Irishman, or Scotchman there but myself; so that for
+two years, though I often pleased myself with the
+imagination, yet I never had the least encouraging
+prospect of putting it in practice.</p>
+
+<p>After about two years an odd circumstance presented
+itself, which put the old thought of making
+some attempt for my liberty again in my head. My
+patron lying at home longer than usual without fitting
+out his ship, which, as I heard, was for want of
+money, he used constantly, once or twice a week,
+sometimes oftener, if the weather was fair, to take
+the ship's pinnace, and go out into the road a-fishing;
+and as he always took me and a young Moresco
+with him to row the boat, we made him very merry,
+and I proved very dexterous in catching fish; insomuch
+that sometimes he would send me with a Moor,
+one of his kinsmen, and the youth of Moresco, as
+they called him, to catch a dish of fish for him.</p>
+
+<p>It happened one time, that going a-fishing in a
+stark calm morning, a fog rose so thick, that though
+we were not half a league from the shore we lost
+sight of it; and rowing we knew not whither or
+which way, we laboured all day, and all the next
+night, and when the morning came we found we had
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page024" id="page024"></a>[pg 024]</span>
+pulled off to sea instead of pulling in for the shore;
+and that we were at least two leagues from the
+shore: however, we got well in again, though with
+a great deal of labour and some danger; for the
+wind began to blow pretty fresh in the morning;
+but particularly we were all very hungry.</p>
+
+<p>But our patron, warned by this disaster, resolved
+to take more care of himself for the future; and
+having lying by him the long-boat of our English
+ship he had taken, he resolved he would not go
+a-fishing any more without a compass and some provision;
+so he ordered the carpenter of his ship,
+who also was an English slave, to build a little state-room,
+or cabin, in the middle of the long-boat, like
+that of a barge, with a place to stand behind it to
+steer and haul home the main-sheet; and room before
+for a hand or two to stand and work the sails:
+she sailed with what we call a shoulder of mutton
+sail; and the boom gibbed over the top of the cabin,
+which lay very snug and low, and had in it room
+for him to lie, with a slave or two, and a table to
+eat on, with some small lockers to put in some
+bottles of such liquor as he thought fit to drink;
+and particularly his bread, rice, and coffee.</p>
+
+<p>We went frequently out with this boat a-fishing,
+and as I was most dexterous to catch fish for him,
+he never went without me. It happened that he had
+appointed to go out in this boat, either for pleasure
+or for fish, with two or three Moors of some distinction
+in that place, and for whom he had provided
+extraordinarily, and had therefore sent on board the
+boat over-night a larger store of provisions than ordinary;
+and had ordered me to get ready three
+fuzees with powder and shot, which were on board
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page025" id="page025"></a>[pg 025]</span>
+his ship; for that they designed some sport of fowling
+as well as fishing.</p>
+
+<p>I got all things ready as he had directed, and
+waited the next morning with the boat washed clean,
+her ensign and pendants out, and every thing to
+accommodate his guests; when by and by my patron
+came on board alone, and told me his guests had
+put off going, upon some business that fell out, and
+ordered me with the man and boy, as usual, to go
+out with the boat and catch them some fish, for that
+his friends were to sup at his house; and commanded
+that as soon as I got some fish I should bring it home
+to his house; all which I prepared to do.</p>
+
+<p>This moment my former notions of deliverance
+darted into my thoughts, for now I found I was like
+to have a little ship at my command; and my master
+being gone, I prepared to furnish myself, not for
+fishing business, but for a voyage; though I knew
+not, neither did I so much as consider, whither I
+should steer; for any where, to get out of that
+place, was my way.</p>
+
+<p>My first contrivance was to make a pretence to
+speak to this Moor, to get something for our subsistence
+on board; for I told him we must not presume
+to eat of our patron's bread; he said, that was true:
+so he brought a large basket of rusk or biscuit of
+their kind, and three jars with fresh water, into the
+boat. I knew where my patron's case of bottles
+stood, which it was evident, by the make, were taken
+out of some English prize, and I conveyed them into
+the boat while the Moor was on shore, as if they had
+been there before for our master: I conveyed also
+a great lump of bees-wax into the boat, which
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page026" id="page026"></a>[pg 026]</span>
+weighed above half a hundred weight, with a parcel
+of twine or thread, a hatchet, a saw, and a hammer,
+all which were of great use to us afterwards, especially
+the wax to make candles. Another trick I
+tried upon him, which he innocently came into also;
+his name was Ismael, whom they call Muley, or
+Moley; so I called him: "Moley," said I, "our
+patron's guns are on board the boat; can you not
+get a little powder and shot? it may be we may kill
+some alcamies (a fowl like our curlews) for ourselves,
+for I know he keeps the gunner's stores in the ship."&mdash;"Yes,"
+says he, "I'll bring some;" and accordingly
+he brought a great leather pouch which held
+about a pound and a half of powder, or rather more;
+and another with shot, that had five or six pounds,
+with some bullets, and put all into the boat: at the
+same time I had found some powder of my master's
+in the great cabin, with which I filled one of the
+large bottles in the case, which was almost empty,
+pouring what was in it into another; and thus furnished
+with every thing needful, we sailed out of the
+port to fish. The castle, which is at the entrance
+of the port, knew who we were, and took no notice
+of us: and we were not above a mile out of the port
+before we hauled in our sail, and set us down to fish.
+The wind blew from the N.N.E. which was contrary
+to my desire; for had it blown southerly, I had been
+sure to have made the coast of Spain, and at least
+reached to the bay of Cadiz; but my resolutions
+were, blow which way it would, I would be gone
+from that horrid place where I was, and leave the
+rest to fate.</p>
+
+<p>After we had fished some time and catched
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page027" id="page027"></a>[pg 027]</span>
+nothing, for when I had fish on my hook I would
+not pull them up, that he might not see them, I said
+to the Moor, "This will not do; our master will
+not be thus served; we must stand farther off." He,
+thinking no harm, agreed, and being in the head of
+the boat set the sails; and as I had the helm I run
+the boat out near a league farther, and then brought
+her to as if I would fish; when giving the boy the
+helm, I stepped forward to where the Moor was,
+and making as if I stooped for something behind
+him, I took him by surprise with my arm under his
+waist, and tossed him clear overboard into the sea.
+He rose immediately, for he swam like a cork, and
+called to me, begged to be taken in, told me he
+would go all over the world with me. He swam so
+strong after the boat, that he would have reached
+me very quickly, there being but little wind; upon
+which I stepped into the cabin, and fetching one of
+the fowling-pieces, I presented it at him, and told
+him, I had done him no hurt, and if he would be
+quiet I would do him none: "But," said I, "you
+swim well enough to reach to the shore, and the sea
+is calm; make the best of your way to shore, and I
+will do you no harm; but if you come near the boat
+I'll shoot you through the head, for I am resolved
+to have my liberty." so he turned himself about,
+and swam for the shore, and I make no doubt but
+he reached it with ease, for he was an excellent
+swimmer.</p>
+
+<p>I could have been content to have taken this Moor
+with me, and have drowned the boy, but there was
+no venturing to trust him. When he was gone I
+turned to the boy, whom they called Xury, and said
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page028" id="page028"></a>[pg 028]</span>
+to him, "Xury, if you will be faithful to me I'll
+make you a great man; but if you will not stroke
+your face to be true to me," that is, swear by Mahomet
+and his father's beard, "I must throw you into
+the sea too." The boy smiled in my face, and spoke
+so innocently, that I could not mistrust him; and
+swore to be faithful to me, and go all over the world
+with me.</p>
+
+<p>While I was in view of the Moor that was swimming,
+I stood out directly to sea with the boat, rather
+stretching to windward, that they might think me
+gone towards the Straits' mouth; (as indeed any one
+that had been in their wits must have been supposed
+to do) for who would have supposed we were sailed
+on to the southward to the truly Barbarian coast,
+where whole nations of Negroes were sure to surround
+us with the canoes, and destroy us; where we
+could never once go on shore but we should be devoured
+by savage beasts, or more merciless savages
+of human kind?</p>
+
+<p>But as soon as it grew dusk in the evening, I
+changed my course, and steered directly south and
+by east, bending my course a little toward the east,
+that I might keep in with the shore; and having a
+fair, fresh gale of wind, and a smooth, quiet sea, I
+made such sail that I believe by the next day at
+three o'clock in the afternoon, when I first made the
+land, I could not be less than 150 miles south of
+Sallee; quite beyond the Emperor of Morocco's
+dominions, or indeed of any other king thereabout,
+for we saw no people.</p>
+
+<p>Yet such was the fright I had taken at the Moors,
+and the dreadful apprehensions I had of falling into
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page029" id="page029"></a>[pg 029]</span>
+their hands, that I would not stop, or go on shore,
+or come to an anchor; the wind continuing fair till
+I had sailed in that manner five days; and then the
+wind shifting to the southward, I concluded also that
+if any of our vessels were in chase of me, they also
+would now give over; so I ventured to make to the
+coast, and come to an anchor in the mouth of a little
+river, I knew not what, or where; neither what latitude,
+what country, what nation, or what river: I
+neither saw, or desired to see any people; the principal
+thing I wanted was fresh water. We came into
+this creek in the evening, resolving to swim on shore
+as soon as it was dark, and discover the country; but,
+as soon as it was quite dark, we heard such dreadful
+noises of the barking, roaring, and howling of
+wild creatures, of we knew not what kinds, that the
+poor boy was ready to die with fear, and begged of
+me not to go on shore till day. "Well, Xury," said
+I, "then I won't; but it may be we may see men by
+day, who will be as bad to us as those lions."&mdash;"Then
+we give them the shoot gun," says Xury,
+laughing, "make them run wey." Such English
+Xury spoke by conversing among us slaves. However
+I was glad to see the boy so cheerful, and I gave
+him a dram (out of our patron's case of bottles) to
+cheer him up. After all, Xury's advice was good,
+and I took it; we dropped our little anchor, and lay
+still all night; I say still, for we slept none; for in
+two or three hours we saw vast great creatures (we
+knew not what to call them) of many sorts, come
+down to the sea-shore and run into the water, wallowing
+and washing themselves for the pleasure of
+cooling themselves; and they made such hideous
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page030" id="page030"></a>[pg 030]</span>
+howlings and yellings, that I never indeed heard the
+like.</p>
+
+<p>Xury was dreadfully frightened, and indeed so was
+I too; but we were both more frightened when we
+heard one of these mighty creatures come swimming
+towards our boat; we could not see him, but we
+might hear him by his blowing to be a monstrous
+huge and furious beast; Xury said it was a lion, and
+it might be so for aught I know; but poor Xury
+cried to me to weigh the anchor and row away:
+"No," says I, "Xury; we can slip our cable with
+the buoy to it, and go off to sea; they cannot follow
+us far." I had no sooner said so, but I perceived the
+creature (whatever it was) within two oars' length,
+which something surprised me; however, I immediately
+stepped to the cabin-door, and taking up my
+gun, fired at him; upon which he immediately
+turned about, and swam towards the shore again.</p>
+
+<p>But it is impossible to describe the horrible noises,
+and hideous cries and howlings, that were raised, as
+well upon the edge of the shore as higher within the
+country, upon the noise or report of the gun, a thing
+I have some reason to believe those creatures had
+never heard before: this convinced me that there
+was no going on shore for us in the night upon that
+coast, and how to venture on shore in the day was
+another question too; for to have fallen into the
+hands of any of the savages, had been as bad as to
+have fallen into the hands of lions and tigers; at least
+we were equally apprehensive of the danger of it.</p>
+
+<p>Be that as it would, we were obliged to go on
+shore somewhere or other for water, for we had not
+a pint left in the boat; when or where to get it, was
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page031" id="page031"></a>[pg 031]</span>
+the point: Xury said, if I would let him go on shore
+with one of the jars, he would find if there was any
+water, and bring some to me. I asked him why he
+would go? why I should not go, and he stay in the
+boat? The boy answered with so much affection, that
+made me love him ever after. Says he, "If wild
+mans come, they eat me, you go wey."&mdash;"Well,
+Xury," said I, "we will both go, and if the wild
+mans come, we will kill them, they shall eat neither
+of us." So I gave Xury a piece of rusk bread to
+eat, and a dram out of our patron's case of bottles
+which I mentioned before; and we hauled the boat in
+as near the shore as we thought was proper, and
+so waded to shore; carrying nothing but our arms,
+and two jars for water.</p>
+
+<p>I did not care to go out of sight of the boat, fearing
+the coming of canoes with savages down the
+river: but the boy seeing a low place about a mile
+up the country, rambled to it; and by and by I saw
+him come running towards me. I thought he was
+pursued by some savage, or frighted with some wild
+beast, and I run forward towards him to help him,
+but when I came nearer to him, I saw something
+hanging over his shoulders, which was a creature
+that he had shot, like a hare, but different in
+colour, and longer legs; however, we were very
+glad of it, and it was very good meat; but the
+great joy that poor Xury came with, was to tell
+me he had found good water, and seen no wild
+mans.</p>
+
+<p>But we found afterwards that we need not take
+such pains for water, for a little higher up the creek
+where we were, we found the water fresh when the
+tide was out, which flows but a little way up; so we
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page032" id="page032"></a>[pg 032]</span>
+filled our jars, and feasted on the hare we had killed,
+and prepared to go on our way, having seen no footsteps
+of any human creature in that part of the
+country.</p>
+
+<p>As I had been one voyage to this coast before, I
+knew very well that the islands of the Canaries, and
+the Cape de Verd islands also, lay not far off from
+the coast. But as I had no instruments to take an
+observation to know what latitude we were in, and
+not exactly knowing, or at least remembering what
+latitude they were in, and knew not where to look
+for them, or when to stand off to sea towards them;
+otherwise I might now easily have found some of
+these islands. But my hope was, that if I stood
+along this coast till I came to that part where the
+English traded, I should find some of their vessels
+upon their usual design of trade, that would relieve
+and take us in.</p>
+
+<p>By the best of my calculation, that place where
+I now was, must be that country, which, lying between
+the emperor of Morocco's dominions and the
+Negroes, lies waste, and uninhabited, except by wild
+beasts; the Negroes having abandoned it, and gone
+farther south for fear of the Moors; and the Moors
+not thinking it worth inhabiting, by reason of its
+barrenness; and indeed both forsaking it because of
+the prodigious numbers of tigers, lions, and leopards,
+and other furious creatures which harbour there; so
+that the Moors use it for their hunting only, where
+they go like an army, two or three thousand men at
+a time; and indeed for near an hundred miles together
+upon this coast, we saw nothing but a waste,
+uninhabited country by day, and heard nothing but
+howlings and roaring of wild beasts by night.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page033" id="page033"></a>[pg 033]</span>
+
+<p>Once or twice in the day-time I thought I saw the
+Pico of Teneriffe, being the high top of the Mountain
+Teneriffe in the Canaries; and had a great mind
+to venture out, in hopes of reaching thither; but
+having tried twice, I was forced in again by contrary
+winds, the sea also going too high for my little
+vessel; so I resolved to pursue my first design, and
+keep along the shore.</p>
+
+<p>Several times I was obliged to land for fresh
+water, after we had left this place; and once in particular,
+being early in the morning, we came to an
+anchor under a little point of land which was pretty
+high; and the tide beginning to flow, we lay still to
+go farther in. Xury, whose eyes were more about
+him than it seems mine were, calls softly to me, and
+tells me that we had best go farther off the shore;
+"for," says he, "look yonder lies a dreadful monster
+on the side of that hillock fast asleep." I
+looked where he pointed, and saw a dreadful monster
+indeed, for it was a terrible great lion that lay on
+the side of the shore, under the shade of a piece of
+the hill that hung as it were a little over him.
+"Xury," says I, "you shall go on shore and kill
+him." Xury looked frightened, and said, "Me kill!
+he eat me at one mouth;" one mouthful he meant:
+however, I said no more to the boy, but bad him lie
+still, and I took our biggest gun, which was almost
+musket-bore, and loaded it with a good charge of
+powder, and with two slugs, and laid it down; then
+I loaded another gun with two bullets; and the
+third (for we had three pieces) I loaded with five
+smaller bullets. I took the best aim I could with
+the first piece to have shot him in the head, but
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page034" id="page034"></a>[pg 034]</span>
+he lay so with his leg raised a little above his nose,
+that the slugs hit his leg about the knee, and broke
+the bone. He started up, growling at first, but
+finding his leg broke, fell down again, and then got
+up upon three legs, and gave the most hideous roar
+that ever I heard. I was a little surprised that I
+had not hit him on the head; however, I took up
+the second piece immediately, and, though he began
+to move off, fired again, and shot him in the head,
+and had the pleasure to see him drop, and make but
+little noise, but lie struggling for life. Then Xury
+took heart, and would have me let him go on shore;
+"Well, go," said I; so the boy jumped into the
+water, and taking a little gun in one hand, swam to
+shore with the other hand, and coming close to the
+creature, put the muzzle of the piece to his ear, and
+shot him in the head again, which dispatched him
+quite.</p>
+
+<p>This was game indeed to us, but this was no food;
+and I was very sorry to lose three charges of powder
+and shot upon a creature that was good for nothing
+to us. However, Xury said he would have some of
+him; so he comes on board, and asked me to give
+him the hatchet. "For what, Xury?" said I, "Me
+cut off his head," said he. However, Xury could not
+cut off his head, but he cut off a foot, and brought
+it with him, and it was a monstrous great one.</p>
+
+<p>I bethought myself however, that perhaps the
+skin of him might one way or other be of some
+value to us; and I resolved to take off his skin if I
+could. So Xury and I went to work with him; but
+Xury was much the better workman at it, for I knew
+very ill how to do it. Indeed it took us both up
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page035" id="page035"></a>[pg 035]</span>
+the whole day, but at last we got off the hide of
+him, and spreading it on the top of our cabin, the
+sun effectually dried it in two days' time, and it
+afterwards served me to lie upon.</p>
+
+<p>After this stop, we made on to the southward
+continually for ten or twelve days, living very sparing
+on our provisions, which began to abate very much,
+and going no oftener into the shore than we were
+obliged to for fresh water: my design in this was,
+to make the river Gambia or Senegal, that is to say,
+any where about the Cape de Verd, where I was in
+hopes to meet with some European ship; and if I
+did not, I knew not what course I had to take, but
+to seek for the islands, or perish there among the
+Negroes, I knew that all the ships from Europe,
+which sailed either to the coast of Guinea or to
+Brazil, or to the East Indies, made this Cape, or
+those islands; and in a word, I put the whole of my
+fortune upon this single point, either that I must
+meet with some ship, or must perish.</p>
+
+<p>When I had pursued this resolution about ten
+days longer, as I have said, I began to see that the
+land was inhabited; and in two or three places, as
+we sailed by, we saw people stand upon the shore
+to look at us; we could also perceive they were
+quite black, and stark naked. I was once inclined
+to have gone off shore to them; but Xury was my
+better counsellor, and said to me, "No go, no go."
+However, I hauled in nearer the shore that I might
+talk to them, and I found they run along the shore
+by me a good way: I observed they had no weapons
+in their hands, except one, who had a long slender
+stick, which Nury said was a lance, and that they
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page036" id="page036"></a>[pg 036]</span>
+would throw them a great way with a good aim; so
+I kept at a distance, but talked with them by signs
+as well as I could; and particularly made signs for
+something to eat; they beckoned to me to stop my
+boat, and they would fetch me some meat. Upon
+this I lowered the top of my sail, and lay by, and
+two of them ran up into the country, and in less
+than half an hour came back, and brought with
+them two pieces of dry flesh and some corn, such
+as is the produce of their country; but we neither
+knew what the one or the other was: however, we
+were willing to accept it, but how to come at it was
+our next dispute, for I was not for venturing on
+shore to them, and they were as much afraid of us:
+but they took a safe way for us all, for they brought
+it to the shore and laid it down, and went and stood
+a great way off till we fetched it on board, and then
+came close to us again.</p>
+
+<p>We made signs of thanks to them, for we had
+nothing to make them amends; but an opportunity
+offered that very instant to oblige them wonderfully;
+for while we were lying by the shore came two
+mighty creatures, one pursuing the other (as we took
+it) with great fury from the mountains towards the
+sea; whether it was the male pursuing the female,
+or whether they were in sport or in rage, we could
+not tell, any more than we could tell whether it was
+usual or strange, but I believe it was the latter; because,
+in the first place, those ravenous creatures
+seldom appear but in the night; and in the second
+place, we found the people terribly frightened, especially
+the women. The man that had the lance or
+dart did not fly from them, but the rest did; however,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page037" id="page037"></a>[pg 037]</span>
+as the two creatures ran directly into the
+water, they did not seem to offer to fall upon any
+of the Negroes, but plunged themselves into the
+sea, and swam about, as if they had come for their
+diversion: at last, one of them began to come
+nearer our boat than I at first expected; but I lay
+ready for him, for I had loaded my gun with all
+possible expedition, and bade Xury load both the
+others. As soon as he came fairly within my reach,
+I fired, and shot him directly in the head: immediately
+he sunk down into the water, but rose
+instantly, and plunged up and down, as if he was
+struggling for life, and so indeed he was: he immediately
+made to the shore; but between the wound,
+which was his mortal hurt, and the strangling of the
+water, he died just before he reached the shore.</p>
+
+<p>It is impossible to express the astonishment of
+these poor creatures, at the noise and fire of my
+gun; some of them were even ready to die for fear,
+and fell down as dead with the very terror; but
+when they saw the creature dead, and sunk in the
+water, and that I made signs to them to come to the
+shore, they took heart and came to the shore, and
+began to search for the creature. I found him by
+his blood staining the water; and by the help of a
+rope, which I slung round him, and gave the Negroes
+to haul, they dragged him on shore, and found that
+it was a most curious leopard, spotted, and fine to
+an admirable degree; and the Negroes held up their
+hands with admiration, to think what it was I had
+killed him with.</p>
+
+<p>The other creature, frightened with the flash of
+fire and the noise of the gun, swam on shore, and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page038" id="page038"></a>[pg 038]</span>
+ran up directly to the mountains from whence they
+came; nor could I, at that distance, know what it
+was. I found quickly the Negroes were for eating
+the flesh of this creature, so I was willing to have
+them take it as a favour from me; which, when I
+made signs to them that they might take him, they
+were very thankful for. Immediately they fell to
+work with him; and though they had no knife, yet,
+with a sharpened piece of wood, they took off his
+skin as readily, and much more readily, than we
+could have done with a knife. They offered me
+some of the flesh, which I declined, making as if I
+would give it them, but made signs for the skin,
+which they gave me very freely, and brought me a
+great deal more of their provisions, which, though
+I did not understand, yet I accepted. I then made
+signs to them for some water, and held out one of
+my jars to them, turning it bottom upward, to show
+that it was empty, and that I wanted to have it
+filled. They called immediately to some of their
+friends, and there came two women, and brought a
+great vessel made of earth, and burnt, as I suppose,
+in the sun; this they set down to me, as before, and
+I sent Xury on shore with my jars, and filled them
+all three. The women were as stark naked as the
+men.</p>
+
+<p>I was now furnished with roots and corn, such as
+it was, and water; and leaving my friendly Negroes,
+I made forward for about eleven days more, without
+offering to go near the shore, till I saw the land run
+out a great length into the sea, at about the distance
+of four or five leagues before me; and the sea
+being very calm, I kept a large offing, to make this
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page039" id="page039"></a>[pg 039]</span>
+point. At length, doubling the point, at about two
+leagues from the land, I saw plainly land on the
+other side, to seaward: then I concluded, as it was
+most certain indeed, that this was the Cape de
+Verd, and those the islands, called, from thence,
+Cape de Verd Islands. However, they were at a
+great distance, and I could not well tell what I had
+best to do; for if I should be taken with a gale of
+wind, I might neither reach one nor the other.</p>
+
+<p>In this dilemma, as I was very pensive, I stepped
+into the cabin, and sat me down, Xury having the
+helm; when, on a sudden, the boy cried out,
+Master, master, a ship with a sail! and the foolish
+boy was frightened out of his wits, thinking it must
+needs be some of his master's ships sent to pursue
+us, when I knew we were gotten far enough out of
+their reach. I jumped out of the cabin, and immediately
+saw, not only the ship, but what she was,
+viz. that it was a Portuguese ship, and, as I thought,
+was bound to the coast of Guinea, for Negroes.
+But, when I observed the course she steered, I was
+soon convinced they were bound some other way,
+and did not design to come any nearer to the shore:
+upon which, I stretched out to sea as much as I
+could, resolving to speak with them, if possible.</p>
+
+<p>With all the sail I could make, I found I should
+not be able to come in their way, but that they
+would be gone by before I could make any signal
+to them: but after I had crowded to the utmost,
+and began to despair, they, it seems, saw me, by
+the help of their perspective glasses, and that it
+was some European boat, which, they supposed,
+must belong to some ship that was lost; so they
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page040" id="page040"></a>[pg 040]</span>
+shortened sail, to let me come up. I was encouraged
+with this, and as I had my patron's ensign on board,
+I made a waft of it to them, for a signal of distress,
+and fired a gun, both which they saw; for they told
+me they saw the smoke, though they did not hear
+the gun. Upon these signals, they very kindly
+brought to, and lay by for me; and in about three
+hours' time I came up with them.</p>
+
+<p>They asked me what I was, in Portuguese, and
+in Spanish, and in French, but I understood none of
+them; but, at last, a Scotch sailor, who was on
+board, called to me, and I answered him, and told
+him I was an Englishman, that I had made my
+escape out of slavery from the Moors, at Sallee:
+they then bade me come on board, and very kindly
+took me in, and all my goods.</p>
+
+<p>It was an inexpressible joy to me, which any one
+will believe, that I was thus delivered, as I esteemed
+it, from such a miserable, and almost hopeless, condition
+as I was in; and I immediately offered all I
+had to the captain of the ship, as a return for my
+deliverance; but he generously told me, he would
+take nothing from me, but that all I had should be
+delivered safe to me, when I came to the Brazils.
+"For," says he, "I have saved your life on no other
+terms than I would be glad to be saved myself;
+and it may, one time or other, be my lot to be taken
+up in the same condition. Besides," continued he,
+"when I carry you to the Brazils, so great a way from
+your own country, if I should take from you what
+you have, you will be starved there, and then I only
+take away that life I have given. No, no, Seignior
+Inglese," (Mr. Englishman,) says he; "I will carry you
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page041" id="page041"></a>[pg 041]</span>
+thither in charity, and these things will help to
+buy your subsistence there, and your passage home
+again."</p>
+
+<p>As he was charitable, in this proposal, so he was
+just in the performance, to a tittle; for he ordered
+the seamen, that none should offer to touch any
+thing I had: then he took every thing into his own
+possession, and gave me back an exact inventory of
+them, that I might have them, even so much as my
+three earthen jars.</p>
+
+<p>As to my boat, it was a very good one; and that
+he saw, and told me he would buy it of me for the
+ship's use; and asked me what I would have for
+it? I told him, he had been so generous to me in
+every thing, that I could not offer to make any
+price of the boat, but left it entirely to him: upon
+which, he told me he would give me a note of hand
+to pay me eighty pieces of eight for it at Brazil;
+and when it came there, if any one offered to give
+more, he would make it up. He offered me also
+sixty pieces of eight more for my boy Xury, which
+I was loth to take; not that I was not willing to let
+the captain have him, but I was very loth to sell
+the poor boy's liberty, who had assisted me so
+faithfully in procuring my own. However, when
+I let him know my reason, he owned it to be just,
+and offered me this medium, that he would give
+the boy an obligation to set him free in ten years,
+if he turned Christian: upon this, and Xury saying
+he was willing to go to him, I let the captain have
+him.</p>
+
+<p>We had a very good voyage to the Brazils, and
+arrived in the Bay de Todos los Santos, or All
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page042" id="page042"></a>[pg 042]</span>
+Saints' Bay, in about twenty-two days after. And
+now I was once more delivered from the most
+miserable of all conditions of life; and what to
+do next with myself, I was now to consider.</p>
+
+<p>The generous treatment the captain gave me, I
+can never enough remember: he would take nothing
+of me for my passage, gave me twenty ducats for
+the leopard's skin, and forty for the lion's skin,
+which I had in my boat, and caused every thing I
+had in the ship to be punctually delivered to me;
+and what I was willing to sell, he bought of me;
+such as the case of bottles, two of my guns, and a
+piece of the lump of bees-wax,&mdash;for I had made
+candles of the rest: in a word, I made about two
+hundred and twenty pieces of eight of all my
+cargo; and with this stock, I went on shore in the
+Brazils.</p>
+
+<p>I had not been long here, before I was recommended
+to the house of a good honest man, like
+himself, who had an ingeino as they call it, (that is,
+a plantation and a sugar-house.) I lived with him
+some time, and acquainted myself, by that means,
+with the manner of planting and making of sugar:
+and seeing how well the planters lived, and how
+they got rich suddenly, I resolved, if I could get a
+licence to settle there, I would turn planter among
+them: endeavouring, in the mean time, to find out
+some way to get my money, which I had left in
+London, remitted to me. To this purpose, getting
+a kind of a letter of naturalization, I purchased as
+much land that was uncured as my money would
+reach, and formed a plan for my plantation and
+settlement; such a one as might be suitable to the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page043" id="page043"></a>[pg 043]</span>
+stock which I proposed to myself to receive from
+England.</p>
+
+<p>I had a neighbour, a Portuguese of Lisbon, but:
+born of English parents, whose name was Wells,
+and in much such circumstances as I was. I call
+him my neighbour, because his plantation lay next
+to mine, and we went on very sociably together.
+My stock was but low, as well as his; and we
+rather planted for food than any thing else, for
+about two years. However, we began to increase,
+and our land began to come into order; so that Ihe
+third year we planted some tobacco, and made each
+of us a large piece of ground ready for planting
+canes in the year to come: but we both wanted
+help; and now I found, more than before, I had
+done wrong in parting with my boy Xury.</p>
+
+<p>But, alas! for me to do wrong, that never did
+right, was no great wonder. I had no remedy, but
+to go on: I had got into an employment quite
+remote to my genius, and directly contrary to the
+life I delighted in, and for which I forsook my
+father's house, and broke through all his good advice:
+nay, I was coining into the very middle station,
+or upper degree of low life, which my father
+advised me to before; and which, if I resolved to
+go on with, I might as well have staid at home, and
+never have fatigued myself in the world, as I had
+done: and I used often to say to myself, I could
+have done this as well in England, among my friends,
+as have gone five thousand miles off to do it among
+strangers and savages, in a wilderness, and at such
+a distance as never to hear from any part of the
+world that had the least knowledge of me.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page044" id="page044"></a>[pg 044]</span>
+
+<p>In this manner, I used to look upon my condition
+with the utmost regret. I had nobody to converse
+with, but now and then this neighbour; no work
+to be done, but by the labour of my hands: and I
+used to say, I lived just like a man cast away upon
+some desolate island, that had nobody there but
+himself. But how just has it been! and how should
+all men reflect, that when they compare their present
+conditions with others that are worse, Heaven may
+oblige them to make the exchange, and be convinced
+of their former felicity by their experience: I say,
+how just has it been, that the truly solitary life I
+reflected on, in an island of mere desolation, should
+be my lot, who had so often unjustly compared it
+with the life which I then led, in which, had I continued,
+I had, in all probability, been exceeding
+prosperous and rich.</p>
+
+<p>I was, in some degree, settled in my measures for
+carrying on the plantation, before my kind friend,
+the captain of the ship that took me up at sea, went
+back; for the ship remained there, in providing his
+lading, and preparing for his voyage, near three
+months; when, telling him what little stock I had
+left behind me in London, he gave me this friendly
+and sincere advice: "Seignior Inglese," says he, for
+so he always called me, "if you will give me letters,
+and a procuration here in form to me, with orders
+to the person who has your money in London, to
+send your effects to Lisbon, to such persons as I
+shall direct, and in such goods as are proper for
+this country, I will bring you the produce of them,
+God willing, at my return; but, since human affairs
+are all subject to changes and disasters, I would
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page045" id="page045"></a>[pg 045]</span>
+have you give orders for but one hundred pounds
+sterling, which, you say, is half your stock, and let
+the hazard be run for the first, so that if it come
+safe, you may order the rest the same way; and, if
+it miscarry, you may have the other half to have
+recourse to for your supply."</p>
+
+<p>This was so wholesome advice, and looked so
+friendly, that I could not but be convinced it was
+the best course I could take; so I accordingly prepared
+letters to the gentlewoman with whom I left
+my money, and a procuration to the Portuguese captain,
+as he desired me.</p>
+
+<p>I wrote the English captain's widow a full account
+of all my adventures; my slavery, escape, and how
+I had met with the Portuguese captain at sea, the
+humanity of his behaviour, and what condition I
+was now in, with all other necessary directions for
+my supply; and when this honest captain came to
+Lisbon, he found means, by some of the English
+merchants there, to send over, not the order only,
+but a full account of my story to a merchant at London,
+who represented it effectually to her: whereupon
+she not only delivered the money, but, out of
+her own pocket, sent the Portuguese captain a very
+handsome present for his humanity and charity to
+me.</p>
+
+<p>The merchant in London, vesting this hundred
+pounds in English goods, such as the captain had
+wrote for, sent them directly to him at Lisbon, and
+he brought them all safe to me at the Brazils:
+among which, without my direction, (for I was too
+young in my business to think of them,) he had
+taken care to have all sorts of tools, iron work, and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page046" id="page046"></a>[pg 046]</span>
+utensils, necessary for my plantation, and which
+were of great use to me.</p>
+
+<p>When this cargo arrived, I thought my fortune
+made, for I was surprised with the joy of it; and
+my good steward, the captain, had laid out the five
+pounds, which my friend had sent him as a present
+for himself, to purchase and bring me over a servant,
+under bond for six years' service, and would
+not accept of any consideration, except a little tobacco,
+which I would have him accept, being of my
+own produce.</p>
+
+<p>Neither was this all: but my goods being all
+English manufactures, such as cloths, stuffs, baize,
+and things particularly valuable and desirable in
+the country, I found means to sell them to a very
+great advantage; so that I might say, I had more
+than four times the value of my first cargo, and was
+now infinitely beyond my poor neighbour, I mean in
+the advancement of my plantation: for the first
+thing I did, I bought me a Negro slave, and ail
+European servant also; I mean another besides that
+which the captain brought me from Lisbon.</p>
+
+<p>But as abused prosperity is oftentimes made the
+very means of our adversity, so was it with me. I
+went on the next year with great success in my plantation;
+I raised fifty great rolls of tobacco on my
+own ground, more than I had disposed of for necessaries
+among my neighbours; and these fifty rolls,
+being each of above a hundred weight, were well
+cured, and laid by against the return of the fleet from
+Lisbon: and now, increasing in business and in wealth,
+my head began to be full of projects and undertakings
+beyond my reach; such as are, indeed, often
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page047" id="page047"></a>[pg 047]</span>
+the ruin of the best heads in business. Had I continued
+in the station I was now in, I had room for
+all the happy things to have yet befallen me, for
+which my father so earnestly recommended a quiet,
+retired life, and which he had so sensibly described
+the middle station of life to be full of: but other
+things attended me, and I was still to be the wilful
+agent of all my own miseries; and, particularly, to
+increase my fault, and double the reflections upon
+myself, which in my future sorrows I should have
+leisure to make, all these miscarriages were procured
+by my apparent obstinate adhering to my
+foolish inclination, of wandering about, and pursuing
+that inclination, in contradiction to the clearest
+views of doing myself good in a fair and plain pursuit
+of those prospects, and those measures of life,
+which nature and Providence concurred to present
+me with, and to make my duty.</p>
+
+<p>As I had once done thus in breaking away from
+my parents, so I could not be content now, but I
+must go and leave the happy view I had of being a
+rich and thriving man in my new plantation, only to
+pursue a rash and immoderate desire of rising faster
+than the nature of the thing admitted; and thus I
+cast myself down again into the deepest gulph of
+human misery that ever man fell into, or perhaps
+could be consistent with life, and a state of health
+in the world.</p>
+
+<p>To come, then, by just degrees, to the particulars
+of this part of my story:&mdash;You may suppose, that
+having now lived almost four years in the Brazils,
+and beginning to thrive and prosper very well upon
+my plantation, I had not only learned the language,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page048" id="page048"></a>[pg 048]</span>
+but had contracted an acquaintance and friendship
+among my fellow-planters, as well as among the merchants
+at St. Salvador, which was our port; and that,
+in my discourses among them, I had frequently given
+them an account of my two voyages to the coast of
+Guinea, the manner of trading with the Negroes
+there, and how easy it was to purchase on the coast
+for trifles&mdash;such as. beads, toys, knives, scissars,
+hatchets, bits of glass, and the like&mdash;not only gold
+dust, Guinea grains, elephants' teeth, &amp;c. but Negroes,
+for the service of the Brazils, in great numbers.</p>
+
+<p>They listened always very attentively to my discourses
+on these heads, but especially to that part
+which related to the buying Negroes; which was a
+trade, at that time, not only not far entered into,
+but, as far as it was, had been carried on by the
+assientos, or permission of the kings of Spain and
+Portugal, and engrossed from the public; so that
+few Negroes were bought, and those excessive dear.</p>
+
+<p>It happened, being in company with some merchants
+and planters of my acquaintance, and talking
+of those things very earnestly, three of them came
+to me the next morning, and told me they had been
+musing very much upon what I had discoursed with
+them of the last night, and they came to make a
+secret proposal to me: and, after enjoining me to
+secrecy, they told me that they had a mind to fit out
+a ship to go to Guinea; that they had all plantations
+as well as I, and were straitened for nothing so
+much as servants; that as it was a trade that could
+not be carried on, because they could not publicly
+sell the Negroes when they came home, so they desired
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page049" id="page049"></a>[pg 049]</span>
+to make but one voyage, to bring the Negroes
+on shore privately, and divide them among their own
+plantations: and, in a word, the question was, whether
+I would go their supercargo in the ship, to
+manage the trading part upon the coast of Guinea;
+and they offered me that I should have an equal
+share of the Negroes, without providing any part
+of the stock.</p>
+
+<p>This was a fair proposal, it must be confessed,
+had it been made to any one that had not a settlement
+and plantation of his own to look after, which
+was in a fair way of coming to be very considerable,
+and with a good stock upon it. But for me, that
+was thus entered and established, and had nothing
+to do but go on as I had begun, for three or four
+years more, and to have sent for the other hundred
+pounds from England; and who, in that time, and
+with that little addition, could scarce have failed of
+being worth three or four thousand pounds sterling,
+and that increasing too; for me to think of such a
+voyage, was the most preposterous thing that ever
+man, in such circumstances, could be guilty of.</p>
+
+<p>But I, that was born to be my own destroyer,
+could no more resist the offer, than I could restrain
+my first rambling designs, when my father's good
+counsel was lost upon me. In a word, I told them
+I would go with all my heart, if they would undertake
+to look after my plantation in my absence, and
+would dispose of it to such as I should direct, if I
+miscarried. This they all engaged to do, and entered
+into writings or covenants to do so; and I
+made a formal will, disposing of my plantation and
+effects, in case of my death; making the captain of
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page050" id="page050"></a>[pg 050]</span>
+the ship that had saved my life, as before, my universal
+heir; but obliging him to dispose of my effects
+as I had directed in my will; one half of the produce
+being to himself, and the other to be shipped
+to England.</p>
+
+<p>In short, I took all possible caution to preserve
+my effects, and to keep up my plantation: had I
+used half as much prudence to have looked into my
+own interest, and have made a judgment of what I
+ought to have done and not to have done I had
+certainly never gone away from so prosperous an
+undertaking, leaving all the probable views of a
+thriving circumstance, and gone a voyage to sea,
+attended with all its common hazards, to say nothing
+of the reasons I had to expect particular misfortunes
+to myself.</p>
+
+<p>But I was hurried on, and obeyed blindly the dictates
+of my fancy, rather than my reason: and accordingly,
+the ship being fitted out, and the cargo
+furnished, and all things done as by agreement, by
+my partners in the voyage, I went on board in an
+evil hour again, the 1st of September, 1659, being
+the same day eight years that I went from my father
+and mother at Hull, in order to act the rebel to
+their authority, and the fool to my own interest.</p>
+
+<p>Our ship was about one hundred and twenty tons
+burden, carried six guns, and fourteen men, besides
+the master, his boy, and myself; we had on board
+no large cargo of goods, except of such toys as
+were fit for our trade with the Negroes, such as
+beads, bits of glass, shells, and odd trifles, especially
+little looking-glasses, knives, scissars, hatchets, and
+the like.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page051" id="page051"></a>[pg 051]</span>
+
+<p>The same day I went on board we set sail, standing
+away to the northward upon our own coast, with
+design to stretch over for the African coast. When
+they came about ten or twelve degrees of northern
+latitude, which, it seems, was the manner of their
+course in those days, we had very good weather,
+only excessive hot all the way upon our own coast,
+till we came to the height of Cape St. Augustino;
+from whence, keeping farther off at sea, we lost sight
+of land, and steered as if we were bound for the isle
+Fernando de Noronha, holding our course N.E. by
+N. and leaving those isles on the east. In this course
+we passed the line in about twelve days' time, and
+were by our last observation, in 7 degrees 22 minutes
+northern latitude, when a violent tornado, or
+hurricane, took us quite out of our knowledge: it
+began from the south-east, came about to the north-west,
+and then settled in the north-east; from whence
+it blew in such a terrible manner, that for twelve
+days together we could do nothing but drive, and,
+scudding away before it, let it carry us whither ever
+fate and the fury of the winds directed; and, during
+these twelve days, I need not say that I expected
+every day to be swallowed up; nor, indeed, did any
+in the ship expect to save their lives.</p>
+
+<p>In this distress, we had, besides the terror of the
+storm, one of our men died of the calenture, and
+one man and a boy washed overboard. About the
+twelfth day, the weather abating a little, the master
+made an observation as well as he could, and found
+that he was in about 11 degrees north latitude, but
+that he was 22 degrees of longitude difference, west
+from Cape St. Augustino; so that he found he was
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page052" id="page052"></a>[pg 052]</span>
+got upon the coast of Guiana, or the north part of
+Brazil, beyond the river Amazons, toward that of
+the river Oroonoque, commonly called the Great
+River; and began to consult with me what course
+he should take, for the ship was leaky and very
+much disabled, add he was going directly back to
+the coast of Brazil.</p>
+
+<p>I was positively against that; and looking over
+the charts of the sea-coast of America with him, we
+concluded there was no inhabited country for us to
+have recourse to, till we came within the circle of
+the Caribbee islands, and therefore resolved to stand
+away for Barbadoes; which by keeping off to sea,
+to avoid the in-draft of the bay or gulf of Mexico,
+we might easily perform, as we hoped, in about fifteen
+days' sail; whereas we could not possibly make
+our voyage to the coast of Africa without some
+assistance, both to our ship and ourselves.</p>
+
+<p>With this design, we changed our course, and
+steered away N.W. by W. in order to reach some of
+our English islands, where I hoped for relief: but
+our voyage was otherwise determined; for being in
+the latitude of 12 degrees 18 minutes, a second
+storm came upon us, which carried us away with
+the same impetuosity westward, and drove us so
+out of the very way of all human commerce, that
+had all our lives been saved, as to the sea, we were
+rather in danger of being devoured by savages than
+ever returning to our own country.</p>
+
+<p>In this distress, the wind still blowing very hard,
+one of our men early in the morning cried out,
+Land! and we had no sooner run out of the cabin
+to look out, in hopes of seeing whereabouts in the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page053" id="page053"></a>[pg 053]</span>
+world we were, but the ship struck upon a sand,
+and in a moment, her motion being so stopped, the
+sea broke over her in such a manner, that we expected
+we should all have perished immediately;
+and we were immediately driven into our close quarters,
+to shelter us from the very foam and spray of
+the sea.</p>
+
+<p>It is not easy for any one, who has not been in
+the like condition, to describe or conceive the consternation
+of men in such circumstances; we knew
+nothing where we were, or upon what land it was
+we were driven, whether an island or the main,
+whether inhabited or not inhabited; and as the rage
+of the wind was still great, though rather less than
+at first, we could not so much as hope to have the
+ship hold many minutes, without breaking in pieces,
+unless the wind, by a kind of miracle, should immediately
+turn about. In a word, we sat looking upon
+one another, and expecting death every moment,
+and every man acting accordingly, as preparing for
+another world; for there was little or nothing more
+for us to do in this: that which was our present
+comfort, and all the comfort we had, was, that,
+contrary to our expectation, the ship did not break
+yet, and that the master said the wind began to
+abate.</p>
+
+<p>Now, though we thought that the wind did a little
+abate, yet the ship having thus struck upon the
+sand, and sticking too fast for us to expect her getting
+off, we were in a dreadful condition indeed, and
+had nothing to do but to think of saving our lives
+as well as we could. We had a boat at our stern
+just before the storm, but she was first staved by
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page054" id="page054"></a>[pg 054]</span>
+dashing against the ship's rudder, and, in the next
+place, she broke away, and either sunk, or was
+driven off to sea; so there was no hope from her:
+we had another boat on board, but how to get her
+off into the sea was a doubtful thing; however,
+there was no room to debate, for we fancied the
+ship would break in pieces every minute, and some
+told us she was actually broken already.</p>
+
+<p>In this distress, the mate of our vessel laid hold
+of the boat, and with the help of the rest of the
+men, they got her flung over the ship's side; and
+getting all into her, let her go, and committed ourselves,
+being eleven in number, to God's mercy, and
+the wild sea: for though the storm was abated considerably,
+yet the sea went dreadful high upon the
+shore, and might be well called <i>den wild zee</i>, as the
+Dutch call the sea in a storm.</p>
+
+<p>And now our case was very dismal indeed; for
+we all saw plainly, that the sea went so high, that
+the boat could not live, and that we should be
+inevitably drowned. As to making sail, we had
+none; nor, if we had, could we have done any thing
+with it; so we worked at the oar towards the land,
+though with heavy hearts, like men going to execution;
+for we all knew that when the boat came
+nearer to the shore, she would be dashed in a thousand
+pieces by the breach of the sea. However,
+we committed our souls to God in the most earnest
+manner; and the wind driving us towards the shore,
+we hastened our destruction with our own hands,
+pulling as well as we could towards land.</p>
+
+<p>What the shore was&mdash;whether rock or sand, whether
+steep or shoal&mdash;we knew not; the only hope
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page055" id="page055"></a>[pg 055]</span>
+that could rationally give us the least shadow of
+expectation, was, if we might happen into some bay
+or gulf, or the mouth of some river, where by great
+chance we might have run our boat in, or got under
+the lee of the land, and perhaps made smooth water.
+But there was nothing of this appeared; and as we
+made nearer and nearer the shore, the land looked
+more frightful than the sea.</p>
+
+<p>After we had rowed, or rather driven, about a
+league and a half, as we reckoned it, a raging wave,
+mountain-like, came rolling astern of us, and plainly
+bade us expect the <i>coup de grace</i>. In a word, it
+took us with such a fury, that it overset the boat at
+once; and separating us, as well from the boat as
+from one another, gave us not time hardly to
+say, "O God!" for we were all swallowed up in a
+moment.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing can describe the confusion of thought
+which I felt, when I sunk into the water; for though
+I swam very well, yet I could not deliver myself
+from the waves so as to draw my breath, till that
+wave having driven me, or rather carried me, a vast
+way on towards the shore, and having spent itself,
+went back, and left me upon the land almost dry,
+but half dead with the water I took in. I had so
+much presence of mind, as well as breath left, that
+seeing myself nearer the main land than I expected,
+I got upon my feet, and endeavoured to make on
+towards the land as fast as I could, before another
+wave should return and take me up again; but I
+soon found it was impossible to avoid it; for I saw
+the sea come after me as high as a great hill, and as
+furious as an enemy, which I had no means or
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page056" id="page056"></a>[pg 056]</span>
+strength to contend with: my business was to hold
+my breath, and raise myself upon the water, if I
+could; and so, by swimming, to preserve my breathing,
+and pilot myself towards the shore, if possible;
+my greatest concern now being, that the wave, as it
+would carry me a great way towards the shore when
+it came on, might not carry me back again with it
+when it gave back towards the sea.</p>
+
+<p>The wave that came upon me again, buried
+me at once twenty or thirty feet deep in its own
+body; and I could feel myself carried with a mighty
+force and swiftness towards the shore a very
+great way; but I held my breath, and assisted myself
+to swim still forward with all my might. I
+was ready to burst with holding my breath, when,
+as I felt myself rising up, so, to my immediate relief,
+I found my head and hands shoot out above the
+surface of the water; and though it was not two
+seconds of time that I could keep myself so, yet
+it relieved me greatly, gave me breath, and new
+courage. I was covered again with water a good
+while, but not so long but I held it out; and finding
+the water had spent itself, and began to return, I
+struck forward against the return of the waves,
+and felt ground again with my feet. I stood still
+a few moments, to recover breath, and till the water
+went from me, and then took to my heels, and
+ran with what strength I had farther towards the
+shore. But neither would this deliver me from the
+fury of the sea, which came pouring in after me
+again; and twice more I was lifted up by the waves
+and carried forwards as before, the shore being
+very flat.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page057" id="page057"></a>[pg 057]</span>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width:35%;"><a href="images/057.jpg"><img width = "100%" src="images/057.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
+
+<p>The last time of these two had well nigh been
+fatal to me; for the sea having hurried me along, as
+before, landed me, or rather dashed me, against a
+piece of a rock, and that with such force, that it
+left me senseless, and indeed helpless, as to my own
+deliverance; for the blow taking my side and breast,
+beat the breath, as it were, quite out of my body;
+and had it returned again immediately, I must have
+been strangled in the water: but I recovered a little
+before the return of the waves, and seeing I should
+again be covered with the water, I resolved to hold
+fast by a piece of the rock, and so to hold my breath,
+if possible, till the wave went back. Now as the
+waves were not so high as the first, being nearer
+land, I held my hold till the wave abated, and then
+fetched another run, which brought me so near the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page058" id="page058"></a>[pg 058]</span>
+shore, that the next wave, though it went over
+me, yet did not so swallow me up as to carry me
+away; and the next run I took, I got to the main
+land; where, to my great comfort, I clambered up
+the cliffs of the shore, and sat me down upon the
+grass, free from danger, and quite out of the reach
+of the water.</p>
+
+<p>I was now landed, and safe on shore, and began
+to look up and thank God that my life was saved,
+in a case wherein there were, some minutes before,
+scarce any room to hope. I believe it is impossible
+to express, to the life, what the ecstasies and
+transports of the soul are, when it is so saved, as I may
+say, out of the grave: and I did not wonder now at
+the custom, viz. that when a malefactor, who has
+the halter about his neck, is tied up, and just going
+to be turned off, and has a reprieve brought to him;
+I say, I do not wonder that they bring a surgeon
+with it, to let him blood that very moment they tell
+him of it, that the surprise may not drive the animal
+spirits from the heart, and overwhelm him.</p>
+
+<div class="poem">  <div class="stanza">
+<p>For sudden joys, like griefs, confound at first.</p>
+  </div>  </div>
+
+<p>I walked about on the shore, lifting up my hands,
+and my whole being, as I may say, wrapt up in the
+contemplation of my deliverance; making a thousand
+gestures and motions, which I cannot describe;
+reflecting upon my comrades that were drowned,
+and that there should not be one soul saved but
+myself; for, as for them, I never saw them afterwards,
+or any sign of them, except three of their
+hats, one cap, and two shoes that were not fellows.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page059" id="page059"></a>[pg 059]</span>
+
+<p>I cast my eyes to the stranded vessel&mdash;when the
+breach and froth of the sea being so big I could
+hardly see it, it lay so far off&mdash;and considered,
+Lord! how was it possible I could get on shore?</p>
+
+<p>After I had solaced my mind with the comfortable
+part of my condition, I began to look round me, to
+see what kind of a place I was in, and what was
+next to be done; and I soon found my comforts
+abate, and that, in a word, I had a dreadful deliverance:
+for I was wet, had no clothes to shift me, nor
+any thing either to eat or drink, to comfort me;
+neither did I see any prospect before me, but that
+of perishing with hunger, or being devoured by wild
+beasts: and that which was particularly afflicting to
+me was, that I had no weapon, either to hunt and
+kill any creature for my sustenance, or to defend
+myself against any other creature that might desire
+to kill me for theirs. In a word, I had nothing
+about me but a knife, a tobacco-pipe, and a little
+tobacco in a box. This was all my provision; and
+this threw me into such terrible agonies of mind,
+that, for a while, I ran about like a madman. Night
+coming upon me, I began, with a heavy heart, to
+consider what would be my lot if there were any
+ravenous beasts in that country, seeing at night they
+always come abroad for their prey.</p>
+
+<p>All the remedy that offered to my thoughts; at
+that time, was, to get up into a thick bushy tree,
+like a fir, but thorny&mdash;which grew near me, and
+where I resolved to sit all night&mdash;and consider the
+next day what death I should die, for as yet I saw
+no prospect of life. I walked about a furlong from
+the shore, to see if I could find any fresh water to
+drink, which I did, to my great joy; and having
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page060" id="page060"></a>[pg 060]</span>
+drank, and put a little tobacco into my mouth to
+prevent hunger, I went to the tree, and getting up
+into it, endeavoured to place myself so, as that if I
+should fall asleep, I might not fall; and having cut
+me a short stick, like a truncheon, for my defence,
+I took up my lodging; and having been excessively
+fatigued, I fell fast asleep, and slept as comfortably
+as, I believe, few could have done in my condition;
+and found myself the most refreshed with it that I
+think I ever was on such an occasion.</p>
+
+<p>When I waked it was broad day, the weather
+clear, and the storm abated, so that the sea did not
+rage and swell as before; but that which surprised
+me most was, that the ship was lifted off in the
+night from the sand where she lay, by the swelling
+of the tide, and was driven up almost as far as the
+rock which I at first mentioned, where I had been
+so bruised by the wave dashing me against it. This
+being within about a mile from the shore where I
+was, and the ship seeming to stand upright still, I
+wished myself on board, that at least I might save
+some necessary things for my use.</p>
+
+<p>When I came down from my apartment in the
+tree, I looked about me again, and the first thing I
+found was the boat; which lay, as the wind and the
+sea had tossed her up, upon the land, about two
+miles on my right hand. I walked as far as I could
+upon the shore to have got to her; but found a
+neck, or inlet, of water between me and the boat,
+which was about half a mile broad; so I came back
+for the present, being more intent upon getting at
+the ship, where I hoped to find something for my
+present subsistence.</p>
+
+<p>A little after noon, I found the sea very calm, and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page061" id="page061"></a>[pg 061]</span>
+the tide ebbed so far out, that I could come within
+a quarter of a mile of the ship: and here I found a
+fresh renewing of my grief; for I saw evidently, that
+if we had kept on board, we had been all safe; that
+is to say, we had all got safe on shore, and I had
+not been so miserable as to be left entirely destitute
+of all comfort and company, as I now was. This
+forced tears from my eyes again; but as there was
+little relief in that, I resolved, if possible, to get to
+the ship; so I pulled off my clothes, for the weather
+was hot to extremity, and took the water; but
+when I came to the ship, my difficulty was still
+greater to know how to get on board; for as she
+lay aground, and high out of the water, there was
+nothing within my reach to lay hold of. I swam
+round her twice, and the second time I spied a small
+piece of a rope, which I wondered I did not see at
+first, hang down by the fore-chains so low, as that
+with great difficulty, I got hold of it, and by the
+help of that rope got into the forecastle of the ship.
+Here I found that the ship was bulged, and had a
+great deal of water in her hold; but that she lay so
+on the side of a bank of hard sand, or rather earth,
+that her stern lay lifted up upon the bank, and her
+head low, almost to the water. By this means all
+her quarter was free, and all that was in that part
+was dry; for you may be sure my first work was to
+search and to see what was spoiled and what was
+free: and, first, I found that all the ship's provisions
+were dry and untouched by the water; and, being
+very well disposed to eat, I went to the bread-room,
+and filled my pockets with biscuit, and eat it as I
+went about other things, for I had no time to lose.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page062" id="page062"></a>[pg 062]</span>
+I also found some rum in the great cabin, of which
+I took a large dram, and which I had indeed need
+enough of, to spirit me for what was before me.
+Now I wanted nothing but a boat, to furnish myself
+with many things which I foresaw would be very
+necessary to me.</p>
+
+<p>It was in vain to sit still and wish for what was
+not to be had, and this extremity roused my application:
+we had several spare yards, and two or
+three large spars of wood, and a spare top-mast or
+two in the ship; I resolved to fall to work with
+these, and flung as many overboard as I could
+manage for their weight, tying every one with a
+rope, that they might not drive away. When this
+was done, I went down the ship's side, and pulling
+them to me, I tied four of them fast together at both
+ends, as well as I could, in the form of a raft, and
+laying two or three short pieces of plank upon them,
+crossways, I found I could walk upon it very well,
+but that it was not able to bear any great weight,
+the pieces being too light: so I went to work, and
+with the carpenter's saw I cut a spare top-mast into
+three lengths, and added them to my raft, with a
+great deal of labour and pains. But the hope of
+furnishing myself with necessaries, encouraged me
+to go beyond what I should have been able to have
+done upon another occasion.</p>
+
+<p>My raft was now strong enough to bear any reasonable
+weight. My next care was what to load it
+with, and how to preserve what I laid upon it from
+the surf of the sea; but I was not long considering
+this. I first laid all the planks or boards upon it
+that I could get, and having considered well what I
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page063" id="page063"></a>[pg 063]</span>
+most wanted, I got three of the seamen's chests,
+which I had broken open and emptied, and lowered
+them down upon my raft; these I filled with provisions,
+viz. bread, rice, three Dutch cheeses, five
+pieces of dried goats' flesh, (which we lived much
+upon,) and a little remainder of European corn,
+which had been laid by for some fowls which we had
+brought to sea with us, but the fowls were killed.
+There had been some barley and wheat together,
+but, to my great disappointment, I found afterwards
+that the rats had eaten or spoiled it all. As for
+liquors, I found several cases of bottles belonging
+to our skipper, in which were some cordial waters;
+and, in all, about five or six gallons of rack. These
+I stowed by themselves, there being no need to put
+them into the chests, nor any room for them.
+While I was doing this, I found the tide began to
+flow, though very calm; and I had the mortification
+to see my coat, shirt, and waistcoat, which I had
+left on shore, upon the sand, swim away; as for my
+breeches, which were only linen, and open-knee'd, I
+swam on board in them, and my stockings. However,
+this put me upon rummaging for clothes, of
+which I found enough, but took no more than I
+wanted for present use, for I had other things which
+my eye was more upon; as, first, tools to work with
+on shore and it was after long searching that I
+found the carpenter's chest, which was indeed a very
+useful prize to me, and much more valuable than a
+ship-lading of gold would have been at that time.
+I got it down to my raft, even whole as it was, without
+losing time to look into it, for I knew in general
+what it contained.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page064" id="page064"></a>[pg 064]</span>
+
+<p>My next care was for some ammunition and arms.
+There were two very good fowling-pieces in the
+great cabin, and two pistols; these I secured first,
+with some powder-horns and a small bag of shot,
+and two old rusty swords. I knew there were three
+barrels of powder in the ship, but knew not where
+our gunner had stowed them; but with much search
+I found them, two of them dry and good, the third
+had taken water. Those two I got to my raft, with
+the arms. And now I thought myself pretty well
+freighted, and began to think how I should get to
+shore with them, having neither sail, oar, nor rudder;
+and the least cap-full of wind would have
+overset all my navigation.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width:35%;"><a href="images/064.jpg"><img width = "100%" src="images/064.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
+
+<p>I had three encouragements: 1st, A smooth, calm
+sea: 2dly, The tide rising, and setting in to the
+shore: 3dly, What little wind there was, blew me
+towards the land. And thus, having found two or
+three broken oars belonging to the boat, and besides
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page065" id="page065"></a>[pg 065]</span>
+the tools which were in the chest, I found two saws,
+an axe, and a hammer; and with this cargo I put to
+sea. For a mile, or thereabouts, my raft went very
+well, only that I found it drive a little distant from
+the place where I had landed before; by which I
+perceived that there was some indraft of the water,
+and consequently I hoped to find some creek or
+river there, which I might make use of as a port to
+get to land with my cargo.</p>
+
+<p>As I imagined, so it was: there appeared before
+me a little opening of the land, and I found a strong
+current of the tide set into it; so I guided my raft,
+as well as I could, to get into the middle of the
+stream. But here I had like to have suffered a second
+shipwreck, which, if I had, I think verily would
+have broken my heart; for knowing nothing of the
+coast, my raft ran aground at one end of it upon a
+shoal, and not being aground at the other end, it
+wanted but a little that all my cargo had slipped off
+towards that end that was afloat, and so fallen into
+the water. I did my utmost, by setting my back
+against the chests, to keep them in their places, but
+could not thrust off the raft with all my strength;
+neither durst I stir from the posture I was in, but
+holding up the chests with all my might, I stood in
+that manner near half an hour, in which time the
+rising of the water brought me a little more upon a
+level; and a little after, the water still rising, my
+raft floated again, and I thrust her off with the oar I
+had into the channel, and then driving up higher, I
+at length found myself in the mouth of a little river,
+with land on both sides, and a strong current or tide
+running up. I looked on both sides for a proper
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page066" id="page066"></a>[pg 066]</span>
+place to get to shore, for I was not willing to be
+driven too high up the river; hoping, in time, to see
+some ship at sea, and therefore resolved to place
+myself as near the coast as I could.</p>
+
+<p>At length I spied a little cove on the right shore
+of the creek, to which, with great pain and difficulty,
+I guided my raft, and at last got so near, as that
+reaching ground with my oar, I could thrust her
+directly in; but here I had like to have dipped all
+my cargo into the sea again; for that shore lying
+pretty steep, that is to say, sloping, there was no
+place to land, but where one end of my float, if it
+ran on shore, would lie so high, and the other sink
+lower, as before, that it would endanger my cargo
+again. All that I could do, was to wait till the tide
+was at the highest, keeping the raft with my oar like
+an anchor, to hold the side of it fast to the shore,
+near a flat piece of ground, which I expected the
+water would flow over; and so it did. As soon as I
+found water enough, for my raft drew about a foot
+of water, I thrust her upon that flat piece of ground,
+and there fastened or moored her, by sticking my
+two broken oars into the ground; one on one-side,
+near one end, and one on the other side, near the
+other end: and thus I lay till the water ebbed away,
+and left my raft and all my cargo safe on shore.</p>
+
+<p>My next work was to view the country, and seek
+a proper place for my habitation, and where to stow
+my goods, to secure them from whatever might
+happen. Where I was, I yet knew not; whether
+on the continent, or on an island; whether inhabited,
+or not inhabited; whether in danger of wild
+beasts, or not. There was a hill, not above a mile
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page067" id="page067"></a>[pg 067]</span>
+from me, which rose up very steep and high, and
+which seemed to overtop some other hills, which
+lay as in a ridge from it, northward. I took out
+one of the fowling-pieces, and one of the pistols,
+and a horn of powder; and thus armed, I travelled
+for discovery up to the top of that hill; where, after
+I had, with great labour and difficulty, got up to
+the top, I saw my fate, to my great affliction, viz.
+that I was in an island, environed every way with
+the sea, no land to be seen, except some rocks,
+which lay a great way off, and two small islands,
+less than this, which lay about three leagues to the
+west.</p>
+
+<p>I found also that the island I was in was barren,
+and, as I saw good reason to believe, uninhabited,
+except by wild beasts, of whom, however, I saw
+none; yet I saw abundance of fowls, but knew not
+their kinds; neither, when I killed them, could I tell
+what was fit for food, and what not. At my coming
+back, I shot at a great bird, which I saw sitting
+upon a tree, on the side of a great wood. I believe
+it was the first gun that had been fired there since
+the creation of the world: I had no sooner fired,
+but from all the parts of the wood there arose an
+innumerable number of fowls, of many sorts, making
+a confused screaming, and crying, every one according
+to his usual note; but not one of them of any
+kind that I knew. As for the creature I killed, I
+took it to be a kind of a hawk, its colour and beak
+resembling it, but had no talons or claws more than
+common. Its flesh was carrion, and fit for nothing.</p>
+
+<p>Contented with this discovery, I came back to my
+raft, and fell to work to bring my cargo on shore,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page068" id="page068"></a>[pg 068]</span>
+which took me up the rest of that day: what to do
+with myself at night I knew not, nor indeed where
+to rest: for I was afraid to lie down on the ground,
+not knowing but some wild beast might devour me;
+though, as I afterwards found, there was really no
+need for those fears.</p>
+
+<p>However, as well as I could, I barricadoed myself
+round with the chests and boards that I had brought
+on shore, and made a kind of a hut for that night's
+lodging. As for food, I yet saw not which way to
+supply myself, except that I had seen two or three
+creatures, like hares, run out of the wood where I
+shot the fowl.</p>
+
+<p>I now began to consider, that I might yet get a
+great many things out of the ship, which would be
+useful to me, and particularly some of the rigging
+and sails, and such other things as might come to
+land; and I resolved to make another voyage on
+board the vessel, if possible. And as I knew that
+the first storm that blew must necessarily break her
+all in pieces, I resolved to set all other things apart,
+till I got every thing out of the ship that I could
+get. Then I called a council, that is to say, in my
+thoughts, whether I should take back the raft; but
+this appeared impracticable: so I resolved to go as
+before, when the tide was down; and I did so, only
+that I stripped before I went from my hut; having
+nothing on but a chequered shirt, a pair of linen
+drawers, and a pair of pumps on my feet.</p>
+
+<p>I got on board the ship as before, and prepared a
+second raft; and having had experience of the first,
+I neither made this so unwieldy, nor loaded it so
+hard, but yet I brought away several things very
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page069" id="page069"></a>[pg 069]</span>
+useful to me: as, first, in the carpenter's stores, I
+found two or three bags of nails and spikes, a great
+screw-jack, a dozen or two of hatchets; and, above
+all, that most useful thing called a grind-stone. All
+these I secured together, with several things belonging
+to the gunner; particularly two or three iron
+crows, and two barrels of musket bullets, seven
+muskets, and another fowling-piece, with some small
+quantity of powder more; a large bag-full of small
+shot, and a great roll of sheet-lead; but this last
+was so heavy, I could not hoist it up to get it over
+the ship's side.</p>
+
+<p>Besides these things, I took all the men's clothes
+that I could find, and a spare fore-top sail, a hammock,
+and some bedding; and with this I loaded my
+second raft, and brought them all safe on shore, to
+my very great comfort.</p>
+
+<p>I was under some apprehensions, during my absence
+from the land, that at least my provisions
+might be devoured on shore: but when I came back,
+I found no sign of any visitor; only there sat a
+creature like a wild cat, upon one of the chests,
+which, when I came towards it, ran away a little
+distance, and then stood still. She sat very composed
+and unconcerned, and looked full in my face,
+as if she had a mind to be acquainted with me. I
+presented my gun to her, but, as she did not understand
+it, she was perfectly unconcerned at it, nor
+did she offer to stir away; upon which I tossed her
+a bit of biscuit, though, by the way, I was not very
+free of it, for my store was not great: however, I
+spared her a bit, I say, and she went to it, smelled
+of it, and ate it, and looked (as pleased) for more;
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page070" id="page070"></a>[pg 070]</span>
+but I thanked her, and could spare no more: so she
+marched off.</p>
+
+<p>Having got my second cargo on shore&mdash;though I
+was fain to open the barrels of powder, and bring
+them by parcels, for they were too heavy, being
+large casks&mdash;I went to work to make me a little
+tent, with the sail, and some poles, which I cut for
+that purpose; and into this tent I brought every
+thing that I knew would spoil either with rain or
+sun; and I piled all the empty chests and casks up
+in a circle round the tent, to fortify it from any
+sudden attempt either from man or beast.</p>
+
+<p>When I had done this, I blocked up the door of
+the tent with some boards within, and an empty
+chest set up on end without; and spreading one of
+the beds upon the ground, laying my two pistols
+just at my head, and my gun at length by me, I
+went to bed for the first time, and slept very quietly
+all night, for I was very weary and heavy; for the
+night before I had slept little, and had laboured
+very hard all day, as well to fetch all those things
+from the ship, as to get them on shore.</p>
+
+<p>I had the biggest magazine of all kinds now that
+ever was laid up, I believe, for one man: but I was
+not satisfied still: for while the ship sat upright in
+that posture, I thought I ought to get every thing
+out of her that I could: so every day, at low water,
+I went on board, and brought away something or
+other; but particularly the third time I went, I
+brought away as much of the rigging as I could, as
+also all the small ropes and rope-twine I could get,
+with a piece of spare canvass, which was to mend
+the sails upon occasion, and the barrel of wet gun-powder.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page071" id="page071"></a>[pg 071]</span>
+In a word, I brought away all the sails
+first and last; only that I was fain to cut them in
+pieces, and bring as much at a time as I could; for
+they were no more useful to be sails, but as mere
+canvass only.</p>
+
+<p>But that which comforted me still more, was, that,
+last of all, after I had made five or six such voyages
+as these, and thought I had nothing more to expect
+from the ship that was worth my meddling with; I
+say, after all this, I found a great hogshead of bread,
+and three large runlets of rum or spirits, and a box
+of sugar, and a barrel of fine flour; this was surprising
+to me, because I had given over expecting
+any more provisions, except what was spoiled by the
+water. I soon emptied the hogshead of that bread,
+and wrapped it up, parcel by parcel, in pieces of
+the sails, which I cut out; and, in a word, I got all
+this safe on shore also.</p>
+
+<p>The next day I made another voyage, and now
+having plundered the ship of what was portable and
+fit to hand out, I began with the cables, and cutting
+the great cable into pieces, such as I could move, I
+got two cables and a hawser on shore, with all the
+iron-work I could get; and having cut down the
+spritsail-yard, and the mizen-yard, and every thing
+I could, to make a large raft, I loaded it with all
+those heavy goods; and came away; but my good
+luck began now to leave me; for this raft was so
+unwieldy, and so overladen, that after I was entered
+the little cove, where I had landed the rest of my
+goods, not being able to guide it so handily as I did
+the other, it overset, and threw me and all my cargo
+into the water; as for myself, it was no great harm,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page072" id="page072"></a>[pg 072]</span>
+for I was near the shore; but as to my cargo, it was
+a great part of it lost, especially the iron, which I
+expected would have been of great use to me: however,
+when the tide was out, I got most of the pieces
+of cable ashore, and some of the iron, though with
+infinite labour; for I was fain to dip for it into the
+water, a work which fatigued me very much. After
+this I went every day on board, and brought away
+what I could get.</p>
+
+<p>I had been now thirteen days ashore, and had
+been eleven times on board the ship; in which time
+I had brought away all that one pair of hands could
+well be supposed capable to bring; though I believe
+verily, had the calm weather held, I should have
+brought away the whole ship, piece by piece; but
+preparing the twelfth time to go on board, I found
+the wind began to rise: however, at low water, I
+went on board; and though I thought I had rummaged
+the cabin so effectually, as that nothing could
+be found, yet I discovered a locker with drawers in
+it, in one of which I found two or three razors, and
+one pair of large scissars with some ten or a dozen
+of good knives and forks; in another I found about
+thirty-six pounds value in money, some European
+coin, some Brazil, some pieces of eight, some gold,
+and some silver.</p>
+
+<p>I smiled to myself at the sight of this money:
+"O drug!" said I aloud, "what art thou good for?
+Thou art not worth to me, no, not the taking off
+the ground; one of those knives is worth all this
+heap: I have no manner of use for thee; e'en remain
+where thou art, and go to the bottom, as a
+creature whose life is not worth saving." However,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page073" id="page073"></a>[pg 073]</span>
+upon second thoughts, I took it away; and wrapping
+all this in a piece of canvass, I began to think of
+making another raft; but while I was preparing this,
+I found the sky over-cast, and the wind began to
+rise, and in a quarter of an hour it blew a fresh gale
+from the shore. It presently occurred to me, that
+it was in vain to pretend to make a raft with the wind
+off shore; and that it was my business to be gone
+before the tide of flood began, or otherwise I might
+not be able to reach the shore at all. Accordingly
+I let myself down into the water, and swam across
+the channel which lay between the ship and the
+sands, and even that with difficulty enough, partly
+with the weight of the things I had about me, and
+partly the roughness of the water; for the wind rose
+very hastily, and before it was quite high water it
+blew a storm.</p>
+
+<p>But I was got home to my little tent, where I lay,
+with all my wealth about me very secure. It blew
+very hard all that night, and in the morning, when I
+looked out, behold, no more ship was to be seen! I
+was a little surprised, but recovered myself with
+this satisfactory reflection, viz. that I had lost no
+time, nor abated no diligence, to get every thing out
+of her that could be useful to me, and that, indeed,
+there was little left in her that I was able to bring
+away, if I had had more time.</p>
+
+<p>I now gave over any more thoughts of the ship,
+or of any thing out of her, except what might drive
+on shore, from her wreck; as, indeed, divers pieces
+of her afterwards did; but those things were of
+small use to me.</p>
+
+<p>My thoughts were now wholly employed about
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page074" id="page074"></a>[pg 074]</span>
+securing myself against either savages, if any should
+appear, or wild beasts, if any were in the island;
+and I had many thoughts of the method how to do
+this, and what kind of dwelling to make, whether I
+should make me a cave in the earth, or a tent upon
+the earth: and in short, I resolved upon both; the
+manner and description of which, it may not be improper
+to give an account of.</p>
+
+<p>I soon found the place I was in was not for my
+settlement, particularly because it was upon a low,
+moorish ground, near the sea, and I believed it
+would not be wholesome; and more particularly
+because there was no fresh water near it: so I resolved
+to find a more healthy and more convenient
+spot of ground.</p>
+
+<p>I consulted several things in my situation, which
+I found would be proper for me: 1st, Health and
+fresh water, I just now mentioned: 2dly, Shelter
+from the heat of the sun: 3dly, Security from ravenous
+creatures, whether men or beasts: 4thly, A
+view to the sea, that if God sent any ship in sight,
+I might not lose any advantage for my deliverance,
+of which I was not willing to banish all my expectation
+yet.</p>
+
+<p>In search for a place proper for this, I found a
+little plain on the side of a rising hill, whose front
+towards this little plain was steep as a house-side,
+so that nothing could come down upon me from the
+top. On the side of this rock there was a hollow
+place, worn a little way in, like the entrance or door
+of a cave; but there was not really any cave, or
+way into the rock, at all.</p>
+
+<p>On the flat of the green, just before this hollow
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page075" id="page075"></a>[pg 075]</span>
+place, I resolved to pitch my tent. This plain was
+not above a hundred yards broad, and about twice
+as long, and lay like a green before my door; and,
+at the end of it, descended irregularly every way
+down into the low ground by the sea side. It was
+on the N.N.W. side of the hill; so that it was sheltered
+from the heat every day, till it came to a W.
+and by S. sun, or thereabouts, which, in those countries,
+is near the setting.</p>
+
+<p>Before I set up my tent, I drew a half-circle before
+the hollow place, which took in about ten yards
+in its semi-diameter from the rock, and twenty yards
+in its diameter, from its beginning and ending.</p>
+
+<p>In this half-circle I pitched two rows of strong
+stakes, driving them into the ground till they stood
+very firm like piles, the biggest end being out of the
+ground about five feet and a half and sharpened on
+the top. The two rows did not stand above six
+inches from one another.</p>
+
+<p>Then I took the pieces of cable which I cut in
+the ship, and laid them in rows, one upon another,
+within the circle, between these two rows of
+stakes, up to the top, placing other stakes in the
+inside, leaning against them, about two feet and a
+half high, like a spur to a post; and this fence was
+so strong, that neither man nor beast could get into
+it or over it. This cost me a great deal of time
+and labour, especially to cut the piles in the woods,
+bring them to the place, and drive them into the
+earth.</p>
+
+<p>The entrance into this place I made to be not by
+a door, but by a short ladder to go over the top;
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page076" id="page076"></a>[pg 076]</span>
+which ladder, when I was in, I lifted over after me;
+and so I was completely fenced in and fortified, as I
+thought, from all the world, and consequently slept
+secure in the night, which otherwise I could not
+have done; though, as it appeared afterwards, there
+was no need of all this caution from the enemies
+that I apprehended danger from.</p>
+
+<p>Into this fence, or fortress, with infinite labour, I
+carried all my riches, all my provisions, ammunition,
+and stores, of which you have the account above;
+and I made a large tent, which, to preserve me from
+the rains, that in one part of the year are very
+violent there, I made double, viz. one smaller tent
+within, and one larger tent above it, and covered
+the uppermost with a large tarpaulin, which I had
+saved among the sails.</p>
+
+<p>And now I lay no more for a while in the bed
+which I had brought on shore, but in a hammock,
+which was indeed a very good one, and belonged to
+the mate of the ship.</p>
+
+<p>Into this tent I brought all my provisions, and
+every thing that would spoil by the wet; and having
+thus enclosed all my goods, I made up the entrance
+which till now I had left open, and so passed and
+repassed, as I said, by a short ladder.</p>
+
+<p>When I had done this, I began to work my way
+into the rock, and bringing all the earth and stones
+that I dug down out through my tent, I laid them
+up within my fence in the nature of a terrace, so
+that it raised the ground within about a foot and an
+half; and thus I made me a cave, just behind my
+tent, which served me like a cellar to my house.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page077" id="page077"></a>[pg 077]</span>
+It cost me much labour and many days, before all
+these things were brought to perfection; and therefore
+I must go back to some other things which
+took up some of my thoughts. At the same time
+it happened, after I had laid my scheme for the setting
+up my tent, and making the cave, that a storm
+of rain falling from a thick, dark cloud, a sudden
+flash of lightning happened, and after that, a great
+clap of thunder, as is naturally the effect of it. I
+was not so much surprised with the lightning, as I
+was with a thought, which darted into my mind as
+swift as the lightning itself: O my powder! My
+very heart sunk within me when I thought, that at
+one blast, all my powder might be destroyed; on
+which, not my defence only, but the providing me
+food, as I thought, entirely depended. I was nothing
+near so anxious about my own danger, though, had
+the powder took fire, I had never known who had
+hurt me.</p>
+
+<p>Such impression did this make upon me, that
+after the storm was over, I laid aside all my works,
+my building and fortifying, and applied myself to
+make bags and boxes, to separate the powder, and
+to keep it a little and a little in a parcel, in hope
+that whatever might come, it might not all take fire
+at once; and to keep it so apart, that it should not
+be possible to make one part fire another. I finished
+this work in about a fortnight; and I think my
+powder, which in all was about 240 lb. weight, was
+divided in not less than a hundred parcels. As to
+the barrel that had been wet, I did not apprehend
+any danger from that; so I placed it in my new
+cave, which, in my fancy, I called my kitchen, and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page078" id="page078"></a>[pg 078]</span>
+the rest I hid up and down in holes among the
+rocks, so that no wet might come to it, marking
+very carefully where I laid it.</p>
+
+<p>In the interval of time while this was doing, I
+went out at least once every day with my gun, as
+well to divert myself, as to see if I could kill any
+thing fit for food; and, as near as I could, to acquaint
+myself with what the island produced. The
+first time I went out, I presently discovered that
+there were goats upon the island, which was a great
+satisfaction to me; but then it was attended with
+this misfortune to me, viz. that they were so shy,
+so subtle, and so swift of foot, that it was the most
+difficult thing in the world to come at them: but I
+was not discouraged at this, not doubting but I
+might now and then shoot one, as it soon happened;
+for after I had found their haunts a little, I laid
+wait in this manner for them: I observed, if they
+saw me in the valleys, though they were upon the
+rocks, they would run away as in a terrible fright;
+but if they were feeding in the valleys, and I was
+upon the rocks, they took no notice of me; from
+whence I concluded, that by the position of their
+optics, their sight was so directed downward, that
+they did not readily see objects that were above
+them: so, afterwards, I took this method&mdash;I always
+climbed the rocks first, to get above them, and then
+had frequently a fair mark. The first shot I made
+among these creatures, I killed a she-goat, which
+had a little kid by her, which she gave suck to,
+which grieved me heartily; but when the old one
+fell, the kid stood stock still by her, till I came and
+took her up; and not only so, but when I carried
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page079" id="page079"></a>[pg 079]</span>
+the old one with me, upon my shoulders, the kid
+followed me quite to my enclosure; upon which, I
+laid down the dam, and took the kid in my arms,
+and carried it over my pale, in hopes to have bred
+it up tame; but it would not eat; so I was forced
+to kill it, and eat it myself. These two supplied
+me with flesh a great while, for I ate sparingly, and
+preserved my provisions (my bread especially) as
+much as possibly I could.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width:35%;"><a href="images/079.jpg"><img width = "100%" src="images/079.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
+
+<p>Having now fixed my habitation, I found it absolutely
+necessary to provide a place to make a fire in,
+and fuel to burn; and what I did for that, as also
+how I enlarged my cave, and what conveniences I
+made, I shall give a full account of in its proper
+place: but I must first give some little account of
+myself, and of my thoughts about living, which, it
+may well be supposed, were not a few.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page080" id="page080"></a>[pg 080]</span>
+
+<p>I had a dismal prospect of my condition; for as
+I was not cast away upon that island without being
+driven, as is said, by a violent storm, quite out of
+the course of our intended voyage; and a great way,
+viz. some hundreds of leagues, out of the ordinary
+course of the trade of mankind, I had great reason
+to consider it as a determination of Heaven, that
+in this desolate place, and in this desolate manner,
+I should end my life. The tears would run plentifully
+down my face when I made these reflections;
+and sometimes I would expostulate with myself why
+Providence should thus completely ruin its creatures,
+and render them so absolutely miserable; so
+abandoned without help, so entirely depressed, that
+it could hardly be rational to be thankful for such
+a life.</p>
+
+<p>But something always returned swift upon me to
+check these thoughts, and to reprove me: and particularly,
+one day, walking with my gun in my
+hand, by the sea side, I was very pensive upon the
+subject of my present condition, when reason, as it
+were, expostulated with me the other way, thus:
+"Well, you are in a desolate condition, it is true;
+but, pray remember, where are the rest of you?
+Did not you come eleven of you into the boat?
+Where are the ten? Why were not they saved, and
+you lost? Why were you singled out? Is it better
+to be here or there?" And then I pointed to the sea.
+All evils are to be considered with the good that is
+in them, and with what worse attends them.</p>
+
+<p>Then it occurred to me again, how well I was
+furnished for my subsistence, and what would have
+been my case if it had not happened (which was a
+hundred thousand to one) that the ship floated from
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page081" id="page081"></a>[pg 081]</span>
+the place where she first struck, and was driven so
+near to the shore, that I had time to get all these
+things out of her: what would have been my case,
+if I had been to have lived in the condition in which
+I at first came on shore, without necessaries of life,
+or necessaries to supply and procure them? "Particularly,
+said I aloud (though to myself,) what
+should I have done without a gun, without ammunition,
+without any tools to make any thing, or to
+work with, without clothes, bedding, a tent, or any
+manner of covering?" and that now I had all these
+to a sufficient quantity, and was in a fair way to
+provide myself in such a manner as to live without
+my gun, when my ammunition was spent: so that
+I had a tolerable view of subsisting, without any
+want, as long as I lived; for I considered, from the
+beginning, how I should provide for the accidents
+that might happen, and for the time that was to
+come, not only after my ammunition should be
+spent, but even after my health or strength should
+decay.</p>
+
+<p>I confess, I had not entertained any notion of my
+ammunition being destroyed at one blast, I mean
+my powder being blown up by lightning; and this
+made the thoughts of it so surprising to me, when
+it lightened and thundered, as I observed just now.</p>
+
+<p>And now being to enter into a melancholy relation
+of a scene of silent life, such, perhaps, as was
+never heard of in the world before, I shall take it
+from its beginning, and continue it in its order. It
+was, by my account, the 30th of September, when,
+in the manner as above said, I first set foot upon
+this horrid island; when the sun being to us in its
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page082" id="page082"></a>[pg 082]</span>
+autumnal equinox, was almost just over my head:
+for I reckoned myself, by observation, to be in the
+latitude of 9 degrees 22 minutes north of the Line.</p>
+
+<p>After I had been there about ten or twelve days,
+it came into my thoughts that I should lose my
+reckoning of time for want of books, and pen and
+ink, and should even forget the sabbath days from
+the working days: but, to prevent this, I cut it with
+my knife upon a large post, in capital letters; and
+making it into a great cross, I set it up on the shore
+where I first landed, viz. "I came on shore here
+on the 30th of September, 1659." Upon the sides
+of this square post I cut every day a notch with
+my knife, and every seventh notch was as long
+again as the rest, and every first day of the month
+as long again as that long one: and thus I kept
+my calendar, or weekly, monthly, and yearly reckoning
+of time.</p>
+
+<p>But it happened, that among the many things
+which I brought out of the ship, in the several
+voyages which, as above mentioned, I made to it, I
+got several things of less value, but not at all less
+useful to me, which I found, some time after, in
+rummaging the chests; as, in particular, pens, ink,
+and paper; several parcels in the captain's, mate's,
+gunner's, and carpenter's keeping; three or four
+compasses, some mathematical instruments, dials,
+perspectives, charts, and books of navigation; all
+which I huddled together, whether I might want
+them or no: also I found three very good bibles,
+which came to me in my cargo from England, and
+which I had packed up among my things; some
+Portuguese books also, and, among them, two or
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page083" id="page083"></a>[pg 083]</span>
+three popish prayer books, and several other books,
+all which I carefully secured. And I must not forget,
+that we had in the ship a dog, and two cats, of
+whose eminent history I may have occasion to say
+something, in its place: for I carried both the cats
+with me; and as for the dog, he jumped out of the
+ship himself, and swam on shore to me the day after
+I went on shore with my first cargo, and was a
+trusty servant to me for many years: I wanted
+nothing that he could fetch me, nor any company
+that he could make up to me, I only wanted to
+have him talk to me, but that would not do. As I
+observed before, I found pens, ink, and paper, and
+I husbanded them to the utmost; and I shall show
+that while my ink lasted, I kept things very exact,
+but after that was gone I could not; for I could
+not make any ink, by any means that I could devise.</p>
+
+<p>And this put me in mind that I wanted many
+things, notwithstanding all that I had amassed
+together; and of these, this of ink was one; as
+also a spade, pick-axe, and shovel, to dig or remove
+the earth; needles, pins, and thread: as for linen, I
+soon learned to want that without much difficulty.</p>
+
+<p>This want of tools made every work I did go on
+heavily; and it was near a whole year before I had
+entirely finished my little pale, or surrounded my
+habitation. The piles or stakes, which were as
+heavy as I could well lift, were a long time in cutting
+and preparing in the woods, and more, by far,
+in bringing home; so that I spent sometimes two
+days in cutting and bringing home one of those
+posts, and a third day in driving it into the ground;
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page084" id="page084"></a>[pg 084]</span>
+for which purpose, I got a heavy piece of wood at
+first, but at last bethought myself of one of the iron
+crows; which, however, though I found it, yet it
+made driving these posts or piles very laborious and
+tedious work. But what need I have been concerned
+at the tediousness of any thing I had to do,
+seeing I had time enough to do it in? nor had I
+any other employment, if that had been over, at
+least that I could foresee, except the ranging the
+island to seek for food; which I did, more or less,
+every day.</p>
+
+<p>I now began to consider seriously my condition,
+and the circumstance I was reduced to; and I drew
+up the state of my affairs in writing, not so much
+to leave them to any that were to come after me
+(for I was like to have but few heirs,) as to deliver
+my thoughts from daily poring upon them, and afflicting
+my mind: and as my reason began now to
+master my despondency, I began to comfort myself
+as well as I could, and to set the good against the
+evil, that I might have something to distinguish my
+case from worse; and I stated very impartially, like
+debtor and creditor, the comforts I enjoyed against
+the miseries I suffered, thus:</p>
+
+<div class="poem">
+<table width="75%">
+<tr align="center"><td>EVIL.</td><td>GOOD.</td></tr>
+<tr align="left"><td>I am cast upon a horrible,</td><td>But I am alive; and not</td></tr>
+<tr><td>desolate island, void of all</td><td>drowned, as all my ship's company</td></tr>
+<tr><td>hope of recovery.</td><td>were.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>I am singled out and separated,</td><td>But I am singled out too</td></tr>
+<tr><td>as it were, from all the</td><td>from all the ship's crew, to be</td></tr>
+<tr><td>world, to be miserable.</td><td>spared from death; and he</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>that miraculously save me</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>from death, can deliver me</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>from this condition.</td></tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page085" id="page085"></a>[pg 085]</span>
+
+<div class="poem">
+<table width="75%">
+<tr><td>I am divided from mankind,</td><td>But I am not starved, and</td></tr>
+<tr><td>a solitaire; one banished</td><td>perishing in a barren place,</td></tr>
+<tr><td>from human society.</td><td>affording no sustenance.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>I have no clothes to cover</td><td>But I am in a hot climate,</td></tr>
+<tr><td>me.</td><td>where, if I had clothes, I could</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>hardly wear them.</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>I am without any defence,</td><td>But I am cast on an island</td></tr>
+<tr><td>or means to resist any violence</td><td>where I see no wild beast to</td></tr>
+<tr><td>of man or beast.</td><td>hurt me, as I saw on the coast</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>of Africa: and what if I had</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>been shipwrecked there?</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td>I have no soul to speak to,</td><td>But God wonderfully sent</td></tr>
+<tr><td>or relieve me.</td><td>the ship in near enough to the</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>shore, that I have got out so</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>many necessary things as will</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>either supply my wants, or</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>enable me to supply myself,</td></tr>
+<tr><td>&nbsp;</td><td>even as long as I live.</td></tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+<p>Upon the whole, here was an undoubted testimony,
+that there was scarce any condition in the
+world so miserable, but there was something negative,
+or something positive, to be thankful for in it:
+and let this stand as a direction, from the experience
+of the most miserable of all conditions in this
+world, that we may always find in it something to
+comfort ourselves from, and to set, in the description
+of good and evil, on the credit side of the account.</p>
+
+<p>Having now, brought my mind a little to relish
+my condition, and given over looking out to sea, to
+see if I could spy a ship; I say, giving over these
+things, I began to apply myself to accommodate my
+way of living, and to make things as easy to me as
+I could.</p>
+
+<p>I have already described my habitation, which was
+a tent under the side of a rock,&mdash;surrounded with a
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page086" id="page086"></a>[pg 086]</span>
+strong pale of posts and cables; but I might now
+rather call it a wall, for I raised a kind of wall
+against it of turfs, about two feet thick on the outside:
+and after some time (I think it was a year and
+a half) I raised rafters from it, leaning to the rock,
+and thatched or covered it with boughs of trees,
+and such things as I could get, to keep out the
+rain; which I found, at some times of the year,
+very violent.</p>
+
+<p>I have already observed how I brought all my
+goods into this pale, and into the cave which I had
+made behind me. But I must observe, too, that at
+first this was a confused heap of goods, which, as
+they lay in no order, so they took up all my place;
+I had no room to turn myself: so I set myself to
+enlarge my cave, and work farther into the earth;
+for it was a loose, sandy rock, which yielded easily
+to the labour I bestowed on it: and when I found I
+was pretty safe as to the beasts of prey, I worked
+sideways, to the right hand, into the rock, and then
+turning to the right again, worked quite out, and
+made me a door to come out in the outside of my
+pale or fortification.</p>
+
+<p>This gave me not only egress and regress, as it
+were, a back-way to my tent and to my storehouse,
+but gave me room to stow my goods.</p>
+
+<p>And now I began to apply myself to make such
+necessary things as I found I most wanted, particularly
+a chair and a table; for without these I was
+not able to enjoy the few comforts I had in the
+world; I could not write, or eat, or do several
+things with so much pleasure, without a table: so
+I went to work. And here I must needs observe,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page087" id="page087"></a>[pg 087]</span>
+that as reason is the substance and original of the
+mathematics, so by stating, and squaring every thing
+by reason, and by making the most rational judgment
+of things, every man may be, in time, master
+of every mechanic art. I had never handled a tool
+in my life; and yet, in time, by labour, application,
+and contrivance, I found, at last, that I wanted
+nothing but I could have made, especially if I had
+had tools. However, I made abundance of things,
+even without tools; and some with no more tools
+than an adze and a hatchet, which perhaps were
+never made that way before, and that with infinite
+labour. For example, if I wanted a board, I had
+no other way but to cut down a tree, set it on an
+edge before me, and hew it flat on either side with
+my axe, till I had brought it to be as thin as a plank,
+and then dub it smooth with my adze. It is true,
+by this method I could make but one board of a
+whole tree; but this I had no remedy for but patience,
+any more than I had for a prodigious deal of
+time and labour which it took me up to make a
+plank or board: but my time or labour was little
+worth, and so it was as well employed one way as
+another.</p>
+
+<p>However, I made me a table and a chair, as I observed
+above, in the first place; and this I did out
+of the short pieces of boards that I brought on my
+raft from the ship. But when I wrought out some
+boards, as above, I made large shelves, of the
+breadth of a foot and a half, one over another, all
+along one side of my cave, to lay all my tools, nails,
+and iron-work on; and, in a word, to separate every
+thing at large in their places, that I might easily
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page088" id="page088"></a>[pg 088]</span>
+come at them. I knocked pieces into the wall
+of the rock, to hang my guns, and all things that
+would hang up: so that had my cave been seen, it
+looked like a general magazine of all necessary
+things; and I had every thing so ready at my hand,
+that it was a great pleasure to me to see all my
+goods in such order, and especially to find my stock
+of all necessaries so great.</p>
+
+<p>And now it was that I began to keep a journal of
+every day's employment; for, indeed, at first, I was
+in too much hurry, and not only hurry as to labour,
+but in much discomposure of mind; and my journal
+would, too, have been full of many dull things: for
+example, I must have said thus&mdash;"<i>Sept</i>. 30th.
+After I had got to shore, and had escaped drowning,
+instead of being thankful to God for my deliverance,
+having first vomited, with the great quantity
+of salt water which was gotten into my stomach,
+and recovering myself a little, I ran about the shore,
+wringing my hands, and beating my head and face,
+exclaiming at my misery, and crying out, 'I was
+undone, undone!' till, tired and faint, I was forced
+to lie down on the ground to repose; but durst not
+sleep, for fear of being devoured."</p>
+
+<p>Some days after this, and after I had been on
+board the ship, and got all that I could out of her,
+I could not forbear getting up to the top of a little
+mountain, and looking out to sea, in hopes of seeing
+a ship: then fancy that, at a vast distance, I spied
+a sail, please myself with the hopes of it, and, after
+looking steadily, till I was almost blind, lose it
+quite, and sit down and weep like a child, and thus
+increase my misery by my folly.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page089" id="page089"></a>[pg 089]</span>
+
+<p>But, having gotten over these things in some measure,
+and having settled my household-stuff and
+habitation, made me a table and a chair, and all as
+handsome about me as I could, I began to keep my
+journal: of which I shall here give you the copy
+(though in it will be told all these particulars over
+again) as long as it lasted; for, having no more ink,
+I was forced to leave it off.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<p>THE JOURNAL.</p>
+
+<p><i>September</i> 30th, 1659. I, poor miserable Robinson
+Crusoe, being shipwrecked, during a dreadful
+storm, in the offing, came on shore on this dismal
+unfortunate island, which I called the ISLAND OF
+DESPAIR; all the rest of the ship's company being
+drowned, and myself almost dead.</p>
+
+<p>All the rest of that day I spent in afflicting myself
+at the dismal circumstances I was brought to,
+viz. I had neither food, house, clothes, weapon, nor
+place to fly to: and, in despair of any relief, saw
+nothing but death before me; that I should either
+be devoured by wild beasts, murdered by savages,
+or starved to death for want of food. At the approach
+of night I slept in a tree, for fear of wild
+creatures; but slept soundly, though it rained all
+night.</p>
+
+<p><i>October</i> 1. In the morning I saw, to my great
+surprise, the ship had floated with the high tide, and
+was driven on shore again much nearer the island;
+which, as it was some comfort on one hand (for seeing
+her sit upright, and not broken in pieces, I
+hoped, if the wind abated, I might get on board,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page090" id="page090"></a>[pg 090]</span>
+and get some food and necessaries out of her for my
+relief,) so, on the other hand, it renewed my grief
+at the loss of my comrades, who, I imagined, if we
+had all staid on board, might have saved the ship,
+or, at least, that they would not have been all
+drowned, as they were; and that, had the men been
+saved, we might perhaps have built us a boat, out
+of the ruins of the ship, to have carried us to some
+other part of the world. I spent great part of this
+day in perplexing myself on these things; but, at
+length, seeing the ship almost dry, I went upon the
+sand as near as I could, and then swam on board.
+This day also it continued raining, though with no
+wind at all.</p>
+
+<p>From the 1st of <i>October</i> to the 24th. All these
+days entirely spent in many several voyages to get
+all I could out of the ship; which I brought on
+shore, every tide of flood, upon rafts. Much rain
+also in these days, though with some intervals of
+fair weather: but, it seems, this was the rainy season.</p>
+
+<p><i>Oct</i>. 20. I overset my raft, and all the goods I
+had got upon it; but being in shoal water, and the
+things being chiefly heavy, I recovered many of
+them when the tide was out.</p>
+
+<p><i>Oct</i>. 25. It rained all night and all day, with
+some gusts of wind; during which time the ship
+broke in pieces (the wind blowing a little harder
+than before) and was no more to be seen, except the
+wreck of her, and that only at low water. I spent
+this day in covering and securing the goods which I
+had saved, that the rain might not spoil them.</p>
+
+<p><i>Oct</i>. 26. I walked about the shore almost all
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page091" id="page091"></a>[pg 091]</span>
+day, to find out a place to fix my habitation; greatly
+concerned to secure myself from any attack in the
+night, either from wild beasts or men. Towards
+night I fixed upon a proper place, under a rock,
+and marked out a semi-circle for my encampment;
+which I resolved to strengthen with a work, wall, or
+fortification, made of double piles, lined within with
+cables, and without with turf.</p>
+
+<p>From the 26th to the 30th, I worked very hard in
+carrying all my goods to my new habitation, though
+some part of the time it rained exceedingly hard.</p>
+
+<p>The 31st, in the morning, I went out into the
+island with my gun, to see for some food, and discover
+the country; when I killed a she-goat, and
+her kid followed me home, which I afterwards killed
+also, because it would not feed.</p>
+
+<p><i>November</i> 1. I set up my tent under a rock, and
+lay there for the first night; making it as large as I
+could, with stakes driven in to swing my hammock
+upon.</p>
+
+<p><i>Nov</i>. 2. I set up all my chests and boards, and
+the pieces of timber which made my rafts; and with
+them formed a fence round me, a little within the
+place I had marked out for my fortification.</p>
+
+<p><i>Nov</i>. 3. I went out with my gun, and killed two
+fowls like ducks, which were very good food. In
+the afternoon I went to work to make me a table.</p>
+
+<p><i>Nov</i>. 4. This morning I began to order my times
+of work, of going out with my gun, time of sleep,
+and time of diversion; viz. every morning I walked
+out with my gun for two or three hours, if it did
+not rain; then employed myself to work till about
+eleven o'clock; then ate what I had to live on; and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page092" id="page092"></a>[pg 092]</span>
+from twelve to two I lay down to sleep, the weather
+being excessive hot; and then, in the evening, to
+work again. The working part of this day and
+the next was wholly employed in making my table,
+for I was yet but a very sorry workman: though
+time and necessity made me a complete natural
+mechanic soon after, as I believe they would any
+one else.</p>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 5.</i> This day went abroad with my gun and
+dog, and killed a wild cat; her skin pretty soft, but
+her flesh good for nothing: of every creature that I
+killed I took off the skins, and preserved them.
+Coming back by the sea-shore, I saw many sorts of
+sea-fowl which I did not understand: but was surprised,
+and almost frightened, with two or three
+seals; which, while I was gazing at them (not well
+knowing what they were) got into the sea, and
+escaped me for that time.</p>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 6.</i> After my morning walk, I went to work
+with my table again, and finished it, though not to
+my liking: nor was it long before I learned to
+mend it.</p>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 7.</i> Now it began to be settled fair weather.
+The 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and part of the 12th (for
+the 11th was Sunday, according to my reckoning) I
+took wholly up to make me a chair, and with much
+ado, brought it to a tolerable shape, but never to
+please me; and, even in the making, I pulled it in
+pieces several times.</p>
+
+<p><i>Note.</i> I soon neglected my keeping Sundays;
+for, omitting my mark for them on my post, I forgot
+which was which.</p>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 13.</i> This day it rained; which refreshed
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page093" id="page093"></a>[pg 093]</span>
+me exceedingly, and cooled the earth: but it was
+accompanied with terrible thunder and lightning,
+which frightened me dreadfully, for fear of my
+powder. As soon as it was over, I resolved to
+separate my stock of powder into as many little
+parcels as possible, that it might not be in danger.</p>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 14, 15, 16.</i> These three days I spent in
+making little square chests or boxes, which might
+hold about a pound, or two pounds at most, of powder:
+and so, putting the powder in, I stowed it in
+places as secure and as remote from one another as
+possible. On one of these three days I killed a
+large bird that was good to eat; but I knew not
+what to call it.</p>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 17.</i> This day I began to dig behind my
+tent, into the rock, to make room for my farther
+convenience.</p>
+
+<p><i>Note.</i> Three things I wanted exceedingly for this
+work, viz. a pick-axe, a shovel, and a wheel-barrow,
+or basket; so I desisted from my work, and began
+to consider how to supply these wants, and make
+me some tools. As for a pick-axe, I made use of
+the iron crows, which were proper enough, though
+heavy: but, the next thing was a shovel or spade;
+this was so absolutely necessary, that, indeed, I
+could do nothing effectually without it; but what
+kind of one to make I knew not.</p>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 18.</i> The next day, in searching the woods,
+I found a tree of that wood, or like it, which, in the
+Brazils, they call the iron tree, from its exceeding
+hardness: of this, with great labour, and almost
+spoiling my axe, I cut a piece; and brought it home,
+too, with difficulty enough, for it was exceeding
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page094" id="page094"></a>[pg 094]</span>
+heavy. The excessive hardness of the wood, and
+my having no other way, made me a long while
+upon this machine; for I worked it effectually, by
+little and little, into the form of a shovel or spade;
+the handle exactly shaped like ours in England, only
+that the broad part having no iron shod upon it at
+bottom, it would not last me so long: however, it
+served well enough for the uses which I had occasion
+to put it to; but never was a shovel, I believe,
+made after that fashion, or so long a-making.</p>
+
+<p>I was still deficient: for I wanted a basket, or a
+wheel-barrow. A basket I could not make by any
+means, having no such things as twigs that would
+bend to make wicker-ware; at least, none yet found
+out: and as to the wheel-barrow, I fancied I could
+make all but the wheel, but that I had no notion
+of; neither did I know how to go about it: besides,
+I had no possible way to make iron gudgeons for
+the spindle or axis of the wheel to run in; so I gave
+it over: and, for carrying away the earth which I
+dug out of the cave, I made me a thing like a hod,
+which the labourers carry mortar in for the brick-layers.
+This was not so difficult to me as the making
+the shovel: and yet this and the shovel, and the
+attempt which I made in vain to make a wheel-barrow,
+took me up no less than four days; I mean,
+always excepting my morning walk with my gun,
+which I seldom omitted, and very seldom failed also
+bringing home something fit to eat.</p>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 23.</i> My other work having now stood still,
+because of my making these tools, when they were
+finished I went on; and working every day, as my
+strength and time allowed, I spent eighteen days
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page095" id="page095"></a>[pg 095]</span>
+entirely in widening and deepening my cave, that it
+might hold my goods commodiously.</p>
+
+<p><i>Note.</i> During all this time, I worked to make
+this room, or cave, spacious enough to accommodate
+me as a warehouse or magazine, a kitchen, a
+dining-room, and a cellar. As for a lodging, I kept
+to the tent; except that sometimes, in the wet season
+of the year, it rained so hard that I could not
+keep myself dry; which caused me afterwards to
+cover all my place within my pale with long poles,
+in the form of rafters, leaning against the rock, and
+load them with flags and large leaves of trees, like a
+thatch.</p>
+
+<p><i>December 10.</i> I began now to think my cave or
+vault finished; when on a sudden (it seems I had
+made it too large) a great quantity of earth fell
+down from the top and one side: so much, that, in
+short, it frightened me, and not without reason too;
+for if I had been under it, I should never have
+wanted a grave-digger. Upon this disaster, I had a
+great deal of work to do over again, for I had the
+loose earth to carry out; and, which was of more
+importance, I had the ceiling to prop up, so that I
+might be sure no more would come down.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 11.</i> This day I went to work with it accordingly;
+and got two shores or posts pitched upright
+to the top, with two pieces of board across
+over each post; this I finished the next day; and
+setting more posts up with boards, in about a week
+more I had the roof secured; and the posts, standing
+in rows, served me for partitions to part off my
+house.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 17.</i> From this day to the 30th, I placed
+shelves, and knocked up nails on the posts, to hang
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page096" id="page096"></a>[pg 096]</span>
+every thing up that could be hung up: and now I
+began to be in some order within doors.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 20.</i> I carried every thing into the cave, and
+began to furnish my house, and set up some pieces
+of boards, like a dresser, to order my victuals upon;
+but boards began to be very scarce with me: also I
+made me another table.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 24.</i> Much rain all night and all day: no
+stirring out.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 25.</i> Rain all day.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 26.</i> No rain; and the earth much cooler
+than before, and pleasanter.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 27.</i> Killed a young goat; and lamed another,
+so that I catched it, and led it home in a
+string: when I had it home, I bound and splintered
+up its leg, which was broke.</p>
+
+<p><i>N.B.</i> I took such care of it that it lived; and
+the leg grew well, and as strong as ever: but, by
+nursing it so long, it grew tame, and fed upon the
+little green at my door, and would not go away.
+This was the first time that I entertained a thought
+of breeding up some tame creatures, that I might
+have food when my powder and shot was all spent.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 28, 29, 30, 31.</i> Great heats, and no breeze;
+so that there was no stirring abroad, except in the
+evening, for food: this time I spent in putting all
+my things in order within doors.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 1.</i> Very hot still; but I went abroad
+early and late with my gun, and lay still in the
+middle of the day. This evening, going farther
+into the vallies which lay towards the centre of the
+island, I found there was plenty of goats, though
+exceeding shy, and hard to come at; however, I resolved
+to try if I could not bring my dog to hunt
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page097" id="page097"></a>[pg 097]</span>
+them down. Accordingly, the next day, I went out
+with my dog, and set him upon the goats: but I
+was mistaken, for they all faced about upon the
+dog: and he knew his danger too well, for he would
+not come near them.</p>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 3.</i> I began my fence or wall; which, being
+still jealous of my being attacked by somebody, I
+resolved to make very thick and strong.</p>
+
+<p><i>N.B.</i> This wall being described before, I purposely
+omit what was said in the journal: it is sufficient
+to observe, that I was no less time than from
+the 3d of January to the 14th of April, working,
+finishing, and perfecting this wall; though it was
+no more than about 25 yards in length, being a
+half-circle, from one place in the rock to another
+place, about twelve yards from it, the door of the
+cave being in the centre, behind it.</p>
+
+<p>All this time I worked very hard; the rains hindering
+me many days, nay, sometimes weeks together:
+but I thought I should never be perfectly
+secure till this wall was finished; and it is scarce
+credible what inexpressible labour every thing was
+done with, especially the bringing piles out of the
+woods, and driving them into the ground; for I made
+them much bigger than I needed to have done.</p>
+
+<p>When this wall was finished, and the outside
+double-fenced, with a turf-wall raised up close to it,
+I persuaded myself that if any people were to come
+on shore there they would not perceive any thing
+like a habitation: and it was very well I did so, as
+may be observed hereafter, upon a very remarkable
+occasion.</p>
+
+<p>During this time, I made my rounds in the woods
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page098" id="page098"></a>[pg 098]</span>
+for game every day, when the rain permitted me,
+and made frequent discoveries, in these walks, of
+something or other to my advantage; particularly,
+I found a kind of wild pigeons, who build, not as
+wood-pigeons, in a tree, but rather as house-pigeons,
+in the holes of the rocks: and, taking some young
+ones, I endeavoured to breed them up tame, and
+did so; but when they grew older, they flew all
+away; which, perhaps, was at first for want of
+feeding them, for I had nothing to give them: however,
+I frequently found their nests, and got their
+young ones, which were very good meat. And
+now, in the managing my household affairs, I found
+myself wanting in many things, which I thought at
+first it was impossible for me to make; as indeed,
+as to some of them, it was: for instance, I could
+never make a cask to be hooped. I had a small
+runlet or two, as I observed before; but I could
+never arrive to the capacity of making one by them,
+though I spent many weeks about it: I could neither
+put in the heads, nor join the staves so true to
+one another as to make them hold water; so I gave
+that also over. In the next place, I was at a great
+loss for candle; so that as soon as it was dark,
+which was generally by seven o'clock, I was obliged
+to go to bed. I remember the lump of bees-wax
+with which I made candles in my African adventure;
+but I had none of that now; the only remedy
+I had was, that when I had killed a goat, I saved
+the tallow; and with a little dish made of clay,
+which I baked in the sun, to which I added a wick
+of some oakum, I made me a lamp; and this gave
+me light, though not a clear steady light like a candle.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page099" id="page099"></a>[pg 099]</span>
+In the middle of all my labours it happened,
+that in rummaging my things, I found a little bag;
+which, as I hinted before, had been filled with corn,
+for the feeding of poultry; not for this voyage, but
+before, as I suppose, when the ship came from Lisbon.
+What little remainder of corn had been in
+the bag was all devoured with the rats, and I saw
+nothing in the bag but husks and dust; and being
+willing to have the bag for some other use (I think,
+it was to put powder in, when I divided it for fear
+of the lightning, or some such use,) I shook the
+husks of corn out of it, on one side of my fortification,
+under the rock.</p>
+
+<p>It was a little before the great rain just now
+mentioned, that I threw this stuff away; taking no
+notice of any thing, and not so much as remembering
+that I had thrown any thing there: when about
+a month after, I saw some few stalks of something
+green, shooting out of the ground, which I fancied
+might be some plant I had not seen; but I was surprised,
+and perfectly astonished, when, after a little
+longer time, I saw about ten or twelve ears come
+out, which were perfect green barley of the same
+kind as our European, nay, as our English barley.</p>
+
+<p>It is impossible to express the astonishment and
+confusion of my thoughts on this occasion: I had
+hitherto acted upon no religious foundation at all;
+indeed, I had very few notions of religion in my
+head, nor had entertained any sense of any thing
+that had befallen me, otherwise than as chance, or,
+as we lightly say, what pleases God; without so
+much as inquiring into the end of Providence in
+these things, or his order in governing events in the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page100" id="page100"></a>[pg 100]</span>
+world. But after I saw barley grow there, in a climate
+which I knew was not proper for corn, and
+especially as I knew not how it came there, it startled
+me strangely; and I began to suggest, that God
+had miraculously caused this grain to grow without
+any help of seed sown, and that it was so directed
+purely for my sustenance, on that wild miserable
+place.</p>
+
+<p>This touched my heart a little, and brought tears
+out of my eyes; and I began to bless myself that
+such a prodigy of nature should happen upon my
+account: and this was the more strange to me,
+because I saw near it still, all along by the side of
+the rock, some other straggling stalks, which proved
+to be stalks of rice, and which I knew, because I
+had seen it grow in Africa, when I was ashore
+there.</p>
+
+<p>I not only thought these the pure productions of
+Providence for my support, but, not doubting that
+there was more in the place, I went over all that
+part of the island where I had been before, searching
+in every corner, and under every rock, for more
+of it; but I could not find any. At last it occurred
+to my thoughts, that I had shook out a bag
+of chicken's-meat in that place, and then the wonder
+began to cease: and I must confess, my religious
+thankfulness to God's providence began to abate
+too, upon the discovering that all this was nothing
+but what was common; though I ought to have
+been as thankful for so strange and unforeseen a
+providence, as if it had been miraculous: for it was
+really the work of Providence, as to me, that should
+order or appoint that ten or twelve grains of corn
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page101" id="page101"></a>[pg 101]</span>
+should remain unspoiled, when the rats had destroyed
+all the rest, as if it had been dropt from
+heaven; as also, that I should throw it out in that
+particular place, where, it being in the shade of a
+high rock, it sprang up immediately; whereas, if I
+had thrown it any where else, at that time, it would
+have been burnt up and destroyed.</p>
+
+<p>I carefully saved the ears of this corn, you may
+be sure, in their season, which was about the end
+of June; and, laying up every corn, I resolved to
+sow them all again; hoping, in time, to have some
+quantity sufficient to supply me with bread. But it
+was not till the fourth year that I could allow myself
+the least grain of this corn to eat, and even then
+but sparingly, as I shall show afterwards, in its
+order; for I lost all that I sowed the first season,
+by not observing the proper time; as I sowed just
+before the dry season, so that it never came up at
+all, at least not as it would have done; of which in
+its place.</p>
+
+<p>Besides this barley, there were, as above, twenty
+or thirty stalks of rice, which I preserved with the
+same care; and whose use was of the same kind, or
+to the same purpose, viz. to make me bread, or rather
+food; for I found ways to cook it up without
+baking, though I did that also after some time.&mdash;But
+to return to my Journal.</p>
+
+<p>I worked excessively hard these three or four
+months, to get my wall done; and the 14th of
+April I closed it up; contriving to get into it, not by
+a door, but over the wall, by a ladder, that there
+might be no sign on the outside of my habitation.</p>
+
+<p><i>April 16.</i> I finished the ladder; so I went up
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page102" id="page102"></a>[pg 102]</span>
+with the ladder to the top, and then pulled it up
+after me, and let it down in the inside: this was a
+complete enclosure to me; for within I had room
+enough, and nothing could come at me from without,
+unless it could first mount my wall.</p>
+
+<p>The very next day after this wall was finished, I
+had almost all my labour overthrown at once, and
+myself killed; the case was thus:&mdash;As I was busy
+in the inside of it, behind my tent, just at the entrance
+into my cave, I was terribly frightened with
+a most dreadful surprising thing indeed; for, all on
+a sudden, I found the earth come crumbling down
+from the roof of my cave, and from the edge of the
+hill over my head, and two of the posts I had set
+up in the cave cracked in a frightful manner. I was
+heartily scared; but thought nothing of what really
+was the cause, only thinking that the top of my
+cave was falling in, as some of it had done before:
+and for fear I should be buried in it, I ran forward
+to my ladder, and not thinking myself safe there
+neither, I got over my wall for fear of the pieces of
+the hill which I expected might roll down upon me.
+I had no sooner stepped down upon the firm ground,
+than I plainly saw it was a terrible earthquake; for
+the ground I stood on shook three times at about
+eight minutes distance, with three such shocks as
+would have overturned the strongest building that
+could be supposed to have stood on the earth; and
+a great piece of the top of a rock, which stood
+about half a mile from me, next the sea, fell down,
+with such a terrible noise as I never heard in all
+my life. I perceived also that the very sea was
+put into a violent motion by it; and I believe the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page103" id="page103"></a>[pg 103]</span>
+shocks were stronger under the water than on the
+island.</p>
+
+<p>I was so much amazed with the thing itself (having
+never felt the like, nor discoursed with any one
+that had) that I was like one dead or stupified; and
+the motion of the earth made my stomach sick, like
+one that was tossed at sea: but the noise of the
+falling of the rock awaked me, as it were; and
+rousing me from the stupified condition I was in,
+filled me with horror, and I thought of nothing but
+the hill falling upon my tent and my household
+goods, and burying all at once; this sunk my very
+soul within me a second time.</p>
+
+<p>After the third shock was over, and I felt no more
+for some time, I began to take courage; yet I had
+not heart enough to go over my wall again, for fear
+of being buried alive, but sat still upon the ground
+greatly cast down, and disconsolate, not knowing
+what to do. All this while, I had not the least
+serious religious thought; nothing but the common
+<i>Lord, have mercy upon me!</i> and when it was over,
+that went away too.</p>
+
+<p>While I sat thus, I found the air overcast, and
+grow cloudy, as if it would rain; and soon after
+the wind rose by little, and little, so that in less than
+half an hour it blew a most dreadful hurricane:
+the sea was, all on a sudden, covered with foam and
+froth; the shore was covered with a breach of the
+water; the trees were torn up by the roots; and a
+terrible storm it was. This held about three hours,
+and then began to abate; and in two hours more it
+was quite calm, and began to rain very hard. All
+this while I sat upon the ground, very much terrified
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page104" id="page104"></a>[pg 104]</span>
+and dejected; when on a sudden it came into my
+thoughts, that these winds and rain being the consequence
+of the earthquake, the earthquake itself
+was spent and over, and I might venture into my
+cave again. With this thought my spirits began to
+revive; and the rain also helping to persuade me, I
+went in, and sat down in my tent; but the rain was
+so violent, that my tent was ready to be beaten
+down with it; and I was forced to get into my
+cave, though very much afraid and uneasy, for fear
+it should fall on my head. This violent rain forced
+me to a new work, viz. to cut a hole through my
+new fortification, like a sink, to let the water go
+out, which would else have drowned my cave.
+After I had been in my cave for some time, and
+found no more shocks of the earthquake follow, I
+began to be more composed. And now to support
+my spirits, which indeed wanted it very much, I
+went to my little store, and took a small sup of
+rum; which, however, I did then, and always, very
+sparingly, knowing I could have no more when that
+was gone. It continued raining all that night, and
+great part of the next day, so that I could not stir
+abroad; but my mind being more composed, I began
+to think of what I had best do; concluding,
+that if the island was subject to these earthquakes,
+there would be no living for me in a cave, but I
+must consider of building me some little hut in an
+open place, which I might surround with a wall, as
+I had done here, and so make myself secure from
+wild beasts or men; for if I staid where I was,
+I should certainly, one time or other, be buried
+alive.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page105" id="page105"></a>[pg 105]</span>
+
+<p>With these thoughts, I resolved to remove my
+tent from the place where it now stood, being just
+under the hanging precipice of the hill, and which,
+if it should be shaken again, would certainly fall
+upon my tent. I spent the two next days, being
+the 19th and 20th of April, in contriving where and
+how to remove my habitation. The fear of being
+swallowed alive affected me so, that I never slept
+in quiet; and yet the apprehension of lying abroad,
+without any fence, was almost equal to it: but still,
+when I looked about, and saw how every thing was
+put in order, how pleasantly I was concealed, and
+how safe from danger, it made me very loth to remove.
+In the mean time, it occurred to me that it
+would require a vast deal of time for me to do this;
+and that I must be contented to run the risk where
+I was, till I had formed a convenient camp, and secured
+it so as to remove to it. With this conclusion
+I composed myself for a time; and resolved that I
+would go to work with all speed to build me a wall
+with piles and cables, &amp;c. in a circle as before, and
+set up my tent in it when it was finished; but that
+I would venture to stay where I was till it was
+ready, and fit to remove to. This was the 21st.</p>
+
+<p><i>April</i> 22. The next morning I began to consider
+of means to put this measure into execution; but I
+was at a great loss about the tools. I had three
+large axes, and abundance of hatchets (for we carried
+the hatchets for traffic with the Indians;) but
+with much chopping and cutting knotty hard wood,
+they were all full of notches, and dull; and though
+I had a grind-stone, I could not turn it and grind
+my tools too. This caused me as much thought as
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page106" id="page106"></a>[pg 106]</span>
+a statesman would have bestowed upon a grand
+point of politics, or a judge upon the life and death
+of a man. At length I contrived a wheel with a
+string, to turn it with my foot, that I might have
+both my hands at liberty.</p>
+
+<p><i>Note.</i> I had never seen any such thing in England,
+or at least not to take notice how it was done,
+though since I have observed it is very common
+there: besides that, my grind-stone was very large
+and heavy. This machine cost me a full week's
+work to bring it to perfection.</p>
+
+<p><i>April 28, 29.</i> These two whole days I took up
+in grinding my tools, my machine for turning my
+grind-stone performing very well.</p>
+
+<p><i>April 30.</i> Having perceived that my bread had
+been low a great while, I now took a survey of it,
+and reduced myself to one biscuit-cake a day, which
+made my heart very heavy.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 1.</i> In the morning, looking toward the sea-side,
+the tide being low, I saw something lie on the
+shore bigger than ordinary, and it looked like a
+cask: when I came to it, I found a small barrel, and
+two or three pieces of the wreck of the ship, which
+were driven on shore by the late hurricane; and
+looking towards the wreck itself, I thought it seemed
+to lie higher out of the water than it used to do. I
+examined the barrel that was driven on shore, and
+soon found it was a barrel of gunpowder; but it
+had taken water, and the powder was caked as
+hard as a stone: however, I rolled it farther on the
+shore for the present, and went on upon the sands,
+as near as I could to the wreck of the ship, to look
+for more.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page107" id="page107"></a>[pg 107]</span>
+
+<p>When I came down to the ship, I found it
+strangely removed. The forecastle, which lay before
+buried in sand, was heaved up at least six feet:
+and the stern (which was broke to pieces, and
+parted from the rest, by the force of the sea, soon
+after I had left rummaging of her) was tossed, as it
+were, up, and cast on one side: and the sand was
+thrown so high on that side next her stern, that I
+could now walk quite up to her when the tide was
+out; whereas there was a great piece of water before,
+so that I could not come within a quarter of a
+mile of the wreck without swimming. I was surprised
+with this at first, but soon concluded it must
+be done by the earthquake; and as by this violence
+the ship was more broke open than formerly, so
+many things came daily on shore, which the sea had
+loosened, and which the winds and water rolled by
+degrees to the land.</p>
+
+<p>This wholly diverted my thoughts from the design
+of removing my habitation; and I busied myself
+mightily, that day especially, in searching whether
+I could make any way into the ship: but I found
+nothing was to be expected of that kind, for all the
+inside of the ship was choked up with sand. However,
+as I had learned not to despair of any thing,
+I resolved to pull every thing to pieces that I could
+of the ship, concluding that every thing I could get
+from her would be of some use or other to me.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 3.</i> I began with my saw, and cut a piece
+of a beam through, which I thought held some of
+the upper part or quarter deck together; and when
+I had cut it through, I cleared away the sand as
+well as I could from the side which lay highest; but
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page108" id="page108"></a>[pg 108]</span>
+the tide coming in, I was obliged to give over for
+that time.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 4.</i> I went a-fishing, but caught not one
+fish that I durst eat of, till I was weary of my sport;
+when, just going to leave off, I caught a young dolphin.
+I had made me a long line of some rope-yarn,
+but I had no hooks; yet I frequently caught
+fish enough, as much as I cared to eat; all which I
+dried in the sun, and ate them dry.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 5.</i> Worked on the wreck; cut another beam
+asunder, and brought three great fir-planks off from
+the decks; which I tied together, and made swim
+on shore when the tide of flood came on.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 6.</i> Worked on the wreck; got several iron
+bolts out of her, and other pieces of iron-work;
+worked very hard, and came home very much tired,
+and had thoughts of giving it over.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 7.</i> Went to the wreck again, but not with
+an intent to work; but found the weight of the
+wreck had broke itself down, the beams being cut;
+that several pieces of the ship seemed to lie loose;
+and the inside of the hold lay so open that I could
+see into it; but almost full of water and sand.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 8.</i> Went to the wreck, and carried an iron
+crow to wrench up the deck, which lay now quite
+clear of the water and sand. I wrenched up two
+planks, and brought them on shore also with the
+tide. I left the iron crow in the wreck for next
+day.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 9.</i> Went to the wreck, and with the crow
+made way into the body of the wreck, and felt several
+casks, and loosened them with the crow, but
+could not break them up. I felt also a roll of English
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page109" id="page109"></a>[pg 109]</span>
+lead, and could stir it; but it was too heavy to
+remove.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 10&mdash;14.</i> Went every day to the wreck;
+and got a great many pieces of timber, and boards,
+or plank, and two or three hundred weight of iron.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 15.</i> I carried two hatchets, to try if I
+could not cut a piece off the roll of lead, by placing
+the edge of one hatchet, and driving it with the other;
+but as it lay about a foot and a half in the water, I
+could not make any blow to drive the hatchet.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 16.</i> It had blown hard in the night, and
+the wreck appeared more broken by the force of
+the water; but I staid so long in the woods, to get
+pigeons for food, that the tide prevented my going
+to the wreck that day.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 17.</i> I saw some pieces of the wreck blown
+on shore, at a great distance, two miles off me, but
+resolved to see what they were, and found it was a
+piece of the head, but too heavy for me to bring
+away.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 24.</i> Every day, to this day, I worked on
+the wreck; and with hard labour I loosened some
+things so much with the crow, that the first blowing
+tide several casks floated out, and two of the seamen's
+chests: but the wind blowing from the shore,
+nothing came to land that day but pieces of timber,
+and a hogshead, which had some Brazil pork in it;
+but the salt-water and the sand had spoiled it. I
+continued this work every day to the 15th of June,
+except the time necessary to get food; which I
+always appointed, during this part of my employment,
+to be when the tide was up, that I might be
+ready when it was ebbed out: and by this time I
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page110" id="page110"></a>[pg 110]</span>
+had gotten timber, and plank, and iron-work, enough
+to have built a good boat, if I had known how: and
+I also got, at several times, and in several pieces,
+near one hundred weight of the sheet-lead.</p>
+
+<p><i>June 16.</i> Going down to the sea-side, I found a
+large tortoise, or turtle. This was the first I had
+seen; which, it seems, was only my misfortune, not
+any defect of the place, or scarcity: for had I happened
+to be on the other side of the island, I might
+have had hundreds of them every day, as I found afterwards;
+but perhaps had paid dear enough for them.</p>
+
+<p><i>June 17.</i> I spent in cooking the turtle. I found
+in her threescore eggs: and her flesh was to me, at
+that time, the most savoury and pleasant that I ever
+tasted in my life; having had no flesh, but of goats
+and fowls, since I landed in this horrid place.</p>
+
+<p><i>June 18.</i> Rained all that day, and I staid within.
+I thought, at this time, the rain felt cold, and I was
+somewhat chilly; which I knew was not usual in
+that latitude.</p>
+
+<p><i>June 19.</i> Very ill, and shivering, as if the weather
+had been cold.</p>
+
+<p><i>June 20.</i> No rest all night; violent pains in my
+head, and feverish.</p>
+
+<p><i>June 21.</i> Very ill; frightened almost to death
+with the apprehensions of my sad condition, to be
+sick, and no help: prayed to God, for the first time
+since the storm off Hull; but scarce knew what I
+said, or why, my thoughts being all confused.</p>
+
+<p><i>June 22.</i> A little better; but under dreadful
+apprehensions of sickness.</p>
+
+<p><i>June 23.</i> Very bad again; cold and shivering,
+and then a violent head-ache.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page111" id="page111"></a>[pg 111]</span>
+
+<p><i>June 24.</i> Much better.</p>
+
+<p><i>June 25.</i> An ague very violent: the fit held me
+seven hours; cold fit, and hot, with faint sweats
+after it.</p>
+
+<p><i>June 26.</i> Better; and having no victuals to eat,
+took my gun, but found myself very weak: however,
+I killed a she-goat, and with much difficulty
+got it home, and broiled some of it, and ate. I
+would fain have stewed it, and made some broth,
+but had no pot.</p>
+
+<p><i>June 27.</i> The ague again so violent that I lay
+a-bed all day, and neither ate nor drank. I was
+ready to perish for thirst; but so weak, I had not
+strength to stand up, or to get myself any water to
+drink. Prayed to God again, but was light-headed: and
+when I was not, I was so ignorant that I knew
+not what to say; only lay and cried, "Lord, look
+upon me! Lord, pity me! Lord, have mercy upon
+me!" I suppose I did nothing else for two or three
+hours; till the fit wearing off, I fell asleep, and did
+not wake till far in the night. When I awoke, I
+found myself much refreshed, but weak, and exceeding
+thirsty: however, as I had no water in my whole
+habitation, I was forced to lie till morning, and
+went to sleep again. In this second sleep I had
+this terrible dream: I thought that I was sitting on
+the ground, on the outside of my wall, where I sat
+when the storm blew after the earthquake, and that
+I saw a man descend from a great black cloud, in a
+bright flame of fire, and light upon the ground: he
+was all over as bright as a flame, so that I could but
+just bear to look towards him: his countenance was
+most inexpressibly dreadful, impossible for words to
+describe: when he stepped upon the ground with
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page112" id="page112"></a>[pg 112]</span>
+his feet, I thought the earth trembled, just as it had
+done before in the earthquake; and all the air looked,
+to my apprehension, as if it had been filled with
+flashes of fire. He had no sooner landed upon the
+earth, but he moved forward towards me, with a
+long spear or weapon in his hand, to kill me; and
+when he came to a rising ground, at some distance,
+he spoke to me, or I heard a voice so terrible that
+it is impossible to express the terror of it: all that
+I can say I understood, was this: "Seeing all these
+things have not brought thee to repentance, now
+thou shalt die;" at which words I thought he lifted
+up the spear that was in his hand, to kill me.</p>
+
+<p>No one that shall ever read this account, will expect
+that I should be able to describe the horrors
+of my soul at this terrible vision; I mean, that even
+while it was a dream, I even dreamed of those horrors;
+nor is it any more possible to describe the
+impression that remained upon my mind when I
+awaked, and found it was but a dream.</p>
+
+<p>I had, alas! no divine knowledge: what I had
+received by the good instruction of my father was
+then worn out, by an uninterrupted series, for eight
+years, of seafaring wickedness, and a constant conversation
+with none but such as were, like myself,
+wicked and profane to the last degree. I do not
+remember that I had, in all that time, one thought
+that so much as tended either to looking upward
+towards God, or inward towards a reflection upon
+my own ways: but a certain stupidity of soul, without
+desire of good, or consciousness of evil, had entirely
+overwhelmed me; and I was all that the most
+hardened, unthinking, wicked creature among our
+common sailors, can be supposed to be; not having
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page113" id="page113"></a>[pg 113]</span>
+the least sense, either of the fear of God, in danger,
+or of thankfulness to him, in deliverances.</p>
+
+<p>In the relating what is already past of my story,
+this will be the more easily believed, when I shall
+add, that through all the variety of miseries that
+had to this day befallen me, I never had so much
+as one thought of its being the hand of God, or
+that it was a just punishment for my sin; either my
+rebellious behaviour against my father, or my present
+sins, which were great; or even as a punishment
+for the general course of my wicked life.
+When I was on the desperate expedition on the desert
+shores of Africa, I never had so much as one
+thought of what would become of me; or one wish
+to God to direct me whither I should go, or to keep
+me from the danger which apparently surrounded
+me, as well from voracious creatures as cruel savages:
+but I was quite thoughtless of a God or a
+Providence; acted like a mere brute, from the principles
+of nature, and by the dictates of common
+sense only; and indeed hardly that. When I was
+delivered and taken up at sea by the Portuguese
+captain, well used, and dealt with justly and honourably,
+as well as charitably, I had not the least
+thankfulness in my thoughts. When, again, I was
+shipwrecked, ruined, and in danger of drowning,
+on this island, I was as far from remorse, or looking
+on it as a judgment: I only said to myself often,
+that I was an unfortunate dog, and born to be
+always miserable.</p>
+
+<p>It is true, when I first got on shore here, and
+found all my ship's crew drowned, and myself spared,
+I was surprised with a kind of ecstasy, and some
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page114" id="page114"></a>[pg 114]</span>
+transports of soul, which, had the grace of God
+assisted, might have come up to true thankfulness;
+but it ended where it began, in a mere common
+flight of joy; or, as I may say, being glad I was
+alive, without the least reflection upon the distinguished
+goodness of the hand which had preserved
+me, and had singled me out to be preserved when
+all the rest were destroyed, or an inquiry why Providence
+had been thus merciful to me: just the
+same common sort of joy which seamen generally
+have, after they are got safe ashore from a shipwreck;
+which they drown all in the next bowl of
+punch, and forget almost as soon as it is over: and
+all the rest of my life was like it. Even when I was,
+afterwards, on due consideration, made sensible of
+my condition,&mdash;how I was cast on this dreadful
+place, out of the reach of human kind, out of all
+hope of relief, or prospect of redemption,&mdash;as soon
+as I saw but a prospect of living, and that I should
+not starve and perish for hunger, all the sense of
+my affliction wore off, and I began to be very easy,
+applied myself to the works proper for my preservation
+and supply, and was far enough from being
+afflicted at my condition, as a judgment from Heaven,
+or as the hand of God against me: these were
+thoughts which very seldom entered into my head.</p>
+
+<p>The growing up of the corn, as is hinted in my
+Journal, had, at first, some little influence upon
+me, and began to affect me with seriousness, as
+long as I thought it had something miraculous in
+it; but as soon as that part of the thought was removed,
+all the impression which was raised from it
+wore off also, as I have noted already. Even the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page115" id="page115"></a>[pg 115]</span>
+earthquake, though nothing could be more terrible
+in its nature, or more immediately directing to the
+invisible Power which alone directs such things, yet
+no sooner was the fright over, but the impression it
+had made went off also. I had no more sense of
+God, or his judgments, much less of the present
+affliction of my circumstances being from his hand,
+than if I had been in the most prosperous condition
+of life. But now, when I began to be sick, and a
+leisure view of the miseries of death came to place
+itself before me; when my spirits began to sink
+under the burden of a strong distemper, and nature
+was exhausted with the violence of the fever; conscience,
+that had slept so long, began to awake;
+and I reproached myself with my past life, in
+which I had so evidently, by uncommon wickedness,
+provoked the justice of God to lay me under uncommon
+strokes, and to deal with me in so vindictive
+a manner. These reflections oppressed me for
+the second or third day of my distemper; and in
+the violence, as well of the fever as of the dreadful
+reproaches of my conscience, extorted from me
+some words like praying to God: though I cannot
+say it was a prayer attended either with desires or
+with hopes; it was rather the voice of mere fright
+and distress. My thoughts were confused; the convictions
+great upon my mind; and the horror of
+dying in such a miserable condition, raised vapours
+in my head with the mere apprehension: and, in
+these hurries of my soul, I knew not what my tongue
+might express: but it was rather exclamation, such
+as, "Lord, what a miserable creature am I! If I
+should be sick, I shall certainly die for want of
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page116" id="page116"></a>[pg 116]</span>
+help; and what will become of me?" Then the
+tears burst out of my eyes, and I could say no more
+for a good while. In this interval, the good advice
+of my father came to my mind, and presently his
+prediction, which I mentioned at the beginning of
+this story, viz. that if I did take this foolish step,
+God would not bless me; and I should have leisure
+hereafter to reflect upon having neglected his counsel,
+when there might be none to assist in my recovery.
+"Now," said I, aloud, "my dear father's
+words are come to pass; God's justice has overtaken
+me, and I have none to help or hear me. I
+rejected the voice of Providence, which had mercifully
+put me in a station of life wherein I might
+have been happy and easy; but I would neither see
+it myself, nor learn from my parents to know the
+blessing of it. I left them to mourn over my folly;
+and now I am left to mourn under the consequences
+of it: I refused their help and assistance, who
+would have pushed me in the world, and would
+have made every thing easy to me; and now I have
+difficulties to struggle with, too great for even nature
+itself to support; and no assistance, no comfort, no
+advice." Then I cried out, "Lord, be my help,
+for I am in great distress." This was the first prayer,
+if I may call it so, that I had made for many years.
+But I return to my Journal.</p>
+
+<p><i>June 28.</i> Having been somewhat refreshed with
+the sleep I had had, and the fit being entirely off, I
+got up; and though the fright and terror of my
+dream was very great, yet I considered that the fit
+of the ague would return again the next day, and
+now was my time to get something to refresh and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page117" id="page117"></a>[pg 117]</span>
+support myself when I should be ill. The first thing
+I did was to fill a large square case-bottle with
+water; and set it upon my table, in reach of my
+bed: and to take off the chill or aguish disposition
+of the water, I put about a quarter of a pint
+of rum into it, and mixed them together. Then I
+got me a piece of the goat's flesh, and broiled it on
+the coals, but could eat very little. I walked about;
+but was very weak, and withal very sad and heavy-hearted
+under a sense of my miserable condition,
+dreading the return of my distemper the next day.
+At night, I made my supper of three of the turtle's
+eggs; which I roasted in the ashes, and ate, as we
+call it, in the shell: and this was the first bit of
+meat I had ever asked God's blessing to, as I could
+remember, in my whole life. After I had eaten, I
+tried to walk; but found myself so weak, that I
+could hardly carry the gun (for I never went out
+without that;) so I went but a little way, and sat
+down upon the ground, looking out upon the sea,
+which was just before me, and very calm and smooth.
+As I sat here, some such thoughts as these occurred
+to me: What is this earth and sea, of which I
+have seen so much? Whence is it produced? And
+what am I, and all the other creatures, wild and
+tame, human and brutal? Whence are we? Surely,
+we are all made by some secret power, who formed
+the earth and sea, the air and sky. And who is
+that? Then it followed most naturally, It is God
+that has made all. Well, but then, it came on
+strangely, if God has made all these things, he
+guides and governs them all, and all things that concern
+them; for the power that could make all
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page118" id="page118"></a>[pg 118]</span>
+things, must certainly have power to guide and
+direct them: if so, nothing can happen in the great
+circuit of his works, either without his knowledge
+or appointment.</p>
+
+<p>And if nothing happens without his knowledge,
+he knows that I am here, and am in this dreadful
+condition: and if nothing happens without his appointment,
+he has appointed all this to befall me.
+Nothing occurred to my thought, to contradict any
+of these conclusions: and therefore it rested upon
+me with the greatest force, that it must needs be
+that God had appointed all this to befall me; that
+I was brought to this miserable circumstance by
+his direction, he having the sole power, not of me
+only, but of every thing that happens in the world.
+Immediately it followed, Why has God done this
+to me? What have I done to be thus used? My
+conscience presently checked me in that inquiry,
+as if I had blasphemed; and methought it spoke
+to me like a voice, "Wretch! dost <i>thou</i> ask what
+thou hast done? Look back upon a dreadful misspent
+life, and ask thyself, what thou hast <i>not</i> done?
+Ask, why is it that thou wert not long ago destroyed?
+Why wert thou not drowned in Yarmouth Roads;
+killed in the fight when the ship was taken by the
+Sallee man of war; devoured by the wild beasts on
+the coast of Africa; or drowned <i>here</i>, when all the
+crew perished but thyself? Dost <i>thou</i> ask what
+thou hast done?" I was struck dumb with these reflections,
+as one astonished, and had not a word to
+say; no, not to answer to myself; and, rising up
+pensive and sad, walked back to my retreat, and
+went over my wall, as if I bad been going to bed:
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page119" id="page119"></a>[pg 119]</span>
+but my thoughts were sadly disturbed, and I had
+no inclination to sleep; so I sat down in the chair,
+and lighted my lamp, for it began to be dark. Now,
+as the apprehension of the return of my distemper
+terrified me very much, it occurred to my thought,
+that the Brazilians take no physic but their tobacco
+for almost all distempers; and I had a piece of a
+roll of tobacco in one of the chests, which was
+quite cured; and some also that was green, and not
+quite cured.</p>
+
+<p>I went, directed by Heaven no doubt: for in this
+chest I found a cure both for soul and body. I
+opened the chest, and found what I looked for, viz.
+the tobacco; and as the few books I had saved lay
+there too, I took out one of the Bibles which I
+mentioned before, and which to this time I had not
+found leisure, or so much as inclination, to look
+into. I say, I took it out, and brought both that
+and the tobacco with me to the table. What use
+to make of the tobacco I knew not, as to my distemper,
+nor whether it was good for it or not; but
+I tried several experiments with it, as if I was
+resolved it should hit one way or other. I first
+took a piece of a leaf, and chewed it in my mouth;
+which, indeed, at first, almost stupified my brain;
+the tobacco being green and strong, and such as I
+had not been much used to. Then I took some
+and steeped it an hour or two in some rum, and
+resolved to take a dose of it when I lay down:
+and, lastly, I burnt some upon a pan of coals, and
+held my nose close over the smoke of it as long as
+I could bear it; as well for the heat, as almost for
+suffocation. In the interval of this operation, I
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page120" id="page120"></a>[pg 120]</span>
+took up the Bible, and began to read; but my head
+was too much disturbed with the tobacco to bear
+reading, at least at that time; only, having opened
+the book casually, the first words that occurred to
+me were these: "Call on me in the day of trouble,
+and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."
+These words were very apt to my case; and made
+some impression upon my thoughts at the time of
+reading them, though not so much as they did
+afterwards; for, as for being <i>delivered</i>, the word
+had no sound, as I may say, to me; the thing was
+so remote, so impossible in my apprehension of
+things, that, as the children of Israel said when
+they were promised flesh to eat, "Can God spread
+a table in the wilderness?" so I began to say, Can
+even God himself deliver me from this place? And
+as it was not for many years that any hopes appeared,
+this prevailed very often upon my thoughts:
+but, however, the words made a great impression
+upon me, and I mused upon them very often. It
+now grew late; and the tobacco had, as I said,
+dozed my head so much, that I inclined to sleep:
+so I left my lamp burning in the cave, lest I should
+want any thing in the night, and went to bed. But
+before I lay down, I did what I never had done in
+all my life; I kneeled down, and prayed to God to
+fulfil the promise to me, that if I called upon him
+in the day of trouble, he would deliver me. After
+my broken and imperfect prayer was over, I drank
+the rum in which I had steeped the tobacco; which
+was so strong and rank of the tobacco, that indeed
+I could scarce get it down: immediately upon this
+I went to bed. I found presently the rum flew up
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page121" id="page121"></a>[pg 121]</span>
+into my head violently; but I fell into a sound
+sleep, and waked no more till, by the sun, it must
+necessarily be near three o'clock in the afternoon
+the next day: nay, to this hour I am partly of
+opinion, that I slept all the next day and night, and
+till almost three the day after; for otherwise, I
+know not how I should lose a day out of my
+reckoning in the days of the week, as it appeared
+some years after I had done; for if I had lost it by
+crossing and re-crossing the Line, I should have
+lost more than one day; but certainly I lost a day
+in my account, and never knew which way. Be
+that, however, one way or the other, when I awaked
+I found myself exceedingly refreshed, and my spirits
+lively and cheerful: when I got up, I was stronger
+than I was the day before, and my stomach better,
+for I was hungry; and, in short, I had no fit the
+next day, but continued much altered for the better.
+This was the 29th.</p>
+
+<p>The 30th was my well day, of course; and I
+went abroad with my gun, but did not care to
+travel too far. I killed a sea-fowl or two, something
+like a brand goose, and brought them home; but
+was not very forward to eat them; so I ate some
+more of the turtle's eggs, which were very good.
+This evening I renewed the medicine, which I had
+supposed did me good the day before, viz. the
+tobacco steeped in rum; only I did not take so
+much as before, nor did I chew any of the leaf, or
+hold my head over the smoke: however, I was not
+so well the next day, which was the 1st of July, as
+I hoped I should have been; for I had a little of
+the cold fit, but it was not much.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page122" id="page122"></a>[pg 122]</span>
+
+<p><i>July 2.</i> I renewed the medicine all the three
+ways; and dosed myself with it as at first, and
+doubled the quantity which I drank.</p>
+
+<p><i>July 3.</i> I missed the fit for good and all, though
+I did not recover my full strength for some weeks
+after. While I was thus gathering strength, my
+thoughts ran exceedingly upon this scripture, "I
+will deliver thee;" and the impossibility of my deliverance
+lay much upon my mind, in bar of my
+ever expecting it: but as I was discouraging myself
+with such thoughts, it occurred to my mind that I
+pored so much upon my deliverance from the main
+affliction, that I disregarded the deliverance I had
+received; and I was, as it were, made to ask myself
+such questions as these, viz. Have I not been delivered,
+and wonderfully too, from sickness; from
+the most distressed condition that could be, and
+that was so frightful to me? and what notice have
+I taken of it? Have I done my part? God has
+delivered me, but I have not glorified him; that is
+to say, I have not owned and been thankful for
+that as a deliverance: and how can I expect a
+greater deliverance? This touched my heart very
+much; and immediately I knelt down, and gave God
+thanks aloud for my recovery from my sickness.</p>
+
+<p><i>July 4.</i> In the morning I took the Bible; and
+beginning at the New Testament, I began seriously
+to read it; and imposed upon myself to read awhile
+every morning and every night; not binding myself
+to the number of chapters, but as long as my
+thoughts should engage me. It was not long after
+I set seriously to this work, that I found my heart
+more deeply and sincerely affected with the wickedness
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page123" id="page123"></a>[pg 123]</span>
+of my past life. The impression of my
+dream revived; and the words, "All these things
+have not brought thee to repentance," ran seriously
+in my thoughts. I was earnestly begging of God
+to give me repentance, when it happened providentially,
+the very same day, that, reading the scripture,
+I came to these words, "He is exalted a Prince
+and a Saviour; to give repentance, and to give remission."
+I threw down the book; and with my
+heart as well as my hands lifted up to heaven, in a
+kind of ecstasy of joy, I cried out aloud, "Jesus,
+thou son of David! Jesus, thou exalted Prince and
+Saviour! give me repentance!" This was the first
+time in all my life I could say, in the true sense of
+the words, that I prayed; for now I prayed with a
+sense of my condition, and with a true scripture
+view of hope, founded on the encouragement of
+the word of God: and from this time, I may say,
+I began to have hope that God would hear me.</p>
+
+<p>Now I began to construe the words mentioned
+above, "Call on me, and I will deliver thee," in
+a different sense from what I had ever done before;
+for then I had no notion of any thing being called
+<i>deliverance</i>, but my being delivered from the captivity
+I was in: for though I was indeed at large in
+the place, yet the island was certainly a prison to
+me, and that in the worst sense in the world. But
+now I learned to take it in another sense: now I
+looked back upon my past life with such horror,
+and my sins appeared so dreadful, that my soul
+sought nothing of God but deliverance from the
+load of guilt that bore down all my comfort. As
+for my solitary life, it was nothing; I did not so
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page124" id="page124"></a>[pg 124]</span>
+much as pray to be delivered from it, or think of
+it; it was all of no consideration, in comparison
+with this. And I add this part here, to hint to
+whoever shall read it, that whenever they come to
+a true sense of things, they will find deliverance
+from sin a much greater blessing than deliverance
+from affliction. But, leaving this part, I return to
+my Journal.</p>
+
+<p>My condition began now to be, though not less
+miserable as to my way of living, yet much easier
+to my mind: and my thoughts being directed, by
+constantly reading the Scripture and praying to
+God, to things of a higher nature, I had a great
+deal of comfort within, which, till now, I knew
+nothing of; also, as my health and strength returned,
+I bestirred me to furnish myself with every thing
+that I wanted, and make my way of living as regular
+as I could.</p>
+
+<p>From the 4th of July to the 14th, I was chiefly
+employed in walking about with my gun in my
+hand, a little and a little at a time, as a man that
+was gathering up his strength after a fit of sickness:
+for it is hardly to be imagined how low I was, and
+to what weakness I was reduced. The application
+which I made use of was perfectly new, and perhaps
+what had never cured an ague before; neither
+can I recommend it to any one to practise, by this
+experiment: and though it did carry off the fit,
+yet it rather contributed to weakening me; for I
+had frequent convulsions in my nerves and limbs
+for some time: I learned from it also this, in particular;
+that being abroad in the rainy season was
+the most pernicious thing to my health that could
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page125" id="page125"></a>[pg 125]</span>
+be, especially in those rains which came attended
+with storms and hurricanes of wind; for as the rain
+which came in the dry season was almost always
+accompanied with such storms, so I found that this
+rain was much more dangerous than the rain which
+fell in September and October.</p>
+
+<p>I had now been in this unhappy island above ten
+months: all possibility of deliverance from this
+condition seemed to be entirely taken from me;
+and I firmly believed that no human shape had
+ever set foot upon that place. Having secured my
+habitation, as I thought, fully to my mind, I had a
+great desire to make a more perfect discovery of
+the island, and to see what other productions I
+might find, which I yet knew nothing of.</p>
+
+<p>It was on the 15th of July that I began to take a
+more particular survey of the island itself. I went
+up the creek first, where, as I hinted, I brought my
+rafts on shore. I found, after I came about two
+miles up, that the tide did not flow any higher; and
+that it was no more than a little brook of running
+water, very fresh and good: but this being the dry
+season, there was hardly any water in some parts of
+it; at least, not any stream. On the banks of this
+brook I found many pleasant savannahs or meadows,
+plain, smooth, and covered with grass: and on the
+rising parts of them, next to the higher grounds
+(where the water as it might be supposed, never
+overflowed,) I found a great deal of tobacco, green,
+and growing to a very great and strong stalk: and
+there were divers other plants, which I had no
+knowledge of, or understanding about, and that
+might, perhaps, have virtues of their own, which I
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page126" id="page126"></a>[pg 126]</span>
+could not find out. I searched for the cassava
+root, which the Indians, in all that climate, make
+their bread of; but I could find none. I saw large
+plants of aloes, but did not understand them. I
+saw several sugar-canes, but wild; and, for want of
+cultivation, imperfect. I contented myself with
+these discoveries for this time; and came back,
+musing with myself what course I might take to
+know the virtue and goodness of any of the fruits
+or plants which I should discover; but could bring
+it to no conclusion; for, in short, I had made so
+little observation while I was in the Brazils, that I
+knew little of the plants in the field; at least, very
+little that might serve me to any purpose now in
+my distress.</p>
+
+<p>The next day, the 16th, I went up the same way
+again; and after going something farther than I
+had gone the day before, I found the brook and the
+savannahs begin to cease, and the country become
+more woody than before. In this part I found different
+fruits; and particularly I found melons upon
+the ground, in great abundance, and grapes upon the
+trees: the vines, indeed, had spread over the trees,
+and the clusters of grapes were now just in their
+prime, very ripe and rich. This was a surprising
+discovery, and I was exceedingly glad of them,
+but I was warned by my experience to eat sparingly
+of them; remembering that when I was ashore
+in Barbary, the eating of grapes killed several of
+our Englishmen, who were slaves there, by throwing
+them into fluxes and fevers. I found, however, an
+excellent use for these grapes; and that was, to
+cure or dry them in the sun, and keep them as
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page127" id="page127"></a>[pg 127]</span>
+dried grapes or raisins are kept; which I thought
+would be (as indeed they were) as wholesome and
+as agreeable to eat, when no grapes were to be
+had.</p>
+
+<p>I spent all that evening there, and went not back
+to my habitation; which, by the way, was the first
+night, as I might say, I had lain from home. At
+night, I took my first contrivance, and got up into
+a tree, where I slept well; and the next morning
+proceeded on my discovery, travelling near four
+miles, as I might judge by the length of the valley;
+keeping still due north, with a ridge of hills on the
+south and north sides of me. At the end of this
+march I came to an opening, where the country
+seemed to descend to the west; and a little spring
+of fresh water, which issued out of the side of the
+hill by me, ran the other way, that is, due east;
+and the country appeared so fresh, so green, so
+flourishing, every thing being in a constant verdure,
+or flourish of spring, that it looked like a planted
+garden. I descended a little on the side of that
+delicious vale, surveying it with a secret kind of
+pleasure (though mixed with other afflicting
+thoughts,) to think that this was all my own; that
+I was king and lord of all this country indefeasibly,
+and had a right of possession; and, if I could convey
+it, I might have it in inheritance as completely
+as any lord of a manor in England. I saw here
+abundance of cocoa trees, and orange, lemon, and
+citron trees, but all wild, and very few bearing any
+fruit; at least not then. However, the green limes
+that I gathered were not only pleasant to eat, but
+very wholesome; and I mixed their juice afterwards
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page128" id="page128"></a>[pg 128]</span>
+with water, which made it very wholesome, and
+very cool and refreshing. I found now I had
+business enough to gather and carry home; and I
+resolved to lay up a store, as well of grapes as
+limes and lemons to furnish myself for the wet season,
+which I knew was approaching. In order to
+this, I gathered a great heap of grapes in one place,
+a lesser heap in another place; and a great parcel
+of limes and melons in another place; and, taking
+a few of each with me, I travelled homeward; and
+resolved to come again, and bring a bag or sack, or
+what I could make to carry the rest home. Accordingly,
+having spent three days in this journey,
+I came home (so I must now call my tent and my
+cave:) but before I got thither, the grapes were
+spoiled; the richness of the fruits, and the weight
+of the juice, having broken and bruised them, they
+were good for little or nothing: as to the limes,
+they were good, but I could bring only a few.</p>
+
+<p>The next day, being the 19th, I went back, having
+made me two small bags to bring home my harvest;
+but I was surprised, when, coming to my heap of
+grapes, which were so rich and fine when I gathered
+them, I found them all spread about, trod to pieces,
+and dragged about, some here, some there, and
+abundance eaten and devoured. By this I concluded
+there were some wild creatures thereabouts
+which had done this, but what they were I knew
+not. However, as I found there was no laying
+them up in heaps, and no carrying them away in a
+sack; but that one way they would be destroyed,
+and the other way they would be crushed with
+their own weight; I took another course: I then
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page129" id="page129"></a>[pg 129]</span>
+gathered a large quantity of the grapes, and hung
+them upon the out-branches of the trees, that they
+might cure and dry in the sun; and as for the limes
+and lemons, I carried as many back as I could well
+stand under.</p>
+
+<p>When I came home from this journey, I contemplated
+with great pleasure the fruitfulness of that
+valley, and the pleasantness of the situation; the
+security from storms on that side; the water and
+the wood: and concluded that I had pitched upon a
+place to fix my abode in, which was by far the worst
+part of the country. Upon the whole, I began to
+consider of removing my habitation, and to look out
+for a place equally safe as where I was now situate;
+if possible, in that pleasant fruitful part of the
+island.</p>
+
+<p>This thought ran long in my head; and I was
+exceeding fond of it for some time, the pleasantness
+of the place tempting me: but when I came
+to a nearer view of it, I considered that I was now
+by the sea-side, where it was at least possible that
+something might happen to my advantage, and, by
+the same ill fate that brought me hither, might bring
+some other unhappy wretches to the same place;
+and though it was scarce probable that any such
+thing should ever happen, yet to enclose myself
+among the hills and woods in the centre of the
+island, was to anticipate my bondage, and to render
+such an affair not only improbable, but impossible;
+and that therefore I ought not by any means to remove.
+However, I was so enamoured of this place,
+that I spent much of my time there for the whole
+remaining part of the month of July; and though,
+upon second thoughts, I resolved, as above stated,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page130" id="page130"></a>[pg 130]</span>
+not to remove; yet I built me a little kind of a
+bower, and surrounded it at a distance with a strong
+fence, being a double hedge, as high as I could
+reach, well staked, and filled between with brush-wood.
+Here I lay very secure, sometimes two or
+three nights together; always going over it with
+a ladder, as before: so that I fancied now I had
+my country and my sea-coast house. This work
+took me up till the beginning of August.</p>
+
+<p>I had but newly finished my fence, and began
+to enjoy my labour, when the rains came on, and
+made me stick close to my first habitation: for
+though I had made a tent like the other, with a
+piece of sail, and spread it very well, yet I had not
+the shelter of a hill to keep me from storms, nor a
+cave behind me to retreat into when the rains were
+extraordinary.</p>
+
+<p>About the beginning of August, as I said, I had
+finished my bower, and began to enjoy myself.
+The 3d of August, I found the grapes I had hung
+up were perfectly dried, and indeed were excellent
+good raisins of the sun: so I began to take them
+down from the trees; and it was very happy that I
+did so, as the rains which followed would have
+spoiled them, and I should have lost the best part
+of my winter food; for I had above two hundred
+large bunches of them. No sooner had I taken
+them all down, and carried most of them home to
+my cave, but it began to rain: and from hence,
+which was the 14th of August, it rained, more or
+less, every day till the middle of October; and
+sometimes so violently, that I could not stir out of
+my cave for several days.</p>
+
+<p>In this season, I was much surprised with the increase
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page131" id="page131"></a>[pg 131]</span>
+of my family. I had been concerned for the
+loss of one of my cats, who ran away from me, or,
+as I thought, had been dead; and I heard no more
+of her, till, to my astonishment, she came home
+with three kittens. This was the more strange to
+me, because, about the end of August, though I
+had killed a wild cat, as I called it, with my gun,
+yet I thought it was quite a different kind from our
+European cats: yet the young cats were the same
+kind of house-breed as the old one; and both of my
+cats being females, I thought it very strange. But
+from these three, I afterwards came to be so pestered
+with cats, that I was forced to kill them like
+vermin, or wild beasts, and to drive them from my
+house as much as possible.</p>
+
+<p>From the 14th of August to the 26th, incessant
+rain; so that I could not stir, and was now very
+careful not to be much wet. In this confinement, I
+began to be straitened for food; but venturing out
+twice, I one day killed a goat, and the last day,
+which was the 26th, found a very large tortoise,
+which was a treat to me. My food was now regulated
+thus: I ate a bunch of raisins for my breakfast;
+a piece of the goat's flesh, or of the turtle,
+broiled, for my dinner (for, to my great misfortune,
+I had no vessel to boil or stew any thing;) and two
+or three of the turtle's eggs for my supper.</p>
+
+<p>During this confinement in my cover by the rain,
+I worked daily two or three hours at enlarging my
+cave, and by degrees worked it on towards one side,
+till I came to the outside of the hill; and made a
+door, or way out, which came beyond my fence or
+wall: and so I came in and out this way. But I
+was not perfectly easy at lying so open: for as I had
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page132" id="page132"></a>[pg 132]</span>
+managed myself before, I was in a perfect enclosure;
+whereas now, I thought I lay exposed; and yet I
+could not perceive that there was any living thing
+to fear, the biggest creature that I had yet seen
+upon the island being a goat.</p>
+
+<p><i>September</i> 30. I was now come to the unhappy
+anniversary of my landing. I cast up the notches
+on my post, and found I had been on shore three
+hundred and sixty-five days. I kept this day as a
+solemn fast; setting it apart for religious exercise,
+prostrating myself on the ground with the most serious
+humiliation, confessing my sins to God, acknowledging
+his righteous judgments upon me, and
+praying to him to have mercy on me through Jesus
+Christ; and having not tasted the least refreshment
+for twelve hours, even till the going down of the
+sun, I then ate a biscuit and a bunch of grapes, and
+went to bed, finishing the day as I began it. I had
+all this time observed no sabbath-day; for as at first
+I had no sense of religion upon my mind, I had,
+after some time, omitted to distinguish the weeks,
+by making a longer notch than ordinary for the
+sabbath-day, and so did not really know what any
+of the days were: but now having cast up the days,
+as above, I found I had been there a year; so I
+divided it into weeks, and set apart every seventh
+day for a sabbath: though I found, at the end of my
+account, I had lost a day or two in my reckoning.
+A little after this, my ink beginning to fail me, I
+contented myself to use it more sparingly; and to
+write down only the most remarkable events of my
+life, without continuing a daily memorandum of
+other things.</p>
+
+<p>The rainy season and the dry season began now
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page133" id="page133"></a>[pg 133]</span>
+to appear regular to me, and I learned to divide
+them so as to provide for them accordingly; but I
+bought all my experience before I had it; and what
+I am going to relate was one of the most discouraging
+experiments that I had made at all.</p>
+
+<p>I have mentioned that I had saved the few ears
+of barley, and rice, which I had so surprisingly
+found sprung up, as I thought, of themselves. I
+believe there were about thirty stalks of rice, and
+about twenty of barley; and now I thought it a
+proper time to sow it after the rains; the sun being
+in its southern position, going from me. Accordingly
+I dug a piece of ground, as well as I could,
+with my wooden spade; and dividing it into two
+parts, I sowed my grain; but, as I was sowing, it
+casually occurred to my thoughts that I would not
+sow it all at first, because I did not know when was
+the proper time for it; so I sowed about two-thirds
+of the seed, leaving about a handful of each: and
+it was a great comfort to me afterwards that I did
+so, for not one grain of what I sowed this time
+came to any thing; for the dry month following,
+and the earth having thus had no rain after the seed
+was sown, it had no moisture to assist its growth,
+and never came up at all till the wet season had
+come again, and then it grew as if it had been but
+newly sown. Finding my first seed did not grow,
+which I easily imagined was from the drought, I
+sought for a moister piece of ground to make another
+trial in; and I dug up a piece of ground near
+my new bower, and sowed the rest of my seed in
+February, a little before the vernal equinox. This
+having the rainy month of March and April to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page134" id="page134"></a>[pg 134]</span>
+water it, sprung up very pleasantly, and yielded a
+very good crop; but having only part of the seed
+left, and not daring to sow all that I had, I got but
+a small quantity at last, my whole crop not amounting
+to above half a peck of each kind. But by this
+experiment I was made master of my business, and
+knew exactly when was the proper time to sow; and
+that I might expect two seed-times, and two harvests,
+every year.</p>
+
+<p>While this corn was growing, I made a little discovery,
+which was of use to me afterwards. As soon
+as the rains were over, and the weather began to
+settle, which was about the month of November, I
+made a visit up the country to my bower; where,
+though I had not been some months, yet I found all
+things just as I left them. The circle or double
+hedge that I had made was not only firm and entire,
+but the stakes which I had cut out of some trees
+that grew thereabouts, were all shot out, and grown
+with long branches, as much as a willow-tree usually
+shoots the first year after lopping its head; but
+I could not tell what tree to call it that these stakes
+were cut from. I was surprised, and yet very well
+pleased, to see the young trees grow; and I pruned
+them, and led them to grow as much alike as I
+could: and it is scarce credible how beautiful a
+figure they grew into in three years: so that, though
+the hedge made a circle of about twenty-five yards
+in diameter, yet the trees, for such I might now call
+them, soon covered it, and it was a complete shade,
+sufficient to lodge under all the dry season. This
+made me resolve to cut some more stakes, and make
+me a hedge like this, in a semi-circle round my wall
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page135" id="page135"></a>[pg 135]</span>
+(I mean that of my first dwelling,) which I did; and
+placing the trees or stakes in a double row, at about
+eight yards distance from my first fence, they grew
+presently; and were at first a fine cover to my habitation,
+and afterwards served for a defence also;
+as I shall observe in its order.</p>
+
+<p>I found now that the seasons of the year might
+generally be divided, not into summer and winter,
+as in Europe, but into the rainy seasons and the dry
+seasons, which were generally thus: From the middle
+of February to the middle of April, rainy; the
+sun being then on or near the equinox. From the
+middle of April till the middle of August, dry; the
+sun being then north of the line. From the middle
+of August till the middle of October, rainy; the sun
+being then come back to the line. From the middle
+of October till the middle of February, dry;
+the sun being then to the south of the line.</p>
+
+<p>The rainy seasons held sometimes longer and
+sometimes shorter, as the winds happened to blow;
+but this was the general observation I made. After
+I had found, by experience, the ill consequences of
+being abroad in the rain, I took care to furnish myself
+with provisions beforehand, that I might not be
+obliged to go out: and I sat within doors as much
+as possible during the wet months. In this time I
+found much employment, and very suitable also to
+the time; for I found great occasion for many things
+which I had no way to furnish myself with, but by
+hard labour and constant application: particularly,
+I tried many ways to make myself a basket: but all
+the twigs I could get for the purpose proved so brittle,
+that they would do nothing. It proved of excellent
+advantage to me now, that when I was a boy,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page136" id="page136"></a>[pg 136]</span>
+I used to take great delight in standing at a basketmaker's
+in the town where my father lived, to see
+them make their wicker-ware; and being, as boys
+usually are, very officious to help, and a great observer
+of the manner how they worked those things,
+and sometimes lending a hand, I had by these means
+full knowledge of the methods of it, so that I wanted
+nothing but the materials; when it came into my
+mind, that the twigs of that tree from whence I
+cut my stakes that grew might possibly be as tough
+as the sallows, willows, and osiers, in England; and
+I resolved to try. Accordingly, the next day, I
+went to my country house, as I called it; and cutting
+some of the smaller twigs, I found them to my
+purpose as much as I could desire: whereupon I
+came the next time prepared with a hatchet to cut
+down a quantity, which I soon found, for there was
+great plenty of them. These I set up to dry within
+my circle or hedge; and when they were fit for use,
+I carried them to my cave: and here, during the
+next season, I employed myself in making, as well
+as I could, several baskets; both to carry earth, or
+to carry or lay up any thing as I had occasion for.
+Though I did not finish them very handsomely, yet
+I made them sufficiently serviceable for my purpose:
+and thus, afterwards, I took care never to be without
+them; and as my wicker-ware decayed, I made
+more; especially strong deep baskets, to place my
+corn in, instead of sacks, when I should come to
+have any quantity of it.</p>
+
+<p>Having mastered this difficulty, and employed a
+world of time about it, I bestirred myself to see, if
+possible, how to supply two other wants. I had no
+vessel to hold any thing that was liquid, except two
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page137" id="page137"></a>[pg 137]</span>
+runlets, which were almost full of rum; and some
+glass bottles, some of the common size, and others
+(which were case-bottles) square, for the holding of
+waters, spirits, &amp;c. I had not so much as a pot to
+boil anything; except a great kettle, which I saved
+out of the ship, and which was too big for such use
+as I desired it, viz. to make broth, and stew a bit of
+meat by itself. The second thing I would fain have
+had, was a tobacco-pipe; but it was impossible for
+me to make one; however, I found a contrivance
+for that too at last. I employed myself in planting
+my second row of stakes or piles, and also in this
+wicker-working, all the summer or dry season; when
+another business took me up more time than it could
+be imagined I could spare.</p>
+
+<p>I mentioned before, that I had a great mind to
+see the whole island; and that I had travelled up
+the brook, and so on to where I had built my bower,
+and where I had an opening quite to the sea, on the
+other side of the island. I now resolved to travel
+quite across to the sea-shore, on that side: so taking
+my gun, a hatchet, and my dog, and a larger
+quantity of powder and shot than usual; with two
+biscuit-cakes, and a great bunch of raisins in my
+pouch, for my store; I began my journey. When I
+had passed the vale where my bower stood, as above,
+I came within view of the sea, to the west; and it
+being a very clear day, I fairly descried land, whether
+an island or continent I could not tell; but it
+lay very high, extending from W. to W.S.W. at a
+very great distance; by my guess, it could not be
+less than fifteen or twenty leagues off.</p>
+
+<p>I could not tell what part of the world this might
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page138" id="page138"></a>[pg 138]</span>
+be; otherwise than that I knew it must be part of
+America; and, as I concluded, by all my observations,
+must be near the Spanish dominions; and perhaps
+was all inhabited by savages, where, if I should
+have landed, I had been in a worse condition than
+I was now. I therefore acquiesced in the dispositions
+of Providence, which I began now to own and
+to believe ordered every thing for the best; I say,
+I quieted my mind with this, and left off afflicting
+myself with fruitless wishes of being there.</p>
+
+<p>Besides, after some pause upon this affair, I considered
+that if this land was the Spanish coast, I
+should certainly, one time or other, see some vessel
+pass or repass one way or other; but if not, then it
+was the savage coast between the Spanish country
+and the Brazils, whose inhabitants are indeed the
+worst of savages; for they are cannibals, or men-eaters,
+and fail not to murder and devour all human
+beings that fall into their hands.</p>
+
+<p>With these considerations, walking very leisurely
+forward, I found this side of the island, where I now
+was, much pleasanter than mine; the open or savannah
+fields sweetly adorned with flowers and grass,
+and full of very fine woods. I saw abundance of
+parrots; and fain would have caught one, if possible,
+to have kept it to be tame, and taught it to
+speak to me. I did, after taking some pains, catch
+a young parrot: for I knocked it down with a stick,
+and, having recovered it, I brought it home: but it
+was some years before I could make him speak; however,
+at last I taught him to call me by my name very
+familiarly. But the accident that followed, though
+it be a trifle, will be very diverting in its place.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page139" id="page139"></a>[pg 139]</span>
+
+<p>I was exceedingly amused with this journey. I
+found in the low grounds hares, as I thought them to
+be, and foxes: but they differed greatly from all the
+other kinds I had met with; nor could I satisfy myself
+to eat them, though I killed several. But I had
+no need to be venturous: for I had no want of food,
+and of that which was very good too; especially
+these three sorts, viz. goats, pigeons, and turtle, or
+tortoise. With these, added to my grapes, Leadenhall-Market
+could not have furnished a table better
+than I, in proportion to the company; and though
+my case was deplorable enough, yet I had great
+cause for thankfulness; as I was not driven to any
+extremities for food; but had rather plenty, even to
+dainties.</p>
+
+<p>I never travelled on this journey above two miles
+outright in a day, or thereabouts; but I took so many
+turns and returns, to see what discoveries I could
+make, that I came weary enough to the place where
+I resolved to sit down for the night; and then I
+either reposed myself in a tree, or surrounded myself
+with a row of stakes, set upright in the ground,
+either from one tree to another, or so as no wild
+creature could come at me without waking me.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as I came to the sea-shore, I was surprised
+to see that I had taken up my lot on the
+worst side of the island: for here indeed the shore
+was covered with innumerable turtles; whereas, on
+the other side, I had found but three in a year and
+a half. Here was also an infinite number of fowls
+of many kinds; some of which I had seen, and some
+of which I had not seen before, and many of them
+very good meat; but such as I knew not the names
+of, except those called Penguins.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page140" id="page140"></a>[pg 140]</span>
+
+<p>I could have shot as many as I pleased, but was
+very sparing of my powder and shot; and therefore
+had more mind to kill a she-goat, if I could, which I
+could better feed on. But though there were many
+goats here, more than on my side the island, yet it
+was with much more difficulty that I could come
+near them; the country being flat and even, and they
+saw me much sooner than when I was upon a hill.</p>
+
+<p>I confess this side of the country was much pleasanter
+than mine; yet I had not the least inclination
+to remove; for as I was fixed in my habitation, it
+became natural to me, and I seemed all the while
+I was here to be as it were upon a journey, and from
+home. However, I travelled along the sea-shore
+towards the east, I suppose about twelve miles; and
+then setting up a great pole upon the shore for a
+mark, I concluded I would go home again; and that
+the next journey I took should be on the other side
+of the island, east from my dwelling, and so round
+till I came to my post again: of which in its place.</p>
+
+<p>I took another way to come back than that I went,
+thinking I could easily keep so much of the island
+in my view, that I could not miss my first dwelling
+by viewing the country: but I found myself mistaken;
+for being come about two or three miles, I
+found myself descended into a very large valley,
+but so surrounded with hills, and those hills covered
+with wood, that I could not see which was my way
+by any direction but that of the sun, nor even then,
+unless I knew very well the position of the sun at
+that time of the day. And it happened to my farther
+misfortune, that the weather proved hazy for
+three or four days while I was in this valley; and
+not being able to see the sun, I wandered about
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page141" id="page141"></a>[pg 141]</span>
+very uncomfortable, and at last was obliged to find
+out the sea-side, look for my post, and come back
+the same way I went; and then by easy journies I
+turned homeward, the weather being exceeding hot,
+and my gun, ammunition, hatchet, and other things
+very heavy.</p>
+
+<p>In this journey, my dog surprised a young kid,
+and seized upon it; and running to take hold of it,
+I caught it, and saved it alive from the dog. I had
+a great mind to bring it home if I could; for I had
+often been musing whether it might not be possible
+to get a kid or two, and so raise a breed of tame
+goats, which might supply me when my powder and
+shot should be all spent. I made a collar for this
+little creature, and with a string which I had made
+of some rope-yarn, which I always carried about
+me, I led him along, though with some difficulty,
+till I came to my bower, and there I enclosed him
+and left him; for I was very impatient to be at home,
+from whence I had been absent above a month.</p>
+
+<p>I cannot express what a satisfaction it was to me
+to come into my old hutch, and lie down in my hammock-bed.
+This little wandering journey, without
+a settled place of abode, had been so unpleasant to
+me, that my own house, as I called it to myself,
+was a perfect settlement to me, compared to that;
+and it rendered every thing about me so comfortable,
+that I resolved I would never go a great way
+from it again, while it should be my lot to stay on
+the island.</p>
+
+<p>I reposed myself here a week, to rest and regale
+myself after my long journey: during which, most
+of the time was taken up in the weighty affair of
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page142" id="page142"></a>[pg 142]</span>
+making a cage for my Pol, who began now to be
+more domestic, and to be mighty well acquainted
+with me. Then I began to think of the poor kid
+which I had penned within my little circle, and
+resolved to fetch it home, or give it some food:
+accordingly I went, and found it where I left it (for
+indeed it could not get out,) but was almost starved
+for want of food. I went and cut boughs of trees,
+and branches of such shrubs as I could find, and
+threw it over, and having fed it, I tied it as I did
+before, to lead it away; but it was so tame with
+being hungry, that I had no need to have tied it,
+for it followed me like a dog: and as I continually
+fed it, the creature became so loving, so gentle, and
+so fond, that it was from that time one of my domestics
+also, and would never leave me afterwards.</p>
+
+<p>The rainy season of the autumnal equinox was
+now come, and I kept the 30th of September in the
+same solemn manner as before, being the anniversary
+of my landing on the island; having now been
+there two years, and no more prospect of being
+delivered than the first day I came there. I spent
+the whole day in humble and thankful acknowledgments
+for the many wonderful mercies which my
+solitary condition was attended with, and without
+which it might have been infinitely more miserable.
+I gave humble and hearty thanks to God for having
+been pleased to discover to me, that it was possible
+I might be more happy even in this solitary condition,
+than I should have been in the enjoyment of society,
+and in all the pleasures of the world: that he could
+fully make up to me the deficiencies of my solitary
+state, and the wont of human society, by his presence,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page143" id="page143"></a>[pg 143]</span>
+and the communications of his grace to my
+soul; supporting, comforting, and encouraging me
+to depend upon his providence here, and to hope
+for his eternal presence hereafter.</p>
+
+<p>It was now that I began sensibly to feel how much
+more happy the life I now led was, with all its
+miserable circumstances, than the wicked, cursed,
+abominable life I led all the past part of my days:
+and now I changed both my sorrows and my joys:
+my very desires altered, my affections changed their
+gusts, and my delights were perfectly new from
+what they were at my first coming, or indeed for
+the two years past.</p>
+
+<p>Before, as I walked about, either on my hunting,
+or for viewing the country, the anguish of my soul
+at my condition would break out upon me on a
+sudden, and my very heart would die within me, to
+think of the woods, the mountains, the deserts I was
+in; and how I was a prisoner, locked up with the
+eternal bars and bolts of the ocean, in an uninhabited
+wilderness, without redemption. In the midst of
+the greatest composures of my mind, this would
+break out upon me like a storm, and make me wring
+my hands, and weep like a child: sometimes it would
+take me in the middle of my work, and I would
+immediately sit down and sigh, and look upon the
+ground for an hour or two together: this was still
+worse to me; but if I could burst into tears, or give
+vent to my feelings by words, it would go off; and
+my grief being exhausted, would abate.</p>
+
+<p>But now I began to exercise myself with new
+thoughts; I daily read the word of God, and applied
+all the comforts of it to my present state. One
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page144" id="page144"></a>[pg 144]</span>
+morning, being very sad, I opened the Bible upon
+these words, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake
+thee:" immediately it occurred that these words were
+to me; why else should they be directed in such a
+manner, just at the moment when I was mourning
+over my condition, as one forsaken of God and
+man? "Well then," said I, "if God does not forsake
+me, of what ill consequence can it be, or what
+matters it, though the world should forsake me;
+seeing on the other hand, if I had all the world, and
+should lose the favour and blessing of God, there
+would be no comparison in the loss?"</p>
+
+<p>From this moment I began to conclude in my
+mind, that it was possible for me to be more happy
+in this forsaken, solitary condition, than it was probable
+I should ever have been in any other particular
+state in the world; and with this thought I was
+going to give thanks to God for bringing me to this
+place. I know not what it was, but something
+shocked my mind at that thought and I durst not
+speak the words. "How canst thou be such a hypocrite,"
+said I, even audibly, "to pretend to be
+thankful for a condition, which, however thou mayest
+endeavour to be contented with, thou wouldest
+rather pray heartily to be delivered from?" Here
+I stopped: but though I could not say I thanked
+God for being here, yet I sincerely gave thanks to
+God for opening my eyes, by whatever afflicting
+providences, to see the former condition of my life,
+and to mourn for my wickedness, and repent. I
+never opened the Bible, or shut it, but my very soul
+within me blessed God for directing my friend in
+England, without any order of mine, to pack it up
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page145" id="page145"></a>[pg 145]</span>
+among my goods; and for assisting me afterwards
+to save it out of the wreck of the ship.</p>
+
+<p>Thus, and in this disposition of mind, I began my
+third year; and though I have not given the reader
+the trouble of so particular an account of my works
+this year as the first, yet in general it may be observed,
+that I was very seldom idle; but having regularly
+divided my time, according to the several
+daily employments that were before me; such as,
+first, My duty to God, and the reading the Scriptures,
+which I constantly set apart some time for,
+thrice every day: secondly, Going abroad with my
+gun for food, which generally took me up three
+hours every morning, when it did not rain: thirdly,
+Ordering, curing, preserving, and cooking what I
+had killed or catched for my supply: these took up
+great part of the day; also it is to be considered,
+that in the middle of the day, when the sun was in
+the zenith, the violence of the heat was too great
+to stir out; so that about four hours in the evening
+was all the time I could be supposed to work in;
+with this exception, that sometimes I changed my
+hours of hunting and working, and went to work in
+the morning, and abroad with my gun in the afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>To this short time allowed for labour, I desire
+may be added the exceeding laboriousness of my
+work; the many hours which, for want of tools,
+want of help, and want of skill, every thing I did
+took up out of my time: for example, I was full
+two and forty days making me a board for a long
+shelf, which I wanted in my cave; whereas, two
+sawyers, with their tools and a saw-pit, would have
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page146" id="page146"></a>[pg 146]</span>
+cut six of them out of the same tree in half a
+day.</p>
+
+<p>My case was this; it was a large tree which was
+to be cut down, because my board was to be a broad
+one. This tree I was three days cutting down, and
+two more in cutting off the boughs, and reducing
+it to a log, or piece of timber. With inexpressible
+hacking and hewing, I reduced both the sides of it
+into chips, till it was light enough to move; then I
+turned it, and made one side of it smooth and flat
+as a board, from end to end; then turning that side
+downward, cut the other side, till I brought the
+plank to be about three inches thick, and smooth on
+both sides. Any one may judge the labour of my
+hands in such a piece of work; but labour and
+patience carried me through that, and many other
+things: I only observe this in particular, to show
+the reason why so much of my time went away with
+so little work, viz. that what might be a little to be
+done with help and tools, was a vast labour, and
+required a prodigious time to do alone, and by hand.
+Notwithstanding this, with patience and labour I
+went through many things; and, indeed, every thing
+that my circumstances made necessary for me to do,
+as will appear by what follows.</p>
+
+<p>I was now in the months of November and December,
+expecting my crop of barley and rice. The
+ground I had manured or dug up for them was not
+great; for, as I observed, my seed of each was not
+above the quantity of half a peck, having lost one
+whole crop by sowing in the dry season: but now my
+crop promised very well; when, on a sudden, I found
+I was in danger of losing it all again by enemies of
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page147" id="page147"></a>[pg 147]</span>
+several sorts, which it was scarce possible to keep
+from it; as, first, the goats, and wild creatures
+which I called hares, who, tasting the sweetness of
+the blade, lay in it night and day, as soon as it
+came up, and ate it so close, that it could get no
+time to shoot up into stalk.</p>
+
+<p>I saw no remedy for this, but by making an enclosure
+about it with a hedge, which I did with a
+great deal of toil; and the more, because it required
+speed. However, as my arable land was but small,
+suited to my crop, I got it tolerably well fenced in
+about three weeks' time; and shooting some of the
+creatures in the day-time, I set my dog to guard it
+in the night, tying him up to a stake at the gate,
+where he would stand and bark all night long; so
+in a little time the enemies forsook the place, and
+the corn grew very strong and well, and began to
+ripen apace.</p>
+
+<p>But as the beasts ruined me before, while my
+corn was in the blade, so the birds were as likely to
+ruin me now, when it was in the ear: for going
+along by the place to see how it throve, I saw my
+little crop surrounded with fowls, I know not of
+how many sorts, who stood, as it were, watching
+till I should be gone. I immediately let fly among
+them (for I always had my gun with me;) I had no
+sooner shot, but there rose up a little cloud of
+fowls, which I had not seen at all, from among the
+corn itself.</p>
+
+<p>This touched me sensibly, for I foresaw that in a
+few days they would devour all my hopes; that I
+should be starved, and never be able to raise a crop
+at all; and what to do I could not tell: however, I
+resolved not to lose my corn, if possible, though I
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page148" id="page148"></a>[pg 148]</span>
+should watch it night and day. In the first place,
+I went among it, to see what damage was already
+done, and found they had spoiled a good deal of
+it; but that as it was yet too green for them, the
+loss was not so great, but that the remainder was
+likely to be a good crop, if it could be saved.</p>
+
+<p>I staid by it to load my gun, and then coming
+away, I could easily see the thieves sitting upon all
+the trees about me, as if they only waited till I was
+gone away; and the event proved it to be so; for
+as I walked off, as if gone, I was no sooner out of
+their sight, than they dropt down, one by one, into
+the corn again. I was so provoked, that I could
+not have patience to stay till more came on, knowing
+that every grain they eat now was, as it might
+be said, a peck-loaf to me in the consequence; so
+coming up to the hedge, I fired again, and killed
+three of them. This was what I wished for; so I
+took them up, and served them as we serve notorious
+thieves in England, viz. hanged them in chains, for
+a terror to others. It is impossible to imagine that
+this should have such an effect as it had; for the
+fowls not only never came to the corn, but, in short,
+they forsook all that part of the island, and I could
+never see a bird near the place as long as my scare-crows
+hung there. This I was very glad of, you
+may be sure; and about the latter end of December,
+which was our second harvest of the year, I
+reaped my corn.</p>
+
+<p>I was sadly put to it for a scythe or sickle to cut
+it down: and all I could do was to make one as
+well as I could, out of one of the broad swords, or
+cutlasses, which I saved among the arms out of the
+ship. However, as my first crop was but small, I
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page149" id="page149"></a>[pg 149]</span>
+had no great difficulty to cut it down: in short, I
+reaped it my way, for I cut nothing off but the ears,
+and carried it away in a great basket which I had
+made, and so rubbed it out with my hands; and at
+the end of all my harvesting, I found that out of my
+half peck of seed I had near two bushels of rice,
+and above two bushels and a half of barley; that
+is to say, by my guess, for I had no measure.</p>
+
+<p>However, this was great encouragement to me;
+and I foresaw that, in time, it would please God to
+supply me with bread; and yet here I was perplexed
+again; for I neither knew how to grind, or make
+meal of my corn, or indeed how to clean it and
+part it; nor if made into meal, how to make bread
+of it; and if how to make it, yet I knew not how
+to bake it: these things being added to my desire
+of having a good quantity for store, and to secure
+a constant supply, I resolved not to taste any of
+this crop, but to preserve it all for seed against the
+next season; and, in the mean tune, to employ all
+my study and hours of working to accomplish this
+great work of providing myself with corn and
+bread.</p>
+
+<p>It might be truly said, that now I worked for my
+bread. It is a little wonderful, and what I believe
+few people have thought much upon, viz. the strange
+multitude of little things necessary in the providing,
+producing, curing, dressing, making, and finishing
+this one article of bread.</p>
+
+<p>I, that was reduced to a mere state of nature,
+found this to my daily discouragement, and was
+made more sensible of it every hour, even after I
+had got the first handful of seed-corn which, as I
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page150" id="page150"></a>[pg 150]</span>
+have said, came up unexpectedly, and indeed to a
+surprise.</p>
+
+<p>First, I had no plough to turn up the earth; no
+spade or shovel to dig it: well, this I conquered by
+making a wooden spade, as I observed before; but
+this did my work but in a wooden manner; and
+though it cost me a great many days to make it,
+yet, for want of iron, it not only wore out the
+sooner, but made my work the harder, and performed
+it much worse. However, this I bore with,
+and was content to work it out with patience, and
+bear with the badness of the performance. When
+the corn was sown, I had no harrow, but was forced
+to go over it myself, and drag a great heavy bough
+of a tree over it, to scratch it, as it may be called,
+rather than rake or harrow it. When it was growing
+and grown, I have observed already how many
+things I wanted to fence it, secure it, mow or reap
+it, cure and carry it home, thrash, part it from the
+chaff, and save it: then I wanted a mill to grind it,
+sieves to dress it, yeast and salt to make it into
+bread, and an oven to bake it; and yet all these
+things I did without, as shall be observed; and the
+corn was an inestimable comfort and advantage to
+me: all this, as I said, made every thing laborious
+and tedious to me, but that there was no help for;
+neither was my time so much loss to me, because,
+as I had divided it, a certain part of it, was every
+day appointed to these works; and as I resolved to
+use none of the corn for bread till I had a greater
+quantity by me, I had the next six months to apply
+myself wholly, by labour and invention, to furnish
+myself with utensils proper for the performing all
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page151" id="page151"></a>[pg 151]</span>
+the operations necessary for making corn fit for my
+use.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width:35%;"><a href="images/151.jpg"><img width = "100%" src="images/151.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
+
+<p>But now I was to prepare more land; for I had
+seed enough to sow above an acre of ground. Before
+I did this, I had a week's work at least to make
+me a spade; which, when it was done, was but a
+sorry one indeed, and very heavy, and required
+double labour to work with it: however, I went
+through that, and sowed my seed in two large flat
+pieces of ground, as near my house as I could find
+them to my mind, and fenced them in with a good
+hedge; the stakes of which were all cut off that
+wood which I had set before, and knew it would
+grow; so that, in one year's time, I knew I should
+have a quick or living hedge, that would want but
+little repair. This work took me up full three
+months; because a great part of the time was in
+the wet season, when I could not go abroad. Within
+doors, that is, when it rained, and I could not go
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page152" id="page152"></a>[pg 152]</span>
+out, I found employment on the following occasions;
+always observing, that while I was at work, I diverted
+myself with talking to my parrot, and teaching
+him to speak; and I quickly learned him to
+know his own name, and at last to speak it out
+pretty loud, Pol; which was the first word I ever
+heard spoken in the island by any mouth but my
+own. This, therefore, was not my work, but an
+assistant to my work; for now, as I said, I had a
+great employment upon my hands, as follows: I had
+long studied, by some means or other, to make myself
+some earthen vessels, which indeed I wanted
+much, but knew not where to come at them: however,
+considering the heat of the climate, I did not
+doubt but if I could find out any clay, I might
+botch up some such pot as might, being dried in the
+sun, be hard and strong enough to bear handling,
+and to hold any thing that was dry, and required to
+be kept so; and as this was necessary in the preparing
+corn, meal, &amp;c. which was the thing I was
+upon, I resolved to make some as large as I could,
+and fit only to stand like jars, to hold what should
+be put into them.</p>
+
+<p>It would make the reader pity me, or rather
+laugh at me, to tell how many awkward ways I took
+to raise this pastil; what odd, misshapen, ugly
+things I made; how many of them fell in, and how
+many fell out, the clay not being stiff enough to
+bear its own weight; how many cracked by the
+over violent heat of the sun, being set out too
+hastily; and how many fell in pieces with only
+removing, as well before as after they were dried:
+and, in a word, how, after having laboured hard to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page153" id="page153"></a>[pg 153]</span>
+find the clay, to dig it, to temper it, to bring it
+home, and work it, I could not make above two
+large earthen ugly things (I cannot call them jars)
+in about two months' labour.</p>
+
+<p>However, as the sun baked these two very dry
+and hard, I lifted them very gently up, and set them
+down again in two great wicker baskets, which I
+had made on purpose for them, that they might not
+break; and as between the pot and the basket there
+was a little room to spare, I stuffed it full of the
+rice and barley-straw; and these two pots being to
+stand always dry, I thought would hold my dry
+corn, and perhaps the meal, when the corn was
+bruised.</p>
+
+<p>Though I miscarried so much in my design for
+large pots, yet I made several smaller things with
+better success; such as little round pots, flat dishes,
+pitchers, and pipkins, and any thing my hand turned
+to; and the heat of the sun baked them very hard.</p>
+
+<p>But all this would not answer my end, which was
+to get an earthen pot to hold liquids, and bear the
+fire, which none of these could do. It happened
+some time after, making a pretty large fire for cooking
+my meat, when I went to put it out after I had
+done with it, I found a broken piece of one of my
+earthen-ware vessels in the fire, burnt as hard as a
+stone, and red as a tile. I was agreeably surprised
+to see it; and said to myself, that certainly they
+might be made to burn whole, if they would burn
+broken.</p>
+
+<p>This set me to study how to order my fire, so as
+to make it burn some pots. I had no notion of a
+kiln, such as the potters burn in, or of glazing them
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page154" id="page154"></a>[pg 154]</span>
+with lead, though I had some lead to do it with;
+but I placed three large pipkins and two or three
+pots in a pile, one upon another, and placed my
+fire-wood all round it, with a great heap of embers
+under them. I plied the fire with fresh fuel round
+the outside, and upon the top, till I saw the pots in
+the inside red-hot quite through, and observed that
+they did not crack at all: when I saw them clear
+red, I let them stand in that heat about five or six
+hours, till I found one of them, though it did not
+crack, did melt or run; for the sand which was
+mixed with the clay melted by the violence of the
+heat, and would have run into glass, if I had gone
+on; so I slacked my fire gradually, till the pots began
+to abate of the red colour; and watching them
+all night, that I might not let the fire abate too fast,
+in the morning I had three very good, I will not say
+handsome, pipkins, and two other earthen pots, as
+hard burnt as could be desired; and one of them
+perfectly glazed with the running of the sand.</p>
+
+<p>After this experiment, I need not say that I wanted
+no sort of earthen-ware for my use; but I must needs
+say, as to the shapes of them, they were very indifferent,
+as any one may suppose, as I had no way of
+making them but as the children make dirt pies, or
+as a woman would make pies that never learned to
+raise paste.</p>
+
+<p>No joy at a thing of so mean a nature was ever
+equal to mine, when I found I had made an earthen
+pot that would bear the fire; and I had hardly patience
+to stay till they were cold, before I set one
+on the fire again, with some water in it, to boil me
+some meat, which it did admirably well; and with
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page155" id="page155"></a>[pg 155]</span>
+a piece of a kid I made some very good broth;
+though I wanted oatmeal, and several other ingredients
+requisite to make it so good as I would have
+had it been.</p>
+
+<p>My next concern was to get a stone mortar to
+stamp or beat some corn in; for as to the mill,
+there was no thought of arriving to that perfection
+of art with one pair of hands. To supply this
+want I was at a great loss; for, of all trades in the
+world, I was as perfectly unqualified for a stonecutter,
+as for any whatever; neither had I any tools
+to go about it with. I spent many a day to find
+out a great stone big enough to cut hollow, and
+make fit for a mortar; but could find none at all,
+except what was in the solid rock, and which I had
+no way to dig or cut out: nor, indeed, were the
+rocks in the island of sufficient hardness, as they
+were all of a sandy crumbling stone, which would
+neither bear the weight of a heavy pestle, nor
+would break the corn without filling it with sand:
+so, after a great deal of time lost in searching for
+a stone, I gave it over, and resolved to look out a
+great block of hard wood, which I found indeed
+much easier; and getting one as big as I had strength
+to stir, I rounded it, and formed it on the outside
+with my axe and hatchet; and then, with the help
+of fire, and infinite labour, made a hollow place in
+it, as the Indians in Brazil make their canoes. After
+this, I made a great heavy pestle, or beater, of the
+wood called iron-wood; and this I prepared and
+laid by against I had my next crop of corn, when I
+proposed to myself to grind, or rather pound, my
+corn into meal, to make my bread.</p>
+
+<p>My next difficulty was to make a sieve, or searce,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page156" id="page156"></a>[pg 156]</span>
+to dress my meal, and to part it from the bran and
+the husk, without which I did not see it possible I
+could have any bread. This was a most difficult
+thing, even but to think on; for I had nothing like
+the necessary thing to make it; I mean fine thin
+canvass or stuff, to searce the meal through. Here
+I was at a full stop for many months; nor did I
+really know what to do; linen I had none left, but
+what was mere rags; I had goats'-hair, but neither
+knew how to weave it nor spin it; and had I known
+how, here were no tools to work it with: all the
+remedy I found for this was, at last recollecting I
+had, among the seamen's clothes which were saved
+out of the ship, some neckcloths of calico or muslin,
+with some pieces of these I made three small sieves,
+proper enough for the work; and thus I made shift
+for some years: how I did afterwards, I shall show
+in its place.</p>
+
+<p>The baking part was the next thing to be considered,
+and how I should make bread when I came
+to have corn: for, first, I had no yeast: as to that
+part there was no supplying the want, so I did not
+concern myself much about it; but for an oven I
+was indeed puzzled. At length I found out an expedient
+for that also, which was this; I made some
+earthen vessels, very broad, but not deep, that is to
+say, about two feet diameter, and not above nine
+inches deep: these I burned in the fire, as I had
+done the other, and laid them by; and when I wanted
+to bake, I made a great fire upon my hearth, which
+I had paved with some square tiles, of my own
+making and burning also; but I should not call
+them square.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page157" id="page157"></a>[pg 157]</span>
+
+<p>When the fire-wood was burned into embers, or
+live coals, I drew them forward upon the hearth, so
+as to cover it all over, and there let them lie till the
+hearth was very hot; then sweeping away all the
+embers, I set down my loaf, or loaves, and covering
+them with the earthen pot, drew the embers all
+round the outside of the pot, to keep in and add to
+the heat; and thus, as well as in the best oven in
+the world, I baked my barley-loaves, and became, in
+a little time, a good pastry-cook into the bargain;
+for I made myself several cakes and puddings of the
+rice; but made no pies, as I had nothing to put
+into them except the flesh of fowls or goats.</p>
+
+<p>It need not be wondered at, if all these things
+took me up most part of the third year of my abode
+here; for, it is to be observed, in the intervals of
+these things, I had my new harvest and husbandry
+to manage: I reaped my corn in its season, and carried
+it home as well as I could, and laid it up in the
+ear, in my large baskets, till I had time to rub it
+out; for I had no floor to thrash it on, or instrument
+to thrash it with.</p>
+
+<p>And now, indeed, my stock of corn increasing, I
+really wanted to build my barns bigger: I wanted a
+place to lay it up in; for the increase of the corn
+now yielded me so much, that I had of the barley
+about twenty bushels, and of rice as much, or more,
+insomuch that now I resolved to begin to use it
+freely; for my bread had been quite gone a great
+while: I resolved also to see what quantity would
+be sufficient for me a whole year, and to sow but
+once a year.</p>
+
+<p>Upon the whole, I found that the forty bushels of
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page158" id="page158"></a>[pg 158]</span>
+barley and rice were much more than I could consume
+in a year; so I resolved to sow just the same
+quantity every year that I sowed the last, in hopes
+that such a quantity would fully provide me with
+bread, &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p>All the while these things were doing, you may be
+sure my thoughts ran many times upon the prospect
+of land which I had seen from the other side of the
+island; and I was not without some secret wishes
+that I was on shore there; fancying, that seeing the
+main land, and an inhabited country, I might find
+some way or other to convey myself farther, and
+perhaps at last find some means of escape.</p>
+
+<p>But all this while I made no allowance for the
+dangers of such a condition, and that I might fall
+into the hands of savages, and perhaps such as I
+might have reason to think far worse than the lions
+and tigers of Africa; that if I once came in their
+power, I should run a hazard of more than a thousand
+to one of being killed, and perhaps of being
+eaten; for I had heard that the people of the Caribbean
+coast were cannibals, or man-eaters; and I
+knew, by the latitude, that I could not be far off
+from that shore. Then supposing they were not
+cannibals, yet that they might kill me, as they had
+many Europeans who had fallen into their hands,
+even when they have been ten or twenty together;
+much more I, who was but one, and could makee little
+or no defence; all these things, I say, which I
+ought to have considered well of, and did cast up
+in my thoughts afterwards, took up none of my
+apprehensions at first; yet my head ran mightily
+upon the thought of getting over to the shore.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page159" id="page159"></a>[pg 159]</span>
+
+<p>Now I wished for my boy Xury, and the long-boat
+with the shoulder-of-mutton sail, with which I sailed
+above a thousand miles on the coast of Africa; but
+this was in vain: then I thought I would go and look
+at our ship's boat, which, as I have said, was blown
+up upon the shore a great way, in the storm, when
+we were first cast away. She lay nearly where she
+did at first, but not quite; having turned, by the
+force of the waves and the winds, almost bottom
+upward, against a high ridge of beachy rough sand;
+but no water about her, as before. If I had had
+hands to have refitted her, and to have launched her
+into the water, the boat would have done very well,
+and I might have gone back into the Brazils with
+her easily enough; but I might have foreseen, that
+I could no more turn her and set her upright upon
+her bottom, than I could remove the island; however,
+I went to the woods, and cut levers and rollers,
+and brought them to the boat, resolving to try what
+I could do; suggesting to myself, that if I could
+but turn her down, and repair the damage she had
+received, she would be a very good boat, and I might
+venture to sea in her.</p>
+
+<p>I spared no pains, indeed, in this piece of fruitless
+toil, and spent, I think, three or four weeks about
+it: at last, finding it impossible to heave her up with
+my little strength, I fell to digging away the sand,
+to undermine her, and so as to make her fall down,
+setting pieces of wood to thrust and guide her right
+in the fall.</p>
+
+<p>But when I had done this, I was unable to stir
+her up again, or to get under her, much less to move
+her forward towards the water; so I was forced to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page160" id="page160"></a>[pg 160]</span>
+give it over: and yet, though I gave over the hopes
+of the boat, my desire to venture over the main increased,
+rather than diminished, as the means for it
+seemed impossible.</p>
+
+<p>At length, I began to think whether it was not
+possible to make myself a canoe, or periagua, such
+as the natives of those climates make, even without
+tools, or, as I might say, without hands, of the trunk
+of a great tree. This I not only thought possible,
+but easy, and pleased myself extremely with the idea
+of making it, and with my having much more convenience
+for it than any of the Negroes or Indians;
+but not at all considering the particular inconveniences
+which I lay under more than the Indians did,
+viz. the want of hands to move it into the water
+when it was made, a difficulty much harder for me
+to surmount than all the consequences of want of
+tools could be to them: for what could it avail me,
+if, after I had chosen my tree, and with much trouble
+cut it down, and might be able with my tools to
+hew and dub the outside into the proper shape of a
+boat, and burn or cut out the inside to make it hollow,
+so as to make a boat of it; if, after all this, I
+must leave it just where I found it, and was not
+able to launch it into the water?</p>
+
+<p>One would imagine, if I had had the least reflection
+upon my mind of my circumstances while I
+was making this boat, I should have immediately
+thought how I was to get it into the sea: but my
+thoughts were so intent upon my voyage in it, that
+I never once considered how I should get it off the
+land; and it was really, in its own nature, more easy
+for me to guide it over forty-five miles of sea, than
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page161" id="page161"></a>[pg 161]</span>
+the forty-five fathoms of land, where it lay, to set
+it afloat in the water.</p>
+
+<p>I went to work upon this boat the most like a fool
+that ever man did, who had any of his senses awake.
+I pleased myself with the design, without determining
+whether I was able to undertake it; not but
+that the difficulty of launching my boat came often
+into my head; but I put a stop to my own inquiries
+into it, by this foolish answer: Let me first make it;
+I warrant I will find some way or other to get it
+along when it is done.</p>
+
+<p>This was a most preposterous method; but the
+eagerness of my fancy prevailed, and to work I went.
+I felled a cedar tree, and I question much whether
+Solomon ever had such a one for the building of the
+Temple at Jerusalem; it was five feet ten inches
+diameter at the lower part next the stump, and
+four feet eleven inches diameter at the end of
+twenty-two feet, where it lessened, and then parted
+into branches. It was not without infinite labour
+that I felled this tree; I was twenty days hacking
+and hewing at the bottom, and fourteen more getting
+the branches and limbs, and the vast spreading
+head of it, cut off: after this, it cost me a month
+to shape it and dub it to a proportion, and to something
+like the bottom of a boat, that it might swim
+upright as it ought to do. It cost me near three
+months more to clear the inside, and work it out so
+as to make an exact boat of it: this I did, indeed,
+without fire, by mere mallet and chisel, and by the
+dint of hard labour, till I had brought it to be a
+very handsome periagua, and big enough to have
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page162" id="page162"></a>[pg 162]</span>
+carried six and twenty men, and consequently big
+enough to have carried me and all my cargo.</p>
+
+<p>When I had gone through this work, I was extremely
+delighted with it. The boat was really
+much bigger than ever I saw a canoe or periagua,
+that was made of one tree, in my life. Many a
+weary stroke it had cost, you may be sure; and
+there remained nothing but to get it into the water;
+which, had I accomplished, I make no question but
+I should have begun the maddest voyage, and the
+most unlikely to be performed, that ever was undertaken.</p>
+
+<p>But all my devices to get it into the water failed
+me; though they cost me inexpressible labour too.
+It lay about one hundred yards from the water, and
+not more; but the first inconvenience was, it was
+up hill towards the creek. Well, to take away this
+discouragement, I resolved to dig into the surface
+of the earth, and so make a declivity: this I begun,
+and it cost me a prodigious deal of pains; (but who
+grudge pains that have their deliverance in view?)
+when this was worked through, and this difficulty
+managed, it was still much the same, for I could no
+more stir the canoe than I could the other boat.
+Then I measured the distance of ground, and resolved
+to cut a dock or canal, to bring the water up
+to the canoe, seeing I could not bring the canoe
+down to the water. Well, I began this work; and
+when I began to enter upon it, and calculate how
+deep it was to be dug, how broad, how the stuff was
+to be thrown out, I found by the number of hands
+I had, having none but my own, that it must have
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page163" id="page163"></a>[pg 163]</span>
+been ten or twelve years before I could have gone
+through with it; for the shore lay so high, that at
+the upper end it must have been at least twenty feet
+deep; this attempt, though with great reluctancy,
+I was at length obliged to give over also.</p>
+
+<p>This grieved me heartily; and now I saw, though
+too late, the folly of beginning a work before we
+count the cost, and before we judge rightly of our
+own strength to go through with it.</p>
+
+<p>In the middle of this work, I finished my fourth
+year in this place, and kept my anniversary with
+the same devotion, and with as much comfort as
+before; for, by a constant study and serious application
+to the word of God, and by the assistance of
+his grace, I gained a different knowledge from what
+I had before; I entertained different notions of
+things; I looked now upon the world as a thing
+remote, which I had nothing to do with, no expectation
+from, and, indeed, no desires about: in a word,
+I had nothing to do with it, nor was ever likely to
+have; I thought it looked, as we may perhaps look
+upon it hereafter, viz. as, a place I had lived in, but
+was come out of it; and well might I say, as father
+Abraham to Dives, "Between me and thee is a
+great gulf fixed."</p>
+
+<p>In the first place, I was here removed from all
+the wickedness of the world; I had neither the lust
+of the flesh, the lust of the eye, nor the pride of
+life. I had nothing to covet, for I had all that I
+was now capable of enjoying: I was lord of the
+whole manor; or, if I pleased, I might call myself
+king or emperor over the whole country which I
+had possession of; there were no rivals; I had no
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page164" id="page164"></a>[pg 164]</span>
+competitor, none to dispute sovereignty or command
+with me: I might have raised ship-loadings of corn,
+but I had no use for it; so I let as little grow as I
+thought enough for my occasion. I had tortoise or
+turtle enough, but now and then one was as much
+as I could put to any use: I had timber enough to
+have built a fleet of ships; and I had grapes enough
+to have made wine, or to have cured into raisins, to
+have loaded that fleet when it had been built.</p>
+
+<p>But all I could make use of was all that was
+valuable: I had enough to eat and supply my wants,
+and what was the rest to me? If I killed more flesh
+than I could eat, the dog must eat it, or vermin;
+if I sowed more corn than I could eat, it must be
+spoiled; the trees that I cut down were lying to rot
+on the ground; I could make no more use of them
+than for fuel, and that I had no other occasion for
+but to dress my food.</p>
+
+<p>In a word, the nature and experience of things
+dictated to me, upon just reflection, that all the
+good things of this world, are of no farther good to
+us than for our use; and that whatever we may heap
+up to give others, we enjoy only as much as we can
+use, and no more. The most covetous griping
+miser in the world would have been cured of the
+vice of covetousness, if he had been in my case; for
+I possessed infinitely more than I knew what to do
+with. I had no room for desire, except it was for
+things which I had not, and they were comparatively
+but trifles, though indeed of great use to me. I
+had, as I hinted before, a parcel of money, as well
+gold as silver, about thirty-six pounds sterling.
+Alas! there the nasty, sorry, useless stuff lay: I
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page165" id="page165"></a>[pg 165]</span>
+had no manner of business for it; and I often
+thought within myself, that I would have given a
+handful of it for a gross of tobacco-pipes, or for a
+hand-mill to grind my corn; nay, I would have
+given it all for sixpenny-worth of turnip and carrot
+seed from England, or for a handful of peas and
+beans, and a bottle of ink. As it was, I had not
+the least advantage by it, or benefit from it; but
+there it lay in a drawer, and grew mouldy with the
+damp of the cave in the wet seasons; and if I had
+had the drawer full of diamonds, it had been the
+same case,&mdash;they had been of no manner of value
+to me because of no use.</p>
+
+<p>I had now brought my state of life to be much
+more comfortable in itself than it was at first, and
+much easier to my mind, as well as to my body. I
+frequently sat down to meat with thankfulness, and
+admired the hand of God's providence, which had
+thus spread my table in the wilderness: I learned
+to look more upon the bright side of my condition,
+and less upon the dark side, and to consider what I
+enjoyed, rather than what I wanted: and this gave
+me sometimes such secret comforts, that I cannot
+express them; and which I take notice of here, to
+put those discontented people in mind of it, who
+cannot enjoy comfortably what God has given them,
+because they see and covet something that he has
+not given them. All our discontents about what
+we want, appeared to me to spring from the want
+of thankfulness for what we have.</p>
+
+<p>Another reflection was of great use to me, and
+doubtless would be so to any one that should fall
+into such distress as mine was; and this was, to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page166" id="page166"></a>[pg 166]</span>
+compare my present condition with what I at first
+expected it would be; nay, with what it would certainly
+have been, if the good providence of God
+had not wonderfully ordered the ship to be cast up
+near to the shore, where I not only could come at
+her, but could bring what I got out of her to the
+shore, for my relief and comfort; without which, I
+had wanted for tools to work, weapons for defence,
+and gunpowder and shot for getting my food.</p>
+
+<p>I spent whole hours, I may say whole days, in
+representing to myself, in the most lively colours,
+how I must have acted if I had got nothing out of
+the ship. I could not have so much as got any
+food, except fish and turtles; and that, as it was
+long before I found any of them, I must have
+perished; that I should have lived, if I had not
+perished, like a mere savage; that if I had killed a
+goat or a fowl, by any contrivance, I had no way
+to flay or open it, or part the flesh from the skin
+and the bowels, or to cut it up; but must gnaw it
+with my teeth, and pull it with my claws, like a
+beast.</p>
+
+<p>These reflections made me very sensible of the
+goodness of Providence to me, and very thankful
+for my present condition, with all its hardships and
+misfortunes: and this part also I cannot but recommend
+to the reflection of those who are apt, in their
+misery, to say, Is any affliction like mine? Let
+them consider how much worse the cases of some
+people are, and their case might have been, if Providence
+had thought fit.</p>
+
+<p>I had another reflection, which assisted me also
+to comfort my mind with hopes; and this was comparing
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page167" id="page167"></a>[pg 167]</span>
+my present condition with what I had deserved,
+and had therefore reason to expect from the
+hand of Providence. I had lived a dreadful life,
+perfectly destitute of the knowledge and fear of
+God. I had been well instructed by my father and
+mother; neither had they been wanting to me, in
+their endeavours to infuse an early religious awe of
+God into my mind, a sense of my duty, and what
+the nature and end of my being required of me.
+But, alas! falling early into the seafaring life, which,
+of all lives, is the most destitute of the fear of God,
+though his terrors are always before them; I say,
+falling early into the seafaring life, and into seafaring
+company, all that little sense of religion
+which I had entertained was laughed out of me by
+my messmates; by a hardened despising of dangers,
+and the views of death, which grew habitual to me;
+by my long absence from all manner of opportunities
+to converse with any thing but what was like
+myself, or to hear any thing that was good, or tending
+towards it.</p>
+
+<p>So void was I of every thing that was good, or of
+the least sense of what I was, or was to be, that in
+the greatest deliverances I enjoyed (such as my
+escape from Sallee, my being taken up by the Portuguese
+master of a ship, my being planted so well in
+the Brazils, my receiving the cargo from England,
+and the like,) I never had once the words, Thank
+God, so much as on my mind, or in my mouth; nor
+in the greatest distress had I so much as a thought
+to pray to him, or so much as to say, Lord, have
+mercy upon me! no, nor to mention the name of
+God, unless it was to swear by, and blaspheme it.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page168" id="page168"></a>[pg 168]</span>
+
+<p>I had terrible reflections upon my mind for many
+months, as I have already observed, on account of
+my wicked and hardened life past; and when I
+looked about me, and considered what particular
+providences had attended me since my coming into
+this place, and how God had dealt bountifully with
+me,&mdash;had not only punished me less than my iniquity
+had deserved, but had so plentifully provided for
+me,&mdash;this gave me great hopes that my repentance
+was accepted, and that God had yet mercies in
+store for me.</p>
+
+<p>With these reflections, I worked my mind up,
+not only to a resignation to the will of God in the
+present disposition of my circumstances, but even
+to a sincere thankfulness for my condition; and that
+I, who was yet a living man, ought not to complain,
+seeing I had not the due punishment of my sins;
+that I enjoyed so many mercies which I had no
+reason to have expected in that place, that I ought
+never more to repine at my condition, but to rejoice,
+and to give daily thanks for that daily bread, which
+nothing but a crowd of wonders could have brought;
+that I ought to consider I had been fed by a miracle,
+even as great as that of feeding Elijah by ravens;
+nay, by a long series of miracles: and that I could
+hardly have named a place in the uninhabitable
+part of the world where I could have been cast
+more to my advantage; a place where, as I had no
+society, which was my affliction on one hand, so I
+found no ravenous beasts, no furious wolves or
+tigers, to threaten my life; no venomous or poisonous
+creatures which I might feed on to my hurt;
+no savages to murder and devour me. In a word,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page169" id="page169"></a>[pg 169]</span>
+as my life was a life of sorrow one way, so it was a
+life of mercy another; and I wanted nothing to
+make it a life of comfort, but to make myself sensible
+of God's goodness to me, and care over me in
+this condition; and after I did make a just improvement
+of these things, I went away, and was no
+more sad.</p>
+
+<p>I had now been here so long, that many things
+which I brought on shore for my help were either
+quite gone, or very much wasted, and near spent.</p>
+
+<p>My ink, as I observed, had been gone for some
+time, all but a very little, which I eked out with
+water, a little and a little, till it was so pale, it
+scarce left any appearance of black upon the paper.
+As long as it lasted, I made use of it to minute
+down the days of the month on which any remarkable
+thing happened to me: and, first, by casting
+up times past, I remember that there was a strange
+concurrence of days in the various providences
+which befel me, and which, if I had been superstitiously
+inclined to observe days as fatal or fortunate,
+I might have had reason to have looked upon with
+a great deal of curiosity.</p>
+
+<p>First, I had observed, that the same day that I
+broke away from my father and my friends, and ran
+away to Hull, in order to go to sea, the same day
+afterwards I was taken by the Sallee man of war,
+and made a slave: the same day of the year that I
+escaped out of the wreck of the ship in Yarmouth
+Roads, that same day-year afterwards I made my
+escape from Sallee in the boat: and the same day
+of the year I was born on, viz. the 30th of September,
+that same day I had my life so miraculously
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page170" id="page170"></a>[pg 170]</span>
+saved twenty-six years after, when I was cast on
+shore in this island: so that my wicked life and my
+solitary life began both on one day.</p>
+
+<p>The next thing to my ink being wasted, was that
+of my bread, I mean the biscuit which I brought
+out of the ship; this I had husbanded to the last
+degree, allowing myself but one cake of bread a
+day for above a year; and yet I was quite without
+bread for near a year before I got any corn of my
+own; and great reason I had to be thankful that I
+had any at all, the getting it being, as has been
+already observed, next to miraculous.</p>
+
+<p>My clothes, too, began to decay mightily: as to
+linen, I had none for a great while, except some
+chequered shirts which I found in the chests of the
+other seamen, and which I carefully preserved, because
+many times I could bear no clothes on but a
+shirt; and it was a very great help to me that I had,
+among all the men's clothes of the ship, almost three
+dozen of shirts. There were also, indeed, several
+thick watch-coats of the seamen's which were left,
+but they were too hot to wear: and though it is true
+that the weather was so violently hot that there was
+no need of clothes, yet I could not go quite naked,
+no, though I had been inclined to it, which I was
+not, nor could I abide the thought of it, though, I
+was all alone. The reason why I could not go quite
+naked was, I could not bear the heat of the sun so
+well when quite naked as with some clothes on;
+nay, the very heat frequently blistered my skin:
+whereas, with a shirt on, the air itself made some
+motion, and whistling under the shirt, was twofold
+cooler than without it. No more could I ever bring
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page171" id="page171"></a>[pg 171]</span>
+myself to go out in the heat of the sun without a
+cap or hat; the heat of the sun beating with such
+violence as it does in that place, would give me the
+head-ach presently, by darting so directly upon my
+head, without a cap or hat on, so that I could not
+bear it; whereas, if I put on my hat, it would presently
+go away.</p>
+
+<p>Upon these views, I began to consider about putting
+the few rags I had, which I called clothes, into
+some order: I had worn out all the waistcoats I
+had, and my business was now to try if I could not
+make jackets out of the great watch-coats that I
+had by me, and with such other materials as I had;
+so I set to work a tailoring, or rather, indeed; a
+botching, for I made most piteous work of it.
+However, I made shift to make two or three new
+waistcoats, which I hoped would serve me a great
+while: as for breeches or drawers, I made but a
+very sorry shift indeed till afterwards.</p>
+
+<p>I have mentioned, that I saved the skins of all
+the creatures that I killed, I mean four-footed ones;
+and I had hung them up, stretched out with sticks,
+in the sun, by which means some of them were so
+dry and hard that they were fit for little, but others
+I found very useful. The first thing I made of these
+was a great cap for my head, with the hair on the
+outside, to shoot off the rain; and this I performed
+so well, that after this I made me a suit of clothes
+wholly of the skins, that is to say, a waistcoat, and
+breeches open at the knees, and both loose; for
+they were rather wanting to keep me cool than warm.
+I must not omit to acknowledge that they were
+wretchedly made; for if I was a bad carpenter, I
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page172" id="page172"></a>[pg 172]</span>
+was a worse tailor. However, they were such as I
+made very good shift with; and when I was abroad,
+if it happened to rain, the hair of my waistcoat and
+cap being uppermost, I was kept very dry.</p>
+
+<p>After this I spent a great deal of time and pains
+to make me an umbrella: I was indeed in great
+want of one, and had a great mind to make one; I
+had seen them made in the Brazils, where they were
+very useful in the great heats which are there; and
+I felt the heats every jot as great here, and greater
+too, being nearer the equinox: besides, as I was
+obliged to be much abroad, it was a most useful
+thing to me, as well for the rains as the heats. I
+took a world of pains at it, and was a great while
+before I could make any thing likely to hold; nay,
+after I thought I had hit the way, I spoiled two or
+three before I made one to my mind; but at last I
+made one that answered indifferently well; the main
+difficulty I found was to make it to let down: I
+could make it spread, but if it did not let down too,
+and draw in, it was not portable for me any way but
+just over my head, which would not do. However,
+at last, as I said, I made one to answer, and covered
+it with skins, the hair upwards, so that it cast off the
+rain like a pent-house, and kept off the sun so effectually,
+that I could walk out in the hottest of the
+weather with greater advantage than I could before
+in the coolest; and when I had no need of it, could
+close it, and carry it under my arm.</p>
+
+<p>Thus I lived mighty comfortably, my mind being
+entirely composed by resigning to the will of God,
+and throwing myself wholly upon the disposal of his
+providence. This made my life better than sociable;
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page173" id="page173"></a>[pg 173]</span>
+for when I began to regret the want of conversation,
+I would ask myself, whether thus conversing
+mutually with my own thoughts, and, as I hope I
+may say, with even God himself, by ejaculations,
+was not better than the utmost enjoyment of human
+society in the world?</p>
+
+<p>I cannot say that after this, for five years, any extraordinary
+thing happened to me, but I lived on in
+the same course, in the same posture and place, just
+as before; the chief things I was employed in, besides
+my yearly labour of planting my barley and
+rice, and curing my raisins, of both which I always
+kept up just enough to have sufficient stock of one
+year's provision beforehand; I say, besides this
+yearly labour, and my daily pursuit of going out
+with my gun, I had one labour, to make me a canoe,
+which at last I finished: so that by digging a canal
+to it of six feet wide, and four feet deep, I brought
+it into the creek, almost half a mile. As for the
+first, which was so vastly big, as I made it without
+considering beforehand, as I ought to do, how I
+should be able to launch it, so, never being able to
+bring it into the water, or bring the water to it, I
+was obliged to let it lie where it was, as a memorandum
+to teach me to be wiser the next time: indeed,
+the next time, though I could not get a tree proper
+for it, and was in a place where I could not get the
+water to it at any less distance than, as I have said,
+near half a mile, yet as I saw it was practicable at
+last, I never gave it over: and though I was near
+two years about it, yet I never grudged my labour,
+in hopes of having a boat to go off to sea at last.</p>
+
+<p>However, though my little periagua was finished,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page174" id="page174"></a>[pg 174]</span>
+yet the size of it was not at all answerable to the
+design which I had in view when I made the first;
+I mean, of venturing over to the <i>terra firma</i>, where
+it was above forty miles broad; accordingly, the
+smallness of my boat assisted to put an end to that
+design, and now I thought no more of it. As I had
+a boat, my next design was to make a cruise round
+the island; for as I had been on the other side in
+one place, crossing, as I have already described it,
+over the land, so the discoveries I made in that little
+journey made me very eager to see other parts of
+the coast; and now I had a boat, I thought of nothing
+but sailing round the island.</p>
+
+<p>For this purpose, that I might do every thing
+with discretion and consideration, I fitted up a little
+mast in my boat, and made a sail to it out of some
+of the pieces of the ship's sails which lay in store,
+and of which I had a great stock by me. Having
+fitted my mast and sail, and tried the boat, I found
+she would sail very well: then I made little lockers,
+or boxes, at each end of my boat, to put provisions,
+necessaries, ammunition, &amp;c. into, to be kept dry,
+either from rain or the spray of the sea; and a
+little long hollow place I cut in the inside of the
+boat, where I could lay my gun, making a flap to
+hang down over it, to keep it dry.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width:35%;"><a href="images/175.jpg"><img width = "100%" src="images/175.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
+
+<p>I fixed my umbrella also in a step at the stern,
+like a mast, to stand over my head, and keep the
+heat of the sun off me, like an awning; and thus I
+every now and then took a little voyage upon the
+sea, but never went far out, nor far from the little
+creek. At last, being eager to view the circumference
+of my little kingdom, I resolved upon my
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page175" id="page175"></a>[pg 175]</span>
+cruise; and accordingly I victualled my ship for
+the voyage, putting in two dozen of loaves (cakes I
+should rather call them) of barley bread, an earthen
+pot full of parched rice (a food I ate a great deal
+of,) a little bottle of rum, half a goat, and powder
+and shot for killing more, and two large watch-coats,
+of those which, as I mentioned before, I had saved
+out of the seamen's chests; these I took, one to lie
+upon, and the other to cover me in the night.</p>
+
+<p>It was the 6th of November, in the sixth year of
+my reign, or my captivity, which you please, that I
+set out on this voyage, and I found it much longer
+than I expected; for though the island itself was
+not very large, yet when I came to the east side of
+it, I found a great ledge of rocks lie out about two
+leagues into the sea, some above water, some under
+it; and beyond that a shoal of sand, lying dry half
+a league more, so that I was obliged to go a great
+way out to sea to double the point.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page176" id="page176"></a>[pg 176]</span>
+
+<p>When first I discovered them, I was going to give
+over my enterprise, and come back again, not knowing
+how far it might oblige me to go out to sea,
+and, above all, doubting how I should get back
+again; so I came to an anchor; for I had made me
+a kind of an anchor with a piece of a broken grappling
+which I got out of the ship.</p>
+
+<p>Having secured my boat, I took my gun and
+went on shore, climbing up on a hill, which seemed
+to overlook that point, where I saw the full extent
+of it, and resolved to venture.</p>
+
+<p>In my viewing the sea from that hill where I
+stood, I perceived a strong, and indeed a most furious
+current, which ran to the east, and even came
+close to the point; and I took the more notice of it,
+because I saw there might be some danger, that
+when I came into it, I might be carried out to sea
+by the strength of it, and not be able to make the
+island again: and, indeed, had I not got first upon
+this hill, I believe it would have been so; for there
+was the same current on the other side the island,
+only that it set off at a farther distance, and I saw
+there was a strong eddy under the shore; so I had
+nothing to do but to get out of the first current,
+and I should presently be in an eddy.</p>
+
+<p>I lay here, however, two days, because the wind
+blowing pretty fresh at E.S.E. and that being just
+contrary to the said current, made a great breach
+of the sea upon the point; so that it was not safe
+for me to keep too close to the shore for the breach,
+nor to go too far off because of the stream.</p>
+
+<p>The third day, in the morning, the wind having
+abated over-night, the sea was calm, and I ventured:
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page177" id="page177"></a>[pg 177]</span>
+but I am a warning piece again to all rash and ignorant
+pilots; for no sooner was I come to the point,
+when I was not even my boat's length from the
+shore, but I found myself in a great depth of water,
+and a current like the sluice of a mill; it carried
+my boat along with it with such violence, that all I
+could do could not keep her so much as on the
+edge of it; but I found it hurried me farther and
+farther out from the eddy, which was on my left
+hand. There was no wind stirring to help me, and
+all I could do with my paddles signified nothing:
+and now I began to give myself over for lost; for as
+the current was on both sides of the island, I knew
+in a few leagues distance they must join again, and
+then I was irrecoverably gone; nor did I see any
+possibility of avoiding it; so that I had no prospect
+before me but of perishing, not by the sea, for that
+was calm enough, but of starving for hunger. I
+had indeed found a tortoise on the shore, as big
+almost as I could lift, and had tossed it into the
+boat; and I had a great jar of fresh water, that is
+to say, one of my earthen pots; but what was all
+this to being driven into the vast ocean, where, to
+be sure, there was no shore, no main land or island,
+for a thousand leagues at least?</p>
+
+<p>And now I saw how easy it was for the providence
+of God to make even the most miserable condition
+of mankind worse. Now I looked back upon my
+desolate solitary island, as the most pleasant place
+in the world; and all the happiness my heart could
+wish for was to be but there again. I stretched out
+my hands to it, with eager wishes: "O happy
+desert!" said I, "I shall never see thee more. O
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page178" id="page178"></a>[pg 178]</span>
+miserable creature! whither am I going!" Then I
+reproached myself with my unthankful temper, and
+how I had repined at my solitary condition; and
+now what would I give to be on shore there again!
+Thus we never see the true state of our condition
+till it is illustrated to us by its contraries, nor know
+how to value what we enjoy, but by the want of it.
+It is scarce possible to imagine the consternation I
+was now in, being driven from my beloved island
+(for so it appeared to me now to be) into the wide
+ocean, almost two leagues, and in the utmost despair
+of ever recovering it again. However, I worked
+hard, till indeed my strength was almost exhausted,
+and kept my boat as much to the northward, that is,
+towards the side of the current which the eddy lay
+on, as possibly I could; when about noon, as the
+sun passed the meridian, I thought I felt a little
+breeze of wind in my face, springing up from S.S.E.
+This cheered my heart a little, and especially when,
+in about half an hour more, it blew a pretty gentle
+gale. By this time I was got at a frightful distance
+from the island, and had the least cloudy or hazy
+weather intervened, I had been undone another way
+too; for I had no compass on board, and should
+never have known how to have steered towards the
+island, if I had but once lost sight of it; but the
+weather continuing clear, I applied myself to get up
+my mast again, and spread my sail, standing away
+to the north as much as possible, to get out of the
+current.</p>
+
+<p>Just as I had set my mast and sail, and the boat
+began to stretch away, I saw even by the clearness
+of the water some alteration of the current was
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page179" id="page179"></a>[pg 179]</span>
+near; for where the current was so strong, the
+water was foul; but perceiving the water clear,
+I found the current abate; and presently I found to
+the east, at about half a mile, a breach of the sea
+upon some rocks: these rocks I found caused the
+current to part again, and as the main stress of it
+ran away more southerly, leaving the rocks to the
+north-east, so the other returned by the repulse of
+the rocks, and made a strong eddy, which ran back
+again to the north-west, with a very sharp stream.</p>
+
+<p>They who know what it is to have a reprieve
+brought to them upon the ladder, or to be rescued
+from thieves just going to murder them, or who
+have been in such-like extremities, may guess what
+my present surprise of joy was, and how gladly I
+put my boat into the stream of this eddy; and the
+wind also freshening, how gladly I spread my sail
+to it, running cheerfully before the wind, and with
+a strong tide or eddy under foot.</p>
+
+<p>This eddy carried me about a league in my way
+back again, directly towards the island, but about
+two leagues more to the northward than the current
+which carried me away at first: so that when I
+came near the island, I found myself open to the
+northern shore of it, that is to say, the other end of
+the island, opposite to that which I went out from.</p>
+
+<p>When I had made something more than a league
+of way by the help of this current or eddy, I found
+it was spent, and served me no farther. However,
+I found that being between two great currents, viz.
+that on the south side, which had hurried me away,
+and that on the north, which lay about a league on
+the other side; I say, between these two, in the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page180" id="page180"></a>[pg 180]</span>
+wake of the island, I found the water at least still,
+and running no way; and having still a breeze of
+wind fair for me, I kept on steering directly for the
+island, though not making such fresh way as I did
+before.</p>
+
+<p>About four o'clock in the evening, being then
+within a league of the island, I found the point of
+the rocks which occasioned this disaster, stretching
+out, as is described before, to the southward, and
+casting off the current more southerly, had, of
+course, made another eddy to the north, and this I
+found very strong, but not directly setting the way
+my course lay, which was due west, but almost full
+north. However, having a fresh gale, I stretched
+across this eddy, slanting north-west: and, in about
+an hour, came within about a mile of the shore,
+where, it being smooth water, I soon got to land.</p>
+
+<p>When I was on shore, I fell on my knees, and
+gave God thanks for my deliverance, resolving to
+lay aside all thoughts of my deliverance by my
+boat; and refreshing myself with such things as I
+had, I brought my boat close to the shore, in a little
+cove that I had spied under some trees, and laid
+me down to sleep, being quite spent with the labour
+and fatigue of the voyage.</p>
+
+<p>I was now at a great loss which way to get home
+with my boat: I had run so much hazard, and
+knew too much of the case, to think of attempting
+it by the way I went out; and what might be at the
+other side (I mean the west side) I knew not, nor
+had I any mind to run any more ventures; so I only
+resolved in the morning to make my way westward
+along the shore, and to see if there was no creek
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page181" id="page181"></a>[pg 181]</span>
+where I might lay up my frigate in safety, so as to
+have her again, if I wanted her. In about three
+miles, or thereabouts, coasting the shore, I came to
+a very good inlet or bay, about a mile over, which
+narrowed till it came to a very little rivulet or brook,
+where I found a very convenient harbour for my
+boat, and where she lay as if she had been in a little
+dock made on purpose for her. Here I put in, and
+having stowed my boat very safe, I went on shore,
+to look about me, and see where I was.</p>
+
+<p>I soon found I had but a little passed by the place
+where I had been before, when I travelled on foot to
+that shore; so taking nothing out of my boat but
+my gun and umbrella, for it was exceeding hot, I
+began my march. The way was comfortable enough
+after such a voyage as I had been upon, and I reached
+my old bower in the evening, where I found every
+thing standing as I left it; for I always kept it in
+good order, being, as I said before, my country
+house.</p>
+
+<p>I got over the fence, and laid me down in the
+shade, to rest my limbs, for I was very weary, and
+fell asleep: but judge you, if you can, that read my
+story, what a surprise I must be in, when I was
+awaked out of my sleep by a voice, calling me by my
+name several times, "Robin, Robin, Robin Crusoe;
+poor Robin Crusoe! Where are you, Robin Crusoe?
+Where are you? Where have you been!"</p>
+
+<p>I was so dead asleep at first, being fatigued with
+rowing, or paddling, as it is called, the first part of
+the day, and with walking the latter part, that I did
+not wake thoroughly; but dozing between sleeping
+and waking, thought I dreamed that somebody spoke
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page182" id="page182"></a>[pg 182]</span>
+to me; but as the voice continued to repeat Robin
+Crusoe, Robin Crusoe, at last I began to wake more
+perfectly, and was at first dreadfully frightened,
+and started up in the utmost consternation; but no
+sooner were my eyes open, but I saw my Pol sitting
+on the top of the hedge; and immediately knew it
+was he that spoke to me; for just in such bemoaning
+language I had used to talk to him, and teach
+him; and he had learned it so perfectly, that he
+would sit upon my finger, and lay his bill close to
+my face, and cry, "Poor Robin Crusoe! Where are
+you? Where have you been? How came you here?"
+and such things as I had taught him.</p>
+
+<p>However, even though I knew it was the parrot,
+and that indeed it could be nobody else, it was a
+good while before I could compose myself. First, I
+was amazed how the creature got thither, and then,
+how he should just keep about the place, and no
+where else: but as I was well satisfied it could be
+nobody but honest Pol, I got over it; and holding
+out my hand, and calling him by his name, Pol,
+the sociable creature came to me, and sat upon my
+thumb, as he used to do and continued talking to
+me, Poor Robin Crusoe! and how did I come here?
+and where had I been? just as if he had been overjoyed
+to see me again: and so I carried him home
+along with me.</p>
+
+<p>I now had enough of rambling to sea for some
+time, and had enough to do for many days, to sit
+still, and reflect upon the danger I had been in.
+I would have been very glad to have had my boat
+again on my side of the island; but I knew not
+how it was practicable to get it about. As to the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page183" id="page183"></a>[pg 183]</span>
+east side of the island, which I had gone round, I
+knew well enough there was no venturing that way;
+my very heart would shrink, and my very blood run
+chill, but to think of it; and as to the other side
+of the island, I did not know how it might be there;
+but supposing the current ran with the same force
+against the shore at the east as it passed by it on
+the other, I might run the same risk of being driven
+down the stream, and carried by the island, as I had
+been before of being carried away from it; so, with
+these thoughts, I contented myself to be without
+any boat, though it had been the product of so
+many months' labour to make it, and of so many
+more to get it into the sea.</p>
+
+<p>In this government of my temper I remained near
+a year, lived a very sedate, retired life, as you may
+well suppose; and my thoughts being very much
+composed, as to my condition, and fully comforted
+in resigning myself to the dispositions of Providence,
+I thought I lived really very happily in all
+things, except that of society.</p>
+
+<p>I improved myself in this time in all the mechanic
+exercises which my necessities put me upon applying
+myself to; and I believe I could, upon occasion,
+have made a very good carpenter, especially considering
+how few tools I had.</p>
+
+<p>Besides this, I arrived at an unexpected perfection
+in my earthen-ware, and contrived well enough
+to make them with a wheel, which I found infinitely
+easier and better; because I made things round and
+shapable, which before were filthy things indeed to
+look on. But I think I was never more vain of my
+own performance, or more joyful for any thing I
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page184" id="page184"></a>[pg 184]</span>
+found out, than for my being able to make a tobacco-pipe;
+and though it was a very ugly clumsy thing
+when it was done, and only burnt red, like other
+earthen-ware, yet as it was hard and firm, and would
+draw the smoke, I was exceedingly comforted with
+it, for I had been always used to smoke: and there
+were pipes in the ship, but I forgot them at first,
+not thinking that there was tobacco in the island;
+and afterwards, when I searched the ship again, I
+could not come at any pipes at all.</p>
+
+<p>In my wicker-ware also I improved much, and
+made abundance of necessary baskets, as well as
+my invention showed me; though not very handsome,
+yet they were such as were very handy and
+convenient for my laying things up in, or fetching
+things home. For example, if I killed a goat abroad,
+I could hang it up in a tree, flay it, dress it, and cut
+it in pieces, and bring it home in a basket; and the
+like by a turtle: I could cut it up, take out the
+eggs, and a piece or two of the flesh, which was
+enough for me, and bring them home in a basket,
+and leave the rest behind me. Also large deep
+baskets were the receivers of my corn, which I
+always rubbed out as soon as it was dry, and cured,
+and kept it in great baskets.</p>
+
+<p>I began now to perceive my powder abated considerably;
+this was a want which it was impossible
+for me to supply, and I began seriously to consider
+what I must do when I should have no more powder;
+that is to say, how I should do to kill any
+goats. I had, as is observed, in the third year of
+my being here, kept a young kid, and bred her up
+tame, and I was in hopes of getting a he-goat: but
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page185" id="page185"></a>[pg 185]</span>
+I could not by any means bring it to pass, till my
+kid grew an old goat; and as I could never find in
+my heart to kill her, she died at last of mere age.</p>
+
+<p>But being now in the eleventh year of my residence,
+and, as I have said, my ammunition growing
+low, I set myself to study some art to trap and snare
+the goats, to see whether I could not catch some of
+them alive; and particularly, I wanted a she-goat
+great with young. For this purpose, I made snares
+to hamper them; and I do believe they were more
+than once taken in them; but my tackle was not
+good, for I had no wire, and I always found them
+broken, and my bait devoured. At length I resolved
+to try a pitfall: so I dug several large pits in the
+earth, in places where I had observed the goats
+used to feed, and over those pits I placed hurdles,
+of my own making too, with a great weight upon
+them; and several times I put ears of barley and
+dry rice, without setting the trap; and I could easily
+perceive that the goats had gone in and eaten up
+the corn, for I could see the marks of their feet.
+At length I set three traps in one night, and going
+the next morning, I found them all standing, and
+yet the bait eaten and gone; this was very discouraging.
+However, I altered my traps; and, not
+to trouble you with particulars, going one morning
+to see my traps, I found in one of them a large old
+he-goat, and in one of the others three kids, a male
+and two females.</p>
+
+<p>As to the old one, I knew not what to do with
+him; he was so fierce, I durst not go into the pit
+to him; that is to say, to go about to bring him
+away alive, which was what I wanted: I could have
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page186" id="page186"></a>[pg 186]</span>
+killed him, but that was not my business, nor would
+it answer my end; so I even let him out, and he
+ran away, as if he had been frightened out of his
+wits. But I did not then know what I afterwards
+learnt, that hunger will tame a lion. If I had let
+him stay there three or four days without food, and
+then have carried him some water to drink, and
+then a little corn, he would have been as tame as
+one of the kids; for they are mighty sagacious,
+tractable creatures, where they are well used.</p>
+
+<p>However, for the present I let him go, knowing
+no better at that time: then I went to the three
+kids, and taking them one by one, I tied them with
+strings together, and with some difficulty brought
+them all home.</p>
+
+<p>It was a good while before they would feed; but
+throwing them some sweet corn, it tempted them,
+and they began to be tame. And now I found that
+if I expected to supply myself with goat's flesh
+when I had no powder or shot left, breeding some
+up tame was my only way; when, perhaps, I might
+have them about my house like a flock of sheep.
+But then it occurred to me, that I must keep the
+tame from the wild, or else they would always run
+wild when they grew up: and the only way for this
+was, to have some enclosed piece of ground, well
+fenced, either with hedge or pale, to keep them in
+so effectually, that those within might not break
+out, or those without break in.</p>
+
+<p>This was a great undertaking for one pair of
+hands; yet as I saw there was an absolute necessity
+for doing it, my first work was to find out a proper
+piece of ground, where there was likely to be
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page187" id="page187"></a>[pg 187]</span>
+herbage for them to eat, water for them to drink,
+and cover to keep them from the sun.</p>
+
+<p>Those who understand such enclosures will think
+I had very little contrivance, when I pitched upon
+a place very proper for all these (being a plain open
+piece of meadow land, or savannah, as our people
+call it in the western colonies,) which had two or
+three little drills of fresh water in it, and at one
+end was very woody; I say, they will smile at my
+forecast, when I shall tell them, I began my enclosing
+this piece of ground in such a manner, that
+my hedge or pale must have been at least two miles
+about. Nor was the madness of it so great as to
+the compass, for if it was ten miles about, I was
+like to have time enough to do it in; but I did not
+consider that my goats would be as wild in so much
+compass as if they had had the whole island, and
+I should have so much room to chase them in, that
+I should never catch them.</p>
+
+<p>My hedge was begun and carried on, I believe
+about fifty yards, when this thought occurred to
+me; so I presently stopped short, and, for the first
+beginning, I resolved to enclose a piece of about
+150 yards in length, and 100 yards in breadth;
+which, as it would maintain as many as I should
+have in any reasonable time, so, as my stock increased,
+I could add more ground to my enclosure.</p>
+
+<p>This was acting with some prudence, and I went
+to work with courage. I was about three months
+hedging in the first piece; and, till I had done it,
+I tethered the three kids in the best part of it, and
+used them to feed as near me as possible, to make
+them familiar; and very often I would go and carry
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page188" id="page188"></a>[pg 188]</span>
+them some ears of barley, or a handful of rice, and
+feed them out of my hand: so that after my enclosure
+was finished, and I let them loose, they would
+follow me up and down, bleating after me for a
+handful of corn.</p>
+
+<p>This answered my end; and in about a year and
+a half I had a flock of about twelve goats, kids and
+all; and in two years more, I had three and forty,
+besides several that I took and killed for my food.
+After that I enclosed five several pieces of ground
+to feed them in, with little pens to drive them into,
+to take them as I wanted, and gates out of one piece
+of ground into another.</p>
+
+<p>But this was not all; for now I not only had
+goat's flesh to feed on when I pleased, but milk too;
+a thing which, indeed, in the beginning, I did not
+so much as think of, and which, when it came into
+my thoughts, was really an agreeable surprise: for
+now I set up my dairy, and had sometimes a gallon
+or two of milk in a day. And as nature, who gives
+supplies of food to every creature, dictates even
+naturally how to make use of it, so I, that had never
+milked a cow, much less a goat, or seen butter or
+cheese made, only when I was a boy, after a great
+many essays and miscarriages, made me both butter
+and cheese at last, and also salt (though I found it
+partly made to my hand by the heat of the sun upon
+some of the rocks of the sea,) and never wanted it
+afterwards. How mercifully can our Creator treat
+his creatures, even in those conditions in which they
+seemed to be overwhelmed in destruction! How
+can he sweeten the bitterest providences, and give
+us cause to praise him for dungeons and prisons!
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page189" id="page189"></a>[pg 189]</span>
+What a table was here spread for me in a wilderness,
+where I saw nothing, at first, but to perish for
+hunger!</p>
+
+<p>It would have made a stoic smile, to have seen
+me and my little family sit down to dinner: there
+was my majesty, the prince and lord of the whole
+island; I had the lives of all my subjects at my
+absolute command; I could hang, draw, give liberty,
+and take it away; and no rebels among all my subjects.
+Then to see how like a king I dined too, all
+alone, attended by my servants! Pol, as if he had
+been my favourite, was the only person permitted
+to talk to me. My dog, who was now grown very
+old and crazy, and had found no species to multiply
+his kind upon, sat always at my right hand; and
+two cats, one on one side of the table, and one on
+the other, expecting now and then a bit from my
+hand, as a mark of special favour.</p>
+
+<p>But these were not the two cats which I brought
+on shore at first, for they were both of them dead,
+and had been interred near my habitation by my
+own hand; but one of them having multiplied by I
+know not what kind of creature, these were two
+which I had preserved tame; whereas the rest run
+wild in the woods, and became indeed troublesome
+to me at last; for they would often come into my
+house, and plunder me too, till at last I was obliged
+to shoot them, and did kill a great many; at length
+they left me.&mdash;With this attendance, and in this
+plentiful manner, I lived; neither could I be said
+to want any thing but society: and of that, some
+time after this, I was like to have too much.</p>
+
+<p>I was something impatient, as I have observed,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page190" id="page190"></a>[pg 190]</span>
+to have the use of my boat, though very loth to run
+any more hazards; and therefore sometimes I sat
+contriving ways to get her about the island, and at
+other times I sat myself down contented enough
+without her. But I had a strange uneasiness in my
+mind to go down to the point of the island, where,
+as I have said, in my last ramble, I went up the hill
+to see how the shore lay, and how the current set,
+that I might see what I had to do: this inclination
+increased upon me every day, and at length I resolved
+to travel thither by land, following the edge
+of the shore. I did so; but had any one in England
+been to meet such a man as I was, it must
+either have frightened him, or raised a great deal
+of laughter: and as I frequently stood still to look
+at myself, I could not but smile at the notion of my
+travelling through Yorkshire, with such an equipage,
+and in such a dress. Be pleased to take a sketch
+of my figure, as follows:</p>
+
+<p>I had a great high shapeless cap, made of a goat's
+skin, with a flap hanging down behind, as well to
+keep the sun from me as to shoot the rain off from
+running into my neck: nothing being so hurtful in
+these climates as the rain upon the flesh, under the
+clothes.</p>
+
+<p>I had a short jacket of goat's skin, the skirts
+coming down to about the middle of the thighs,
+and a pair of open-kneed breeches of the same; the
+breeches were made of the skin of an old he-goat,
+whose hair hung down such a length on either side,
+that, like pantaloons, it reached to the middle of
+my legs; stockings and shoes I had none, but had
+made me a pair of somethings, I scarce know what
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page191" id="page191"></a>[pg 191]</span>
+to call them, like buskins, to flap over my legs,
+and lace on either side like spatterdashes: but of
+a most barbarous shape, as inded were all the rest
+of my clothes.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width:35%;"><a href="images/191.jpg"><img width = "100%" src="images/191.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
+
+<p>I had on a broad belt of goat's skin dried, which
+I drew together with two thongs of the same, instead
+of buckles; and in a kind of a frog on either side
+of this, instead of a sword and dagger, hung a little
+saw and a hatchet; one on one side, and one on
+the other. I had another belt, not so broad, and
+fastened in the same manner, which hung over my
+shoulder; and at the end of it, under my left arm,
+hung two pouches, both made of goat's skin too;
+in one of which hung my powder, in the other my
+shot. At my back I carried my basket, and on my
+shoulder my gun; and over my head a great clumsy
+ugly goat's skin umbrella, but which, after all, was
+the most necessary thing I had about me, next to
+my gun. As for my face, the colour of it was really
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page192" id="page192"></a>[pg 192]</span>
+not so mulatto-like as one might expect from a man
+not at all careful of it, and living within nine or
+ten degrees of the equinox. My beard I had once
+suffered to grow till it was about a quarter of a
+yard long; but as I had both scissars and razors
+sufficient, I had cut it pretty short, except what
+grew on my upper lip, which I had trimmed into a
+large pair of Mahometan whiskers, such as I had
+seen worn by some Turks at Sallee; for the Moors
+did not wear such, though the Turks did: of these
+mustachios or whiskers, I will not say they were long
+enough to hang my hat upon them, but they were
+of a length and shape monstrous enough, and such
+as, in England, would have passed for frightful.</p>
+
+<p>But all this is by the bye; for, as to my figure,
+I had so few to observe me that it was of no manner
+of consequence; so I say no more to that part. In
+this kind of figure I went my new journey, and was
+out five or six days. I travelled first along the sea-shore,
+directly to the place where I first brought
+my boat to an anchor, to get upon the rocks; and
+having no boat now to take care of, I went over the
+land, a nearer way, to the same height that I was upon
+before; when looking forward to the point of the
+rocks which lay out, and which I was obliged to
+double with my boat, as is said above, I was surprised
+to see the sea all smooth and quiet; no rippling,
+no motion, no current, any more there than
+in any other places. I was at a strange loss to understand
+this, and resolved to spend some time in
+the observing it, to see if nothing from the sets of
+the tide had occasioned it; but I was presently convinced
+how it was, viz. that the tide of ebb setting
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page193" id="page193"></a>[pg 193]</span>
+from the west, and joining with the current of
+waters, from some great river on the shore, must
+be the occasion of this current; and that according
+as the wind blew more forcibly from the west, or
+from the north, this current came nearer, or went
+farther from the shore; for waiting thereabouts till
+evening, I went up to the rock again, and then the
+tide of ebb being made, I plainly saw the current
+again as before, only that it ran farther off, being
+near half a league from the shore; whereas in my
+case, it set close upon the shore, and hurried me
+and my canoe along with it; which, at another
+time, it would not have done.</p>
+
+<p>This observation convinced me, that I had nothing
+to do but to observe the ebbing and the flowing of
+the tide, and I might very easily bring my boat
+about the island again: but when I began to think
+of putting it in practice, I had such a terror upon
+my spirits at the remembrance of the danger I had
+been in, that I could not think of it again with any
+patience; but, on the contrary, I took up another
+resolution, which was more safe, though more laborious;
+and this was, that I would build, or rather
+make me another periagua or canoe; and so have
+one for one side of the island, and one for the
+other.</p>
+
+<p>You are to understand, that now I had, as I may
+call it, two plantations in the island; one, my little
+fortification or tent, with the wall about it, under
+the rock, with the cave behind me, which, by this
+time, I had enlarged into several apartments or
+caves, one within another. One of these, which was
+the driest and largest, and had a door out beyond
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page194" id="page194"></a>[pg 194]</span>
+my wall or fortification, that is to say, beyond
+where my wall joined to the rock, was all filled up
+with the large earthen pots, of which I have given
+an account, and with fourteen or fifteen great baskets,
+which would hold five or six bushels each, where I
+laid up my stores of provision, especially my corn,
+some in the ear, cut off short from the straw, and
+the other rubbed out with my hand.</p>
+
+<p>As for my wall, made, as before, with long stakes
+or piles, those piles grew all like trees, and were by
+this time grown so big, and spread so very much,
+that there was not the least appearance, to any one's
+view, of any habitation behind them.</p>
+
+<p>Near this dwelling of mine, but a little farther
+within the land, and upon lower ground, lay my two
+pieces of corn land, which I kept duly cultivated
+and sowed, and which duly yielded me their harvest
+in its season: and whenever I had occasion for more
+corn, I had more land adjoining as fit as that.</p>
+
+<p>Besides this, I had my country seat; and I had
+now a tolerable plantation there also: for, first, I
+had my little bower, as I called it, which I kept in
+repair; that is to say, I kept the hedge which encircled
+it in constantly fitted up to its usual height,
+the ladder standing always in the inside: I kept the
+trees, which at first were no more than my stakes,
+but were now grown very firm and tall, always cut
+so, that they might spread and grow thick and wild,
+and make the more agreeable shade; which they
+did effectually to my mind. In the middle of this
+I had my tent always standing, being a piece of a
+sail spread over poles, set up for that purpose, and
+which never wanted any repair or renewing; and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page195" id="page195"></a>[pg 195]</span>
+under this I had made me a squab or couch, with
+the skins of the creatures I had killed, and with
+other soft things; and a blanket laid on them, such
+as belonged to our sea-bedding, which I had saved,
+and a great watch-coat to cover me; and here,
+whenever I had occasion to be absent from my chief
+seat, I took up my country habitation.</p>
+
+<p>Adjoining to this I had my enclosures for my cattle,
+that is to say, my goats; and as I had taken an
+inconceivable deal of pains to fence and enclose
+this ground, I was so anxious to see it kept entire,
+lest the goats should break through, that I never
+left off, till, with infinite labour, I had stuck the
+outside of the hedge so full of small stakes, and so
+near to one another, that it was rather a pale than a
+hedge, and there was scarce room to put a hand
+through between them; which afterwards, when
+those stakes grew, as they all did in the next rainy
+season, made the enclosure strong like a wall,&mdash;indeed,
+stronger than any wall.</p>
+
+<p>This will testify for me that I was not idle, and
+that I spared no pains to bring to pass whatever
+appeared necessary for my comfortable support;
+for I considered the keeping up a breed of tame
+creatures thus at my hand would be a living magazine
+of flesh, milk, butter, and cheese for me as
+long as I lived in the place, if it were to be forty
+years; and that keeping them in my reach depended
+entirely upon my perfecting my enclosures to such
+a degree, that I might be sure of keeping them together;
+which, by this method, indeed, I so effectually
+secured, that when these little stakes began
+to grow, I had planted them so very thick, that I
+was forced to pull some of them up again.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page196" id="page196"></a>[pg 196]</span>
+
+<p>In this place also I had my grapes growing, which
+I principally depended on for my winter store of
+raisins, and which I never failed to preserve very
+carefully, as the best and most agreeable dainty of
+my whole diet: and indeed they were not only
+agreeable, but medicinal, wholesome, nourishing,
+and refreshing to the last degree.</p>
+
+<p>As this was also about half-way between my other
+habitation and the place where I had laid up my
+boat, I generally stayed and lay here in my way
+thither; for I used frequently to visit my boat; and
+I kept all things about, or belonging to her, in very
+good order: sometimes I went out in her to divert
+myself, but no more hazardous voyages would I go,
+nor scarce ever above a stone's cast or two from the
+shore, I was so apprehensive of being hurried out
+of my knowledge again by the currents or winds, or
+any other accident. But now I come to a new
+scene of my life.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width:35%;"><a href="images/197.jpg"><img width = "100%" src="images/197.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
+
+<p>It happened one day, about noon, going towards
+my boat, I was exceedingly surprised with the print
+of a man's naked foot on the shore, which was very
+plain to be seen in the sand. I stood like one thunder-struck,
+or as if I had seen an apparition; I listened,
+I looked round me, but I could hear nothing,
+nor see any thing; I went up to a rising ground,
+to look farther; I went up the shore, and down
+the shore, but it was all one; I could see no other
+impression but that one. I went to it again to see
+if there were any more, and to observe if it might
+not be my fancy; but there was no room for that,
+for there was exactly the print of a foot, toes, heel,
+and every part of a foot: how it came thither I
+knew not, nor could I in the least imagine; but,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page197" id="page197"></a>[pg 197]</span>
+after innumerable fluttering thoughts, like a man
+perfectly confused and out of myself, I came home
+to my fortification, not feeling, as we say, the
+ground I went on, but terrified to the last degree:
+looking behind me at every two or three steps, mistaking
+every bush and tree, and fancying every
+stump at a distance to be a man. Nor is it possible
+to describe how many various shapes my affrighted
+imagination represented things to me in, how many
+wild ideas were found every moment in my fancy,
+and what strange unaccountable whimsies came into
+my thoughts by the way.</p>
+
+<p>When I came to my castle (for so I think I called
+it ever after this,) I fled into it like one pursued;
+whether I went over by the ladder, as first contrived,
+or went in at the hole in the rock, which I had
+called a door, I cannot remember; no, nor could I
+remember the next morning; for never frightened
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page198" id="page198"></a>[pg 198]</span>
+hare fled to cover, or fox to earth, with more terror
+of mind than I to this retreat.</p>
+
+<p>I slept none that night; the farther I was from
+the occasion of my fright, the greater my apprehensions
+were; which is something contrary to the
+nature of such things, and especially to the usual
+practice of all creatures in fear; but I was so embarrassed
+with my own frightful ideas of the thing,
+that I formed nothing but dismal imaginations to
+myself, even though I was now a great way off it.
+Sometimes I fancied it must be the Devil, and reason
+joined in with me upon this supposition; for how
+should any other thing in human shape come into
+the place? Where was the vessel that brought them?
+What marks were there of any other footsteps?
+And how was it possible a man should come there?
+But then to think that Satan should take human
+shape upon him in such a place, where there could
+be no manner of occasion for it, but to leave the
+print of his foot behind him, and that even for no
+purpose too, for he could not be sure I should see
+it,&mdash;this was an amusement the other way. I considered
+that the Devil might have found out abundance
+of other ways to have terrified me than this
+of the single print of a foot; that as I lived quite
+on the other side of the island, he would never have
+been so simple as to leave a mark in a place where
+it was ten thousand to one whether I should ever
+see it or not, and in the sand too, which the first
+surge of the sea, upon a high wind, would have defaced
+entirely: all this seemed inconsistent with
+the thing itself, and with all the notions we usually
+entertain of the subtilty of the Devil.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page199" id="page199"></a>[pg 199]</span>
+
+<p>Abundance of such things as these assisted to
+argue me out of all apprehensions of its being the
+Devil; and I presently concluded then, that it must
+be some more dangerous creature, viz. that it must
+be some of the savages of the main land over against
+me, who had wandered out to sea in their canoes,
+and either driven by the currents or by contrary
+winds, had made the island, and had been on shore,
+but were gone away again to sea; being as loth,
+perhaps, to have stayed in this desolate island as I
+would have been to have had them.</p>
+
+<p>While these reflections were rolling upon my
+mind, I was very thankful in my thoughts that I
+was so happy as not to be thereabouts at that time,
+or that they did not see my boat, by which they
+would have concluded that some inhabitants had
+been in the place, and perhaps have searched farther
+for me: then terrible thoughts racked my
+imagination about their having found my boat, and
+that there were people here; and that if so, I should
+certainly have them come again in greater numbers,
+and devour me; that if it should happen so that
+they should not find me, yet they would find my
+enclosure, destroy all my corn, and carry away all
+my flock of tame goats, and I should perish at last
+for mere want.</p>
+
+<p>Thus my fear banished all my religious hope, all
+that former confidence in God, which was founded
+upon such wonderful experience as I had had of
+his goodness, as if he that had fed me by miracle
+hitherto could not preserve, by his power, the provision
+which he had made for me by his goodness.
+I reproached myself with my laziness, that would
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page200" id="page200"></a>[pg 200]</span>
+not sow any more corn one year than would just
+serve me till the next season, as if no accident
+would intervene to prevent my enjoying the crop
+that was upon the ground; and this I thought so
+just a reproof, that I resolved for the future to
+have two or three years' corn beforehand; so that
+whatever might come, I might not perish for want
+of bread.</p>
+
+<p>How strange a chequer-work of Providence is
+the life of man! and by what secret different springs
+are the affections hurried about, as different circumstances
+present! To-day we love what to-morrow
+we hate; to-day we seek what to-morrow we
+shun; to-day we desire what to-morrow we fear,
+nay, even tremble at the apprehensions of; this was
+exemplified in me, at this time, in the most lively
+manner imaginable; for I, whose only affliction was
+that I seemed banished from human society, that I
+was alone, circumscribed by the boundless ocean,
+cut off from mankind, and condemned to what I
+called silent life; that I was as one whom Heaven
+thought not worthy to be numbered among the
+living, or to appear among the rest of his creatures;
+that to have seen one of my own species would
+have seemed to me a raising me from death to life,
+and the greatest blessing that Heaven itself, next
+to the supreme blessing of salvation, could bestow;
+I say, that I should now tremble at the very apprehensions
+of seeing a man, and was ready to sink
+into the ground at but the shadow or silent appearance
+of a man's having set his foot in the island.</p>
+
+<p>Such is the uneven state of human life; and it
+afforded me a great many curious speculations afterwards,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page201" id="page201"></a>[pg 201]</span>
+when I had a little recovered my first surprise.
+I considered that this was the station of life
+the infinitely wise and good providence of God had
+determined for me; that as I could not foresee what
+the ends of divine wisdom might be in all this, so I
+was not to dispute his sovereignty, who, as I was
+his creature, had an undoubted right, by creation,
+to govern and dispose of me absolutely as he thought
+fit; and who, as I was a creature that had offended
+him, had likewise a judicial right to condemn me
+to what punishment he thought fit; and that it was
+my part to submit to bear his indignation, because
+I had sinned against him. I then reflected, that as
+God, who was not only righteous, but omnipotent,
+had thought fit thus to punish and afflict me, so he
+was able to deliver me; that if he did not think fit
+to do so, it was my unquestioned duty to resign
+myself absolutely and entirely to his will; and, on
+the other hand, it was my duty also to hope in him,
+pray to him, and quietly to attend the dictates and
+directions of his daily providence.</p>
+
+<p>These thoughts took me up many hours, days,
+nay, I may say, weeks and months; and one particular
+effect of my cogitations on this occasion I
+cannot omit: One morning early, lying in my bed,
+and filled with thoughts about my danger from the
+appearances of savages, I found it discomposed me
+very much; upon which these words of the Scripture
+came into my thoughts, "Call upon me in the day
+of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt
+glorify me." Upon this, rising cheerfully out of
+my bed, my heart was not only comforted, but I
+was guided and encouraged to pray earnestly to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page202" id="page202"></a>[pg 202]</span>
+God for deliverance: when I had done praying, I
+took up my Bible, and opening it to read, the first
+words that presented to me were, "Wait on the
+Lord, and be of good cheer, and he shall strengthen
+thy heart; wait, I say, on the Lord." It is impossible
+to express the comfort this gave me. In answer,
+I thankfully laid down the book, and was no more
+sad, at least on that occasion.</p>
+
+<p>In the middle of these cogitations, apprehensions,
+and reflections, it came into my thoughts one day,
+that all this might be a mere chimera of my own,
+and that this foot might be the print of my own
+foot, when I came on shore from my boat: this
+cheered me up a little too, and I began to persuade
+myself it was all a delusion; that it was nothing
+else but my own foot: and why might I not come
+that way from the boat, as well as I was going that
+way to the boat? Again, I considered also, that I
+could by no means tell, for certain, where I had
+trod, and where I had not; and that if, at last, this
+was only the print of my own foot, I had played
+the part of those fools who try to make stories of
+spectres and apparitions, and then are frightened
+at them more than any body.</p>
+
+<p>Now I began to take courage, and to peep abroad
+again, for I had not stirred out of my castle for three
+days and nights, so that I began to starve for provisions;
+for I had little or nothing within doors but
+some barley-cakes and water: then I knew that my
+goats wanted to be milked too, which usually was
+my evening diversion; and the poor creatures were
+in great pain and inconvenience for want of it;
+and, indeed, it almost spoiled some of them, and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page203" id="page203"></a>[pg 203]</span>
+almost dried up their milk. Encouraging myself,
+therefore, with the belief that this was nothing but
+the print of one of my own feet, and that I might
+be truly said to start at my own shadow, I began to
+go abroad again, and went to my country-house to
+milk my flock: but to see with what fear I went
+forward, how often I looked behind me, how I was
+ready, every now and then, to lay down my basket,
+and run for my life, it would have made any one have
+thought I was haunted with an evil conscience, or
+that I had been lately most terribly frightened;
+and so, indeed, I had. However, as I went down
+thus two or three days, and having seen nothing, I
+began to be a little bolder, and to think there was
+really nothing in it but my own imagination; but I
+could not persuade myself fully of this till I should
+go down to the shore again, and see this print of a
+foot, and measure it by my own, and see if there
+was any similitude or fitness, that I might be assured
+it was my own foot: but when I came to the place,
+first, it appeared evidently to me, that when I laid
+up my boat, I could not possibly be on shore any
+where thereabouts: secondly, when I came to measure
+the mark with my own foot, I found my foot
+not so large by a great deal. Both these things
+filled my head with new imaginations, and gave me
+the vapours again to the highest degree, so that I
+shook with cold like one in an ague; and I went
+home again, filled with the belief that some man or
+men had been on shore there; or, in short, that the
+island was inhabited, and I might be surprised before
+I was aware; and what course to take for my
+security I knew not.</p>
+
+<p>O what ridiculous resolutions men take when
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page204" id="page204"></a>[pg 204]</span>
+possessed with fear! It deprives them of the use
+of those means which reason offers for their relief.
+The first thing I proposed to myself was, to throw
+down my enclosures, and turn all my tame cattle
+wild into the woods, lest the enemy should find
+them, and then frequent the island in prospect of
+the same or the like booty: then to the simple
+thing of digging up my two corn fields, lest they
+should find such a grain there, and still be prompted
+to frequent the island: then to demolish my bower
+and tent, that they might not see any vestiges of
+habitation, and be prompted to look farther, in
+order to find out the persons inhabiting.</p>
+
+<p>These were the subject of the first night's cogitataions
+after I was come home again, while the apprehensions
+which had so over-run my mind were fresh
+upon me, and my head was full of vapours, as above.
+Thus fear of danger is ten thousand times more
+terrifying than danger itself, when apparent to the
+eyes; and we find the burthen of anxiety greater,
+by much, than the evil which we are anxious about:
+and, which was worse than all this, I had not that
+relief in this trouble from the resignation I used to
+practise, that I hoped to have. I looked, I thought,
+like Saul, who complained not, only that the Philistines
+were upon him, but that God had forsaken
+him; for I did not now take due ways to compose
+my mind, by crying to God in my distress, and resting
+upon his providence, as I had done before, for
+my defence and deliverance; which, if I had done,
+I had at least been more cheerfully supported under
+this new surprise, and perhaps carried through it
+with more resolution.</p>
+
+<p>This confusion of my thoughts kept me awake
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page205" id="page205"></a>[pg 205]</span>
+all night; but in the morning I fell asleep; and
+having, by the amusement of my mind, been, as it
+were, tired, and my spirits exhausted, I slept very
+soundly, and waked much better composed than I
+had ever been before. And now I began to think
+sedately; and, upon the utmost debate with myself,
+I concluded that this island, which was so exceeding
+pleasant, fruitful, and no farther from the main
+land than as I had seen, was not so entirely abandoned
+as I might imagine; that although there were
+no stated inhabitants who lived on the spot, yet that
+there might sometimes come boats off from the
+shore, who, either with design, or perhaps never
+but when they were driven by cross winds, might
+come to this place; that I had lived here fifteen
+years now, and had not met with the least shadow
+or figure of any people yet; and that if at any time
+they should be driven here, it was probable they
+went away again as soon as ever they could, seeing
+they had never thought fit to fix here upon any
+occasion; that the most I could suggest any danger
+from, was from any casual accidental landing of
+straggling people from the main, who, as it was
+likely, if they were driven hither, were here against
+their wills, so they made no stay here, but went off
+again with all possible speed; seldom staying one
+night on shore, lest they should not have the help
+of the tides and daylight back again; and that,
+therefore, I had nothing to do but to consider of
+some safe retreat, in case I should see any savages
+land upon the spot.</p>
+
+<p>Now I began sorely to repent that I had dug my
+cave so large as to bring a door through again,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page206" id="page206"></a>[pg 206]</span>
+which door, as I said, came out beyond where my
+fortification joined to the rock: upon maturely considering
+this, therefore, I resolved to draw me a
+second fortification, in the same manner of a semi-circle,
+at a distance from my wall, just where I had
+planted a double row of trees about twelve years
+before, of which I made mention: these trees having
+been planted so thick before, they wanted but few
+piles to be driven between them, that they might be
+thicker and stronger, and my wall would be soon
+finished: so that I had now a double wall; and my
+outer wall was thickened with pieces of timber, old
+cables, and every thing I could think of, to make it
+strong; having in it seven little holes, about as big
+as I might put my arm out at. In the inside of
+this, I thickened my wall to about ten feet thick,
+with continually bringing earth out of my cave, and
+laying it at the foot of the wall, and walking upon
+it; and through the seven holes I contrived to plant
+the muskets, of which I took notice that I had got
+seven on shore out of the ship; these I planted like
+my cannon, and fitted them into frames, that held
+them like a carriage, so that I could fire all the
+seven guns in two minutes' time: this wall I was
+many a weary month in finishing, and yet never
+thought myself safe till it was done.</p>
+
+<p>When this was done, I stuck all the ground without
+my wall, for a great length every way, as full
+with stakes, or sticks, of the osier-like wood, which
+I found so apt to grow, as they could well stand;
+insomuch, that I believe I might set in near twenty
+thousand of them, leaving a pretty large space between
+them and my wall, that I might have room
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page207" id="page207"></a>[pg 207]</span>
+to see an enemy, and they might have no shelter
+from the young trees, if they attempted to approach
+my outer wall.</p>
+
+<p>Thus, in two years' time, I had a thick grove;
+and in five or six years' time I had a wood before
+my dwelling, growing so monstrous thick and strong,
+that it was indeed perfectly impassable; and no
+men, of what kind soever, would ever imagine that
+there was any thing beyond it, much less a habitation.
+As for the way which I proposed to myself
+to go in and out (for I left no avenue,) it was by
+setting two ladders, one to a part of the rock which
+was low, and then broke in, and left room to place
+another ladder upon that; so when the two ladders
+were taken down, no man living could come down
+to me without doing himself mischief; and if they
+had come down, they were still on the outside of
+my outer wall.</p>
+
+<p>Thus I took all the measures human prudence
+could suggest for my own preservation; and it will
+be seen, at length, that they were not altogether
+without just reason; though I foresaw nothing
+at that time more than my mere fear suggested to
+me.</p>
+
+<p>While this was doing, I was not altogether careless
+of my other affairs; for I had a great concern
+upon me for my little herd of goats; they were not
+only a ready supply to me on every occasion, and
+began to be sufficient for me, without the expense
+of powder and shot, but also without the fatigue of
+hunting after the wild ones; and I was loth to lose
+the advantage of them, and to have them all to
+nurse up over again.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page208" id="page208"></a>[pg 208]</span>
+
+<p>For this purpose, after long consideration, I could
+think of but two ways to preserve them: one was,
+to find another convenient place to dig a cave under
+ground, and to drive them into it every night; and
+the other was, to enclose two or three little bits of
+land, remote from one another, and as much concealed
+as I could, where I might keep about half a
+dozen young goats in each place; so that if any
+disaster happened to the flock in general, I might
+be able to raise them again with little trouble and
+time: and this, though it would require a great
+deal of time and labour, I thought was the most
+rational design.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, I spent some time to find out the
+most retired parts of the island; and I pitched
+upon one, which was as private, indeed, as my
+heart could wish for: it was a little damp piece of
+ground, in the middle of the hollow and thick
+woods, where, as is observed, I almost lost myself
+once before, endeavouring to come back that way
+from the eastern part of the island. Here I found
+a clear piece of land, near three acres, so surrounded
+with woods, that it was almost an enclosure
+by nature; at least, it did not want near so much
+labour to make it so as the other pieces of ground
+I had worked so hard at.</p>
+
+<p>I immediately went to work with this piece of
+ground, and in less than a month's time I had so
+fenced it round, that my flock, or herd, call it
+which you please, who were not so wild now as at
+first they might be supposed to be, were well enough
+secured in it: so, without any farther delay, I removed
+ten young she-goats and two he-goats to this
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page209" id="page209"></a>[pg 209]</span>
+piece; and when they were there, I continued to
+perfect the fence, till I had made it as secure as the
+other; which, however, I did at more leisure, and
+it took me up more time by a great deal. All this
+labour I was at the expense of, purely from my apprehensions
+on the account of the print of a man's
+foot which I had seen; for, as yet, I never saw any
+human creature come near the island; and I had
+now lived two years under this uneasiness, which,
+indeed, made my life much less comfortable than it
+was before, as may be well imagined by any who
+know what it is to live in the constant snare of the
+fear of man. And this I must observe, with grief
+too, that the discomposure of my mind had too
+great impressions also upon the religious part of my
+thoughts: for the dread and terror of falling into
+the hands of savages and cannibals lay so upon my
+spirits, that I seldom found myself in a due temper
+for application to my Maker, at least not with the
+sedate calmness and resignation of soul which I was
+wont to do: I rather prayed to God as under great
+affliction and pressure of mind, surrounded with
+danger, and in expectation every night of being
+murdered and devoured before morning; and I
+must testify from my experience, that a temper of
+peace, thankfulness, love, and affection, is much the
+more proper frame for prayer than that of terror
+and discomposure; and that under the dread of
+mischief impending, a man is no more fit for a comforting
+performance of the duty of praying to God,
+than he is for a repentance on a sick bed; for these
+discomposures affect the mind, as the others do the
+body; and the discomposure of the mind must
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page210" id="page210"></a>[pg 210]</span>
+necessarily be as great a disability as that of the
+body, and much greater; praying to God being
+properly an act of the mind, not of the body.</p>
+
+<p>But to go on: after I had thus secured one part
+of my little living stock, I went about the whole
+island, searching for another private place to make
+such another deposit; when, wandering more to the
+west point of the island than I had ever done yet,
+and looking out to sea, I thought I saw a boat upon
+the sea, at a great distance. I had found a perspective-glass
+or two in one of the seamen's chests,
+which I saved out of our ship, but I had it not about
+me; and this was so remote, that I could not tell
+what to make of it, though I looked at it till my
+eyes were not able to hold to look any longer:
+whether it was a boat or not, I do not know, but as
+I descended from the hill I could see no more of it;
+so I gave it over; only I resolved to go no more out
+without a perspective-glass in my pocket. When I
+was come down the hill to the end of the island,
+where, indeed, I had never been before, I was presently
+convinced that the seeing the print of a man's
+foot was not such a strange thing in the island as I
+imagined: and, but that it was a special providence
+that I was cast upon the side of the island where
+the savages never came, I should easily have known
+that nothing was more frequent than for the canoes
+from the main, when they happened to be a little
+too far out at sea, to shoot over to that side of the
+island for harbour: likewise, as they often met and
+fought in their canoes, the victors, having taken any
+prisoners, would bring them over to this shore,
+where, according to their dreadful customs, being
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page211" id="page211"></a>[pg 211]</span>
+all cannibals, they would kill and eat them; of
+which hereafter.</p>
+
+<p>When I was come down the hill to the shore, as I
+said above, being the S.W. point of the island, I was
+perfectly confounded and amazed; nor is it possible
+for me to express the horror of my mind, at seeing
+the shore spread with skulls, hands, feet, and other
+bones of human bodies; and particularly, I observed
+a place where there had been a fire made,
+and a circle dug in the earth, like a cock-pit, where
+I supposed the savage wretches had sat down to
+their inhuman feastings upon the bodies of their
+fellow creatures.</p>
+
+<p>I was so astonished with the sight of these things,
+that I entertained no notions of any danger to myself
+from it for a long while: all my apprehensions
+were buried in the thoughts of such a pitch of inhuman,
+hellish brutality, and the horror of the
+degeneracy of human nature, which, though I had
+heard of it often, yet I never had so near a view of
+before: in short, I turned away my face from the
+horrid spectacle; my stomach grew sick, and I was
+just at the point of fainting, when nature discharged
+the disorder from my stomach; and having vomited
+with uncommon violence, I was a little relieved,
+but could not bear to stay in the place a moment;
+so I got me up the hill again with all the speed I
+could, and walked on towards my own habitation.</p>
+
+<p>When I came a little out of that part of the
+island, I stood still awhile, as amazed, and then recovering
+myself, I looked up with the utmost affection
+of my soul, and, with a flood of tears in my
+eyes, gave God thanks, that had cast my first lot in
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page212" id="page212"></a>[pg 212]</span>
+a part of the world where I was distinguished from
+such dreadful creatures as these; and that, though
+I had esteemed my present condition very miserable,
+had yet given me so many comforts in it, that I
+had still more to give thanks for than to complain
+of: and this, above all, that I had, even in this
+miserable condition, been comforted with the knowledge
+of Himself, and the hope of His blessing;
+which was a felicity more than sufficiently equivalent
+to all the misery which I had suffered, or could
+suffer.</p>
+
+<p>In this frame of thankfulness, I went home to my
+castle, and began to be much easier now, as to the
+safety of my circumstances, than ever I was before:
+for I observed that these wretches never came to
+this island in search of what they could get; perhaps
+not seeking, not wanting, or not expecting,
+any thing here; and having often, no doubt, been
+up in the covered, woody part of it, without finding
+any thing to their purpose. I knew I had been here
+now almost eighteen years, and never saw the least
+footsteps of human creature there before; and I
+might be eighteen years more as entirely concealed
+as I was now, if I did not discover myself to them,
+which I had no manner of occasion to do; it being
+my only business to keep myself entirely concealed
+where I was, unless I found a better sort of creatures
+than cannibals to make myself known to.
+Yet I entertained such an abhorrence of the savage
+wretches that I have been speaking of, and of the
+wretched inhuman custom of their devouring and
+eating one another up, that I continued pensive and
+sad, and kept close within my own circle, for almost
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page213" id="page213"></a>[pg 213]</span>
+two years after this; when I say my own circle, I
+mean by it my three plantations, viz. my castle, my
+country-seat, which I called my bower, and my enclosure
+in the woods: nor did I look after this for
+any other use than as an enclosure for my goats;
+for the aversion which nature gave me to these
+hellish wretches was such, that I was as fearful of
+seeing them as of seeing the Devil himself. I did
+not so much as go to look after my boat all this
+time, but began rather to think of making me
+another; for I could not think of ever making any
+more attempts to bring the other boat round the
+island to me, lest I should meet with some of these
+creatures at sea; in which if I had happened to
+have fallen into their hands, I knew what would
+have been my lot.</p>
+
+<p>Time, however, and the satisfaction I had that I
+was in no danger of being discovered by these people,
+began to wear off my uneasiness about them;
+and I began to live just in the same composed manner
+as before; only with this difference, that I used
+more caution, and kept my eyes more about me,
+than I did before, lest I should happen to be seen
+by any of them; and particularly, I was more cautious
+of firing my gun, lest any of them being on
+the island should happen to hear it. It was therefore
+a very good providence to me that I had furnished
+myself with a tame breed of goats, and that
+I had no need to hunt any more about the woods,
+or shoot at them; and if I did catch any of them
+after this, it was by traps and snares, as I had done
+before: so that for two years after this, I believe I
+never fired my gun once off, though I never went
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page214" id="page214"></a>[pg 214]</span>
+out without it; and, which was more, as I had
+saved three pistols out of the ship, I always carried
+them out with me, or at least two of them, sticking
+them in my goat-skin belt. I also furbished up
+one of the great cutlasses that I had out of the ship,
+and made me a belt to hang it on also; so that I
+was now a most formidable fellow to look at when
+I went abroad, if you add to the former description
+of myself, the particular of two pistols, and a great
+broad-sword hanging at my side in a belt, but without
+a scabbard.</p>
+
+<p>Things going on thus, as I have said, for some
+time, I seemed, excepting these cautions, to be reduced
+to my former calm sedate way of living. All
+these things tended to show me, more and more,
+how far my condition was from being miserable,
+compared to some others; nay, to many other particulars
+of life, which it might have pleased God to
+have made my lot. It put me upon reflecting how
+little repining there would be among mankind at
+any condition of life, if people would rather compare
+their condition with those that were worse, in
+order to be thankful, than be always comparing
+them with those which are better, to assist their
+murmurings and complainings.</p>
+
+<p>As in my present condition there were not really
+many things which I wanted, so, indeed, I thought
+that the frights I had been in about these savage
+wretches, and the concern I had been in for my
+own preservation, had taken off the edge of my
+invention for my own conveniences; and I had
+dropped a good design, which I had once bent my
+thoughts too much upon, and that was, to try if I
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page215" id="page215"></a>[pg 215]</span>
+could not make some of my barley into malt, and
+then try to brew myself some beer. This was really
+a whimsical thought, and I reproved myself often
+for the simplicity of it; for I presently saw there
+would be the want of several things necessary to
+the making my beer, that it would be impossible
+for me to supply: as, first, casks to preserve it in,
+which was a thing that, as I have observed already,
+I could never compass; no, though I spent not only
+many days, but weeks, nay, months, in attempting
+it, but to no purpose. In the next place, I had no
+hops to make it keep, no yeast to make it work, no
+copper or kettle to make it boil; and yet, with all
+these things wanting, I verily believe, had not the
+frights and terrors I was in about the savages intervened,
+I had undertaken it, and perhaps brought it
+to pass too; for I seldom gave any thing over without
+accomplishing it, when once I had it in my
+head to begin it. But my invention now ran quite
+another way; for, night and day, I could think of
+nothing but how I might destroy some of these
+monsters in their cruel, bloody entertainment, and,
+if possible, save the victim they should bring hither
+to destroy. It would take up a larger volume than
+this whole work is intended to be, to set down all
+the contrivances I hatched, or rather brooded upon,
+in my thoughts, for the destroying these creatures,
+or at least frightening them so as to prevent their
+coming hither any more: but all this was abortive;
+nothing could be possible to take effect, unless I
+was to be there to do it myself: and what could one
+man do among them, when perhaps there might be
+twenty or thirty of them together, with their darts,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page216" id="page216"></a>[pg 216]</span>
+or their bows and arrows, with which they could
+shoot as true to a mark as I could with my gun?</p>
+
+<p>Sometimes I thought of digging a hole under the
+place where they made their fire, and putting in
+five or six pounds of gunpowder, which, when they
+kindled their fire, would consequently take fire,
+and blow up all that was near it: but as, in the first
+place, I should be unwilling to waste so much
+powder upon them, my store being now within the
+quantity of one barrel, so neither could I be sure
+of its going off at any certain time, when it might
+surprise them; and, at best, that it would do little
+more than just blow the fire about their ears, and
+fright them, but not sufficient to make them forsake
+the place: so I laid it aside; and then proposed
+that I would place myself in ambush in some convenient
+place, with my three guns all double-loaded,
+and, in the middle of their bloody ceremony, let
+fly at them, when I should be sure to kill or wound
+perhaps two or three at every shot; and then falling
+in upon them with my three pistols, and my sword,
+I made no doubt but that if there were twenty I
+should kill them all. This fancy pleased my thoughts
+for some weeks; and I was so full of it, that I often
+dreamed of it, and sometimes that I was just going
+to let fly at them in my sleep. I went so far with
+it in my imagination, that I employed myself several
+days to find out proper places to put myself in
+ambuscade, as I said, to watch for them; and I
+went frequently to the place itself, which was now
+grown more familiar to me: but while my mind was
+thus filled with thoughts of revenge, and a bloody
+putting twenty or thirty of them to the sword, as I
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page217" id="page217"></a>[pg 217]</span>
+may call it, the horror I had at the place, and at
+the signals of the barbarous wretches devouring
+one another, abetted my malice. Well, at length,
+I found a place in the side of the hill, where I was
+satisfied I might securely wait till I saw any of their
+boats coming: and might then, even before they
+would be ready to come on shore, convey myself,
+unseen, into some thickets of trees, in one of which
+there was a hollow large enough to conceal me entirely
+and there I might sit and observe all their
+bloody doings, and take my full aim at their heads,
+when they were so close together as that it would
+be next to impossible that I should miss my shot,
+or that I could fail wounding three or four of them
+at the first shot. In this place, then, I resolved to
+fix my design; and, accordingly, I prepared two
+muskets and my ordinary fowling-piece. The two
+muskets I loaded with a brace of slugs each, and
+four or five smaller bullets, about the size of pistol-bullets;
+and the fowling-piece I loaded with near a
+handful of swan-shot, of the largest size: I also
+loaded my pistols with about four bullets each; and
+in this posture, well provided with ammunition for
+a second and third charge, I prepared myself for
+my expedition.</p>
+
+<p>After I had thus laid the scheme of my design,
+and, in my imagination, put it in practice, I continually
+made my tour every morning up to the top
+of the hill, which was from my castle, as I called it,
+about three miles, or more, to see if I could observe
+any boats upon the sea, coming near the island, or
+standing over towards it: but I began to tire of
+this hard duty, after I had, for two or three months,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page218" id="page218"></a>[pg 218]</span>
+constantly kept my watch, but came always back
+without any discovery; there having not, in all that
+time, been the least appearance, not only on or
+near the shore, but on the whole ocean, so far as
+my eyes or glasses could reach every way.</p>
+
+<p>As long as I kept my daily tour to the hill to look
+out, so long also I kept up the vigour of my design,
+and my spirits seemed to be all the while in a suitable
+form for so outrageous an execution as the
+killing twenty or thirty naked savages, for an offence
+which I had not at all entered into a discussion of
+in my thoughts, any farther than my passions were
+at first fired by the horror I conceived at the unnatural
+custom of the people of that country; who,
+it seems, had been suffered by Providence, in his
+wise disposition of the world, to have no other guide
+than that of their own abominable and vitiated passions;
+and, consequently, were left, and perhaps
+had been so for some ages, to act such horrid things,
+and receive such dreadful customs, as nothing but
+nature, entirely abandoned by Heaven, and actuated
+by some hellish degeneracy, could have run them
+into. But now, when, as I have said, I began to be
+weary of the fruitless excursion which I had made
+so long and so far every morning in vain, so my
+opinion of the action itself began to alter; and I
+began, with cooler and calmer thoughts, to consider
+what I was going to engage in; what authority or
+call I had to pretend to be judge and executioner
+upon these men as criminals, whom Heaven had
+thought fit, for so many ages, to suffer, unpunished,
+to go on, and to be, as it were, the executioners of
+his judgments one upon another. How far these
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page219" id="page219"></a>[pg 219]</span>
+people were offenders against me, and what right I
+had to engage in the quarrel of that blood which
+they shed promiscuously upon one another, I debated
+this very often with myself, thus: How do I know
+what God himself judges in this particular case?
+It is certain these people do not commit this as a
+crime; it is not against their own consciences reproving,
+or their light reproaching them; they do
+not know it to be an offence, and then commit it in
+defiance of divine justice, as we do in almost all
+the sins we commit. They think it no more a crime
+to kill a captive taken in war, than we do to kill an
+ox; nor to eat human flesh, than we do to eat mutton.</p>
+
+<p>When I considered this a little, it followed necessarily
+that I was certainly in the wrong in it; that
+these people were not murderers in the sense that I
+had before condemned them in my thoughts, any
+more than those Christians were murderers who
+often put to death the prisoners taken in battle; or
+more frequently, upon many occasions, put whole
+troops of men to the sword, without giving quarter,
+though they threw down their arms and submitted.
+In the next place, it occurred to me, that although
+the usage they gave one another was thus brutish
+and inhuman, yet it was really nothing to me; these
+people had done me no injury: that if they attempted
+me, or I saw it necessary, for my immediate
+preservation, to fall upon them, something might be
+said for it; but that I was yet out of their power,
+and they really had no knowledge of me, and consequently
+no design upon me; and therefore it could
+not be just for me to fall upon them: that this would
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page220" id="page220"></a>[pg 220]</span>
+justify the conduct of the Spaniards in all their
+barbarities practised in America, where they destroyed
+millions of these people: who, however
+they were idolaters and barbarians, and had several
+bloody and barbarous rites in their customs, such as
+sacrificing human bodies to their idols, were yet, as
+to the Spaniards, very innocent people; and that
+the rooting them out of the country is spoken of
+with the utmost abhorrence and detestation by
+even the Spaniards themselves at this time, and
+by all other Christian nations in Europe, as a mere
+butchery, a bloody and unnatural piece of cruelty,
+unjustifiable either to God or man; and for which
+the very name of a Spaniard is reckoned to be
+frightful and terrible to all people of humanity, or
+of Christian compassion; as if the kingdom of Spain
+were particularly eminent for the produce of a race
+of men who were without principles of tenderness,
+or the common bowels of pity to the miserable,
+which is reckoned to be a mark of generous temper
+in the mind.</p>
+
+<p>These considerations really put me to a pause,
+and to a kind of a full stop; and I began, by little
+and little, to be off my design, and to conclude I
+had taken wrong measures in my resolution to attack
+the savages; and that it was not my business
+to meddle with them, unless they first attacked me;
+and this it was my business, if possible, to prevent;
+but that if I were discovered and attacked by them,
+I knew my duty. On the other hand, I argued with
+myself, that this really was the way not to deliver
+myself, but entirely to ruin and destroy myself; for
+unless I was sure to kill every one that not only
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page221" id="page221"></a>[pg 221]</span>
+should be on shore at that time, but that should
+ever come on shore afterwards, if but one of them
+escaped to tell their country-people what had happened,
+they would come over again by thousands to
+revenge the death of their fellows, and I should only
+bring upon myself a certain destruction, which, at
+present, I had no manner of occasion for. Upon
+the whole, I concluded, that neither in principle
+nor in policy, I ought, one way or other, to concern
+myself in this affair: that my business was, by all
+possible means, to conceal myself from them, and
+not to leave the least signal to them to guess by
+that there were any living creatures upon the island,
+I mean of human shape. Religion joined in with
+this prudential resolution; and I was convinced now,
+many ways, that I was perfectly out of my duty
+when I was laying all my bloody schemes for the
+destruction of innocent creatures, I mean innocent
+as to me. As to the crimes they were guilty of
+towards one another, I had nothing to do with them;
+they were national, and I ought to leave them to
+the justice of God, who is the governor of nations,
+and knows how, by national punishments, to make
+a just retribution for national offences, and to bring
+public judgments upon those who offend in a public
+manner, by such ways as best please him. This
+appeared so clear to me now, that nothing was a
+greater satisfaction to me than that I had not been
+suffered to do a thing which I now saw so much
+reason to believe would have been no less a sin than
+that of wilful murder, if I had committed it; and
+I gave most humble thanks on my knees to God,
+that had thus delivered me from blood-guiltiness;
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page222" id="page222"></a>[pg 222]</span>
+beseeching him to grant me the protection of his
+providence, that I might not fall into the hands of
+the barbarians, or that I might not lay my hands
+upon them, unless I had a more clear call from
+Heaven to do it, in defence of my own life.</p>
+
+<p>In this disposition I continued for near a year
+after this; and so far was I from desiring an occasion
+for falling upon these wretches, that in all that time
+I never once went up the hill to see whether there
+were any of them in sight, or to know whether any
+of them had been on shore there or not, that I might
+not be tempted to renew any of my contrivances
+against them, or be provoked, by any advantage
+which might present itself, to fall upon them: only
+this I did, I went and removed my boat, which I
+had on the other side of the island, and carried it
+down to the east end of the whole island, where I
+ran it into a little cove, which I found under some
+high rocks, and where I knew, by reason of the
+currents, the savages durst not, at least would not
+come, with their boats, upon any account whatever.
+With my boat I carried away every thing that I had
+left there belonging to her, though not necessary
+for the bare going thither, viz. a mast and sail which
+I had made for her, and a thing like an anchor, but
+which, indeed, could not be called either anchor or
+grapnel; however, it was the best I could make of
+its kind: all these I removed, that there might not
+be the least shadow of any discovery, or any appearance
+of any boat, or of any human habitation,
+upon the island. Besides this, I kept myself, as I
+said, more retired than ever, and seldom went from
+my cell, other than upon my constant employment,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page223" id="page223"></a>[pg 223]</span>
+viz. to milk my she-goats, and manage my little
+flock in the wood, which, as it was quite on the
+other part of the island, was quite out of danger;
+for certain it is, that these savage people, who
+sometimes haunted this island, never came with
+any thoughts of finding any thing here, and consequently
+never wandered off from the coast; and I
+doubt not but they might have been several times
+on shore after my apprehensions of them had made
+me cautious, as well as before. Indeed, I looked
+back with some horror upon the thoughts of what
+my condition would have been if I had chopped
+upon them and been discovered before that, when,
+naked and unarmed, except with one gun, and that
+loaded often only with small shot, I walked every
+where, peeping and peering about the island to see
+what I could get; what a surprise should I have
+been in, if, when I discovered the print of a man's
+foot, I had, instead of that, seen fifteen or twenty
+savages, and found them pursuing me, and by the
+swiftness of their running, no possibility of my escaping
+them! The thoughts of this sometimes sunk
+my very soul within me, and distressed my mind so
+much, that I could not soon recover it, to think
+what I should have done, and how I should not
+only have been unable to resist them, but even
+should not have had presence of mind enough to
+do what I might have done; much less what now,
+after so much consideration and preparation, I might
+be able to do. Indeed, after serious thinking of
+these things, I would be very melancholy, and sometimes
+it would last a great while; but I resolved it
+all, at last, into thankfulness to that Providence
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page224" id="page224"></a>[pg 224]</span>
+which had delivered me from so many unseen dangers,
+and had kept from me those mischiefs which
+I could have no way been the agent in delivering
+myself from, because I had not the least notion of
+any such thing depending, or the least supposition
+of its being possible. This renewed a contemplation
+which often had come to my thoughts in former
+time, when first I began to see the merciful dispositions
+of Heaven, in the dangers we run through
+in this life; how wonderfully we are delivered when
+we know nothing of it; how, when we are in a
+quandary, (as we call it) a doubt or hesitation,
+whether to go this way, or that way, a secret hint
+shall direct us this way, when we intended to go
+that way: nay, when sense, our own inclination, and
+perhaps business, has called to go the other way,
+yet a strange impression upon the mind, from we
+know not what springs, and by we know not what
+power, shall over-rule us to go this way; and it shall
+afterwards appear, that had we gone that way
+which we should have gone, and even to our imagination
+ought to have gone, we should have been
+ruined and lost. Upon these, and many like reflections,
+I afterwards made it a certain rule with me,
+that whenever I found those secret hints or pressings
+of mind, to doing or not doing any thing that presented,
+or going this way or that way, I never failed
+to obey the secret dictate; though I knew no other
+reason for it than that such a pressure, or such a
+hint, hung upon my mind. I could give many examples
+of the success of this conduct in the course
+of my life, but more especially in the latter part of
+my inhabiting this unhappy island; besides many
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page225" id="page225"></a>[pg 225]</span>
+occasions which it is very likely I might have taken
+notice of, if I had seen with the same eyes then
+that I see with now. But it is never too late to be
+wise; and I cannot but advise all considering men,
+whose lives are attended with such extraordinary
+incidents as mine, or even though not so extraordinary,
+not to slight such secret intimations of Providence,
+let them come from what invisible intelligence
+they will. That I shall not discuss, and perhaps
+cannot account for; but certainly they are a
+proof of the converse of spirits, and a secret communication
+between those embodied and those unembodied,
+and such a proof as can never be withstood;
+of which I shall have occasion to give some
+very remarkable instances in the remainder of my
+solitary residence in this dismal place.</p>
+
+<p>I believe the reader of this will not think it
+strange if I confess that these anxieties, these constant
+dangers I lived in, and the concern that was
+now upon me, put an end to all invention, and to
+all the contrivances that I had laid for my future
+accommodations and conveniences. I had the care
+of my safety more now upon my hands than that of
+my food. I cared not to drive a nail, or chop a stick
+of wood now, for fear the noise I might make should
+be heard: much less would I fire a gun, for the
+same reason: and, above all, I was intolerably uneasy
+at making any fire, lest the smoke, which is
+visible at a great distance in the day, should betray
+me. For this reason I removed that part of my
+business which required fire, such as burning of
+pots and pipes, &amp;c. into my new apartment in the
+woods; where, after I had been some time, I found,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page226" id="page226"></a>[pg 226]</span>
+to my unspeakable consolation, a mere natural cave
+in the earth, which went in a vast way, and where,
+I dare say, no savage, had he been at the mouth of
+it, would be so hardy as to venture in; nor, indeed,
+would any man else, but one who, like me, wanted
+nothing so much as a safe retreat.</p>
+
+<p>The mouth of this hollow was at the bottom of a
+great rock, where by mere accident (I would say, if
+I did not see abundant reason to ascribe all such
+things now to Providence,) I was cutting down some
+thick branches of trees to make charcoal; and before
+I go on, I must observe the reason of my making
+this charcoal, which was thus: I was afraid of making
+a smoke about my habitation, as I said before;
+and yet I could not live there without baking my
+bread, cooking my meat, &amp;c.; so I contrived to
+burn some wood here, as I had seen done in England,
+under turf, till it became chark, or dry coal: and
+then putting the fire out, I preserved the coal to
+carry home, and perform the other services for which
+fire was wanting, without danger of smoke. But this
+is by the by:&mdash;While I was cutting down some
+wood here, I perceived that behind a very thick
+branch of low brush-wood, or under-wood, there
+was a kind of hollow place: I was curious to look
+in it, and getting with difficulty into the mouth
+of it, I found it was pretty large: that is to say,
+sufficient for me to stand upright in it, and perhaps
+another with me: but I must confess to you that I
+made more haste out than I did in, when, looking
+farther into the place, and which was perfectly dark,
+I saw two broad shining eyes of some creature,
+whether devil or man I knew not, which twinkled
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page227" id="page227"></a>[pg 227]</span>
+like two stars; the dim light from the cave's mouth
+shining directly in, and making the reflection.
+However, after some pause, I recovered myself, and
+began to call myself a thousand fools, and to think,
+that he that was afraid to see the devil was not fit
+to live twenty years in an island all alone; and that
+I might well think there was nothing in this cave
+that was more frightful than myself. Upon this,
+plucking up my courage, I took up a firebrand, and
+in I rushed again, with the stick flaming in my
+hand: I had not gone three steps in, but I was
+almost as much frightened as I was before; for I
+heard a very loud sigh, like that of a man in some
+pain, and it was followed by a broken noise, as of
+words half-expressed, and then a deep sigh again.
+I stepped back, and was indeed struck with such a
+surprise, that it put me into a cold sweat; and if I
+had had a hat on my head, I will not answer for it,
+that my hair might not have lifted it off. But still
+plucking up my spirits as well as I could, and
+encouraging myself a little with considering that
+the power and presence of God was every where,
+and was able to protect me, upon this I stepped
+forward again, and by the light of the firebrand,
+holding it up a little over my head, I saw lying on
+the ground a most monstrous, frightful, old he-goat
+just making his will, as we say, and gasping for
+life; and dying, indeed, of mere old age. I stirred
+him a little to see if I could get him out, and he
+essayed to get up, but was not able to raise himself;
+and I thought with myself he might even lie there;
+for if he had frightened me, so he would certainly
+fright any of the savages, if any one of them should
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page228" id="page228"></a>[pg 228]</span>
+be so hardy as to come in there while he had any
+life in him.</p>
+
+<p>I was now recovered from my surprise, and began
+to look round me, when I found the cave was but
+very small, that is to say, it might be about twelve
+feet over, but in no manner of shape, neither round
+nor square, no hands having ever been employed in
+making it but those of mere Nature. I observed
+also that there was a place at the farther side of it
+that went in further, but was so low that it required
+me to creep upon my hands and knees to go into it,
+and whither it went I knew not: so having no candle,
+I gave it over for that time; but resolved to come
+again the next day, provided with candles and a
+tinder-box, which I had made of the lock of one of
+the muskets, with some wild fire in the pan.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, the next day I came provided with
+six large candles of my own making (for I made
+very good candles now of goats' tallow, but was
+hard set for candle-wick, using sometimes rags or
+rope-yarn, and sometimes the dried rind of a weed
+like nettles;) and going into this low place, I was
+obliged to creep upon all fours, as I have said,
+almost ten yards; which, by the way, I thought
+was a venture bold enough, considering that I knew
+not how far it might go, nor what was beyond it.
+When I had got through the strait, I found the roof
+rose higher up, I believe near twenty feet; but never
+was such a glorious sight seen in the island, I dare
+say, as it was, to look round the sides and roof of
+this vault or cave; the wall reflected an hundred
+thousand lights to me from my two candles. What
+it was in the rock, whether diamonds, or any other
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page229" id="page229"></a>[pg 229]</span>
+precious stones, or gold, which I rather supposed it
+to be, I knew not. The place I was in was a most
+delightful cavity or grotto of its kind, as could be
+expected, though perfectly dark; the floor was dry
+and level, and had a sort of a small loose gravel upon
+it, so that there was no nauseous or venomous creature
+to be seen, neither was there any damp or wet
+on the sides or roof: the only difficulty in it was the
+entrance; which, however, as it was a place of security,
+and such a retreat as I wanted, I thought that
+was a convenience; so that I was really rejoiced at
+the discovery, and resolved, without any delay,
+to bring some of those things which I was most
+anxious about to this place; particularly, I resolved
+to bring hither my magazine of powder, and all my
+spare arms, viz. two fowling-pieces, for I had three
+in all, and three muskets, for of them I had eight
+in all: so I kept at my castle only five, which stood
+ready-mounted, like pieces of cannon, on my outmost
+fence; and were ready also to take out upon
+any expedition. Upon this occasion of removing
+my ammunition, I happened to open the barrel of
+powder, which I took up out of the sea, and which
+had been wet; and I found that the water had
+penetrated about three or four inches into the powder
+on every side, which, caking, and growing hard,
+had preserved the inside like a kernel in the shell;
+so that I had near sixty pounds of very good powder
+in the centre of the cask: this was a very
+agreeable discovery to me at that time; so I carried
+all away thither, never keeping above two or three
+pounds of powder with me in my castle, for fear of
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page230" id="page230"></a>[pg 230]</span>
+a surprise of any kind: I also carried thither all the
+lead I had left for bullets.</p>
+
+<p>I fancied myself now like one of the ancient
+giants, which were said to live in caves and holes in
+the rocks, where none could come at them; for I
+persuaded myself, while I was here, that if five hundred
+savages were to hunt me, they could never find
+me out; or, if they did, they would not venture to
+attack me here. The old goat, whom I found expiring,
+died in the mouth of the cave the next day after
+I made this discovery: and I found it much easier
+to dig a great hole there, and throw him in and
+cover him with earth, than to drag him out; so I
+interred him there, to prevent offence to my nose.</p>
+
+<p>I was now in the twenty-third year of my residence
+in this island; and was so naturalized to the
+place, and the manner of living, that could I have
+but enjoyed the certainty that no savages would
+come to the place to disturb me, I could have been
+content to have capitulated for spending the rest of
+my time there, even to the last moment, till I had
+laid me down and died, like the old goat in the
+cave. I had also arrived to some little diversions
+and amusements, which made the time pass a great
+deal more pleasantly with me than it did before:
+as, first, I had taught my Pol, as I noted before, to
+speak; and he did it so familiarly, and talked so
+articulately and plain, that it was very pleasant to
+me; for I believe no bird ever spoke plainer; and
+he lived with me no less than six and twenty years:
+how long he might have lived afterwards I know
+not, though I know they have a notion in the Brazils
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page231" id="page231"></a>[pg 231]</span>
+that they live a hundred years. My dog was a very
+pleasant and loving companion to me for no less
+than sixteen years of my time, and then died of
+mere old age. As for my cats, they multiplied, as
+I have observed, to that degree, that I was obliged
+to shoot several of them at first, to keep them from
+devouring me and all I had; but, at length, when
+the two old ones I brought with me were gone, and
+after some time continually driving them from me,
+and letting them have no provision with me, they
+all ran wild into the woods, except two or three
+favourites, which I kept tame, and whose young,
+when they had any, I always drowned; and these
+were part of my family. Besides these, I always
+kept two or three household kids about me, whom
+I taught to feed out of my hand; and I had two
+more parrots, which talked pretty well, and would
+all call Robin Crusoe, but none like my first; nor,
+indeed, did I take the pains with any of them that I
+had done with him. I had also several tame sea-fowls,
+whose names I knew not, that I caught upon
+the shore, and cut their wings; and the little stakes
+which I had planted before my castle wall being
+now grown up to a good thick grove, these fowls
+all lived among these low trees, and bred there,
+which was very agreeable to me; so that, as I said
+above, I began to be very well contented with the
+life I led, if I could have been secured from the
+dread of the savages. But it was otherwise directed;
+and it may not be amiss for all people who shall
+meet with my story, to make this just observation
+from it, viz. How frequently, in the course of our
+lives, the evil which in itself we seek most to shun,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page232" id="page232"></a>[pg 232]</span>
+and which, when we are, fallen into, is the most
+dreadful to us, is oftentimes the very means or door
+of our deliverance, by which alone we can be raised
+again from the affliction we are fallen into. I could
+give many examples of this in the course of my
+unaccountable life; but in nothing was it more particularly
+remarkable than in the circumstances of
+my last years of solitary residence in this island.</p>
+
+<p>It was now the month of December, as I said
+above, in my twenty-third year; and this, being the
+southern solstice (for winter I cannot call it,) was
+the particular time of my harvest, and required my
+being pretty much abroad in the fields: when going
+out pretty early in the morning, even before it was
+thorough daylight, I was surprised with seeing a
+light of some fire upon the shore, at a distance from
+me of about two miles, towards the end of the island
+where I had observed some savages had been, as
+before, and not on the other side; but, to my great
+affliction, it was on my side of the island.</p>
+
+<p>I was indeed terribly surprised at the sight, and
+stopped short within my grove, not daring to go
+out, lest I might be surprised, and yet I had no more
+peace within, from the apprehensions I had that if
+these savages, in rambling over the island, should
+find my corn standing or cut, or any of my works
+and improvements, they would immediately conclude
+that there were people in the place, and would
+then never give over till they had found me out.
+In this extremity, I went back directly to my castle,
+pulled up the ladder after me, and made all things
+without look as wild and natural as I could.</p>
+
+<p>Then I prepared myself within, putting myself
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page233" id="page233"></a>[pg 233]</span>
+in a posture of defence: I loaded all my cannon,
+as I called them, that is to say, my muskets, which
+were mounted upon my new fortification, and all
+my pistols, and resolved to defend myself to the
+last gasp; not forgetting seriously to commend myself
+to the divine protection, and earnestly to pray
+to God to deliver me out of the hands of the barbarians.
+I continued in this posture about two
+hours; and began to be mighty impatient for intelligence
+abroad, for I had no spies to send out.
+After sitting awhile longer, and musing what I
+should do in this, I was not able to bear sitting in
+ignorance any longer; so setting up my ladder to
+the side of the hill, where there was a flat place,
+as I observed before, and then pulling the ladder
+up after me, I set it up again, and mounted to the
+top of the hill; and pulling out my perspective-glass,
+which I had taken on purpose, I laid me down
+flat on my belly on the ground, and began to look
+for the place. I presently found there were no less
+than nine naked savages, sitting round a small fire
+they had made, not to warm them, for they had no
+need of that, the weather being extremely hot, but,
+as I supposed, to dress some of their barbarous
+diet of human flesh, which they had brought with
+them, whether alive or dead, I could not tell.</p>
+
+<p>They had two canoes with them, which they had
+hauled up upon the shore; and as it was then tide
+of ebb, they seemed to me to wait for the return of
+the flood to go away again. It is not easy to imagine
+what confusion this sight put me into, especially
+seeing them come on my side of the island,
+and so near me too; but when I considered their
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page234" id="page234"></a>[pg 234]</span>
+coming must be always with the current of the ebb,
+I began, afterwards, to be more sedate in my mind,
+being satisfied that I might go abroad with safety
+all the time of the tide of flood, if they were not
+on shore before: and having made this observation,
+I went abroad about my harvest-work with the
+more composure.</p>
+
+<p>As I expected, so it proved; for as soon as the
+tide made to the westward, I saw them all take
+boat, and row (or paddle, as we call it) away. I
+should have observed, that for an hour or more
+before they went off, they went a dancing; and I
+could easily discern their postures and gestures by
+my glass. I could not perceive, by my nicest observation,
+but that they were stark naked, and had
+not the least covering upon them; but whether
+they were men or women, I could not distinguish.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as I saw them shipped and gone, I took
+two guns upon my shoulders, and two pistols in my
+girdle, and my great sword by my side, without a
+scabbard, and with all the speed I was able to make,
+went away to the hill where I had discovered the
+first appearance of all; and as soon as I got thither,
+which was not in less than two hours (for I could
+not go apace, being so loaden with arms as I was,)
+I perceived there had been three canoes more of
+savages at that place; and looking out farther, I
+saw they were all at sea together, making over for
+the main. This was a dreadful sight to me, especially
+as, going down to the shore, I could see the
+marks of horror, which the dismal work they had
+been about had left behind it, viz. the blood, the
+bones, and part of the flesh, of human bodies,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page235" id="page235"></a>[pg 235]</span>
+eaten and devoured by those wretches with merriment
+and sport. I was so filled with indignation
+at the sight, that I now began to premeditate the
+destruction of the next that I saw there, let them
+be whom or how many soever. It seemed evident
+to me that the visits which they made thus to this
+island were not very frequent, for it was above
+fifteen months before any more of them came on
+shore there again; that is to say, I neither saw
+them; nor any footsteps or signals of them, in all
+that time; for, as to the rainy seasons, then they
+are sure not to come abroad, at least not so far:
+yet all this while I lived uncomfortably, by reason
+of the constant apprehensions of their coming
+upon me by surprise: from whence I observe, that
+the expectation of evil is more bitter than the suffering,
+especially if there is no room to shake off
+that expectation, or those apprehensions.</p>
+
+<p>During all this time I was in the murdering humour,
+and took up most of my hours, which should
+have been better employed, in contriving how to
+circumvent and fall upon them, the very next time
+I should see them; especially if they should be divided,
+as they were the last time, into two parties:
+nor did I consider at all, that if I killed one party,
+suppose ten or a dozen, I was still the next day, or
+week, or month, to kill another, and so another,
+even <i>ad infinitum</i>, till I should be at length no less
+a murderer than they were in being man-eaters, and
+perhaps much more so. I spent my days now in
+great perplexity and anxiety of mind, expecting
+that I should, one day or other, fall into the hands
+of these merciless creatures; and if I did at any
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page236" id="page236"></a>[pg 236]</span>
+time venture abroad, it was not without looking
+round me with the greatest care and caution imaginable.
+And now I found, to my great comfort,
+how happy it was that I had provided a tame flock
+or herd of goats; for I durst not, upon any account,
+fire my gun, especially near that side of the island
+where they usually came, lest I should alarm the
+savages; and if they had fled from me now, I was
+sure to have them come again, with perhaps two
+or three hundred canoes with them, in a few days,
+and then I knew what to expect. However, I wore
+out a year and three months more before I ever
+saw any more of the savages, and then I found
+them again, as I shall soon observe. It is true,
+they might have been there once or twice, but
+either they made no stay, or at least I did not see
+them: but in the month of May, as near as I could
+calculate, and in my four and twentieth year, I had
+a very strange encounter with them; of which in
+its place.</p>
+
+<p>The perturbation of my mind, during this fifteen
+or sixteen months' interval, was very great; I slept
+unquiet, dreamed always frightful dreams, and often
+started out of my sleep in the night: in the day
+great troubles overwhelmed my mind; and in the
+night, I dreamed often of killing the savages, and
+of the reasons why I might justify the doing of it.
+But, to wave all this for a while.&mdash;It was in the
+middle of May, on the sixteenth day, I think, as
+well as my poor wooden calendar would reckon, for
+I marked all upon the post still; I say, it was on the
+sixteenth of May that it blew a very great storm of
+wind all day, with a great deal of lightning and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page237" id="page237"></a>[pg 237]</span>
+thunder, and a very foul night it was after it. I
+knew not what was the particular occasion of it,
+but as I was reading in the Bible, and taken up
+with very serious thoughts about my present condition,
+I was surprised with the noise of a gun, as I
+thought, fired at sea. This was, to be sure, a surprise
+quite of a different nature from any I had
+met with before; for the notions this put into my
+thoughts were quite of another kind. I started up
+in the greatest haste imaginable, and, in a trice,
+clapped my ladder to the middle place of the rock,
+and pulled it after me; and mounting it the second
+time, got to the top of the hill the very moment
+that a flash of fire bid me listen for a second gun,
+which accordingly, in about half a minute, I heard;
+and, by the sound, knew that it was from that part
+of the sea where I was driven down the current in
+my boat. I immediately considered that this must
+be some ship in distress, and that they had some
+comrade, or some other ship in company, and fired
+these guns for signals of distress, and to obtain
+help. I had the presence of mind, at that minute,
+to think, that though I could not help them, it
+might be they might help me: so I brought together
+all the dry wood I could get at hand, and making
+a good handsome pile, I set it on fire upon the
+hill. The wood was dry, and blazed freely; and
+though the wind blew very hard, yet it burnt fairly
+out, so that I was certain, if there was any such
+thing as a ship, they must needs see it, and no doubt
+they did; for as soon as ever my fire blazed up I
+heard another gun, and after that several others, all
+from the same quarter, I plied my fire all night
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page238" id="page238"></a>[pg 238]</span>
+long, till daybreak; and when it was broad day,
+and the air cleared up, I saw something at a great
+distance at sea, full east of the island, whether a
+sail or a hull I could not distinguish, no, not with
+my glass; the distance was so great, and the weather
+still something hazy also; at least it was so out at
+sea.</p>
+
+<p>I looked frequently at it all that day, and soon
+perceived that it did not move; so I presently concluded
+that it was a ship at anchor; and being
+eager, you may be sure, to be satisfied, I took my
+gun in my hand, and ran towards the south side of
+the island, to the rocks where I had formerly been
+carried away with the current; and getting up
+there, the weather by this time being perfectly
+clear, I could plainly see, to my great sorrow, the
+wreck of a ship, cast away in the night upon those
+concealed rocks which I found when I was out in
+my boat; and which rocks, as they checked the
+violence of the stream, and made a kind of counter-stream,
+or eddy, were the occasion of my recovering
+from the most desperate, hopeless condition that
+ever I had been in, all my life. Thus, what is one
+man's safety is another man's destruction; for it
+seems these men, whoever they were, being out of
+their knowledge, and the rocks being wholly under
+water, had been driven upon them in the night, the
+wind blowing hard at E.N.E. Had they seen the
+island, as I must necessarily suppose they did not,
+they must, as I thought, have endeavoured to have
+saved themselves on shore by the help of their boat;
+but their firing off guns for help, especially when
+they saw, as I imagined, my fire, filled me with
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page239" id="page239"></a>[pg 239]</span>
+many thoughts: first, I imagined that upon seeing
+my light, they might have put themselves into their
+boat, and endeavoured to make the shore; but that
+the sea going very high, they might have been cast
+away: other times I imagined that they might have
+lost their boat before, as might be the case many
+ways; as, particularly, by the breaking of the sea
+upon their ship, which many times obliges men to
+stave, or take in pieces, their boat, and sometimes
+to throw it overboard with their own hands: other
+times I imagined they had some other ship or ships
+in company, who, upon the signals of distress they
+had made, had taken them up and carried them off:
+other times I fancied they were all gone off to sea
+in their boat, and being hurried away by the current
+that I had been formerly in, were carried out into
+the great ocean, where there was nothing but misery
+and perishing; and that, perhaps, they might by
+this time think of starving, and of being in a condition
+to eat one another.</p>
+
+<p>As all these were but conjectures at best, so, in
+the condition I was in, I could do no more than
+look on upon the misery of the poor men, and pity
+them; which had still this good effect on my side,
+that it gave me more and more cause to give thanks
+to God, who had so happily and comfortably provided
+for me in my desolate condition; and that of
+two ships' companies who were now cast away upon
+this part of the world, not one life should be spared
+but mine. I learned here again to observe, that it
+is very rare that the providence of God casts us
+into any condition of life so low, or any misery so
+great, but we may see something or other to be
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page240" id="page240"></a>[pg 240]</span>
+thankful for, and may see others in worse circumstances
+than our own. Such certainly was the case
+of these men, of whom I could not so much as see
+room to suppose any of them were saved; nothing
+could make it rational so much as to wish or expect
+that they did not all perish there, except the possibility
+only of their being taken up by another ship
+in company; and this was but mere possibility indeed,
+for I saw not the least sign or appearance of
+any such thing. I cannot explain, by any possible
+energy of words, what a strange longing or hankering
+of desires I felt in my soul upon this sight,
+breaking out sometimes thus: "O that there had
+been but one or two, nay, or but one soul, saved
+out of this ship, to have escaped to me, that I
+might but have had one companion, one fellow-creature
+to have spoken to me, and to have conversed
+with!" In all the time of my solitary life, I
+never felt so earnest, so strong a desire after the
+society of my fellow-creatures, or so deep a regret
+at the want of it.</p>
+
+<p>There are some secret moving springs in the affections,
+which, when they are set a going by some
+object in view, or, though not in view, yet rendered
+present to the mind by the power of imagination,
+that motion carries out the soul, by its impetuosity,
+to such violent, eager embracings of the object, that
+the absence of it is insupportable. Such were these
+earnest wishings that but one man had been saved.
+I believe I repeated the words, "O that it had been
+but one!" a thousand times; and my desires were
+so moved by it, that when I spoke the words my
+hands would clinch together, and my fingers would
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page241" id="page241"></a>[pg 241]</span>
+press the palms of my hands, so that if I had had
+any soft thing in my hand, it would have crushed it
+involuntarily; and the teeth in my head would strike
+together, and set against one another so strong, that
+for some time I could not part them again. Let
+the naturalists explain these things, and the reason
+and manner of them: all I can say to them is, to
+describe the fact, which was even surprising to me,
+when I found it, though I knew not from whence
+it proceeded: it was doubtless the effect of ardent
+wishes, and of strong ideas formed in my mind,
+realizing the comfort which the conversation of one
+of my fellow-christians would have been to me.&mdash;But
+it was not to be; either their fate or mine, or
+both, forbade it: for, till the last year of my being
+on this island, I never knew whether any were saved
+out of that ship or no; and had only the affliction,
+some days after, to see the corpse of a drowned boy
+come on shore at the end of the island which was
+next the shipwreck. He had no clothes on but a
+seaman's waistcoat, a pair of open-kneed linen
+drawers, and a blue linen shirt; but nothing to
+direct me so much as to guess what nation he was
+of: he had nothing in his pockets but two pieces-of-eight
+and a tobacco-pipe;&mdash;the last was to me
+of ten times more value than the first.</p>
+
+<p>It was now calm, and I had a great mind to venture
+out in my boat to this wreck, not doubting but
+I might find something on board that might be useful
+to me: but that did not altogether press me so
+much as the possibility that there might be yet some
+living creature on board, whose life I might not only
+save, but might, by saving that life, comfort my
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page242" id="page242"></a>[pg 242]</span>
+own to the last degree; and this thought clung so
+to my heart, that I could not be quiet night or day,
+but I must venture out in my boat on board this
+wreck; and committing the rest to God's providence,
+I thought the impression was so strong upon my
+mind that it could not be resisted, that it must come
+from some invisible direction, and that I should be
+wanting to myself if I did not go.</p>
+
+<p>Under the power of this impression, I hastened
+back to my castle, prepared every thing for my
+voyage, took a quantity of bread, a great pot of
+fresh water, a compass to steer by, a bottle of rum
+(for I had still a great deal of that left,) and a
+basket of raisins: and thus, loading myself with
+every thing necessary, I went down to my boat, got
+the water out of her, put her afloat, loaded all my
+cargo in her, and then went home again for more.
+My second cargo was a great bag of rice, the umbrella
+to set up over my head for a shade, another
+large pot of fresh water, and about two dozen of
+my small loaves, or barley-cakes, more than before,
+with a bottle of goat's milk and a cheese: all which,
+with great labour and sweat, I carried to my boat;
+and praying to God to direct my voyage, I put out;
+and rowing, or paddling, the canoe along the shore,
+came at last to the utmost point of the island on
+the north-east side. And now I was to launch out
+into the ocean, and either to venture or not to venture.
+I looked on the rapid currents which ran
+constantly on both sides of the island at a distance,
+and which were very terrible to me, from the remembrance
+of the hazard I had been in before, and
+my heart began to fail me; for I foresaw that if I
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page243" id="page243"></a>[pg 243]</span>
+was driven into either of those currents, I should
+be carried a great way out to sea, and perhaps out
+of my reach, or sight of the island again; and that
+then, as my boat was but small, if any little gale
+of wind should rise, I should be inevitably lost.</p>
+
+<p>These thoughts so oppressed my mind, that I began
+to give over my enterprise; and having hauled
+my boat into a little creek on the shore, I stepped
+out, and sat me down upon a rising bit of ground,
+very pensive and anxious, between fear and desire,
+about my voyage; when, as I was musing, I could
+perceive that the tide was turned, and the flood
+come on; upon which my going was impracticable
+for so many hours. Upon this, presently it occurred
+to me, that I should go up to the highest piece of
+ground I could find, and observe, if I could how
+the sets of the tide, or currents, lay when the flood
+came in, that I might judge whether, if I was driven
+one way out, I might not expect to be driven another
+way home, with the same rapidness of the currents.
+This thought was no sooner in my head than I cast
+my eye upon a little hill, which sufficiently overlooked
+the sea both ways, and from whence I had a
+clear view of the currents, or sets of the tide, and
+which way I was to guide myself in my return.
+Here I found, that as the current of the ebb set out
+close by the south point of the island, so the current
+of the flood set in close by the shore of the north
+side; and that I had nothing to do but to keep to
+the north side of the island in my return, and I
+should do well enough.</p>
+
+<p>Encouraged with this observation, I resolved, the
+next morning, to set out with the first of the tide;
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page244" id="page244"></a>[pg 244]</span>
+and reposing myself for the night in my canoe,
+under the great watch-coat I mentioned, I launched
+out. I first made a little out to sea, full north, till
+I began to feel the benefit of the current, which set
+eastward, and which carried me at a great rate;
+and yet did not so hurry me as the current on the
+south side had done before, so as to take from me
+all government of the boat; but having a strong
+steerage with my paddle, I went at a great rate
+directly for the wreck, and in less than two hours I
+came up to it. It was a dismal sight to look at:
+the ship, which, by its building, was Spanish, stuck
+fast, jammed in between two rocks; all the stern
+and quarter of her were beaten to pieces with the
+sea; and as her forecastle, which stuck in the rocks,
+had run on with great violence, her mainmast and
+foremast were brought by the board, that is to say,
+broken short off; but her bowsprit was sound, and
+the head and bow appeared firm. When I came
+close to her, a dog appeared upon her, who, seeing
+me coming, yelped and cried; and as soon as I called
+him, jumped into the sea to come to me; I took
+him into the boat, but found him almost dead with
+hunger and thirst. I gave him a cake of my bread,
+and he devoured it like a ravenous wolf that had
+been starving a fortnight in the snow: I then gave
+the poor creature some fresh water, with which, if
+I would have let him, he would have burst himself.
+After this, I went on board; but the first sight I
+met with was two men drowned in the cook-room,
+or forecastle of the ship, with their arms fast about
+one another. I concluded, as is indeed probable,
+that when the ship struck, it being in a storm, the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page245" id="page245"></a>[pg 245]</span>
+sea broke so high, and so continually over her, that
+the men were not able to bear it, and were strangled
+with the constant rushing in of the water, as much
+as if they had been under water. Besides the dog,
+there was nothing left in the ship that had life; nor
+any goods, that I could see, but what were spoiled
+by the water. There were some casks of liquor,
+whether wine or brandy I knew not, which lay lower
+in the hold, and which, the water being ebbed out,
+I could see; but they were too big to meddle with.
+I saw several chests, which I believed belonged to
+some of the seamen; and I got two of them into
+the boat, without examining what was in them.
+Had the stern of the ship been fixed, and the fore-part
+broken off, I am persuaded I might have made
+a good voyage; for, by what I found in these two
+chests, I had room to suppose the ship had a great
+deal of wealth on board; and, if I may guess from
+the course she steered, she must have been bound
+from Buenos Ayres, or the Rio de la Plata, in the
+south part of America, beyond the Brazils, to the
+Havanna, in the Gulf of Mexico, and so perhaps
+to Spain. She had, no doubt, a great treasure in
+her, but of no use, at that time, to any body; and
+what became of her crew, I then knew not.</p>
+
+<p>I found, besides these chests, a little cask full of
+liquor, of about twenty gallons, which I got into
+my boat with much difficulty. There were several
+muskets in the cabin, and a great powder-horn,
+with about four pounds of powder in it; as for the
+muskets, I had no occasion for them, so I left them,
+but took the powder-horn. I took a fireshovel and
+tongs, which I wanted extremely; as also two little
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page246" id="page246"></a>[pg 246]</span>
+brass kettles, a copper pot to make chocolate, and
+a gridiron: and with this cargo, and the dog, I came
+away, the tide beginning to make home again; and
+the same evening, about an hour within night, I
+reached the island again, weary and fatigued to the
+last degree. I reposed that night in the boat; and
+in the morning I resolved to harbour what I had
+got in my new cave, and not carry it home to my
+castle. After refreshing myself, I got all my cargo
+on shore, and began to examine the particulars.
+The cask of liquor I found to be a kind of rum,
+but not such as we had at the Brazils, and, in a
+word, not at all good; but when I came to open
+the chests, I found several things of great use to
+me: for example, I found in one a fine case of bottles,
+of an extraordinary kind, and filled with cordial
+waters, fine and very good; the bottles held
+about three pints each, and were tipped with silver.
+I found two pots of very good succades, or sweetmeats,
+so fastened also on the top, that the salt
+water had not hurt them; and two more of the
+same, which the water had spoiled. I found some
+very good shirts, which were very welcome to me;
+and about a dozen and a half of white linen handkerchiefs
+and coloured neckcloths; the former were
+also very welcome, being exceeding refreshing to
+wipe my face in a hot day. Besides this, when I
+came to the till in the chest, I found there three
+great bags of pieces-of-eight, which held about
+eleven hundred pieces in all; and in one of them,
+wrapped up in a paper, six doubloons of gold, and
+some small bars or wedges of gold; I suppose they
+might all weigh near a pound. In the other chest
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page247" id="page247"></a>[pg 247]</span>
+were some clothes, but of little value; but, by the
+circumstances, it must have belonged to the gunner's
+mate; though there was no powder in it, except
+two pounds of fine glazed powder, in three small
+flasks, kept, I suppose, for charging their fowling-pieces
+on occasion. Upon the whole, I got very
+little by this voyage that was of any use to me; for,
+as to the money, I had no manner of occasion for
+it; it was to me as the dirt under my feet; and I
+would have given it all for three or four pair of
+English shoes and stockings, which were things I
+greatly wanted, but had none on my feet for many
+years. I had indeed got two pair of shoes now,
+which I took off the feet of the two drowned men
+whom I saw in the wreck, and I found two pair
+more in one of the chests, which were very welcome
+to me; but they were not like our English
+shoes, either for ease or service, being rather what
+we call pumps than shoes. I found in this seaman's
+chest about fifty pieces-of-eight in rials, but no
+gold: I suppose this belonged to a poorer man than
+the other, which seemed to belong to some officer.
+Well, however, I lugged this money home to my
+cave, and laid it up, as I had done that before
+which I brought from our own ship: but it was a
+great pity, as I said, that the other part of this ship
+had not come to my share; for I am satisfied I
+might have loaded my canoe several times over with
+money; and, thought I, if I ever escape to England,
+it might lie here safe enough till I may come again
+and fetch it.</p>
+
+<p>Having now brought all my things on shore, and
+secured them, I went back to my boat, and rowed
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page248" id="page248"></a>[pg 248]</span>
+or paddled her along the shore to her old harbour,
+where I laid her up, and made the best of my way
+to my old habitation, where I found every thing safe
+and quiet. I began now to repose myself, live after
+my old fashion, and take care of my family affairs;
+and, for a while, I lived easy enough, only that I was
+more vigilant than I used to be, looked out oftener,
+and did not go abroad so much; and if at any time
+I did stir with any freedom, it was always to the east
+part of the island, where I was pretty well satisfied
+the savages never came, and where I could go without
+so many precautions, and such a load of arms
+and ammunition as I always carried with me if I
+went the other way. I lived in this condition near
+two years more; but my unlucky head, that was always
+to let me know it was born to make my body
+miserable, was all these two years filled with projects
+and designs, how, if it were possible, I might
+get away from this island: for, sometimes I was for
+making another voyage to the wreck, though my
+reason told me that there was nothing left there
+worth the hazard of my voyage; sometimes for a
+ramble one way, sometimes another; and I believe
+verily, if I had had the boat that I went from Sallee
+in, I should have ventured to sea, bound any where,
+I knew not whither. I have been, in all my circumstances,
+a <i>memento</i> to those who are touched
+with the general plague of mankind, whence, for
+aught I know, one half of their miseries flow; I
+mean that of not being satisfied with the station
+wherein God and nature hath placed them: for, not
+to look back upon my primitive condition, and the
+excellent advice of my father, the opposition to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page249" id="page249"></a>[pg 249]</span>
+which was, as I may call it, my <i>original sin</i>, my
+subsequent mistakes of the same kind had been the
+means of my coming into this miserable condition;
+for had that Providence, which so happily seated me
+at the Brazils as a planter, blessed me with confined
+desires, and I could have been contented to have
+gone on gradually, I might have been, by this time,
+I mean in the time of my being in this island, one
+of the most considerable planters in the Brazils;
+nay, I am persuaded, that by the improvements I
+had made in that little time I lived there, and the
+increase I should probably have made if I had remained,
+I might have been worth a hundred thousand
+moidores: and what business had I to leave a
+settled fortune, a well-stocked plantation, improving
+and increasing, to turn supercargo to Guinea to
+fetch negroes, when patience and time would have
+so increased our stock at home, that we could have
+bought them at our own door from those whose
+business it was to fetch them? and though it had
+cost us something more, yet the difference of that
+price was by no means worth saving at so great a
+hazard. But as this is usually the fate of young
+heads, so reflection upon the folly of it is as commonly
+the exercise of more years, or of the dear-bought
+experience of time: so it was with me now;
+and yet so deep had the mistake taken root in my
+temper, that I could not satisfy myself in my station,
+but was continually poring upon the means and possibility
+of my escape from this place: and that I
+may, with the greater pleasure to the reader, bring
+on the remaining part of my story, it may not be
+improper to give some account of my first conceptions
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page250" id="page250"></a>[pg 250]</span>
+on the subject of this foolish scheme for my
+escape, and how, and upon what foundation I acted.</p>
+
+<p>I am now to be supposed retired into my castle,
+after my late voyage to the wreck, my frigate laid
+up and secured under water, as usual, and my condition
+restored to what it was before; I had more
+wealth, indeed, than I had before, but was not at
+all the richer; for I had no more use for it than the
+Indians of Peru had before the Spaniards came
+there.</p>
+
+<p>It was one of the nights in the rainy season in
+March, the four and twentieth year of my first setting
+foot in this island of solitude, I was lying in
+my bed, or hammock, awake; very well in health,
+had no pain, no distemper, no uneasiness of body,
+nor any uneasiness of mind, more than ordinary, but
+could by no means close my eyes, that is, so as to
+sleep; no, not a wink all night long, otherwise than
+as follows:&mdash;It is impossible to set down the innumerable
+crowd of thoughts that whirled through
+that great thoroughfare of the brain, the memory,
+in this night's time: I ran over the whole history of
+my life in miniature, or by abridgment, as I may
+call it, to my coming to this island, and also of that
+part of my life since I came to this island. In my
+reflections upon the state of my case since I came
+on shore on this island, I was comparing the happy
+posture of my affairs in the first years of my habitation
+here, compared to the life of anxiety, fear,
+and care, which I had lived in, ever since I had seen
+the print of a foot in the sand; not that I did not
+believe the savages had frequented the island even
+all the while, and might have been several hundreds
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page251" id="page251"></a>[pg 251]</span>
+of them at times on shore there; but I had never
+known it, and was incapable of any apprehensions
+about it; my satisfaction was perfect, though my
+danger was the same, and I was as happy in not
+knowing my danger as if I had never really been exposed
+to it. This furnished my thoughts with many
+very profitable reflections, and particularly this one:
+How infinitely good that Providence is, which has
+provided, in its government of mankind, such narrow
+bounds to his sight and knowledge of things;
+and though he walks in the midst of so many thousand
+dangers, the sight of which, if discovered to
+him, would distract his mind and sink his spirits, he
+is kept serene and calm, by having the events of
+things hid from his eyes, and knowing nothing of
+the dangers which surround him.</p>
+
+<p>After these thoughts had for some time entertained
+me, I came to reflect seriously upon the real
+danger I had been in for so many years in this very
+island, and how I had walked about in the greatest
+security, and with all possible tranquillity, even
+when perhaps nothing but the brow of a hill, a great
+tree, or the casual approach of night, had been between
+me and the worst kind of destruction, viz.
+that of falling into the hands of cannibals and savages,
+who would have seized on me with the same
+view as I would on a goat or a turtle, and have
+thought it no more a crime to kill and devour me,
+than I did of a pigeon or curlew. I would unjustly
+slander myself, if I should say I was not sincerely
+thankful to my great Preserver, to whose singular
+protection I acknowledged, with great humility, all
+these unknown deliverances were due, and without
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page252" id="page252"></a>[pg 252]</span>
+which I must inevitably have fallen into their merciless
+hands.</p>
+
+<p>When these thoughts were over, my head was for
+some time taken up in considering the nature of
+these wretched creatures, I mean the savages, and
+how it came to pass in the world, that the wise Governor
+of all things should give up any of his creatures
+to such inhumanity, nay, to something so much
+below even brutality itself, as to devour its own
+kind: but as this ended in some (at that time) fruitless
+speculations, it occurred to me to inquire, what
+part of the world these wretches lived in? how far
+off the coast was, from whence they came? what
+they ventured over so far from home for? what kind
+of boats they had? and why I might not order
+myself and my business so, that I might be as able
+to go over thither as they were to come to me?</p>
+
+<p>I never so much as troubled myself to consider
+what I should do with myself when I went thither;
+what would become of me, if I fell into the hands
+of the savages; or how I should escape from them,
+if they attacked me; no, nor so much as how it was
+possible for me to reach the coast, and not be attacked
+by some or other of them, without any possibility
+of delivering myself; and if I should not
+fall into their hands, what I should do for provision,
+or whither I should bend my course: none of these
+thoughts, I say, so much as came in my way; but
+my mind was wholly bent upon the notion of my
+passing over in my boat to the main land. I looked
+upon my present condition as the most miserable
+that could possibly be; that I was not able to throw
+myself into any thing, but death, that could be
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page253" id="page253"></a>[pg 253]</span>
+called worse; and if I reached the shore of the
+main, I might perhaps meet with relief, or I might
+coast along, as I did on the African shore, till I
+came to some inhabited country, and where I might
+find some relief; and after all, perhaps, I might fall
+in with some Christian ship that might take me in;
+and if the worst came to the worst, I could but die,
+which would put an end to all these miseries at once.
+Pray note, all this was the fruit of a disturbed mind,
+an impatient temper, made desperate, as it were, by
+the long continuance of my troubles, and the disappointments
+I had met in the wreck I had been on
+board of, and where I had been so near obtaining
+what I so earnestly longed for, viz. somebody to
+speak to, and to learn some knowledge from them
+of the place where I was, and of the probable
+means of my deliverance. I was agitated wholly
+by these thoughts; all my calm of mind, in my resignation
+to Providence, and waiting the issue of the
+dispositions of Heaven, seemed to be suspended;
+and I had, as it were, no power to turn my thoughts
+to any thing but to the project of a voyage to the
+main; which came upon me with such force, and
+such an impetuosity of desire, that it was not to be
+resisted.</p>
+
+<p>When this had agitated my thoughts for two
+hours or more, with such violence that it set my
+very blood into a ferment, and my pulse beat as if
+I had been in a fever, merely with the extraordinary
+fervour of my mind about it, nature, as if I had
+been fatigued and exhausted with the very thought
+of it, threw me into a sound sleep. One would
+have thought I should have dreamed of it, but I
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page254" id="page254"></a>[pg 254]</span>
+did not, nor of any thing relating to it: out I
+dreamed that as I was going out in the morning, as
+usual, from my castle, I saw upon the shore two
+canoes and eleven savages coming to land, and that
+they brought with them another savage, whom they
+were going to kill, in order to eat him; when, on a
+sudden, the savage that they were going to kill
+jumped away, and ran for his life; and I thought,
+in my sleep, that he came running into my little
+thick grove before my fortification, to hide himself;
+and that I, seeing him alone, and not perceiving that
+the others sought him that way, showed myself to
+him, and smiling upon him, encouraged him: that
+he kneeled down to me, seeming to pray me to assist
+him; upon which I showed him my ladder, made
+him go up, and carried him into my cave, and he
+became my servant: and that as soon as I had got
+this man, I said to myself, "Now I may certainly
+venture to the main land; for this fellow will serve
+me as a pilot, and will tell me what to do, and whither
+to go for provisions, and whither not to go for
+fear of being devoured; what places to venture
+into, and what to shun." I waked with this thought;
+and was under such inexpressible impressions of joy
+at the prospect of my escape in my dream, that the
+disappointments which I felt upon coming to myself,
+and finding that it was no more than a dream, were
+equally extravagant the other way, and threw me
+into a very great dejection of spirits.</p>
+
+<p>Upon this, however, I made this conclusion; that
+my only way to go about to attempt an escape was,
+if possible, to get a savage into my possession; and,
+if possible, it should be one of their prisoners whom
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page255" id="page255"></a>[pg 255]</span>
+they had condemned to be eaten, and should bring
+hither to kill. But these thoughts still were attended
+with this difficulty, that it was impossible to
+effect this without attacking a whole caravan of
+them, and killing them all; and this was not only a
+very desperate attempt, and might miscarry, but, on
+the other hand, I had greatly scrupled the lawfulness
+of it to myself; and my heart trembled at the
+thoughts of shedding so much blood, though it was
+for my deliverance. I need not repeat the arguments
+which occurred to me against this, they being
+the same mentioned before: but though I had other
+reasons to offer now, viz. that those men were enemies
+to my life, and would devour me if they could;
+that it was self-preservation, in the highest degree,
+to deliver myself from this death of a life, and was
+acting in my own defence as much as if they were
+actually assaulting me, and the like; I say, though
+these things argued for it, yet the thoughts of shedding
+human blood for my deliverance were very terrible
+to me, and such as I could by no means reconcile
+myself to for a great while. However, at last,
+after many secret disputes with myself, and after
+great perplexities about it (for all these arguments,
+one way and another, struggled in my head a long
+time,) the eager prevailing desire of deliverance at
+length mastered all the rest; and I resolved, if possible,
+to get one of those savages into my hands,
+cost what it would. My next thing was to contrive
+how to do it, and this indeed was very difficult to
+resolve on: but as I could pitch upon no probable
+means for it, so I resolved to put myself upon the
+watch, to see them when they came on shore, and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page256" id="page256"></a>[pg 256]</span>
+leave the rest to the event; taking such measures
+as the opportunity should present, let what would
+be.</p>
+
+<p>With these resolutions in my thoughts, I set myself
+upon the scout as often as possible, and indeed
+so often, that I was heartily tired of it; for it was
+above a year and a half that I waited; and for great
+part of that time went out to the west end, and to
+the south-west corner of the island, almost every
+day, to look for canoes, but none appeared. This
+was very discouraging, and began to trouble me
+much; though I cannot say that it did in this case
+(as it had done some time before) wear off the edge
+of my desire to the thing; but the longer it seemed
+to be delayed, the more eager I was for it: in a
+word, I was not at first so careful to shun the sight
+of these savages, and avoid being seen by them, as
+I was now eager to be upon them. Besides, I fancied
+myself able to manage one, nay, two or three
+savages, if I had them, so as to make them entirely
+slaves to me, to do whatever I should direct them,
+and to prevent their being able at any time to do
+me any hurt. It was a great while that I pleased
+myself with this affair; but nothing still presented;
+all my fancies and schemes came to nothing, for no
+savages came near me for a great while.</p>
+
+<p>About a year and a half after I entertained these
+notions (and by long musing had, as it were, resolved
+them all into nothing, for want of an occasion to
+put them into execution,) I was surprised, one
+morning early, with seeing no less than five canoes
+all on shore together on my side the island, and the
+people who belonged to them all landed, and out of
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page257" id="page257"></a>[pg 257]</span>
+my sight. The number of them broke all my measures;
+for seeing so many, and knowing that they
+always came four or six, or sometimes more, in a
+boat, I could not tell what to think of it, or how to
+take my measures, to attack twenty or thirty men
+single-handed; so lay still in my castle, perplexed
+and discomforted: however, I put myself into all
+the same postures for an attack that I had formerly
+provided, and was just ready for action, if any thing
+had presented. Having waited a good while, listening
+to hear if they made any noise, at length, being
+very impatient, I set my guns at the foot of my ladder,
+and clambered up to the top of the hill, by my
+two stages, as usual; standing so, however, that my
+head did not appear above the hill, so that they
+could not perceive me by any means. Here I observed,
+by the help of my perspective-glass, that
+they were no less than thirty in number; that they
+had a fire kindled, and that they had meat dressed.
+How they had cooked it I knew not, or what it was;
+but they were all dancing, in I know not how many
+barbarous gestures and figures, their own way,
+round the fire.</p>
+
+<p>While I was thus looking on them, I perceived,
+by my perspective, two miserable wretches dragged
+from the boats, where, it seems, they were laid by,
+and were now brought out for the slaughter. I
+perceived one of them immediately fall, being
+knocked down, I suppose, with a club or wooden
+sword, for that was their way, and two or three
+others were at work immediately, cutting him open
+for their cookery, while the other victim was left
+standing by himself, till they should be ready for
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page258" id="page258"></a>[pg 258]</span>
+him. In that very moment, this poor wretch seeing
+himself a little at liberty, and unbound, nature inspired
+him with hopes of life, and he started away
+from them, and ran with incredible swiftness along
+the sands, directly towards me, I mean towards that
+part of the coast where my habitation was. I was
+dreadfully frightened, I must acknowledge, when I
+perceived him run my way, and especially when, as
+I thought, I saw him pursued by the whole body:
+and now I expected that part of my dream was
+coming to pass, and that he would certainly take
+shelter in my grove: but I could not depend, by
+any means, upon my dream for the rest of it, viz.
+that the other savages would not pursue him thither,
+and find him there. However, I kept my station,
+and my spirits began to recover, when I found that
+there was not above three men that followed him;
+and still more was I encouraged when I found that
+he outstripped them exceedingly in running, and
+gained ground of them; so that if he could but
+hold it for half an hour, I saw easily he would
+fairly get away from them all.</p>
+
+<p>There was between them and my castle the creek,
+which I mentioned often in the first part of my story,
+where I landed my cargoes out of the ship; and this
+I saw plainly he must necessarily swim over, or the
+poor wretch would be taken there: but when the
+savage escaping came thither, he made nothing of
+it, though the tide was then up; but plunging in,
+swam through in about thirty strokes, or thereabouts,
+landed, and ran on with exceeding strength
+and swiftness. When the three persons came to the
+creek, I found that two of them could swim, but
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page259" id="page259"></a>[pg 259]</span>
+the third could not, and that, standing on the other
+side, he looked at the others, but went no farther,
+and soon after went softly back again; which, as it
+happened, was very well for him in the end. I observed,
+that the two who swam were yet more than
+twice as long swimming over the creek as the fellow
+was that fled from them. It came now very warmly
+upon my thoughts, and indeed irresistibly, that now
+was the time to get me a servant, and perhaps a
+companion or assistant, and that I was called plainly
+by Providence to save this poor creature's life. I
+immediately ran down the ladders with all possible
+expedition, fetched my two guns, for they were
+both at the foot of the ladders, as I observed above,
+and getting up again, with the same haste, to the
+top of the hill, I crossed towards the sea, and having
+a very short cut, and all down hill, placed myself in
+the way between the pursuers and the pursued,
+hallooing aloud to him that fled, who, looking back,
+was at first, perhaps, as much frightened at me as
+at them; but I beckoned with my hand to him to
+come back; and, in the mean time, I slowly advanced
+towards the two that followed; then rushing
+at once upon the foremost, I knocked him down
+with the stock of my piece. I was loth to fire,
+because I would not have the rest hear; though, at
+that distance, it would not have been easily heard,
+and being out of sight of the smoke too, they would
+not have easily known what to make of it. Having
+knocked this fellow down, the other who pursued
+him stopped, as if he had been frightened, and I
+advanced apace towards him: but as I came nearer,
+I perceived presently he had a bow and arrow, and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page260" id="page260"></a>[pg 260]</span>
+was fitting it to shoot at me; so I was then necessitated
+to shoot at him first, which I did, and killed
+him at the first shot. The poor savage who fled,
+but had stopped, though he saw both his enemies
+fallen and killed, as he thought, yet was so frightened
+with the fire and noise of my piece, that he
+stood stock-still, and neither came forward nor went
+backward, though he seemed rather inclined still
+to fly, than to come on. I hallooed again to him,
+and made signs to come forward, which he easily
+understood, and came a little way; then stopped
+again, and then a little farther, and stopped again;
+and I could then perceive that he stood trembling,
+as if he had been taken prisoner, and had just been
+to be killed, as his two enemies were. I beckoned
+to him again to come to me, and gave him all the
+signs of encouragement that I could think of; and
+he came nearer and nearer, kneeling down every ten
+or twelve steps, in token of acknowledgment for
+saving his life. I smiled at him, and looked pleasantly,
+and beckoned to him to come still nearer:
+at length he came close to me; and then he kneeled
+down again, kissed the ground, and laid his head
+upon the ground, and taking me by the foot, set my
+foot upon his head; this, it seems, was in token of
+swearing to be my slave for ever. I took him up,
+and made much of him, and encouraged him all I
+could. But there was more work to do yet; for I
+perceived the savage whom I knocked down was not
+killed, but stunned with the blow, and began to
+come to himself: so I pointed to him, and showed
+him the savage, that he was not dead; upon this
+he spoke some words to me, and though I could
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page261" id="page261"></a>[pg 261]</span>
+not understand them, yet I thought they were pleasant
+to hear; for they were the first sound of a
+man's voice that I had heard, my own excepted, for
+above twenty-five years. But there was no time for
+such reflections now; the savage who was knocked
+down recovered himself so far as to sit up upon the
+ground, and I perceived that my savage began to
+be afraid; but when I saw that, I presented my
+other piece at the man, as if I would shoot him:
+upon this my savage, for so I call him now, made
+a motion to me to lend him my sword, which hung
+naked in a belt by my side, which I did. He no
+sooner had it, but he runs to his enemy, and, at
+one blow, cut off his head so cleverly, no executioner
+in Germany could have done it sooner or
+better; which I thought very strange for one who, I
+had reason to believe, never saw a sword in his life
+before, except their own wooden swords: however,
+it seems, as I learned afterwards, they make their
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page262" id="page262"></a>[pg 262]</span>
+wooden swords so sharp, so heavy, and the wood is
+so hard, that they will cut off heads even with them,
+aye, and arms, and that at one blow too. When
+he had done this, he comes laughing to me, in sign
+of triumph, and brought me the sword again, and
+with abundance of gestures, which I did not understand,
+laid it down, with the head of the savage
+that he had killed, just before me. But that which
+astonished him most, was to know how I killed the
+other Indian so far off: so pointing to him, he made
+signs to me to let him go to him; so I bade him go,
+as well as I could. When he came to him, he stood
+like one amazed, looking at him, turning him first
+on one side, then on the other, looked at the wound
+the bullet had made, which, it seems, was just in
+his breast, where it had made a hole, and no great
+quantity of blood had followed; but he had bled
+inwardly, for he was quite dead. He took up his
+bow and arrows, and came back; so I turned to go
+away, and beckoned him to follow me, making signs
+to him that more might come after them. Upon
+this, he made signs to me that he should bury them
+with sand, that they might not be seen by the rest,
+if they followed; and so I made signs to him again
+to do so. He fell to work; and, in an instant, he
+had scraped a hole in the sand with his hands, big
+enough to bury the first in, and then dragged him
+into it, and covered him; and did so by the other
+also: I believe he had buried them both in a quarter
+of an hour. Then calling him away, I carried him,
+not to my castle, but quite away to my cave, on
+the farther part of the island: so I did not let my
+dream come to pass in that part, viz. that he came
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page263" id="page263"></a>[pg 263]</span>
+into my grove for shelter. Here I gave him bread
+and a bunch of raisins to eat, and a draught of
+water, which I found he was indeed in great distress
+for, by his running; and having refreshed him, I
+made signs for him to go and lie down to sleep,
+showing him a place where I had laid some rice-straw,
+and a blanket upon it, which I used to sleep
+upon myself sometimes; so the poor creature lay
+down, and went to sleep.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width:35%;"><a href="images/261.jpg"><img width = "100%" src="images/261.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
+
+<p>He was a comely handsome fellow, perfectly well
+made, with straight strong limbs, not too large, tall,
+and well shaped; and, as I reckon, about twenty-six
+years of age. He had a very good countenance,
+not a fierce and surly aspect, but seemed to have
+something very manly in his face; and yet he had
+all the sweetness and softness of an European in
+his countenance too, especially when he smiled.
+His hair was long and black, not curled like wool;
+his forehead very high and large; and a great vivacity
+and sparkling sharpness in his eyes. The
+colour of his skin was not quite black, but very
+tawny; and yet not an ugly, yellow, nauseous tawny,
+as the Brazilians and Virginians, and other natives
+of America are, but of a bright kind of a dun olive
+colour, that had in it something very agreeable,
+though not very easy to describe. His face was
+round and plump; his nose small, not flat like the
+Negroes; a very good mouth, thin lips, and his fine
+teeth well set, and as white as ivory.</p>
+
+<p>After he had slumbered, rather than slept, about
+half an hour, he awoke again, and came out of the
+cave to me, for I had been milking my goats, which
+I had in the enclosure just by: when he espied me,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page264" id="page264"></a>[pg 264]</span>
+he came running to me, laying himself down again
+upon the ground, with all the possible signs of an
+humble thankful disposition, making a great many
+antic gestures to show it. At last, he lays his head
+flat upon the ground, close to my foot, and sets my
+other foot upon his head, as he had done before;
+and after this, made all the signs to me of subjection,
+servitude, and submission, imaginable, to let
+me know how he would serve me so long as he
+lived. I understood him in many things, and let
+him know I was very well pleased with him. In a
+little time I began to speak to him, and teach him
+to speak to me; and, first, I let him know his name
+should be FRIDAY, which was the day I saved his
+life: I called him so for the memory of the time.
+I likewise taught him to say Master; and then let
+him know that was to be my name: I likewise
+taught him to say Yes and No, and to know the
+meaning of them. I gave him some milk in an
+earthen pot, and let him see me drink it before him,
+and sop my bread in it; and gave him a cake of
+bread to do the like, which he quickly complied
+with, and made signs that it was very good for him.
+I kept there with him all that night; but as soon
+as it was day, I beckoned to him to come with me,
+and let him know I would give him some clothes;
+at which he seemed very glad, for he was stark naked.
+As we went by the place where he had buried the
+two men, he pointed exactly to the place, and showed
+me the marks that he had made to find them again,
+making signs to me that we should dig them up
+again, and eat them. At this I appeared very angry,
+expressed my abhorrence of it, made as if I would
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page265" id="page265"></a>[pg 265]</span>
+vomit at the thoughts of it, and beckoned with my
+hand to him to come away; which he did immediately,
+with great submission. I then led him up to
+the top of the hill, to see if his enemies were gone;
+and pulling out my glass, I looked, and saw plainly
+the place where they had been, but no appearance
+of them or their canoes; so that it was plain they
+were gone, and had left their two comrades behind
+them, without any search after them.</p>
+
+<p>But I was not content with this discovery; but
+having now more courage, and consequently more
+curiosity, I took my man Friday with me, giving
+him the sword in his hand, with the bow and arrows
+at his back, which I found he could use very dexterously,
+making him carry one gun for me, and I two
+for myself; and away we marched to the place where
+these creatures had been; for I had a mind now to
+get some fuller intelligence of them. When I came
+to the place, my very blood ran chill in my veins,
+and my heart sunk within me, at the horror of the
+spectacle; indeed, it was a dreadful sight, at least
+it was so to me, though Friday made nothing of it.
+The place was covered with human bones, the
+ground dyed with their blood, and great pieces of
+flesh left here and there, half-eaten, mangled, and
+scorched; and, in short, all the tokens of the triumphant
+feast they had been making there, after a victory
+over their enemies. I saw three skulls, five
+hands, and the bones of three or four legs and feet,
+and abundance of other parts of the bodies; and
+Friday, by his signs, made me understand that they
+brought over four prisoners to feast upon; that
+three of them were eaten up, and that he, pointing
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page266" id="page266"></a>[pg 266]</span>
+to himself, was the fourth; that there had been a
+great battle between them and their next king,
+whose subject, it seems, he had been one of, and
+that they had taken a great number of prisoners;
+all which were carried to several places by those
+who had taken them in the fight, in order to feast
+upon them, as was done here by these wretches
+upon those they brought hither.</p>
+
+<p>I caused Friday to gather all the skulls, bones,
+flesh, and whatever remained, and lay them together
+in a heap, and make a great fire upon it, and burn
+them all to ashes. I found Friday had still a hankering
+stomach after some of the flesh, and was still a
+cannibal in his nature; but I discovered so much
+abhorrence at the very thoughts of it, and at the
+least appearance of it, that he durst not discover it:
+for I had, by some means, let him know, that I
+would kill him if he offered it.</p>
+
+<p>When he had done this, we came back to our
+castle; and there I fell to work for my man Friday:
+and, first of all, I gave him a pair of linen drawers,
+which I had out of the poor gunner's chest I mentioned,
+which I found in the wreck; and which,
+with a little alteration, fitted him very well: and
+then I made him a jerkin of goat's-skin, as well as
+my skill would allow (for I was now grown a tolerable
+good tailor;) and I gave him a cap, which I
+made of hare's-skin, very convenient and fashionable
+enough: and thus he was clothed for the present,
+tolerably well, and was mighty well pleased to see
+himself almost as well clothed as his master. It is
+true, he went awkwardly in these clothes at first;
+wearing the drawers was very awkward to him; and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page267" id="page267"></a>[pg 267]</span>
+the sleeves of the waistcoat galled his shoulders,
+and the inside of his arms; but a little easing them
+where he complained they hurt him, and using himself
+to them, he took to them at length very well.</p>
+
+<p>The next day after I came home to my hutch with
+him, I began to consider where I should lodge him;
+and that I might do well for him, and yet be perfectly
+easy myself, I made a little tent for him in the vacant
+place between my two fortifications, in the inside of
+the last and in the outside of the first. As there
+was a door or entrance there into my cave, I made
+a formal framed door case, and a door to it of boards,
+and set it up in the passage, a little within the entrance;
+and causing the door to open in the inside,
+I barred it up in the night, taking in my ladders
+too; so that Friday could no way come at me in the
+inside of my innermost wall, without making so
+much noise in getting over that it must needs waken
+me; for my first wall had now a complete roof over
+it of long poles, covering all my tent, and leaning
+up to the side of the hill; which was again laid
+across with smaller sticks, instead of laths, and then
+thatched over a great thickness with the rice-straw,
+which was strong, like reeds; and at the hole or
+place which was left to go in or out by the ladder,
+I had placed a kind of trap-door, which, if it had
+been attempted on the outside, would not have
+opened at all, but would have fallen down, and make
+a great noise: as to weapons, I took them all into
+my side every night. But I needed none of all this
+precaution; for never man had a more faithful, loving,
+sincere servant, than Friday was to me; without
+passions, sullenness, or designs, perfectly obliged
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page268" id="page268"></a>[pg 268]</span>
+and engaged; his very affections were tied to me,
+like those of a child to a father; and I dare say, he
+would have sacrificed his life for the saving mine,
+upon any occasion whatsoever: the many testimonies
+he gave me of this put it out of doubt, and soon
+convinced me that I needed to use no precautions,
+as to my safety on his account.</p>
+
+<p>This frequently gave me occasion to observe, and
+that with wonder, that however it had pleased God,
+in his providence, and in the government of the
+works of his hands, to take from so great a part of
+the world of his creatures the best uses to which
+their faculties and the powers of their souls are
+adapted, yet that he has bestowed upon them the
+same powers, the same reason, the same affections,
+the same sentiments of kindness and obligation, the
+same passions and resentments of wrongs, the same
+sense of gratitude, sincerity, fidelity, and all the
+capacities of doing good, and receiving good, that
+he has given to us; and that when he pleases to offer
+them occasions of exerting these, they are as ready,
+nay, more ready, to apply them to the right uses for
+which they were bestowed, than we are. This made
+me very melancholy sometimes, in reflecting, as the
+several occasions presented, how mean a use we
+make of all these, even though we have these powers
+enlightened by the great lamp of instruction, the
+Spirit of God, and by the knowledge of his word
+added to our understanding; and why it has pleased
+God to hide the like saving knowledge from so many
+millions of souls, who, if I might judge by this poor
+savage, would make a much better use of it than we
+did. From hence, I sometimes was led too far, to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page269" id="page269"></a>[pg 269]</span>
+invade the sovereignty of Providence, and as it were
+arraign the justice of so arbitrary a disposition of
+things, that should hide that light from some, and
+reveal it to others, and yet expect a like duty from
+both; but I shut it up, and checked my thoughts
+with this conclusion: first, That we did not know
+by what light and law these should be condemned;
+but that as God was necessarily, and, by the nature
+of his being, infinitely holy and just, so it could not
+be, but if these creatures were all sentenced to absence
+from himself, it was on account of sinning
+against that light, which, as the Scripture says, was
+a law to themselves, and by such rules as their consciences
+would acknowledge to be just, though the
+foundation was not discovered to us; and, secondly,
+That still, as we all are the clay in the hand of the
+potter, no vessel could say to him, "Why hast thou
+formed me thus?"</p>
+
+<p>But to return to my new companion:&mdash;I was
+greatly delighted with him, and made it my business
+to teach him every thing that was proper to make
+him useful, handy, and helpful; but especially to
+make him speak, and understand me when I spoke:
+and he was the aptest scholar that ever was; and
+particularly was so merry, so constantly diligent,
+and so pleased when he could but understand me,
+or make me understand him, that it was very pleasant
+to me to talk to him. Now my life began to
+be so easy, that I began to say to myself, that could
+I but have been safe from more savages, I cared not
+if I was never to remove from the place where I
+lived.</p>
+
+<p>After I had been two or three days returned to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page270" id="page270"></a>[pg 270]</span>
+my castle, I thought that, in order to bring Friday
+off from his horrid way of feeding, and from the
+relish of a cannibal's stomach, I ought to let him
+taste other flesh; so I took him out with me one
+morning to the woods. I went, indeed, intending to
+kill a kid out of my own flock, and bring it home
+and dress it; but as I was going, I saw a she-goat
+lying down in the shade, and two young kids sitting
+by her. I catched hold of Friday;&mdash;Hold, said I;
+stand still; and made signs to him not to stir: immediately
+I presented my piece, shot, and killed one
+of the kids. The poor creature, who had, at a distance,
+indeed, seen me kill the savage, his enemy,
+but did not know, nor could imagine, how it was
+done, was sensibly surprised, trembled and shook,
+and looked so amazed, that I thought he would
+have sunk down. He did not see the kid I shot at,
+or perceive I had killed it, but ripped up his waistcoat,
+to feel whether he was not wounded; and, as
+I found presently, thought I was resolved to kill
+him: for he came and kneeled down to me, and
+embracing my knees, said a great many things I did
+not understand; but I could easily see the meaning
+was, to pray me not to kill him.</p>
+
+<p>I soon found a way to convince him that I would
+do him no harm; and taking him up by the hand,
+laughed at him, and pointing to the kid which I had
+killed, beckoned to him to run and fetch it, which
+he did: and while he was wondering, and looking to
+see how the creature was killed, I loaded my gun
+again. By and by, I saw a great fowl, like a hawk,
+sitting upon a tree, within shot; so, to let Friday
+understand a little what I would do, I called him to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page271" id="page271"></a>[pg 271]</span>
+me again, pointed at the fowl, which was indeed a
+parrot, though I thought it had been a hawk; I
+say, pointing to the parrot, and to my gun, and to
+the ground under the parrot, to let him see I would
+make it fall, I made him understand that I would
+shoot and kill that bird; accordingly, I fired, and
+bade him look, and immediately he saw the parrot
+fall. He stood like one frightened again, notwithstanding
+all I had said to him; and I found he was
+the more amazed, because he did not see me put
+any thing into the gun, but thought that there must
+be some wonderful fund of death and destruction
+in that thing, able to kill man, beast, bird, or any
+thing near or far off; and the astonishment this
+created in him was such, as could not wear off for
+a long time; and I believe, if I would have let him,
+he would have worshipped me and my gun. As for
+the gun itself, he would not so much as touch it for
+several days after; but he would speak to it, and
+talk to it, as if it had answered him, when he was
+by himself; which, as I afterwards learned of him,
+was to desire it not to kill him. Well, after his
+astonishment was a little over at this, I pointed to
+him to run and fetch the bird I had shot, which he
+did, but staid some time; for the parrot, not being
+quite dead, had fluttered away a good distance from
+the place where she fell: however, he found her,
+took her up, and brought her to me; and as I had
+perceived his ignorance about the gun before, I took
+this advantage to charge the gun again, and not to
+let him see me do it, that I might be ready for any
+other mark that might present; but nothing more
+offered at that time: so I brought home the kid,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page272" id="page272"></a>[pg 272]</span>
+and the same evening I took the skin off, and cut it
+out as well as I could; and having a pot fit for that
+purpose, I boiled or stewed some of the flesh, and
+made some very good broth. After I had begun to
+eat some, I gave some to my man, who seemed very
+glad of it, and liked it very well; but that which
+was strangest to him, was to see me eat salt with it.
+He made a sign to me that the salt was not good to
+eat; and putting a little into his own mouth, he
+seemed to nauseate it, and would spit and sputter
+at it, washing his mouth with fresh water after it:
+on the other hand, I took some meat into my mouth
+without salt, and I pretended to spit and sputter
+for want of salt, as fast as he had done at the salt;
+but it would not do; he would never care for salt
+with his meat or in his broth; at least, not for a
+great while, and then but a very little.</p>
+
+<p>Having thus fed him with boiled meat and broth,
+I was resolved to feast him the next day with roasting
+a piece of the kid: this I did, by hanging it before
+the fire on a string, as I had seen many people
+do in England, setting two poles up, one on each
+side of the fire, and one across on the top, and tying
+the string to the cross stick, letting the meat turn
+continually. This Friday admired very much; but
+when he came to taste the flesh, he took so many
+ways to tell me how well he liked it, that I could
+not but understand him: and at last he told me, as
+well as he could, he would never eat man's flesh
+any more, which I was very glad to hear.</p>
+
+<p>The next day, I set him to work to beating some
+corn out, and sifting it in the manner I used to do,
+as I observed before; and he soon understood how
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page273" id="page273"></a>[pg 273]</span>
+to do it as well as I, especially after he had seen
+what the meaning of it was, and that it was to make
+bread of; for after that I let him see me make my
+bread, and bake it too; and in a little time Friday
+was able to do all the work for me, as well as I could
+do it myself.</p>
+
+<p>I began now to consider, that having two mouths
+to feed instead of one, I must provide more ground
+for my harvest, and plant a larger quantity of corn
+than I used to do; so I marked out a larger piece
+of land, and began the fence in the same manner as
+before, in which Friday worked not only very willingly
+and very hard, but did it very cheerfully: and
+I told him what it was for; that it was for corn to
+make more bread, because he was now with me,
+and that I might have enough for him and myself
+too. He appeared very sensible of that part, and
+let me know that he thought I had much more labour
+upon me on his account, than I had for myself;
+and that he would work the harder for me, if I
+would tell him what to do.</p>
+
+<p>This was the pleasantest year of all the life I led
+in this place; Friday began to talk pretty well, and
+understand the names of almost every thing I had
+occasion to call for, and of every place I had to send
+him to, and talked a great deal to me; so that, in
+short, I began now to have some use for my tongue
+again, which, indeed, I had very little occasion for
+before, that is to say, about speech. Besides the
+pleasure of talking to him, I had a singular satisfaction
+in the fellow himself: his simple unfeigned
+honesty appeared to me more and more every day,
+and I began really to love the creature; and, on his
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page274" id="page274"></a>[pg 274]</span>
+side, I believe he loved me more than it was possible
+for him ever to love any thing before.</p>
+
+<p>I had a mind once to try if he had any hankering
+inclination to his own country again; and having
+taught him English so well that he could answer
+me almost any question, I asked him whether the
+nation that he belonged to never conquered in battle?
+At which he smiled, and said, "Yes, yes, we
+always fight the better:" that is, he meant, always
+get the better in fight; and so we began the following
+discourse:</p>
+
+<p><i>Master</i>. You always fight the better; how came
+you to be taken prisoner then, Friday?</p>
+
+<p><i>Friday</i>. My nation beat much for all that.</p>
+
+<p><i>Master</i>. How beat? If your nation beat them,
+how came you to be taken?</p>
+
+<p><i>Friday</i>. They more many than my nation in the
+place where me was; they take one, two, three, and
+me: my nation over-beat them in the yonder place,
+where me no was; there my nation take one, two,
+great thousand.</p>
+
+<p><i>Master</i>. But why did not your side recover you
+from the hands of your enemies then?</p>
+
+<p><i>Friday</i>. They run one, two, three, and me, and
+make go in the canoe; my nation have no canoe
+that time.</p>
+
+<p><i>Master</i>. Well, Friday, and what does your nation
+do with the men they take? Do they carry them
+away and eat them, as these did?</p>
+
+<p><i>Friday</i>. Yes, my nation eat mans too; eat all up.</p>
+
+<p><i>Master</i>. Where do they carry them?</p>
+
+<p><i>Friday</i>. Go to other place, where they think.</p>
+
+<p><i>Master</i>. Do they come hither?</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page275" id="page275"></a>[pg 275]</span>
+
+<p><i>Friday</i>. Yes, yes, they come hither; come other
+else place.</p>
+
+<p><i>Master</i>. Have you been here with them?</p>
+
+<p><i>Friday</i>. Yes, I have been here (points to the
+N.W. side of the island, which, it seems, was their
+side.)</p>
+
+<p>By this I understood that my man Friday had formerly
+been among the savages who used to come on
+shore on the farther part of the island, on the same
+man-eating occasions he was now brought for; and,
+some time after, when I took the courage to carry
+him to that side, being the same I formerly mentioned,
+he presently knew the place, and told me he
+was there once when they eat up twenty men, two
+women, and one child: he could not tell twenty in
+English, but he numbered them, by laying so many
+stones in a row, and pointing to me to tell them
+over.</p>
+
+<p>I have told this passage, because it introduces
+what follows; that after I had this discourse with
+him, I asked him how far it was from our island to
+the shore, and whether the canoes were not often
+lost. He told me there was no danger, no canoes
+ever lost; but that, after a little way out to sea,
+there was a current and wind, always one way in
+the morning, the other in the afternoon. This I
+understood to be no more than the sets of the tide,
+as going out or coming in; but I afterwards understood
+it was occasioned by the great draft and reflux
+of the mighty river Oroonoko, in the mouth or
+gulf of which river, as I found afterwards, our
+island lay; and that this land which I perceived to
+the W. and N.W. was the great island Trinidad, on
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page276" id="page276"></a>[pg 276]</span>
+the north point of the mouth of the river. I asked
+Friday a thousand questions about the country, the
+inhabitants, the sea, the coast, and what nations
+were near: he told me all he knew, with the greatest
+openness imaginable. I asked him the names of
+the several nations of his sort of people, but could
+get no other name than Caribs: from whence I
+easily understood, that these were the Caribbees,
+which our maps place on the part of America which
+reaches from the mouth of the river Oroonoko to
+Guiana, and onwards to St. Martha. He told me
+that up a great way beyond the moon, that was,
+beyond the setting of the moon, which must be west
+from their country, there dwelt white bearded men,
+like me, and pointed to my great whiskers, which I
+mentioned before; and that they had killed much
+mans, that was his word: by all which I understood,
+he meant the Spaniards, whose cruelties in
+America had been spread over the whole country,
+and were remembered by all the nations, from father
+to son.</p>
+
+<p>I inquired if he could tell me how I might go
+from this island and get among those white men;
+he told me, Yes, yes, you may go in two canoe. I
+could not understand what he meant, or make him
+describe to me what he meant by two canoe; till,
+at last, with great difficulty, I found he meant it
+must be in a large boat, as big as two canoes. This
+part of Friday's discourse began to relish with me
+very well; and from this time I entertained some
+hopes that, one time or other, I might find an opportunity
+to make my escape from this place, and
+that this poor savage might be a means to help me.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page277" id="page277"></a>[pg 277]</span>
+
+<p>During the long time that Friday had now been
+with me, and that he began to speak to me, and
+understand me, I was not wanting to lay a foundation
+of religious knowledge in his mind: particularly
+I asked him one time, Who made him? The poor
+creature did not understand me at all, but thought
+I had asked him who was his father: but I took it
+up by another handle, and asked him who made the
+sea, the ground we walked on, and the hills and
+woods? He told me, it was one old Benamuckee,
+that lived beyond all; he could describe nothing of
+this great person, but that he was very old, much
+older, he said, than the sea or the land, than the
+moon or the stars. I asked him then, if this old
+person had made all things, why did not all things
+worship him? He looked very grave, and with a
+perfect look of innocence said, All things say O to
+him. I asked him if the people who die in his
+country went away any where? He said, Yes; they
+all went to Benamuckee: then I asked him whether
+these they eat up went thither too? He said, Yes.</p>
+
+<p>From these things I began to instruct him in the
+knowledge of the true God: I told him that the
+great Maker of all things lived up there, pointing
+up towards heaven; that he governed the world by
+the same power and providence by which he made
+it; that he was omnipotent, and could do every
+thing for us, give every thing to us, take every thing
+from us; and thus, by degrees, I opened his eyes.
+He listened with great attention, and received with
+pleasure the notion of Jesus Christ being sent to
+redeem us, and of the manner of making our prayers
+to God, and his being able to hear us, even in heaven.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page278" id="page278"></a>[pg 278]</span>
+He told me one day, that if our God could hear us
+up beyond the sun, he must needs be a greater God
+than their Benamuckee, who lived but a little way
+off, and yet could not hear till they went up to the
+great mountains where he dwelt to speak to him.
+I asked him if ever he went thither to speak to
+him? He said, No; they never went that were
+young men; none went thither but the old men,
+whom he called their Oowokakee; that is, as I
+made him explain it to me, their religious, or
+clergy; and that they went to say O (so he called
+saying prayers,) and then came back, and told them
+what Benamuckee said. By this I observed, that
+there is priestcraft even among the most blinded,
+ignorant pagans in the world; and the policy of
+making a secret of religion, in order to preserve the
+veneration of the people to the clergy, is not only
+to be found in the Roman, but perhaps among all
+religions in the world, even among the most brutish
+and barbarous savages.</p>
+
+<p>I endeavoured to clear up this fraud to my man
+Friday; and told him, that the pretence of their old
+men going up to the mountains to say O to their
+god Benamuckee was a cheat; and their bringing
+word from thence what he said was much more so;
+that if they met with any answer, or spake with any
+one there, it must be with an evil spirit: and then
+I entered into a long discourse with him about the
+devil, the original of him, his rebellion against God,
+his enmity to man, the reason of it, his setting himself
+up in the dark parts of the world to be worshipped
+instead of God, and as God, and the many
+stratagems he made use of to delude mankind to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page279" id="page279"></a>[pg 279]</span>
+their ruin; how he had a secret access to our passions
+and to our affections, and to adapt his snares
+to our inclinations, so as to cause us even to be our
+own tempters, and run upon our destruction by our
+own choice.</p>
+
+<p>I found it was not so easy to imprint right notions
+in his mind about the devil, as it was about the
+being of a God: nature assisted all my arguments
+to evidence to him even the necessity of a great
+First Cause, and over-ruling, governing Power, a
+secret, directing Providence, and of the equity and
+justice of paying homage to him that made us, and
+the like; but there appeared nothing of this kind
+in the notion of an evil spirit; of his original, his
+being, his nature, and, above all, of his inclination
+to do evil, and to draw us in to do so too: and the
+poor creature puzzled me once in such a manner, by
+a question merely natural and innocent, that I scarce
+knew what to say to him. I had been talking a
+great deal to him of the power of God, his omnipotence,
+his aversion to sin, his being a consuming
+fire to the workers of iniquity; how, as he had
+made us all, he could destroy us and all the world
+in a moment; and he listened with great seriousness
+to me all the while. After this, I had been telling
+him how the devil was God's enemy in the hearts of
+men, and used all his malice and skill to defeat the
+good designs of Providence, and to ruin the kingdom
+of Christ in the world, and the like. "Well,"
+says Friday, "but you say God is so strong, so
+great; is he not much strong, much might as the
+devil?"&mdash;"Yes, yes," says I, "Friday, God is
+stronger than the devil: God is above the devil,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page280" id="page280"></a>[pg 280]</span>
+and therefore we pray to God to tread him down
+under our feet, and enable us to resist his temptations,
+and quench his fiery darts."&mdash;"But," says he
+again, "if God much stronger, much might as the
+devil, why God no kill the devil, so make him no
+more do wicked?" I was strangely surprised at this
+question; and, after all, though I was now an old
+man, yet I was but a young doctor, and ill qualified
+for a casuist, or a solver of difficulties; and, at first,
+I could not tell what to say; so I pretended not to
+hear him, and asked him what he said; but he was
+too earnest for an answer, to forget his question, so
+that he repeated it in the very same broken words
+as above. By this time I had recovered myself a
+little, and I said, "God will at last punish him
+severely; he is reserved for the judgment, and is to
+be cast into the bottomless pit, to dwell with everlasting
+fire." This did not satisfy Friday; but he
+returns upon me, repeating my words, "<i>Reserve at
+last</i>! me no understand: but why not kill the devil
+now; not kill great ago?"&mdash;"You may as well ask
+me," said I, "why God does not kill you and me,
+when we do wicked things here that offend him:
+we are preserved to repent and be pardoned." He
+mused some time on this: "Well, well," says he,
+mighty affectionately, "that well: so you, I, devil,
+all wicked, all preserve, repent, God pardon all."
+Here I was run down again by him to the last degree;
+and it was a testimony to me, how the mere
+notions of nature, though they will guide reasonable
+creatures to the knowledge of a God, and of a worship
+or homage due to the supreme being of God,
+as the consequence of our nature, yet nothing but
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page281" id="page281"></a>[pg 281]</span>
+divine revelation can form the knowledge of Jesus
+Christ, and of redemption purchased for us, of a
+Mediator of the new covenant, and of an Intercessor
+at the footstool of God's throne; I say, nothing but
+a revelation from Heaven can form these in the
+soul; and that, therefore, the gospel of our Lord
+and Saviour Jesus Christ, I mean the Word of God,
+and the Spirit of God, promised for the guide and
+sanctifier of his people, are the absolutely necessary
+instructors of the souls of men in the saving knowledge
+of God, and the means of salvation.</p>
+
+<p>I therefore diverted the present discourse between
+me and my man, rising up hastily, as upon some
+sudden occasion of going out; then sending him
+for something a good way off, I seriously prayed to
+God that he would enable me to instruct savingly
+this poor savage; assisting, by his Spirit, the heart
+of the poor ignorant creature to receive the light of
+the knowledge of God in Christ, reconciling him to
+himself, and would guide me to speak so to him from
+the word of God, as his conscience might be convinced,
+his eyes opened, and his soul saved. When
+he came again to me, I entered into a long discourse
+with him upon the subject of the redemption of
+man by the Saviour of the world, and of the doctrine
+of the gospel preached from heaven, viz. of
+repentance towards God, and faith in our blessed
+Lord Jesus. I then explained to him as well as I
+could; why our blessed Redeemer took not on him
+the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham;
+and how, for that reason, the fallen angels had no
+share in the redemption; that he came only to the
+lost sheep of the house of Israel, and the like.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page282" id="page282"></a>[pg 282]</span>
+
+<p>I had, God knows, more sincerity than knowledge
+in all the methods I took for this poor creature's
+instruction, and must acknowledge, what I
+believe all that act upon the same principle will
+find, that in laying things open to him, I really informed
+and instructed myself in many things that
+either I did not know, or had not fully considered
+before, but which occurred naturally to my mind
+upon searching into them, for the information of
+this poor savage; and I had more affection in my
+inquiry after things upon this occasion than ever I
+felt before: so that, whether this poor wild wretch
+was the better for me or no, I had great reason to
+be thankful that ever he came to me; my grief sat
+lighter upon me; my habitation grew comfortable
+to me beyond measure: and when I reflected, that
+in this solitary life which I had been confined to, I
+had not only been moved to look up to heaven myself,
+and to seek to the hand that had brought me
+here, but was now to be made an instrument, under
+Providence, to save the life, and, for aught I knew,
+the soul, of a poor savage, and bring him to the
+true knowledge of religion, and of the Christian
+doctrine, that he might know Christ Jesus, in whom
+is life eternal; I say, when I reflected upon all these
+things, a secret joy ran through every part of my
+soul, and I frequently rejoiced that ever I was
+brought to this place, which I had so often thought
+the most dreadful of all afflictions that could possibly
+have befallen me.</p>
+
+<p>I continued in this thankful frame all the remainder
+of my time; and the conversation which
+employed the hours between Friday and me was
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page283" id="page283"></a>[pg 283]</span>
+such, as made the three years which we lived there
+together perfectly and completely happy, if any
+such thing as complete happiness can he formed in
+a sublunary state. This savage was now a good
+Christian, a much better than I; though I have
+reason to hope, and bless God for it, that we were
+equally penitent, and comforted, restored penitents.
+We had here the word of God to read, and no farther
+off from his Spirit to instruct, than if we had
+been in England. I always applied myself, in reading
+the Scriptures, to let him know, as well as I could,
+the meaning of what I read; and he again, by his
+serious inquiries and questionings, made me, as I
+said before, a much better scholar in the Scripture-knowledge
+than I should ever have been by my
+own mere private reading. Another thing I cannot
+refrain from observing here also, from experience
+in this retired part of my life, viz. how infinite
+and inexpressible a blessing it is that the knowledge
+of God; and of the doctrine of salvation by
+Christ Jesus, is so plainly laid down in the word of
+God, so easy to be received and understood, that,
+as the bare reading the Scripture made me capable
+of understanding enough of my duty to carry me
+directly on to the great work of sincere repentance
+for my sins, and laying hold of a Saviour for life
+and salvation, to a stated reformation in practice,
+and obedience to all God's commands, and this
+without any teacher or instructor, I mean human;
+so the same plain instruction sufficiently served to
+the enlightening this savage creature, and bringing
+him to be such a Christian, as I have known few
+equal to him in my life.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page284" id="page284"></a>[pg 284]</span>
+
+<p>As to all the disputes, wrangling, strife, and contention
+which have happened in the world about
+religion, whether niceties in doctrines, or schemes
+of church-government, they were all perfectly useless
+to us, and, for aught I can yet see, they have
+been so to the rest of the world. We had the sure
+guide to heaven, viz. the word of God; and we had,
+blessed be God, comfortable views of the Spirit of
+God teaching and instructing us by his word, leading
+us into all truth, and making us both willing
+and obedient to the instruction of his word. And I
+cannot see the least use that the greatest knowledge
+of the disputed points of religion, which have made
+such confusions in the world, would have been to
+us, if we could have obtained it.&mdash;But I must go
+on with the historical part of things, and take every
+part in its order.</p>
+
+<p>After Friday and I became more intimately acquainted,
+and that he could understand almost all I
+said to him, and speak pretty fluently, though in
+broken English, to me, I acquainted him with my
+own history, or at least so much of it as related to
+my coming to this place; how I had lived here, and
+how long: I let him into the mystery, for such it
+was to him, of gunpowder and bullet, and taught
+him how to shoot. I gave him a knife; which he
+was wonderfully delighted with; and I made him a
+belt, with a frog hanging to it, such as in England
+we wear hangers in; and in the frog, instead of a
+hanger, I gave him a hatchet, which was not only
+as good a weapon, in some cases, but much more
+useful upon other occasions.</p>
+
+<p>I described to him the country of Europe, particularly
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page285" id="page285"></a>[pg 285]</span>
+England, which I came from; how we lived,
+how we worshipped God, how we behaved to one
+another, and how we traded in ships to all parts of
+the world. I gave him an account of the wreck
+which I had been on board of, and showed him, as
+near as I could, the place where she lay; but she
+was all beaten in pieces before, and gone. I showed
+him the ruins of our boat, which we lost when we
+escaped, and which I could not stir with my whole
+strength then; but was now fallen almost all to
+pieces. Upon seeing this boat, Friday stood musing
+a great while, and said nothing. I asked him what
+it was he studied upon? At last, says he, "Me see
+such boat like come to place at my nation." I did
+not understand him a good while; but, at last,
+when I had examined farther into it, I understood
+by him, that a boat, such as that had been, came
+on shore upon the country where he lived; that is,
+as he explained it, was driven thither by stress of
+weather. I presently imagined that some European
+ship must have been cast away upon their coast,
+and the boat might get loose, and drive ashore; but
+was so dull, that I never once thought of men making
+their escape from a wreck thither, much less
+whence they might come: so I only inquired after a
+description of the boat.</p>
+
+<p>Friday described the boat to me well enough;
+but brought me better to understand him when he
+added with some warmth, "We save the white
+mans from drown." Then I presently asked him,
+if there were any white mans, as he called them, in
+the boat? "Yes," he said; "the boat full of white
+mans." I asked him how many? He told upon his
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page286" id="page286"></a>[pg 286]</span>
+fingers seventeen, I asked him then what became
+of them? He told me, "They live, they dwell at
+my nation."</p>
+
+<p>This put new thoughts into my head; for I presently
+imagined that these might be the men belonging
+to the ship that was cast away in the sight
+of my island, as I now called it; and who, after
+the ship was struck on the rock, and they saw her
+inevitably lost, had saved themselves in their boat,
+and were landed upon that wild shore among the
+savages. Upon this, I inquired of him more critically
+what was become of them; he assured me they
+lived still there; that they had been there about four
+years; that the savages let them alone, and gave
+them victuals to live on. I asked him how it came
+to pass they did not kill them, and eat them? He
+said, "No, they make brother with them;" that
+is, as I understood him, a truce; and then he
+added, "They no eat mans but when make the war
+fight;" that is to say, they never eat any men but
+such as come to fight with them, and are taken in
+battle.</p>
+
+<p>It was after this some considerable time, that
+being upon the top of the hill, at the east side of
+the island, from whence, as I have said, I had, in a
+clear day, discovered the main or continent of
+America, Friday, the weather being very serene,
+looks very earnestly towards the main land, and, in
+a kind of surprise, fells a jumping and dancing,
+and calls out to me, for I was at some distance
+from him. I asked him what was the matter? "O
+joy!" says he; "O glad! there see my country,
+there my nation!" I observed an extraordinary
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page287" id="page287"></a>[pg 287]</span>
+sense of pleasure appeared in his face, and his
+eyes sparkled, and his countenance discovered a
+strange eagerness, as if he had a mind to be in his
+own country again. This observation of mine put
+a great many thoughts into me, which made me at
+first not so easy about my new man Friday as I
+was before; and I made no doubt but that if
+Friday could get back to his own nation again, he
+would not only forget all his religion, but all his
+obligation to me, and would be forward enough
+to give his countrymen an account of me, and
+come back perhaps with a hundred or two of them,
+and make a feast upon me, at which he might be
+as merry as he used to be with those of his enemies,
+when they were taken in war. But I wronged
+the poor honest creature very much, for which I
+was very sorry afterwards. However, as my jealousy
+increased, and held me some weeks, I was a little
+more circumspect, and not so familiar and kind to
+him as before: in which I was certainly in the wrong
+too; the honest, grateful creature, having no thought
+about it, but what consisted with the best principles,
+both as a religious Christian, and as a grateful
+friend; as appeared afterwards, to my full satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>While my jealousy of him lasted, you may be
+sure I was every day pumping him, to see if he
+would discover any of the new thoughts which I
+suspected were in him: but I found every thing he
+said was so honest and so innocent, that I could find
+nothing to nourish my suspicion; and, in spite of
+all my uneasiness, he made me at last entirely his
+own again; nor did he, in the least, perceive that I
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page288" id="page288"></a>[pg 288]</span>
+was uneasy, and therefore I could not suspect him
+of deceit.</p>
+
+<p>One day, walking up the same hill, but the weather
+being hazy at sea, so that we could not see the continent,
+I called to him, and said, "Friday, do not
+you wish yourself in your own country, your own
+nation?"&mdash;"Yes," he said, "I be much O glad to
+be at my own nation." "What would you do
+there?" said I: "would you turn wild again, eat
+men's flesh again, and be a savage as you were before?"
+He looked full of concern, and shaking his
+head, said, "No, no, Friday tell them to live good;
+tell them to pray God; tell them to eat corn-bread,
+cattle-flesh, milk; no eat man again."&mdash;" Why then,"
+said I to him, "they will kill you." He looked
+grave at that, and then said, "No, no; they no kill
+me, they willing love learn." He meant by this,
+they would be willing to learn. He added, they
+learned much of the bearded mans that came in
+the boat. Then I asked him if he would go back
+to them. He smiled at that, and told me that he
+could not swim so far. I told him, I would make
+a canoe for him. He told me he would go, if I
+would go with him. "I go!" says I, "why, they
+will eat me if I come there."&mdash;"No, no," says he,
+"me make they no eat you; me make they much
+love you," He meant, he would tell them how I
+had killed his enemies, and saved his life, and so he
+would make them love me. Then he told me, as
+well as he could, how kind they were to seventeen
+white men, or bearded men, as he called them, who
+came on shore there in distress.</p>
+
+<p>From this time, I confess I had a mind to venture
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page289" id="page289"></a>[pg 289]</span>
+over, and see if I could possibly join with those
+bearded men, who, I made no doubt, were Spaniards
+and Portuguese: not doubting but if I could, we
+might find some method to escape from thence,
+being upon the continent, and a good company
+together, better than I could from an island forty
+miles off the shore, and alone, without help. So,
+after some days, I took Friday to work again, by
+way of discourse; and told him I would give him a
+boat to go back to his own nation; and accordingly
+I carried him to my frigate, which lay on the other
+side of the island, and having cleared it of water
+(for I always kept it sunk in water,) I brought it
+out, showed it him, and we both went into it. I
+found he was a most dexterous fellow at managing
+it, and would make it go almost as swift again as I
+could. So when he was in, I said to him, "Well,
+now, Friday, shall we go to your nation?" He
+looked very dull at my saying so; which, it seems,
+was because he thought the boat too small to go so
+far: I then told him I had a bigger; so the next
+day I went to the place where the first boat lay
+which I had made, but which I could not get into
+the water. He said that was big enough: but then,
+as I had taken no care of it, and it had lain two or
+three and twenty years there, the sun had split and
+dried it, that, it was in a manner rotten. Friday
+told me such a boat would do very well, and would
+carry "much enough vittle, drink, bread;" that
+was his way of talking.</p>
+
+<p>Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon
+my design of going over with him to the continent,
+that I told him we would go and make one as big
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page290" id="page290"></a>[pg 290]</span>
+as that, and he should go home in it. He answered
+not one word, but looked very grave and sad. I
+asked him what was the matter with him? He
+asked me again, "Why you angry mad with Friday?
+what me done?" I asked him what he meant: I
+told him I was not angry with him at all. "No
+angry!" says he, repeating the words several times,
+"why send Friday home away to my nation?"&mdash;"Why,"
+says I, "Friday, did not you say you
+wished you were there?"&mdash;"Yes, yes," says he,
+"wish be both there; no wish Friday there, no
+master there." In a word, he would not think of
+going there without me. "I go there, Friday!"
+says I, "what shall I do there?" He returned very
+quick upon me at this: "You do great deal much
+good," says he; "you teach wild mans be good,
+sober, tame mans; you tell them know God, pray
+God, and live new life."&mdash;"Alas! Friday," says I,
+"thou knowest not what thou sayest; I am but an
+ignorant man myself."&mdash;"Yes, yes," says he, "you
+teachee me good, you teachee them good."&mdash;"No,
+no, Friday," says I, "you shall go without me; leave
+me here to live by myself, as I did before." He
+looked confused again at that word; and running
+to one of the hatchets which he used to wear, he
+takes it up hastily, and gives it to me. "What
+must I do with this?" says I to him. "You take
+kill Friday," says he. "What must I kill you for?"
+said I again. He returns very quick, "What you
+send Friday away for? Take kill Friday, no send
+Friday away." This he spoke so earnestly, that I
+saw tears stand in his eyes: in a word, I so plainly
+discovered the utmost affection in him to me, and a
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page291" id="page291"></a>[pg 291]</span>
+firm resolution in him, that I told him then, and
+often after, that I would never send him away from
+me, if he was willing to stay with me.</p>
+
+<p>Upon the whole, as I found, by all his discourse,
+a settled affection to me, and that nothing should
+part him from me, so I found all the foundation of
+his desire to go to his own country was laid in his
+ardent affection to the people, and his hopes of my
+doing them good; a thing, which, as I had no notion
+of myself, so I had not the least thought, or intention,
+or desire of undertaking it. But still I found
+a strong inclination to my attempting an escape, as
+above, founded on the supposition gathered from
+the discourse, viz. that there were seventeen bearded
+men there: and, therefore, without any more delay,
+I went to work with Friday, to find out a great tree
+proper to fell, and make a large periagua, or canoe,
+to undertake the voyage. There were trees enough
+in the island to have built a little fleet, not of
+periaguas, or canoes, but even of good large vessels:
+but the main thing I looked at was, to get one so
+near the water that we might launch it when it was
+made, to avoid the mistake I committed at first.
+At last, Friday pitched upon a tree; for I found he
+knew much better than I what kind of wood was
+fittest for it; nor can I tell, to this day, what wood
+to call the tree we cut down, except that it was very
+like the tree we call fustic, or between that and the
+Nicaragua wood, for it was much of the same colour
+and smell. Friday was for burning the hollow or
+cavity of this tree out, to make it for a boat, but I
+showed him how to cut it with tools; which" after I
+had showed him how to use, he did very handily:
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page292" id="page292"></a>[pg 292]</span>
+and in about a month's hard labour we finished it,
+and made it very handsome; especially when, with
+our axes, which I showed him how to handle, we
+cut and hewed the outside into the true shape of a
+boat. After this, however, it cost us near a fortnight's
+time to get her along, as it were inch by
+inch, upon great rollers into the water; but when
+she was in, she would have carried twenty men with
+great ease.</p>
+
+<p>When she was in the water, and though she was
+so big, it amazed me to see with what dexterity,
+and how swift my man Friday would manage her,
+turn her, and paddle her along. So I asked him
+if he would, and if we might venture over in her.
+"Yes," he said, "we venture over in her very well,
+though great blow wind." However, I had a farther
+design that he knew nothing of, and that was
+to make a mast and a sail, and to fit her with an
+anchor and cable. As to a mast, that was easy
+enough to get; so I pitched upon a straight young
+cedar tree, which I found near the place, and which
+there were great plenty of in the island: and I set
+Friday to work to cut it down, and gave him directions
+how to shape and order it. But as to the sail,
+that was my particular care. I knew I had old sails,
+or rather pieces of old sails enough; but as I had
+had them now six and twenty years by me, and had
+not been very careful to preserve them, not imagining
+that I should ever have this kind of use for them,
+I did not doubt but they were all rotten, and, indeed,
+most of them were so. However, I found
+two pieces, which appeared pretty good, and with
+these I went to work; and with a great deal of pains,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page293" id="page293"></a>[pg 293]</span>
+and awkward stitching, you may be sure, for want
+of needles, I, at length, made a three-cornered ugly
+thing, like what we call in England a shoulder of
+mutton sail, to go with a boom at bottom, and a
+little short sprit at the top, such as usually our ships'
+long-boats sail with, and such as I best knew how
+to manage, as it was such a one I had to the boat
+in which I made my escape from Barbary, as related
+in the first part of my story.</p>
+
+<p>I was near two months performing this last work,
+viz. rigging and fitting my mast and sails; for I
+finished them very complete, making a small stay,
+and a sail, or fore-sail, to it, to assist, if we should
+turn to windward; and, which was more than all,
+I fixed a rudder to the stern of her to steer with. I
+was but a bungling shipwright, yet, as I knew the
+usefulness, and even necessity of such a thing, I
+applied myself with so much pains to do it, that at
+last I brought it to pass; though, considering the
+many dull contrivances I had for it that failed, I
+think it cost me almost as much labour as making
+the boat.</p>
+
+<p>After all this was done, I had my man Friday to
+teach as to what belonged to the navigation of my
+boat; for, though he knew very well how to paddle
+a canoe, he knew nothing what belonged to a sail
+and a rudder; and was the most amazed when he
+saw me work the boat to and again in the sea by
+the rudder, and how the sail gibbed, and filled this
+way, or that way, as the course we sailed changed;
+I say, when he saw this, he stood like one astonished
+and amazed. However, with a little use, I made
+all these things familiar to him, and he became an
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page294" id="page294"></a>[pg 294]</span>
+expert sailor, except that as to the compass; I could
+make him understand very little of that. On the
+other hand, as there was very little cloudy weather,
+and seldom or never any fogs in those parts, there
+was the less occasion for a compass, seeing the stars
+were always to be seen by night, and the shore by
+day, except in the rainy seasons, and then nobody
+cared to stir abroad, either by land or sea.</p>
+
+<p>I was now entered on the seven and twentieth
+year of my captivity in this place; though the three
+last years that I had this creature with me ought
+rather to be left out of the account, my habitation
+being quite of another kind than in all the rest of
+the time. I kept the anniversary of my landing
+here with the same thankfulness to God for his mercies
+as at first; and if I had such cause of acknowledgment
+at first, I had much more so now, having
+such additional testimonies of the care of Providence
+over me, and the great hopes I had of being effectually
+and speedily delivered; for I had an invincible
+impression upon my thoughts that my deliverance
+was at hand, and that I should not be another
+year in this place. I went on, however, with my
+husbandry; digging, planting, and fencing, as usual.
+I gathered and cured my grapes, and did every
+necessary thing as before.</p>
+
+<p>The rainy season was, in the mean time, upon
+me, when I kept more within doors than at other
+times. We had stowed our new vessel as secure as
+we could, bringing her up into the creek, where,
+as I said in the beginning, I landed my rafts from
+the ship; and hauling her up to the shore, at high-water
+mark, I made my man Friday dig a little dock,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page295" id="page295"></a>[pg 295]</span>
+just big enough to hold her, and just deep enough
+to give her water enough to float in; and then,
+when the tide was out, we made a strong dam across
+the end of it, to keep the water out; and so she
+lay dry, as to the tide, from the sea; and to keep
+the rain off, we laid a great many boughs of trees,
+so thick, that she was as well thatched as a house;
+and thus we waited for the months of November
+and December, in which I designed to make my
+adventure.</p>
+
+<p>When the settled season began to come in, as
+the thought of my design returned with the fair
+weather, I was preparing daily for the voyage: and
+the first thing I did was to lay by a certain quantity
+of provisions, being the stores for our voyage: and
+intended, in a week or a fortnight's time, to open
+the dock, and launch out our boat. I was busy one
+morning upon something of this kind, when I called
+to Friday, and bid him go to the sea-shore, and see
+if he could find a turtle, or tortoise, a thing which
+we generally got once a week, for the sake of the
+eggs as well as the flesh. Friday had not been long
+gone, when he came running back and flew over
+my outer-wall, or fence, like one that felt not the
+ground, or the steps he set his feet on; and before
+I had time to speak to him, he cries out to me, "O
+master! O master! O sorrow! O bad!"&mdash;"What's
+the matter, Friday?' says I. "O yonder, there,"
+says he, "one, two, three canoe; one, two, three!"
+By this way of speaking, I concluded there were
+six; but, on inquiry, I found it was but three.
+"Well, Friday," says I, "do not be frightened."
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page296" id="page296"></a>[pg 296]</span>
+So I heartened him up as well as I could: however,
+I saw the poor fellow was most terribly scared; for
+nothing ran in his head but that they were come to
+look for him, and would cut him in pieces, and eat
+him; and the poor fellow trembled so, that I scarce
+knew what to do with him. I comforted him as
+well as I could, and told him I was in as much
+danger as he, and that they would eat me as well as
+him. "But," says I, "Friday, we must resolve to
+fight them. Can you fight, Friday!"&mdash;" Me shoot,"
+says he; but there come many great number."&mdash;No
+matter for that," said I, again; "our guns
+will fright them that we do not kill." So I asked
+him whether, if I resolved to defend him, he would
+defend me, and stand by me, and do just as I bid
+him. He said, "Me die, when you bid die, master."
+So I went and fetched a good dram of rum
+and gave him; for I had been so good a husband of
+my rum, that I had a great deal left. When he
+drank it, I made him take the two fowling-pieces,
+which we always carried, and loaded them with
+large swan-shot, as big as small pistol-bullets; then
+I took four muskets, and loaded them with two
+slugs, and five small bullets each; and my two pistols
+I loaded with a brace of bullets each; I hung
+my great sword, as usual, naked by my side, and
+gave Friday his hatchet. When I had thus prepared
+myself, I took my perspective-glass, and went up to
+the side of the hill, to see what I could discover;
+and I found quickly, by my glass, that there were
+one and twenty savages, three prisoners, and three
+canoes; and that their whole business seemed to be
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page297" id="page297"></a>[pg 297]</span>
+the triumphant banquet upon these three human
+bodies; a barbarous feast indeed! but nothing more
+than, as I had observed, was usual with them. I
+observed also, that they were landed, not where
+they had done when Friday made his escape, but
+nearer to my creek: where the shore was low, and
+where a thick wood came almost close down to the
+sea. This, with the abhorrence of the inhuman
+errand these wretches came about, filled me with
+such indignation, that I came down again to Friday,
+and told him I was resolved to go down to them,
+and kill them all; and asked him if he would stand
+by me. He had now got over his fright, and his
+spirits being a little raised with the dram I had given
+him, he was very cheerful, and told me, as before,
+he would die when I bid die.</p>
+
+<p>In this fit of fury, I took and divided the arms
+which I had charged, as before, between us: I gave
+Friday one pistol to stick in his girdle, and three
+guns upon his shoulder; and I took one pistol, and
+the other three guns, myself; and in this posture
+we marched out. I took a small bottle of rum in
+my pocket, and gave Friday a large bag with more
+powder and bullets; and, as to orders, I charged
+him to keep close behind me, and not to stir, or
+shoot, or do any thing, till I bid him; and, in the
+mean time, not to speak a word. In this posture,
+I fetched a compass to my right hand of near a
+mile, as well to get over the creek as to get into
+the wood, so that I might come within shot of
+them before I should be discovered, which I had
+seen, by my glass, it was easy to do.</p>
+
+<p>While I was making this march, my former
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page298" id="page298"></a>[pg 298]</span>
+thoughts returning, I began to abate my resolution:
+I do not mean that I entertained any fear of their
+number; for, as they were naked, unarmed wretches,
+it is certain I was superior to them; nay, though I
+had been alone. But it occurred to my thoughts,
+what call, what occasion, much less what necessity
+I was in, to go and dip my hands in blood, to attack
+people who had neither done or intended me any
+wrong? Who, as to me, were innocent, and whose
+barbarous customs were their own disaster; being,
+in them, a token indeed of God's having left them,
+with the other nations of that part of the world, to
+such stupidity, and to such inhuman courses; but
+did not call me to take upon me to be a judge of
+their actions, much less an executioner of his justice;
+that, whenever he thought fit, he would take
+the cause into his own hands, and, by national vengeance,
+punish them, as a people, for national
+crimes; but that, in the mean time, it was none of
+my business; that, it was true, Friday might justify
+it, because he was a declared enemy, and in a state
+of war with those very particular people, and it
+was lawful for him to attack them; but I could not
+say the same with respect to myself. These things
+were so warmly pressed upon my thoughts all the
+way as I went, that I resolved I would only go and
+place myself near them, that I might observe their
+barbarous feast, and that I would act then as God
+should direct; but that, unless something offered
+that was more a call to me than yet I knew of, I
+would not meddle with them.</p>
+
+<p>With this resolution I entered the wood; and,
+with all possible weariness and silence, Friday following
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page299" id="page299"></a>[pg 299]</span>
+close at my heels, I marched till I came to
+the skirt of the wood, on the side which was next
+to them, only that one corner of the wood lay between
+me and them. Here I called softly to Friday,
+and showing him a great tree, which was just at the
+corner of the wood, I bade him go to the tree, and
+bring me word if he could see there plainly what
+they were doing. He did so; and came immediately
+back to me, and told me they might be plainly
+viewed there; that they were all about their fire,
+eating the flesh of one of their prisoners, and that
+another lay bound upon the sand, a little from
+them, which, he said, they would kill next, and
+which fired the very soul within me. He told me
+it was not one of their nation, but one of the
+bearded men he had told me of, that came to their
+country in the boat. I was filled with horror at
+the very naming the white-bearded man; and,
+going to the tree, I saw plainly, by my glass, a white
+man, who lay upon the beach of the sea, with his
+hands and his feet tied with flags, or things like
+rushes, and that he was an European, and had
+clothes on.</p>
+
+<p>There was another tree, and a little thicket beyond
+it, about fifty yards nearer to them than the
+place where I was, which, by going a little way
+about, I saw I might come at undiscovered, and
+that then I should be within half a shot of them:
+so I withheld my passion, though I was indeed enraged
+to the highest degree; and going back about
+twenty paces, I got behind some bushes, which held
+all the way till I came to the other tree; and then
+came to a little rising ground, which gave me a
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page300" id="page300"></a>[pg 300]</span>
+full view of them, at the distance of about eighty
+yards.</p>
+
+<p>I had now not a moment to lose, for nineteen of
+the dreadful wretches sat upon the ground, all close
+huddled together, and had just sent the other two
+to butcher the poor Christian, and bring him, perhaps,
+limb by limb, to their fire; and they were
+stooping down to untie the bands at his feet. I
+turned to Friday&mdash;"Now, Friday," said I, "do as
+I bid thee." Friday said he would. "Then, Friday,"
+says I, "do exactly as you see me do; fail in
+nothing." So I set down one of the muskets and
+the fowling-piece upon the ground, and Friday did
+the like by his; and with the other musket I took
+my aim at the savages, bidding him to do the like:
+then asking him if he was ready, he said, "Yes."
+"Then fire at them," said I; and the same moment
+I fired also.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width:35%;"><a href="images/300.jpg"><img width = "100%" src="images/300.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
+
+<p>Friday took his aim so much better than I, that
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page301" id="page301"></a>[pg 301]</span>
+on the side that he shot, he killed two of them, and
+wounded three more; and on my side, I killed one,
+and wounded two. They were, you may be sure,
+in a dreadful consternation; and all of them who
+were not hurt jumped upon their feet, but did not
+immediately know which way to run, or which way
+to look, for they knew not from whence their destruction
+came. Friday kept his eyes close upon
+me, that, as I had bid him, he might observe what I
+did; so, as soon as the first shot was made, I threw
+down the piece, and took up the fowling-piece, and
+Friday did the like: he saw me cock and present;
+he did the same again. "Are you ready, Friday?"
+said I.&mdash;"Yes," says he. "Let fly, then," says I,
+"in the name of God!" and with that, I fired again
+among the amazed wretches, and so did Friday;
+and as our pieces were now loaden with what I
+called swan-shot, or small pistol-bullets, we found
+only two drop, but so many were wounded, that
+they ran about yelling and screaming like mad
+creatures, all bloody, and most of them miserably
+wounded, whereof three more fell quickly after,
+though not quite dead.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Friday," says I, laying down the discharged
+pieces, and taking up the musket which
+was yet loaden, "follow me;" which he did with
+a great deal of courage; upon which I rushed out
+of the wood, and showed myself, and Friday close
+at my foot. As soon as I perceived they saw me, I
+shouted as loud as I could, and bade Friday do so
+too; and running as fast as I could, which, by the
+way, was not very fast, being loaded with arms as
+I was, I made directly towards the poor victim, who
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page302" id="page302"></a>[pg 302]</span>
+was, as I said, lying upon, the beach, or shore, between
+the place where they sat and the sea. The
+two butchers, who were just going to work with
+him, had left him at the surprise of our first fire,
+and fled in a terrible fright to the sea-side, and had
+jumped into a canoe, and three more of the rest
+made the same way. I turned to Friday, and bade
+him step forwards, and fire at them; he understood
+me immediately, and running about forty yards, to
+be nearer them, he shot at them, and I thought he
+had killed them all, for I saw them all fall of a heap
+into the boat, though I saw two of them up again
+quickly: however, he killed two of them, and
+wounded the third so, that he lay down in the bottom
+of the boat as if he had been dead.</p>
+
+<p>While my man Friday fired at them, I pulled out
+my knife and cut the flags that bound the poor victim;
+and loosing his hands and feet, I lifted him
+up, and asked him in the Portuguese tongue, what
+he was. He answered in Latin, Christianus; but
+was so weak and faint that he could scarce stand or
+speak. I took my bottle out of my pocket, and
+gave it him, making signs that he should drink,
+which he did; and I gave him a piece of bread,
+which he eat. Then I asked him what countryman
+he was: and he said, Espagniole; and being a little
+recovered, let me know, by all the signs he could
+possibly make, how much he was in my debt for his
+deliverance. "Seignior," said I, with as much
+Spanish as I could make up, "we will talk afterwards,
+but we must fight now: if you have any
+strength left, take this pistol and sword, and lay
+about you." He took them very thankfully; and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page303" id="page303"></a>[pg 303]</span>
+no sooner had he the arms in his hands, but, as if
+they had put new vigour into him, he flew upon his
+murderers like a fury, and had cut two of them in
+pieces in an instant; for the truth is, as the whole
+was a surprise to them, so the poor creatures were
+so much frightened with the noise of our pieces,
+that they fell down for mere amazement and fear,
+and had no more power to attempt their own escape,
+than their flesh had to resist our shot: and that was
+the case of those five that Friday shot at in the
+boat; for as three of them fell with the hurt they
+received, so the other two fell with the fright.</p>
+
+<p>I kept my piece in my hand still without firing,
+being willing to keep my charge ready, because I
+had given the Spaniard my pistol and sword: so I
+called to Friday, and bade-him run up to the tree
+from whence we first fired, and fetch the arms which
+lay there that had been discharged, which he did
+with great swiftness; and then giving him my musket,
+I sat down myself to load all the rest again, and
+bade them come to me when they wanted. While
+I was loading these pieces, there happened a fierce
+engagement between the Spaniard and one of the
+savages, who made at him with one of their great
+wooden swords, the same-like weapon that was to
+have killed him before, if I had not prevented it.
+The Spaniard, who was as bold and brave as could
+be imagined, though weak, had fought this Indian
+a good while, and had cut him two great wounds on
+his head; but the savage being a stout, lusty fellow,
+closing in with him, had thrown him down,
+being faint, and was wringing my sword out of his
+hand; when the Spaniard, though undermost, wisely
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page304" id="page304"></a>[pg 304]</span>
+quitting the sword, drew the pistol from his girdle,
+shot the savage through the body, and killed him
+upon the spot, before I, who was running to help
+him, could come near him.</p>
+
+<p>Friday being now left to his liberty, pursued the
+flying wretches, with no weapon in his hand but his
+hatchet; and with that he dispatched those three,
+who, as I said before, were wounded at first, and
+fallen, and all the rest he could come up with: and
+the Spaniard coming to me for a gun, I gave him
+one of the fowling-pieces, with which he pursued
+two of the savages, and wounded them both; but,
+as he was not able to run, they both got from him
+into the wood, where Friday pursued them, and
+killed one of them, but the other was too nimble
+for him; and though he was wounded, yet had
+plunged himself into the sea, and swam, with all
+his might, off to those two who were left in the
+canoe, which three in the canoe, with one wounded,
+that we knew not whether he died or no, were all
+that escaped our hands of one and twenty; the account
+of the whole is as follows: three killed at our
+first shot from the tree; two killed at the next shot;
+two killed by Friday in the boat; two killed by
+Friday of those at first wounded; one killed by
+Friday in the wood; three killed by the Spaniard;
+four killed, being found dropped here and there, of
+their wounds, or killed by Friday in his chase of
+them; four escaped in the boat, whereof one
+wounded, if not dead.&mdash;Twenty-one in all.</p>
+
+<p>Those that were in the canoe worked hard to get
+out of gun-shot, and though Friday made two or
+three shots at them, I did not find that he hit any
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page305" id="page305"></a>[pg 305]</span>
+of them. Friday would fain have had me take one
+of their canoes, and pursue them; and, indeed, I
+was very anxious about their escape, lest carrying
+the news home to their people, they should come
+back perhaps with two or three hundred of the canoes,
+and devour us by mere multitude; so I consented
+to pursue them by sea, and running to one
+of their canoes, I jumped in, and bade Friday follow
+me; but when I was in the canoe, I was surprised
+to find another poor creature lie there, bound
+hand and foot, as the Spaniard was, for the slaughter,
+and almost dead with fear, not knowing what
+was the matter; for he had not been able to look
+up over the side of the boat, he was tied so hard
+neck and heels, and had been tied so long, that he
+had really but little life in him.</p>
+
+<p>I immediately cut the twisted flags or rushes,
+which they had bound him with, and would have
+helped him up; but he could not stand or speak,
+but groaned most piteously, believing, it seems,
+still, that he was only unbound in order to be killed.
+When Friday came to him, I bade him speak to
+him, and tell him of his deliverance; and, pulling
+out my bottle, made him give the poor wretch a
+dram; which, with the news of his being delivered,
+revived him, and he sat up in the boat. But when
+Friday came to hear him speak, and look in his
+face, it would have moved any one to tears to have
+seen how Friday kissed him, embraced him, hugged
+him, cried, laughed, hallooed, jumped about,
+danced, sung; then cried again, wrung his hands,
+beat his own face and head; and then sung and
+jumped about again, like a distracted creature. It
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page306" id="page306"></a>[pg 306]</span>
+was a good while before I could make him speak to
+me, or tell me what was the matter; but when he
+came a little to himself, he told me that it was his
+father.</p>
+
+<p>It is not easy for me to express how it moved me
+to see what ecstasy and filial affection had worked
+in this poor savage at the sight of his father, and
+of his being delivered from death; nor, indeed, can
+I describe half the extravagances of his affection
+after this; for he went into the boat, and out of
+the boat, a great many times: when he went in to
+him, he would sit down by him, open his breast,
+and hold his father's head close to his bosom for
+many minutes together, to nourish it; then he took
+his arms and ancles, which were numbed and stiff
+with the binding, and chafed and rubbed them with
+his hands; and I, perceiving what the case was,
+gave him some rum out of my bottle to rub them
+with, which did them a great deal of good.</p>
+
+<p>This affair put an end to our pursuit of the canoe
+with the other savages, who were now got almost
+out of sight; and it was happy for us that we did
+not, for it blew so hard within two hours after, and
+before they could be got a quarter of their way, and
+continued blowing so hard all night, and that from
+the north-west, which was against them, that I
+could not suppose their boat could live, or that
+they ever reached their own coast.</p>
+
+<p>But, to return to Friday; he was so busy about
+his father, that I could not find in my heart to take
+him off for some time: but after I thought he could
+leave him a little, I called him to me, and he came
+jumping and laughing, and pleased to the highest
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page307" id="page307"></a>[pg 307]</span>
+extreme; then I asked him if he had given his
+father any bread. He shook his head, and said,
+"None; ugly dog eat all up self," I then gave him
+a cake of bread, out of a little pouch I carried
+on purpose; I also gave him a dram for himself,
+but he would not taste it, but carried it to his
+father. I had in my pocket two or three bunches
+of raisins, so I gave him a handful of them for his
+father. He had no sooner given his father these
+raisins, but I saw him come out of the boat, and
+run away, as if he had been bewitched, he ran at
+such a rate; for he was the swiftest fellow on his
+feet that ever I saw: I say, he ran at such a rate,
+that he was out of sight, as it were, in an instant;
+and though I called, and hallooed out too, after
+him, it was all one, away he went; and in a quarter
+of an hour I saw him come back again, though
+not so fast as he went; and as he came nearer, I
+found his pace slacker, because he had something
+in his hand. When he came up to me, I found he
+had been quite home for an earthen jug, or pot, to
+bring his father some fresh water, and that he had
+two more cakes or loaves of bread; the bread he
+gave me, but the water he carried to his father;
+however, as I was very thirsty too, I took, a little
+sup of it. The water revived his father more than
+all the rum or spirits I had given him, for he was
+just fainting with thirst.</p>
+
+<p>When his father had drank, I called to him to
+know, if there was any water left: he said, "Yes;"
+and I bade him give it to the poor Spaniard, who
+was in as much want of it as his father; and I sent
+one of the cakes, that Friday brought, to the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page308" id="page308"></a>[pg 308]</span>
+Spaniard too, who was indeed very weak, and was
+reposing himself upon a green place under the shade
+of a tree; and whose limbs were also very stiff and
+very much swelled with the rude bandage he had
+been tied with. When I saw that, upon Friday's
+coming to him with the water, he sat up and drank,
+and took the bread, and began to eat, I went to him
+and gave him a handful of raisins: he looked up in
+my face with all the tokens of gratitude and thankfulness
+that could appear in any countenance; but
+was so weak, notwithstanding he had so exerted
+himself in the fight, that he could not stand up
+upon his feet; he tried to do it two or three times,
+but was really not able, his ancles were so swelled
+and so painful to him; so I bade him sit still, and
+caused Friday to rub his ancles, and bathe them
+with rum, as he had done his father's.</p>
+
+<p>I observed the poor affectionate creature, every
+two minutes, or perhaps less, all the while he was
+here, turn his head about, to see if his father was
+in the same place and posture as he left him sitting;
+and at last he found he was not to be seen; at which
+he started up, and, without speaking a word, flew
+with that swiftness to him, that one could scarce
+perceive his feet to touch the ground as he went:
+but when he came, he only found he had laid himself
+down to ease his limbs, so Friday came back to
+me presently; and then I spoke to the Spaniard to
+let Friday help him up, if he could, and lead him
+to the boat, and then he should carry him to our
+dwelling, where I would take care of him: but
+Friday, a lusty strong fellow, took the Spaniard
+quite up upon his back, and carried him away to the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page309" id="page309"></a>[pg 309]</span>
+boat, and set him down softly upon the side or
+gunnel of the canoe, with his feet in the inside of
+it; and then lifting him quite in, he set him close
+to his father; and presently stepping out again,
+launched the boat off, and paddled it along the
+shore faster than I could walk, though the wind
+blew pretty hard too: so he brought them both
+safe into our creek, and leaving them in the boat,
+ran away to fetch the other canoe. As he passed
+me, I spoke to him, and asked him whither he went.
+He told me, "Go fetch more boat:" so away he
+went like the wind, for sure never man or horse ran
+like him; and he had the other canoe in the creek
+almost as soon as I got to it by land; so he wafted
+me over, and then went to help our new guests out
+of the boat, which he did; but they were neither
+of them able to walk, so that poor Friday knew not
+what to do.</p>
+
+<p>To remedy this, I went to work in my thought,
+and calling to Friday to bid them sit down on the
+bank while he came to me, I soon made a kind of
+a hand-barrow to lay them on, and Friday and I
+carried them both up together upon it, between us.</p>
+
+<p>But when we got them to the outside of our wall,
+or fortification, we were at a worse loss than before,
+for it was impossible to get them over, and I
+was resolved not to break it down: so I set to work
+again; and Friday and I, in about two hours' time,
+made a very handsome tent, covered with old sails,
+and above that with boughs of trees, being in the
+space without our outward fence, and between, that
+and the grove of young wood which I had planted:
+and here we made them two beds of such things as
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page310" id="page310"></a>[pg 310]</span>
+I had, viz. of good rice-straw, with blankets laid
+upon it, to lie on, and another to cover them, on
+each bed.</p>
+
+<p>My island was now peopled, and I thought myself
+very rich in subjects; and it was a merry reflection,
+which I frequently made, how like a king
+I looked. First of all, the whole country was my
+own mere property, so that I had an undoubted
+right of dominion. Secondly, my people were perfectly
+subjected; I was absolutely lord and lawgiver;
+they all owed their lives to me, and were
+ready to lay down their lives, if there had been
+occasion for it, for me. It was remarkable, too, I
+had but three subjects, and they were of three different
+religions: my man Friday was a Protestant,
+his father was a Pagan and a cannibal, and the Spaniard
+was a Papist: however, I allowed liberty of
+conscience throughout my dominions:&mdash;But this is
+by the way.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as I had secured my two weak rescued
+prisoners, and given them shelter, and a place to
+rest them upon, I began to think of making some
+provision for them; and the first thing I did, I ordered
+Friday to take a yearling goat, betwixt a kid
+and a goat, out of my particular flock, to be killed;
+when I cut off the hinder-quarter, and chopping it
+into small pieces, I set Friday to work to boiling
+and stewing, and made them a very good dish, I
+assure you, of flesh and broth, having put some
+barley and rice also into the broth: and as I cooked
+it without doors, for I made no fire within my inner
+wall, so I carried it all into the new tent, and having
+set a table there for them, I sat down, and eat my
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page311" id="page311"></a>[pg 311]</span>
+dinner also with them, and, as well as I could,
+cheered them, and encouraged them. Friday was
+my interpreter, especially to his father, and, indeed,
+to the Spaniard too; for the Spaniard spoke the
+language of the savages pretty well.</p>
+
+<p>After we had dined, or rather supped, I ordered
+Friday to take one of the canoes, and go and fetch
+our muskets and other fire-arms, which, for want of
+time, we had left upon the place of battle: and,
+the next day, I ordered him to go and bury the
+dead bodies of the savages, which lay open to the
+sun, and would presently be offensive. I also ordered
+him to bury the horrid remains of their barbarous
+feast, which I knew were pretty much, and
+which I could not think of doing myself; nay, I
+could not bear to see them, if I went that way; all
+which he punctually performed, and effaced the
+very appearance of the savages being there; so that
+when I went again, I could scarce know where it
+was, otherwise than by the corner of the wood
+pointing to the place.</p>
+
+<p>I then began to enter into a little conversation
+with my two new subjects: and, first, I set Friday
+to inquire of his father what he thought of the
+escape of the savages in that canoe, and whether
+we might expect a return of them, with a power
+too great for us to resist. His first opinion was,
+that the savages in the boat never could live out
+the storm which blew that night they went off, but
+must, of necessity, be drowned, or driven south to
+those other shores, where they were as sure to be
+devoured as they were to be drowned, if they were
+cast away: but, as to what they would do, if they
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page312" id="page312"></a>[pg 312]</span>
+came safe on shore, he said he knew not; but it
+was his opinion, that they were so dreadfully frightened
+with the manner of their being attacked, the
+noise, and the fire, that he believed they would tell
+the people they were all killed by thunder and
+lightning, not by the hand of man; and that the
+two which appeared, viz. Friday and I, were two
+heavenly spirits, or furies, come down to destroy
+them, and not men with weapons. This, he said,
+he knew; because he heard them all cry out so, in
+their language, one to another; for it was impossible
+for them to conceive that a man could dart fire, and
+speak thunder, and kill at a distance, without lifting
+up the hand, as was done now: and this old savage
+was in the right; for, as I understood since, by
+other hands, the savages never attempted to go over
+to the island afterwards, they were so terrified with
+the accounts given by those four men (for, it seems,
+they did escape the sea,) that they believed whoever
+went to that enchanted island would be destroyed
+with fire from the gods. This, however, I knew
+not; and therefore was under continual apprehensions
+for a good while, and kept always upon my
+guard, with all my army: for, as there were now
+four of us, I would have ventured upon a hundred
+of them, fairly in the open field, at any time.</p>
+
+<p>In a little time, however, no more canoes appearing,
+the fear of their coming wore off; and I began
+to take my former thoughts of a voyage to the main
+into consideration; being likewise assured, by Friday's
+father, that I might depend upon good usage
+from their nation, on his account, if I would go.
+But my thoughts were a little suspended when I had
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page313" id="page313"></a>[pg 313]</span>
+a serious discourse with the Spaniard, and when I
+understood that there were sixteen more of his countrymen
+and Portuguese, who, having been cast away,
+and made their escape to that side, lived there at
+peace, indeed, with the savages, but were very sore
+put to it for necessaries, and indeed for life. I
+asked him all the particulars of their voyage, and
+found they were a Spanish ship, bound from the
+Rio de la Plata to the Havanna, being directed to
+leave their loading there, which was chiefly hides
+and silver, and to bring back what European goods
+they could meet with there; that they had five Portuguese
+seamen on board, whom they took out of
+another wreck; that five of their own men were
+drowned, when first the ship was lost, and that these
+escaped, through infinite dangers and hazards, and
+arrived, almost starved, on the cannibal coast, where
+they expected to have been devoured every moment.
+He told me they had some arms with them, but they
+were perfectly useless, for that they had neither powder
+nor ball, the washing of the sea having spoiled
+all their powder, but a little, which they used, at
+their first landing, to provide themselves some
+food.</p>
+
+<p>I asked him what he thought would become of
+them there, and if they had formed any design of
+making their escape. He said they had many consultations
+about it; but that having neither vessel,
+nor tools to build one, nor provisions of any kind,
+their councils always ended in tears and despair. I
+asked him how he thought they would receive a
+proposal from me, which might tend towards an
+escape; and whether, if they were all here, it might
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page314" id="page314"></a>[pg 314]</span>
+not be done. I told him with freedom, I feared
+mostly their treachery and ill usage of me, if I put
+my life in their hands; for that gratitude was no
+inherent virtue in the nature of man, nor did men
+always square their dealings by the obligations they
+had received, so much as they did by the advantages
+they expected. I told him it would be very hard
+that I should be the instrument of their deliverance,
+and that they should afterwards make me their prisoner
+in New Spain, where an Englishman was certain
+to be made a sacrifice, what necessity, or what
+accident soever brought him thither; and that I
+had rather be delivered up to the savages, and be
+devoured alive, than fall into the merciless claws of
+the priests, and be carried into the Inquisition. I
+added, that otherwise I was persuaded, if they were
+all here, we might, with so many hands, build a
+bark large enough to carry us all away, either to
+the Brazils, southward, or to the islands, or Spanish
+coast, northward; but that if, in requital, they
+should, when I had put weapons into their hands,
+carry me by force among their own people, I might
+be ill used for my kindness to them, and make my
+case worse than it was before.</p>
+
+<p>He answered, with a great deal of candour and
+ingenuousness, that their condition was so miserable,
+and that they were so sensible of it, that, he
+believed, they would abhor the thought of using
+any man unkindly that should contribute to their
+deliverance; and that if I pleased, he would go to
+them with the old man, and discourse with them
+about it and return again, and bring me their answer;
+that he would make conditions with them upon their
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page315" id="page315"></a>[pg 315]</span>
+solemn oath, that they should be absolutely under
+my leading, as their commander and captain; and
+that they should swear upon the holy sacraments
+and gospel, to be true to me, and go to such Christian
+country as that I should agree to, and no other,
+and to be directed wholly and absolutely by my
+orders, till they were landed safely in such country
+as I intended; and that he would bring a contract
+from them, under their hands, for that purpose.
+Then he told me he would first swear to me himself,
+that he would never stir from me as long as
+he lived, till I gave him orders; and that he would
+take my side to the last drop of his blood, if there
+should happen the least breach of faith among his
+countrymen. He told me they were all of them
+very civil, honest men, and they were under the
+greatest distress imaginable, having neither weapons
+or clothes, nor any food, but at the mercy and discretion
+of the savages; out of all hopes of ever returning
+to their own country; and that he was sure,
+if I would undertake their relief, they would live
+and die by me.</p>
+
+<p>Upon these assurances, I resolved to venture to
+relieve them, if possible, and to send the old savage
+and this Spaniard over to them to treat. But when
+we had got all things in readiness to go, the Spaniard
+himself started an objection, which had so
+much prudence in it, on one hand, and so much
+sincerity on the other hand, that I could not but
+be very well satisfied in it; and, by his advice, put
+off the deliverance of his comrades for at least half
+a year. The case was thus: He had been with us
+now about a month, during which time I had let
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page316" id="page316"></a>[pg 316]</span>
+him see in what manner I had provided, with the
+assistance of Providence, for my support; and he
+saw evidently what stock of corn and rice I had laid
+up; which, though it was more than sufficient for
+myself, yet it was not sufficient, without good husbandry,
+for my family, now it was increased to
+four; but much less would it be sufficient if his
+countrymen, who were, as he said, sixteen, still alive,
+should come over; and, least of all, would it be
+sufficient to victual our vessel, if we should build
+one, for a voyage to any of the Christian colonies
+of America; so he told me he thought it would be
+more adviseable to let him and the other two dig
+and cultivate some more land, as much as I could
+spare seed to sow, and that we should wait another
+harvest, that we might have a supply of corn for his
+countrymen, when they should come; for want
+might be a temptation to them to disagree, or not
+to think themselves delivered, otherwise than out
+of one difficulty into another. "You know," says he,
+"the children of Israel, though they rejoiced at first
+for their being delivered out of Egypt, yet rebelled
+even against God himself, that delivered them,
+when they came to want bread in the wilderness."</p>
+
+<p>His caution was so seasonable, and his advice so
+good, that I could not but be very well pleased with
+his proposal, as well as I was satisfied with his fidelity:
+so we fell to digging all four of us, as well as
+the wooden tools we were furnished with permitted;
+and in about a month's time, by the end of which
+it was seed-time, we had got as much land cured
+and trimmed up as we sowed two and twenty bushels
+of barley on, and sixteen jars of rice; which was,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page317" id="page317"></a>[pg 317]</span>
+in short, all the seed we had to spare: nor, indeed,
+did we leave ourselves barley sufficient for our own
+food, for the six months that we had to expect our
+crop; that is to say, reckoning from the time we
+set our seed aside for sowing; for it is not to be
+supposed it is six months in the ground in that
+country.</p>
+
+<p>Having now society enough, and our number being
+sufficient to put us out of fear of the savages, if
+they had come, unless their number had been very
+great, we went freely all over the island, whenever
+we found occasion; and as here we had our escape
+or deliverance upon our thoughts, it was impossible,
+at least for me, to have the means of it out of mine.
+For this purpose, I marked out several trees which
+I thought fit for our work, and I set Friday and his
+father to cutting them down; and then I caused the
+Spaniard, to whom I imparted my thoughts on that
+affair, to oversee and direct their work. I showed
+them with what indefatigable pains I had hewed a
+large tree into single planks, and I caused them to
+do the like, till they had made about a dozen large
+planks of good oak, near two feet broad, thirty-five
+feet long, and from two inches to four inches thick:
+what prodigious labour it took up, any one may
+imagine.</p>
+
+<p>At the same time, I contrived to increase my little
+flock of tame goats as much as I could; and, for
+this purpose, I made Friday and the Spaniard go out
+one day, and myself with Friday the next day (for
+we took our turns,) and by this means we got about
+twenty young kids to breed up with the rest; for
+whenever we shot the dam, we saved the kids, and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page318" id="page318"></a>[pg 318]</span>
+added them to our flock. But, above all, the season
+for curing the grapes coming on, I caused such
+a prodigious quantity to be hung up in the sun,
+that, I believe, had we been at Alicant, where the
+raisins of the sun are cured, we could have filled
+sixty or eighty barrels; and these, with our bread,
+was a great part of our food, and was very good
+living too, I assure you, for it is exceeding nourishing.</p>
+
+<p>It was now harvest, and our crop in good order:
+it was not the most plentiful increase I had seen in
+the island, but, however, it was enough to answer
+our end; for from twenty-two bushels of barley we
+brought in and threshed out above two hundred and
+twenty bushels, and the like in proportion of the
+rice; which was store enough for our food to the
+next harvest, though all the sixteen Spaniards had
+been on shore with me; or if we had been ready for
+a voyage, it would very plentifully have victualled
+our ship to have carried us to any part of the world,
+that is to say, any part of America. When we had
+thus housed and secured our magazine of corn, we
+fell to work to make more wicker-ware, viz. great
+baskets, in which we kept it; and the Spaniard was
+very handy and dexterous at this part, and often
+blamed me that I did not make some things for defence
+of this kind of work; but I saw no need of it.</p>
+
+<p>And now having a full supply of food for all the
+guests I expected, I gave the Spaniard leave to go
+over to the main, to see what he could do with
+those he had left behind them there. I gave him a
+strict charge not to bring any man with him who
+would not first swear, in the presence of himself
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page319" id="page319"></a>[pg 319]</span>
+and the old savage, that he would no way injure,
+fight with, or attack the person he should find in
+the island, who was so kind as to send for them in
+order to their deliverance; but that they would
+stand by him, and defend him against all such attempts,
+and wherever they went, would be entirely
+under and subjected to his command; and that this
+should be put in writing, and signed with their
+hands. How they were to have done this, when I
+knew they had neither pen nor ink, was a question
+which we never asked. Under these instructions,
+the Spaniard and the old savage, the father of
+Friday, went away in one of the canoes which they
+might be said to come in, or rather were brought
+in, when they came as prisoners to be devoured by
+the savages. I gave each of them a musket, with
+a firelock on it, and about eight charges of powder
+and ball, charging them to be very good husbands
+of both, and not to use either of them but upon
+urgent occasions.</p>
+
+<p>This was a cheerful work, being the first measures
+used by me, in view of my deliverance, for
+now twenty-seven years and some days. I gave
+them provisions of bread, and of dried grapes, sufficient
+for themselves for many days, and sufficient
+for all the Spaniards for about eight days' time;
+and wishing them a good voyage, I saw them go;
+agreeing with them about a signal they should hang
+out at their return, by which I should know them
+again, when they came back, at a distance, before
+they came on shore. They went away with a fair
+gale, on the day that the moon was at full, by my
+account in the month of October; but as for an
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page320" id="page320"></a>[pg 320]</span>
+exact reckoning of days, after I had once lost it, I
+could never recover it again; nor had I kept even
+the number of years so punctually as to be sure I
+was right; though, as it proved, when I afterwards
+examined my account, I found I had kept a true
+reckoning of years.</p>
+
+<p>It was no less than eight days I had waited for
+them, when a strange and unforeseen accident intervened,
+of which the like has not perhaps been
+heard of in history. I was fast asleep in my hutch
+one morning, when my man Friday came running
+in to me, and called aloud, "Master, master, they
+are come, they are come!" I jumped up, and, regardless
+of danger, I went out as soon as I could
+get my clothes on, through my little grove, which,
+by the way, was by this time grown to be a very
+thick wood; I say, regardless of danger, I went
+without my arms, which was not my custom to do:
+but I was surprised, when turning my eyes to the
+sea, I presently saw a boat at about a league and a
+half distance, standing in for the shore, with a
+shoulder of mutton sail, as they call it, and the wind
+blowing pretty fair to bring them in: also I observed
+presently, that they did not come from that side
+which the shore lay on, but from the southernmost
+end of the island. Upon this, I called Friday in,
+and bade him lie close, for these were not the people
+we looked for, and that we might not know yet
+whether they were friends or enemies. In the next
+place, I went in to fetch my perspective-glass, to see
+what I could make of them; and having taken the
+ladder out, I climbed up to the top of the hill, as I
+used to do when I was apprehensive of any thing,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page321" id="page321"></a>[pg 321]</span>
+and to take my view the plainer, without being discovered.
+I had scarce set my foot upon the hill,
+when my eye plainly discovered a ship lying at an
+anchor, at about two leagues and a half distance
+from me, S.S.E. but not above a league and a half
+from the shore. By my observation, it appeared
+plainly to be an English ship, and the boat appeared
+to be an English long-boat.</p>
+
+<p>I cannot express the confusion I was in; though
+the joy of seeing a ship, and one that I had reason
+to believe was manned by my own countrymen, and
+consequently friends, was such as I cannot describe;
+but yet I had some secret doubts hung about me,
+I cannot tell from whence they came, bidding me
+keep upon my guard. In the first place, it occurred
+to me to consider what business an English ship
+could have in that part of the world, since it was
+not the way to or from any part of the world where
+the English had any traffic; and I knew there had
+been no storms to drive them in there, as in distress;
+and that if they were really English, it was most
+probable that they were here upon no good design;
+and that I had better continue as I was, than fall
+into the hands of thieves and murderers.</p>
+
+<p>Let no man despise the secret hints and notices
+of danger, which sometimes are given him when he
+may think there is no possibility of its being real.
+That such hints and notices are given us, I believe
+few that have made any observations of things can
+deny; that they are certain discoveries of an invisible
+world, and a converse of spirits, we cannot
+doubt; and if the tendency of them seems to be to
+warn us of danger, why should we not suppose they
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page322" id="page322"></a>[pg 322]</span>
+are from some friendly agent (whether supreme, or
+inferior and subordinate, is not the question,) and
+that they are given for our good?</p>
+
+<p>The present question abundantly confirms me in
+the justice of this reasoning; for had I not been
+made cautious by this secret admonition, come it
+from whence it will, I had been undone inevitably,
+and in a far worse condition than before, as you will
+see presently. I had not kept myself long in this
+posture, but I saw the boat draw near the shore, as
+if they looked for a creek to thrust in at, for the
+convenience of landing; however, as they did not
+come quite far enough, they did not see the little
+inlet where I formerly landed my rafts, but run their
+boat on shore upon the beach, at about half a mile
+from me, which was very happy for me; for otherwise
+they would have landed just at my door, as I
+may say, and would soon have beaten me out of my
+castle, and perhaps have plundered me of all I had.
+When they were on shore, I was fully satisfied they
+were Englishmen, at least most of them; one or two
+I thought were Dutch, but it did not prove so; there
+were in all eleven men, whereof three of them I
+found were unarmed, and, as I thought, bound; and
+when the first four or five of them were jumped on
+shore, they took those three out of the boat, as prisoners:
+one of the three I could perceive using the
+most passionate gestures of entreaty, affliction, and
+despair, even to a kind of extravagance; the other
+two, I could perceive, lifted up their hands sometimes,
+and appeared concerned, indeed, but not to
+such a degree as the first. I was perfectly confounded
+at the sight, and knew not what the meaning
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page323" id="page323"></a>[pg 323]</span>
+of it should be. Friday called out to me in
+English, as well as he could, "O master! you see
+English mans eat prisoner as well as savage mans."&mdash;"Why,
+Friday," says I, "do you think they are
+going to eat them then?"&mdash;"Yes," says Friday,
+"they will eat them."&mdash;"No, no," says I, "Friday;
+I am afraid they will murder them, indeed, but you
+may be sure they will not eat them."</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width:35%;"><a href="images/323.jpg"><img width = "100%" src="images/323.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
+
+<p>All this while I had no thought of what the matter
+really was, but stood trembling with the horror
+of the sight, expecting every moment when the
+three prisoners should be killed; nay, once I saw
+one of the villains lift up his arm with a great cutlass,
+as the seamen call it, or sword, to strike one of
+the poor men; and I expected to see him fall every
+moment; at which all the blood in my body seemed
+to run chill in my veins. I wished heartily now for
+my Spaniard, and the savage that was gone with
+him, or that I had any way to have come undiscovered
+within shot of them, that I might have rescued
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page324" id="page324"></a>[pg 324]</span>
+the three men, for I saw no fire-arms they had
+among them; but it fell out to my mind another
+way. After I had observed the outrageous usage of
+the three men by the insolent seamen, I observed
+the fellows run scattering about the island, as if
+they wanted to see the country. I observed that
+the three other men had liberty to go also where
+they pleased; but they sat down all three upon the
+ground, very pensive, and looked like men in despair.
+This put me in mind of the first time when
+I came on shore, and began to look about me; how
+I gave myself over for lost; how wildly I looked
+round me; what dreadful apprehensions I had; and
+how I lodged in the tree all night, for fear of being
+devoured by wild beasts. As I knew nothing, that
+night, of the supply I was to receive by the providential
+driving of the ship nearer the land by the
+storms and tide, by which I have since been so long
+nourished and supported; so these three poor desolate
+men knew nothing how certain of deliverance
+and supply they were, how near it was to them, and
+how effectually and really they were in a condition
+of safety, at the same time that they thought themselves
+lost, and their case desperate. So little do
+we see before us in the world, and so much reason
+have we to depend cheerfully upon the great Maker
+of the world, that he does not leave his creatures
+so absolutely destitue, but that, in the worst circumstances,
+they have always something to be thankful
+for, and sometimes are nearer their deliverance than
+they imagine; nay, are even brought to their deliverance
+by the means by which they seem to be
+brought to their destruction.</p>
+
+<p>It was just at the top of high water when these
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page325" id="page325"></a>[pg 325]</span>
+people came on shore; and partly while they rambled
+about to see what kind of a place they were in, they
+had carelessly staid till the tide was spent, and the
+water was ebbed considerably away, leaving their
+boat aground. They had left two men in the boat,
+who, as I found afterwards, having drank a little
+too much brandy, fell asleep; however, one of
+them waking a little sooner than the other, and
+finding the boat too fast aground for him to stir it,
+hallooed out for the rest, who were straggling
+about; upon which they all soon came to the boat:
+but it was past all their strength to launch her, the
+boat being very heavy, and the shore on that side
+being a soft oozy sand, almost like a quicksand.
+In this condition, like true seamen, who are perhaps
+the least of all mankind given to forethought, they
+gave it over, and away they strolled about the
+country again; and I heard one of them say aloud
+to another, calling them off from the boat, "Why,
+let her alone, Jack, can't you? she'll float next
+tide:" by which I was fully confirmed in the main
+inquiry of what countrymen they were. All this
+while I kept myself very close, not once daring to
+stir out of my castle, any farther than to my place
+of observation, near the top of the hill; and very
+glad I was to think how well it was fortified. I
+knew it was no less than ten hours before the boat
+could float again, and by that time it would be
+dark, and I might be at more liberty to see their
+motions, and to hear their discourse, if they had
+any. In the mean time, I fitted myself up for a
+battle, as before, though with more caution, knowing
+I had to do with another kind of enemy than I
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page326" id="page326"></a>[pg 326]</span>
+had at first. I ordered Friday also, whom I had
+made an excellent marksman with his gun, to load
+himself with arms. I took myself two fowling-pieces,
+and I gave him three muskets. My figure,
+indeed, was very fierce; I had my formidable goat-skin
+coat on, with the great cap I have mentioned,
+a naked sword by my side, two pistols in my belt,
+and a gun upon each shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>It was my design, as I said above, not to have
+made any attempt till it was dark: but about two
+o'clock, being the heat of the day, I found that, in
+short, they were all gone straggling into the woods,
+and, as I thought, laid down to sleep. The three
+poor distressed men, too anxious for their condition
+to get any sleep, were, however, sat down under
+the shelter of a great tree, at about a quarter of a
+mile from me, and, as I thought, out of sight of any
+of the rest. Upon this I resolved to discover myself
+to them, and learn something of their condition;
+immediately I marched in the figure as above,
+my man Friday at a good distance behind me, as
+formidable for his arms as I, but not making quite
+so staring a spectre-like figure as I did. I came as
+near them undiscovered as I could, and then, before
+any of them saw me, I called aloud to them in
+Spanish, "What are ye, gentlemen?" They started
+up at the noise; but were ten times more confounded
+when they saw me, and the uncouth figure
+that I made. They made no answer at all, but I
+thought I perceived them just going to fly from me,
+when I spoke to them in English: "Gentlemen,"
+said I, "do not be surprised at me: perhaps you
+may have a friend near, when you did not expect
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page327" id="page327"></a>[pg 327]</span>
+it."&mdash;"He must be sent directly from Heaven
+then," said one of them very gravely to me, and
+pulling off his hat at the same time to me; "for
+our condition is past the help of man."&mdash;"All help
+is from Heaven, Sir," said I: "But can you put a
+stranger in the way how to help you? for you seem
+to be in some great distress. I saw you when you
+landed; and when you seemed to make application
+to the brutes that came with you, I saw one of
+them lift up his sword to kill you."</p>
+
+<p>The poor man, with tears running down his face,
+and trembling, looking like one astonished, returned,
+"Am I talking to God or man? Is it a real man or
+an angel?"&mdash;"Be in no fear about that, Sir," said
+I; "if God had sent an angel to relieve you, he
+would have come better clothed, and armed after
+another manner than you see me: pray lay aside
+your fears; I am a man, an Englishman, and disposed
+to assist you: you see I have one servant
+only; we have arms and ammunition; tell us freely,
+can we serve you? What is your case?"&mdash;"Our
+case," said he, "Sir, is too long to tell you, while
+our murderers are so near us; but, in short, Sir, I
+was commander of that ship, my men have mutinied
+against me; they have been hardly prevailed on
+not to murder me; and at last have set me on shore
+in this desolate place, with these two men with me,
+one my mate, the other a passenger, where we
+expected to perish, believing the place to be uninhabited,
+and know not yet what to think of it."&mdash;"Where
+are these brutes, your enemies?" said I:
+"Do you know where they are gone?"&mdash;"There
+they lie, Sir," said he, pointing to a thicket of
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page328" id="page328"></a>[pg 328]</span>
+trees; "my heart trembles for fear they have seen
+us, and heard you speak; if they have, they will
+certainly murder us all."&mdash;"Have they any fire-arms?"
+said I. He answered, "they had only two
+pieces, one of which they left in the boat." "Well
+then," said I, "leave the rest to me; I see they
+are all asleep, it is an easy thing to kill them all:
+but shall we rather take them prisoners?" He told
+me there were two desperate villains among them,
+that it was scarce safe to show any mercy to; but
+if they were secured, he believed all the rest would
+return to their duty. I asked him which they
+were? He told me he could not at that distance
+distinguish them, but he would obey my orders in
+any thing I would direct. "Well," says I, "let
+us retreat out of their view or hearing, lest they
+awake, and we will resolve further." So they willingly
+went back with me, till the woods covered us
+from them.</p>
+
+<p>"Look you, Sir," said I, "if I venture upon
+your deliverance, are you willing to make two conditions
+with me?" He anticipated my proposals, by
+telling me, that both he and the ship, if recovered,
+should be wholly directed and commanded by me
+in every thing; and, if the ship was not recovered,
+he would live and die with me in what part of the
+world soever I would send him; and the two other
+men said the same. "Well," says I, "my conditions
+are but two: first, That while you stay in
+this island with me, you will not pretend to any
+authority here; and if I put arms in your hands,
+you will, upon all occasions, give them up to me,
+and do no prejudice to me or mine upon this island;
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page329" id="page329"></a>[pg 329]</span>
+and, in the mean time, be governed by my orders:
+secondly, That if the ship is, or may be recovered,
+you will carry me and my man to England, passage
+free."</p>
+
+<p>He gave me all the assurances that the invention
+or faith of man could devise, that he would
+comply with these most reasonable demands; and,
+besides, would owe his life to me, and acknowledge
+it upon all occasions, as long as he lived." "Well
+then," said I, "here are three muskets for you,
+with powder and ball: tell me next what you think
+is proper to be done." He showed all the testimonies
+of his gratitude that he was able, but offered
+to be wholly guided by me. I told him I thought
+it was hard venturing any thing; but the best method
+I could think of was to fire upon them at
+once, as they lay, and if any were not killed at the
+first volley, and offered to submit, we might save
+them, and so put it wholly upon God's providence
+to direct the shot. He said very modestly, that he
+was loath to kill them, if he could help it: but that
+those two were incorrigible villains, and had been
+the authors of all the mutiny in the ship, and if
+they escaped, we should be undone still; for they
+would go on board and bring the whole ship's company,
+and destroy us all. "Well then," says I,
+"necessity legitimates my advice, for it is the only
+way to save our lives." However, seeing him still
+cautious of shedding blood, I told him they should
+go themselves, and manage as they found convenient.</p>
+
+<p>In the middle of this discourse we heard some of
+them awake, and soon after we saw two of them on
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page330" id="page330"></a>[pg 330]</span>
+their feet. I asked him if either of them were the
+heads of the mutiny? He said, No. "Well then,"
+said I, "you may let them escape; and Providence
+seems to have awakened them on purpose to save
+themselves.&mdash;Now," says I, "if the rest escape
+you, it is your fault." Animated with this, he took
+the musket I had given him in his hand, and a
+pistol in his belt, and his two comrades with him,
+with each a piece in his hand; the two men who
+were with him going first, made some noise, at
+which one of the seamen who was awake turned
+about, and seeing them coming, cried out to the
+rest; but it was too late then, for the moment he
+cried out they fired; I mean the two men, the captain
+wisely reserving his own piece. They had so
+well aimed their shot at the men they knew, that
+one of them was killed on the spot, and the other
+very much wounded; but not being dead, he started
+up on his feet, and called eagerly for help to the
+other; but the captain stepping to him, told him it
+was too late to cry for help, he should call upon
+God to forgive his villany; and with that word
+knocked him down with the stock of his musket, so
+that he never spoke more: there were three more
+in the company, and one of them was also slightly
+wounded. By this time I was come; and when they
+saw their danger, and that it was in vain to resist,
+they begged for mercy. The captain told them he
+would spare their lives, if they would give him any
+assurance of their abhorrence of the treachery they
+had been guilty of, and would swear to be faithful
+to him in recovering the ship, and afterwards in
+carrying her back to Jamaica, from whence they
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page331" id="page331"></a>[pg 331]</span>
+came. They gave him all the protestations of their
+sincerity that could be desired, and he was willing
+to believe them, and spare their lives, which I was
+not against, only that I obliged him to keep them
+bound hand and foot while they were on the island.</p>
+
+<p>While this was doing, I sent Friday with the captain's
+mate to the boat, with orders to secure her,
+and bring away the oars and sails, which they did:
+and by and by three straggling men, that were
+(happily for them) parted from the rest, came back
+upon hearing the guns fired; and seeing the captain,
+who before was their prisoner, now their conqueror,
+they submitted to be bound also; and so our victory
+was complete.</p>
+
+<p>It now remained that the captain and I should
+inquire into one another's circumstances: I began
+first, and told him my whole history, which he
+heard with an attention even to amazement; and
+particularly at the wonderful manner of my being
+furnished with provisions and ammunition; and, indeed,
+as my story is a whole collection of wonders,
+it affected him deeply. But when he reflected from
+thence upon himself, and how I seemed to have
+been preserved there on purpose to save his life,
+the tears ran down his face, and he could not speak
+a word more. After this communication was at an
+end, I carried him and his two men into my apartment,
+leading them in just where I came out, viz.
+at the top of the house, where I refreshed them
+with such provisions as I had, and showed them all
+the contrivances I had made, during my long, long
+inhabiting that place.</p>
+
+<p>All I showed them, all I said to them, was perfectly
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page332" id="page332"></a>[pg 332]</span>
+amazing; but, above all, the captain admired
+my fortification, and how perfectly I had concealed
+my retreat with a grove of trees, which, having
+been now planted near twenty years, and the trees
+growing much faster than in England, was become
+a little wood, and so thick, that it was impassable
+in any part of it, but at that one side where I had
+reserved my little winding passage into it. I told
+him this was my castle and my residence, but that I
+had a seat in the country, as most princes have,
+whither I could retreat upon occasion, and I would
+show him that too another time: but at present our
+business was to consider how to recover the ship.
+He agreed with me as to that; but told me, he was
+perfectly at a loss what measures to take, for that
+there were still six and twenty hands on board, who
+having entered into a cursed conspiracy, by which
+they had all forfeited their lives to the law, would
+be hardened in it now by desperation, and would
+carry it on, knowing that, if they were subdued,
+they would be brought to the gallows as soon as
+they came to England, or to any of the English
+colonies; and that, therefore, there would be no attacking
+them with so small a number as we were.</p>
+
+<p>I mused for some time upon what he had said,
+and found it was a very rational conclusion, and
+that, therefore, something was to be resolved on
+speedily, as well to draw the men on board into some
+snare for their surprise, as to prevent their landing
+upon us, and destroying us. Upon this, it presently
+occurred to me, that in a little while the ship's
+crew, wondering what was become of their comrades,
+and of the boat, would certainly come on
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page333" id="page333"></a>[pg 333]</span>
+shore in their other boat, to look for them; and
+that then, perhaps, they might come armed, and be
+too strong for us: this he allowed to be rational.
+Upon this, I told him the first thing we had to do
+was to stave the boat, which lay upon the beach,
+so that they might not carry her off: and taking
+every thing out of her, leave her so far useless as
+not to be fit to swim: accordingly we went on board,
+took the arms which were left on board out of her,
+and whatever else we found there, which was a bottle
+of brandy, and another of rum, a few biscuit-cakes,
+a horn of powder, and a great lump of sugar
+in a piece of canvass (the sugar was five or six
+pounds;) all which was very welcome to me, especially
+the brandy and sugar, of which I had none
+left for many years.</p>
+
+<p>When we had carried all these things on shore,
+(the oars, mast, sail, and rudder of the boat were
+carried away before, as above,) we knocked a great
+hole in her bottom, that if they had come strong
+enough to master us, yet they could not carry off
+the boat. Indeed, it was not much in my thoughts
+that we could be able to recover the ship; but my
+view was, that if they went away without the boat,
+I did not much question to make her fit again to
+carry us to the Leeward Islands, and call upon our
+friends the Spaniards in my way; for I had them
+still in my thoughts.</p>
+
+<p>While we were thus preparing our designs, and
+had first, by main strength, heaved the boat upon
+the beach so high, that the tide would not float
+her off at high water mark, and besides, had broke
+a hole in her bottom too big to be quickly stopped,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page334" id="page334"></a>[pg 334]</span>
+and were set down musing what we should do, we
+heard the ship fire a gun, and saw her make a waft
+with her ensign as a signal for the boat to come on
+board: but no boat stirred; and they fired several
+times, making other signals for the boat. At last,
+when all their signals and firing proved fruitless,
+and they found the boat did not stir, we saw them,
+by the help of my glasses, hoist another boat out,
+and row towards the shore; and we found, as they
+approached, that there were no less than ten men in
+her; and that they had fire-arms with them.</p>
+
+<p>As the ship lay almost two leagues from the shore,
+we had a full view of them as they came, and a
+plain sight even of their faces; because the tide
+having set them a little to the east of the other
+boat, they rowed up under shore, to come to the
+same place where the other had landed, and where
+the boat lay; by this means, I say, we had a full
+view of them, and the captain knew the persons and
+characters of all the men in the boat, of whom, he
+said, there were three very honest fellows, who, he
+was sure, were led into this conspiracy by the rest,
+being overpowered and frightened; but that as for
+the boatswain, who, it seems, was the chief officer
+among them, and all the rest, they were as outrageous
+as any of the ship's crew, and were no doubt made
+desperate in their new enterprise; and terribly apprehensive
+he was that they would be too powerful
+for us. I smiled at him, and told him that men in
+our circumstances were past the operation of fear;
+that seeing almost every condition that could be was
+better than that which we were supposed to be in,
+we ought to expect that the consequence, whether
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page335" id="page335"></a>[pg 335]</span>
+death or life, would be sure to be a deliverance,
+I asked him what he thought of the circumstances
+of my life, and whether a deliverance were not
+worth venturing for? "And where, Sir," said I, "is
+your belief of my being preserved here on purpose
+to save your life, which elevated you a little while
+ago? For my part," said I, "there seems to me but
+one thing amiss in all the prospect of it."&mdash;"What
+is that?" says he. "Why," said I, "it is, that as
+you say there are three or four honest fellows among
+them, which should be spared, had they been all
+of the wicked part of the crew I should have
+thought God's providence had singled them out to
+deliver them into your hands; for depend upon it,
+every man that comes ashore are our own, and shall
+die or live as they behave to us." As I spoke this
+with a raised voice and cheerful countenance, I
+found it greatly encouraged him; so we set vigorously
+to our business.</p>
+
+<p>We had, upon the first appearance of the boat's
+coming from the ship, considered of separating our
+prisoners; and we had, indeed, secured them effectually.
+Two of them, of whom the captain was less
+assured than ordinary, I sent with Friday, and one
+of the three delivered men, to my cave, where they
+were remote enough, and out of danger of being
+heard or discovered, or of finding their way out of
+the woods if they could have delivered themselves:
+here they left them bound, but gave them provisions;
+and promised them, if they continued there
+quietly, to give them their liberty in a day or two;
+but that if they attempted their escape, they should
+be put to death without mercy. They promised
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page336" id="page336"></a>[pg 336]</span>
+faithfully to bear their confinement with patience,
+and were very thankful that they had such good
+usage as to have provisions and light left them;
+for Friday gave them candles (such as we made ourselves)
+for their comfort; and they did not know but
+that he stood centinel over them at the entrance.</p>
+
+<p>The other prisoners had better usage; two of
+them were kept pinioned, indeed, because the captain
+was not free to trust them; but the other two
+were taken into my service, upon the captain's recommendation,
+and upon their solemnly engaging
+to live and die with us; so with them and the three
+honest men we were seven men well armed; and I
+made no doubt we should be able to deal well
+enough with the ten that were coming, considering
+that the captain had said there were three or four
+honest men among them also. As soon as they got
+to the place where their other boat lay, they ran
+their boat into the beach, and came all on shore,
+hauling the boat up after them, which I was glad to
+see; for I was afraid they would rather have left
+the boat at an anchor, some distance from the shore,
+with some hands in her, to guard her, and so we
+should not be able to seize the boat. Being on
+shore, the first thing they did, they ran all to their
+other boat; and it was easy to see they were under
+a great surprise to find her stripped, as above, of
+all that was in her, and a great hole in her bottom.
+After they had mused a while upon this, they set
+up two or three great shouts, hallooing with all their
+might, to try if they could make their companions
+hear; but all was to no purpose: then they came
+all close in a ring, and fired a volley of their small
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page337" id="page337"></a>[pg 337]</span>
+arms, which, indeed, we heard, and the echoes made
+the woods ring; but it was all one; those in the
+cave we were sure could not hear, and those in our
+keeping, though they heard it well enough, yet
+durst give no answer to them. They were so astonished
+at the surprise of this, that, as they told us
+afterwards, they resolved to go all on board again,
+to their ship, and let them know that the men were
+all murdered, and the long-boat staved; accordingly,
+they immediately launched their boat again, and got
+all of them on board.</p>
+
+<p>The captain was terribly amazed, and even confounded
+at this, believing they would go on board
+the ship again, and set sail, giving their comrades
+over for lost, and so he should still lose the ship,
+which he was in hopes we should have recovered;
+but he was quickly as much frightened the other
+way.</p>
+
+<p>They had not been long put off with the boat,
+but we perceived them all coming on shore again;
+but with this new measure in their conduct, which it
+seems they consulted together upon, viz. to leave
+three men in the boat, and the rest to go on shore,
+and go up into the country to look for their fellows.
+This was a great disappointment to us, for now we
+were at a loss what to do; as our seizing those seven
+men on shore would be no advantage to us, if we
+let the boat escape; because they would then row
+away to the ship, and then the rest of them would
+be sure to weigh and set sail, and so our recovering
+the ship would be lost. However, we had no
+remedy but to wait and see what the issue of things
+might present. The seven men came on shore, and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page338" id="page338"></a>[pg 338]</span>
+the three who remained in the boat put her off to a
+good distance from the shore, and came to an anchor
+to wait for them; so that it was impossible for
+us to come at them in the boat. Those that came
+on shore kept close together, marching towards the
+top of the little hill under which my habitation lay;
+and we could see them plainly, though they could
+not perceive us. We could have been very glad
+they would have come nearer to us, so that we
+might have fired at them, or that they would have
+gone farther off, that we might have come abroad.
+But when they were come to the brow of the hill,
+where they could see a great way into the valleys
+and woods, which lay towards the north-east part,
+and where the island lay lowest, they shouted and
+hallooed till they were weary; and not caring, it
+seems, to venture far from the shore, nor far from
+one another, they sat down together under a tree,
+to consider of it. Had they thought fit to have
+gone to sleep there, as the other part of them had
+done, they had done the job for us; but they were
+too full of apprehensions of danger to venture to
+go to sleep, though they could not tell what the
+danger was they had to fear neither.</p>
+
+<p>The captain made a very just proposal to me
+upon this consultation of theirs, viz. that perhaps
+they would all fire a volley again, to endeavour to
+make their fellows hear, and that we should all
+sally upon them, just at the Juncture when their
+pieces were all discharged, and they would certainly
+yield, and we should have them without bloodshed.
+I liked this proposal, provided it was done while
+we were near enough to come up to them before
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page339" id="page339"></a>[pg 339]</span>
+they could load their pieces again. But this event
+did not happen; and we lay still a long time, very
+irresolute what course to take. At length I told
+them there would be nothing done, in my opinion,
+till night; and then, if they did not return to the
+boat, perhaps we might find a way to get between
+them and the shore, and so might use some stratagem
+with them in the boat to get them on shore.
+We waited a great while, though very impatient for
+their removing; and were very uneasy, when, after
+long consultations, we saw them all start up, and
+march down towards the sea: it seems they had
+such dreadful apprehensions upon them of the
+danger of the place, that they resolved to go on
+board the ship again, give their companions over
+for lost, and so go on with their intended voyage
+with the ship.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as I perceived them to go towards the
+shore, I imagined it to be, as it really was, that they
+had given over their search, and were for going
+back again; and the captain, as soon as I told him
+my thoughts, was ready to sink at the apprehensions
+of it: but I presently thought of a stratagem to
+fetch them back again, and which answered my
+end to a tittle. I ordered Friday and the captain's
+mate to go over the little creek westward, towards
+the place where the savages came on shore when
+Friday was rescued, and as soon as they came to a
+little rising ground, at about half a mile distance, I
+bade them halloo out, as loud as they could, and
+wait till they found the seamen heard them; that
+as soon as ever they heard the seamen answer
+them, they should return it again; and then keeping
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page340" id="page340"></a>[pg 340]</span>
+out of sight, take a round, always answering when
+the others hallooed, to draw them as far into the
+island, and among the woods, as possible, and then
+wheel about again to me, by such ways as I directed
+them.</p>
+
+<p>They were just going into the boat when Friday
+and the mate hallooed: and they presently heard
+them, and answering, run along the shore westward,
+towards the voice they heard, when they were
+presently stopped by the creek, where the water
+being up, they could not get over, and called for
+the boat to come up and set them over; as, indeed,
+I expected. When they had set themselves over,
+I observed that the boat being gone a good way
+into the creek, and, as it were, in a harbour within
+the land, they took one of the three men out of
+her, to go along with them, and left only two in the
+boat, having fastened her to the stump of a little
+tree on the shore. This was what I wished for;
+and immediately leaving Friday and the captain's
+mate to their business, I took the rest with me, and
+crossing the creek out of their sight, we surprised
+the two men before they were aware; one of them
+lying on the shore, and the other being in the boat.
+The fellow on shore was between sleeping and
+waking, and going to start up; the captain, who
+was foremost, ran in upon him, and knocked him
+down; and then called out to him in the boat to
+yield, or he was a dead man. There needed very
+few arguments to persuade a single man to yield,
+when he saw five men upon him, and his comrade
+knocked down; besides, this was, it seems, one of
+the three who were not so hearty in the mutiny as
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page341" id="page341"></a>[pg 341]</span>
+the rest of the crew, and therefore was easily persuaded
+not only to yield, but afterwards to join very
+sincerely with us. In the mean time, Friday and
+the captain's mate so well managed their business
+with the rest, that they drew them, by hallooing
+and answering, from one hill to another, and from
+one wood to another, till they not only heartily
+tired them, but left them where they were very
+sure they could not reach back to the boat before
+it was dark; and, indeed, they were heartily tired
+themselves also, by the time they came back to us.</p>
+
+<p>We had nothing now to do but to watch for them
+in the dark, and to fall upon them, so as to make
+sure work with them. It was several hours after
+Friday came back to me before they came back to
+their boat; and we could hear the foremost of them,
+long before they came quite up, calling to those
+behind to come along; and could also hear them
+answer, and complain how lame and tired they were,
+and not able to come any faster; which was very
+welcome news to us. At length they came up to
+the boat: but it is impossible to express their confusion
+when they found the boat fast aground in the
+creek, the tide ebbed out, and their two men gone.
+We could hear them call to one another in a most
+lamentable manner, telling one another they were
+got into an enchanted island; that either there were
+inhabitants in it, and they should all be murdered,
+or else there were devils and spirits in it, and they
+should be all carried away and devoured. They
+hallooed again, and called their two comrades by
+their names a great many times; but no answer.
+After some time, we could see them, by the little
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page342" id="page342"></a>[pg 342]</span>
+light there was, run about, wringing their hands like
+men in despair; and that sometimes they would go
+and sit down in the boat, to rest themselves: then
+come ashore again, and walk about again, and so
+the same thing over again. My men would fain
+have had me give them leave to fall upon them at
+once in the dark; but I was willing to take them
+at some advantage, so to spare them, and kill as few
+of them as I could; and especially I was unwilling
+to hazard the killing any of our men, knowing the
+others were very well armed. I resolved to wait,
+to see if they did not separate; and, therefore, to
+make sure of them, I drew my ambuscade nearer,
+and ordered Friday and the captain to creep upon
+their hands and feet, as close to the ground as they
+could, that they might not be discovered, and get
+as near them as they could possibly, before they
+offered to fire.</p>
+
+<p>They had not been long in that posture, when
+the boatswain, who was the principal ringleader of
+the mutiny, and had now shown himself the most
+dejected and dispirited of all the rest, came walking
+towards them, with two more of the crew: the
+captain was so eager at having this principal rogue
+so much in his power, that he could hardly have
+patience to let him come so near as to be sure of
+him, for they only heard his tongue before: but
+when they came nearer, the captain and Friday,
+starting up on their feet, let fly at them. The boatswain
+was killed upon the spot; the next man was
+shot in the body, and fell just by him, though he
+did not die till an hour or two after; and the third
+run for it. At the noise of the fire, I immediately
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page343" id="page343"></a>[pg 343]</span>
+advanced with my whole army, which was now eight
+men, viz. myself, generalissimo; Friday, my lieutenant-general;
+the captain and his two men, and
+the three prisoners of war, whom we had trusted
+with arms. We came upon them, indeed, in the
+dark, so that they could not see our number; and
+I made the man they had left in the boat, who was
+now one of us, to call them by name, to try if I
+could bring them to a parley, and so might perhaps
+reduce them to terms; which fell out just as we
+desired: for indeed it was easy to think, as their
+condition then was, they would be very willing to
+capitulate. So he calls out as loud as he could, to
+one of them, "Tom Smith! Tom Smith!" Tom
+Smith answered immediately, "Is that Robinson?"
+For it seems he knew the voice. The other answered,
+"Aye aye; for God's sake, Tom Smith,
+throw down your arms and yield, or you are all dead
+men this moment."&mdash;"Who must we yield to?
+Where are they?' says Smith again. "Here they
+are," says he; "here's our captain and fifty men
+with him; have been hunting you these two hours:
+the boatswain is killed, Will Fry is wounded, and I
+am a prisoner; and if you do not yield, you are all
+lost."&mdash;"Will they give us quarter then?" says
+Tom Smith, "and we will yield."&mdash;"I'll go and
+ask, if you promise to yield," says Robinson: so
+he asked the captain; and the captain himself then
+calls out, "You, Smith, you know my voice; if you
+lay down your arms immediately, and submit, you
+shall have your lives, all but Will Atkins."</p>
+
+<p>Upon this Will Atkins cried out, "For God's
+sake, captain, give me quarter; what have I done?
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page344" id="page344"></a>[pg 344]</span>
+They have all been as bad as I:" which, by the way,
+was not true neither; for, it seems, this Will Atkins
+was the first man that laid hold of the captain,
+when they first mutinied, and used him barbarously,
+in tying his hands, and giving him injurious language.
+However, the captain told him he must lay
+down his arms at discretion, and trust to the governor's
+mercy: by which he meant, me, for they all
+called me governor. In a word, they all laid down
+their arms, and begged their lives; and I sent the
+man that had parleyed with them, and two more, who
+bound them all; and then my great army of fifty
+men, which, particularly with those three, were in
+all but eight, came up and seized upon them, and
+upon their boat; only that I kept myself and one
+more out of sight for reasons of state.</p>
+
+<p>Our next work was to repair the boat, and think
+of seizing the ship: and as for the captain, now he
+had leisure to parley with them, he expostulated
+with them upon the villany of their practices with
+him, and at length upon the further wickedness of
+their design, and how certainly it must bring them
+to misery and, distress in the end, and perhaps to
+the gallows. They all appeared very penitent, and
+begged hard for their lives. As for that, he told
+them they were none of his prisoners, but the commander's
+of the island; that they thought they had
+set him on shore in a barren, uninhabited island;
+but it had pleased God so to direct them, that it
+was inhabited, and that the governor was an Englishman;
+that he might hang them all there, if he
+pleased; but as he had given them all quarter, he
+supposed he would send them to England, to be
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page345" id="page345"></a>[pg 345]</span>
+dealt with there as justice required, except Atkins,
+whom he was commanded by the governor to advise
+to prepare for death, for that he would be hanged
+in the morning.</p>
+
+<p>Though this was all but a fiction of his own, yet
+it had its desired effect: Atkins fell upon his knees,
+to beg the captain to intercede with the governor
+for his life; and all the rest begged of him, for
+God's sake, that they might not be sent to England.</p>
+
+<p>It now occurred to me, that the time of our deliverance
+was come, and that it would be a most
+easy thing to bring these fellows in to be hearty in
+getting possession of the ship; so I retired in the
+dark from them, that they might not see what kind
+of a governor they had, and called the captain to
+me: when I called, as at a good distance, one of
+the men was ordered to speak again, and say to the
+captain, "Captain, the commander calls for you;"
+and presently the captain replied, "Tell his excellency
+I am just a coming." This more perfectly
+amused them, and they all believed that the commander
+was just by with his fifty men. Upon the
+captain's coming to me, I told him my project for
+seizing the ship, which he liked wonderfully well,
+and resolved to put it in execution the next morning.
+But, in order to execute it with more art, and to
+be secure of success, I told him we must divide the
+prisoners, and that he should go and take Atkins,
+and two more of the worst of them, and send them
+pinioned to the cave where the others lay. This
+was committed to Friday, and the two men who came
+on shore with the captain. They conveyed them to
+the cave, as to a prison: and it was, indeed, a
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page346" id="page346"></a>[pg 346]</span>
+dismal place, especially to men in their condition.
+The others I ordered to my bower, as I called it, of
+which I have given a full description; and as it was
+fenced in, and they pinioned, the place was secure
+enough, considering they were upon their behaviour.</p>
+
+<p>To these in the morning I sent the captain, who
+was to enter into a parley with them; in a word,
+to try them, and tell me whether he thought they
+might be trusted or no to go on board and surprise
+the ship. He talked to them of the injury done
+him, of the condition they were brought to, and that
+though the governor had given them quarter for
+their lives as to the present action, yet that if they
+were sent to England, they would all be hanged in
+chains, to be sure; but that if they would join in
+so just an attempt as to recover the ship, he would
+have the governor's engagement for their pardon.</p>
+
+<p>Any one may guess how readily such a proposal
+would be accepted by men in their condition; they
+fell down on their knees to the captain, and promised,
+with the deepest imprecations, that they
+would be faithful to him to the last drop, and that
+they should owe their lives to him, and would go
+with him all over the world; that they would own
+him as a father as long as they lived. "Well," says
+the captain, "I must go and tell the governor what
+you say, and see what I can do to bring him to consent
+to it." So he brought me an account of the
+temper he found them in, and that he verily believed
+they would be faithful. However, that we might
+be very secure, I told him he should go back again
+and choose out those five, and tell them, that they
+might see he did not want men, that he would take
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page347" id="page347"></a>[pg 347]</span>
+out those five to be his assistants, and that the
+governor would keep the other two, and the three
+that were sent prisoners to the castle (my cave) as
+hostages for the fidelity of those five; and that
+if they proved unfaithful in the execution, the five
+hostages should be hanged in chains alive on the
+shore. This looked severe, and convinced them that
+the governor was in earnest: however, they had no
+way left them but to accept it; and it was now the
+business of the prisoners, as much as of the captain,
+to persuade the other five to do their duty.</p>
+
+<p>Our strength was now thus ordered for the expedition:
+first, The captain, his mate, and passenger:
+second, Then the two prisoners of the first gang, to
+whom, having their character from the captain, I
+had given their liberty, and trusted them with
+arms: third, The other two that I had kept till
+now in my bower pinioned, but, on the captain's
+motion, had now released: fourth, These five released
+at last: so that they were twelve in all, besides
+five we kept prisoners in the cave for hostages.</p>
+
+<p>I asked the captain if he was willing to venture
+with these hands on board the ship: but as for me
+and my man Friday, I did not think it was proper
+for us to stir, having seven men left behind; and it
+was employment enough for us to keep them asunder,
+and supply them with victuals. As to the five in
+the cave, I resolved to keep them fast, but Friday
+went in twice a day to them, to supply them with
+necessaries; and I made the other two carry provisions
+to a certain distance, where Friday was to
+take it.</p>
+
+<p>When I showed myself to the two hostages, it
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page348" id="page348"></a>[pg 348]</span>
+was with the captain, who told them I was the person
+the governor had ordered to look after them:
+and that it was the governor's pleasure they should
+not stir any where but by my direction; that if they
+did, they would be fetched into the castle, and be
+laid in irons: so that as we never suffered them to
+see me as a governor, I now appeared as another
+person, and spoke of the governor, the garrison,
+the castle, and the like, upon all occasions.</p>
+
+<p>The captain now had no difficulty before him,
+but to furnish his two boats, stop the breach of one,
+and man them. He made his passenger captain of
+one, with four of the men; and himself, his mate,
+and five more, went in the other; and they contrived
+their business very well, for they came up to
+the ship about midnight. As soon as they came
+within call of the ship, he made Robinson hail them,
+and tell them they had brought off the men and the
+boat, but that it was a long time before they had
+found them, and the like, holding them in a chat
+till they came to the ship's side; when the captain
+and the mate entering first, with their arms, immediately
+knocked down the second mate and carpenter
+with the but end of their muskets, being
+very faithfully seconded by their men; they secured
+all the rest that were upon the mainland quarterdecks,
+and began to fasten the hatches, to keep
+them down that were below; when the other boat
+and their men entering at the fore-chains, secured
+the forecastle of the ship, and the scuttle which
+went down into the cook-room, making three men
+they found there prisoners. When this was done,
+and all safe upon deck, the captain ordered the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page349" id="page349"></a>[pg 349]</span>
+mate, with three men, to break into the round-house,
+where the new rebel captain lay, who having taken
+the alarm, had got up, and with two men and a boy
+had got fire-arms in their hands; and when the
+mate, with a crow, split open the door, the new captain
+and his men fired boldly among them, and
+wounded the mate with a musket ball, which broke
+his arm, and wounded two more of the men, but
+killed nobody. The mate calling for help, rushed,
+however, into the round-house, wounded as he was,
+and with his pistol shot the new captain through
+the head, the bullet entering at his mouth, and
+came out again behind one of his ears, so that he
+never spoke a word more: upon which the rest
+yielded, and the ship was taken effectually, without
+any more lives lost.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as the ship was thus secured, the: captain
+ordered seven guns to be fired, which was the signal
+agreed upon with me to give me notice of his success,
+which you may be sure I was very glad to
+hear, having sat watching upon the shore for it till
+near two o'clock in the morning. Having thus
+heard the signal plainly, I laid me down; and it
+having been a day of great fatigue to me, I slept
+very sound, till I was something surprised with the
+noise of a gun; and presently starting up, I heard
+a man call me by the name of Governor, Governor,
+and presently I knew the captain's voice; when
+climbing up to the top of the hill, there he stood,
+and pointing to the ship, he embraced me in his
+arms. "My dear friend and deliverer," says he,
+"there's your ship, for she is all your's, and so are
+we, and all that belong to her." I cast my eyes to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page350" id="page350"></a>[pg 350]</span>
+the ship, and there she rode within little more than
+half a mile of the shore; for they had weighed her
+anchor as soon as they were masters of her, and
+the weather being fair, had brought her to an anchor
+just against the mouth of the little creek; and the
+tide being up, the captain had brought the pinnace
+in near the place where I at first landed my rafts,
+and so landed just at my door, I was at first ready
+to sink down with the surprise; for I saw my deliverance,
+indeed, visibly put into my hands, all
+things easy, and a large ship just ready to carry me
+away whither I pleased to go. At first, for some
+time, I was not able to answer him one word; but
+as he had taken me in his arms, I held fast by him,
+or I should have fallen to the ground. He perceived
+the surprise, and immediately pulls a bottle
+out of his pocket, and gave me a dram of cordial,
+which he had brought on purpose for me. After I
+had drank it, I sat down upon the ground; and
+though it brought me to myself, yet it was a good
+while before I could speak a word to him. All this
+time the poor man was in as great an ecstasy as I,
+only not under any surprise, as I was; and he said
+a thousand kind and tender things to me, to compose
+and bring me to myself: but such was the
+flood of joy in my breast, that it put all my spirits
+into confusion; at last it broke out into tears; and
+in a little while after I recovered my speech. I
+then took my turn, and embraced him as my deliverer,
+and we rejoiced together. I told him I
+looked upon him as a man sent from Heaven to deliver
+me, and that the whole transaction seemed to
+be a chain of wonders; that such things as these
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page351" id="page351"></a>[pg 351]</span>
+were the testimonies we had of a secret hand of
+Providence governing the world, and an evidence
+that the eye of an infinite power could search into
+the remotest corner of the world, and send help to
+the miserable whenever he pleased. I forgot not
+to lift up my heart in thankfulness to Heaven; and
+what heart could forbear to bless him, who had not
+only in a miraculous manner provided for me in
+such a wilderness, and in such a desolate condition,
+but from whom every deliverance must always be
+acknowledged to proceed?</p>
+
+<p>When we had talked a while, the captain told me
+he had brought me some little refreshment, such as
+the ship afforded, and such as the wretches that had
+been so long his masters had not plundered him of.
+Upon this he called aloud to the boat, and bade his
+men bring the things ashore that were for the governor;
+and, indeed, it was a present as if I had been
+one that was not to be carried away with them, but
+as if I had been to dwell upon the island still.
+First, he had brought me a case of bottles full of
+excellent cordial waters, six large bottles of Madeira
+wine, (the bottles held two quarts each,) two pounds
+of excellent good tobacco, twelve good pieces of
+the ship's beef, and six pieces of pork, with a bag
+of peas, and about an hundred weight of biscuit:
+he also brought me a box of sugar, a box of flour,
+a bag full of lemons, and two bottles of lime juice,
+and abundance of other things. But, besides these,
+and what was a thousand times more useful to me,
+he brought me six new clean shirts, six very good
+neckcloths, two pair of gloves, one pair of shoes, a
+hat, and one pair of stockings, with a very good
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page352" id="page352"></a>[pg 352]</span>
+suit of clothes of his own, which had been worn
+but very little; in a word, he clothed me from head
+to foot. It was a very kind and agreeable present,
+as any one may imagine, to one in my circumstances;
+but never was any thing in the world of that kind
+so unpleasant, awkward, and uneasy, as it was to
+me to wear such clothes at first.</p>
+
+<p>After these ceremonies were past, and after all
+his good things were brought into my little apartment,
+we began to consult what was to be done with
+the prisoners we had; for it was worth considering
+whether we might venture to take them away
+with us or no, especially two of them, whom he
+knew to be incorrigible and refractory to the last
+degree; and the captain said he knew they were
+such rogues, that there was no obliging them; and
+if he did carry them away, it must be in irons, as
+malefactors, to be delivered over to justice at the
+first English colony he could come at; and I found
+that the captain himself was very anxious about it.
+Upon this I told him, that if he desired it, I would
+undertake to bring the two men he spoke of to
+make it their own request that he should leave them
+upon the island. "I should be very glad of that,"
+says the captain, "with all my heart."&mdash;" Well,"
+says I, "I will send for them up, and talk with
+them for you," So I caused Friday and the two
+hostages, for they were now discharged, their comrades
+having performed their promise; I say, I
+caused them to go to the cave, and bring up the five
+men, pinioned as they were, to the bower, and keep
+them there till I came. After some time, I came
+thither dressed in my new habit; and now I was
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page353" id="page353"></a>[pg 353]</span>
+called governor again. Being all met, and the captain
+with me, I caused the men to be brought before
+me, and I told them I had got a full account of
+their villanous behaviour to the captain, and how
+they had run away with the ship, and were, preparing
+to commit farther robberies, but that Providence
+had ensnared them in their own ways, and that they
+were fallen into the pit which they had dug for
+others. I let them know that by my direction the
+ship had been seized; that she lay now in the road;
+and they might see, by and by, that their new captain
+had received the reward of his villany, and
+that they would see him hanging at the yard-arm:
+that as to them, I wanted to know what they had to
+say why I should not execute them as pirates, taken
+in the fact, as by my commission they could not
+doubt but I had authority so to do.</p>
+
+<p>One of them answered in the name of the rest,
+that they had nothing to say but this, that when
+they were taken, the captain promised them their
+lives, and they humbly implored my mercy. But I
+told them I knew not what mercy to show them;
+for as for myself, I had resolved to quit the island
+with all my men, and had taken passage with the
+captain to go for England; and as for the captain,
+he could not carry them to England other than as
+prisoners, in irons, to be tried for mutiny, and running
+away with the ship; the consequence of which,
+they must needs know, would be the gallows; so
+that I could not tell what was best for them, unless
+they had a mind to take their fate in the island; if
+they desired that, as I had liberty to leave the
+island, I had some inclination to give them their
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page354" id="page354"></a>[pg 354]</span>
+lives, if they thought they could shift on shore.
+They seemed very thankful for it, and said they
+would much rather venture to stay there than be
+carried to England to be hanged: so I left it on
+that issue.</p>
+
+<p>However, the captain seemed to make some difficulty
+of it, as if he durst not leave them there.
+Upon this I seemed a little angry with the captain,
+and told him that they were my prisoners, not his;
+and that seeing I had offered them so much favour,
+I would be as good as my word; and that if he did
+not think fit to consent to it I would set them at
+liberty, as I found them; and if he did not like it,
+he might take them again if he could catch them.
+Upon this they appeared very thankful, and I accordingly
+set them at liberty, and bade them retire
+into the woods to the place whence they came, and
+I would leave them some fire-arms, some ammunition,
+and some directions how they should live very
+well, if they thought fit. Upon this I prepared to
+go on board the ship; but told the captain I would
+stay that night to prepare my things, and desired
+him to go on board, in the mean time, and keep all
+right in the ship, and send the boat on shore next
+day for me; ordering him, at all events, to cause
+the new captain, who was killed, to be hanged at
+the yard-arm, that these men might see him.</p>
+
+<p>When the captain was gone, I sent for the men
+up to me to my apartment, and entered seriously
+into discourse with them on their circumstances. I
+told them I thought they had made a right choice;
+that if the captain had carried them away, they
+would certainly be hanged. I showed them the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page355" id="page355"></a>[pg 355]</span>
+new captain hanging at the yard-arm of the ship,
+and told them they had nothing less to expect.</p>
+
+<p>When they had all declared their willingness to
+stay, I then told them I would let them into the
+story of my living there, and put them into the way
+of making it easy to them: accordingly, I gave
+them the whole history of the place, and of my
+coming to it; showed them my fortifications, the
+way I made my bread, planted my corn, cured my
+grapes; and, in a word, all that was necessary to
+make them easy. I told them the story also of the
+seventeen Spaniards that were to be expected, for
+whom I left a letter, and made them promise to
+treat them in common with themselves. Here it
+may be noted, that the captain had ink on board,
+who was greatly surprised that I never hit upon a
+way of making ink of charcoal and water, or of
+something else, as I had done things much more
+difficult.</p>
+
+<p>I left them my fire-arms, viz. five-muskets, three
+fowling-pieces; and three swords. I had above a
+barrel and a half of powder left; for after the first
+year or two I used but little, and wasted none. I
+gave them a description of the way I managed the
+goats, and directions to milk and fatten them, and
+to make both butter and cheese: in a word, I gave
+them every part of my own story; and told them
+I should prevail with the captain to leave them two
+barrels of gunpowder more, and some garden seeds,
+which I told them I would have been very glad of:
+also I gave them the bag of peas which the captain
+had brought me to eat, and bade them be sure to
+sow and increase them.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page356" id="page356"></a>[pg 356]</span>
+
+<p>Having done all this, I left them the next day,
+and went on board the ship. We prepared immediately
+to sail, but did not weigh that night. The
+next morning early, two of the five men came swimming
+to the ship's side, and making a most lamentable
+complaint of the other three, begged to be
+taken into the ship, for God's sake, for they should
+be murdered, and begged the captain to take them
+on board, though he hanged them immediately.
+Upon this, the captain pretended to have no power
+without me; but after some difficulty, and after
+their solemn promises of amendment, they were
+taken on board, and were some time after soundly
+whipped and pickled: after which they proved
+very honest and quiet fellows.</p>
+
+<p>Some time after this, the boat was ordered on
+shore, the tide being up, with the things promised
+to the men; to which the captain, at my intercession,
+caused their chests and clothes to be added,
+which they took, and were very thankful for. I
+also encouraged them, by telling them that if it lay
+in my power to send any vessel to take them in, I
+would not forget them.</p>
+
+<p>When I took leave of this island, I carried on
+board, for reliques, the great goat-skin cap I had
+made, my umbrella, and one of my parrots; also I
+forgot not to take the money I formerly mentioned,
+which had lain by me so long useless, that it was
+grown rusty or tarnished, and could hardly pass
+for silver, till it had been a little rubbed and handled;
+as also the money I found in the wreck of
+the Spanish ship. And thus I left the island, the
+19th of December, as I found by the ship's account,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page357" id="page357"></a>[pg 357]</span>
+in the year 1686, after I had been upon it eight
+and twenty years, two months, and nineteen days;
+being delivered from this second captivity the same
+day of the month that I first made my escape in
+the long-boat, from among the Moors of Sallee.
+In this vessel, after a long voyage, I arrived in
+England the 11th of June, in the year 1687, having
+been thirty-five years absent.</p>
+
+<p>When I came to England, I was as perfect a
+stranger to all the world as if I had never been
+known there. My benefactor and faithful steward,
+whom I had left my money in trust with, was alive,
+but had had great misfortunes in the world; was
+become a widow the second time, and very low in
+the world. I made her very easy as to what she
+owed me, assuring her I would give her no trouble;
+but on the contrary, in gratitude for her former
+care and faithfulness to me, I relieved her as my
+little-stock would afford; which, at that time,
+would indeed allow me to do but little for her; but
+I assured her I would never forget her former kindness
+to me; nor did I forget her when I had sufficient
+to help her, as shall be observed in its proper
+place. I went down afterwards into Yorkshire;
+but my father was dead, and my mother and all the
+family extinct, except that I found two sisters, and
+two of the children of one of my brothers; and as
+I had been long ago given over for dead, there had
+been no provision made for me: so that, in a word,
+I found nothing to relieve or assist me; and that
+the little money I had would not do much for me
+as to settling in the world.</p>
+
+<p>I met with one piece of gratitude, indeed, which
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page358" id="page358"></a>[pg 358]</span>
+I did not expect; and this was, that the master of
+the ship whom I had so happily delivered, and by
+the same means saved the ship and cargo, having
+given a very handsome account to the owners of
+the manner how I had saved the lives of the men,
+and the ship, they invited me to meet them, and
+some other merchants concerned, and all together
+made me a very handsome compliment upon the
+subject, and a present of almost £200 sterling.</p>
+
+<p>But after making several reflections upon the
+circumstances of my life, and how little way this
+would go towards settling me in the world, I resolved
+to go to Lisbon, and see if I might not come
+by some information of the state of my plantation
+in the Brazils, and of what was become of my
+partner, who, I had reason to suppose, had some
+years past given me over for dead. With this view
+I took shipping for Lisbon, where I arrived in
+April following; my man Friday accompanying me
+very honestly in all these ramblings, and proving a
+most faithful servant upon all occasions. When I
+came to Lisbon, I found out, by inquiry, and to my
+particular satisfaction, my old friend the captain of
+the ship who first took me up at sea off the shore
+of Africa. He was now grown old, and had left off
+going to sea, having put his son, who was far from
+a young man, into his ship, and who still used the
+Brazil trade. The old man did not know me; and,
+indeed, I hardly knew him: but I soon brought him
+to my remembrance, and as soon brought myself to
+his remembrance, when I told him who I was.</p>
+
+<p>After some passionate expressions of the old acquaintance
+between us, I inquired, you may be
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page359" id="page359"></a>[pg 359]</span>
+sure, after my plantation and my partner. The
+old man told me he had not been in the Brazils for
+about nine years; but that he could assure me, that
+when he came away my partner was living; but
+the trustees, whom I had joined with him to take
+cognizance of my part, were both dead: that, however,
+he believed I would have a very good account
+of the improvement of the plantation; for that
+upon the general belief of my being cast away and
+drowned, my trustees had given in the account of
+the produce of my part of the plantation to the
+procurator-fiscal, who had appropriated it, in case
+I never came to claim it, one-third to the king, and
+two-thirds to the monastery of St. Augustine, to be
+expended for the benefit of the poor, and for the
+conversion of the Indians to the Catholic faith;
+but that if I appeared, or any one for me, to claim
+the inheritance, it would be restored; only that the
+improvement or annual production, being distributed
+to charitable uses, could not be restored:
+but he assured me that the steward of the king's
+revenue from lands, and the provedore, or steward
+of the monastery, had taken great care all along
+that the incumbent, that is to say, my partner, gave
+every year a faithful account of the produce, of
+which they had duly received my moiety. I asked
+him if he knew to what height of improvement he
+had brought the plantation, and whether he thought
+it might be worth looking after; or whether, on
+my going thither, I should meet with any obstruction
+to my possessing my just right in the moiety.
+He told me he could not tell exactly to what degree
+the plantation was improved; but this he knew, that
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page360" id="page360"></a>[pg 360]</span>
+my partner was grown exceeding rich upon the enjoying
+his part of it; and that, to the best of his
+remembrance, he had heard that the king's third of
+my part, which was, it seems, granted away to some
+other monastery or religious house, amounted to
+above two hundred moidores a year: that as to my
+being restored to a quiet possession of it, there was
+no question to be made of that, my partner being
+alive to witness my title, and my name being also
+enrolled in the register of the country; also he
+told me, that the survivors of my two trustees were
+very fair honest people, and very wealthy; and he
+believed I would hot only have their assistance for
+putting me in possession, but would find a very
+considerable sum of money in their hands for my
+account, being the produce of the farm while their
+fathers held the trust, and before it was given up,
+as above; which, as he remembered, was for about
+twelve years.</p>
+
+<p>I showed myself a little concerned and uneasy at
+this account, and inquired of the old captain how
+it came to pass that the trustees should thus dispose
+of my effects, when he knew that I had made my
+will, and had made him, the Portuguese captain,
+my universal heir, &amp;c.</p>
+
+<p>He told me that was true; but that as there was
+no proof of my being dead, he could not act as executor,
+until some certain account should come of
+my death; and, besides, he was not willing to intermeddle
+with a thing so remote: that it was true
+he had registered my will, and put in his claim;
+and could he have given any account of my being
+dead or alive, he would have acted by procuration,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page361" id="page361"></a>[pg 361]</span>
+and taken possession of the ingeino, (so they called
+the sugar-house) and have given his son, who was
+now at the Brazils, orders to do it. "But," says
+the old man, "I have one piece of news to tell you,
+which perhaps may not be so acceptable to you as
+the rest; and that is, believing you were lost, and
+all the world believing so also, your partner and
+trustees did offer to account with me, in your name,
+for six or eight of the first years' profits, which I
+received. There being at that time great disbursements
+for increasing the works, building an ingeino,
+and buying slaves, it did not amount to near so much
+as afterwards it produced: however," says the old
+man, "I shall give you a true account of what I
+have received in all, and how I have disposed of it."</p>
+
+<p>After a few days' farther conference with this ancient
+friend, he brought me an account of the first
+six years' income of my plantation, signed by my
+partner and the merchant-trustees, being always
+delivered in goods, viz. tobacco in roll, and sugar
+in chests, besides rum, molasses, &amp;c. which is the
+consequence of a sugar-work; and I found, by this
+account, that every year the income considerably
+increased; but, as above, the disbursements being
+large, the sum at first was small: however, the old
+man let me see that he was debtor to me four hundred
+and seventy moidores of gold, besides sixty
+chests of sugar, and fifteen double rolls of tobacco,
+which were lost in his ship; he having been shipwrecked
+coming home to Lisbon, about eleven years
+after my leaving the place. The good man then
+began to complain of his misfortunes, and how he
+had been obliged to make use of my money to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page362" id="page362"></a>[pg 362]</span>
+recover his losses, and buy him a share in a new ship.
+"However, my old friend," says he, "you shall
+not want a supply in your necessity; and as soon
+as my son returns, you shall be fully satisfied."
+Upon this, he pulls out an old pouch, and gives me
+one hundred and sixty Portugal moidores in gold;
+and giving the writings of his title to the ship,
+which his son was gone to the Brazils in, of which
+he was a quarter-part owner, and his son another,
+he puts them both into my hands for security of
+the rest.</p>
+
+<p>I was too much moved with the honesty and kindness
+of the poor man to be able to bear this; and
+remembering what he had done for me, how he had
+taken me up at sea, and how generously he had
+used me on all occasions, and particularly how sincere
+a friend he was now to me, I could hardly refrain
+weeping at what he had said to me; therefore
+I asked him if his circumstances admitted him to
+spare so much money at that time, and if it would
+not straiten him? He told me he could not say but
+it might straiten him a little; but, however, it was
+my money, and I might want it more than he.</p>
+
+<p>Every thing the good man said was full of affection,
+and I could hardly refrain from tears while he
+spoke; in short, I took one hundred of the moidores,
+and called for a pen and ink to give him a
+receipt for them: then I returned him the rest, and
+told him if ever I had possession of the plantation,
+I would return the other to him also, (as, indeed, I
+afterwards did;) and that as to the bill of sale of
+his part in his son's ship, I would not take it by any
+means; but that if I wanted the money, I found he
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page363" id="page363"></a>[pg 363]</span>
+was honest enough to pay me; and if I did not, but
+came to receive what he gave me reason to expect,
+I would never have a penny more from him.</p>
+
+<p>When this was past, the old man asked me if he
+should put me into a method to make my claim to
+my plantation? I told him I thought to go over to
+it myself. He said I might do so if I pleased; but
+that if I did not, there were ways enough to secure
+my right, and immediately to appropriate the profits
+to my use: and as there were ships in the river
+of Lisbon just ready to go away to Brazil, he made
+me enter my name in a public register, with his
+affidavit, affirming, upon oath, that I was alive, and
+that I was the same person who took up the land
+for the planting the said plantation at first. This
+being regularly attested by a notary, and a procuration
+affixed, he directed me to send it, with a letter
+of his writing, to a merchant of his acquaintance at
+the place; and then proposed my staying with him
+till an account came of the return.</p>
+
+<p>Never was any thing more honourable than the
+proceedings upon this procuration; for in less than
+seven months I received a large packet from the
+survivors of my trustees, the merchants, for whose
+account I went to sea, in which were the following
+particular letters and papers enclosed.</p>
+
+<p>First, There was the account-current of the produce
+of my farm or plantation, from the year when
+their fathers had balanced with my old Portugal
+captain, being for six years; the balance appeared
+to be one thousand one hundred and seventy-four
+moidores in my favour.</p>
+
+<p>Secondly, There was the account of four years
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page364" id="page364"></a>[pg 364]</span>
+more, while they kept the effects in their hands,
+before the government claimed the administration,
+as being the effects of a person not to be found,
+which they called civil death; and the balance of
+this, the value of the plantation increasing, amounted
+to nineteen thousand four hundred and forty-six crusadoes,
+being about three thousand two hundred
+and forty moidores.</p>
+
+<p>Thirdly, There was the prior of Augustine's account,
+who had received the profits for above fourteen
+years; but not being to account for what was
+disposed of by the hospital, very honestly declared
+he had eight hundred and seventy-two moidores not
+distributed, which he acknowledged to my account:
+as to the king's part, that refunded nothing.</p>
+
+<p>There was a letter of my partner's, congratulating
+me very affectionately upon my being alive, giving
+me an account how the estate was improved, and
+what it produced a year; with a particular of the
+number of squares or acres that it contained, how
+planted, how many slaves there were upon it, and
+making two and twenty crosses for blessings, told
+me he had said so many <i>Ave Marias</i> to thank the
+blessed Virgin that I was alive; inviting me very
+passionately to come over and take possession of my
+own; and, in the mean time, to give him orders
+to whom he should deliver my effects, if I did not
+come myself; concluding with a hearty tender of
+his friendship, and that of his family; and sent me,
+as a present, seven fine leopards' skins, which he
+had, it seems, received from Africa, by some other
+ship that he had sent thither, and who, it seems,
+had made a better voyage than I. He sent me also
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page365" id="page365"></a>[pg 365]</span>
+five chests of excellent sweetmeats, and a hundred
+pieces of gold uncoined, not quite so large as moidores.
+By the same fleet, my two merchant-trustees
+shipped me one thousand two hundred chests
+of sugar, eight hundred rolls of tobacco, and the
+rest of the whole account in gold.</p>
+
+<p>I might well say now, indeed, that the latter end
+of Job was better than the beginning. It is impossible
+to express the flutterings of my very heart
+when I found all my wealth about me; for as the
+Brazil ships come all in fleets, the same ships which
+brought my letters brought my goods: and the
+effects were safe in the river before the letters came
+to my hand. In a word, I turned pale, and grew
+sick; and had not the old man run and fetched me
+a cordial, I believe the sudden surprise of joy had
+overset nature, and I had died upon the spot: nay,
+after that, I continued very ill, and was so some
+hours till a physician being sent for, and something
+of the real cause of my illness being known, he ordered
+me to be let blood; after which I had relief,
+and grew well: but I verily believe, if I had not
+been eased by a vent given in that manner to the
+spirits, I should have died.</p>
+
+<p>I was now master, all on a sudden, of above five
+thousand pounds sterling in money, and had an
+estate, as I might well call it, in the Brazils, of
+above a thousand pounds a year, as sure as an estate
+of lands in England; and, in a word, I was in a
+condition which I scarce knew how to understand,
+or how to compose myself for the enjoyment of it.
+The first thing I did was to recompense my original
+benefactor, my good old captain, who had been first
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page366" id="page366"></a>[pg 366]</span>
+charitable to me in my distress, kind to me in my
+beginning, and honest to me at the end. I showed
+him all that was sent to me; I told him, that next
+to the providence of Heaven, which disposed all
+things, it was owing to him; and that it now lay on
+me to reward him, which I would do a hundredfold:
+so I first returned to him the hundred moidores
+I had received of him; then I sent for a notary,
+and caused him to draw up a general release or discharge
+from the four hundred and seventy moidores,
+which he had acknowledged he owed me, in the
+fullest and firmest manner possible. After which
+I caused a procuration to be drawn, empowering
+him to be my receiver of the annual profits of my
+plantation, and appointing my partner to account
+with him, and make the returns by the usual fleets
+to him in my name; and a clause in the end, being
+a grant of one hundred moidores a year to him
+during his life, out of the effects, and fifty moidores
+a year to his son after him, for his life: and thus I
+requited my old man.</p>
+
+<p>I was now to consider which way to steer my
+course next, and what to do with the estate that
+Providence had thus put into my hands; and, indeed,
+I had more care upon my head now than I had
+in my silent state of life in the island, where I
+wanted nothing but what I had, and had nothing
+but what I wanted; whereas I had now a great
+charge upon me, and my business was how to secure
+it. I had never a cave now to hide my money in,
+or a place where it might lie without lock or key,
+till it grew mouldy and tarnished before any body
+would meddle with it: on the contrary, I knew not
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page367" id="page367"></a>[pg 367]</span>
+where to put it, or whom to trust with it. My old
+patron, the captain, indeed, was honest, and that
+was the only refuge I had. In the next place, my
+interest in the Brazils seemed to summon me thither;
+but now I could not tell how to think of going thither
+till I had settled my affairs, and left my effects in
+some safe hands behind me. At first I thought of
+my old friend the widow, who I knew was honest,
+and would be just to me; but then she was in years,
+and but poor, and, for aught. I knew, might be in
+debt; so that, in a word, I had no way but to go
+back to England myself, and take my effects with
+me.</p>
+
+<p>It was some months, however, before I resolved
+upon this; and therefore, as I had rewarded the old
+captain fully, and to his satisfaction, who had been
+my former benefactor, so I began to think of my
+poor widow, whose husband had been my first benefactor,
+and she, while it was in her power, my faithful
+steward and instructor. So the first thing I did,
+I got a merchant in Lisbon to write to his correspondent
+in London, not only to pay a bill, but to
+go find her out, and carry her in money a hundred
+pounds from me, and to talk with her, and comfort
+her in her poverty, by telling her she should, if I
+lived, have a further supply: at the same time I
+sent my two sisters in the country a hundred pounds,
+each, they being, though not in want, yet not in
+very good circumstances; one having been married
+and left a widow; and the other having a husband
+not so kind to her as he should be. But among all
+my relations or acquaintances, I could not yet pitch
+upon one to whom I durst commit the gross of my
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page368" id="page368"></a>[pg 368]</span>
+stock, that I might go away to the Brazils, and
+leave things safe behind me; and this greatly perplexed
+me.</p>
+
+<p>I had once a mind to have gone to the Brazils,
+and have settled myself there, for I was, as it were,
+naturalized to the place; but I had some little
+scruple in my mind about religion, which insensibly
+drew me back. However, it was not religion that
+kept me from going there for the present; and as
+I had made no scruple of being openly of the religion
+of the country all the while I was among them,
+so neither did I yet; only that, now and then, having
+of late thought more of it than formerly, when
+I began to think of living and dying among them,
+I began to regret my having professed myself a
+papist, and thought it might not be the best religion
+to die with.</p>
+
+<p>But, as I have said, this was not the main thing
+that kept me from going to the Brazils, but that
+really I did not know with whom to leave my effects
+behind me; so I resolved, at last, to go to England
+with it, where, if I arrived, I concluded I should
+make some acquaintance, or find some relations that
+would be faithful to me; and, accordingly, I prepared
+to go to England with all my wealth.</p>
+
+<p>In order to prepare tilings for my going home,
+I first, the Brazil fleet being just going away, resolved
+to give answers suitable to the just and faithful
+account of things I had from thence; and, first,
+to the prior of St. Augustine I wrote a letter full of
+thanks for their just dealings, and the offer of the
+eight hundred and seventy-two moidores which were
+undisposed of, which I desired might be given, five
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page369" id="page369"></a>[pg 369]</span>
+hundred to the monastery, and three hundred and
+seventy-two to the poor, as the prior should direct;
+desiring the good padre's prayers for me, and the
+like. I wrote next a letter of thanks to my two
+trustees, with all the acknowledgment that so much
+justice and honesty called for; as for sending them
+any present, they were far above having any occasion
+for it. Lastly, I wrote to my partner, acknowledging
+his industry in the improving the plantation,
+and his integrity in increasing the stock of the,
+works; giving him instructions for his future government
+of my part, according to the powers I had left
+with my old patron, to whom I desired him to send
+whatever became due to me, till he should hear from
+me more particularly; assuring him that it was my
+intention not only to come to him, but to settle myself
+there for the remainder of my life. To this I
+added a very handsome present of some Italian
+silks for his wife and two daughters, for such the
+captain's son informed me he had; with two pieces
+of fine English broad-cloth, the best I could get in
+Lisbon, five pieces of black baize, and some Flanders
+lace of a good value.</p>
+
+<p>Having thus settled my affairs, sold my cargo,
+and turned all my effects into good bills of exchange,
+my next difficulty was, which way to go to England:
+I had been accustomed enough to the sea, and yet
+I had a strange aversion to go to England by sea at
+that time; and though I could give no reason for
+it, yet the difficulty increased upon me so much,
+that though I had once shipped my baggage in
+order to go, yet I altered my mind, and that not
+once, but two or three times.</p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page370" id="page370"></a>[pg 370]</span>
+
+<p>It is true; I had been very unfortunate by sea,
+and this might be some of the reasons; but let no
+man slight the strong impulses of his own thoughts
+in cases of such moment: two of the ships which I
+had singled out to go in, I mean more particularly
+singled out than any other, having put my things on
+board one of them, and in the other to have agreed
+with the captain; I say, two of these ships miscarried,
+viz. one was taken by the Algerines, and the other
+was cast away on the Start, near Torbay, and all
+the people drowned, except three; so that in either
+of those vessels I had been made miserable.</p>
+
+<p>Having been thus harassed in my thoughts, my
+old pilot, to whom I communicated every thing,
+pressed me earnestly not to go by sea, but either to
+go by land to the Groyne, and cross over the Bay
+of Biscay to Rochelle, from whence it was but an
+easy and safe journey by land to Paris, and so to
+Calais and Dover; or to go up to Madrid, and so
+all the way by laud through France. In a word, I
+was so prepossessed against my going by sea at all,
+except from Calas to Dover, that I resolved to travel
+all the way by land; which, as I was not in haste,
+and did not value the charge, was by much the
+pleasanter way: and to make it more so, my old
+captain brought an English gentleman, the son of a
+merchant in Lisbon, who was willing to travel with
+me; after which we picked up two more English
+merchants also, and two young Portuguese gentlemen,
+the last going to Paris only; so that in all there
+were six of us, and five servants; the two merchants
+and the two Portuguese contenting themselves with
+one servant between two, to save the charge; and
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page371" id="page371"></a>[pg 371]</span>
+as for me, I got an English sailor to travel with me
+as a servant, besides my man Friday, who was too
+much a stranger to be capable of supplying the
+place of a servant on the road.</p>
+
+<p>In this manner I set out from Lisbon; and our
+company being very well mounted and armed, we
+made a little troop, whereof they did me the honour
+to call me captain, as well because I was the oldest
+man, as because I had two servants, and, indeed,
+was the original of the whole journey.</p>
+
+<p>As I have troubled you with none of my sea journals,
+so I shall trouble you now with none of my
+land journal; but some adventures that happened
+to us in this tedious and difficult journey I must not
+omit.</p>
+
+<p>When we came to Madrid, we being all of us
+strangers to Spain, were willing to stay some time
+to see the court of Spain, and to see what was worth
+observing; but it being the latter part of the summer,
+we hastened away, and set out from Madrid
+about the middle of October; but when we came
+to the edge of Navarre, we were alarmed, at several
+towns on the way, with an account that so much
+snow was fallen on the French side of the mountains,
+that several travellers were obliged to come
+back to Pampeluna, after having attempted, at an
+extreme hazard, to pass on.</p>
+
+<p>When we came to Pampeluna itself, we found it
+so indeed; and to me, that had been always used
+to a hot climate, and to countries where I could
+scarce bear any clothes on, the cold was insufferable:
+nor, indeed, was it more painful than surprising, to
+come but ten days before out of Old Castile, where
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page372" id="page372"></a>[pg 372]</span>
+the weather was not only warm, but very hot, and
+immediately to feel a wind from the Pyrenean mountains
+so very keen, so severely cold, as to be intolerable,
+and to endanger benumbing and perishing
+of our fingers and toes.</p>
+
+<p>Poor Friday was really frightened when he saw
+the mountains all covered with snow, and felt cold
+weather, which he had never seen or felt before in
+his life. To mend the matter, when we came to
+Pampeluna, it continued snowing with so much
+violence, and so long, that the people said winter
+was come before its time; and the roads, which
+were difficult before, were now quite impassable;
+for, in a word, the snow lay in some places too thick
+for us to travel, and being not hard frozen, as is
+the case in the northern countries, there was no
+going without being in danger of being buried alive
+every step. We stayed no less than twenty days at
+Pampeluna; when seeing the winter coming on,
+and no likelihood of its being better, for it was the
+severest winter all over Europe that had been known
+in the memory of man, I proposed that we should
+all go away to Fontarabia, and there take shipping
+for Bourdeaux, which was a very little voyage. But
+while I was considering this, there came in four
+French gentlemen, who having been stopped on the
+French side of the passes, as we were on the Spanish,
+had found out a guide, who, traversing the country
+near the head of Languedoc, had brought them
+over the mountains by such ways, that they were
+not much incommoded with the snow; for where
+they met with snow in any quantity, they said it was
+frozen hard enough to bear them and their horses.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page373" id="page373"></a>[pg 373]</span>
+We sent, for this guide, who told us he would undertake
+to carry us the same way with no hazard from
+the snow, provided we were armed sufficiently to
+protect ourselves from wild beasts; for, he said,
+upon these great snows it was frequent for some
+wolves to show themselves at the foot of the mountains,
+being made ravenous for want of food, the
+ground being covered with snow. We told him we
+were well enough prepared for such creatures as
+they were, if he would ensure us from a kind of two-legged
+wolves, which, we were told, we were in most
+danger from, especially on the French side of the
+mountains. He satisfied us that there was no danger
+of that kind in the way that we were to go: so
+we readily agreed to follow him, as did also twelve
+other gentlemen, with their servants, some French,
+some Spanish, who, as I said, had attempted to go,
+and were obliged to come back again.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, we set out from Pampeluna, with
+our guide, on the 15th of November; and, indeed,
+I was surprised, when, instead of going forward, he
+came directly back with us on the same road that
+we came from Madrid, about twenty miles; when
+having passed two rivers, and come into the plain
+country, we found ourselves in a warm climate
+again, where the country was pleasant, and no snow
+to be seen; but on a sudden, turning to his left, he
+approached the mountains another way: and though
+it is true the hills and precipices looked dreadful,
+yet he made so many tours, such meanders, and led
+us by such winding ways, that we insensibly passed
+the height of the mountains without being much
+encumbered with the snow; and, all on a sudden,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page374" id="page374"></a>[pg 374]</span>
+he showed us the pleasant fruitful provinces of
+Languedoc and Gascony, all green and flourishing,
+though, indeed, at a great distance, and we had
+some rough way to pass still.</p>
+
+<p>We were a little uneasy, however, when we found
+it snowed one whole day and a night so fast, that
+we could not travel; but he bid us be easy; we
+should soon be past it all: we found, indeed, that
+we began to descend every day, and to come more
+north than before; and so depending upon our
+guide, we went on.</p>
+
+<p>It was about two hours before night, when our
+guide being something before us, and not just in
+sight, out rushed three monstrous wolves, and after
+them a bear, out of a hollow way adjoining to a
+thick wood: two of the wolves made at the guide,
+and had he been far before us, he would have been
+devoured before we could have helped him; one of
+them fastened upon his horse, and the other attacked
+the man with that violence, that he had not
+time, or presence of mind enough, to draw his pistol,
+but hallooed and cried out to us most lustily. My
+man Friday being next me, I bade him ride up, and
+see what was the matter. As soon as Friday came
+in sight of the man, he hallooed out as loud as the
+other, "O master! O master!" but, like a bold
+fellow, rode directly up to the poor man, and with
+his pistol shot the wolf that attacked him in the
+head.</p>
+
+<p>It was happy for the poor man that it was my
+man Friday; for he having been used to such creatures
+in his country, he had no fear upon him, but
+went close up to him and shot him, as above;
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page375" id="page375"></a>[pg 375]</span>
+whereas any other of us would have fired at a farther
+distance, and have perhaps either missed the
+wolf, or endangered shooting the man.</p>
+
+<p>But it was enough to have terrified a bolder man
+than I; and, indeed, it alarmed all our company,
+when, with the noise of Friday's pistol, we heard on
+both sides the most dismal howling of wolves; and
+the noise, redoubled by the echo of the mountains,
+appeared to us as if there had been a prodigious
+number of them; and perhaps there was not such
+a few as that we had no cause of apprehensions:
+however, as Friday had killed this wolf, the other
+that had fastened upon the horse left him immediately,
+and fled, without doing him any damage,
+having happily fastened upon his head, where the
+bosses of the bridle had stuck in his teeth. But
+the man was most hurt; for the raging creature had
+bit him twice, once in the arm, and the other time
+a little above his knee; and though he had made
+some defence, he was just as it were tumbling down
+by the disorder of his horse, when Friday came up
+and shot the wolf.</p>
+
+<p>It is easy to suppose that at the noise of Friday's
+pistol we all mended our pace, and rode up as fast
+as the way, which was very difficult, would give us
+leave, to see what was the matter. As soon as we
+came clear of the trees, which blinded us before,
+we saw clearly what had been the case, and how
+Friday had disengaged the poor guide, though we
+did not presently discern what kind of creature it
+was he had killed.</p>
+
+<p>But never was a fight managed so hardily, and in
+such a surprising manner, as that which followed
+between Friday and the bear, which gave us all,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page376" id="page376"></a>[pg 376]</span>
+though at first we were surprised and afraid for him,
+the greatest diversion imaginable. As the bear is
+a heavy clumsy creature, and does not gallop as the
+wolf does, who is swift and light, so he has two
+particular qualities, which generally are the rule of
+his actions: first, as to men, who are not his proper
+prey, (he does not usually attempt them, except they
+first attack him, unless he be excessive hungry,
+which it is probable might now be the case, the
+ground being covered with snow,) if you do not
+meddle with him, he will not meddle with you; but
+then you must take care to be very civil to him,
+and give him the road, for he is a very nice gentleman;
+he will not go a step out of his way for a
+prince; nay, if you are really afraid, your best way
+is to look another way, and keep going on; for
+sometimes if you stop, and stand still, and look
+steadfastly at him, he takes it for an affront; but if
+you throw or toss any thing at him, and it hits him,
+though it were but a bit of stick as big as your
+finger, he thinks himself abused, and sets all other
+business aside to pursue his revenge, and will have
+satisfaction in point of honour;&mdash;this is his first
+quality: the next is, if he be once affronted, he will
+never leave yon, night nor day, till he has his revenge,
+but follows, at a good round rate, till he
+overtakes yon.</p>
+
+<p>My man Friday had delivered our guide, and
+when we came up to him, he was helping him off
+from his horse, for the man was both hurt and
+frightened, when, on a sudden, we espied the bear
+come out of the wood, and a vast monstrous one it
+was, the biggest by far that ever I saw. We were
+all a little surprised when we saw him; but when
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page377" id="page377"></a>[pg 377]</span>
+Friday saw him, it was easy to see joy and courage
+in the fellow's countenance: "O, O, O!" says Friday,
+three times, pointing to him; "O master! you
+give me te leave, me shakee te hand with him; me
+makee you good laugh."</p>
+
+<p>I was surprised to see the fellow so well pleased;
+"You fool," says I, "he will eat you up,"&mdash;"Eatee
+me up! eatee me up!" says Friday, twice over
+again; "me eatee him up; me' makee you good
+laugh; you all stay here, me show you good laugh."
+So down he sits, and gets off his boots in a moment,
+and puts on a pair of pumps, (as we call the flat
+shoes they wear, and which he had in his pocket,)
+gives my other servant his horse, and with his gun
+away he flew, swift like the wind.</p>
+
+<p>The bear was walking softly on, and offered to
+meddle with nobody, till Friday coming pretty near,
+calls to him, as if the bear could understand him,
+"Hark ye, hark ye," says Friday, "me speakee
+with you." We followed at a distance; for now
+being come down on the Gaseony side of the mountains,
+we were entered a vast great forest, where
+the country was plain and pretty open, though it
+had many trees in it scattered here and there. Friday,
+who had, as we say, the heels of the bear, came
+up with him quickly, and takes up a great stone
+and throws it at him, and hit him just on the head,
+but did him no more harm than if he had thrown it
+against a wall; but it answered Friday's end, for
+the rogue was so void of fear that he did it purely
+to make the bear follow him, and show us some
+laugh, as he called it. As soon as the bear felt the
+blow, and saw him, he turns about, and comes after
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page378" id="page378"></a>[pg 378]</span>
+him, taking devilish long strides, and shuffling on at
+a strange rate, so as would have put a horse to a
+middling gallop: away runs Friday, and takes his
+course as if he run towards us for help; so we all
+resolved to fire at once upon the bear, and deliver
+my man; though I was angry at him heartily for
+bringing the bear back upon us, when he was going
+about his own business another way: and especially
+I was angry that he had turned the bear upon us,
+and then run away; and I called out, "You dog,
+is this your making us laugh? Come away, and take
+your horse, that we may shoot the creature." He
+heard me, and cried out, "No shoot, no shoot;
+stand still, and you get much laugh:" and as the
+nimble creature ran two feet for the bear's one, he
+turned on a sudden, on one side of us, and seeing
+a great oak tree fit for his purpose, he beckoned to
+us to follow; and doubling his pace, he gets nimbly
+up the tree, laying his gun down upon the ground,
+at about five or six yards from the bottom of the
+tree. The bear soon came to the tree, and we followed
+at a distance: the first thing he did, he stopped
+at the gun, smelt to it, but let it lie, and up he
+scrambles into the tree, climbing like a cat, though
+so monstrous heavy. I was amazed at the folly, as
+I thought it, of my man, and could not for my life
+see any thing to laugh at yet, till seeing the bear
+get up the tree, we all rode near to him.</p>
+
+<p>When we came to the tree, there was Friday got
+out to the small end of a large branch, and the bear
+got about half way to him. As soon as the bear
+got out to that part where the limb of the tree was
+weaker,&mdash;"Ha!" says he to us, "now you see me
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page379" id="page379"></a>[pg 379]</span>
+teachee the bear dance:" so he falls a jumping and
+shaking the bough, at which the bear began to totter,
+but stood still, and began to look behind him,
+to see how he should get back; then, indeed, we
+did laugh heartily. But Friday had not done
+with him by a great deal; when seeing him stand
+still, he calls out to him again, as if he had supposed
+the bear could speak English, "What, you come
+no farther? pray you come farther:" so he left
+jumping and shaking the tree; and the bear, just
+as if he understood what he said, did come a little
+farther; then he fell a jumping again, and the bear
+stopped again. We thought now was a good time
+to knock him in the head, and called to Friday to
+stand still, and we would shoot the bear: but he
+cried out earnestly, "O pray! O pray! no shoot,
+me shoot by and then;" he would have said by and
+by. However, to shorten the story, Friday danced
+so much, and the bear stood so ticklish, that we had
+laughing enough, but still could not imagine what
+the fellow would do: for first we thought he depended
+upon shaking the bear off; and we found
+the bear was too cunning for that too; for he would
+not go out far enough to be thrown down, but clings
+fast with his great broad claws and feet, so that we
+could not imagine what would be the end of it, and
+what the jest would be at last. But Friday put us
+out of doubt quickly: for seeing the bear cling fast
+to the bough, and that he would not be persuaded
+to come any farther, "Well, well," says Friday,
+"you no come farther, me go; you no come to me,
+me come to you:" and upon this he goes out to the
+smaller end of the bough, where it would bend with
+his weight, and gently lets himself down by it,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page380" id="page380"></a>[pg 380]</span>
+sliding down the bough, till he came near enough
+to jump down on his feet, and away he runs to his
+gun, takes it up, and stands still. "Well," said I
+to him, "Friday, what will you do now? Why
+don't you shoot him?"&mdash;"No shoot," says Friday,
+"no yet; me shoot now, me no kill; me stay, give
+you one more laugh:" and, indeed, so he did, as
+you will see presently; for when the bear saw his
+enemy gone, he comes back from the bough where
+he stood, but did it mighty cautiously, looking behind
+him every step, and coming backward till he
+got into the body of the tree; then with the same
+hinder end foremost, he came down the tree, grasping
+it with his claws, and moving one foot at a time,
+very leisurely. At this juncture, and just before
+he could set his hind foot on the ground, Friday
+stepped up close to him, clapped the muzzle of his
+piece into his ear, and shot him dead. Then the
+rogue turned about to see if we did not laugh; and
+when he saw we were pleased, by our looks, he falls
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page381" id="page381"></a>[pg 381]</span>
+a laughing himself very loud. "So we kill bear in
+my country," says Friday. "So you kill them?"
+says I: "why, you have no guns."&mdash;"No," says
+he, "no gun, but shoot great much long arrow."
+This was a good diversion to us; but we were still
+in a wild place, and our guide very much hurt, and
+what to do we hardly knew: the howling of wolves
+ran much in my head; and, indeed, except the noise
+I once heard on the shore of Africa, of which I
+have said something already, I never heard any
+thing that filled me with so much horror.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width:35%;"><a href="images/380.jpg"><img width = "100%" src="images/380.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
+
+<p>These things, and the approach of night, called
+us off, or else, as Friday would have had us, we
+should certainly have taken the skin of this monstrous
+creature off, which was worth saving; but
+we had near three leagues to go, and our guide
+hastened us; so we left him, and went forward on
+our journey.</p>
+
+<p>The ground was still covered with snow, though
+not so deep and dangerous as on the mountains;
+and the ravenous creatures, as we heard afterwards,
+were come down into the forest and plain country,
+pressed by hunger, to seek for food, and had done
+a great deal of mischief in the villages, where they
+surprised the country people, killed a great many of
+their sheep and horses, and some people too. We
+had one dangerous place to pass, which our guide
+told us, if there were more wolves in the country
+we should find them there; and this was a small
+plain, surrounded with woods on every side, and a
+long narrow defile, or lane, which we were to pass
+to get through the wood, and then we should come
+to the village where we were to lodge. It was
+within half an hour of sunset when we entered the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page382" id="page382"></a>[pg 382]</span>
+first wood, and a little after sunset when we came
+into the plain; we met with nothing in the first
+wood, except that, in a little plain within the wood,
+which was not above two furlongs over, we saw five
+great wolves cross the road, full speed, one after
+another, as if they had been in chase of some prey,
+and had it in view; they took no notice of us, and
+were gone out of sight in a few moments. Upon
+this our guide, who, by the way, was but a fainthearted
+fellow, bid us keep in a ready posture, for
+he believed there were more wolves a coming. We
+kept our arms ready, and our eyes about us; but we
+saw no more wolves till we came through that wood,
+which was near half a league, and entered the plain.
+As soon as we came into the plain, we had occasion
+enough to look about us: the first object we met
+with was a dead horse, that is to say, a poor horse
+which the wolves had killed, and at least a dozen of
+them at work, we could not say eating of him, but
+picking of his bones rather; for they had eaten up
+all the flesh before. We did not think fit to disturb
+them at their feast, neither did they take much
+notice of us. Friday would have let fly at them,
+but I would not suffer him by any means; for I
+found we were like to have more business upon our
+hands than we were aware of. We were not gone
+half over the plain, when we began to hear the
+wolves howl in the wood on our left in a frightful
+manner, and presently after we saw about a hundred
+coming on directly towards us, all in a body,
+and most of them in a line, as regularly as an army
+drawn up by experienced officers. I scarce knew
+in what manner to receive them, but found, to draw
+ourselves in a close line was the only way; so we
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page383" id="page383"></a>[pg 383]</span>
+formed in a moment: but that we might not have,
+too much interval, I ordered that only every other
+man should fire, and that the others who had not
+fired should stand ready to give them a second volley
+immediately, if they continued to advance upon
+us; and then that those who had fired at first
+should not pretend to load their fusees again, but
+stand ready every one with a pistol, for we were
+all armed with a fusee and a pair of pistols each
+man; so we were, by this method, able to fire six
+volleys, half of us at a time: however, at present
+we had no necessity; for upon firing the first volley,
+the enemy made a full stop, being terrified as
+well with the noise as with the fire; four of them
+being shot in the head, dropped; several others
+were wounded, and went bleeding off, as we could
+see by the snow. I found they stopped, but did not
+immediately retreat; whereupon, remembering that
+I had been told that the fiercest creatures were terrified
+at the voice of a man, I caused all the company
+to halloo as loud as we could; and I found the
+notion not altogether mistaken; for upon our shout
+they began to retire, and turn about. I then ordered
+a second volley to be fired in their rear, which
+put them to the gallop, and away they went to the
+woods. This gave us leisure to charge our pieces
+again; and that we might lose no time, we kept
+going: but we had but little more than loaded our
+fusees, and put ourselves in readiness, when we
+heard a terrible noise in the same wood, on our left,
+only that it was farther onward, the same way we
+were to go.</p>
+
+<p>The night was coming on, and the light began to
+be dusky, which made it worse on our side; but the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page384" id="page384"></a>[pg 384]</span>
+noise increasing, we could easily perceive that it was
+the howling and yelling of those hellish creatures;
+and, on a sudden, we perceived two or three troops
+of wolves, one on our left, one behind us, and one
+in our front, so that we seemed to be surrounded
+with them: however, as they did not fall upon us,
+we kept our way forward, as fast as we could make
+our horses go, which, the way being very rough, was
+only a good hard trot. In this manner we came in
+view of the entrance of a wood, through which we
+were to pass, at the farther side of the plain; but
+we were greatly surprised, when coming nearer the
+lane or pass, we saw a confused number of wolves
+standing just at the entrance. On a sudden, at
+another opening of the wood, we heard the noise of
+a gun, and looking that way, out rushed a horse,
+with a saddle and a bridle on him, flying like the
+wind, and sixteen or seventeen wolves after him,
+full speed; indeed the horse had the heels of them,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page385" id="page385"></a>[pg 385]</span>
+but as we supposed that he could not hold it at that
+rate, we doubted not but they would get up with
+him at last; no question but they did.</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width:35%;"><a href="images/384.jpg"><img width = "100%" src="images/384.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
+
+<p>But here we had a most horrible sight; for riding
+up to the entrance where the horse came out, we
+found the carcasses of another horse and of two men,
+devoured by the ravenous creatures; and one of the
+men was no doubt the same whom we heard fire the
+gun, for there lay a gun just by him fired off; but
+as to the man, his head and the upper part of his
+body were eaten up. This filled us with horror, and
+we knew not what course to take; but the creatures
+resolved us soon, for they gathered about us presently,
+in hopes of prey; and I verily believe there
+were three hundred of them. It happened very
+much to our advantage, that at the entrance into the
+wood, but a little way from it, there lay some large
+timber-trees, which had been cut down the summer
+before, and I suppose lay there for carriage. I drew
+my little troop in among those trees, and placing
+ourselves in a line behind one long tree, I advised
+them all to alight, and keeping that tree before us
+for a breastwork, to stand in a triangle, or three
+fronts, enclosing our horses in the centre. We did
+so, and it was well we did; for never was a more
+furious charge than the creatures made upon us in
+this place. They came on with a growling kind of
+noise, and mounted the piece of timber, which, as I
+said, was our breastwork, as if they were only rushing
+upon their prey; and this fury of theirs, it seems,
+was principally occasioned by their seeing our horses
+behind us. I ordered our men to fire as before,
+every other man; and they took their aim so sure,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page386" id="page386"></a>[pg 386]</span>
+that they killed several of the wolves at the first
+volley; but there was a necessity to keep a continual
+firing, for they came on like devils, those
+behind pushing on those before.</p>
+
+<p>When we had fired a second volley of our fusees,
+we thought they stopped a little, and I hoped they
+would have gone off, but it was but a moment, for
+others came forward again; so we fired two volleys
+of our pistols; and I believe in these four firings we
+had killed seventeen or eighteen of them, and lamed
+twice as many, yet they came on again. I was loath
+to spend our shot too hastily; so I called my servant,
+not my man Friday, for he was better employed,
+for, with the greatest dexterity imaginable,
+he had charged my fusee and his own while we were
+engaged; but, as I said, I called my other man,
+and giving him a horn of powder, I bade him lay a
+train all along the piece of timber, and let it be a
+large train. He did so; and had but just time to
+get away, when the wolves came up to it, and some
+got upon it, when I, snapping an uncharged pistol
+close to the powder, set it on fire: those that were
+upon the timber were scorched with it, and six or
+seven of them fell, or rather jumped in among us,
+with the force and fright of the fire; we dispatched
+these in an instant, and the rest were so frightened
+with the light, which the night, for it was now very
+near dark, made more terrible, that they drew back
+a little; upon which I ordered our last pistols to be
+fired off in one volley, and after that we gave a
+shout: upon this the wolves turned tail, and we
+sallied immediately upon near twenty lame ones,
+that we found struggling on the ground, and fell a
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page387" id="page387"></a>[pg 387]</span>
+cutting them with our swords, which answered our
+expectation; for the crying and howling they made
+was better understood by their fellows; so that they
+all fled and left us.</p>
+
+<p>We had, first and last, killed about threescore of
+them; and had it been daylight, we had killed many
+more. The field of battle being thus cleared, we
+made forward again, for we had still near a league
+to go. We heard the ravenous creatures howl and
+yell in the woods as we went, several times, and
+sometimes we fancied we saw some of them, but the
+snow dazzling our eyes, we were not certain: in
+about an hour more we came to the town where we
+were to lodge, which we found in a terrible fright,
+and all in arms; for, it seems, the night before, the
+wolves and some bears had broke into the village,
+and put them in such terror, that they were obliged
+to keep guard night and day, but especially in the
+night, to preserve their cattle, and, indeed, their
+people.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning our guide was so ill, and his
+limbs swelled so much with the rankling of his two
+wounds, that he could go no farther; so we were
+obliged to take a new guide here, and go to Thoulouse,
+where we found a warm climate, a fruitful
+pleasant country, and no snow, no wolves, nor any
+thing like them: but when we told our story at
+Thoulouse, they told us it was nothing but what
+was ordinary in the great forest at the foot of the
+mountains, especially when the snow lay on the
+ground; but they inquired much what kind of a
+guide we had got, who would venture to bring us
+that way in such a severe season; and told us it was
+surprising we were not all devoured. When we told
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page388" id="page388"></a>[pg 388]</span>
+them how we placed ourselves, and the horses in
+the middle, they blamed us exceedingly, and told us
+it was fifty to one but we had been all destroyed;
+for it was the sight of the horses which made the
+wolves so furious, seeing their prey; and that, at
+other times, they are really afraid of a gun; but
+being excessive hungry, and raging on that account,
+the eagerness to come at the horses had made them
+senseless of danger; and that if we had not, by the
+continued fire, and at last by the stratagem of the
+train of powder, mastered them, it had been great
+odds but that we had been torn to pieces: whereas,
+had we been content to have sat still on horseback,
+and fired as horsemen, they would not have taken
+the horses so much for their own, when men were
+on their backs, as otherwise; and withal they told
+us, that at last, if we had stood all together, and left
+our horses, they would have been so eager to have
+devoured them, that we might have come off safe,
+especially having our fire-arms in our hands, and
+being so many in number. For my part, I was never
+so sensible of danger in my life; for seeing above
+three hundred devils come roaring and open-mouthed
+to devour us, and having nothing to shelter us, or
+retreat to, I gave myself over for lost; and, as it
+was, I believe I shall never care to cross those mountains
+again; I think I would much rather go a thousand
+leagues by sea, though I was sure to meet with
+a storm once a week.</p>
+
+<p>I have nothing uncommon to take notice of in my
+passage through France, nothing but what other
+travellers have given an account of, with much more
+advantage than I can. I travelled from Thoulouse
+to Paris, and without any considerable stay came to
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page389" id="page389"></a>[pg 389]</span>
+Calais, and landed safe at Dover, the 14th of Jan.
+after having a severe cold season to travel in.</p>
+
+<p>I was now come to the centre of my travels, and
+had in a little time all my new-discovered estate safe
+about me; the bills of exchange which I brought
+with me having been very currently paid.</p>
+
+<p>My principal guide and privy counsellor was my
+good ancient widow; who, in gratitude for the
+money I had sent her, thought no pains too much,
+nor care too great, to employ for me; and I trusted
+her so entirely with every thing, that I was perfectly
+easy as to the security of my effects: and, indeed, I
+was very happy from the beginning, and now to the
+end, in the unspotted integrity of this good gentlewoman.</p>
+
+<p>And now having resolved to dispose of my plantation
+in the Brazils, I wrote to my old friend at Lisbon;
+who having offered it to the two merchants,
+the survivors of my trustees, who lived in the Brazils,
+they accepted the offer, and remitted thirty-three
+thousand pieces-of-eight to a correspondent of theirs
+at Lisbon, to pay for it.</p>
+
+<p>In return, I signed the instrument of sale in the
+form which they sent from Lisbon, and sent it to my
+old man, who sent me the bills of exchange for 32,800
+pieces-of-eight for the estate; reserving the payment
+of 100 moidores a year to him (the old man) during
+his life, and 50 moidores afterwards to his son for
+his life, which I had promised them; and which the
+plantation was to make good as a rent-charge. And
+thus I have given the first part of a life of fortune
+and adventure, a life of Providence's chequer-work,
+and of a variety which the world will seldom be
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page390" id="page390"></a>[pg 390]</span>
+able to show the like of: beginning foolishly, but
+closing much more happily than any part of it ever
+gave me leave so much as to hope for.</p>
+
+<p>Any one would think, that in this state of complicated
+good fortune, I was past running any more
+hazards, and so indeed I had been, if other circumstances
+had concurred: but I was inured to a wandering
+life, had no family, nor many relations; nor,
+however rich, had I contracted much acquaintance;
+and though I had sold my estate in the Brazils, yet
+I could not keep that country out of my head, and
+had a great mind to be upon the wing again; especially
+I could not resist the strong inclination I had
+to see my island, and to know if the poor Spaniards
+were in being there. My true friend, the widow,
+earnestly dissuaded me from it, and so far prevailed
+with me, that, for almost seven years, she prevented
+my running abroad; during which time I took my
+two nephews, the children of one of my brothers,
+into my care: the eldest having something of his own,
+I bred up as a gentleman, and gave him a settlement
+of some addition to his estate, after my decease.
+The other I put out to a captain of a ship: and after
+five years, finding him a sensible, bold, enterprising
+young fellow, I put him into a good ship, and sent
+him to sea: and this young fellow afterwards drew
+me in, as old as I was, to farther adventures myself.</p>
+
+<p>In the mean time, I in part settled myself here;
+for, first of all, I married, and that not either to
+my disadvantage or dissatisfaction, and had three
+children, two sons and one daughter; but my wife
+dying, and my nephew coming home with good success
+from a voyage to Spain, my inclination to go
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page391" id="page391"></a>[pg 391]</span>
+abroad, and his importunity, prevailed, and engaged
+me to go in his ship as a private trader to the East
+Indies: this was in the year 1694.</p>
+
+<p>In this voyage I visited my new colony in the
+island, saw my successors the Spaniards, had the
+whole story of their lives, and of the villains I left
+there; how at first they insulted the poor Spaniards,
+how they afterwards agreed, disagreed, united,
+separated, and how at last the Spaniards were
+obliged to use violence with them; how they were
+subjected to the Spaniards; how honestly the Spaniards
+used them; an history, if it were entered into,
+as full of variety and wonderful accidents as my
+own part: particularly also as to their battles with
+the Caribbeans, who landed several times upon the
+island, and as to the improvement they made upon
+the island itself; and how five of them made an attempt
+upon the main land, and brought away eleven
+men and five women prisoners; by which, at my
+coming, I found about twenty young children on
+the island.</p>
+
+<p>Here I stayed about twenty days; left them supplies
+of all necessary things, and particularly of
+arms, powder, shot, clothes, tools, and two workmen,
+which I brought from England with me; viz.
+a carpenter and a smith.</p>
+
+<p>Besides this, I shared the lands into parts with
+them, reserved to myself the property of the whole,
+but gave them such parts respectively, as they agreed
+on; and, having settled all things with them, and
+engaged them not to leave the place, I left them
+there.</p>
+
+<p>From thence I touched at the Brazils, from whence
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="page392" id="page392"></a>[pg 392]</span>
+I sent a bark, which I bought there, with more people,
+to the island; and in it, besides other supplies,
+I sent seven women, being such as I found proper
+for service, or for wives to such as would take them.
+As to the Englishmen, I promised them to send them
+some women from England, with a good cargo of
+necessaries, if they would apply themselves to planting;
+which I afterwards could not perform: the fellows
+proved very honest and diligent, after they
+were mastered, and had their properties set apart
+for them. I sent them also from the Brazils five
+cows, three of them being big with calf, some sheep,
+and some hogs, which, when I came again were
+considerably increased.</p>
+
+<p>But all these things, with an account how three
+hundred Caribbees came and invaded them, and
+ruined their plantations, and how they fought with
+that whole number twice, and were at first defeated
+and one of them killed; but at last a storm destroying
+their enemies canoes, they famished or destroyed
+almost all the rest, and renewed and recovered the
+possession of their plantation, and still lived upon
+the island.</p>
+
+<p>All these things, with some very surprising incidents
+in some new adventures of my own, for ten
+years more, I shall give a farther account of in another
+volume.</p>
+
+<p>END OF, VOL.I.</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life and Adventures of Robinson
+Crusoe Of York, Mariner, Vol. 1, by Daniel Defoe
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
+Of York, Mariner, Vol. 1, by Daniel Defoe
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe Of York, Mariner, Vol. 1
+       With An Account Of His Travels Round Three Parts Of The Globe,
+       Written By Himself, In Two Volumes
+
+Author: Daniel Defoe
+
+Release Date: February 23, 2004 [EBook #11239]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROBINSON CRUSOE, VOL. 1 ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, Charlie Kirschner
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+THE
+
+LIFE AND ADVENTURES
+
+OF
+
+ROBINSON CRUSOE,
+
+OF YORK, MARINER.
+
+WITH AN ACCOUNT OF
+
+HIS TRAVELS ROUND THREE PARTS OF THE GLOBE.
+
+_WRITTEN BY HIMSELF_.
+
+IN TWO VOLUMES.
+
+VOL.I.
+
+BY C. WHITTINGHAM;
+
+FOR J. CARPENTER, OLD BOND STREET; J. BOOKER, NEW BOND
+STREET; SHARPS AND HAILES, MUSEUM, PICCADILLY; AND
+GALE, CURTIS, AND FENNER, PATERNOSTER ROW; LONDON.
+
+1812.
+
+
+
+
+THE LIFE OF
+
+_DANIEL DE FOE_.
+
+
+
+Daniel De Foe was descended from a respectable family in the county of
+Northampton, and born in London, about the year 1663. His father, James
+Foe, was a butcher, in the parish of St. Giles's, Cripplegate, and a
+protestant dissenter. Why the subject of this memoir prefixed the _De_
+to his family name cannot now be ascertained, nor did he at any period
+of his life think it necessary to give his reasons to the public. The
+political scribblers of the day, however, thought proper to remedy this
+lack of information, and accused him of possessing so little of the
+_amor patriae_, as to make the addition in order that he might not be
+taken for an Englishman; though this idea could have had no other
+foundation than the circumstance of his having, in consequence of his
+zeal for King William, attacked the prejudices of his countrymen in his
+"Trueborn Englishman."
+
+After receiving a good education at an academy at Newington, young De
+Foe, before he had attained his twenty-first year, commenced his career
+as an author, by writing a pamphlet against a very prevailing sentiment
+in favour of the Turks, who were at that time laying siege to Vienna.
+This production, being very inferior to those of his maturer years, was
+very little read, and the indignant author, despairing of success with
+his pen, had recourse to the sword; or, as he termed it, when boasting
+of the exploit in his latter years, "displayed his attachment to liberty
+and protestanism," by joining the ill-advised insurrection under the
+Duke of Monmouth, in the west. On the failure of that unfortunate
+enterprise, he returned again to the metropolis; and it is not
+improbable, but that the circumstance of his being a native of London,
+and his person not much known in that part of the kingdom where the
+rebellion took place, might facilitate his escape, and be the means of
+preventing his being brought to trial for his share in the transaction.
+With the professions of a writer and a soldier, Mr. De Foe, in the year
+1685, joined that of a trader; he was first engaged as a hosier, in
+Cornhill, and afterwards as a maker of bricks and pantiles, near Tilbury
+Fort, in Essex; but in consequence of spending those hours in the
+hilarity of the tavern which he ought to have employed in the
+calculations of the counting-house, his commercial schemes proved
+unsuccessful; and in 1694 he was obliged to abscond from his creditors,
+not failing to attribute those misfortunes to the war and the severity
+of the times, which were doubtless owing to his own misconduct. It is
+much to his credit, however, that after having been freed from his debts
+by composition, and being in prosperous circumstances from King
+William's favour, he voluntarily paid most of his creditors both the
+principal and interest of their claims. This is such an example of
+honesty as it would be unjust to De Foe and to the world to conceal. The
+amount of the sums thus paid must have been very considerable, as he
+afterwards feelingly mentions to Lord Haversham, who had reproached him
+with covetousness; "With a numerous family, and no helps but my own
+industry, I have forced my way through a sea of misfortunes, and reduced
+my debts, exclusive of composition, from seventeen thousand to less than
+five thousand pounds."
+
+At the beginning of the year 1700, Mr. De Foe published a satire in
+verse, which excited very considerable attention, called the "Trueborn
+Englishman." Its purpose was to furnish a reply to those who were
+continually abusing King William and some of his friends as
+_foreigners_, by showing that the present race of Englishmen was a mixed
+and heterogeneous brood, scarcely any of which could lay claim to native
+purity of blood. The satire was in many parts very severe; and though it
+gave high offence, it claimed a considerable share of the public
+attention. The reader will perhaps be gratified by a specimen of this
+production, wherein he endeavours to account for--
+
+     "What makes this discontented land appear
+     Less happy now in times of peace, than war;
+     Why civil fends disturb the nation more,
+     Than all our bloody wars had done before:
+     Fools out of favour grudge at knaves in place,
+     And men are always honest in disgrace:
+     The court preferments make men knaves in course,
+     But they, who would be in them, would be worse.
+     'Tis not at foreigners that we repine,
+     Would foreigners their perquisites resign:
+     The grand contention's plainly to be seen,
+     To get some men put out, and some put in."
+
+It will be immediately perceived that De Foe could have no pretensions
+to the character of a _poet_; but he has, notwithstanding, some nervous
+and well-versified lines, and in choice of subject and moral he is in
+general excellent. The Trueborn Englishman concludes thus:
+
+     Could but our ancestors retrieve their fate,
+     And see their offspring thus degenerate;
+     How we contend for birth and names unknown,
+     And build on their past actions, not our own;
+     They'd cancel records, and their tombs deface,
+     And openly disown the vile degenerate race.
+     For fame of families is all a cheat;
+     'TIS PERSONAL VIRTUE ONLY MAKES US GREAT.
+
+For this defence of foreigners De Foe was amply rewarded by King
+William, who not only ordered him a pension, but, as his opponents
+denominated it, appointed him _pamphlet-writer general to the court_; an
+office for which he was peculiarly well calculated, possessing, with a
+strong mind and a ready wit, that kind of yielding conscience which
+allowed him to support the measures of his benefactors, though convinced
+they were injurious to his country. De Foe now retired to Newington with
+his family, and for a short time lived at ease; but the death of his
+royal patron deprived him of a generous protector, and opened a scene of
+sorrow which probably embittered his future life.
+
+He had always discovered a great inclination to engage in religious
+controversy, and the furious contest, civil and ecclesiastical, which
+ensued on the accession of Queen Anne, gave him an opportunity of
+gratifying his favourite passion. He therefore published a tract,
+entitled "The shortest Way with the Dissenters, or Proposals for the
+Establishment of the Church," which contained an ironical recommendation
+of persecution, but written in so serious a strain, that many persons,
+particularly Dissenters, at first mistook its real intention. The high
+church party however saw, and felt the ridicule, and, by their
+influence, a prosecution was commenced against him, and a proclamation
+published in the Gazette, offering a reward for his apprehension[1].
+When De Foe found with how much rigour himself and his pamphlet were
+about to be treated, he at first secreted himself; but his printer and
+bookseller being taken into custody, he surrendered, being resolved, as
+he expresses it, "to throw himself upon the favour of government, rather
+than that others should be ruined for his mistakes." In July, 1703, he
+was brought to trial, found guilty, and sentenced to be imprisoned, to
+stand in the pillory, and to pay a fine of two hundred marks. He
+underwent the infamous part of the punishment with great fortitude, and
+it seems to have been generally thought that he was treated with
+unreasonable severity. So far was he from being ashamed of his fate
+himself, that he wrote a hymn to the pillory, which thus ends, alluding
+to his accusers:
+
+     Tell them, the men that plac'd him here
+     Are scandals to the times;
+     Are at a loss to find his guilt,
+     And can't commit his crimes.
+
+Pope, who has thought fit to introduce him in his Dunciad, (probably
+from no other reason than party difference) characterizes him in the
+following line:
+
+     Earless on high stood unabash'd De Foe.
+
+This is one of those instances of injustice and malignity which so
+frequently occur in the Dunciad, and which reflect more dishonour on the
+author than on the parties traduced. De Foe lay friendless and
+distressed in Newgate, his family ruined, and himself without hopes of
+deliverance, till Sir Robert Harley, who approved of his principles, and
+foresaw that during a factious age such a genius could be converted to
+many uses, represented his unmerited sufferings to the Queen, and at
+length procured his release. The treasurer, Lord Godolphin, also sent a
+considerable sum to his wife and family, and to him money to pay his
+fine and the expense of his discharge. Gratitude and fidelity are
+inseparable from an honest man; and it was this benevolent act that
+prompted De Foe to support Harley, with his able and ingenious pen, when
+Anne lay lifeless, and his benefactor in the vicissitude of party was
+persecuted by faction, and overpowered, though not conquered,
+by violence.
+
+The talents and perseverance of De Foe began now to be properly
+estimated, and as a firm supporter of the administration, he was sent by
+Lord Godolphin to Scotland, on an errand which, as he says, was far from
+being unfit for a sovereign to direct, or an honest man to perform. His
+knowledge of commerce and revenue, his powers of insinuation, and, above
+all, his readiness of pen, were deemed of no small utility in promoting
+the union of the two kingdoms; of which he wrote an able history in
+1709, with two dedications, one to the Queen, and another to the Duke of
+Queensbury. Soon afterwards he unhappily, by some equivocal writings,
+rendered himself suspected by both parties, so that he once more retired
+to Newington, in hopes of spending the remainder of his days in peace.
+His pension being withdrawn, and wearied with politics, he began to
+compose works of a different kind.--The year 1715 may therefore be
+regarded as the period of De Foe's political life. Faction henceforth
+found other advocates, and parties procured other writers to disseminate
+their suggestions, and to propagate their falsehoods.
+
+In 1715 De Foe published the "Family Instructor;" a work inculcating the
+domestic duties in a lively manner, by narration and dialogue, and
+displaying much knowledge of life in the middle ranks of society.
+"Religious Courtship" also appeared soon after, which, like the "Family
+Instructor," is eminently religious and moral in its tendency, and
+strongly impresses on the mind that spirit of sobriety and private
+devotion for which the dissenters have generally been distinguished. The
+most celebrated of all his works, "The Life and Adventures of Robinson
+Crusoe," appeared in 1719. This work has passed through numerous
+editions, and been translated into almost all modern languages. The
+great invention which is displayed in it, the variety of incidents and
+circumstances which it contains, related in the most easy and natural
+manner, together with the excellency of the moral and religious
+reflections, render it a performance of very superior and uncommon
+merit, and one of the most interesting works that ever appeared. It is
+strongly recommended by Rosseau as a book admirably calculated to
+promote the purposes of natural education; and Dr. Blair says, "No
+fiction, in any language, was ever better supported than the Adventures
+of Robinson Crusoe. While it is carried on with that appearance of truth
+and simplicity, which takes a strong hold of the imagination of all
+readers, it suggests, at the same time, very useful instruction; by
+showing how much the native powers of man may be exerted for
+surmounting the difficulties of any external situation." It has been
+pretended, that De Foe surreptitiously appropriated the papers of
+Alexander Selkirk, a Scotch mariner, who lived four years alone on the
+island of Juan Fernandez, and a sketch of whose story had before
+appeared in the voyage of Captain Woodes Rogers. But this charge, though
+repeatedly and confidently brought, appears to be totally destitute of
+any foundation. De Foe probably took some general hints for his work
+from the story of Selkirk, but there exists no proof whatever, nor is it
+reasonable to suppose that he possessed any of his papers or memoirs,
+which had been published seven years before the appearance of Robinson
+Crusoe. As a farther proof of De Foe's innocence, Captain Rogers'
+Account of Selkirk may be produced, in which it is said that the latter
+had neither preserved pen, ink, or paper, and had, in a great measure,
+lost his language; consequently De Foe could not have received any
+written assistance, and we have only the assertion of his enemies to
+prove that he had any verbal.
+
+The great success of Robinson Crusoe induced its author to write a
+number of other lives and adventures, some of which were popular in
+their times, though at present nearly forgotten. One of his latest
+publications was "A Tour through the Island of Great Britain," a
+performance of very inferior merit; but De Foe was now the garrulous
+old man, and his spirit (to use the words of an ingenious biographer)
+"like a candle struggling in the socket, blazed and sunk, blazed and
+sunk, till it disappeared at length in total darkness." His laborious
+and unfortunate life was finished on the 26th of April, 1731, in' the
+parish of St. Giles's, Cripplegate.
+
+Daniel De Foe possessed very extraordinary talents; as a commercial
+writer, he is fairly entitled to stand in the foremost rank among his
+contemporaries, whatever may be their performances or their fame. His
+distinguishing characteristics are originality, spirit, and a profound
+knowledge of his subject, and in these particulars he has seldom been
+surpassed. As the author of Robinson Crusoe he has a claim, not only to
+the admiration, but to the gratitude of his countrymen; and so long as
+we have a regard for supereminent merit, and take an interest in the
+welfare of the rising generation, that gratitude will not cease to
+exist. But the opinion of the learned and ingenious Dr. Beattie will be
+the best eulogium that can be pronounced on that celebrated romance:
+"Robinson Crusoe," says the Doctor, "must be allowed, by the most rigid
+moralist, to be one of those novels which one may read, riot only with
+pleasure, but also with profit. It breathes throughout a spirit of
+piety and benevolence; it sets in a very striking light the importance
+of the mechanic arts, which they, who know not what it is to be without
+them, are so apt to under-value; it fixes in the mind a lively idea of
+the horrors of solitude, and, consequently, of the sweets of social
+life, and of the blessings we derive from conversation and mutual aid;
+and it shows how, by labouring with one's own hands, one may secure
+independence, and open for one's self many sources of health and
+amusement. I agree, therefore, with Rosseau, that it is one of the best
+books that can be put into the hands of children."
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: _St. James's, January 10, 1702-5._ "Whereas Daniel De Foe,
+alias De Fooe, is charged with writing a scandalous and seditious
+pamphlet, entitled 'The shortest Way with the Dissenters:' he is a
+middle-sized spare man, about 40 years old, of a brown complexion, and
+dark-brown coloured hair, but wears a wig, a hooked nose, a sharp chin,
+grey eyes, and a large mole near his mouth, was born in London, and for
+many years was a hose-factor, in Freeman's Yard, in Cornhill, and now is
+owner of the brick and pantile works near Tilbury Fort, in Essex;
+whoever shall discover the said Daniel De Foe, to one of her Majesty's
+Principal Secretaries of State, or any of her Majesty's Justices of
+Peace, so as he may be apprehended, shall have a reward of L50, which
+her Majesty has ordered immediately to be paid upon such discovery."
+_London Gaz._ No. 3879.]
+
+
+
+
+THE
+
+LIFE AND ADVENTURES
+
+OF
+
+ROBINSON CRUSOE.
+
+I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York, of a good family,
+though not of that country, my father being a foreigner of Bremen, who
+settled first at Hull: he got a good estate by merchandise, and leaving
+off his trade, lived afterwards at York; from whence he had married my
+mother, whose relations were named Robinson, a very good family in that
+country, and from whom I was called Robinson Kreutznaer; but, by the
+usual corruption of words in England, we are now called, nay we call
+ourselves, and write, our name Crusoe; and so my companions always
+called me.
+
+I had two elder brothers, one of whom was lieutenant-colonel to an
+English regiment of foot in Flanders, formerly commanded by the famous
+Colonel Lockhart, and was killed at the battle near Dunkirk against the
+Spaniards. What became of my second brother I never knew, any more than
+my father or mother did know what was become of me.
+
+Being the third son of the family, and not bred to any trade, my head
+began to be filled very early with rambling thoughts: my father, who was
+very ancient, had given me a competent share of learning, as far as
+house-education and a country free-school generally go, and designed me
+for the law; but I would be satisfied with nothing but going to sea; and
+my inclination to this led me so strongly, against the will, nay, the
+commands of my father, and against all the entreaties and persuasions of
+my mother and other friends, that there seemed to be something fatal in
+that propension of nature, tending directly to the life of misery which
+was to befall me.
+
+My father, a wise and grave man, gave me serious and excellent counsel
+against what he foresaw was my design. He called me one morning into his
+chamber, where he was confined by the gout, and expostulated very warmly
+with me upon this subject: he asked me what reasons more than a mere
+wandering inclination I had for leaving my father's house and my native
+country, where I might be well introduced, and had a prospect of raising
+my fortune by application and industry, with a life of ease and
+pleasure. He told me it was for men of desperate fortunes on one hand,
+or of aspiring, superior fortunes on the other, who went abroad upon
+adventures, to rise by enterprise, and make themselves famous in
+undertakings of a nature out of the common road; that these things were
+all either too far above me, or too far below me; that mine was the
+middle state, or what might be called the upper station of low life,
+which he had found, by long experience, was the best state in the world,
+the most suited to human happiness, not exposed to the miseries and
+hardships, the labour and sufferings of the mechanic part of mankind,
+and not embarrassed with the pride, luxury, ambition, and envy of the
+upper part of mankind. He told me, I might judge of the happiness of
+this state by one thing, viz. that this was the state of life which all
+other people envied; that kings have frequently lamented the miserable
+consequences of being born to great things, and wish they had been
+placed in the middle of the two extremes, between the mean and the
+great; that the wise man gave his testimony to this, as the just
+standard of true felicity, when he prayed to have neither poverty
+nor riches.
+
+He bid me observe it, and I should always find, that the calamities of
+life were shared among the upper and lower part of mankind; but that the
+middle station had the fewest disasters, and was not exposed to so many
+vicissitudes as the higher or lower part of mankind; nay, they were not
+subjected to so many distempers and uneasinesses, either of body or
+mind, as those were, who, by vicious living, luxury, and extravagances,
+on one hand, or by hard labour, want of necessaries, and mean and
+insufficient diet, on the other hand, bring distempers upon themselves
+by the natural consequences of their way of living; that the middle
+station of life was calculated for all kind of virtues and all kind of
+enjoyments; that peace and plenty were the handmaids of a middle
+fortune; that temperance, moderation, quietness, health, society, all
+agreeable diversions, and all desirable pleasures, were the blessings
+attending the middle station of life; that this way men went silently
+and smoothly through the world, and comfortably out of it, not
+embarrassed with the labours of the hands or of the head, not sold to
+the life of slavery for daily bread, or harassed with perplexed
+circumstances, which rob the soul of peace, and the body of rest; not
+enraged with the passion of envy, or secret burning lust of ambition for
+great things; but, in easy circumstances, sliding gently through the
+world, and sensibly tasting the sweets of living, without the bitter,
+feeling that they are happy, and learning by every day's experience to
+know it more sensibly.
+
+After this, he pressed me earnestly, and in the most affectionate
+manner, not to play the young man, not to precipitate myself into
+miseries which nature, and the station of life I was born in, seemed to
+have provided against; that I was under no necessity of seeking my
+bread; that he would do well for me, and endeavour to enter me fairly
+into the station of life which he had been just recommending to me; and
+that if I was not very easy and happy in the world, it must be my mere
+fate or fault that must hinder it; and that he should have nothing to
+answer for, having thus discharged his duty in warning me against
+measures which he knew would be to my hurt: in a word, that as he would
+do very kind things for me if I would stay and settle at home as he
+directed, so he would not have so much hand in my misfortunes, as to
+give me any encouragement to go away: and to close all, he told me I had
+my elder brother for an example, to whom he had used the same earnest
+persuasions to keep him from going into the Low Country wars, but could
+not prevail, his young desires prompting him to run into the army, where
+he was killed; and though he said he would not cease to pray for me, yet
+he would venture to say to me, that if I did take this foolish step, God
+would not bless me, and I would have leisure hereafter to reflect upon
+having neglected his counsel, when there might be none to assist in
+my recovery.
+
+I observed in this last part of his discourse, which was truly
+prophetic, though I suppose my father did not know it to be so himself;
+I say, I observed the tears run down his face very plentifully, and
+especially when he spoke of my brother who was killed: and that when he
+spoke of my having leisure to repent, and none to assist me, he was so
+moved, that he broke off the discourse, and told me, his heart was so
+full he could say no more to me.
+
+I was sincerely affected with this discourse, as indeed who could be
+otherwise? and I resolved not to think of going abroad any more, but to
+settle at home according to my father's desire. But, alas! a few days
+wore it all off; and, in short, to prevent any of my father's further
+importunities, in a few weeks after I resolved to run quite away from
+him. However, I did not act so hastily neither as my first heat of
+resolution prompted, but I took my mother, at a time when I thought her
+a little pleasanter than ordinary, and told her, that my thoughts were
+so entirely bent upon seeing the world, that I should never settle to
+any thing with resolution enough to go through with it, and my father
+had better give me his consent than force me to go without it; that I
+was now eighteen years old, which was too late to go apprentice to a
+trade, or clerk to an attorney; that I was sure, if I did, I should
+never serve out my time, and I should certainly run away from my master
+before my time was out, and go to sea; and if she would speak to my
+father to let me go one voyage abroad, if I came home again, and did not
+like it, I would go no more, and I would promise, by a double diligence,
+to recover that time I had lost.
+
+This put my mother into a great passion: she told me, she knew it would
+be to no purpose to speak to my father upon any such subject; that he
+knew too well what was my interest to give his consent to any such thing
+so much for my hurt; and that she wondered how I could think of any such
+thing after such a discourse as I had had with my father, and such kind
+and tender expressions as she knew my father had used to me; and that,
+in short, if I would ruin myself, there was no help for me; but I might
+depend I should never have their consent to it: that for her part, she
+would not have so much hand in my destruction; and I should never have
+it to say, that my mother was willing when my father was not.
+
+Though my mother refused to move it to my father, yet, as I have heard
+afterwards, she reported all the discourse to him, and that my father,
+after showing a great concern at it, said to her with a sigh, "That boy
+might be happy if he would stay at home; but if he goes abroad, he will
+be the most miserable wretch that was ever born; I can give no
+consent to it."
+
+It was not till almost a year after this that I broke loose, though, in
+the mean time, I continued obstinately deaf to all proposals of settling
+to business, and frequently expostulating with my father and mother
+about their being so positively determined against what they knew my
+inclinations prompted me to. But being one day at Hull, where I went
+casually, and without any purpose of making an elopement at that time;
+but, I say, being there, and one of my companions then going by sea to
+London, in his father's ship, and prompting me to go with them, with the
+common allurement of seafaring men, viz. that it should cost me nothing
+for my passage, I consulted neither father or mother any more, not so
+much as sent them word of it; but leaving them to hear of it as they
+might, without asking God's blessing, or my father's, without any
+consideration of circumstances or consequences, and in an ill hour, God
+knows, on the first of September, 1651, I went on board a ship bound
+for London. Never any young adventurer's misfortunes, I believe, began
+sooner, or continued longer than mine. The ship was no sooner gotten out
+of the Humber, but the wind began to blow, and the waves to rise in a
+most frightful manner; and, as I had never been at sea before, I was
+most inexpressibly sick in body, and terrified in mind. I began now
+seriously to reflect upon what I had done, and how justly I was
+overtaken by the judgment of Heaven for wickedly leaving my father's
+house, and abandoning my duty. All the good counsel of my parents, my
+father's tears and my mother's entreaties, came now fresh into my mind;
+and my conscience, which was not yet come to the pitch of hardness to
+which it has been since, reproached me with the contempt of advice, and
+the breach of my duty to God and my father.
+
+All this while the storm increased, and the sea, which I had never been
+upon before, went very high, though nothing like what I have seen many
+times since; no, nor like what I saw a few days after: but it was enough
+to affect me then, who was but a young sailor, and had never known any
+thing of the matter. I expected every wave would have swallowed us up,
+and that every time the ship fell down, as I thought, in the trough or
+hollow of the sea, we should never rise more; and in this agony of mind
+I made many vows and resolutions, that if it would please God here to
+spare my life this one voyage, if ever I got once my foot upon dry land
+again, I would go directly home to my father, and never set it into a
+ship again while I lived; that I would take his advice, and never run
+myself into such miseries as these any more. Now I saw plainly the
+goodness of his observations about the middle station of life, how
+easy, how comfortably he had lived all his days, and never had been
+exposed to tempests at sea, or troubles on shore; and I resolved that I
+would, like a true repenting prodigal, go home to my father.
+
+These wise and sober thoughts continued during the storm, and indeed
+some time after; but the next day, as the wind was abated, and the sea
+calmer, I began to be a little inured to it: however, I was very grave
+for all that day, being also a little sea-sick still; but towards night
+the weather cleared up, the wind was quite over, and a charming fine
+evening followed; the sun went down perfectly clear, and rose so the
+next morning; and having little or no wind, and a smooth sea, the sun
+shining upon it, the sight was, as I thought, the most delightful that
+I ever saw.
+
+I had slept well in the night, and was now no more sea-sick, but very
+cheerful, looking with wonder upon the sea that was so rough and
+terrible the day before, and could be so calm and so pleasant in a
+little time after. And now, lest my good resolutions should continue, my
+companion, who had indeed enticed me away, came to me and said, "Well;
+Bob," clapping me on the shoulder, "how do you do after it? I warrant
+you were frightened, wa'n't you, last night, when it blew but a cap-full
+of wind?"--"A cap-full do you call it?" said I; "it was a terrible
+storm."--"A storm, you fool you," replied he, "do you call that a
+storm? why it was nothing at all; give us but a good ship and sea-room,
+and we think nothing of such a squall of wind as that; but you're but a
+fresh-water sailor. Bob, Come, let us make a bowl of punch, and we'll
+forget all that; do you see what charming weather it is now?" To make
+short this sad part of my story, we went the old way of all sailors; the
+punch was made, and I was made drunk with it; and in that one night's
+wickedness I drowned all my repentance, all my reflections upon my past
+conduct, and all my resolutions for my future. In a word, as the sea was
+returned to its smoothness of surface and settled calmness by the
+abatement of that storm, so the hurry of my thoughts being over, my
+fears and apprehensions of being swallowed up by the sea being
+forgotten, and the current of my former desires returned, I entirely
+forgot the vows and promises that I made in my distress. I found,
+indeed, some intervals of reflection; and serious thoughts did, as it
+were, endeavour to return again sometimes; but I shook them off, and
+roused myself from them as it were from a distemper, and applying myself
+to drinking and company, soon mastered the return of those fits, for so
+I called them; and I had in five or six days got as complete a victory
+over conscience, as any young fellow that resolved not to be troubled
+with it, could desire: but I was to have another trial for it still; and
+Providence, as in such cases generally it does, resolved to leave me
+entirely without excuse: for if I would not take this for a deliverance,
+the next was to be such a one as the worst and most hardened wretch
+among us would confess both the danger and the mercy of.
+
+The sixth day of our being at sea we came into Yarmouth Roads; the wind
+having been contrary, and the weather calm, we had made but little way
+since the storm. Here we were obliged to come to anchor, and here we
+lay, the wind continuing contrary, viz. at south-west, for seven or
+eight days, during which tune a great many ships from Newcastle came
+into the same roads, as the common harbour where the ships might wait
+for a wind for the River.
+
+We had not, however, rid here so long, but should have tided it up the
+river, but that the wind blew too fresh; and, after we had lain four or
+five days, blew very hard. However, the roads being reckoned as good as
+a harbour, the anchorage good, and our ground tackle very strong, our
+men were unconcerned, and not in the least apprehensive of danger, but
+spent the time in rest and mirth, after the manner of the sea; but the
+eighth day in the morning the wind increased, and we had all hands at
+work to strike our top-masts, and make every thing snug and close, that
+the ship might ride as easy as possible. By noon the sea went very high
+indeed, and our ship rode forecastle in, shipped several seas, and we
+thought once or twice our anchor had come home; upon which our master
+ordered out the sheet anchor; so that we rode with two anchors a-head,
+and the cables veered out to the better end.
+
+By this time it blew a terrible storm indeed; and now I began to see
+terror and amazement in the faces even of the seamen themselves. The
+master, though vigilant in the business of preserving the ship, yet as
+he went in and out of his cabin by me, I could hear him softly say to
+himself several times, "Lord, be merciful to us! we shall be all lost;
+we shall be all undone!" and the like. During these first hurries I was
+stupid, lying still in my cabin, which was in the steerage, and cannot
+describe my temper: I could ill reassume the first penitence which I had
+so apparently trampled upon, and hardened myself against. I thought the
+bitterness of death had been past, and that this would be nothing like
+the first: but when the master himself came by me, as I said just now,
+and said we should be all lost, I was dreadfully frighted: I got up but
+of my cabin, and looked out; but such a dismal sight I never saw; the
+sea went mountains high, and broke upon us every three or four minutes:
+when I could look about, I could see nothing but distress around us: two
+ships that rid near us, we found, had cut their masts by the board,
+being deep laden; and our men cried out, that a ship which rid about a
+mile a-head of us was foundered. Two more ships being driven from their
+anchors, were run out of the roads to sea, at all adventures, and that
+with not a mast standing. The light ships-fared the best, as not so much
+labouring in the sea; but two or three of them drove, and came close by
+us, running away with only their spritsail out before the wind.
+
+Towards evening the mate and boatswain begged the master of our ship to
+let them cut away the fore-mast, which he was very unwilling to do: but
+the boatswain protesting to him, that if he did not, the ship would
+founder, he consented; and when they had cut away the-fore-mast, the
+main-mast stood so loose, and shook the ship so much, they were obliged
+to cut her away also, and make a clear deck.
+
+Any one may judge what a condition I must be in at all this, who was
+but a young sailor, and who had been in such a fright before at but a
+little. But if I can express at this distance the thoughts that I had
+about me at that time, I was in tenfold more horror of mind upon account
+of my former convictions, and the having returned from them to the
+resolutions I had wickedly taken at first, than I was at death itself;
+and these, added to the terror of the storm, put me in such a condition,
+that I can by no words describe it. But the worst was not come yet; the
+storm continued with such fury, that the seamen themselves acknowledged
+they had never known a worse. We had a good ship, but she was deep
+laden, and wallowed in the sea, that the seamen every now and then cried
+out, she would founder. It was my advantage in one respect, that I did
+not know what they meant by _founder_, till I inquired. However, the
+storm was so violent, that I saw what is not often seen, the master, the
+boatswain, and some others more sensible than the rest, at their
+prayers, and expecting every moment when the ship would go to the
+bottom. In the middle of the night, and under all the rest of our
+distresses, one of the men that had been down on purpose to see, cried
+out, we had sprung a leak; another said, there was four foot water in
+the hold. Then all hands were called to the pump. At that very word my
+heart, as I thought, died within me, and I fell backwards upon the side
+of my bed where I sat, into the cabin. However, the men roused me, and
+told me, that I, that was able to do nothing before, was as well able to
+pump as another; at which I stirred up, and went to the pump and worked
+very heartily. While this was doing, the master seeing some light
+colliers, who, not able to ride out the storm, were obliged to slip and
+run away to sea, and would not come near us, ordered us to fire a gun as
+a signal of distress. I, who knew nothing what that meant, was so
+surprised, that I thought the ship had broke, or some dreadful thing had
+happened. In a word, I was so surprised, that I fell down in a swoon. As
+this was a time when every body had his own life to think of, nobody
+minded me, or what was become of me; but another man stept up to the
+pump, and thrusting me aside with his foot, let me lie, thinking I had
+been dead; and it was a great while before I came to myself.
+
+We worked on; but the water increasing in the hold, it was apparent that
+the ship would founder; and though the storm began to abate a little,
+yet as it was not possible she could swim till we might run into a port,
+so the master continued firing guns for help; and a light ship, who had
+rid it out just a-head of us, ventured a boat out to help us. It was
+with the utmost hazard the boat came near us, but it was impossible for
+us to get on board, or for the boat to lie near the ship's side, till at
+last the men rowing very heartily, and venturing their lives to save
+ours, our men cast them a rope over the stern with a buoy to it, and
+then veered it out a great length, which they, after great labour and
+hazard, took hold of, and we hauled them close under our stern, and got
+all into their boat. It was to no purpose for them or us, after we were
+in the boat, to think of reaching to their own ship; so all agreed to
+let her drive, and only to pull her in towards shore as much as we
+could; and our master promised them, that if the boat was staved upon
+shore he would make it good to their master: so partly rowing and partly
+driving, our boat went away to the northward, sloping towards the shore
+almost as far as Winterton Ness.
+
+We were not much more than a quarter of an hour out of our ship but we
+saw her sink, and then I understood for the first time what was meant by
+a ship foundering in the sea. I must acknowledge I had hardly eyes to
+look up when the seamen told me she was sinking; for from that moment
+they rather put me into the boat, than that I might be said to go in; my
+heart was, as it were, dead within me, partly with fright, partly with
+horror of mind, and the thoughts of what was yet before me.
+
+While we were in this condition, the men yet labouring at the oar to
+bring the boat near the shore, we could see (when, our boat mounting the
+waves, we were able to see the shore) a great many people running along
+the strand to assist us when we should come near; but we made but slow
+way towards the shore; nor were we able to reach it, till, being past
+the light-house at Winterton, the shore falls off to the westward,
+towards Cromer, and so the land broke off a little the violence of the
+wind. Here we got in, and, though not without much difficulty, got all
+safe on shore, and walked afterwards on foot to Yarmouth, where, as
+unfortunate men, we were used with great humanity, as well by the
+magistrates of the town, who assigned us good quarters, as by particular
+merchants and owners of ships, and had money given us sufficient to
+carry us either to London or back to Hull, as we thought fit.
+
+Had I now had the sense to have gone back to Hull, and have gone home, I
+had been happy, and my father, an emblem of our blessed Saviour's
+parable, had even killed the fatted calf for me; for hearing the ship I
+went away in was cast away in Yarmouth Roads, it was a great while
+before he had any assurance that I was not drowned.
+
+But my ill fate pushed me on now with an obstinacy that nothing could
+resist; and though I had several times loud calls from my reason, and my
+more composed judgment, to go home, yet I had no power to do it. I know
+not what to call this, nor will I urge that it is a secret overruling
+decree that hurries us on to be the instruments of our own destruction,
+even though it be before us, and that we rush upon it with our eyes
+open. Certainly, nothing but some such decreed unavoidable misery
+attending, and which it was impossible for me to escape, could have
+pushed me forward against the calm reasonings and persuasions of my most
+retired thoughts, and against two such visible instructions as I had met
+with in my first attempt.
+
+My comrade, who had helped to harden me before, and who was the master's
+son, was now less forward than I. The first time he spoke to me after we
+were at Yarmouth, which was not till two or three days, for we were
+separated in the town to several quarters; I say, the first time he saw
+me, it appeared his tone was altered, and looking very melancholy, and
+shaking his head, asked me how I did, and telling his father who I was,
+and how I had come this voyage only for a trial, in order to go farther
+abroad; his father turning to me with a very grave and concerned tone,
+"Young man," says he, "you ought never to go to sea any more; you ought
+to take this for a plain and visible token that you are not to be a
+seafaring man,"--"Why, Sir," said I, "will you go to sea no more?" "That
+is another case," said he; "it is my calling, and therefore my duty; but
+as you made this voyage for a trial, you see what a taste Heaven has
+given you of what you are to expect if you persist. Perhaps this has all
+befallen us on your account, like Jonah in the ship of Tarshish. Pray,"
+continues he, "what are you; and on what account did you go to sea?"
+Upon that I told him some of my story; at the end of which he burst out
+with a strange kind of passion; "What had I done," says he, "that such
+an unhappy wretch should come into my ship? I would not set my foot in
+the same ship with thee again for a thousand pounds," This indeed was,
+as I said, an excursion of his spirits, which were yet agitated by the
+sense of his loss, and was farther than he could have authority to go.
+However, he afterwards talked very gravely to me, exhorting me to go
+back to my father, and not tempt Providence to my ruin; told me I might
+see a visible hand of Heaven against me. "And young man," said he,
+"depend upon it, if you do not go back, wherever you go, you will meet
+with nothing but disasters and disappointments, till your father's words
+are fulfilled upon you."
+
+We parted soon after; for I made him little answer, and I saw him no
+more: which way he went, I know not. As for me, having some money in my
+pocket, I travelled to London by land; and there, as well as on the
+road, had many struggles with myself, what course of life I should
+take, and whether I should go home, or go to sea.
+
+As to going home, shame opposed the best notions that offered to my
+thoughts; and it immediately occurred to me how I should be laughed at
+among the neighbours, and should be ashamed to see, not my father and
+mother only, but even every body else; from whence I have since often
+observed, how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind
+is, especially of youth, to that reason which ought to guide them in
+such cases, viz. that they are not ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed
+to repent; nor ashamed of the action for which they ought justly to be
+esteemed fools, but are ashamed of the returning, which only can make
+them be esteemed wise men.
+
+In this state of life, however, I remained some time, uncertain what
+measures to take, and what course of life to lead. An irresistible
+reluctance continued to going home; and as I stayed a while, the
+remembrance of the distress I had been in wore off; and as that abated,
+the little notion I had in my desires to a return wore off with it, till
+at last I quite laid aside the thoughts of it, and looked out for
+a voyage.
+
+That evil influence which carried me first away from my father's house,
+that hurried me into the wild and indigested notion of raising my
+fortune; and that impressed those conceits so forcibly upon me, as to
+make me deaf to all good advice, and to the entreaties and even the
+commands of my father: I say, the same influence, whatever it was,
+presented the most unfortunate of all enterprises to my view; and I
+went on board a vessel bound to the coast of Africa; or, as our sailors
+vulgarly call it, a voyage to Guinea.
+
+It was my great misfortune that in all these adventures I did not ship
+myself as a sailor; whereby, though I might indeed have worked a little
+harder than ordinary, yet at the same time I had learnt the duty and
+office of a foremast-man; and in time might have qualified myself for a
+mate or lieutenant, if not for a master. But as it was always my fate to
+choose for the worse, so I did here; for having money in my pocket, and
+good clothes upon my back, I would always go on board in the habit of a
+gentleman; and so I neither had any business in the ship, or learnt
+to do any.
+
+It was my lot first of all to fall into pretty good company in London,
+which does not always happen to such loose and unguided young fellows as
+I then was; the devil generally not omitting to lay some snare for them
+very early: but it was not so with me. I first fell acquainted with the
+master of a ship who had been on the coast of Guinea; and who, having
+had very good success there, was resolved to go again; and who taking a
+fancy to my conversation, which was not at all disagreeable at that
+time, hearing me say I had a mind to see the world, told me if I would
+go the voyage with him I should be at no expense; I should be his
+messmate and his companion; and if I could carry any thing with me, I
+should have all the advantage of it that the trade would admit; and
+perhaps I might meet with some encouragement.
+
+I embraced the offer; and entering into a strict friendship with this
+captain, who was an honest and plain-dealing man, I went the voyage with
+him, and carried a small adventure with me, which, by the disinterested
+honesty of my friend the captain, I increased very considerably; for I
+carried about L40 in such toys and trifles as the captain directed me to
+buy. This L40 I had mustered together by the assistance of some of my
+relations whom I corresponded with, and who, I believe, got my father,
+or at least my mother, to contribute so much as that to my first
+adventure.
+
+This was the only voyage which I may say I was successful in all my
+adventures, and which I owe to the integrity and honesty of my friend
+the captain; under whom also I got a competent knowledge of the
+mathematics and the rules of navigation, learnt how to keep an account
+of the ship's course, take an observation, and, in short, to understand
+some things that were needful to be understood by a sailor: for, as he
+took delight to instruct me, I took delight to learn; and, in a word,
+this voyage made me both a sailor and a merchant: for I brought home
+five pounds nine ounces of gold-dust for my adventure, which yielded me
+in London at my return almost L300, and this filled me with those
+aspiring thoughts which have so completed my ruin.
+
+Yet even in this voyage I had my misfortunes too; particularly, that I
+was continually sick, being thrown into a violent calenture by the
+excessive heat of the climate; our principal trading being upon the
+coast, from the latitude of 15 degrees north even to the line itself.
+
+I was now set up for a Guinea trader; and my friend, to my great
+misfortune, dying soon after his arrival, I resolved to go the same
+voyage again, and I embarked in the same vessel with one who was his
+mate in his former voyage, and had now got the command of the ship. This
+was the unhappiest voyage that ever man made; for though I did not carry
+quite L100 of my new-gained wealth, so that I had L200 left, and which I
+lodged with my friend's widow, who was very just to me, yet I fell into
+terrible misfortunes in this voyage; and the first was this, viz. our
+ship making her course towards the Canary Islands, or rather between
+those islands and the African shore, was surprised in the grey of the
+morning by a Turkish rover, of Sallee, who gave chase to us with all the
+sail she could make. We crowded also as much canvass as our yards would
+spread, or our masts carry to have got clear; but finding the pirate
+gained upon us, and would certainly come up with us in a few hours, we
+prepared to fight; our ship having twelve guns, and the rover eighteen.
+About three in the afternoon he came up with us, and bringing to, by
+mistake, just athwart our quarter, instead of athwart our stern, as he
+intended, we brought eight of our guns to bear on that side, and poured
+in a broadside upon him, which made him sheer off again, after returning
+our fire, and pouring in also his small-shot from near 200 men which he
+had on board. However, we had not a man touched, all our men keeping
+close. He prepared to attack us again, and we to defend ourselves; but
+laying us on board the next time upon our other quarter, he entered
+sixty men upon our decks, who immediately fell to cutting and hacking
+the sails and rigging. We plied them with small-shot, half-pikes,
+powder-chests, and such like, and cleared our deck of them twice.
+However, to cut short this melancholy part of our story, our ship being
+disabled, and three of our men killed and eight wounded, we were obliged
+to yield, and were carried all prisoners into Sallee, a port belonging
+to the Moors.
+
+The usage I had there was not so dreadful as at first I apprehended; nor
+was I carried up the country to the emperor's court, as the rest of our
+men were, but was kept by the captain of the rover as his proper prize,
+and made his slave, being young and nimble, and fit for his business. At
+this surprising change of my circumstances, from a merchant to a
+miserable slave, I was perfectly overwhelmed; and now I looked back upon
+my father's prophetic discourse to me, that I should be miserable, and
+have none to relieve me, which I thought was now so effectually brought
+to pass, that I could not be worse; that now the hand of Heaven had
+overtaken me, and I was undone without redemption: but, alas! this was
+but a taste of the misery I was to go through, as will appear in the
+sequel of this story.
+
+As my new patron, or master, had taken me home to his house, so I was in
+hopes that he would take me with him when he went to sea again,
+believing that it would sometime or other be his fate to be taken by a
+Spanish or Portugal man of war; and that then I should be set at
+liberty. But this hope of mine was soon taken away; for when he went to
+sea, he left me on shore to look after his little garden, and do the
+common drudgery of slaves about his house; and when he came home again
+from his cruise, he ordered me to lie in the cabin to look after
+the ship.
+
+Here I meditated nothing but my escape, and what method I might take to
+effect it, but found no way that had the least probability in it:
+nothing presented to make the supposition of it rational; for I had
+nobody to communicate it to that would embark with me, no fellow slave,
+no Englishman, Irishman, or Scotchman there but myself; so that for two
+years, though I often pleased myself with the imagination, yet I never
+had the least encouraging prospect of putting it in practice.
+
+After about two years an odd circumstance presented itself, which put
+the old thought of making some attempt for my liberty again in my head.
+My patron lying at home longer than usual without fitting out his ship,
+which, as I heard, was for want of money, he used constantly, once or
+twice a week, sometimes oftener, if the weather was fair, to take the
+ship's pinnace, and go out into the road a-fishing; and as he always
+took me and a young Moresco with him to row the boat, we made him very
+merry, and I proved very dexterous in catching fish; insomuch that
+sometimes he would send me with a Moor, one of his kinsmen, and the
+youth of Moresco, as they called him, to catch a dish of fish for him.
+
+It happened one time, that going a-fishing in a stark calm morning, a
+fog rose so thick, that though we were not half a league from the shore
+we lost sight of it; and rowing we knew not whither or which way, we
+laboured all day, and all the next night, and when the morning came we
+found we had pulled off to sea instead of pulling in for the shore; and
+that we were at least two leagues from the shore: however, we got well
+in again, though with a great deal of labour and some danger; for the
+wind began to blow pretty fresh in the morning; but particularly we were
+all very hungry.
+
+But our patron, warned by this disaster, resolved to take more care of
+himself for the future; and having lying by him the long-boat of our
+English ship he had taken, he resolved he would not go a-fishing any
+more without a compass and some provision; so he ordered the carpenter
+of his ship, who also was an English slave, to build a little
+state-room, or cabin, in the middle of the long-boat, like that of a
+barge, with a place to stand behind it to steer and haul home the
+main-sheet; and room before for a hand or two to stand and work the
+sails: she sailed with what we call a shoulder of mutton sail; and the
+boom gibbed over the top of the cabin, which lay very snug and low, and
+had in it room for him to lie, with a slave or two, and a table to eat
+on, with some small lockers to put in some bottles of such liquor as he
+thought fit to drink; and particularly his bread, rice, and coffee.
+
+We went frequently out with this boat a-fishing, and as I was most
+dexterous to catch fish for him, he never went without me. It happened
+that he had appointed to go out in this boat, either for pleasure or for
+fish, with two or three Moors of some distinction in that place, and for
+whom he had provided extraordinarily, and had therefore sent on board
+the boat over-night a larger store of provisions than ordinary; and had
+ordered me to get ready three fuzees with powder and shot, which were on
+board his ship; for that they designed some sport of fowling as well
+as fishing.
+
+I got all things ready as he had directed, and waited the next morning
+with the boat washed clean, her ensign and pendants out, and every thing
+to accommodate his guests; when by and by my patron came on board alone,
+and told me his guests had put off going, upon some business that fell
+out, and ordered me with the man and boy, as usual, to go out with the
+boat and catch them some fish, for that his friends were to sup at his
+house; and commanded that as soon as I got some fish I should bring it
+home to his house; all which I prepared to do.
+
+This moment my former notions of deliverance darted into my thoughts,
+for now I found I was like to have a little ship at my command; and my
+master being gone, I prepared to furnish myself, not for fishing
+business, but for a voyage; though I knew not, neither did I so much as
+consider, whither I should steer; for any where, to get out of that
+place, was my way.
+
+My first contrivance was to make a pretence to speak to this Moor, to
+get something for our subsistence on board; for I told him we must not
+presume to eat of our patron's bread; he said, that was true: so he
+brought a large basket of rusk or biscuit of their kind, and three jars
+with fresh water, into the boat. I knew where my patron's case of
+bottles stood, which it was evident, by the make, were taken out of some
+English prize, and I conveyed them into the boat while the Moor was on
+shore, as if they had been there before for our master: I conveyed also
+a great lump of bees-wax into the boat, which weighed above half a
+hundred weight, with a parcel of twine or thread, a hatchet, a saw, and
+a hammer, all which were of great use to us afterwards, especially the
+wax to make candles. Another trick I tried upon him, which he innocently
+came into also; his name was Ismael, whom they call Muley, or Moley; so
+I called him: "Moley," said I, "our patron's guns are on board the boat;
+can you not get a little powder and shot? it may be we may kill some
+alcamies (a fowl like our curlews) for ourselves, for I know he keeps
+the gunner's stores in the ship."--"Yes," says he, "I'll bring some;"
+and accordingly he brought a great leather pouch which held about a
+pound and a half of powder, or rather more; and another with shot, that
+had five or six pounds, with some bullets, and put all into the boat: at
+the same time I had found some powder of my master's in the great cabin,
+with which I filled one of the large bottles in the case, which was
+almost empty, pouring what was in it into another; and thus furnished
+with every thing needful, we sailed out of the port to fish. The castle,
+which is at the entrance of the port, knew who we were, and took no
+notice of us: and we were not above a mile out of the port before we
+hauled in our sail, and set us down to fish. The wind blew from the
+N.N.E. which was contrary to my desire; for had it blown southerly, I
+had been sure to have made the coast of Spain, and at least reached to
+the bay of Cadiz; but my resolutions were, blow which way it would, I
+would be gone from that horrid place where I was, and leave the rest
+to fate.
+
+After we had fished some time and catched nothing, for when I had fish
+on my hook I would not pull them up, that he might not see them, I said
+to the Moor, "This will not do; our master will not be thus served; we
+must stand farther off." He, thinking no harm, agreed, and being in the
+head of the boat set the sails; and as I had the helm I run the boat out
+near a league farther, and then brought her to as if I would fish; when
+giving the boy the helm, I stepped forward to where the Moor was, and
+making as if I stooped for something behind him, I took him by surprise
+with my arm under his waist, and tossed him clear overboard into the
+sea. He rose immediately, for he swam like a cork, and called to me,
+begged to be taken in, told me he would go all over the world with me.
+He swam so strong after the boat, that he would have reached me very
+quickly, there being but little wind; upon which I stepped into the
+cabin, and fetching one of the fowling-pieces, I presented it at him,
+and told him, I had done him no hurt, and if he would be quiet I would
+do him none: "But," said I, "you swim well enough to reach to the shore,
+and the sea is calm; make the best of your way to shore, and I will do
+you no harm; but if you come near the boat I'll shoot you through the
+head, for I am resolved to have my liberty." so he turned himself about,
+and swam for the shore, and I make no doubt but he reached it with ease,
+for he was an excellent swimmer.
+
+I could have been content to have taken this Moor with me, and have
+drowned the boy, but there was no venturing to trust him. When he was
+gone I turned to the boy, whom they called Xury, and said to him,
+"Xury, if you will be faithful to me I'll make you a great man; but if
+you will not stroke your face to be true to me," that is, swear by
+Mahomet and his father's beard, "I must throw you into the sea too." The
+boy smiled in my face, and spoke so innocently, that I could not
+mistrust him; and swore to be faithful to me, and go all over the
+world with me.
+
+While I was in view of the Moor that was swimming, I stood out directly
+to sea with the boat, rather stretching to windward, that they might
+think me gone towards the Straits' mouth; (as indeed any one that had
+been in their wits must have been supposed to do) for who would have
+supposed we were sailed on to the southward to the truly Barbarian
+coast, where whole nations of Negroes were sure to surround us with the
+canoes, and destroy us; where we could never once go on shore but we
+should be devoured by savage beasts, or more merciless savages of
+human kind?
+
+But as soon as it grew dusk in the evening, I changed my course, and
+steered directly south and by east, bending my course a little toward
+the east, that I might keep in with the shore; and having a fair, fresh
+gale of wind, and a smooth, quiet sea, I made such sail that I believe
+by the next day at three o'clock in the afternoon, when I first made the
+land, I could not be less than 150 miles south of Sallee; quite beyond
+the Emperor of Morocco's dominions, or indeed of any other king
+thereabout, for we saw no people.
+
+Yet such was the fright I had taken at the Moors, and the dreadful
+apprehensions I had of falling into their hands, that I would not stop,
+or go on shore, or come to an anchor; the wind continuing fair till I
+had sailed in that manner five days; and then the wind shifting to the
+southward, I concluded also that if any of our vessels were in chase of
+me, they also would now give over; so I ventured to make to the coast,
+and come to an anchor in the mouth of a little river, I knew not what,
+or where; neither what latitude, what country, what nation, or what
+river: I neither saw, or desired to see any people; the principal thing
+I wanted was fresh water. We came into this creek in the evening,
+resolving to swim on shore as soon as it was dark, and discover the
+country; but, as soon as it was quite dark, we heard such dreadful
+noises of the barking, roaring, and howling of wild creatures, of we
+knew not what kinds, that the poor boy was ready to die with fear, and
+begged of me not to go on shore till day. "Well, Xury," said I, "then I
+won't; but it may be we may see men by day, who will be as bad to us as
+those lions."--"Then we give them the shoot gun," says Xury, laughing,
+"make them run wey." Such English Xury spoke by conversing among us
+slaves. However I was glad to see the boy so cheerful, and I gave him a
+dram (out of our patron's case of bottles) to cheer him up. After all,
+Xury's advice was good, and I took it; we dropped our little anchor, and
+lay still all night; I say still, for we slept none; for in two or three
+hours we saw vast great creatures (we knew not what to call them) of
+many sorts, come down to the sea-shore and run into the water, wallowing
+and washing themselves for the pleasure of cooling themselves; and they
+made such hideous howlings and yellings, that I never indeed heard
+the like.
+
+Xury was dreadfully frightened, and indeed so was I too; but we were
+both more frightened when we heard one of these mighty creatures come
+swimming towards our boat; we could not see him, but we might hear him
+by his blowing to be a monstrous huge and furious beast; Xury said it
+was a lion, and it might be so for aught I know; but poor Xury cried to
+me to weigh the anchor and row away: "No," says I, "Xury; we can slip
+our cable with the buoy to it, and go off to sea; they cannot follow us
+far." I had no sooner said so, but I perceived the creature (whatever it
+was) within two oars' length, which something surprised me; however, I
+immediately stepped to the cabin-door, and taking up my gun, fired at
+him; upon which he immediately turned about, and swam towards the
+shore again.
+
+But it is impossible to describe the horrible noises, and hideous cries
+and howlings, that were raised, as well upon the edge of the shore as
+higher within the country, upon the noise or report of the gun, a thing
+I have some reason to believe those creatures had never heard before:
+this convinced me that there was no going on shore for us in the night
+upon that coast, and how to venture on shore in the day was another
+question too; for to have fallen into the hands of any of the savages,
+had been as bad as to have fallen into the hands of lions and tigers; at
+least we were equally apprehensive of the danger of it.
+
+Be that as it would, we were obliged to go on shore somewhere or other
+for water, for we had not a pint left in the boat; when or where to get
+it, was the point: Xury said, if I would let him go on shore with one
+of the jars, he would find if there was any water, and bring some to me.
+I asked him why he would go? why I should not go, and he stay in the
+boat? The boy answered with so much affection, that made me love him
+ever after. Says he, "If wild mans come, they eat me, you go
+wey."--"Well, Xury," said I, "we will both go, and if the wild mans
+come, we will kill them, they shall eat neither of us." So I gave Xury a
+piece of rusk bread to eat, and a dram out of our patron's case of
+bottles which I mentioned before; and we hauled the boat in as near the
+shore as we thought was proper, and so waded to shore; carrying nothing
+but our arms, and two jars for water.
+
+I did not care to go out of sight of the boat, fearing the coming of
+canoes with savages down the river: but the boy seeing a low place about
+a mile up the country, rambled to it; and by and by I saw him come
+running towards me. I thought he was pursued by some savage, or frighted
+with some wild beast, and I run forward towards him to help him, but
+when I came nearer to him, I saw something hanging over his shoulders,
+which was a creature that he had shot, like a hare, but different in
+colour, and longer legs; however, we were very glad of it, and it was
+very good meat; but the great joy that poor Xury came with, was to tell
+me he had found good water, and seen no wild mans.
+
+But we found afterwards that we need not take such pains for water, for
+a little higher up the creek where we were, we found the water fresh
+when the tide was out, which flows but a little way up; so we filled
+our jars, and feasted on the hare we had killed, and prepared to go on
+our way, having seen no footsteps of any human creature in that part of
+the country.
+
+As I had been one voyage to this coast before, I knew very well that the
+islands of the Canaries, and the Cape de Verd islands also, lay not far
+off from the coast. But as I had no instruments to take an observation
+to know what latitude we were in, and not exactly knowing, or at least
+remembering what latitude they were in, and knew not where to look for
+them, or when to stand off to sea towards them; otherwise I might now
+easily have found some of these islands. But my hope was, that if I
+stood along this coast till I came to that part where the English
+traded, I should find some of their vessels upon their usual design of
+trade, that would relieve and take us in.
+
+By the best of my calculation, that place where I now was, must be that
+country, which, lying between the emperor of Morocco's dominions and the
+Negroes, lies waste, and uninhabited, except by wild beasts; the Negroes
+having abandoned it, and gone farther south for fear of the Moors; and
+the Moors not thinking it worth inhabiting, by reason of its barrenness;
+and indeed both forsaking it because of the prodigious numbers of
+tigers, lions, and leopards, and other furious creatures which harbour
+there; so that the Moors use it for their hunting only, where they go
+like an army, two or three thousand men at a time; and indeed for near
+an hundred miles together upon this coast, we saw nothing but a waste,
+uninhabited country by day, and heard nothing but howlings and roaring
+of wild beasts by night.
+
+Once or twice in the day-time I thought I saw the Pico of Teneriffe,
+being the high top of the Mountain Teneriffe in the Canaries; and had a
+great mind to venture out, in hopes of reaching thither; but having
+tried twice, I was forced in again by contrary winds, the sea also going
+too high for my little vessel; so I resolved to pursue my first design,
+and keep along the shore.
+
+Several times I was obliged to land for fresh water, after we had left
+this place; and once in particular, being early in the morning, we came
+to an anchor under a little point of land which was pretty high; and the
+tide beginning to flow, we lay still to go farther in. Xury, whose eyes
+were more about him than it seems mine were, calls softly to me, and
+tells me that we had best go farther off the shore; "for," says he,
+"look yonder lies a dreadful monster on the side of that hillock fast
+asleep." I looked where he pointed, and saw a dreadful monster indeed,
+for it was a terrible great lion that lay on the side of the shore,
+under the shade of a piece of the hill that hung as it were a little
+over him. "Xury," says I, "you shall go on shore and kill him." Xury
+looked frightened, and said, "Me kill! he eat me at one mouth;" one
+mouthful he meant: however, I said no more to the boy, but bad him lie
+still, and I took our biggest gun, which was almost musket-bore, and
+loaded it with a good charge of powder, and with two slugs, and laid it
+down; then I loaded another gun with two bullets; and the third (for we
+had three pieces) I loaded with five smaller bullets. I took the best
+aim I could with the first piece to have shot him in the head, but he
+lay so with his leg raised a little above his nose, that the slugs hit
+his leg about the knee, and broke the bone. He started up, growling at
+first, but finding his leg broke, fell down again, and then got up upon
+three legs, and gave the most hideous roar that ever I heard. I was a
+little surprised that I had not hit him on the head; however, I took up
+the second piece immediately, and, though he began to move off, fired
+again, and shot him in the head, and had the pleasure to see him drop,
+and make but little noise, but lie struggling for life. Then Xury took
+heart, and would have me let him go on shore; "Well, go," said I; so the
+boy jumped into the water, and taking a little gun in one hand, swam to
+shore with the other hand, and coming close to the creature, put the
+muzzle of the piece to his ear, and shot him in the head again, which
+dispatched him quite.
+
+This was game indeed to us, but this was no food; and I was very sorry
+to lose three charges of powder and shot upon a creature that was good
+for nothing to us. However, Xury said he would have some of him; so he
+comes on board, and asked me to give him the hatchet. "For what, Xury?"
+said I, "Me cut off his head," said he. However, Xury could not cut off
+his head, but he cut off a foot, and brought it with him, and it was a
+monstrous great one.
+
+I bethought myself however, that perhaps the skin of him might one way
+or other be of some value to us; and I resolved to take off his skin if
+I could. So Xury and I went to work with him; but Xury was much the
+better workman at it, for I knew very ill how to do it. Indeed it took
+us both up the whole day, but at last we got off the hide of him, and
+spreading it on the top of our cabin, the sun effectually dried it in
+two days' time, and it afterwards served me to lie upon.
+
+After this stop, we made on to the southward continually for ten or
+twelve days, living very sparing on our provisions, which began to abate
+very much, and going no oftener into the shore than we were obliged to
+for fresh water: my design in this was, to make the river Gambia or
+Senegal, that is to say, any where about the Cape de Verd, where I was
+in hopes to meet with some European ship; and if I did not, I knew not
+what course I had to take, but to seek for the islands, or perish there
+among the Negroes, I knew that all the ships from Europe, which sailed
+either to the coast of Guinea or to Brazil, or to the East Indies, made
+this Cape, or those islands; and in a word, I put the whole of my
+fortune upon this single point, either that I must meet with some ship,
+or must perish.
+
+When I had pursued this resolution about ten days longer, as I have
+said, I began to see that the land was inhabited; and in two or three
+places, as we sailed by, we saw people stand upon the shore to look at
+us; we could also perceive they were quite black, and stark naked. I was
+once inclined to have gone off shore to them; but Xury was my better
+counsellor, and said to me, "No go, no go." However, I hauled in nearer
+the shore that I might talk to them, and I found they run along the
+shore by me a good way: I observed they had no weapons in their hands,
+except one, who had a long slender stick, which Nury said was a lance,
+and that they would throw them a great way with a good aim; so I kept
+at a distance, but talked with them by signs as well as I could; and
+particularly made signs for something to eat; they beckoned to me to
+stop my boat, and they would fetch me some meat. Upon this I lowered the
+top of my sail, and lay by, and two of them ran up into the country, and
+in less than half an hour came back, and brought with them two pieces of
+dry flesh and some corn, such as is the produce of their country; but we
+neither knew what the one or the other was: however, we were willing to
+accept it, but how to come at it was our next dispute, for I was not for
+venturing on shore to them, and they were as much afraid of us: but they
+took a safe way for us all, for they brought it to the shore and laid it
+down, and went and stood a great way off till we fetched it on board,
+and then came close to us again.
+
+We made signs of thanks to them, for we had nothing to make them amends;
+but an opportunity offered that very instant to oblige them wonderfully;
+for while we were lying by the shore came two mighty creatures, one
+pursuing the other (as we took it) with great fury from the mountains
+towards the sea; whether it was the male pursuing the female, or whether
+they were in sport or in rage, we could not tell, any more than we could
+tell whether it was usual or strange, but I believe it was the latter;
+because, in the first place, those ravenous creatures seldom appear but
+in the night; and in the second place, we found the people terribly
+frightened, especially the women. The man that had the lance or dart did
+not fly from them, but the rest did; however, as the two creatures ran
+directly into the water, they did not seem to offer to fall upon any of
+the Negroes, but plunged themselves into the sea, and swam about, as if
+they had come for their diversion: at last, one of them began to come
+nearer our boat than I at first expected; but I lay ready for him, for I
+had loaded my gun with all possible expedition, and bade Xury load both
+the others. As soon as he came fairly within my reach, I fired, and shot
+him directly in the head: immediately he sunk down into the water, but
+rose instantly, and plunged up and down, as if he was struggling for
+life, and so indeed he was: he immediately made to the shore; but
+between the wound, which was his mortal hurt, and the strangling of the
+water, he died just before he reached the shore.
+
+It is impossible to express the astonishment of these poor creatures, at
+the noise and fire of my gun; some of them were even ready to die for
+fear, and fell down as dead with the very terror; but when they saw the
+creature dead, and sunk in the water, and that I made signs to them to
+come to the shore, they took heart and came to the shore, and began to
+search for the creature. I found him by his blood staining the water;
+and by the help of a rope, which I slung round him, and gave the Negroes
+to haul, they dragged him on shore, and found that it was a most curious
+leopard, spotted, and fine to an admirable degree; and the Negroes held
+up their hands with admiration, to think what it was I had killed
+him with.
+
+The other creature, frightened with the flash of fire and the noise of
+the gun, swam on shore, and ran up directly to the mountains from
+whence they came; nor could I, at that distance, know what it was. I
+found quickly the Negroes were for eating the flesh of this creature, so
+I was willing to have them take it as a favour from me; which, when I
+made signs to them that they might take him, they were very thankful
+for. Immediately they fell to work with him; and though they had no
+knife, yet, with a sharpened piece of wood, they took off his skin as
+readily, and much more readily, than we could have done with a knife.
+They offered me some of the flesh, which I declined, making as if I
+would give it them, but made signs for the skin, which they gave me very
+freely, and brought me a great deal more of their provisions, which,
+though I did not understand, yet I accepted. I then made signs to them
+for some water, and held out one of my jars to them, turning it bottom
+upward, to show that it was empty, and that I wanted to have it filled.
+They called immediately to some of their friends, and there came two
+women, and brought a great vessel made of earth, and burnt, as I
+suppose, in the sun; this they set down to me, as before, and I sent
+Xury on shore with my jars, and filled them all three. The women were as
+stark naked as the men.
+
+I was now furnished with roots and corn, such as it was, and water; and
+leaving my friendly Negroes, I made forward for about eleven days more,
+without offering to go near the shore, till I saw the land run out a
+great length into the sea, at about the distance of four or five leagues
+before me; and the sea being very calm, I kept a large offing, to make
+this point. At length, doubling the point, at about two leagues from
+the land, I saw plainly land on the other side, to seaward: then I
+concluded, as it was most certain indeed, that this was the Cape de
+Verd, and those the islands, called, from thence, Cape de Verd Islands.
+However, they were at a great distance, and I could not well tell what I
+had best to do; for if I should be taken with a gale of wind, I might
+neither reach one nor the other.
+
+In this dilemma, as I was very pensive, I stepped into the cabin, and
+sat me down, Xury having the helm; when, on a sudden, the boy cried out,
+Master, master, a ship with a sail! and the foolish boy was frightened
+out of his wits, thinking it must needs be some of his master's ships
+sent to pursue us, when I knew we were gotten far enough out of their
+reach. I jumped out of the cabin, and immediately saw, not only the
+ship, but what she was, viz. that it was a Portuguese ship, and, as I
+thought, was bound to the coast of Guinea, for Negroes. But, when I
+observed the course she steered, I was soon convinced they were bound
+some other way, and did not design to come any nearer to the shore: upon
+which, I stretched out to sea as much as I could, resolving to speak
+with them, if possible.
+
+With all the sail I could make, I found I should not be able to come in
+their way, but that they would be gone by before I could make any signal
+to them: but after I had crowded to the utmost, and began to despair,
+they, it seems, saw me, by the help of their perspective glasses, and
+that it was some European boat, which, they supposed, must belong to
+some ship that was lost; so they shortened sail, to let me come up. I
+was encouraged with this, and as I had my patron's ensign on board, I
+made a waft of it to them, for a signal of distress, and fired a gun,
+both which they saw; for they told me they saw the smoke, though they
+did not hear the gun. Upon these signals, they very kindly brought to,
+and lay by for me; and in about three hours' time I came up with them.
+
+They asked me what I was, in Portuguese, and in Spanish, and in French,
+but I understood none of them; but, at last, a Scotch sailor, who was on
+board, called to me, and I answered him, and told him I was an
+Englishman, that I had made my escape out of slavery from the Moors, at
+Sallee: they then bade me come on board, and very kindly took me in, and
+all my goods.
+
+It was an inexpressible joy to me, which any one will believe, that I
+was thus delivered, as I esteemed it, from such a miserable, and almost
+hopeless, condition as I was in; and I immediately offered all I had to
+the captain of the ship, as a return for my deliverance; but he
+generously told me, he would take nothing from me, but that all I had
+should be delivered safe to me, when I came to the Brazils. "For," says
+he, "I have saved your life on no other terms than I would be glad to be
+saved myself; and it may, one time or other, be my lot to be taken up in
+the same condition. Besides," continued he, "when I carry you to the
+Brazils, so great a way from your own country, if I should take from you
+what you have, you will be starved there, and then I only take away that
+life I have given. No, no, Seignior Inglese," (Mr. Englishman,) says he;
+"I will carry you thither in charity, and these things will help to buy
+your subsistence there, and your passage home again."
+
+As he was charitable, in this proposal, so he was just in the
+performance, to a tittle; for he ordered the seamen, that none should
+offer to touch any thing I had: then he took every thing into his own
+possession, and gave me back an exact inventory of them, that I might
+have them, even so much as my three earthen jars.
+
+As to my boat, it was a very good one; and that he saw, and told me he
+would buy it of me for the ship's use; and asked me what I would have
+for it? I told him, he had been so generous to me in every thing, that I
+could not offer to make any price of the boat, but left it entirely to
+him: upon which, he told me he would give me a note of hand to pay me
+eighty pieces of eight for it at Brazil; and when it came there, if any
+one offered to give more, he would make it up. He offered me also sixty
+pieces of eight more for my boy Xury, which I was loth to take; not that
+I was not willing to let the captain have him, but I was very loth to
+sell the poor boy's liberty, who had assisted me so faithfully in
+procuring my own. However, when I let him know my reason, he owned it to
+be just, and offered me this medium, that he would give the boy an
+obligation to set him free in ten years, if he turned Christian: upon
+this, and Xury saying he was willing to go to him, I let the
+captain have him.
+
+We had a very good voyage to the Brazils, and arrived in the Bay de
+Todos los Santos, or All Saints' Bay, in about twenty-two days after.
+And now I was once more delivered from the most miserable of all
+conditions of life; and what to do next with myself, I was now
+to consider.
+
+The generous treatment the captain gave me, I can never enough remember:
+he would take nothing of me for my passage, gave me twenty ducats for
+the leopard's skin, and forty for the lion's skin, which I had in my
+boat, and caused every thing I had in the ship to be punctually
+delivered to me; and what I was willing to sell, he bought of me; such
+as the case of bottles, two of my guns, and a piece of the lump of
+bees-wax,--for I had made candles of the rest: in a word, I made about
+two hundred and twenty pieces of eight of all my cargo; and with this
+stock, I went on shore in the Brazils.
+
+I had not been long here, before I was recommended to the house of a
+good honest man, like himself, who had an ingeino as they call it, (that
+is, a plantation and a sugar-house.) I lived with him some time, and
+acquainted myself, by that means, with the manner of planting and making
+of sugar: and seeing how well the planters lived, and how they got rich
+suddenly, I resolved, if I could get a licence to settle there, I would
+turn planter among them: endeavouring, in the mean time, to find out
+some way to get my money, which I had left in London, remitted to me. To
+this purpose, getting a kind of a letter of naturalization, I purchased
+as much land that was uncured as my money would reach, and formed a plan
+for my plantation and settlement; such a one as might be suitable to the
+stock which I proposed to myself to receive from England.
+
+I had a neighbour, a Portuguese of Lisbon, but: born of English parents,
+whose name was Wells, and in much such circumstances as I was. I call
+him my neighbour, because his plantation lay next to mine, and we went
+on very sociably together. My stock was but low, as well as his; and we
+rather planted for food than any thing else, for about two years.
+However, we began to increase, and our land began to come into order; so
+that Ihe third year we planted some tobacco, and made each of us a large
+piece of ground ready for planting canes in the year to come: but we
+both wanted help; and now I found, more than before, I had done wrong in
+parting with my boy Xury.
+
+But, alas! for me to do wrong, that never did right, was no great
+wonder. I had no remedy, but to go on: I had got into an employment
+quite remote to my genius, and directly contrary to the life I delighted
+in, and for which I forsook my father's house, and broke through all his
+good advice: nay, I was coining into the very middle station, or upper
+degree of low life, which my father advised me to before; and which, if
+I resolved to go on with, I might as well have staid at home, and never
+have fatigued myself in the world, as I had done: and I used often to
+say to myself, I could have done this as well in England, among my
+friends, as have gone five thousand miles off to do it among strangers
+and savages, in a wilderness, and at such a distance as never to hear
+from any part of the world that had the least knowledge of me.
+
+In this manner, I used to look upon my condition with the utmost regret.
+I had nobody to converse with, but now and then this neighbour; no work
+to be done, but by the labour of my hands: and I used to say, I lived
+just like a man cast away upon some desolate island, that had nobody
+there but himself. But how just has it been! and how should all men
+reflect, that when they compare their present conditions with others
+that are worse, Heaven may oblige them to make the exchange, and be
+convinced of their former felicity by their experience: I say, how just
+has it been, that the truly solitary life I reflected on, in an island
+of mere desolation, should be my lot, who had so often unjustly compared
+it with the life which I then led, in which, had I continued, I had, in
+all probability, been exceeding prosperous and rich.
+
+I was, in some degree, settled in my measures for carrying on the
+plantation, before my kind friend, the captain of the ship that took me
+up at sea, went back; for the ship remained there, in providing his
+lading, and preparing for his voyage, near three months; when, telling
+him what little stock I had left behind me in London, he gave me this
+friendly and sincere advice: "Seignior Inglese," says he, for so he
+always called me, "if you will give me letters, and a procuration here
+in form to me, with orders to the person who has your money in London,
+to send your effects to Lisbon, to such persons as I shall direct, and
+in such goods as are proper for this country, I will bring you the
+produce of them, God willing, at my return; but, since human affairs are
+all subject to changes and disasters, I would have you give orders for
+but one hundred pounds sterling, which, you say, is half your stock, and
+let the hazard be run for the first, so that if it come safe, you may
+order the rest the same way; and, if it miscarry, you may have the other
+half to have recourse to for your supply."
+
+This was so wholesome advice, and looked so friendly, that I could not
+but be convinced it was the best course I could take; so I accordingly
+prepared letters to the gentlewoman with whom I left my money, and a
+procuration to the Portuguese captain, as he desired me.
+
+I wrote the English captain's widow a full account of all my adventures;
+my slavery, escape, and how I had met with the Portuguese captain at
+sea, the humanity of his behaviour, and what condition I was now in,
+with all other necessary directions for my supply; and when this honest
+captain came to Lisbon, he found means, by some of the English merchants
+there, to send over, not the order only, but a full account of my story
+to a merchant at London, who represented it effectually to her:
+whereupon she not only delivered the money, but, out of her own pocket,
+sent the Portuguese captain a very handsome present for his humanity and
+charity to me.
+
+The merchant in London, vesting this hundred pounds in English goods,
+such as the captain had wrote for, sent them directly to him at Lisbon,
+and he brought them all safe to me at the Brazils: among which, without
+my direction, (for I was too young in my business to think of them,) he
+had taken care to have all sorts of tools, iron work, and utensils,
+necessary for my plantation, and which were of great use to me.
+
+When this cargo arrived, I thought my fortune made, for I was surprised
+with the joy of it; and my good steward, the captain, had laid out the
+five pounds, which my friend had sent him as a present for himself, to
+purchase and bring me over a servant, under bond for six years' service,
+and would not accept of any consideration, except a little tobacco,
+which I would have him accept, being of my own produce.
+
+Neither was this all: but my goods being all English manufactures, such
+as cloths, stuffs, baize, and things particularly valuable and desirable
+in the country, I found means to sell them to a very great advantage; so
+that I might say, I had more than four times the value of my first
+cargo, and was now infinitely beyond my poor neighbour, I mean in the
+advancement of my plantation: for the first thing I did, I bought me a
+Negro slave, and ail European servant also; I mean another besides that
+which the captain brought me from Lisbon.
+
+But as abused prosperity is oftentimes made the very means of our
+adversity, so was it with me. I went on the next year with great success
+in my plantation; I raised fifty great rolls of tobacco on my own
+ground, more than I had disposed of for necessaries among my neighbours;
+and these fifty rolls, being each of above a hundred weight, were well
+cured, and laid by against the return of the fleet from Lisbon: and now,
+increasing in business and in wealth, my head began to be full of
+projects and undertakings beyond my reach; such as are, indeed, often
+the ruin of the best heads in business. Had I continued in the station
+I was now in, I had room for all the happy things to have yet befallen
+me, for which my father so earnestly recommended a quiet, retired life,
+and which he had so sensibly described the middle station of life to be
+full of: but other things attended me, and I was still to be the wilful
+agent of all my own miseries; and, particularly, to increase my fault,
+and double the reflections upon myself, which in my future sorrows I
+should have leisure to make, all these miscarriages were procured by my
+apparent obstinate adhering to my foolish inclination, of wandering
+about, and pursuing that inclination, in contradiction to the clearest
+views of doing myself good in a fair and plain pursuit of those
+prospects, and those measures of life, which nature and Providence
+concurred to present me with, and to make my duty.
+
+As I had once done thus in breaking away from my parents, so I could not
+be content now, but I must go and leave the happy view I had of being a
+rich and thriving man in my new plantation, only to pursue a rash and
+immoderate desire of rising faster than the nature of the thing
+admitted; and thus I cast myself down again into the deepest gulph of
+human misery that ever man fell into, or perhaps could be consistent
+with life, and a state of health in the world.
+
+To come, then, by just degrees, to the particulars of this part of my
+story:--You may suppose, that having now lived almost four years in the
+Brazils, and beginning to thrive and prosper very well upon my
+plantation, I had not only learned the language, but had contracted an
+acquaintance and friendship among my fellow-planters, as well as among
+the merchants at St. Salvador, which was our port; and that, in my
+discourses among them, I had frequently given them an account of my two
+voyages to the coast of Guinea, the manner of trading with the Negroes
+there, and how easy it was to purchase on the coast for trifles--such
+as beads, toys, knives, scissars, hatchets, bits of glass, and the
+like--not only gold dust, Guinea grains, elephants' teeth, &c. but
+Negroes, for the service of the Brazils, in great numbers.
+
+They listened always very attentively to my discourses on these heads,
+but especially to that part which related to the buying Negroes; which
+was a trade, at that time, not only not far entered into, but, as far as
+it was, had been carried on by the assientos, or permission of the kings
+of Spain and Portugal, and engrossed from the public; so that few
+Negroes were bought, and those excessive dear.
+
+It happened, being in company with some merchants and planters of my
+acquaintance, and talking of those things very earnestly, three of them
+came to me the next morning, and told me they had been musing very much
+upon what I had discoursed with them of the last night, and they came to
+make a secret proposal to me: and, after enjoining me to secrecy, they
+told me that they had a mind to fit out a ship to go to Guinea; that
+they had all plantations as well as I, and were straitened for nothing
+so much as servants; that as it was a trade that could not be carried
+on, because they could not publicly sell the Negroes when they came
+home, so they desired to make but one voyage, to bring the Negroes on
+shore privately, and divide them among their own plantations: and, in a
+word, the question was, whether I would go their supercargo in the ship,
+to manage the trading part upon the coast of Guinea; and they offered me
+that I should have an equal share of the Negroes, without providing any
+part of the stock.
+
+This was a fair proposal, it must be confessed, had it been made to any
+one that had not a settlement and plantation of his own to look after,
+which was in a fair way of coming to be very considerable, and with a
+good stock upon it. But for me, that was thus entered and established,
+and had nothing to do but go on as I had begun, for three or four years
+more, and to have sent for the other hundred pounds from England; and
+who, in that time, and with that little addition, could scarce have
+failed of being worth three or four thousand pounds sterling, and that
+increasing too; for me to think of such a voyage, was the most
+preposterous thing that ever man, in such circumstances, could be
+guilty of.
+
+But I, that was born to be my own destroyer, could no more resist the
+offer, than I could restrain my first rambling designs, when my father's
+good counsel was lost upon me. In a word, I told them I would go with
+all my heart, if they would undertake to look after my plantation in my
+absence, and would dispose of it to such as I should direct, if I
+miscarried. This they all engaged to do, and entered into writings or
+covenants to do so; and I made a formal will, disposing of my plantation
+and effects, in case of my death; making the captain of the ship that
+had saved my life, as before, my universal heir; but obliging him to
+dispose of my effects as I had directed in my will; one half of the
+produce being to himself, and the other to be shipped to England.
+
+In short, I took all possible caution to preserve my effects, and to
+keep up my plantation: had I used half as much prudence to have looked
+into my own interest, and have made a judgment of what I ought to have
+done and not to have done I had certainly never gone away from so
+prosperous an undertaking, leaving all the probable views of a thriving
+circumstance, and gone a voyage to sea, attended with all its common
+hazards, to say nothing of the reasons I had to expect particular
+misfortunes to myself.
+
+But I was hurried on, and obeyed blindly the dictates of my fancy,
+rather than my reason: and accordingly, the ship being fitted out, and
+the cargo furnished, and all things done as by agreement, by my partners
+in the voyage, I went on board in an evil hour again, the 1st of
+September, 1659, being the same day eight years that I went from my
+father and mother at Hull, in order to act the rebel to their authority,
+and the fool to my own interest.
+
+Our ship was about one hundred and twenty tons burden, carried six guns,
+and fourteen men, besides the master, his boy, and myself; we had on
+board no large cargo of goods, except of such toys as were fit for our
+trade with the Negroes, such as beads, bits of glass, shells, and odd
+trifles, especially little looking-glasses, knives, scissars, hatchets,
+and the like.
+
+The same day I went on board we set sail, standing away to the northward
+upon our own coast, with design to stretch over for the African coast.
+When they came about ten or twelve degrees of northern latitude, which,
+it seems, was the manner of their course in those days, we had very good
+weather, only excessive hot all the way upon our own coast, till we came
+to the height of Cape St. Augustino; from whence, keeping farther off at
+sea, we lost sight of land, and steered as if we were bound for the isle
+Fernando de Noronha, holding our course N.E. by N. and leaving those
+isles on the east. In this course we passed the line in about twelve
+days' time, and were by our last observation, in 7 degrees 22 minutes
+northern latitude, when a violent tornado, or hurricane, took us quite
+out of our knowledge: it began from the south-east, came about to the
+north-west, and then settled in the north-east; from whence it blew in
+such a terrible manner, that for twelve days together we could do
+nothing but drive, and, scudding away before it, let it carry us whither
+ever fate and the fury of the winds directed; and, during these twelve
+days, I need not say that I expected every day to be swallowed up; nor,
+indeed, did any in the ship expect to save their lives.
+
+In this distress, we had, besides the terror of the storm, one of our
+men died of the calenture, and one man and a boy washed overboard. About
+the twelfth day, the weather abating a little, the master made an
+observation as well as he could, and found that he was in about 11
+degrees north latitude, but that he was 22 degrees of longitude
+difference, west from Cape St. Augustino; so that he found he was got
+upon the coast of Guiana, or the north part of Brazil, beyond the river
+Amazons, toward that of the river Oroonoque, commonly called the Great
+River; and began to consult with me what course he should take, for the
+ship was leaky and very much disabled, add he was going directly back to
+the coast of Brazil.
+
+I was positively against that; and looking over the charts of the
+sea-coast of America with him, we concluded there was no inhabited
+country for us to have recourse to, till we came within the circle of
+the Caribbee islands, and therefore resolved to stand away for
+Barbadoes; which by keeping off to sea, to avoid the in-draft of the bay
+or gulf of Mexico, we might easily perform, as we hoped, in about
+fifteen days' sail; whereas we could not possibly make our voyage to the
+coast of Africa without some assistance, both to our ship and ourselves.
+
+With this design, we changed our course, and steered away N.W. by W. in
+order to reach some of our English islands, where I hoped for relief:
+but our voyage was otherwise determined; for being in the latitude of 12
+degrees 18 minutes, a second storm came upon us, which carried us away
+with the same impetuosity westward, and drove us so out of the very way
+of all human commerce, that had all our lives been saved, as to the sea,
+we were rather in danger of being devoured by savages than ever
+returning to our own country.
+
+In this distress, the wind still blowing very hard, one of our men early
+in the morning cried out, Land! and we had no sooner run out of the
+cabin to look out, in hopes of seeing whereabouts in the world we were,
+but the ship struck upon a sand, and in a moment, her motion being so
+stopped, the sea broke over her in such a manner, that we expected we
+should all have perished immediately; and we were immediately driven
+into our close quarters, to shelter us from the very foam and spray
+of the sea.
+
+It is not easy for any one, who has not been in the like condition, to
+describe or conceive the consternation of men in such circumstances; we
+knew nothing where we were, or upon what land it was we were driven,
+whether an island or the main, whether inhabited or not inhabited; and
+as the rage of the wind was still great, though rather less than at
+first, we could not so much as hope to have the ship hold many minutes,
+without breaking in pieces, unless the wind, by a kind of miracle,
+should immediately turn about. In a word, we sat looking upon one
+another, and expecting death every moment, and every man acting
+accordingly, as preparing for another world; for there was little or
+nothing more for us to do in this: that which was our present comfort,
+and all the comfort we had, was, that, contrary to our expectation, the
+ship did not break yet, and that the master said the wind began
+to abate.
+
+Now, though we thought that the wind did a little abate, yet the ship
+having thus struck upon the sand, and sticking too fast for us to expect
+her getting off, we were in a dreadful condition indeed, and had nothing
+to do but to think of saving our lives as well as we could. We had a
+boat at our stern just before the storm, but she was first staved by
+dashing against the ship's rudder, and, in the next place, she broke
+away, and either sunk, or was driven off to sea; so there was no hope
+from her: we had another boat on board, but how to get her off into the
+sea was a doubtful thing; however, there was no room to debate, for we
+fancied the ship would break in pieces every minute, and some told us
+she was actually broken already.
+
+In this distress, the mate of our vessel laid hold of the boat, and with
+the help of the rest of the men, they got her flung over the ship's
+side; and getting all into her, let her go, and committed ourselves,
+being eleven in number, to God's mercy, and the wild sea: for though the
+storm was abated considerably, yet the sea went dreadful high upon the
+shore, and might be well called _den wild zee_, as the Dutch call the
+sea in a storm.
+
+And now our case was very dismal indeed; for we all saw plainly, that
+the sea went so high, that the boat could not live, and that we should
+be inevitably drowned. As to making sail, we had none; nor, if we had,
+could we have done any thing with it; so we worked at the oar towards
+the land, though with heavy hearts, like men going to execution; for we
+all knew that when the boat came nearer to the shore, she would be
+dashed in a thousand pieces by the breach of the sea. However, we
+committed our souls to God in the most earnest manner; and the wind
+driving us towards the shore, we hastened our destruction with our own
+hands, pulling as well as we could towards land.
+
+What the shore was--whether rock or sand, whether steep or shoal--we
+knew not; the only hope that could rationally give us the least shadow
+of expectation, was, if we might happen into some bay or gulf, or the
+mouth of some river, where by great chance we might have run our boat
+in, or got under the lee of the land, and perhaps made smooth water. But
+there was nothing of this appeared; and as we made nearer and nearer the
+shore, the land looked more frightful than the sea.
+
+After we had rowed, or rather driven, about a league and a half, as we
+reckoned it, a raging wave, mountain-like, came rolling astern of us,
+and plainly bade us expect the _coup de grace_. In a word, it took us
+with such a fury, that it overset the boat at once; and separating us,
+as well from the boat as from one another, gave us not time hardly to
+say, "O God!" for we were all swallowed up in a moment.
+
+Nothing can describe the confusion of thought which I felt, when I sunk
+into the water; for though I swam very well, yet I could not deliver
+myself from the waves so as to draw my breath, till that wave having
+driven me, or rather carried me, a vast way on towards the shore, and
+having spent itself, went back, and left me upon the land almost dry,
+but half dead with the water I took in. I had so much presence of mind,
+as well as breath left, that seeing myself nearer the main land than I
+expected, I got upon my feet, and endeavoured to make on towards the
+land as fast as I could, before another wave should return and take me
+up again; but I soon found it was impossible to avoid it; for I saw the
+sea come after me as high as a great hill, and as furious as an enemy,
+which I had no means or strength to contend with: my business was to
+hold my breath, and raise myself upon the water, if I could; and so, by
+swimming, to preserve my breathing, and pilot myself towards the shore,
+if possible; my greatest concern now being, that the wave, as it would
+carry me a great way towards the shore when it came on, might not carry
+me back again with it when it gave back towards the sea.
+
+The wave that came upon me again, buried me at once twenty or thirty
+feet deep in its own body; and I could feel myself carried with a mighty
+force and swiftness towards the shore a very great way; but I held my
+breath, and assisted myself to swim still forward with all my might. I
+was ready to burst with holding my breath, when, as I felt myself rising
+up, so, to my immediate relief, I found my head and hands shoot out
+above the surface of the water; and though it was not two seconds of
+time that I could keep myself so, yet it relieved me greatly, gave me
+breath, and new courage. I was covered again with water a good while,
+but not so long but I held it out; and finding the water had spent
+itself, and began to return, I struck forward against the return of the
+waves, and felt ground again with my feet. I stood still a few moments,
+to recover breath, and till the water went from me, and then took to my
+heels, and ran with what strength I had farther towards the shore. But
+neither would this deliver me from the fury of the sea, which came
+pouring in after me again; and twice more I was lifted up by the waves
+and carried forwards as before, the shore being very flat.
+
+The last time of these two had well nigh been fatal to me; for the sea
+having hurried me along, as before, landed me, or rather dashed me,
+against a piece of a rock, and that with such force, that it left me
+senseless, and indeed helpless, as to my own deliverance; for the blow
+taking my side and breast, beat the breath, as it were, quite out of my
+body; and had it returned again immediately, I must have been strangled
+in the water: but I recovered a little before the return of the waves,
+and seeing I should again be covered with the water, I resolved to hold
+fast by a piece of the rock, and so to hold my breath, if possible, till
+the wave went back. Now as the waves were not so high as the first,
+being nearer land, I held my hold till the wave abated, and then fetched
+another run, which brought me so near the shore, that the next wave,
+though it went over me, yet did not so swallow me up as to carry me
+away; and the next run I took, I got to the main land; where, to my
+great comfort, I clambered up the cliffs of the shore, and sat me down
+upon the grass, free from danger, and quite out of the reach of
+the water.
+
+I was now landed, and safe on shore, and began to look up and thank God
+that my life was saved, in a case wherein there were, some minutes
+before, scarce any room to hope. I believe it is impossible to express,
+to the life, what the ecstasies and transports of the soul are, when it
+is so saved, as I may say, out of the grave: and I did not wonder now at
+the custom, viz. that when a malefactor, who has the halter about his
+neck, is tied up, and just going to be turned off, and has a reprieve
+brought to him; I say, I do not wonder that they bring a surgeon with
+it, to let him blood that very moment they tell him of it, that the
+surprise may not drive the animal spirits from the heart, and
+overwhelm him.
+
+     For sudden joys, like griefs, confound at first.
+
+I walked about on the shore, lifting up my hands, and my whole being, as
+I may say, wrapt up in the contemplation of my deliverance; making a
+thousand gestures and motions, which I cannot describe; reflecting upon
+my comrades that were drowned, and that there should not be one soul
+saved but myself; for, as for them, I never saw them afterwards, or any
+sign of them, except three of their hats, one cap, and two shoes that
+were not fellows.
+
+I cast my eyes to the stranded vessel--when the breach and froth of the
+sea being so big I could hardly see it, it lay so far off--and
+considered, Lord! how was it possible I could get on shore?
+
+After I had solaced my mind with the comfortable part of my condition, I
+began to look round me, to see what kind of a place I was in, and what
+was next to be done; and I soon found my comforts abate, and that, in a
+word, I had a dreadful deliverance: for I was wet, had no clothes to
+shift me, nor any thing either to eat or drink, to comfort me; neither
+did I see any prospect before me, but that of perishing with hunger, or
+being devoured by wild beasts: and that which was particularly
+afflicting to me was, that I had no weapon, either to hunt and kill any
+creature for my sustenance, or to defend myself against any other
+creature that might desire to kill me for theirs. In a word, I had
+nothing about me but a knife, a tobacco-pipe, and a little tobacco in a
+box. This was all my provision; and this threw me into such terrible
+agonies of mind, that, for a while, I ran about like a madman. Night
+coming upon me, I began, with a heavy heart, to consider what would be
+my lot if there were any ravenous beasts in that country, seeing at
+night they always come abroad for their prey.
+
+All the remedy that offered to my thoughts; at that time, was, to get up
+into a thick bushy tree, like a fir, but thorny--which grew near me, and
+where I resolved to sit all night--and consider the next day what death
+I should die, for as yet I saw no prospect of life. I walked about a
+furlong from the shore, to see if I could find any fresh water to drink,
+which I did, to my great joy; and having drank, and put a little
+tobacco into my mouth to prevent hunger, I went to the tree, and getting
+up into it, endeavoured to place myself so, as that if I should fall
+asleep, I might not fall; and having cut me a short stick, like a
+truncheon, for my defence, I took up my lodging; and having been
+excessively fatigued, I fell fast asleep, and slept as comfortably as, I
+believe, few could have done in my condition; and found myself the most
+refreshed with it that I think I ever was on such an occasion.
+
+When I waked it was broad day, the weather clear, and the storm abated,
+so that the sea did not rage and swell as before; but that which
+surprised me most was, that the ship was lifted off in the night from
+the sand where she lay, by the swelling of the tide, and was driven up
+almost as far as the rock which I at first mentioned, where I had been
+so bruised by the wave dashing me against it. This being within about a
+mile from the shore where I was, and the ship seeming to stand upright
+still, I wished myself on board, that at least I might save some
+necessary things for my use.
+
+When I came down from my apartment in the tree, I looked about me again,
+and the first thing I found was the boat; which lay, as the wind and the
+sea had tossed her up, upon the land, about two miles on my right hand.
+I walked as far as I could upon the shore to have got to her; but found
+a neck, or inlet, of water between me and the boat, which was about half
+a mile broad; so I came back for the present, being more intent upon
+getting at the ship, where I hoped to find something for my present
+subsistence.
+
+A little after noon, I found the sea very calm, and the tide ebbed so
+far out, that I could come within a quarter of a mile of the ship: and
+here I found a fresh renewing of my grief; for I saw evidently, that if
+we had kept on board, we had been all safe; that is to say, we had all
+got safe on shore, and I had not been so miserable as to be left
+entirely destitute of all comfort and company, as I now was. This forced
+tears from my eyes again; but as there was little relief in that, I
+resolved, if possible, to get to the ship; so I pulled off my clothes,
+for the weather was hot to extremity, and took the water; but when I
+came to the ship, my difficulty was still greater to know how to get on
+board; for as she lay aground, and high out of the water, there was
+nothing within my reach to lay hold of. I swam round her twice, and the
+second time I spied a small piece of a rope, which I wondered I did not
+see at first, hang down by the fore-chains so low, as that with great
+difficulty, I got hold of it, and by the help of that rope got into the
+forecastle of the ship. Here I found that the ship was bulged, and had a
+great deal of water in her hold; but that she lay so on the side of a
+bank of hard sand, or rather earth, that her stern lay lifted up upon
+the bank, and her head low, almost to the water. By this means all her
+quarter was free, and all that was in that part was dry; for you may be
+sure my first work was to search and to see what was spoiled and what
+was free: and, first, I found that all the ship's provisions were dry
+and untouched by the water; and, being very well disposed to eat, I went
+to the bread-room, and filled my pockets with biscuit, and eat it as I
+went about other things, for I had no time to lose. I also found some
+rum in the great cabin, of which I took a large dram, and which I had
+indeed need enough of, to spirit me for what was before me. Now I wanted
+nothing but a boat, to furnish myself with many things which I foresaw
+would be very necessary to me.
+
+It was in vain to sit still and wish for what was not to be had, and
+this extremity roused my application: we had several spare yards, and
+two or three large spars of wood, and a spare top-mast or two in the
+ship; I resolved to fall to work with these, and flung as many overboard
+as I could manage for their weight, tying every one with a rope, that
+they might not drive away. When this was done, I went down the ship's
+side, and pulling them to me, I tied four of them fast together at both
+ends, as well as I could, in the form of a raft, and laying two or three
+short pieces of plank upon them, crossways, I found I could walk upon it
+very well, but that it was not able to bear any great weight, the pieces
+being too light: so I went to work, and with the carpenter's saw I cut a
+spare top-mast into three lengths, and added them to my raft, with a
+great deal of labour and pains. But the hope of furnishing myself with
+necessaries, encouraged me to go beyond what I should have been able to
+have done upon another occasion.
+
+My raft was now strong enough to bear any reasonable weight. My next
+care was what to load it with, and how to preserve what I laid upon it
+from the surf of the sea; but I was not long considering this. I first
+laid all the planks or boards upon it that I could get, and having
+considered well what I most wanted, I got three of the seamen's chests,
+which I had broken open and emptied, and lowered them down upon my raft;
+these I filled with provisions, viz. bread, rice, three Dutch cheeses,
+five pieces of dried goats' flesh, (which we lived much upon,) and a
+little remainder of European corn, which had been laid by for some fowls
+which we had brought to sea with us, but the fowls were killed. There
+had been some barley and wheat together, but, to my great
+disappointment, I found afterwards that the rats had eaten or spoiled it
+all. As for liquors, I found several cases of bottles belonging to our
+skipper, in which were some cordial waters; and, in all, about five or
+six gallons of rack. These I stowed by themselves, there being no need
+to put them into the chests, nor any room for them. While I was doing
+this, I found the tide began to flow, though very calm; and I had the
+mortification to see my coat, shirt, and waistcoat, which I had left on
+shore, upon the sand, swim away; as for my breeches, which were only
+linen, and open-knee'd, I swam on board in them, and my stockings.
+However, this put me upon rummaging for clothes, of which I found
+enough, but took no more than I wanted for present use, for I had other
+things which my eye was more upon; as, first, tools to work with on
+shore and it was after long searching that I found the carpenter's
+chest, which was indeed a very useful prize to me, and much more
+valuable than a ship-lading of gold would have been at that time. I got
+it down to my raft, even whole as it was, without losing time to look
+into it, for I knew in general what it contained.
+
+My next care was for some ammunition and arms. There were two very good
+fowling-pieces in the great cabin, and two pistols; these I secured
+first, with some powder-horns and a small bag of shot, and two old rusty
+swords. I knew there were three barrels of powder in the ship, but knew
+not where our gunner had stowed them; but with much search I found them,
+two of them dry and good, the third had taken water. Those two I got to
+my raft, with the arms. And now I thought myself pretty well freighted,
+and began to think how I should get to shore with them, having neither
+sail, oar, nor rudder; and the least cap-full of wind would have overset
+all my navigation.
+
+I had three encouragements: 1st, A smooth, calm sea: 2dly, The tide
+rising, and setting in to the shore: 3dly, What little wind there was,
+blew me towards the land. And thus, having found two or three broken
+oars belonging to the boat, and besides the tools which were in the
+chest, I found two saws, an axe, and a hammer; and with this cargo I put
+to sea. For a mile, or thereabouts, my raft went very well, only that I
+found it drive a little distant from the place where I had landed
+before; by which I perceived that there was some indraft of the water,
+and consequently I hoped to find some creek or river there, which I
+might make use of as a port to get to land with my cargo.
+
+As I imagined, so it was: there appeared before me a little opening of
+the land, and I found a strong current of the tide set into it; so I
+guided my raft, as well as I could, to get into the middle of the
+stream. But here I had like to have suffered a second shipwreck, which,
+if I had, I think verily would have broken my heart; for knowing nothing
+of the coast, my raft ran aground at one end of it upon a shoal, and not
+being aground at the other end, it wanted but a little that all my cargo
+had slipped off towards that end that was afloat, and so fallen into the
+water. I did my utmost, by setting my back against the chests, to keep
+them in their places, but could not thrust off the raft with all my
+strength; neither durst I stir from the posture I was in, but holding up
+the chests with all my might, I stood in that manner near half an hour,
+in which time the rising of the water brought me a little more upon a
+level; and a little after, the water still rising, my raft floated
+again, and I thrust her off with the oar I had into the channel, and
+then driving up higher, I at length found myself in the mouth of a
+little river, with land on both sides, and a strong current or tide
+running up. I looked on both sides for a proper place to get to shore,
+for I was not willing to be driven too high up the river; hoping, in
+time, to see some ship at sea, and therefore resolved to place myself as
+near the coast as I could.
+
+At length I spied a little cove on the right shore of the creek, to
+which, with great pain and difficulty, I guided my raft, and at last got
+so near, as that reaching ground with my oar, I could thrust her
+directly in; but here I had like to have dipped all my cargo into the
+sea again; for that shore lying pretty steep, that is to say, sloping,
+there was no place to land, but where one end of my float, if it ran on
+shore, would lie so high, and the other sink lower, as before, that it
+would endanger my cargo again. All that I could do, was to wait till the
+tide was at the highest, keeping the raft with my oar like an anchor, to
+hold the side of it fast to the shore, near a flat piece of ground,
+which I expected the water would flow over; and so it did. As soon as I
+found water enough, for my raft drew about a foot of water, I thrust her
+upon that flat piece of ground, and there fastened or moored her, by
+sticking my two broken oars into the ground; one on one-side, near one
+end, and one on the other side, near the other end: and thus I lay till
+the water ebbed away, and left my raft and all my cargo safe on shore.
+
+My next work was to view the country, and seek a proper place for my
+habitation, and where to stow my goods, to secure them from whatever
+might happen. Where I was, I yet knew not; whether on the continent, or
+on an island; whether inhabited, or not inhabited; whether in danger of
+wild beasts, or not. There was a hill, not above a mile from me, which
+rose up very steep and high, and which seemed to overtop some other
+hills, which lay as in a ridge from it, northward. I took out one of the
+fowling-pieces, and one of the pistols, and a horn of powder; and thus
+armed, I travelled for discovery up to the top of that hill; where,
+after I had, with great labour and difficulty, got up to the top, I saw
+my fate, to my great affliction, viz. that I was in an island, environed
+every way with the sea, no land to be seen, except some rocks, which lay
+a great way off, and two small islands, less than this, which lay about
+three leagues to the west.
+
+I found also that the island I was in was barren, and, as I saw good
+reason to believe, uninhabited, except by wild beasts, of whom, however,
+I saw none; yet I saw abundance of fowls, but knew not their kinds;
+neither, when I killed them, could I tell what was fit for food, and
+what not. At my coming back, I shot at a great bird, which I saw sitting
+upon a tree, on the side of a great wood. I believe it was the first gun
+that had been fired there since the creation of the world: I had no
+sooner fired, but from all the parts of the wood there arose an
+innumerable number of fowls, of many sorts, making a confused screaming,
+and crying, every one according to his usual note; but not one of them
+of any kind that I knew. As for the creature I killed, I took it to be a
+kind of a hawk, its colour and beak resembling it, but had no talons or
+claws more than common. Its flesh was carrion, and fit for nothing.
+
+Contented with this discovery, I came back to my raft, and fell to work
+to bring my cargo on shore, which took me up the rest of that day: what
+to do with myself at night I knew not, nor indeed where to rest: for I
+was afraid to lie down on the ground, not knowing but some wild beast
+might devour me; though, as I afterwards found, there was really no need
+for those fears.
+
+However, as well as I could, I barricadoed myself round with the chests
+and boards that I had brought on shore, and made a kind of a hut for
+that night's lodging. As for food, I yet saw not which way to supply
+myself, except that I had seen two or three creatures, like hares, run
+out of the wood where I shot the fowl.
+
+I now began to consider, that I might yet get a great many things out of
+the ship, which would be useful to me, and particularly some of the
+rigging and sails, and such other things as might come to land; and I
+resolved to make another voyage on board the vessel, if possible. And as
+I knew that the first storm that blew must necessarily break her all in
+pieces, I resolved to set all other things apart, till I got every thing
+out of the ship that I could get. Then I called a council, that is to
+say, in my thoughts, whether I should take back the raft; but this
+appeared impracticable: so I resolved to go as before, when the tide was
+down; and I did so, only that I stripped before I went from my hut;
+having nothing on but a chequered shirt, a pair of linen drawers, and a
+pair of pumps on my feet.
+
+I got on board the ship as before, and prepared a second raft; and
+having had experience of the first, I neither made this so unwieldy, nor
+loaded it so hard, but yet I brought away several things very useful to
+me: as, first, in the carpenter's stores, I found two or three bags of
+nails and spikes, a great screw-jack, a dozen or two of hatchets; and,
+above all, that most useful thing called a grind-stone. All these I
+secured together, with several things belonging to the gunner;
+particularly two or three iron crows, and two barrels of musket bullets,
+seven muskets, and another fowling-piece, with some small quantity of
+powder more; a large bag-full of small shot, and a great roll of
+sheet-lead; but this last was so heavy, I could not hoist it up to get
+it over the ship's side.
+
+Besides these things, I took all the men's clothes that I could find,
+and a spare fore-top sail, a hammock, and some bedding; and with this I
+loaded my second raft, and brought them all safe on shore, to my very
+great comfort.
+
+I was under some apprehensions, during my absence from the land, that at
+least my provisions might be devoured on shore: but when I came back, I
+found no sign of any visitor; only there sat a creature like a wild cat,
+upon one of the chests, which, when I came towards it, ran away a little
+distance, and then stood still. She sat very composed and unconcerned,
+and looked full in my face, as if she had a mind to be acquainted with
+me. I presented my gun to her, but, as she did not understand it, she
+was perfectly unconcerned at it, nor did she offer to stir away; upon
+which I tossed her a bit of biscuit, though, by the way, I was not very
+free of it, for my store was not great: however, I spared her a bit, I
+say, and she went to it, smelled of it, and ate it, and looked (as
+pleased) for more; but I thanked her, and could spare no more: so she
+marched off.
+
+Having got my second cargo on shore--though I was fain to open the
+barrels of powder, and bring them by parcels, for they were too heavy,
+being large casks--I went to work to make me a little tent, with the
+sail, and some poles, which I cut for that purpose; and into this tent I
+brought every thing that I knew would spoil either with rain or sun; and
+I piled all the empty chests and casks up in a circle round the tent, to
+fortify it from any sudden attempt either from man or beast.
+
+When I had done this, I blocked up the door of the tent with some boards
+within, and an empty chest set up on end without; and spreading one of
+the beds upon the ground, laying my two pistols just at my head, and my
+gun at length by me, I went to bed for the first time, and slept very
+quietly all night, for I was very weary and heavy; for the night before
+I had slept little, and had laboured very hard all day, as well to fetch
+all those things from the ship, as to get them on shore.
+
+I had the biggest magazine of all kinds now that ever was laid up, I
+believe, for one man: but I was not satisfied still: for while the ship
+sat upright in that posture, I thought I ought to get every thing out of
+her that I could: so every day, at low water, I went on board, and
+brought away something or other; but particularly the third time I went,
+I brought away as much of the rigging as I could, as also all the small
+ropes and rope-twine I could get, with a piece of spare canvass, which
+was to mend the sails upon occasion, and the barrel of wet gunpowder.
+In a word, I brought away all the sails first and last; only that I was
+fain to cut them in pieces, and bring as much at a time as I could; for
+they were no more useful to be sails, but as mere canvass only.
+
+But that which comforted me still more, was, that, last of all, after I
+had made five or six such voyages as these, and thought I had nothing
+more to expect from the ship that was worth my meddling with; I say,
+after all this, I found a great hogshead of bread, and three large
+runlets of rum or spirits, and a box of sugar, and a barrel of fine
+flour; this was surprising to me, because I had given over expecting any
+more provisions, except what was spoiled by the water. I soon emptied
+the hogshead of that bread, and wrapped it up, parcel by parcel, in
+pieces of the sails, which I cut out; and, in a word, I got all this
+safe on shore also.
+
+The next day I made another voyage, and now having plundered the ship of
+what was portable and fit to hand out, I began with the cables, and
+cutting the great cable into pieces, such as I could move, I got two
+cables and a hawser on shore, with all the iron-work I could get; and
+having cut down the spritsail-yard, and the mizen-yard, and every thing
+I could, to make a large raft, I loaded it with all those heavy goods;
+and came away; but my good luck began now to leave me; for this raft was
+so unwieldy, and so overladen, that after I was entered the little cove,
+where I had landed the rest of my goods, not being able to guide it so
+handily as I did the other, it overset, and threw me and all my cargo
+into the water; as for myself, it was no great harm, for I was near the
+shore; but as to my cargo, it was a great part of it lost, especially
+the iron, which I expected would have been of great use to me: however,
+when the tide was out, I got most of the pieces of cable ashore, and
+some of the iron, though with infinite labour; for I was fain to dip for
+it into the water, a work which fatigued me very much. After this I went
+every day on board, and brought away what I could get.
+
+I had been now thirteen days ashore, and had been eleven times on board
+the ship; in which time I had brought away all that one pair of hands
+could well be supposed capable to bring; though I believe verily, had
+the calm weather held, I should have brought away the whole ship, piece
+by piece; but preparing the twelfth time to go on board, I found the
+wind began to rise: however, at low water, I went on board; and though I
+thought I had rummaged the cabin so effectually, as that nothing could
+be found, yet I discovered a locker with drawers in it, in one of which
+I found two or three razors, and one pair of large scissars with some
+ten or a dozen of good knives and forks; in another I found about
+thirty-six pounds value in money, some European coin, some Brazil, some
+pieces of eight, some gold, and some silver.
+
+I smiled to myself at the sight of this money: "O drug!" said I aloud,
+"what art thou good for? Thou art not worth to me, no, not the taking
+off the ground; one of those knives is worth all this heap: I have no
+manner of use for thee; e'en remain where thou art, and go to the
+bottom, as a creature whose life is not worth saving." However, upon
+second thoughts, I took it away; and wrapping all this in a piece of
+canvass, I began to think of making another raft; but while I was
+preparing this, I found the sky over-cast, and the wind began to rise,
+and in a quarter of an hour it blew a fresh gale from the shore. It
+presently occurred to me, that it was in vain to pretend to make a raft
+with the wind off shore; and that it was my business to be gone before
+the tide of flood began, or otherwise I might not be able to reach the
+shore at all. Accordingly I let myself down into the water, and swam
+across the channel which lay between the ship and the sands, and even
+that with difficulty enough, partly with the weight of the things I had
+about me, and partly the roughness of the water; for the wind rose very
+hastily, and before it was quite high water it blew a storm.
+
+But I was got home to my little tent, where I lay, with all my wealth
+about me very secure. It blew very hard all that night, and in the
+morning, when I looked out, behold, no more ship was to be seen! I was a
+little surprised, but recovered myself with this satisfactory
+reflection, viz. that I had lost no time, nor abated no diligence, to
+get every thing out of her that could be useful to me, and that, indeed,
+there was little left in her that I was able to bring away, if I had had
+more time.
+
+I now gave over any more thoughts of the ship, or of any thing out of
+her, except what might drive on shore, from her wreck; as, indeed,
+divers pieces of her afterwards did; but those things were of small
+use to me.
+
+My thoughts were now wholly employed about securing myself against
+either savages, if any should appear, or wild beasts, if any were in the
+island; and I had many thoughts of the method how to do this, and what
+kind of dwelling to make, whether I should make me a cave in the earth,
+or a tent upon the earth: and in short, I resolved upon both; the manner
+and description of which, it may not be improper to give an account of.
+
+I soon found the place I was in was not for my settlement, particularly
+because it was upon a low, moorish ground, near the sea, and I believed
+it would not be wholesome; and more particularly because there was no
+fresh water near it: so I resolved to find a more healthy and more
+convenient spot of ground.
+
+I consulted several things in my situation, which I found would be
+proper for me: 1st, Health and fresh water, I just now mentioned: 2dly,
+Shelter from the heat of the sun: 3dly, Security from ravenous
+creatures, whether men or beasts: 4thly, A view to the sea, that if God
+sent any ship in sight, I might not lose any advantage for my
+deliverance, of which I was not willing to banish all my
+expectation yet.
+
+In search for a place proper for this, I found a little plain on the
+side of a rising hill, whose front towards this little plain was steep
+as a house-side, so that nothing could come down upon me from the top.
+On the side of this rock there was a hollow place, worn a little way in,
+like the entrance or door of a cave; but there was not really any cave,
+or way into the rock, at all.
+
+On the flat of the green, just before this hollow place, I resolved to
+pitch my tent. This plain was not above a hundred yards broad, and about
+twice as long, and lay like a green before my door; and, at the end of
+it, descended irregularly every way down into the low ground by the sea
+side. It was on the N.N.W. side of the hill; so that it was sheltered
+from the heat every day, till it came to a W. and by S. sun, or
+thereabouts, which, in those countries, is near the setting.
+
+Before I set up my tent, I drew a half-circle before the hollow place,
+which took in about ten yards in its semi-diameter from the rock, and
+twenty yards in its diameter, from its beginning and ending.
+
+In this half-circle I pitched two rows of strong stakes, driving them
+into the ground till they stood very firm like piles, the biggest end
+being out of the ground about five feet and a half and sharpened on the
+top. The two rows did not stand above six inches from one another.
+
+Then I took the pieces of cable which I cut in the ship, and laid them
+in rows, one upon another, within the circle, between these two rows of
+stakes, up to the top, placing other stakes in the inside, leaning
+against them, about two feet and a half high, like a spur to a post; and
+this fence was so strong, that neither man nor beast could get into it
+or over it. This cost me a great deal of time and labour, especially to
+cut the piles in the woods, bring them to the place, and drive them into
+the earth.
+
+The entrance into this place I made to be not by a door, but by a short
+ladder to go over the top; which ladder, when I was in, I lifted over
+after me; and so I was completely fenced in and fortified, as I thought,
+from all the world, and consequently slept secure in the night, which
+otherwise I could not have done; though, as it appeared afterwards,
+there was no need of all this caution from the enemies that I
+apprehended danger from.
+
+Into this fence, or fortress, with infinite labour, I carried all my
+riches, all my provisions, ammunition, and stores, of which you have the
+account above; and I made a large tent, which, to preserve me from the
+rains, that in one part of the year are very violent there, I made
+double, viz. one smaller tent within, and one larger tent above it, and
+covered the uppermost with a large tarpaulin, which I had saved among
+the sails.
+
+And now I lay no more for a while in the bed which I had brought on
+shore, but in a hammock, which was indeed a very good one, and belonged
+to the mate of the ship.
+
+Into this tent I brought all my provisions, and every thing that would
+spoil by the wet; and having thus enclosed all my goods, I made up the
+entrance which till now I had left open, and so passed and repassed, as
+I said, by a short ladder.
+
+When I had done this, I began to work my way into the rock, and bringing
+all the earth and stones that I dug down out through my tent, I laid
+them up within my fence in the nature of a terrace, so that it raised
+the ground within about a foot and an half; and thus I made me a cave,
+just behind my tent, which served me like a cellar to my house. It cost
+me much labour and many days, before all these things were brought to
+perfection; and therefore I must go back to some other things which took
+up some of my thoughts. At the same time it happened, after I had laid
+my scheme for the setting up my tent, and making the cave, that a storm
+of rain falling from a thick, dark cloud, a sudden flash of lightning
+happened, and after that, a great clap of thunder, as is naturally the
+effect of it. I was not so much surprised with the lightning, as I was
+with a thought, which darted into my mind as swift as the lightning
+itself: O my powder! My very heart sunk within me when I thought, that
+at one blast, all my powder might be destroyed; on which, not my defence
+only, but the providing me food, as I thought, entirely depended. I was
+nothing near so anxious about my own danger, though, had the powder took
+fire, I had never known who had hurt me.
+
+Such impression did this make upon me, that after the storm was over, I
+laid aside all my works, my building and fortifying, and applied myself
+to make bags and boxes, to separate the powder, and to keep it a little
+and a little in a parcel, in hope that whatever might come, it might not
+all take fire at once; and to keep it so apart, that it should not be
+possible to make one part fire another. I finished this work in about a
+fortnight; and I think my powder, which in all was about 240 lb. weight,
+was divided in not less than a hundred parcels. As to the barrel that
+had been wet, I did not apprehend any danger from that; so I placed it
+in my new cave, which, in my fancy, I called my kitchen, and the rest I
+hid up and down in holes among the rocks, so that no wet might come to
+it, marking very carefully where I laid it.
+
+In the interval of time while this was doing, I went out at least once
+every day with my gun, as well to divert myself, as to see if I could
+kill any thing fit for food; and, as near as I could, to acquaint myself
+with what the island produced. The first time I went out, I presently
+discovered that there were goats upon the island, which was a great
+satisfaction to me; but then it was attended with this misfortune to me,
+viz. that they were so shy, so subtle, and so swift of foot, that it was
+the most difficult thing in the world to come at them: but I was not
+discouraged at this, not doubting but I might now and then shoot one, as
+it soon happened; for after I had found their haunts a little, I laid
+wait in this manner for them: I observed, if they saw me in the valleys,
+though they were upon the rocks, they would run away as in a terrible
+fright; but if they were feeding in the valleys, and I was upon the
+rocks, they took no notice of me; from whence I concluded, that by the
+position of their optics, their sight was so directed downward, that
+they did not readily see objects that were above them: so, afterwards, I
+took this method--I always climbed the rocks first, to get above them,
+and then had frequently a fair mark. The first shot I made among these
+creatures, I killed a she-goat, which had a little kid by her, which she
+gave suck to, which grieved me heartily; but when the old one fell, the
+kid stood stock still by her, till I came and took her up; and not only
+so, but when I carried the old one with me, upon my shoulders, the kid
+followed me quite to my enclosure; upon which, I laid down the dam, and
+took the kid in my arms, and carried it over my pale, in hopes to have
+bred it up tame; but it would not eat; so I was forced to kill it, and
+eat it myself. These two supplied me with flesh a great while, for I ate
+sparingly, and preserved my provisions (my bread especially) as much as
+possibly I could.
+
+Having now fixed my habitation, I found it absolutely necessary to
+provide a place to make a fire in, and fuel to burn; and what I did for
+that, as also how I enlarged my cave, and what conveniences I made, I
+shall give a full account of in its proper place: but I must first give
+some little account of myself, and of my thoughts about living, which,
+it may well be supposed, were not a few.
+
+I had a dismal prospect of my condition; for as I was not cast away upon
+that island without being driven, as is said, by a violent storm, quite
+out of the course of our intended voyage; and a great way, viz. some
+hundreds of leagues, out of the ordinary course of the trade of mankind,
+I had great reason to consider it as a determination of Heaven, that in
+this desolate place, and in this desolate manner, I should end my life.
+The tears would run plentifully down my face when I made these
+reflections; and sometimes I would expostulate with myself why
+Providence should thus completely ruin its creatures, and render them so
+absolutely miserable; so abandoned without help, so entirely depressed,
+that it could hardly be rational to be thankful for such a life.
+
+But something always returned swift upon me to check these thoughts, and
+to reprove me: and particularly, one day, walking with my gun in my
+hand, by the sea side, I was very pensive upon the subject of my present
+condition, when reason, as it were, expostulated with me the other way,
+thus: "Well, you are in a desolate condition, it is true; but, pray
+remember, where are the rest of you? Did not you come eleven of you into
+the boat? Where are the ten? Why were not they saved, and you lost? Why
+were you singled out? Is it better to be here or there?" And then I
+pointed to the sea. All evils are to be considered with the good that is
+in them, and with what worse attends them.
+
+Then it occurred to me again, how well I was furnished for my
+subsistence, and what would have been my case if it had not happened
+(which was a hundred thousand to one) that the ship floated from the
+place where she first struck, and was driven so near to the shore, that
+I had time to get all these things out of her: what would have been my
+case, if I had been to have lived in the condition in which I at first
+came on shore, without necessaries of life, or necessaries to supply and
+procure them? "Particularly, said I aloud (though to myself,) what
+should I have done without a gun, without ammunition, without any tools
+to make any thing, or to work with, without clothes, bedding, a tent, or
+any manner of covering?" and that now I had all these to a sufficient
+quantity, and was in a fair way to provide myself in such a manner as to
+live without my gun, when my ammunition was spent: so that I had a
+tolerable view of subsisting, without any want, as long as I lived; for
+I considered, from the beginning, how I should provide for the accidents
+that might happen, and for the time that was to come, not only after my
+ammunition should be spent, but even after my health or strength
+should decay.
+
+I confess, I had not entertained any notion of my ammunition being
+destroyed at one blast, I mean my powder being blown up by lightning;
+and this made the thoughts of it so surprising to me, when it lightened
+and thundered, as I observed just now.
+
+And now being to enter into a melancholy relation of a scene of silent
+life, such, perhaps, as was never heard of in the world before, I shall
+take it from its beginning, and continue it in its order. It was, by my
+account, the 30th of September, when, in the manner as above said, I
+first set foot upon this horrid island; when the sun being to us in its
+autumnal equinox, was almost just over my head: for I reckoned myself,
+by observation, to be in the latitude of 9 degrees 22 minutes north
+of the Line.
+
+After I had been there about ten or twelve days, it came into my
+thoughts that I should lose my reckoning of time for want of books, and
+pen and ink, and should even forget the sabbath days from the working
+days: but, to prevent this, I cut it with my knife upon a large post, in
+capital letters; and making it into a great cross, I set it up on the
+shore where I first landed, viz. "I came on shore here on the 30th of
+September, 1659." Upon the sides of this square post I cut every day a
+notch with my knife, and every seventh notch was as long again as the
+rest, and every first day of the month as long again as that long one:
+and thus I kept my calendar, or weekly, monthly, and yearly reckoning
+of time.
+
+But it happened, that among the many things which I brought out of the
+ship, in the several voyages which, as above mentioned, I made to it, I
+got several things of less value, but not at all less useful to me,
+which I found, some time after, in rummaging the chests; as, in
+particular, pens, ink, and paper; several parcels in the captain's,
+mate's, gunner's, and carpenter's keeping; three or four compasses, some
+mathematical instruments, dials, perspectives, charts, and books of
+navigation; all which I huddled together, whether I might want them or
+no: also I found three very good bibles, which came to me in my cargo
+from England, and which I had packed up among my things; some Portuguese
+books also, and, among them, two or three popish prayer books, and
+several other books, all which I carefully secured. And I must not
+forget, that we had in the ship a dog, and two cats, of whose eminent
+history I may have occasion to say something, in its place: for I
+carried both the cats with me; and as for the dog, he jumped out of the
+ship himself, and swam on shore to me the day after I went on shore with
+my first cargo, and was a trusty servant to me for many years: I wanted
+nothing that he could fetch me, nor any company that he could make up to
+me, I only wanted to have him talk to me, but that would not do. As I
+observed before, I found pens, ink, and paper, and I husbanded them to
+the utmost; and I shall show that while my ink lasted, I kept things
+very exact, but after that was gone I could not; for I could not make
+any ink, by any means that I could devise.
+
+And this put me in mind that I wanted many things, notwithstanding all
+that I had amassed together; and of these, this of ink was one; as also
+a spade, pick-axe, and shovel, to dig or remove the earth; needles,
+pins, and thread: as for linen, I soon learned to want that without much
+difficulty.
+
+This want of tools made every work I did go on heavily; and it was near
+a whole year before I had entirely finished my little pale, or
+surrounded my habitation. The piles or stakes, which were as heavy as I
+could well lift, were a long time in cutting and preparing in the woods,
+and more, by far, in bringing home; so that I spent sometimes two days
+in cutting and bringing home one of those posts, and a third day in
+driving it into the ground; for which purpose, I got a heavy piece of
+wood at first, but at last bethought myself of one of the iron crows;
+which, however, though I found it, yet it made driving these posts or
+piles very laborious and tedious work. But what need I have been
+concerned at the tediousness of any thing I had to do, seeing I had time
+enough to do it in? nor had I any other employment, if that had been
+over, at least that I could foresee, except the ranging the island to
+seek for food; which I did, more or less, every day.
+
+I now began to consider seriously my condition, and the circumstance I
+was reduced to; and I drew up the state of my affairs in writing, not so
+much to leave them to any that were to come after me (for I was like to
+have but few heirs,) as to deliver my thoughts from daily poring upon
+them, and afflicting my mind: and as my reason began now to master my
+despondency, I began to comfort myself as well as I could, and to set
+the good against the evil, that I might have something to distinguish my
+case from worse; and I stated very impartially, like debtor and
+creditor, the comforts I enjoyed against the miseries I suffered, thus:
+
+     EVIL.
+
+     I am cast upon a horrible,
+     desolate island, void of all
+     hope of recovery.
+
+     I am singled out and separated,
+     as it were, from all the
+     world, to be miserable.
+
+     I am divided from mankind,
+     a solitaire; one banished
+     from human society.
+
+     I have no clothes to cover
+     me.
+
+     I am without any defence,
+     or means to resist any violence
+     of man or beast.
+
+     I have no soul to speak to,
+     or relieve me.
+
+
+     GOOD.
+
+     But I am alive; and not
+     drowned, as all my ship's company
+     were.
+
+     But I am singled out too
+     from all the ship's crew, to be
+     spared from death; and he
+     that miraculously save me
+     from death, can deliver me
+     from this condition.
+
+     But I am not starved, and
+     perishing in a barren place,
+     affording no sustenance.
+
+     But I am in a hot climate,
+     where, if I had clothes, I could
+     hardly wear them.
+
+     But I am cast on an island
+     where I see no wild beast to
+     hurt me, as I saw on the coast
+     of Africa: and what if I had
+     been shipwrecked there?
+
+     But God wonderfully sent
+     the ship in near enough to the
+     shore, that I have got out so
+     many necessary things as will
+     either supply my wants, or
+     enable me to supply myself,
+     even as long as I live.
+
+Upon the whole, here was an undoubted testimony, that there was scarce
+any condition in the world so miserable, but there was something
+negative, or something positive, to be thankful for in it: and let this
+stand as a direction, from the experience of the most miserable of all
+conditions in this world, that we may always find in it something to
+comfort ourselves from, and to set, in the description of good and evil,
+on the credit side of the account.
+
+Having now, brought my mind a little to relish my condition, and given
+over looking out to sea, to see if I could spy a ship; I say, giving
+over these things, I began to apply myself to accommodate my way of
+living, and to make things as easy to me as I could.
+
+I have already described my habitation, which was a tent under the side
+of a rock,--surrounded with a strong pale of posts and cables; but I
+might now rather call it a wall, for I raised a kind of wall against it
+of turfs, about two feet thick on the outside: and after some time (I
+think it was a year and a half) I raised rafters from it, leaning to the
+rock, and thatched or covered it with boughs of trees, and such things
+as I could get, to keep out the rain; which I found, at some times of
+the year, very violent.
+
+I have already observed how I brought all my goods into this pale, and
+into the cave which I had made behind me. But I must observe, too, that
+at first this was a confused heap of goods, which, as they lay in no
+order, so they took up all my place; I had no room to turn myself: so I
+set myself to enlarge my cave, and work farther into the earth; for it
+was a loose, sandy rock, which yielded easily to the labour I bestowed
+on it: and when I found I was pretty safe as to the beasts of prey, I
+worked sideways, to the right hand, into the rock, and then turning to
+the right again, worked quite out, and made me a door to come out in the
+outside of my pale or fortification.
+
+This gave me not only egress and regress, as it were, a back-way to my
+tent and to my storehouse, but gave me room to stow my goods.
+
+And now I began to apply myself to make such necessary things as I found
+I most wanted, particularly a chair and a table; for without these I was
+not able to enjoy the few comforts I had in the world; I could not
+write, or eat, or do several things with so much pleasure, without a
+table: so I went to work. And here I must needs observe, that as reason
+is the substance and original of the mathematics, so by stating, and
+squaring every thing by reason, and by making the most rational judgment
+of things, every man may be, in time, master of every mechanic art. I
+had never handled a tool in my life; and yet, in time, by labour,
+application, and contrivance, I found, at last, that I wanted nothing
+but I could have made, especially if I had had tools. However, I made
+abundance of things, even without tools; and some with no more tools
+than an adze and a hatchet, which perhaps were never made that way
+before, and that with infinite labour. For example, if I wanted a board,
+I had no other way but to cut down a tree, set it on an edge before me,
+and hew it flat on either side with my axe, till I had brought it to be
+as thin as a plank, and then dub it smooth with my adze. It is true, by
+this method I could make but one board of a whole tree; but this I had
+no remedy for but patience, any more than I had for a prodigious deal of
+time and labour which it took me up to make a plank or board: but my
+time or labour was little worth, and so it was as well employed one way
+as another.
+
+However, I made me a table and a chair, as I observed above, in the
+first place; and this I did out of the short pieces of boards that I
+brought on my raft from the ship. But when I wrought out some boards, as
+above, I made large shelves, of the breadth of a foot and a half, one
+over another, all along one side of my cave, to lay all my tools, nails,
+and iron-work on; and, in a word, to separate every thing at large in
+their places, that I might easily come at them. I knocked pieces into
+the wall of the rock, to hang my guns, and all things that would hang
+up: so that had my cave been seen, it looked like a general magazine of
+all necessary things; and I had every thing so ready at my hand, that it
+was a great pleasure to me to see all my goods in such order, and
+especially to find my stock of all necessaries so great.
+
+And now it was that I began to keep a journal of every day's employment;
+for, indeed, at first, I was in too much hurry, and not only hurry as to
+labour, but in much discomposure of mind; and my journal would, too,
+have been full of many dull things: for example, I must have said
+thus--"_Sept_. 30th. After I had got to shore, and had escaped drowning,
+instead of being thankful to God for my deliverance, having first
+vomited, with the great quantity of salt water which was gotten into my
+stomach, and recovering myself a little, I ran about the shore, wringing
+my hands, and beating my head and face, exclaiming at my misery, and
+crying out, 'I was undone, undone!' till, tired and faint, I was forced
+to lie down on the ground to repose; but durst not sleep, for fear of
+being devoured."
+
+Some days after this, and after I had been on board the ship, and got
+all that I could out of her, I could not forbear getting up to the top
+of a little mountain, and looking out to sea, in hopes of seeing a ship:
+then fancy that, at a vast distance, I spied a sail, please myself with
+the hopes of it, and, after looking steadily, till I was almost blind,
+lose it quite, and sit down and weep like a child, and thus increase my
+misery by my folly.
+
+But, having gotten over these things in some measure, and having settled
+my household-stuff and habitation, made me a table and a chair, and all
+as handsome about me as I could, I began to keep my journal: of which I
+shall here give you the copy (though in it will be told all these
+particulars over again) as long as it lasted; for, having no more ink, I
+was forced to leave it off.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+THE JOURNAL.
+
+_September_ 30th, 1659. I, poor miserable Robinson Crusoe, being
+shipwrecked, during a dreadful storm, in the offing, came on shore on
+this dismal unfortunate island, which I called the ISLAND OF DESPAIR;
+all the rest of the ship's company being drowned, and myself
+almost dead.
+
+All the rest of that day I spent in afflicting myself at the dismal
+circumstances I was brought to, viz. I had neither food, house, clothes,
+weapon, nor place to fly to: and, in despair of any relief, saw nothing
+but death before me; that I should either be devoured by wild beasts,
+murdered by savages, or starved to death for want of food. At the
+approach of night I slept in a tree, for fear of wild creatures; but
+slept soundly, though it rained all night.
+
+_October_ 1. In the morning I saw, to my great surprise, the ship had
+floated with the high tide, and was driven on shore again much nearer
+the island; which, as it was some comfort on one hand (for seeing her
+sit upright, and not broken in pieces, I hoped, if the wind abated, I
+might get on board, and get some food and necessaries out of her for my
+relief,) so, on the other hand, it renewed my grief at the loss of my
+comrades, who, I imagined, if we had all staid on board, might have
+saved the ship, or, at least, that they would not have been all drowned,
+as they were; and that, had the men been saved, we might perhaps have
+built us a boat, out of the ruins of the ship, to have carried us to
+some other part of the world. I spent great part of this day in
+perplexing myself on these things; but, at length, seeing the ship
+almost dry, I went upon the sand as near as I could, and then swam on
+board. This day also it continued raining, though with no wind at all.
+
+From the 1st of _October_ to the 24th. All these days entirely spent in
+many several voyages to get all I could out of the ship; which I brought
+on shore, every tide of flood, upon rafts. Much rain also in these days,
+though with some intervals of fair weather: but, it seems, this was the
+rainy season.
+
+_Oct_. 20. I overset my raft, and all the goods I had got upon it; but
+being in shoal water, and the things being chiefly heavy, I recovered
+many of them when the tide was out.
+
+_Oct_. 25. It rained all night and all day, with some gusts of wind;
+during which time the ship broke in pieces (the wind blowing a little
+harder than before) and was no more to be seen, except the wreck of her,
+and that only at low water. I spent this day in covering and securing
+the goods which I had saved, that the rain might not spoil them.
+
+_Oct_. 26. I walked about the shore almost all day, to find out a place
+to fix my habitation; greatly concerned to secure myself from any attack
+in the night, either from wild beasts or men. Towards night I fixed upon
+a proper place, under a rock, and marked out a semi-circle for my
+encampment; which I resolved to strengthen with a work, wall, or
+fortification, made of double piles, lined within with cables, and
+without with turf.
+
+From the 26th to the 30th, I worked very hard in carrying all my goods
+to my new habitation, though some part of the time it rained
+exceedingly hard.
+
+The 31st, in the morning, I went out into the island with my gun, to see
+for some food, and discover the country; when I killed a she-goat, and
+her kid followed me home, which I afterwards killed also, because it
+would not feed.
+
+_November_ 1. I set up my tent under a rock, and lay there for the first
+night; making it as large as I could, with stakes driven in to swing my
+hammock upon.
+
+_Nov_. 2. I set up all my chests and boards, and the pieces of timber
+which made my rafts; and with them formed a fence round me, a little
+within the place I had marked out for my fortification.
+
+_Nov_. 3. I went out with my gun, and killed two fowls like ducks, which
+were very good food. In the afternoon I went to work to make me a table.
+
+_Nov_. 4. This morning I began to order my times of work, of going out
+with my gun, time of sleep, and time of diversion; viz. every morning I
+walked out with my gun for two or three hours, if it did not rain; then
+employed myself to work till about eleven o'clock; then ate what I had
+to live on; and from twelve to two I lay down to sleep, the weather
+being excessive hot; and then, in the evening, to work again. The
+working part of this day and the next was wholly employed in making my
+table, for I was yet but a very sorry workman: though time and necessity
+made me a complete natural mechanic soon after, as I believe they would
+any one else.
+
+_Nov. 5._ This day went abroad with my gun and dog, and killed a wild
+cat; her skin pretty soft, but her flesh good for nothing: of every
+creature that I killed I took off the skins, and preserved them. Coming
+back by the sea-shore, I saw many sorts of sea-fowl which I did not
+understand: but was surprised, and almost frightened, with two or three
+seals; which, while I was gazing at them (not well knowing what they
+were) got into the sea, and escaped me for that time.
+
+_Nov. 6._ After my morning walk, I went to work with my table again, and
+finished it, though not to my liking: nor was it long before I learned
+to mend it.
+
+_Nov. 7._ Now it began to be settled fair weather. The 7th, 8th, 9th,
+10th, and part of the 12th (for the 11th was Sunday, according to my
+reckoning) I took wholly up to make me a chair, and with much ado,
+brought it to a tolerable shape, but never to please me; and, even in
+the making, I pulled it in pieces several times.
+
+_Note._ I soon neglected my keeping Sundays; for, omitting my mark for
+them on my post, I forgot which was which.
+
+_Nov. 13._ This day it rained; which refreshed me exceedingly, and
+cooled the earth: but it was accompanied with terrible thunder and
+lightning, which frightened me dreadfully, for fear of my powder. As
+soon as it was over, I resolved to separate my stock of powder into as
+many little parcels as possible, that it might not be in danger.
+
+_Nov. 14, 15, 16._ These three days I spent in making little square
+chests or boxes, which might hold about a pound, or two pounds at most,
+of powder: and so, putting the powder in, I stowed it in places as
+secure and as remote from one another as possible. On one of these three
+days I killed a large bird that was good to eat; but I knew not what
+to call it.
+
+_Nov. 17._ This day I began to dig behind my tent, into the rock, to
+make room for my farther convenience.
+
+_Note._ Three things I wanted exceedingly for this work, viz. a
+pick-axe, a shovel, and a wheel-barrow, or basket; so I desisted from my
+work, and began to consider how to supply these wants, and make me some
+tools. As for a pick-axe, I made use of the iron crows, which were
+proper enough, though heavy: but, the next thing was a shovel or spade;
+this was so absolutely necessary, that, indeed, I could do nothing
+effectually without it; but what kind of one to make I knew not.
+
+_Nov. 18._ The next day, in searching the woods, I found a tree of that
+wood, or like it, which, in the Brazils, they call the iron tree, from
+its exceeding hardness: of this, with great labour, and almost spoiling
+my axe, I cut a piece; and brought it home, too, with difficulty enough,
+for it was exceeding heavy. The excessive hardness of the wood, and my
+having no other way, made me a long while upon this machine; for I
+worked it effectually, by little and little, into the form of a shovel
+or spade; the handle exactly shaped like ours in England, only that the
+broad part having no iron shod upon it at bottom, it would not last me
+so long: however, it served well enough for the uses which I had
+occasion to put it to; but never was a shovel, I believe, made after
+that fashion, or so long a-making.
+
+I was still deficient: for I wanted a basket, or a wheel-barrow. A
+basket I could not make by any means, having no such things as twigs
+that would bend to make wicker-ware; at least, none yet found out: and
+as to the wheel-barrow, I fancied I could make all but the wheel, but
+that I had no notion of; neither did I know how to go about it: besides,
+I had no possible way to make iron gudgeons for the spindle or axis of
+the wheel to run in; so I gave it over: and, for carrying away the earth
+which I dug out of the cave, I made me a thing like a hod, which the
+labourers carry mortar in for the brick-layers. This was not so
+difficult to me as the making the shovel: and yet this and the shovel,
+and the attempt which I made in vain to make a wheel-barrow, took me up
+no less than four days; I mean, always excepting my morning walk with my
+gun, which I seldom omitted, and very seldom failed also bringing home
+something fit to eat.
+
+_Nov. 23._ My other work having now stood still, because of my making
+these tools, when they were finished I went on; and working every day,
+as my strength and time allowed, I spent eighteen days entirely in
+widening and deepening my cave, that it might hold my goods
+commodiously.
+
+_Note._ During all this time, I worked to make this room, or cave,
+spacious enough to accommodate me as a warehouse or magazine, a kitchen,
+a dining-room, and a cellar. As for a lodging, I kept to the tent;
+except that sometimes, in the wet season of the year, it rained so hard
+that I could not keep myself dry; which caused me afterwards to cover
+all my place within my pale with long poles, in the form of rafters,
+leaning against the rock, and load them with flags and large leaves of
+trees, like a thatch.
+
+_December 10._ I began now to think my cave or vault finished; when on a
+sudden (it seems I had made it too large) a great quantity of earth fell
+down from the top and one side: so much, that, in short, it frightened
+me, and not without reason too; for if I had been under it, I should
+never have wanted a grave-digger. Upon this disaster, I had a great deal
+of work to do over again, for I had the loose earth to carry out; and,
+which was of more importance, I had the ceiling to prop up, so that I
+might be sure no more would come down.
+
+_Dec. 11._ This day I went to work with it accordingly; and got two
+shores or posts pitched upright to the top, with two pieces of board
+across over each post; this I finished the next day; and setting more
+posts up with boards, in about a week more I had the roof secured; and
+the posts, standing in rows, served me for partitions to part off
+my house.
+
+_Dec. 17._ From this day to the 30th, I placed shelves, and knocked up
+nails on the posts, to hang every thing up that could be hung up: and
+now I began to be in some order within doors.
+
+_Dec. 20._ I carried every thing into the cave, and began to furnish my
+house, and set up some pieces of boards, like a dresser, to order my
+victuals upon; but boards began to be very scarce with me: also I made
+me another table.
+
+_Dec. 24._ Much rain all night and all day: no stirring out.
+
+_Dec. 25._ Rain all day.
+
+_Dec. 26._ No rain; and the earth much cooler than before, and
+pleasanter.
+
+_Dec. 27._ Killed a young goat; and lamed another, so that I catched it,
+and led it home in a string: when I had it home, I bound and splintered
+up its leg, which was broke.
+
+_N.B._ I took such care of it that it lived; and the leg grew well, and
+as strong as ever: but, by nursing it so long, it grew tame, and fed
+upon the little green at my door, and would not go away. This was the
+first time that I entertained a thought of breeding up some tame
+creatures, that I might have food when my powder and shot was all spent.
+
+_Dec. 28, 29, 30, 31._ Great heats, and no breeze; so that there was no
+stirring abroad, except in the evening, for food: this time I spent in
+putting all my things in order within doors.
+
+_January 1._ Very hot still; but I went abroad early and late with my
+gun, and lay still in the middle of the day. This evening, going farther
+into the vallies which lay towards the centre of the island, I found
+there was plenty of goats, though exceeding shy, and hard to come at;
+however, I resolved to try if I could not bring my dog to hunt them
+down. Accordingly, the next day, I went out with my dog, and set him
+upon the goats: but I was mistaken, for they all faced about upon the
+dog: and he knew his danger too well, for he would not come near them.
+
+_Jan. 3._ I began my fence or wall; which, being still jealous of my
+being attacked by somebody, I resolved to make very thick and strong.
+
+_N.B._ This wall being described before, I purposely omit what was said
+in the journal: it is sufficient to observe, that I was no less time
+than from the 3d of January to the 14th of April, working, finishing,
+and perfecting this wall; though it was no more than about 25 yards in
+length, being a half-circle, from one place in the rock to another
+place, about twelve yards from it, the door of the cave being in the
+centre, behind it.
+
+All this time I worked very hard; the rains hindering me many days, nay,
+sometimes weeks together: but I thought I should never be perfectly
+secure till this wall was finished; and it is scarce credible what
+inexpressible labour every thing was done with, especially the bringing
+piles out of the woods, and driving them into the ground; for I made
+them much bigger than I needed to have done.
+
+When this wall was finished, and the outside double-fenced, with a
+turf-wall raised up close to it, I persuaded myself that if any people
+were to come on shore there they would not perceive any thing like a
+habitation: and it was very well I did so, as may be observed hereafter,
+upon a very remarkable occasion.
+
+During this time, I made my rounds in the woods for game every day,
+when the rain permitted me, and made frequent discoveries, in these
+walks, of something or other to my advantage; particularly, I found a
+kind of wild pigeons, who build, not as wood-pigeons, in a tree, but
+rather as house-pigeons, in the holes of the rocks: and, taking some
+young ones, I endeavoured to breed them up tame, and did so; but when
+they grew older, they flew all away; which, perhaps, was at first for
+want of feeding them, for I had nothing to give them: however, I
+frequently found their nests, and got their young ones, which were very
+good meat. And now, in the managing my household affairs, I found myself
+wanting in many things, which I thought at first it was impossible for
+me to make; as indeed, as to some of them, it was: for instance, I could
+never make a cask to be hooped. I had a small runlet or two, as I
+observed before; but I could never arrive to the capacity of making one
+by them, though I spent many weeks about it: I could neither put in the
+heads, nor join the staves so true to one another as to make them hold
+water; so I gave that also over. In the next place, I was at a great
+loss for candle; so that as soon as it was dark, which was generally by
+seven o'clock, I was obliged to go to bed. I remember the lump of
+bees-wax with which I made candles in my African adventure; but I had
+none of that now; the only remedy I had was, that when I had killed a
+goat, I saved the tallow; and with a little dish made of clay, which I
+baked in the sun, to which I added a wick of some oakum, I made me a
+lamp; and this gave me light, though not a clear steady light like a
+candle. In the middle of all my labours it happened, that in rummaging
+my things, I found a little bag; which, as I hinted before, had been
+filled with corn, for the feeding of poultry; not for this voyage, but
+before, as I suppose, when the ship came from Lisbon. What little
+remainder of corn had been in the bag was all devoured with the rats,
+and I saw nothing in the bag but husks and dust; and being willing to
+have the bag for some other use (I think, it was to put powder in, when
+I divided it for fear of the lightning, or some such use,) I shook the
+husks of corn out of it, on one side of my fortification, under
+the rock.
+
+It was a little before the great rain just now mentioned, that I threw
+this stuff away; taking no notice of any thing, and not so much as
+remembering that I had thrown any thing there: when about a month after,
+I saw some few stalks of something green, shooting out of the ground,
+which I fancied might be some plant I had not seen; but I was surprised,
+and perfectly astonished, when, after a little longer time, I saw about
+ten or twelve ears come out, which were perfect green barley of the same
+kind as our European, nay, as our English barley.
+
+It is impossible to express the astonishment and confusion of my
+thoughts on this occasion: I had hitherto acted upon no religious
+foundation at all; indeed, I had very few notions of religion in my
+head, nor had entertained any sense of any thing that had befallen me,
+otherwise than as chance, or, as we lightly say, what pleases God;
+without so much as inquiring into the end of Providence in these things,
+or his order in governing events in the world. But after I saw barley
+grow there, in a climate which I knew was not proper for corn, and
+especially as I knew not how it came there, it startled me strangely;
+and I began to suggest, that God had miraculously caused this grain to
+grow without any help of seed sown, and that it was so directed purely
+for my sustenance, on that wild miserable place.
+
+This touched my heart a little, and brought tears out of my eyes; and I
+began to bless myself that such a prodigy of nature should happen upon
+my account: and this was the more strange to me, because I saw near it
+still, all along by the side of the rock, some other straggling stalks,
+which proved to be stalks of rice, and which I knew, because I had seen
+it grow in Africa, when I was ashore there.
+
+I not only thought these the pure productions of Providence for my
+support, but, not doubting that there was more in the place, I went over
+all that part of the island where I had been before, searching in every
+corner, and under every rock, for more of it; but I could not find any.
+At last it occurred to my thoughts, that I had shook out a bag of
+chicken's-meat in that place, and then the wonder began to cease: and I
+must confess, my religious thankfulness to God's providence began to
+abate too, upon the discovering that all this was nothing but what was
+common; though I ought to have been as thankful for so strange and
+unforeseen a providence, as if it had been miraculous: for it was really
+the work of Providence, as to me, that should order or appoint that ten
+or twelve grains of corn should remain unspoiled, when the rats had
+destroyed all the rest, as if it had been dropt from heaven; as also,
+that I should throw it out in that particular place, where, it being in
+the shade of a high rock, it sprang up immediately; whereas, if I had
+thrown it any where else, at that time, it would have been burnt up and
+destroyed.
+
+I carefully saved the ears of this corn, you may be sure, in their
+season, which was about the end of June; and, laying up every corn, I
+resolved to sow them all again; hoping, in time, to have some quantity
+sufficient to supply me with bread. But it was not till the fourth year
+that I could allow myself the least grain of this corn to eat, and even
+then but sparingly, as I shall show afterwards, in its order; for I lost
+all that I sowed the first season, by not observing the proper time; as
+I sowed just before the dry season, so that it never came up at all, at
+least not as it would have done; of which in its place.
+
+Besides this barley, there were, as above, twenty or thirty stalks of
+rice, which I preserved with the same care; and whose use was of the
+same kind, or to the same purpose, viz. to make me bread, or rather
+food; for I found ways to cook it up without baking, though I did that
+also after some time.--But to return to my Journal.
+
+I worked excessively hard these three or four months, to get my wall
+done; and the 14th of April I closed it up; contriving to get into it,
+not by a door, but over the wall, by a ladder, that there might be no
+sign on the outside of my habitation.
+
+_April 16._ I finished the ladder; so I went up with the ladder to the
+top, and then pulled it up after me, and let it down in the inside: this
+was a complete enclosure to me; for within I had room enough, and
+nothing could come at me from without, unless it could first mount
+my wall.
+
+The very next day after this wall was finished, I had almost all my
+labour overthrown at once, and myself killed; the case was thus:--As I
+was busy in the inside of it, behind my tent, just at the entrance into
+my cave, I was terribly frightened with a most dreadful surprising thing
+indeed; for, all on a sudden, I found the earth come crumbling down from
+the roof of my cave, and from the edge of the hill over my head, and two
+of the posts I had set up in the cave cracked in a frightful manner. I
+was heartily scared; but thought nothing of what really was the cause,
+only thinking that the top of my cave was falling in, as some of it had
+done before: and for fear I should be buried in it, I ran forward to my
+ladder, and not thinking myself safe there neither, I got over my wall
+for fear of the pieces of the hill which I expected might roll down upon
+me. I had no sooner stepped down upon the firm ground, than I plainly
+saw it was a terrible earthquake; for the ground I stood on shook three
+times at about eight minutes distance, with three such shocks as would
+have overturned the strongest building that could be supposed to have
+stood on the earth; and a great piece of the top of a rock, which stood
+about half a mile from me, next the sea, fell down, with such a terrible
+noise as I never heard in all my life. I perceived also that the very
+sea was put into a violent motion by it; and I believe the shocks were
+stronger under the water than on the island.
+
+I was so much amazed with the thing itself (having never felt the like,
+nor discoursed with any one that had) that I was like one dead or
+stupified; and the motion of the earth made my stomach sick, like one
+that was tossed at sea: but the noise of the falling of the rock awaked
+me, as it were; and rousing me from the stupified condition I was in,
+filled me with horror, and I thought of nothing but the hill falling
+upon my tent and my household goods, and burying all at once; this sunk
+my very soul within me a second time.
+
+After the third shock was over, and I felt no more for some time, I
+began to take courage; yet I had not heart enough to go over my wall
+again, for fear of being buried alive, but sat still upon the ground
+greatly cast down, and disconsolate, not knowing what to do. All this
+while, I had not the least serious religious thought; nothing but the
+common _Lord, have mercy upon me!_ and when it was over, that went
+away too.
+
+While I sat thus, I found the air overcast, and grow cloudy, as if it
+would rain; and soon after the wind rose by little, and little, so that
+in less than half an hour it blew a most dreadful hurricane: the sea
+was, all on a sudden, covered with foam and froth; the shore was covered
+with a breach of the water; the trees were torn up by the roots; and a
+terrible storm it was. This held about three hours, and then began to
+abate; and in two hours more it was quite calm, and began to rain very
+hard. All this while I sat upon the ground, very much terrified and
+dejected; when on a sudden it came into my thoughts, that these winds
+and rain being the consequence of the earthquake, the earthquake itself
+was spent and over, and I might venture into my cave again. With this
+thought my spirits began to revive; and the rain also helping to
+persuade me, I went in, and sat down in my tent; but the rain was so
+violent, that my tent was ready to be beaten down with it; and I was
+forced to get into my cave, though very much afraid and uneasy, for fear
+it should fall on my head. This violent rain forced me to a new work,
+viz. to cut a hole through my new fortification, like a sink, to let the
+water go out, which would else have drowned my cave. After I had been in
+my cave for some time, and found no more shocks of the earthquake
+follow, I began to be more composed. And now to support my spirits,
+which indeed wanted it very much, I went to my little store, and took a
+small sup of rum; which, however, I did then, and always, very
+sparingly, knowing I could have no more when that was gone. It continued
+raining all that night, and great part of the next day, so that I could
+not stir abroad; but my mind being more composed, I began to think of
+what I had best do; concluding, that if the island was subject to these
+earthquakes, there would be no living for me in a cave, but I must
+consider of building me some little hut in an open place, which I might
+surround with a wall, as I had done here, and so make myself secure from
+wild beasts or men; for if I staid where I was, I should certainly, one
+time or other, be buried alive.
+
+With these thoughts, I resolved to remove my tent from the place where
+it now stood, being just under the hanging precipice of the hill, and
+which, if it should be shaken again, would certainly fall upon my tent.
+I spent the two next days, being the 19th and 20th of April, in
+contriving where and how to remove my habitation. The fear of being
+swallowed alive affected me so, that I never slept in quiet; and yet the
+apprehension of lying abroad, without any fence, was almost equal to it:
+but still, when I looked about, and saw how every thing was put in
+order, how pleasantly I was concealed, and how safe from danger, it made
+me very loth to remove. In the mean time, it occurred to me that it
+would require a vast deal of time for me to do this; and that I must be
+contented to run the risk where I was, till I had formed a convenient
+camp, and secured it so as to remove to it. With this conclusion I
+composed myself for a time; and resolved that I would go to work with
+all speed to build me a wall with piles and cables, &c. in a circle as
+before, and set up my tent in it when it was finished; but that I would
+venture to stay where I was till it was ready, and fit to remove to.
+This was the 21st.
+
+_April_ 22. The next morning I began to consider of means to put this
+measure into execution; but I was at a great loss about the tools. I had
+three large axes, and abundance of hatchets (for we carried the hatchets
+for traffic with the Indians;) but with much chopping and cutting knotty
+hard wood, they were all full of notches, and dull; and though I had a
+grind-stone, I could not turn it and grind my tools too. This caused me
+as much thought as a statesman would have bestowed upon a grand point
+of politics, or a judge upon the life and death of a man. At length I
+contrived a wheel with a string, to turn it with my foot, that I might
+have both my hands at liberty.
+
+_Note._ I had never seen any such thing in England, or at least not to
+take notice how it was done, though since I have observed it is very
+common there: besides that, my grind-stone was very large and heavy.
+This machine cost me a full week's work to bring it to perfection.
+
+_April 28, 29._ These two whole days I took up in grinding my tools, my
+machine for turning my grind-stone performing very well.
+
+_April 30._ Having perceived that my bread had been low a great while, I
+now took a survey of it, and reduced myself to one biscuit-cake a day,
+which made my heart very heavy.
+
+_May 1._ In the morning, looking toward the sea-side, the tide being
+low, I saw something lie on the shore bigger than ordinary, and it
+looked like a cask: when I came to it, I found a small barrel, and two
+or three pieces of the wreck of the ship, which were driven on shore by
+the late hurricane; and looking towards the wreck itself, I thought it
+seemed to lie higher out of the water than it used to do. I examined the
+barrel that was driven on shore, and soon found it was a barrel of
+gunpowder; but it had taken water, and the powder was caked as hard as a
+stone: however, I rolled it farther on the shore for the present, and
+went on upon the sands, as near as I could to the wreck of the ship, to
+look for more.
+
+When I came down to the ship, I found it strangely removed. The
+forecastle, which lay before buried in sand, was heaved up at least six
+feet: and the stern (which was broke to pieces, and parted from the
+rest, by the force of the sea, soon after I had left rummaging of her)
+was tossed, as it were, up, and cast on one side: and the sand was
+thrown so high on that side next her stern, that I could now walk quite
+up to her when the tide was out; whereas there was a great piece of
+water before, so that I could not come within a quarter of a mile of the
+wreck without swimming. I was surprised with this at first, but soon
+concluded it must be done by the earthquake; and as by this violence the
+ship was more broke open than formerly, so many things came daily on
+shore, which the sea had loosened, and which the winds and water rolled
+by degrees to the land.
+
+This wholly diverted my thoughts from the design of removing my
+habitation; and I busied myself mightily, that day especially, in
+searching whether I could make any way into the ship: but I found
+nothing was to be expected of that kind, for all the inside of the ship
+was choked up with sand. However, as I had learned not to despair of any
+thing, I resolved to pull every thing to pieces that I could of the
+ship, concluding that every thing I could get from her would be of some
+use or other to me.
+
+_May 3._ I began with my saw, and cut a piece of a beam through, which I
+thought held some of the upper part or quarter deck together; and when I
+had cut it through, I cleared away the sand as well as I could from the
+side which lay highest; but the tide coming in, I was obliged to give
+over for that time.
+
+_May 4._ I went a-fishing, but caught not one fish that I durst eat of,
+till I was weary of my sport; when, just going to leave off, I caught a
+young dolphin. I had made me a long line of some rope-yarn, but I had no
+hooks; yet I frequently caught fish enough, as much as I cared to eat;
+all which I dried in the sun, and ate them dry.
+
+_May 5._ Worked on the wreck; cut another beam asunder, and brought
+three great fir-planks off from the decks; which I tied together, and
+made swim on shore when the tide of flood came on.
+
+_May 6._ Worked on the wreck; got several iron bolts out of her, and
+other pieces of iron-work; worked very hard, and came home very much
+tired, and had thoughts of giving it over.
+
+_May 7._ Went to the wreck again, but not with an intent to work; but
+found the weight of the wreck had broke itself down, the beams being
+cut; that several pieces of the ship seemed to lie loose; and the inside
+of the hold lay so open that I could see into it; but almost full of
+water and sand.
+
+_May 8._ Went to the wreck, and carried an iron crow to wrench up the
+deck, which lay now quite clear of the water and sand. I wrenched up two
+planks, and brought them on shore also with the tide. I left the iron
+crow in the wreck for next day.
+
+_May 9._ Went to the wreck, and with the crow made way into the body of
+the wreck, and felt several casks, and loosened them with the crow, but
+could not break them up. I felt also a roll of English lead, and could
+stir it; but it was too heavy to remove.
+
+_May 10--14._ Went every day to the wreck; and got a great many pieces
+of timber, and boards, or plank, and two or three hundred weight
+of iron.
+
+_May 15._ I carried two hatchets, to try if I could not cut a piece off
+the roll of lead, by placing the edge of one hatchet, and driving it
+with the other; but as it lay about a foot and a half in the water, I
+could not make any blow to drive the hatchet.
+
+_May 16._ It had blown hard in the night, and the wreck appeared more
+broken by the force of the water; but I staid so long in the woods, to
+get pigeons for food, that the tide prevented my going to the wreck
+that day.
+
+_May 17._ I saw some pieces of the wreck blown on shore, at a great
+distance, two miles off me, but resolved to see what they were, and
+found it was a piece of the head, but too heavy for me to bring away.
+
+_May 24._ Every day, to this day, I worked on the wreck; and with hard
+labour I loosened some things so much with the crow, that the first
+blowing tide several casks floated out, and two of the seamen's chests:
+but the wind blowing from the shore, nothing came to land that day but
+pieces of timber, and a hogshead, which had some Brazil pork in it; but
+the salt-water and the sand had spoiled it. I continued this work every
+day to the 15th of June, except the time necessary to get food; which I
+always appointed, during this part of my employment, to be when the tide
+was up, that I might be ready when it was ebbed out: and by this time I
+had gotten timber, and plank, and iron-work, enough to have built a
+good boat, if I had known how: and I also got, at several times, and in
+several pieces, near one hundred weight of the sheet-lead.
+
+_June 16._ Going down to the sea-side, I found a large tortoise, or
+turtle. This was the first I had seen; which, it seems, was only my
+misfortune, not any defect of the place, or scarcity: for had I happened
+to be on the other side of the island, I might have had hundreds of them
+every day, as I found afterwards; but perhaps had paid dear enough
+for them.
+
+_June 17._ I spent in cooking the turtle. I found in her threescore
+eggs: and her flesh was to me, at that time, the most savoury and
+pleasant that I ever tasted in my life; having had no flesh, but of
+goats and fowls, since I landed in this horrid place.
+
+_June 18._ Rained all that day, and I staid within. I thought, at this
+time, the rain felt cold, and I was somewhat chilly; which I knew was
+not usual in that latitude.
+
+_June 19._ Very ill, and shivering, as if the weather had been cold.
+
+_June 20._ No rest all night; violent pains in my head, and feverish.
+
+_June 21._ Very ill; frightened almost to death with the apprehensions
+of my sad condition, to be sick, and no help: prayed to God, for the
+first time since the storm off Hull; but scarce knew what I said, or
+why, my thoughts being all confused.
+
+_June 22._ A little better; but under dreadful apprehensions of
+sickness.
+
+_June 23._ Very bad again; cold and shivering, and then a violent
+head-ache.
+
+_June 24._ Much better.
+
+_June 25._ An ague very violent: the fit held me seven hours; cold fit,
+and hot, with faint sweats after it.
+
+_June 26._ Better; and having no victuals to eat, took my gun, but found
+myself very weak: however, I killed a she-goat, and with much difficulty
+got it home, and broiled some of it, and ate. I would fain have stewed
+it, and made some broth, but had no pot.
+
+_June 27._ The ague again so violent that I lay a-bed all day, and
+neither ate nor drank. I was ready to perish for thirst; but so weak, I
+had not strength to stand up, or to get myself any water to drink.
+Prayed to God again, but was light-headed: and when I was not, I was so
+ignorant that I knew not what to say; only lay and cried, "Lord, look
+upon me! Lord, pity me! Lord, have mercy upon me!" I suppose I did
+nothing else for two or three hours; till the fit wearing off, I fell
+asleep, and did not wake till far in the night. When I awoke, I found
+myself much refreshed, but weak, and exceeding thirsty: however, as I
+had no water in my whole habitation, I was forced to lie till morning,
+and went to sleep again. In this second sleep I had this terrible dream:
+I thought that I was sitting on the ground, on the outside of my wall,
+where I sat when the storm blew after the earthquake, and that I saw a
+man descend from a great black cloud, in a bright flame of fire, and
+light upon the ground: he was all over as bright as a flame, so that I
+could but just bear to look towards him: his countenance was most
+inexpressibly dreadful, impossible for words to describe: when he
+stepped upon the ground with his feet, I thought the earth trembled,
+just as it had done before in the earthquake; and all the air looked, to
+my apprehension, as if it had been filled with flashes of fire. He had
+no sooner landed upon the earth, but he moved forward towards me, with a
+long spear or weapon in his hand, to kill me; and when he came to a
+rising ground, at some distance, he spoke to me, or I heard a voice so
+terrible that it is impossible to express the terror of it: all that I
+can say I understood, was this: "Seeing all these things have not
+brought thee to repentance, now thou shalt die;" at which words I
+thought he lifted up the spear that was in his hand, to kill me.
+
+No one that shall ever read this account, will expect that I should be
+able to describe the horrors of my soul at this terrible vision; I mean,
+that even while it was a dream, I even dreamed of those horrors; nor is
+it any more possible to describe the impression that remained upon my
+mind when I awaked, and found it was but a dream.
+
+I had, alas! no divine knowledge: what I had received by the good
+instruction of my father was then worn out, by an uninterrupted series,
+for eight years, of seafaring wickedness, and a constant conversation
+with none but such as were, like myself, wicked and profane to the last
+degree. I do not remember that I had, in all that time, one thought that
+so much as tended either to looking upward towards God, or inward
+towards a reflection upon my own ways: but a certain stupidity of soul,
+without desire of good, or consciousness of evil, had entirely
+overwhelmed me; and I was all that the most hardened, unthinking, wicked
+creature among our common sailors, can be supposed to be; not having
+the least sense, either of the fear of God, in danger, or of
+thankfulness to him, in deliverances.
+
+In the relating what is already past of my story, this will be the more
+easily believed, when I shall add, that through all the variety of
+miseries that had to this day befallen me, I never had so much as one
+thought of its being the hand of God, or that it was a just punishment
+for my sin; either my rebellious behaviour against my father, or my
+present sins, which were great; or even as a punishment for the general
+course of my wicked life. When I was on the desperate expedition on the
+desert shores of Africa, I never had so much as one thought of what
+would become of me; or one wish to God to direct me whither I should go,
+or to keep me from the danger which apparently surrounded me, as well
+from voracious creatures as cruel savages: but I was quite thoughtless
+of a God or a Providence; acted like a mere brute, from the principles
+of nature, and by the dictates of common sense only; and indeed hardly
+that. When I was delivered and taken up at sea by the Portuguese
+captain, well used, and dealt with justly and honourably, as well as
+charitably, I had not the least thankfulness in my thoughts. When,
+again, I was shipwrecked, ruined, and in danger of drowning, on this
+island, I was as far from remorse, or looking on it as a judgment: I
+only said to myself often, that I was an unfortunate dog, and born to be
+always miserable.
+
+It is true, when I first got on shore here, and found all my ship's crew
+drowned, and myself spared, I was surprised with a kind of ecstasy, and
+some transports of soul, which, had the grace of God assisted, might
+have come up to true thankfulness; but it ended where it began, in a
+mere common flight of joy; or, as I may say, being glad I was alive,
+without the least reflection upon the distinguished goodness of the hand
+which had preserved me, and had singled me out to be preserved when all
+the rest were destroyed, or an inquiry why Providence had been thus
+merciful to me: just the same common sort of joy which seamen generally
+have, after they are got safe ashore from a shipwreck; which they drown
+all in the next bowl of punch, and forget almost as soon as it is over:
+and all the rest of my life was like it. Even when I was, afterwards, on
+due consideration, made sensible of my condition,--how I was cast on
+this dreadful place, out of the reach of human kind, out of all hope of
+relief, or prospect of redemption,--as soon as I saw but a prospect of
+living, and that I should not starve and perish for hunger, all the
+sense of my affliction wore off, and I began to be very easy, applied
+myself to the works proper for my preservation and supply, and was far
+enough from being afflicted at my condition, as a judgment from Heaven,
+or as the hand of God against me: these were thoughts which very seldom
+entered into my head.
+
+The growing up of the corn, as is hinted in my Journal, had, at first,
+some little influence upon me, and began to affect me with seriousness,
+as long as I thought it had something miraculous in it; but as soon as
+that part of the thought was removed, all the impression which was
+raised from it wore off also, as I have noted already. Even the
+earthquake, though nothing could be more terrible in its nature, or
+more immediately directing to the invisible Power which alone directs
+such things, yet no sooner was the fright over, but the impression it
+had made went off also. I had no more sense of God, or his judgments,
+much less of the present affliction of my circumstances being from his
+hand, than if I had been in the most prosperous condition of life. But
+now, when I began to be sick, and a leisure view of the miseries of
+death came to place itself before me; when my spirits began to sink
+under the burden of a strong distemper, and nature was exhausted with
+the violence of the fever; conscience, that had slept so long, began to
+awake; and I reproached myself with my past life, in which I had so
+evidently, by uncommon wickedness, provoked the justice of God to lay me
+under uncommon strokes, and to deal with me in so vindictive a manner.
+These reflections oppressed me for the second or third day of my
+distemper; and in the violence, as well of the fever as of the dreadful
+reproaches of my conscience, extorted from me some words like praying to
+God: though I cannot say it was a prayer attended either with desires or
+with hopes; it was rather the voice of mere fright and distress. My
+thoughts were confused; the convictions great upon my mind; and the
+horror of dying in such a miserable condition, raised vapours in my head
+with the mere apprehension: and, in these hurries of my soul, I knew not
+what my tongue might express: but it was rather exclamation, such as,
+"Lord, what a miserable creature am I! If I should be sick, I shall
+certainly die for want of help; and what will become of me?" Then the
+tears burst out of my eyes, and I could say no more for a good while. In
+this interval, the good advice of my father came to my mind, and
+presently his prediction, which I mentioned at the beginning of this
+story, viz. that if I did take this foolish step, God would not bless
+me; and I should have leisure hereafter to reflect upon having neglected
+his counsel, when there might be none to assist in my recovery. "Now,"
+said I, aloud, "my dear father's words are come to pass; God's justice
+has overtaken me, and I have none to help or hear me. I rejected the
+voice of Providence, which had mercifully put me in a station of life
+wherein I might have been happy and easy; but I would neither see it
+myself, nor learn from my parents to know the blessing of it. I left
+them to mourn over my folly; and now I am left to mourn under the
+consequences of it: I refused their help and assistance, who would have
+pushed me in the world, and would have made every thing easy to me; and
+now I have difficulties to struggle with, too great for even nature
+itself to support; and no assistance, no comfort, no advice." Then I
+cried out, "Lord, be my help, for I am in great distress." This was the
+first prayer, if I may call it so, that I had made for many years. But I
+return to my Journal.
+
+_June 28._ Having been somewhat refreshed with the sleep I had had, and
+the fit being entirely off, I got up; and though the fright and terror
+of my dream was very great, yet I considered that the fit of the ague
+would return again the next day, and now was my time to get something to
+refresh and support myself when I should be ill. The first thing I did
+was to fill a large square case-bottle with water; and set it upon my
+table, in reach of my bed: and to take off the chill or aguish
+disposition of the water, I put about a quarter of a pint of rum into
+it, and mixed them together. Then I got me a piece of the goat's flesh,
+and broiled it on the coals, but could eat very little. I walked about;
+but was very weak, and withal very sad and heavy-hearted under a sense
+of my miserable condition, dreading the return of my distemper the next
+day. At night, I made my supper of three of the turtle's eggs; which I
+roasted in the ashes, and ate, as we call it, in the shell: and this was
+the first bit of meat I had ever asked God's blessing to, as I could
+remember, in my whole life. After I had eaten, I tried to walk; but
+found myself so weak, that I could hardly carry the gun (for I never
+went out without that;) so I went but a little way, and sat down upon
+the ground, looking out upon the sea, which was just before me, and very
+calm and smooth. As I sat here, some such thoughts as these occurred to
+me: What is this earth and sea, of which I have seen so much? Whence is
+it produced? And what am I, and all the other creatures, wild and tame,
+human and brutal? Whence are we? Surely, we are all made by some secret
+power, who formed the earth and sea, the air and sky. And who is that?
+Then it followed most naturally, It is God that has made all. Well, but
+then, it came on strangely, if God has made all these things, he guides
+and governs them all, and all things that concern them; for the power
+that could make all things, must certainly have power to guide and
+direct them: if so, nothing can happen in the great circuit of his
+works, either without his knowledge or appointment.
+
+And if nothing happens without his knowledge, he knows that I am here,
+and am in this dreadful condition: and if nothing happens without his
+appointment, he has appointed all this to befall me. Nothing occurred to
+my thought, to contradict any of these conclusions: and therefore it
+rested upon me with the greatest force, that it must needs be that God
+had appointed all this to befall me; that I was brought to this
+miserable circumstance by his direction, he having the sole power, not
+of me only, but of every thing that happens in the world. Immediately it
+followed, Why has God done this to me? What have I done to be thus used?
+My conscience presently checked me in that inquiry, as if I had
+blasphemed; and methought it spoke to me like a voice, "Wretch! dost
+_thou_ ask what thou hast done? Look back upon a dreadful misspent life,
+and ask thyself, what thou hast _not_ done? Ask, why is it that thou
+wert not long ago destroyed? Why wert thou not drowned in Yarmouth
+Roads; killed in the fight when the ship was taken by the Sallee man of
+war; devoured by the wild beasts on the coast of Africa; or drowned
+_here_, when all the crew perished but thyself? Dost _thou_ ask what
+thou hast done?" I was struck dumb with these reflections, as one
+astonished, and had not a word to say; no, not to answer to myself; and,
+rising up pensive and sad, walked back to my retreat, and went over my
+wall, as if I bad been going to bed: but my thoughts were sadly
+disturbed, and I had no inclination to sleep; so I sat down in the
+chair, and lighted my lamp, for it began to be dark. Now, as the
+apprehension of the return of my distemper terrified me very much, it
+occurred to my thought, that the Brazilians take no physic but their
+tobacco for almost all distempers; and I had a piece of a roll of
+tobacco in one of the chests, which was quite cured; and some also that
+was green, and not quite cured.
+
+I went, directed by Heaven no doubt: for in this chest I found a cure
+both for soul and body. I opened the chest, and found what I looked for,
+viz. the tobacco; and as the few books I had saved lay there too, I took
+out one of the Bibles which I mentioned before, and which to this time I
+had not found leisure, or so much as inclination, to look into. I say, I
+took it out, and brought both that and the tobacco with me to the table.
+What use to make of the tobacco I knew not, as to my distemper, nor
+whether it was good for it or not; but I tried several experiments with
+it, as if I was resolved it should hit one way or other. I first took a
+piece of a leaf, and chewed it in my mouth; which, indeed, at first,
+almost stupified my brain; the tobacco being green and strong, and such
+as I had not been much used to. Then I took some and steeped it an hour
+or two in some rum, and resolved to take a dose of it when I lay down:
+and, lastly, I burnt some upon a pan of coals, and held my nose close
+over the smoke of it as long as I could bear it; as well for the heat,
+as almost for suffocation. In the interval of this operation, I took up
+the Bible, and began to read; but my head was too much disturbed with
+the tobacco to bear reading, at least at that time; only, having opened
+the book casually, the first words that occurred to me were these: "Call
+on me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt
+glorify me." These words were very apt to my case; and made some
+impression upon my thoughts at the time of reading them, though not so
+much as they did afterwards; for, as for being _delivered_, the word had
+no sound, as I may say, to me; the thing was so remote, so impossible in
+my apprehension of things, that, as the children of Israel said when
+they were promised flesh to eat, "Can God spread a table in the
+wilderness?" so I began to say, Can even God himself deliver me from
+this place? And as it was not for many years that any hopes appeared,
+this prevailed very often upon my thoughts: but, however, the words made
+a great impression upon me, and I mused upon them very often. It now
+grew late; and the tobacco had, as I said, dozed my head so much, that I
+inclined to sleep: so I left my lamp burning in the cave, lest I should
+want any thing in the night, and went to bed. But before I lay down, I
+did what I never had done in all my life; I kneeled down, and prayed to
+God to fulfil the promise to me, that if I called upon him in the day of
+trouble, he would deliver me. After my broken and imperfect prayer was
+over, I drank the rum in which I had steeped the tobacco; which was so
+strong and rank of the tobacco, that indeed I could scarce get it down:
+immediately upon this I went to bed. I found presently the rum flew up
+into my head violently; but I fell into a sound sleep, and waked no
+more till, by the sun, it must necessarily be near three o'clock in the
+afternoon the next day: nay, to this hour I am partly of opinion, that I
+slept all the next day and night, and till almost three the day after;
+for otherwise, I know not how I should lose a day out of my reckoning in
+the days of the week, as it appeared some years after I had done; for if
+I had lost it by crossing and re-crossing the Line, I should have lost
+more than one day; but certainly I lost a day in my account, and never
+knew which way. Be that, however, one way or the other, when I awaked I
+found myself exceedingly refreshed, and my spirits lively and cheerful:
+when I got up, I was stronger than I was the day before, and my stomach
+better, for I was hungry; and, in short, I had no fit the next day, but
+continued much altered for the better. This was the 29th.
+
+The 30th was my well day, of course; and I went abroad with my gun, but
+did not care to travel too far. I killed a sea-fowl or two, something
+like a brand goose, and brought them home; but was not very forward to
+eat them; so I ate some more of the turtle's eggs, which were very good.
+This evening I renewed the medicine, which I had supposed did me good
+the day before, viz. the tobacco steeped in rum; only I did not take so
+much as before, nor did I chew any of the leaf, or hold my head over the
+smoke: however, I was not so well the next day, which was the 1st of
+July, as I hoped I should have been; for I had a little of the cold fit,
+but it was not much.
+
+_July 2._ I renewed the medicine all the three ways; and dosed myself
+with it as at first, and doubled the quantity which I drank.
+
+_July 3._ I missed the fit for good and all, though I did not recover my
+full strength for some weeks after. While I was thus gathering strength,
+my thoughts ran exceedingly upon this scripture, "I will deliver thee;"
+and the impossibility of my deliverance lay much upon my mind, in bar of
+my ever expecting it: but as I was discouraging myself with such
+thoughts, it occurred to my mind that I pored so much upon my
+deliverance from the main affliction, that I disregarded the deliverance
+I had received; and I was, as it were, made to ask myself such questions
+as these, viz. Have I not been delivered, and wonderfully too, from
+sickness; from the most distressed condition that could be, and that was
+so frightful to me? and what notice have I taken of it? Have I done my
+part? God has delivered me, but I have not glorified him; that is to
+say, I have not owned and been thankful for that as a deliverance: and
+how can I expect a greater deliverance? This touched my heart very much;
+and immediately I knelt down, and gave God thanks aloud for my recovery
+from my sickness.
+
+_July 4._ In the morning I took the Bible; and beginning at the New
+Testament, I began seriously to read it; and imposed upon myself to read
+awhile every morning and every night; not binding myself to the number
+of chapters, but as long as my thoughts should engage me. It was not
+long after I set seriously to this work, that I found my heart more
+deeply and sincerely affected with the wickedness of my past life. The
+impression of my dream revived; and the words, "All these things have
+not brought thee to repentance," ran seriously in my thoughts. I was
+earnestly begging of God to give me repentance, when it happened
+providentially, the very same day, that, reading the scripture, I came
+to these words, "He is exalted a Prince and a Saviour; to give
+repentance, and to give remission." I threw down the book; and with my
+heart as well as my hands lifted up to heaven, in a kind of ecstasy of
+joy, I cried out aloud, "Jesus, thou son of David! Jesus, thou exalted
+Prince and Saviour! give me repentance!" This was the first time in all
+my life I could say, in the true sense of the words, that I prayed; for
+now I prayed with a sense of my condition, and with a true scripture
+view of hope, founded on the encouragement of the word of God: and from
+this time, I may say, I began to have hope that God would hear me.
+
+Now I began to construe the words mentioned above, "Call on me, and I
+will deliver thee," in a different sense from what I had ever done
+before; for then I had no notion of any thing being called
+_deliverance_, but my being delivered from the captivity I was in: for
+though I was indeed at large in the place, yet the island was certainly
+a prison to me, and that in the worst sense in the world. But now I
+learned to take it in another sense: now I looked back upon my past life
+with such horror, and my sins appeared so dreadful, that my soul sought
+nothing of God but deliverance from the load of guilt that bore down all
+my comfort. As for my solitary life, it was nothing; I did not so much
+as pray to be delivered from it, or think of it; it was all of no
+consideration, in comparison with this. And I add this part here, to
+hint to whoever shall read it, that whenever they come to a true sense
+of things, they will find deliverance from sin a much greater blessing
+than deliverance from affliction. But, leaving this part, I return to
+my Journal.
+
+My condition began now to be, though not less miserable as to my way of
+living, yet much easier to my mind: and my thoughts being directed, by
+constantly reading the Scripture and praying to God, to things of a
+higher nature, I had a great deal of comfort within, which, till now, I
+knew nothing of; also, as my health and strength returned, I bestirred
+me to furnish myself with every thing that I wanted, and make my way of
+living as regular as I could.
+
+From the 4th of July to the 14th, I was chiefly employed in walking
+about with my gun in my hand, a little and a little at a time, as a man
+that was gathering up his strength after a fit of sickness: for it is
+hardly to be imagined how low I was, and to what weakness I was reduced.
+The application which I made use of was perfectly new, and perhaps what
+had never cured an ague before; neither can I recommend it to any one to
+practise, by this experiment: and though it did carry off the fit, yet
+it rather contributed to weakening me; for I had frequent convulsions in
+my nerves and limbs for some time: I learned from it also this, in
+particular; that being abroad in the rainy season was the most
+pernicious thing to my health that could be, especially in those rains
+which came attended with storms and hurricanes of wind; for as the rain
+which came in the dry season was almost always accompanied with such
+storms, so I found that this rain was much more dangerous than the rain
+which fell in September and October.
+
+I had now been in this unhappy island above ten months: all possibility
+of deliverance from this condition seemed to be entirely taken from me;
+and I firmly believed that no human shape had ever set foot upon that
+place. Having secured my habitation, as I thought, fully to my mind, I
+had a great desire to make a more perfect discovery of the island, and
+to see what other productions I might find, which I yet knew nothing of.
+
+It was on the 15th of July that I began to take a more particular survey
+of the island itself. I went up the creek first, where, as I hinted, I
+brought my rafts on shore. I found, after I came about two miles up,
+that the tide did not flow any higher; and that it was no more than a
+little brook of running water, very fresh and good: but this being the
+dry season, there was hardly any water in some parts of it; at least,
+not any stream. On the banks of this brook I found many pleasant
+savannahs or meadows, plain, smooth, and covered with grass: and on the
+rising parts of them, next to the higher grounds (where the water as it
+might be supposed, never overflowed,) I found a great deal of tobacco,
+green, and growing to a very great and strong stalk: and there were
+divers other plants, which I had no knowledge of, or understanding
+about, and that might, perhaps, have virtues of their own, which I
+could not find out. I searched for the cassava root, which the Indians,
+in all that climate, make their bread of; but I could find none. I saw
+large plants of aloes, but did not understand them. I saw several
+sugar-canes, but wild; and, for want of cultivation, imperfect. I
+contented myself with these discoveries for this time; and came back,
+musing with myself what course I might take to know the virtue and
+goodness of any of the fruits or plants which I should discover; but
+could bring it to no conclusion; for, in short, I had made so little
+observation while I was in the Brazils, that I knew little of the plants
+in the field; at least, very little that might serve me to any purpose
+now in my distress.
+
+The next day, the 16th, I went up the same way again; and after going
+something farther than I had gone the day before, I found the brook and
+the savannahs begin to cease, and the country become more woody than
+before. In this part I found different fruits; and particularly I found
+melons upon the ground, in great abundance, and grapes upon the trees:
+the vines, indeed, had spread over the trees, and the clusters of grapes
+were now just in their prime, very ripe and rich. This was a surprising
+discovery, and I was exceedingly glad of them, but I was warned by my
+experience to eat sparingly of them; remembering that when I was ashore
+in Barbary, the eating of grapes killed several of our Englishmen, who
+were slaves there, by throwing them into fluxes and fevers. I found,
+however, an excellent use for these grapes; and that was, to cure or dry
+them in the sun, and keep them as dried grapes or raisins are kept;
+which I thought would be (as indeed they were) as wholesome and as
+agreeable to eat, when no grapes were to be had.
+
+I spent all that evening there, and went not back to my habitation;
+which, by the way, was the first night, as I might say, I had lain from
+home. At night, I took my first contrivance, and got up into a tree,
+where I slept well; and the next morning proceeded on my discovery,
+travelling near four miles, as I might judge by the length of the
+valley; keeping still due north, with a ridge of hills on the south and
+north sides of me. At the end of this march I came to an opening, where
+the country seemed to descend to the west; and a little spring of fresh
+water, which issued out of the side of the hill by me, ran the other
+way, that is, due east; and the country appeared so fresh, so green, so
+flourishing, every thing being in a constant verdure, or flourish of
+spring, that it looked like a planted garden. I descended a little on
+the side of that delicious vale, surveying it with a secret kind of
+pleasure (though mixed with other afflicting thoughts,) to think that
+this was all my own; that I was king and lord of all this country
+indefeasibly, and had a right of possession; and, if I could convey it,
+I might have it in inheritance as completely as any lord of a manor in
+England. I saw here abundance of cocoa trees, and orange, lemon, and
+citron trees, but all wild, and very few bearing any fruit; at least not
+then. However, the green limes that I gathered were not only pleasant to
+eat, but very wholesome; and I mixed their juice afterwards with water,
+which made it very wholesome, and very cool and refreshing. I found now
+I had business enough to gather and carry home; and I resolved to lay up
+a store, as well of grapes as limes and lemons to furnish myself for the
+wet season, which I knew was approaching. In order to this, I gathered a
+great heap of grapes in one place, a lesser heap in another place; and a
+great parcel of limes and melons in another place; and, taking a few of
+each with me, I travelled homeward; and resolved to come again, and
+bring a bag or sack, or what I could make to carry the rest home.
+Accordingly, having spent three days in this journey, I came home (so I
+must now call my tent and my cave:) but before I got thither, the grapes
+were spoiled; the richness of the fruits, and the weight of the juice,
+having broken and bruised them, they were good for little or nothing: as
+to the limes, they were good, but I could bring only a few.
+
+The next day, being the 19th, I went back, having made me two small bags
+to bring home my harvest; but I was surprised, when, coming to my heap
+of grapes, which were so rich and fine when I gathered them, I found
+them all spread about, trod to pieces, and dragged about, some here,
+some there, and abundance eaten and devoured. By this I concluded there
+were some wild creatures thereabouts which had done this, but what they
+were I knew not. However, as I found there was no laying them up in
+heaps, and no carrying them away in a sack; but that one way they would
+be destroyed, and the other way they would be crushed with their own
+weight; I took another course: I then gathered a large quantity of the
+grapes, and hung them upon the out-branches of the trees, that they
+might cure and dry in the sun; and as for the limes and lemons, I
+carried as many back as I could well stand under.
+
+When I came home from this journey, I contemplated with great pleasure
+the fruitfulness of that valley, and the pleasantness of the situation;
+the security from storms on that side; the water and the wood: and
+concluded that I had pitched upon a place to fix my abode in, which was
+by far the worst part of the country. Upon the whole, I began to
+consider of removing my habitation, and to look out for a place equally
+safe as where I was now situate; if possible, in that pleasant fruitful
+part of the island.
+
+This thought ran long in my head; and I was exceeding fond of it for
+some time, the pleasantness of the place tempting me: but when I came to
+a nearer view of it, I considered that I was now by the sea-side, where
+it was at least possible that something might happen to my advantage,
+and, by the same ill fate that brought me hither, might bring some other
+unhappy wretches to the same place; and though it was scarce probable
+that any such thing should ever happen, yet to enclose myself among the
+hills and woods in the centre of the island, was to anticipate my
+bondage, and to render such an affair not only improbable, but
+impossible; and that therefore I ought not by any means to remove.
+However, I was so enamoured of this place, that I spent much of my time
+there for the whole remaining part of the month of July; and though,
+upon second thoughts, I resolved, as above stated, not to remove; yet I
+built me a little kind of a bower, and surrounded it at a distance with
+a strong fence, being a double hedge, as high as I could reach, well
+staked, and filled between with brush-wood. Here I lay very secure,
+sometimes two or three nights together; always going over it with a
+ladder, as before: so that I fancied now I had my country and my
+sea-coast house. This work took me up till the beginning of August.
+
+I had but newly finished my fence, and began to enjoy my labour, when
+the rains came on, and made me stick close to my first habitation: for
+though I had made a tent like the other, with a piece of sail, and
+spread it very well, yet I had not the shelter of a hill to keep me from
+storms, nor a cave behind me to retreat into when the rains were
+extraordinary.
+
+About the beginning of August, as I said, I had finished my bower, and
+began to enjoy myself. The 3d of August, I found the grapes I had hung
+up were perfectly dried, and indeed were excellent good raisins of the
+sun: so I began to take them down from the trees; and it was very happy
+that I did so, as the rains which followed would have spoiled them, and
+I should have lost the best part of my winter food; for I had above two
+hundred large bunches of them. No sooner had I taken them all down, and
+carried most of them home to my cave, but it began to rain: and from
+hence, which was the 14th of August, it rained, more or less, every day
+till the middle of October; and sometimes so violently, that I could not
+stir out of my cave for several days.
+
+In this season, I was much surprised with the increase of my family. I
+had been concerned for the loss of one of my cats, who ran away from me,
+or, as I thought, had been dead; and I heard no more of her, till, to my
+astonishment, she came home with three kittens. This was the more
+strange to me, because, about the end of August, though I had killed a
+wild cat, as I called it, with my gun, yet I thought it was quite a
+different kind from our European cats: yet the young cats were the same
+kind of house-breed as the old one; and both of my cats being females, I
+thought it very strange. But from these three, I afterwards came to be
+so pestered with cats, that I was forced to kill them like vermin, or
+wild beasts, and to drive them from my house as much as possible.
+
+From the 14th of August to the 26th, incessant rain; so that I could not
+stir, and was now very careful not to be much wet. In this confinement,
+I began to be straitened for food; but venturing out twice, I one day
+killed a goat, and the last day, which was the 26th, found a very large
+tortoise, which was a treat to me. My food was now regulated thus: I ate
+a bunch of raisins for my breakfast; a piece of the goat's flesh, or of
+the turtle, broiled, for my dinner (for, to my great misfortune, I had
+no vessel to boil or stew any thing;) and two or three of the turtle's
+eggs for my supper.
+
+During this confinement in my cover by the rain, I worked daily two or
+three hours at enlarging my cave, and by degrees worked it on towards
+one side, till I came to the outside of the hill; and made a door, or
+way out, which came beyond my fence or wall: and so I came in and out
+this way. But I was not perfectly easy at lying so open: for as I had
+managed myself before, I was in a perfect enclosure; whereas now, I
+thought I lay exposed; and yet I could not perceive that there was any
+living thing to fear, the biggest creature that I had yet seen upon the
+island being a goat.
+
+_September_ 30. I was now come to the unhappy anniversary of my landing.
+I cast up the notches on my post, and found I had been on shore three
+hundred and sixty-five days. I kept this day as a solemn fast; setting
+it apart for religious exercise, prostrating myself on the ground with
+the most serious humiliation, confessing my sins to God, acknowledging
+his righteous judgments upon me, and praying to him to have mercy on me
+through Jesus Christ; and having not tasted the least refreshment for
+twelve hours, even till the going down of the sun, I then ate a biscuit
+and a bunch of grapes, and went to bed, finishing the day as I began it.
+I had all this time observed no sabbath-day; for as at first I had no
+sense of religion upon my mind, I had, after some time, omitted to
+distinguish the weeks, by making a longer notch than ordinary for the
+sabbath-day, and so did not really know what any of the days were: but
+now having cast up the days, as above, I found I had been there a year;
+so I divided it into weeks, and set apart every seventh day for a
+sabbath: though I found, at the end of my account, I had lost a day or
+two in my reckoning. A little after this, my ink beginning to fail me, I
+contented myself to use it more sparingly; and to write down only the
+most remarkable events of my life, without continuing a daily memorandum
+of other things.
+
+The rainy season and the dry season began now to appear regular to me,
+and I learned to divide them so as to provide for them accordingly; but
+I bought all my experience before I had it; and what I am going to
+relate was one of the most discouraging experiments that I had made
+at all.
+
+I have mentioned that I had saved the few ears of barley, and rice,
+which I had so surprisingly found sprung up, as I thought, of
+themselves. I believe there were about thirty stalks of rice, and about
+twenty of barley; and now I thought it a proper time to sow it after the
+rains; the sun being in its southern position, going from me.
+Accordingly I dug a piece of ground, as well as I could, with my wooden
+spade; and dividing it into two parts, I sowed my grain; but, as I was
+sowing, it casually occurred to my thoughts that I would not sow it all
+at first, because I did not know when was the proper time for it; so I
+sowed about two-thirds of the seed, leaving about a handful of each: and
+it was a great comfort to me afterwards that I did so, for not one grain
+of what I sowed this time came to any thing; for the dry month
+following, and the earth having thus had no rain after the seed was
+sown, it had no moisture to assist its growth, and never came up at all
+till the wet season had come again, and then it grew as if it had been
+but newly sown. Finding my first seed did not grow, which I easily
+imagined was from the drought, I sought for a moister piece of ground to
+make another trial in; and I dug up a piece of ground near my new bower,
+and sowed the rest of my seed in February, a little before the vernal
+equinox. This having the rainy month of March and April to water it,
+sprung up very pleasantly, and yielded a very good crop; but having only
+part of the seed left, and not daring to sow all that I had, I got but a
+small quantity at last, my whole crop not amounting to above half a peck
+of each kind. But by this experiment I was made master of my business,
+and knew exactly when was the proper time to sow; and that I might
+expect two seed-times, and two harvests, every year.
+
+While this corn was growing, I made a little discovery, which was of use
+to me afterwards. As soon as the rains were over, and the weather began
+to settle, which was about the month of November, I made a visit up the
+country to my bower; where, though I had not been some months, yet I
+found all things just as I left them. The circle or double hedge that I
+had made was not only firm and entire, but the stakes which I had cut
+out of some trees that grew thereabouts, were all shot out, and grown
+with long branches, as much as a willow-tree usually shoots the first
+year after lopping its head; but I could not tell what tree to call it
+that these stakes were cut from. I was surprised, and yet very well
+pleased, to see the young trees grow; and I pruned them, and led them to
+grow as much alike as I could: and it is scarce credible how beautiful a
+figure they grew into in three years: so that, though the hedge made a
+circle of about twenty-five yards in diameter, yet the trees, for such I
+might now call them, soon covered it, and it was a complete shade,
+sufficient to lodge under all the dry season. This made me resolve to
+cut some more stakes, and make me a hedge like this, in a semi-circle
+round my wall (I mean that of my first dwelling,) which I did; and
+placing the trees or stakes in a double row, at about eight yards
+distance from my first fence, they grew presently; and were at first a
+fine cover to my habitation, and afterwards served for a defence also;
+as I shall observe in its order.
+
+I found now that the seasons of the year might generally be divided, not
+into summer and winter, as in Europe, but into the rainy seasons and the
+dry seasons, which were generally thus: From the middle of February to
+the middle of April, rainy; the sun being then on or near the equinox.
+From the middle of April till the middle of August, dry; the sun being
+then north of the line. From the middle of August till the middle of
+October, rainy; the sun being then come back to the line. From the
+middle of October till the middle of February, dry; the sun being then
+to the south of the line.
+
+The rainy seasons held sometimes longer and sometimes shorter, as the
+winds happened to blow; but this was the general observation I made.
+After I had found, by experience, the ill consequences of being abroad
+in the rain, I took care to furnish myself with provisions beforehand,
+that I might not be obliged to go out: and I sat within doors as much as
+possible during the wet months. In this time I found much employment,
+and very suitable also to the time; for I found great occasion for many
+things which I had no way to furnish myself with, but by hard labour and
+constant application: particularly, I tried many ways to make myself a
+basket: but all the twigs I could get for the purpose proved so brittle,
+that they would do nothing. It proved of excellent advantage to me now,
+that when I was a boy, I used to take great delight in standing at a
+basketmaker's in the town where my father lived, to see them make their
+wicker-ware; and being, as boys usually are, very officious to help, and
+a great observer of the manner how they worked those things, and
+sometimes lending a hand, I had by these means full knowledge of the
+methods of it, so that I wanted nothing but the materials; when it came
+into my mind, that the twigs of that tree from whence I cut my stakes
+that grew might possibly be as tough as the sallows, willows, and
+osiers, in England; and I resolved to try. Accordingly, the next day, I
+went to my country house, as I called it; and cutting some of the
+smaller twigs, I found them to my purpose as much as I could desire:
+whereupon I came the next time prepared with a hatchet to cut down a
+quantity, which I soon found, for there was great plenty of them. These
+I set up to dry within my circle or hedge; and when they were fit for
+use, I carried them to my cave: and here, during the next season, I
+employed myself in making, as well as I could, several baskets; both to
+carry earth, or to carry or lay up any thing as I had occasion for.
+Though I did not finish them very handsomely, yet I made them
+sufficiently serviceable for my purpose: and thus, afterwards, I took
+care never to be without them; and as my wicker-ware decayed, I made
+more; especially strong deep baskets, to place my corn in, instead of
+sacks, when I should come to have any quantity of it.
+
+Having mastered this difficulty, and employed a world of time about it,
+I bestirred myself to see, if possible, how to supply two other wants. I
+had no vessel to hold any thing that was liquid, except two runlets,
+which were almost full of rum; and some glass bottles, some of the
+common size, and others (which were case-bottles) square, for the
+holding of waters, spirits, &c. I had not so much as a pot to boil
+anything; except a great kettle, which I saved out of the ship, and
+which was too big for such use as I desired it, viz. to make broth, and
+stew a bit of meat by itself. The second thing I would fain have had,
+was a tobacco-pipe; but it was impossible for me to make one; however, I
+found a contrivance for that too at last. I employed myself in planting
+my second row of stakes or piles, and also in this wicker-working, all
+the summer or dry season; when another business took me up more time
+than it could be imagined I could spare.
+
+I mentioned before, that I had a great mind to see the whole island; and
+that I had travelled up the brook, and so on to where I had built my
+bower, and where I had an opening quite to the sea, on the other side of
+the island. I now resolved to travel quite across to the sea-shore, on
+that side: so taking my gun, a hatchet, and my dog, and a larger
+quantity of powder and shot than usual; with two biscuit-cakes, and a
+great bunch of raisins in my pouch, for my store; I began my journey.
+When I had passed the vale where my bower stood, as above, I came within
+view of the sea, to the west; and it being a very clear day, I fairly
+descried land, whether an island or continent I could not tell; but it
+lay very high, extending from W. to W.S.W. at a very great distance; by
+my guess, it could not be less than fifteen or twenty leagues off.
+
+I could not tell what part of the world this might be; otherwise than
+that I knew it must be part of America; and, as I concluded, by all my
+observations, must be near the Spanish dominions; and perhaps was all
+inhabited by savages, where, if I should have landed, I had been in a
+worse condition than I was now. I therefore acquiesced in the
+dispositions of Providence, which I began now to own and to believe
+ordered every thing for the best; I say, I quieted my mind with this,
+and left off afflicting myself with fruitless wishes of being there.
+
+Besides, after some pause upon this affair, I considered that if this
+land was the Spanish coast, I should certainly, one time or other, see
+some vessel pass or repass one way or other; but if not, then it was the
+savage coast between the Spanish country and the Brazils, whose
+inhabitants are indeed the worst of savages; for they are cannibals, or
+men-eaters, and fail not to murder and devour all human beings that fall
+into their hands.
+
+With these considerations, walking very leisurely forward, I found this
+side of the island, where I now was, much pleasanter than mine; the open
+or savannah fields sweetly adorned with flowers and grass, and full of
+very fine woods. I saw abundance of parrots; and fain would have caught
+one, if possible, to have kept it to be tame, and taught it to speak to
+me. I did, after taking some pains, catch a young parrot: for I knocked
+it down with a stick, and, having recovered it, I brought it home: but
+it was some years before I could make him speak; however, at last I
+taught him to call me by my name very familiarly. But the accident that
+followed, though it be a trifle, will be very diverting in its place.
+
+I was exceedingly amused with this journey. I found in the low grounds
+hares, as I thought them to be, and foxes: but they differed greatly
+from all the other kinds I had met with; nor could I satisfy myself to
+eat them, though I killed several. But I had no need to be venturous:
+for I had no want of food, and of that which was very good too;
+especially these three sorts, viz. goats, pigeons, and turtle, or
+tortoise. With these, added to my grapes, Leadenhall-Market could not
+have furnished a table better than I, in proportion to the company; and
+though my case was deplorable enough, yet I had great cause for
+thankfulness; as I was not driven to any extremities for food; but had
+rather plenty, even to dainties.
+
+I never travelled on this journey above two miles outright in a day, or
+thereabouts; but I took so many turns and returns, to see what
+discoveries I could make, that I came weary enough to the place where I
+resolved to sit down for the night; and then I either reposed myself in
+a tree, or surrounded myself with a row of stakes, set upright in the
+ground, either from one tree to another, or so as no wild creature could
+come at me without waking me.
+
+As soon as I came to the sea-shore, I was surprised to see that I had
+taken up my lot on the worst side of the island: for here indeed the
+shore was covered with innumerable turtles; whereas, on the other side,
+I had found but three in a year and a half. Here was also an infinite
+number of fowls of many kinds; some of which I had seen, and some of
+which I had not seen before, and many of them very good meat; but such
+as I knew not the names of, except those called Penguins.
+
+I could have shot as many as I pleased, but was very sparing of my
+powder and shot; and therefore had more mind to kill a she-goat, if I
+could, which I could better feed on. But though there were many goats
+here, more than on my side the island, yet it was with much more
+difficulty that I could come near them; the country being flat and even,
+and they saw me much sooner than when I was upon a hill.
+
+I confess this side of the country was much pleasanter than mine; yet I
+had not the least inclination to remove; for as I was fixed in my
+habitation, it became natural to me, and I seemed all the while I was
+here to be as it were upon a journey, and from home. However, I
+travelled along the sea-shore towards the east, I suppose about twelve
+miles; and then setting up a great pole upon the shore for a mark, I
+concluded I would go home again; and that the next journey I took should
+be on the other side of the island, east from my dwelling, and so round
+till I came to my post again: of which in its place.
+
+I took another way to come back than that I went, thinking I could
+easily keep so much of the island in my view, that I could not miss my
+first dwelling by viewing the country: but I found myself mistaken; for
+being come about two or three miles, I found myself descended into a
+very large valley, but so surrounded with hills, and those hills covered
+with wood, that I could not see which was my way by any direction but
+that of the sun, nor even then, unless I knew very well the position of
+the sun at that time of the day. And it happened to my farther
+misfortune, that the weather proved hazy for three or four days while I
+was in this valley; and not being able to see the sun, I wandered about
+very uncomfortable, and at last was obliged to find out the sea-side,
+look for my post, and come back the same way I went; and then by easy
+journies I turned homeward, the weather being exceeding hot, and my gun,
+ammunition, hatchet, and other things very heavy.
+
+In this journey, my dog surprised a young kid, and seized upon it; and
+running to take hold of it, I caught it, and saved it alive from the
+dog. I had a great mind to bring it home if I could; for I had often
+been musing whether it might not be possible to get a kid or two, and so
+raise a breed of tame goats, which might supply me when my powder and
+shot should be all spent. I made a collar for this little creature, and
+with a string which I had made of some rope-yarn, which I always carried
+about me, I led him along, though with some difficulty, till I came to
+my bower, and there I enclosed him and left him; for I was very
+impatient to be at home, from whence I had been absent above a month.
+
+I cannot express what a satisfaction it was to me to come into my old
+hutch, and lie down in my hammock-bed. This little wandering journey,
+without a settled place of abode, had been so unpleasant to me, that my
+own house, as I called it to myself, was a perfect settlement to me,
+compared to that; and it rendered every thing about me so comfortable,
+that I resolved I would never go a great way from it again, while it
+should be my lot to stay on the island.
+
+I reposed myself here a week, to rest and regale myself after my long
+journey: during which, most of the time was taken up in the weighty
+affair of making a cage for my Pol, who began now to be more domestic,
+and to be mighty well acquainted with me. Then I began to think of the
+poor kid which I had penned within my little circle, and resolved to
+fetch it home, or give it some food: accordingly I went, and found it
+where I left it (for indeed it could not get out,) but was almost
+starved for want of food. I went and cut boughs of trees, and branches
+of such shrubs as I could find, and threw it over, and having fed it, I
+tied it as I did before, to lead it away; but it was so tame with being
+hungry, that I had no need to have tied it, for it followed me like a
+dog: and as I continually fed it, the creature became so loving, so
+gentle, and so fond, that it was from that time one of my domestics
+also, and would never leave me afterwards.
+
+The rainy season of the autumnal equinox was now come, and I kept the
+30th of September in the same solemn manner as before, being the
+anniversary of my landing on the island; having now been there two
+years, and no more prospect of being delivered than the first day I came
+there. I spent the whole day in humble and thankful acknowledgments for
+the many wonderful mercies which my solitary condition was attended
+with, and without which it might have been infinitely more miserable. I
+gave humble and hearty thanks to God for having been pleased to discover
+to me, that it was possible I might be more happy even in this solitary
+condition, than I should have been in the enjoyment of society, and in
+all the pleasures of the world: that he could fully make up to me the
+deficiencies of my solitary state, and the wont of human society, by his
+presence, and the communications of his grace to my soul; supporting,
+comforting, and encouraging me to depend upon his providence here, and
+to hope for his eternal presence hereafter.
+
+It was now that I began sensibly to feel how much more happy the life I
+now led was, with all its miserable circumstances, than the wicked,
+cursed, abominable life I led all the past part of my days: and now I
+changed both my sorrows and my joys: my very desires altered, my
+affections changed their gusts, and my delights were perfectly new from
+what they were at my first coming, or indeed for the two years past.
+
+Before, as I walked about, either on my hunting, or for viewing the
+country, the anguish of my soul at my condition would break out upon me
+on a sudden, and my very heart would die within me, to think of the
+woods, the mountains, the deserts I was in; and how I was a prisoner,
+locked up with the eternal bars and bolts of the ocean, in an
+uninhabited wilderness, without redemption. In the midst of the greatest
+composures of my mind, this would break out upon me like a storm, and
+make me wring my hands, and weep like a child: sometimes it would take
+me in the middle of my work, and I would immediately sit down and sigh,
+and look upon the ground for an hour or two together: this was still
+worse to me; but if I could burst into tears, or give vent to my
+feelings by words, it would go off; and my grief being exhausted,
+would abate.
+
+But now I began to exercise myself with new thoughts; I daily read the
+word of God, and applied all the comforts of it to my present state. One
+morning, being very sad, I opened the Bible upon these words, "I will
+never leave thee, nor forsake thee:" immediately it occurred that these
+words were to me; why else should they be directed in such a manner,
+just at the moment when I was mourning over my condition, as one
+forsaken of God and man? "Well then," said I, "if God does not forsake
+me, of what ill consequence can it be, or what matters it, though the
+world should forsake me; seeing on the other hand, if I had all the
+world, and should lose the favour and blessing of God, there would be no
+comparison in the loss?"
+
+From this moment I began to conclude in my mind, that it was possible
+for me to be more happy in this forsaken, solitary condition, than it
+was probable I should ever have been in any other particular state in
+the world; and with this thought I was going to give thanks to God for
+bringing me to this place. I know not what it was, but something shocked
+my mind at that thought and I durst not speak the words. "How canst thou
+be such a hypocrite," said I, even audibly, "to pretend to be thankful
+for a condition, which, however thou mayest endeavour to be contented
+with, thou wouldest rather pray heartily to be delivered from?" Here I
+stopped: but though I could not say I thanked God for being here, yet I
+sincerely gave thanks to God for opening my eyes, by whatever afflicting
+providences, to see the former condition of my life, and to mourn for my
+wickedness, and repent. I never opened the Bible, or shut it, but my
+very soul within me blessed God for directing my friend in England,
+without any order of mine, to pack it up among my goods; and for
+assisting me afterwards to save it out of the wreck of the ship.
+
+Thus, and in this disposition of mind, I began my third year; and though
+I have not given the reader the trouble of so particular an account of
+my works this year as the first, yet in general it may be observed, that
+I was very seldom idle; but having regularly divided my time, according
+to the several daily employments that were before me; such as, first, My
+duty to God, and the reading the Scriptures, which I constantly set
+apart some time for, thrice every day: secondly, Going abroad with my
+gun for food, which generally took me up three hours every morning, when
+it did not rain: thirdly, Ordering, curing, preserving, and cooking what
+I had killed or catched for my supply: these took up great part of the
+day; also it is to be considered, that in the middle of the day, when
+the sun was in the zenith, the violence of the heat was too great to
+stir out; so that about four hours in the evening was all the time I
+could be supposed to work in; with this exception, that sometimes I
+changed my hours of hunting and working, and went to work in the
+morning, and abroad with my gun in the afternoon.
+
+To this short time allowed for labour, I desire may be added the
+exceeding laboriousness of my work; the many hours which, for want of
+tools, want of help, and want of skill, every thing I did took up out of
+my time: for example, I was full two and forty days making me a board
+for a long shelf, which I wanted in my cave; whereas, two sawyers, with
+their tools and a saw-pit, would have cut six of them out of the same
+tree in half a day.
+
+My case was this; it was a large tree which was to be cut down, because
+my board was to be a broad one. This tree I was three days cutting down,
+and two more in cutting off the boughs, and reducing it to a log, or
+piece of timber. With inexpressible hacking and hewing, I reduced both
+the sides of it into chips, till it was light enough to move; then I
+turned it, and made one side of it smooth and flat as a board, from end
+to end; then turning that side downward, cut the other side, till I
+brought the plank to be about three inches thick, and smooth on both
+sides. Any one may judge the labour of my hands in such a piece of work;
+but labour and patience carried me through that, and many other things:
+I only observe this in particular, to show the reason why so much of my
+time went away with so little work, viz. that what might be a little to
+be done with help and tools, was a vast labour, and required a
+prodigious time to do alone, and by hand. Notwithstanding this, with
+patience and labour I went through many things; and, indeed, every thing
+that my circumstances made necessary for me to do, as will appear by
+what follows.
+
+I was now in the months of November and December, expecting my crop of
+barley and rice. The ground I had manured or dug up for them was not
+great; for, as I observed, my seed of each was not above the quantity of
+half a peck, having lost one whole crop by sowing in the dry season: but
+now my crop promised very well; when, on a sudden, I found I was in
+danger of losing it all again by enemies of several sorts, which it was
+scarce possible to keep from it; as, first, the goats, and wild
+creatures which I called hares, who, tasting the sweetness of the blade,
+lay in it night and day, as soon as it came up, and ate it so close,
+that it could get no time to shoot up into stalk.
+
+I saw no remedy for this, but by making an enclosure about it with a
+hedge, which I did with a great deal of toil; and the more, because it
+required speed. However, as my arable land was but small, suited to my
+crop, I got it tolerably well fenced in about three weeks' time; and
+shooting some of the creatures in the day-time, I set my dog to guard it
+in the night, tying him up to a stake at the gate, where he would stand
+and bark all night long; so in a little time the enemies forsook the
+place, and the corn grew very strong and well, and began to ripen apace.
+
+But as the beasts ruined me before, while my corn was in the blade, so
+the birds were as likely to ruin me now, when it was in the ear: for
+going along by the place to see how it throve, I saw my little crop
+surrounded with fowls, I know not of how many sorts, who stood, as it
+were, watching till I should be gone. I immediately let fly among them
+(for I always had my gun with me;) I had no sooner shot, but there rose
+up a little cloud of fowls, which I had not seen at all, from among the
+corn itself.
+
+This touched me sensibly, for I foresaw that in a few days they would
+devour all my hopes; that I should be starved, and never be able to
+raise a crop at all; and what to do I could not tell: however, I
+resolved not to lose my corn, if possible, though I should watch it
+night and day. In the first place, I went among it, to see what damage
+was already done, and found they had spoiled a good deal of it; but that
+as it was yet too green for them, the loss was not so great, but that
+the remainder was likely to be a good crop, if it could be saved.
+
+I staid by it to load my gun, and then coming away, I could easily see
+the thieves sitting upon all the trees about me, as if they only waited
+till I was gone away; and the event proved it to be so; for as I walked
+off, as if gone, I was no sooner out of their sight, than they dropt
+down, one by one, into the corn again. I was so provoked, that I could
+not have patience to stay till more came on, knowing that every grain
+they eat now was, as it might be said, a peck-loaf to me in the
+consequence; so coming up to the hedge, I fired again, and killed three
+of them. This was what I wished for; so I took them up, and served them
+as we serve notorious thieves in England, viz. hanged them in chains,
+for a terror to others. It is impossible to imagine that this should
+have such an effect as it had; for the fowls not only never came to the
+corn, but, in short, they forsook all that part of the island, and I
+could never see a bird near the place as long as my scare-crows hung
+there. This I was very glad of, you may be sure; and about the latter
+end of December, which was our second harvest of the year, I reaped
+my corn.
+
+I was sadly put to it for a scythe or sickle to cut it down: and all I
+could do was to make one as well as I could, out of one of the broad
+swords, or cutlasses, which I saved among the arms out of the ship.
+However, as my first crop was but small, I had no great difficulty to
+cut it down: in short, I reaped it my way, for I cut nothing off but the
+ears, and carried it away in a great basket which I had made, and so
+rubbed it out with my hands; and at the end of all my harvesting, I
+found that out of my half peck of seed I had near two bushels of rice,
+and above two bushels and a half of barley; that is to say, by my guess,
+for I had no measure.
+
+However, this was great encouragement to me; and I foresaw that, in
+time, it would please God to supply me with bread; and yet here I was
+perplexed again; for I neither knew how to grind, or make meal of my
+corn, or indeed how to clean it and part it; nor if made into meal, how
+to make bread of it; and if how to make it, yet I knew not how to bake
+it: these things being added to my desire of having a good quantity for
+store, and to secure a constant supply, I resolved not to taste any of
+this crop, but to preserve it all for seed against the next season; and,
+in the mean tune, to employ all my study and hours of working to
+accomplish this great work of providing myself with corn and bread.
+
+It might be truly said, that now I worked for my bread. It is a little
+wonderful, and what I believe few people have thought much upon, viz.
+the strange multitude of little things necessary in the providing,
+producing, curing, dressing, making, and finishing this one article
+of bread.
+
+I, that was reduced to a mere state of nature, found this to my daily
+discouragement, and was made more sensible of it every hour, even after
+I had got the first handful of seed-corn which, as I have said, came up
+unexpectedly, and indeed to a surprise.
+
+First, I had no plough to turn up the earth; no spade or shovel to dig
+it: well, this I conquered by making a wooden spade, as I observed
+before; but this did my work but in a wooden manner; and though it cost
+me a great many days to make it, yet, for want of iron, it not only wore
+out the sooner, but made my work the harder, and performed it much
+worse. However, this I bore with, and was content to work it out with
+patience, and bear with the badness of the performance. When the corn
+was sown, I had no harrow, but was forced to go over it myself, and drag
+a great heavy bough of a tree over it, to scratch it, as it may be
+called, rather than rake or harrow it. When it was growing and grown, I
+have observed already how many things I wanted to fence it, secure it,
+mow or reap it, cure and carry it home, thrash, part it from the chaff,
+and save it: then I wanted a mill to grind it, sieves to dress it, yeast
+and salt to make it into bread, and an oven to bake it; and yet all
+these things I did without, as shall be observed; and the corn was an
+inestimable comfort and advantage to me: all this, as I said, made every
+thing laborious and tedious to me, but that there was no help for;
+neither was my time so much loss to me, because, as I had divided it, a
+certain part of it, was every day appointed to these works; and as I
+resolved to use none of the corn for bread till I had a greater quantity
+by me, I had the next six months to apply myself wholly, by labour and
+invention, to furnish myself with utensils proper for the performing all
+the operations necessary for making corn fit for my use.
+
+But now I was to prepare more land; for I had seed enough to sow above
+an acre of ground. Before I did this, I had a week's work at least to
+make me a spade; which, when it was done, was but a sorry one indeed,
+and very heavy, and required double labour to work with it: however, I
+went through that, and sowed my seed in two large flat pieces of ground,
+as near my house as I could find them to my mind, and fenced them in
+with a good hedge; the stakes of which were all cut off that wood which
+I had set before, and knew it would grow; so that, in one year's time, I
+knew I should have a quick or living hedge, that would want but little
+repair. This work took me up full three months; because a great part of
+the time was in the wet season, when I could not go abroad. Within
+doors, that is, when it rained, and I could not go out, I found
+employment on the following occasions; always observing, that while I
+was at work, I diverted myself with talking to my parrot, and teaching
+him to speak; and I quickly learned him to know his own name, and at
+last to speak it out pretty loud, Pol; which was the first word I ever
+heard spoken in the island by any mouth but my own. This, therefore, was
+not my work, but an assistant to my work; for now, as I said, I had a
+great employment upon my hands, as follows: I had long studied, by some
+means or other, to make myself some earthen vessels, which indeed I
+wanted much, but knew not where to come at them: however, considering
+the heat of the climate, I did not doubt but if I could find out any
+clay, I might botch up some such pot as might, being dried in the sun,
+be hard and strong enough to bear handling, and to hold any thing that
+was dry, and required to be kept so; and as this was necessary in the
+preparing corn, meal, &c. which was the thing I was upon, I resolved to
+make some as large as I could, and fit only to stand like jars, to hold
+what should be put into them.
+
+It would make the reader pity me, or rather laugh at me, to tell how
+many awkward ways I took to raise this pastil; what odd, misshapen, ugly
+things I made; how many of them fell in, and how many fell out, the clay
+not being stiff enough to bear its own weight; how many cracked by the
+over violent heat of the sun, being set out too hastily; and how many
+fell in pieces with only removing, as well before as after they were
+dried: and, in a word, how, after having laboured hard to find the
+clay, to dig it, to temper it, to bring it home, and work it, I could
+not make above two large earthen ugly things (I cannot call them jars)
+in about two months' labour.
+
+However, as the sun baked these two very dry and hard, I lifted them
+very gently up, and set them down again in two great wicker baskets,
+which I had made on purpose for them, that they might not break; and as
+between the pot and the basket there was a little room to spare, I
+stuffed it full of the rice and barley-straw; and these two pots being
+to stand always dry, I thought would hold my dry corn, and perhaps the
+meal, when the corn was bruised.
+
+Though I miscarried so much in my design for large pots, yet I made
+several smaller things with better success; such as little round pots,
+flat dishes, pitchers, and pipkins, and any thing my hand turned to; and
+the heat of the sun baked them very hard.
+
+But all this would not answer my end, which was to get an earthen pot to
+hold liquids, and bear the fire, which none of these could do. It
+happened some time after, making a pretty large fire for cooking my
+meat, when I went to put it out after I had done with it, I found a
+broken piece of one of my earthen-ware vessels in the fire, burnt as
+hard as a stone, and red as a tile. I was agreeably surprised to see it;
+and said to myself, that certainly they might be made to burn whole, if
+they would burn broken.
+
+This set me to study how to order my fire, so as to make it burn some
+pots. I had no notion of a kiln, such as the potters burn in, or of
+glazing them with lead, though I had some lead to do it with; but I
+placed three large pipkins and two or three pots in a pile, one upon
+another, and placed my fire-wood all round it, with a great heap of
+embers under them. I plied the fire with fresh fuel round the outside,
+and upon the top, till I saw the pots in the inside red-hot quite
+through, and observed that they did not crack at all: when I saw them
+clear red, I let them stand in that heat about five or six hours, till I
+found one of them, though it did not crack, did melt or run; for the
+sand which was mixed with the clay melted by the violence of the heat,
+and would have run into glass, if I had gone on; so I slacked my fire
+gradually, till the pots began to abate of the red colour; and watching
+them all night, that I might not let the fire abate too fast, in the
+morning I had three very good, I will not say handsome, pipkins, and two
+other earthen pots, as hard burnt as could be desired; and one of them
+perfectly glazed with the running of the sand.
+
+After this experiment, I need not say that I wanted no sort of
+earthen-ware for my use; but I must needs say, as to the shapes of them,
+they were very indifferent, as any one may suppose, as I had no way of
+making them but as the children make dirt pies, or as a woman would make
+pies that never learned to raise paste.
+
+No joy at a thing of so mean a nature was ever equal to mine, when I
+found I had made an earthen pot that would bear the fire; and I had
+hardly patience to stay till they were cold, before I set one on the
+fire again, with some water in it, to boil me some meat, which it did
+admirably well; and with a piece of a kid I made some very good broth;
+though I wanted oatmeal, and several other ingredients requisite to make
+it so good as I would have had it been.
+
+My next concern was to get a stone mortar to stamp or beat some corn in;
+for as to the mill, there was no thought of arriving to that perfection
+of art with one pair of hands. To supply this want I was at a great
+loss; for, of all trades in the world, I was as perfectly unqualified
+for a stonecutter, as for any whatever; neither had I any tools to go
+about it with. I spent many a day to find out a great stone big enough
+to cut hollow, and make fit for a mortar; but could find none at all,
+except what was in the solid rock, and which I had no way to dig or cut
+out: nor, indeed, were the rocks in the island of sufficient hardness,
+as they were all of a sandy crumbling stone, which would neither bear
+the weight of a heavy pestle, nor would break the corn without filling
+it with sand: so, after a great deal of time lost in searching for a
+stone, I gave it over, and resolved to look out a great block of hard
+wood, which I found indeed much easier; and getting one as big as I had
+strength to stir, I rounded it, and formed it on the outside with my axe
+and hatchet; and then, with the help of fire, and infinite labour, made
+a hollow place in it, as the Indians in Brazil make their canoes. After
+this, I made a great heavy pestle, or beater, of the wood called
+iron-wood; and this I prepared and laid by against I had my next crop of
+corn, when I proposed to myself to grind, or rather pound, my corn into
+meal, to make my bread.
+
+My next difficulty was to make a sieve, or searce, to dress my meal,
+and to part it from the bran and the husk, without which I did not see
+it possible I could have any bread. This was a most difficult thing,
+even but to think on; for I had nothing like the necessary thing to make
+it; I mean fine thin canvass or stuff, to searce the meal through. Here
+I was at a full stop for many months; nor did I really know what to do;
+linen I had none left, but what was mere rags; I had goats'-hair, but
+neither knew how to weave it nor spin it; and had I known how, here were
+no tools to work it with: all the remedy I found for this was, at last
+recollecting I had, among the seamen's clothes which were saved out of
+the ship, some neckcloths of calico or muslin, with some pieces of these
+I made three small sieves, proper enough for the work; and thus I made
+shift for some years: how I did afterwards, I shall show in its place.
+
+The baking part was the next thing to be considered, and how I should
+make bread when I came to have corn: for, first, I had no yeast: as to
+that part there was no supplying the want, so I did not concern myself
+much about it; but for an oven I was indeed puzzled. At length I found
+out an expedient for that also, which was this; I made some earthen
+vessels, very broad, but not deep, that is to say, about two feet
+diameter, and not above nine inches deep: these I burned in the fire, as
+I had done the other, and laid them by; and when I wanted to bake, I
+made a great fire upon my hearth, which I had paved with some square
+tiles, of my own making and burning also; but I should not call
+them square.
+
+When the fire-wood was burned into embers, or live coals, I drew them
+forward upon the hearth, so as to cover it all over, and there let them
+lie till the hearth was very hot; then sweeping away all the embers, I
+set down my loaf, or loaves, and covering them with the earthen pot,
+drew the embers all round the outside of the pot, to keep in and add to
+the heat; and thus, as well as in the best oven in the world, I baked my
+barley-loaves, and became, in a little time, a good pastry-cook into the
+bargain; for I made myself several cakes and puddings of the rice; but
+made no pies, as I had nothing to put into them except the flesh of
+fowls or goats.
+
+It need not be wondered at, if all these things took me up most part of
+the third year of my abode here; for, it is to be observed, in the
+intervals of these things, I had my new harvest and husbandry to manage:
+I reaped my corn in its season, and carried it home as well as I could,
+and laid it up in the ear, in my large baskets, till I had time to rub
+it out; for I had no floor to thrash it on, or instrument to thrash
+it with.
+
+And now, indeed, my stock of corn increasing, I really wanted to build
+my barns bigger: I wanted a place to lay it up in; for the increase of
+the corn now yielded me so much, that I had of the barley about twenty
+bushels, and of rice as much, or more, insomuch that now I resolved to
+begin to use it freely; for my bread had been quite gone a great while:
+I resolved also to see what quantity would be sufficient for me a whole
+year, and to sow but once a year.
+
+Upon the whole, I found that the forty bushels of barley and rice were
+much more than I could consume in a year; so I resolved to sow just the
+same quantity every year that I sowed the last, in hopes that such a
+quantity would fully provide me with bread, &c.
+
+All the while these things were doing, you may be sure my thoughts ran
+many times upon the prospect of land which I had seen from the other
+side of the island; and I was not without some secret wishes that I was
+on shore there; fancying, that seeing the main land, and an inhabited
+country, I might find some way or other to convey myself farther, and
+perhaps at last find some means of escape.
+
+But all this while I made no allowance for the dangers of such a
+condition, and that I might fall into the hands of savages, and perhaps
+such as I might have reason to think far worse than the lions and tigers
+of Africa; that if I once came in their power, I should run a hazard of
+more than a thousand to one of being killed, and perhaps of being eaten;
+for I had heard that the people of the Caribbean coast were cannibals,
+or man-eaters; and I knew, by the latitude, that I could not be far off
+from that shore. Then supposing they were not cannibals, yet that they
+might kill me, as they had many Europeans who had fallen into their
+hands, even when they have been ten or twenty together; much more I, who
+was but one, and could makee little or no defence; all these things, I
+say, which I ought to have considered well of, and did cast up in my
+thoughts afterwards, took up none of my apprehensions at first; yet my
+head ran mightily upon the thought of getting over to the shore.
+
+Now I wished for my boy Xury, and the long-boat with the
+shoulder-of-mutton sail, with which I sailed above a thousand miles on
+the coast of Africa; but this was in vain: then I thought I would go and
+look at our ship's boat, which, as I have said, was blown up upon the
+shore a great way, in the storm, when we were first cast away. She lay
+nearly where she did at first, but not quite; having turned, by the
+force of the waves and the winds, almost bottom upward, against a high
+ridge of beachy rough sand; but no water about her, as before. If I had
+had hands to have refitted her, and to have launched her into the water,
+the boat would have done very well, and I might have gone back into the
+Brazils with her easily enough; but I might have foreseen, that I could
+no more turn her and set her upright upon her bottom, than I could
+remove the island; however, I went to the woods, and cut levers and
+rollers, and brought them to the boat, resolving to try what I could do;
+suggesting to myself, that if I could but turn her down, and repair the
+damage she had received, she would be a very good boat, and I might
+venture to sea in her.
+
+I spared no pains, indeed, in this piece of fruitless toil, and spent, I
+think, three or four weeks about it: at last, finding it impossible to
+heave her up with my little strength, I fell to digging away the sand,
+to undermine her, and so as to make her fall down, setting pieces of
+wood to thrust and guide her right in the fall.
+
+But when I had done this, I was unable to stir her up again, or to get
+under her, much less to move her forward towards the water; so I was
+forced to give it over: and yet, though I gave over the hopes of the
+boat, my desire to venture over the main increased, rather than
+diminished, as the means for it seemed impossible.
+
+At length, I began to think whether it was not possible to make myself a
+canoe, or periagua, such as the natives of those climates make, even
+without tools, or, as I might say, without hands, of the trunk of a
+great tree. This I not only thought possible, but easy, and pleased
+myself extremely with the idea of making it, and with my having much
+more convenience for it than any of the Negroes or Indians; but not at
+all considering the particular inconveniences which I lay under more
+than the Indians did, viz. the want of hands to move it into the water
+when it was made, a difficulty much harder for me to surmount than all
+the consequences of want of tools could be to them: for what could it
+avail me, if, after I had chosen my tree, and with much trouble cut it
+down, and might be able with my tools to hew and dub the outside into
+the proper shape of a boat, and burn or cut out the inside to make it
+hollow, so as to make a boat of it; if, after all this, I must leave it
+just where I found it, and was not able to launch it into the water?
+
+One would imagine, if I had had the least reflection upon my mind of my
+circumstances while I was making this boat, I should have immediately
+thought how I was to get it into the sea: but my thoughts were so intent
+upon my voyage in it, that I never once considered how I should get it
+off the land; and it was really, in its own nature, more easy for me to
+guide it over forty-five miles of sea, than the forty-five fathoms of
+land, where it lay, to set it afloat in the water.
+
+I went to work upon this boat the most like a fool that ever man did,
+who had any of his senses awake. I pleased myself with the design,
+without determining whether I was able to undertake it; not but that the
+difficulty of launching my boat came often into my head; but I put a
+stop to my own inquiries into it, by this foolish answer: Let me first
+make it; I warrant I will find some way or other to get it along when
+it is done.
+
+This was a most preposterous method; but the eagerness of my fancy
+prevailed, and to work I went. I felled a cedar tree, and I question
+much whether Solomon ever had such a one for the building of the Temple
+at Jerusalem; it was five feet ten inches diameter at the lower part
+next the stump, and four feet eleven inches diameter at the end of
+twenty-two feet, where it lessened, and then parted into branches. It
+was not without infinite labour that I felled this tree; I was twenty
+days hacking and hewing at the bottom, and fourteen more getting the
+branches and limbs, and the vast spreading head of it, cut off: after
+this, it cost me a month to shape it and dub it to a proportion, and to
+something like the bottom of a boat, that it might swim upright as it
+ought to do. It cost me near three months more to clear the inside, and
+work it out so as to make an exact boat of it: this I did, indeed,
+without fire, by mere mallet and chisel, and by the dint of hard labour,
+till I had brought it to be a very handsome periagua, and big enough to
+have carried six and twenty men, and consequently big enough to have
+carried me and all my cargo.
+
+When I had gone through this work, I was extremely delighted with it.
+The boat was really much bigger than ever I saw a canoe or periagua,
+that was made of one tree, in my life. Many a weary stroke it had cost,
+you may be sure; and there remained nothing but to get it into the
+water; which, had I accomplished, I make no question but I should have
+begun the maddest voyage, and the most unlikely to be performed, that
+ever was undertaken.
+
+But all my devices to get it into the water failed me; though they cost
+me inexpressible labour too. It lay about one hundred yards from the
+water, and not more; but the first inconvenience was, it was up hill
+towards the creek. Well, to take away this discouragement, I resolved to
+dig into the surface of the earth, and so make a declivity: this I
+begun, and it cost me a prodigious deal of pains; (but who grudge pains
+that have their deliverance in view?) when this was worked through, and
+this difficulty managed, it was still much the same, for I could no more
+stir the canoe than I could the other boat. Then I measured the distance
+of ground, and resolved to cut a dock or canal, to bring the water up to
+the canoe, seeing I could not bring the canoe down to the water. Well, I
+began this work; and when I began to enter upon it, and calculate how
+deep it was to be dug, how broad, how the stuff was to be thrown out, I
+found by the number of hands I had, having none but my own, that it must
+have been ten or twelve years before I could have gone through with it;
+for the shore lay so high, that at the upper end it must have been at
+least twenty feet deep; this attempt, though with great reluctancy, I
+was at length obliged to give over also.
+
+This grieved me heartily; and now I saw, though too late, the folly of
+beginning a work before we count the cost, and before we judge rightly
+of our own strength to go through with it.
+
+In the middle of this work, I finished my fourth year in this place, and
+kept my anniversary with the same devotion, and with as much comfort as
+before; for, by a constant study and serious application to the word of
+God, and by the assistance of his grace, I gained a different knowledge
+from what I had before; I entertained different notions of things; I
+looked now upon the world as a thing remote, which I had nothing to do
+with, no expectation from, and, indeed, no desires about: in a word, I
+had nothing to do with it, nor was ever likely to have; I thought it
+looked, as we may perhaps look upon it hereafter, viz. as, a place I had
+lived in, but was come out of it; and well might I say, as father
+Abraham to Dives, "Between me and thee is a great gulf fixed."
+
+In the first place, I was here removed from all the wickedness of the
+world; I had neither the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, nor the
+pride of life. I had nothing to covet, for I had all that I was now
+capable of enjoying: I was lord of the whole manor; or, if I pleased, I
+might call myself king or emperor over the whole country which I had
+possession of; there were no rivals; I had no competitor, none to
+dispute sovereignty or command with me: I might have raised
+ship-loadings of corn, but I had no use for it; so I let as little grow
+as I thought enough for my occasion. I had tortoise or turtle enough,
+but now and then one was as much as I could put to any use: I had timber
+enough to have built a fleet of ships; and I had grapes enough to have
+made wine, or to have cured into raisins, to have loaded that fleet when
+it had been built.
+
+But all I could make use of was all that was valuable: I had enough to
+eat and supply my wants, and what was the rest to me? If I killed more
+flesh than I could eat, the dog must eat it, or vermin; if I sowed more
+corn than I could eat, it must be spoiled; the trees that I cut down
+were lying to rot on the ground; I could make no more use of them than
+for fuel, and that I had no other occasion for but to dress my food.
+
+In a word, the nature and experience of things dictated to me, upon just
+reflection, that all the good things of this world, are of no farther
+good to us than for our use; and that whatever we may heap up to give
+others, we enjoy only as much as we can use, and no more. The most
+covetous griping miser in the world would have been cured of the vice of
+covetousness, if he had been in my case; for I possessed infinitely more
+than I knew what to do with. I had no room for desire, except it was for
+things which I had not, and they were comparatively but trifles, though
+indeed of great use to me. I had, as I hinted before, a parcel of money,
+as well gold as silver, about thirty-six pounds sterling. Alas! there
+the nasty, sorry, useless stuff lay: I had no manner of business for
+it; and I often thought within myself, that I would have given a handful
+of it for a gross of tobacco-pipes, or for a hand-mill to grind my corn;
+nay, I would have given it all for sixpenny-worth of turnip and carrot
+seed from England, or for a handful of peas and beans, and a bottle of
+ink. As it was, I had not the least advantage by it, or benefit from it;
+but there it lay in a drawer, and grew mouldy with the damp of the cave
+in the wet seasons; and if I had had the drawer full of diamonds, it had
+been the same case,--they had been of no manner of value to me because
+of no use.
+
+I had now brought my state of life to be much more comfortable in itself
+than it was at first, and much easier to my mind, as well as to my body.
+I frequently sat down to meat with thankfulness, and admired the hand of
+God's providence, which had thus spread my table in the wilderness: I
+learned to look more upon the bright side of my condition, and less upon
+the dark side, and to consider what I enjoyed, rather than what I
+wanted: and this gave me sometimes such secret comforts, that I cannot
+express them; and which I take notice of here, to put those discontented
+people in mind of it, who cannot enjoy comfortably what God has given
+them, because they see and covet something that he has not given them.
+All our discontents about what we want, appeared to me to spring from
+the want of thankfulness for what we have.
+
+Another reflection was of great use to me, and doubtless would be so to
+any one that should fall into such distress as mine was; and this was,
+to compare my present condition with what I at first expected it would
+be; nay, with what it would certainly have been, if the good providence
+of God had not wonderfully ordered the ship to be cast up near to the
+shore, where I not only could come at her, but could bring what I got
+out of her to the shore, for my relief and comfort; without which, I had
+wanted for tools to work, weapons for defence, and gunpowder and shot
+for getting my food.
+
+I spent whole hours, I may say whole days, in representing to myself, in
+the most lively colours, how I must have acted if I had got nothing out
+of the ship. I could not have so much as got any food, except fish and
+turtles; and that, as it was long before I found any of them, I must
+have perished; that I should have lived, if I had not perished, like a
+mere savage; that if I had killed a goat or a fowl, by any contrivance,
+I had no way to flay or open it, or part the flesh from the skin and the
+bowels, or to cut it up; but must gnaw it with my teeth, and pull it
+with my claws, like a beast.
+
+These reflections made me very sensible of the goodness of Providence to
+me, and very thankful for my present condition, with all its hardships
+and misfortunes: and this part also I cannot but recommend to the
+reflection of those who are apt, in their misery, to say, Is any
+affliction like mine? Let them consider how much worse the cases of some
+people are, and their case might have been, if Providence had
+thought fit.
+
+I had another reflection, which assisted me also to comfort my mind with
+hopes; and this was comparing my present condition with what I had
+deserved, and had therefore reason to expect from the hand of
+Providence. I had lived a dreadful life, perfectly destitute of the
+knowledge and fear of God. I had been well instructed by my father and
+mother; neither had they been wanting to me, in their endeavours to
+infuse an early religious awe of God into my mind, a sense of my duty,
+and what the nature and end of my being required of me. But, alas!
+falling early into the seafaring life, which, of all lives, is the most
+destitute of the fear of God, though his terrors are always before them;
+I say, falling early into the seafaring life, and into seafaring
+company, all that little sense of religion which I had entertained was
+laughed out of me by my messmates; by a hardened despising of dangers,
+and the views of death, which grew habitual to me; by my long absence
+from all manner of opportunities to converse with any thing but what was
+like myself, or to hear any thing that was good, or tending towards it.
+
+So void was I of every thing that was good, or of the least sense of
+what I was, or was to be, that in the greatest deliverances I enjoyed
+(such as my escape from Sallee, my being taken up by the Portuguese
+master of a ship, my being planted so well in the Brazils, my receiving
+the cargo from England, and the like,) I never had once the words, Thank
+God, so much as on my mind, or in my mouth; nor in the greatest distress
+had I so much as a thought to pray to him, or so much as to say, Lord,
+have mercy upon me! no, nor to mention the name of God, unless it was to
+swear by, and blaspheme it.
+
+I had terrible reflections upon my mind for many months, as I have
+already observed, on account of my wicked and hardened life past; and
+when I looked about me, and considered what particular providences had
+attended me since my coming into this place, and how God had dealt
+bountifully with me,--had not only punished me less than my iniquity had
+deserved, but had so plentifully provided for me,--this gave me great
+hopes that my repentance was accepted, and that God had yet mercies in
+store for me.
+
+With these reflections, I worked my mind up, not only to a resignation
+to the will of God in the present disposition of my circumstances, but
+even to a sincere thankfulness for my condition; and that I, who was yet
+a living man, ought not to complain, seeing I had not the due punishment
+of my sins; that I enjoyed so many mercies which I had no reason to have
+expected in that place, that I ought never more to repine at my
+condition, but to rejoice, and to give daily thanks for that daily
+bread, which nothing but a crowd of wonders could have brought; that I
+ought to consider I had been fed by a miracle, even as great as that of
+feeding Elijah by ravens; nay, by a long series of miracles: and that I
+could hardly have named a place in the uninhabitable part of the world
+where I could have been cast more to my advantage; a place where, as I
+had no society, which was my affliction on one hand, so I found no
+ravenous beasts, no furious wolves or tigers, to threaten my life; no
+venomous or poisonous creatures which I might feed on to my hurt; no
+savages to murder and devour me. In a word, as my life was a life of
+sorrow one way, so it was a life of mercy another; and I wanted nothing
+to make it a life of comfort, but to make myself sensible of God's
+goodness to me, and care over me in this condition; and after I did make
+a just improvement of these things, I went away, and was no more sad.
+
+I had now been here so long, that many things which I brought on shore
+for my help were either quite gone, or very much wasted, and near spent.
+
+My ink, as I observed, had been gone for some time, all but a very
+little, which I eked out with water, a little and a little, till it was
+so pale, it scarce left any appearance of black upon the paper. As long
+as it lasted, I made use of it to minute down the days of the month on
+which any remarkable thing happened to me: and, first, by casting up
+times past, I remember that there was a strange concurrence of days in
+the various providences which befel me, and which, if I had been
+superstitiously inclined to observe days as fatal or fortunate, I might
+have had reason to have looked upon with a great deal of curiosity.
+
+First, I had observed, that the same day that I broke away from my
+father and my friends, and ran away to Hull, in order to go to sea, the
+same day afterwards I was taken by the Sallee man of war, and made a
+slave: the same day of the year that I escaped out of the wreck of the
+ship in Yarmouth Roads, that same day-year afterwards I made my escape
+from Sallee in the boat: and the same day of the year I was born on,
+viz. the 30th of September, that same day I had my life so miraculously
+saved twenty-six years after, when I was cast on shore in this island:
+so that my wicked life and my solitary life began both on one day.
+
+The next thing to my ink being wasted, was that of my bread, I mean the
+biscuit which I brought out of the ship; this I had husbanded to the
+last degree, allowing myself but one cake of bread a day for above a
+year; and yet I was quite without bread for near a year before I got any
+corn of my own; and great reason I had to be thankful that I had any at
+all, the getting it being, as has been already observed, next to
+miraculous.
+
+My clothes, too, began to decay mightily: as to linen, I had none for a
+great while, except some chequered shirts which I found in the chests of
+the other seamen, and which I carefully preserved, because many times I
+could bear no clothes on but a shirt; and it was a very great help to me
+that I had, among all the men's clothes of the ship, almost three dozen
+of shirts. There were also, indeed, several thick watch-coats of the
+seamen's which were left, but they were too hot to wear: and though it
+is true that the weather was so violently hot that there was no need of
+clothes, yet I could not go quite naked, no, though I had been inclined
+to it, which I was not, nor could I abide the thought of it, though, I
+was all alone. The reason why I could not go quite naked was, I could
+not bear the heat of the sun so well when quite naked as with some
+clothes on; nay, the very heat frequently blistered my skin: whereas,
+with a shirt on, the air itself made some motion, and whistling under
+the shirt, was twofold cooler than without it. No more could I ever
+bring myself to go out in the heat of the sun without a cap or hat; the
+heat of the sun beating with such violence as it does in that place,
+would give me the head-ach presently, by darting so directly upon my
+head, without a cap or hat on, so that I could not bear it; whereas, if
+I put on my hat, it would presently go away.
+
+Upon these views, I began to consider about putting the few rags I had,
+which I called clothes, into some order: I had worn out all the
+waistcoats I had, and my business was now to try if I could not make
+jackets out of the great watch-coats that I had by me, and with such
+other materials as I had; so I set to work a tailoring, or rather,
+indeed; a botching, for I made most piteous work of it. However, I made
+shift to make two or three new waistcoats, which I hoped would serve me
+a great while: as for breeches or drawers, I made but a very sorry shift
+indeed till afterwards.
+
+I have mentioned, that I saved the skins of all the creatures that I
+killed, I mean four-footed ones; and I had hung them up, stretched out
+with sticks, in the sun, by which means some of them were so dry and
+hard that they were fit for little, but others I found very useful. The
+first thing I made of these was a great cap for my head, with the hair
+on the outside, to shoot off the rain; and this I performed so well,
+that after this I made me a suit of clothes wholly of the skins, that is
+to say, a waistcoat, and breeches open at the knees, and both loose; for
+they were rather wanting to keep me cool than warm. I must not omit to
+acknowledge that they were wretchedly made; for if I was a bad
+carpenter, I was a worse tailor. However, they were such as I made very
+good shift with; and when I was abroad, if it happened to rain, the hair
+of my waistcoat and cap being uppermost, I was kept very dry.
+
+After this I spent a great deal of time and pains to make me an
+umbrella: I was indeed in great want of one, and had a great mind to
+make one; I had seen them made in the Brazils, where they were very
+useful in the great heats which are there; and I felt the heats every
+jot as great here, and greater too, being nearer the equinox: besides,
+as I was obliged to be much abroad, it was a most useful thing to me, as
+well for the rains as the heats. I took a world of pains at it, and was
+a great while before I could make any thing likely to hold; nay, after I
+thought I had hit the way, I spoiled two or three before I made one to
+my mind; but at last I made one that answered indifferently well; the
+main difficulty I found was to make it to let down: I could make it
+spread, but if it did not let down too, and draw in, it was not portable
+for me any way but just over my head, which would not do. However, at
+last, as I said, I made one to answer, and covered it with skins, the
+hair upwards, so that it cast off the rain like a pent-house, and kept
+off the sun so effectually, that I could walk out in the hottest of the
+weather with greater advantage than I could before in the coolest; and
+when I had no need of it, could close it, and carry it under my arm.
+
+Thus I lived mighty comfortably, my mind being entirely composed by
+resigning to the will of God, and throwing myself wholly upon the
+disposal of his providence. This made my life better than sociable; for
+when I began to regret the want of conversation, I would ask myself,
+whether thus conversing mutually with my own thoughts, and, as I hope I
+may say, with even God himself, by ejaculations, was not better than the
+utmost enjoyment of human society in the world?
+
+I cannot say that after this, for five years, any extraordinary thing
+happened to me, but I lived on in the same course, in the same posture
+and place, just as before; the chief things I was employed in, besides
+my yearly labour of planting my barley and rice, and curing my raisins,
+of both which I always kept up just enough to have sufficient stock of
+one year's provision beforehand; I say, besides this yearly labour, and
+my daily pursuit of going out with my gun, I had one labour, to make me
+a canoe, which at last I finished: so that by digging a canal to it of
+six feet wide, and four feet deep, I brought it into the creek, almost
+half a mile. As for the first, which was so vastly big, as I made it
+without considering beforehand, as I ought to do, how I should be able
+to launch it, so, never being able to bring it into the water, or bring
+the water to it, I was obliged to let it lie where it was, as a
+memorandum to teach me to be wiser the next time: indeed, the next time,
+though I could not get a tree proper for it, and was in a place where I
+could not get the water to it at any less distance than, as I have said,
+near half a mile, yet as I saw it was practicable at last, I never gave
+it over: and though I was near two years about it, yet I never grudged
+my labour, in hopes of having a boat to go off to sea at last.
+
+However, though my little periagua was finished, yet the size of it was
+not at all answerable to the design which I had in view when I made the
+first; I mean, of venturing over to the _terra firma_, where it was
+above forty miles broad; accordingly, the smallness of my boat assisted
+to put an end to that design, and now I thought no more of it. As I had
+a boat, my next design was to make a cruise round the island; for as I
+had been on the other side in one place, crossing, as I have already
+described it, over the land, so the discoveries I made in that little
+journey made me very eager to see other parts of the coast; and now I
+had a boat, I thought of nothing but sailing round the island.
+
+For this purpose, that I might do every thing with discretion and
+consideration, I fitted up a little mast in my boat, and made a sail to
+it out of some of the pieces of the ship's sails which lay in store, and
+of which I had a great stock by me. Having fitted my mast and sail, and
+tried the boat, I found she would sail very well: then I made little
+lockers, or boxes, at each end of my boat, to put provisions,
+necessaries, ammunition, &c. into, to be kept dry, either from rain or
+the spray of the sea; and a little long hollow place I cut in the inside
+of the boat, where I could lay my gun, making a flap to hang down over
+it, to keep it dry.
+
+I fixed my umbrella also in a step at the stern, like a mast, to stand
+over my head, and keep the heat of the sun off me, like an awning; and
+thus I every now and then took a little voyage upon the sea, but never
+went far out, nor far from the little creek. At last, being eager to
+view the circumference of my little kingdom, I resolved upon my cruise;
+and accordingly I victualled my ship for the voyage, putting in two
+dozen of loaves (cakes I should rather call them) of barley bread, an
+earthen pot full of parched rice (a food I ate a great deal of,) a
+little bottle of rum, half a goat, and powder and shot for killing more,
+and two large watch-coats, of those which, as I mentioned before, I had
+saved out of the seamen's chests; these I took, one to lie upon, and the
+other to cover me in the night.
+
+It was the 6th of November, in the sixth year of my reign, or my
+captivity, which you please, that I set out on this voyage, and I found
+it much longer than I expected; for though the island itself was not
+very large, yet when I came to the east side of it, I found a great
+ledge of rocks lie out about two leagues into the sea, some above water,
+some under it; and beyond that a shoal of sand, lying dry half a league
+more, so that I was obliged to go a great way out to sea to double
+the point.
+
+When first I discovered them, I was going to give over my enterprise,
+and come back again, not knowing how far it might oblige me to go out to
+sea, and, above all, doubting how I should get back again; so I came to
+an anchor; for I had made me a kind of an anchor with a piece of a
+broken grappling which I got out of the ship.
+
+Having secured my boat, I took my gun and went on shore, climbing up on
+a hill, which seemed to overlook that point, where I saw the full extent
+of it, and resolved to venture.
+
+In my viewing the sea from that hill where I stood, I perceived a
+strong, and indeed a most furious current, which ran to the east, and
+even came close to the point; and I took the more notice of it, because
+I saw there might be some danger, that when I came into it, I might be
+carried out to sea by the strength of it, and not be able to make the
+island again: and, indeed, had I not got first upon this hill, I believe
+it would have been so; for there was the same current on the other side
+the island, only that it set off at a farther distance, and I saw there
+was a strong eddy under the shore; so I had nothing to do but to get out
+of the first current, and I should presently be in an eddy.
+
+I lay here, however, two days, because the wind blowing pretty fresh at
+E.S.E. and that being just contrary to the said current, made a great
+breach of the sea upon the point; so that it was not safe for me to keep
+too close to the shore for the breach, nor to go too far off because of
+the stream.
+
+The third day, in the morning, the wind having abated over-night, the
+sea was calm, and I ventured: but I am a warning piece again to all
+rash and ignorant pilots; for no sooner was I come to the point, when I
+was not even my boat's length from the shore, but I found myself in a
+great depth of water, and a current like the sluice of a mill; it
+carried my boat along with it with such violence, that all I could do
+could not keep her so much as on the edge of it; but I found it hurried
+me farther and farther out from the eddy, which was on my left hand.
+There was no wind stirring to help me, and all I could do with my
+paddles signified nothing: and now I began to give myself over for lost;
+for as the current was on both sides of the island, I knew in a few
+leagues distance they must join again, and then I was irrecoverably
+gone; nor did I see any possibility of avoiding it; so that I had no
+prospect before me but of perishing, not by the sea, for that was calm
+enough, but of starving for hunger. I had indeed found a tortoise on the
+shore, as big almost as I could lift, and had tossed it into the boat;
+and I had a great jar of fresh water, that is to say, one of my earthen
+pots; but what was all this to being driven into the vast ocean, where,
+to be sure, there was no shore, no main land or island, for a thousand
+leagues at least?
+
+And now I saw how easy it was for the providence of God to make even the
+most miserable condition of mankind worse. Now I looked back upon my
+desolate solitary island, as the most pleasant place in the world; and
+all the happiness my heart could wish for was to be but there again. I
+stretched out my hands to it, with eager wishes: "O happy desert!" said
+I, "I shall never see thee more. O miserable creature! whither am I
+going!" Then I reproached myself with my unthankful temper, and how I
+had repined at my solitary condition; and now what would I give to be on
+shore there again! Thus we never see the true state of our condition
+till it is illustrated to us by its contraries, nor know how to value
+what we enjoy, but by the want of it. It is scarce possible to imagine
+the consternation I was now in, being driven from my beloved island (for
+so it appeared to me now to be) into the wide ocean, almost two leagues,
+and in the utmost despair of ever recovering it again. However, I worked
+hard, till indeed my strength was almost exhausted, and kept my boat as
+much to the northward, that is, towards the side of the current which
+the eddy lay on, as possibly I could; when about noon, as the sun passed
+the meridian, I thought I felt a little breeze of wind in my face,
+springing up from S.S.E. This cheered my heart a little, and especially
+when, in about half an hour more, it blew a pretty gentle gale. By this
+time I was got at a frightful distance from the island, and had the
+least cloudy or hazy weather intervened, I had been undone another way
+too; for I had no compass on board, and should never have known how to
+have steered towards the island, if I had but once lost sight of it; but
+the weather continuing clear, I applied myself to get up my mast again,
+and spread my sail, standing away to the north as much as possible, to
+get out of the current.
+
+Just as I had set my mast and sail, and the boat began to stretch away,
+I saw even by the clearness of the water some alteration of the current
+was near; for where the current was so strong, the water was foul; but
+perceiving the water clear, I found the current abate; and presently I
+found to the east, at about half a mile, a breach of the sea upon some
+rocks: these rocks I found caused the current to part again, and as the
+main stress of it ran away more southerly, leaving the rocks to the
+north-east, so the other returned by the repulse of the rocks, and made
+a strong eddy, which ran back again to the north-west, with a very
+sharp stream.
+
+They who know what it is to have a reprieve brought to them upon the
+ladder, or to be rescued from thieves just going to murder them, or who
+have been in such-like extremities, may guess what my present surprise
+of joy was, and how gladly I put my boat into the stream of this eddy;
+and the wind also freshening, how gladly I spread my sail to it, running
+cheerfully before the wind, and with a strong tide or eddy under foot.
+
+This eddy carried me about a league in my way back again, directly
+towards the island, but about two leagues more to the northward than the
+current which carried me away at first: so that when I came near the
+island, I found myself open to the northern shore of it, that is to say,
+the other end of the island, opposite to that which I went out from.
+
+When I had made something more than a league of way by the help of this
+current or eddy, I found it was spent, and served me no farther.
+However, I found that being between two great currents, viz. that on the
+south side, which had hurried me away, and that on the north, which lay
+about a league on the other side; I say, between these two, in the wake
+of the island, I found the water at least still, and running no way; and
+having still a breeze of wind fair for me, I kept on steering directly
+for the island, though not making such fresh way as I did before.
+
+About four o'clock in the evening, being then within a league of the
+island, I found the point of the rocks which occasioned this disaster,
+stretching out, as is described before, to the southward, and casting
+off the current more southerly, had, of course, made another eddy to the
+north, and this I found very strong, but not directly setting the way my
+course lay, which was due west, but almost full north. However, having a
+fresh gale, I stretched across this eddy, slanting north-west: and, in
+about an hour, came within about a mile of the shore, where, it being
+smooth water, I soon got to land.
+
+When I was on shore, I fell on my knees, and gave God thanks for my
+deliverance, resolving to lay aside all thoughts of my deliverance by my
+boat; and refreshing myself with such things as I had, I brought my boat
+close to the shore, in a little cove that I had spied under some trees,
+and laid me down to sleep, being quite spent with the labour and fatigue
+of the voyage.
+
+I was now at a great loss which way to get home with my boat: I had run
+so much hazard, and knew too much of the case, to think of attempting it
+by the way I went out; and what might be at the other side (I mean the
+west side) I knew not, nor had I any mind to run any more ventures; so I
+only resolved in the morning to make my way westward along the shore,
+and to see if there was no creek where I might lay up my frigate in
+safety, so as to have her again, if I wanted her. In about three miles,
+or thereabouts, coasting the shore, I came to a very good inlet or bay,
+about a mile over, which narrowed till it came to a very little rivulet
+or brook, where I found a very convenient harbour for my boat, and where
+she lay as if she had been in a little dock made on purpose for her.
+Here I put in, and having stowed my boat very safe, I went on shore, to
+look about me, and see where I was.
+
+I soon found I had but a little passed by the place where I had been
+before, when I travelled on foot to that shore; so taking nothing out of
+my boat but my gun and umbrella, for it was exceeding hot, I began my
+march. The way was comfortable enough after such a voyage as I had been
+upon, and I reached my old bower in the evening, where I found every
+thing standing as I left it; for I always kept it in good order, being,
+as I said before, my country house.
+
+I got over the fence, and laid me down in the shade, to rest my limbs,
+for I was very weary, and fell asleep: but judge you, if you can, that
+read my story, what a surprise I must be in, when I was awaked out of my
+sleep by a voice, calling me by my name several times, "Robin, Robin,
+Robin Crusoe; poor Robin Crusoe! Where are you, Robin Crusoe? Where are
+you? Where have you been!"
+
+I was so dead asleep at first, being fatigued with rowing, or paddling,
+as it is called, the first part of the day, and with walking the latter
+part, that I did not wake thoroughly; but dozing between sleeping and
+waking, thought I dreamed that somebody spoke to me; but as the voice
+continued to repeat Robin Crusoe, Robin Crusoe, at last I began to wake
+more perfectly, and was at first dreadfully frightened, and started up
+in the utmost consternation; but no sooner were my eyes open, but I saw
+my Pol sitting on the top of the hedge; and immediately knew it was he
+that spoke to me; for just in such bemoaning language I had used to talk
+to him, and teach him; and he had learned it so perfectly, that he would
+sit upon my finger, and lay his bill close to my face, and cry, "Poor
+Robin Crusoe! Where are you? Where have you been? How came you here?"
+and such things as I had taught him.
+
+However, even though I knew it was the parrot, and that indeed it could
+be nobody else, it was a good while before I could compose myself.
+First, I was amazed how the creature got thither, and then, how he
+should just keep about the place, and no where else: but as I was well
+satisfied it could be nobody but honest Pol, I got over it; and holding
+out my hand, and calling him by his name, Pol, the sociable creature
+came to me, and sat upon my thumb, as he used to do and continued
+talking to me, Poor Robin Crusoe! and how did I come here? and where had
+I been? just as if he had been overjoyed to see me again: and so I
+carried him home along with me.
+
+I now had enough of rambling to sea for some time, and had enough to do
+for many days, to sit still, and reflect upon the danger I had been in.
+I would have been very glad to have had my boat again on my side of the
+island; but I knew not how it was practicable to get it about. As to the
+east side of the island, which I had gone round, I knew well enough
+there was no venturing that way; my very heart would shrink, and my very
+blood run chill, but to think of it; and as to the other side of the
+island, I did not know how it might be there; but supposing the current
+ran with the same force against the shore at the east as it passed by it
+on the other, I might run the same risk of being driven down the stream,
+and carried by the island, as I had been before of being carried away
+from it; so, with these thoughts, I contented myself to be without any
+boat, though it had been the product of so many months' labour to make
+it, and of so many more to get it into the sea.
+
+In this government of my temper I remained near a year, lived a very
+sedate, retired life, as you may well suppose; and my thoughts being
+very much composed, as to my condition, and fully comforted in resigning
+myself to the dispositions of Providence, I thought I lived really very
+happily in all things, except that of society.
+
+I improved myself in this time in all the mechanic exercises which my
+necessities put me upon applying myself to; and I believe I could, upon
+occasion, have made a very good carpenter, especially considering how
+few tools I had.
+
+Besides this, I arrived at an unexpected perfection in my earthen-ware,
+and contrived well enough to make them with a wheel, which I found
+infinitely easier and better; because I made things round and shapable,
+which before were filthy things indeed to look on. But I think I was
+never more vain of my own performance, or more joyful for any thing I
+found out, than for my being able to make a tobacco-pipe; and though it
+was a very ugly clumsy thing when it was done, and only burnt red, like
+other earthen-ware, yet as it was hard and firm, and would draw the
+smoke, I was exceedingly comforted with it, for I had been always used
+to smoke: and there were pipes in the ship, but I forgot them at first,
+not thinking that there was tobacco in the island; and afterwards, when
+I searched the ship again, I could not come at any pipes at all.
+
+In my wicker-ware also I improved much, and made abundance of necessary
+baskets, as well as my invention showed me; though not very handsome,
+yet they were such as were very handy and convenient for my laying
+things up in, or fetching things home. For example, if I killed a goat
+abroad, I could hang it up in a tree, flay it, dress it, and cut it in
+pieces, and bring it home in a basket; and the like by a turtle: I could
+cut it up, take out the eggs, and a piece or two of the flesh, which was
+enough for me, and bring them home in a basket, and leave the rest
+behind me. Also large deep baskets were the receivers of my corn, which
+I always rubbed out as soon as it was dry, and cured, and kept it in
+great baskets.
+
+I began now to perceive my powder abated considerably; this was a want
+which it was impossible for me to supply, and I began seriously to
+consider what I must do when I should have no more powder; that is to
+say, how I should do to kill any goats. I had, as is observed, in the
+third year of my being here, kept a young kid, and bred her up tame, and
+I was in hopes of getting a he-goat: but I could not by any means bring
+it to pass, till my kid grew an old goat; and as I could never find in
+my heart to kill her, she died at last of mere age.
+
+But being now in the eleventh year of my residence, and, as I have said,
+my ammunition growing low, I set myself to study some art to trap and
+snare the goats, to see whether I could not catch some of them alive;
+and particularly, I wanted a she-goat great with young. For this
+purpose, I made snares to hamper them; and I do believe they were more
+than once taken in them; but my tackle was not good, for I had no wire,
+and I always found them broken, and my bait devoured. At length I
+resolved to try a pitfall: so I dug several large pits in the earth, in
+places where I had observed the goats used to feed, and over those pits
+I placed hurdles, of my own making too, with a great weight upon them;
+and several times I put ears of barley and dry rice, without setting the
+trap; and I could easily perceive that the goats had gone in and eaten
+up the corn, for I could see the marks of their feet. At length I set
+three traps in one night, and going the next morning, I found them all
+standing, and yet the bait eaten and gone; this was very discouraging.
+However, I altered my traps; and, not to trouble you with particulars,
+going one morning to see my traps, I found in one of them a large old
+he-goat, and in one of the others three kids, a male and two females.
+
+As to the old one, I knew not what to do with him; he was so fierce, I
+durst not go into the pit to him; that is to say, to go about to bring
+him away alive, which was what I wanted: I could have killed him, but
+that was not my business, nor would it answer my end; so I even let him
+out, and he ran away, as if he had been frightened out of his wits. But
+I did not then know what I afterwards learnt, that hunger will tame a
+lion. If I had let him stay there three or four days without food, and
+then have carried him some water to drink, and then a little corn, he
+would have been as tame as one of the kids; for they are mighty
+sagacious, tractable creatures, where they are well used.
+
+However, for the present I let him go, knowing no better at that time:
+then I went to the three kids, and taking them one by one, I tied them
+with strings together, and with some difficulty brought them all home.
+
+It was a good while before they would feed; but throwing them some sweet
+corn, it tempted them, and they began to be tame. And now I found that
+if I expected to supply myself with goat's flesh when I had no powder or
+shot left, breeding some up tame was my only way; when, perhaps, I might
+have them about my house like a flock of sheep. But then it occurred to
+me, that I must keep the tame from the wild, or else they would always
+run wild when they grew up: and the only way for this was, to have some
+enclosed piece of ground, well fenced, either with hedge or pale, to
+keep them in so effectually, that those within might not break out, or
+those without break in.
+
+This was a great undertaking for one pair of hands; yet as I saw there
+was an absolute necessity for doing it, my first work was to find out a
+proper piece of ground, where there was likely to be herbage for them
+to eat, water for them to drink, and cover to keep them from the sun.
+
+Those who understand such enclosures will think I had very little
+contrivance, when I pitched upon a place very proper for all these
+(being a plain open piece of meadow land, or savannah, as our people
+call it in the western colonies,) which had two or three little drills
+of fresh water in it, and at one end was very woody; I say, they will
+smile at my forecast, when I shall tell them, I began my enclosing this
+piece of ground in such a manner, that my hedge or pale must have been
+at least two miles about. Nor was the madness of it so great as to the
+compass, for if it was ten miles about, I was like to have time enough
+to do it in; but I did not consider that my goats would be as wild in so
+much compass as if they had had the whole island, and I should have so
+much room to chase them in, that I should never catch them.
+
+My hedge was begun and carried on, I believe about fifty yards, when
+this thought occurred to me; so I presently stopped short, and, for the
+first beginning, I resolved to enclose a piece of about 150 yards in
+length, and 100 yards in breadth; which, as it would maintain as many as
+I should have in any reasonable time, so, as my stock increased, I could
+add more ground to my enclosure.
+
+This was acting with some prudence, and I went to work with courage. I
+was about three months hedging in the first piece; and, till I had done
+it, I tethered the three kids in the best part of it, and used them to
+feed as near me as possible, to make them familiar; and very often I
+would go and carry them some ears of barley, or a handful of rice, and
+feed them out of my hand: so that after my enclosure was finished, and I
+let them loose, they would follow me up and down, bleating after me for
+a handful of corn.
+
+This answered my end; and in about a year and a half I had a flock of
+about twelve goats, kids and all; and in two years more, I had three and
+forty, besides several that I took and killed for my food. After that I
+enclosed five several pieces of ground to feed them in, with little pens
+to drive them into, to take them as I wanted, and gates out of one piece
+of ground into another.
+
+But this was not all; for now I not only had goat's flesh to feed on
+when I pleased, but milk too; a thing which, indeed, in the beginning, I
+did not so much as think of, and which, when it came into my thoughts,
+was really an agreeable surprise: for now I set up my dairy, and had
+sometimes a gallon or two of milk in a day. And as nature, who gives
+supplies of food to every creature, dictates even naturally how to make
+use of it, so I, that had never milked a cow, much less a goat, or seen
+butter or cheese made, only when I was a boy, after a great many essays
+and miscarriages, made me both butter and cheese at last, and also salt
+(though I found it partly made to my hand by the heat of the sun upon
+some of the rocks of the sea,) and never wanted it afterwards. How
+mercifully can our Creator treat his creatures, even in those conditions
+in which they seemed to be overwhelmed in destruction! How can he
+sweeten the bitterest providences, and give us cause to praise him for
+dungeons and prisons! What a table was here spread for me in a
+wilderness, where I saw nothing, at first, but to perish for hunger!
+
+It would have made a stoic smile, to have seen me and my little family
+sit down to dinner: there was my majesty, the prince and lord of the
+whole island; I had the lives of all my subjects at my absolute command;
+I could hang, draw, give liberty, and take it away; and no rebels among
+all my subjects. Then to see how like a king I dined too, all alone,
+attended by my servants! Pol, as if he had been my favourite, was the
+only person permitted to talk to me. My dog, who was now grown very old
+and crazy, and had found no species to multiply his kind upon, sat
+always at my right hand; and two cats, one on one side of the table, and
+one on the other, expecting now and then a bit from my hand, as a mark
+of special favour.
+
+But these were not the two cats which I brought on shore at first, for
+they were both of them dead, and had been interred near my habitation by
+my own hand; but one of them having multiplied by I know not what kind
+of creature, these were two which I had preserved tame; whereas the rest
+run wild in the woods, and became indeed troublesome to me at last; for
+they would often come into my house, and plunder me too, till at last I
+was obliged to shoot them, and did kill a great many; at length they
+left me.--With this attendance, and in this plentiful manner, I lived;
+neither could I be said to want any thing but society: and of that, some
+time after this, I was like to have too much.
+
+I was something impatient, as I have observed, to have the use of my
+boat, though very loth to run any more hazards; and therefore sometimes
+I sat contriving ways to get her about the island, and at other times I
+sat myself down contented enough without her. But I had a strange
+uneasiness in my mind to go down to the point of the island, where, as I
+have said, in my last ramble, I went up the hill to see how the shore
+lay, and how the current set, that I might see what I had to do: this
+inclination increased upon me every day, and at length I resolved to
+travel thither by land, following the edge of the shore. I did so; but
+had any one in England been to meet such a man as I was, it must either
+have frightened him, or raised a great deal of laughter: and as I
+frequently stood still to look at myself, I could not but smile at the
+notion of my travelling through Yorkshire, with such an equipage, and in
+such a dress. Be pleased to take a sketch of my figure, as follows:
+
+I had a great high shapeless cap, made of a goat's skin, with a flap
+hanging down behind, as well to keep the sun from me as to shoot the
+rain off from running into my neck: nothing being so hurtful in these
+climates as the rain upon the flesh, under the clothes.
+
+I had a short jacket of goat's skin, the skirts coming down to about the
+middle of the thighs, and a pair of open-kneed breeches of the same; the
+breeches were made of the skin of an old he-goat, whose hair hung down
+such a length on either side, that, like pantaloons, it reached to the
+middle of my legs; stockings and shoes I had none, but had made me a
+pair of somethings, I scarce know what to call them, like buskins, to
+flap over my legs, and lace on either side like spatterdashes: but of a
+most barbarous shape, as inded were all the rest of my clothes.
+
+I had on a broad belt of goat's skin dried, which I drew together with
+two thongs of the same, instead of buckles; and in a kind of a frog on
+either side of this, instead of a sword and dagger, hung a little saw
+and a hatchet; one on one side, and one on the other. I had another
+belt, not so broad, and fastened in the same manner, which hung over my
+shoulder; and at the end of it, under my left arm, hung two pouches,
+both made of goat's skin too; in one of which hung my powder, in the
+other my shot. At my back I carried my basket, and on my shoulder my
+gun; and over my head a great clumsy ugly goat's skin umbrella, but
+which, after all, was the most necessary thing I had about me, next to
+my gun. As for my face, the colour of it was really not so mulatto-like
+as one might expect from a man not at all careful of it, and living
+within nine or ten degrees of the equinox. My beard I had once suffered
+to grow till it was about a quarter of a yard long; but as I had both
+scissars and razors sufficient, I had cut it pretty short, except what
+grew on my upper lip, which I had trimmed into a large pair of Mahometan
+whiskers, such as I had seen worn by some Turks at Sallee; for the Moors
+did not wear such, though the Turks did: of these mustachios or
+whiskers, I will not say they were long enough to hang my hat upon them,
+but they were of a length and shape monstrous enough, and such as, in
+England, would have passed for frightful.
+
+But all this is by the bye; for, as to my figure, I had so few to
+observe me that it was of no manner of consequence; so I say no more to
+that part. In this kind of figure I went my new journey, and was out
+five or six days. I travelled first along the sea-shore, directly to the
+place where I first brought my boat to an anchor, to get upon the rocks;
+and having no boat now to take care of, I went over the land, a nearer
+way, to the same height that I was upon before; when looking forward to
+the point of the rocks which lay out, and which I was obliged to double
+with my boat, as is said above, I was surprised to see the sea all
+smooth and quiet; no rippling, no motion, no current, any more there
+than in any other places. I was at a strange loss to understand this,
+and resolved to spend some time in the observing it, to see if nothing
+from the sets of the tide had occasioned it; but I was presently
+convinced how it was, viz. that the tide of ebb setting from the west,
+and joining with the current of waters, from some great river on the
+shore, must be the occasion of this current; and that according as the
+wind blew more forcibly from the west, or from the north, this current
+came nearer, or went farther from the shore; for waiting thereabouts
+till evening, I went up to the rock again, and then the tide of ebb
+being made, I plainly saw the current again as before, only that it ran
+farther off, being near half a league from the shore; whereas in my
+case, it set close upon the shore, and hurried me and my canoe along
+with it; which, at another time, it would not have done.
+
+This observation convinced me, that I had nothing to do but to observe
+the ebbing and the flowing of the tide, and I might very easily bring my
+boat about the island again: but when I began to think of putting it in
+practice, I had such a terror upon my spirits at the remembrance of the
+danger I had been in, that I could not think of it again with any
+patience; but, on the contrary, I took up another resolution, which was
+more safe, though more laborious; and this was, that I would build, or
+rather make me another periagua or canoe; and so have one for one side
+of the island, and one for the other.
+
+You are to understand, that now I had, as I may call it, two plantations
+in the island; one, my little fortification or tent, with the wall about
+it, under the rock, with the cave behind me, which, by this time, I had
+enlarged into several apartments or caves, one within another. One of
+these, which was the driest and largest, and had a door out beyond my
+wall or fortification, that is to say, beyond where my wall joined to
+the rock, was all filled up with the large earthen pots, of which I have
+given an account, and with fourteen or fifteen great baskets, which
+would hold five or six bushels each, where I laid up my stores of
+provision, especially my corn, some in the ear, cut off short from the
+straw, and the other rubbed out with my hand.
+
+As for my wall, made, as before, with long stakes or piles, those piles
+grew all like trees, and were by this time grown so big, and spread so
+very much, that there was not the least appearance, to any one's view,
+of any habitation behind them.
+
+Near this dwelling of mine, but a little farther within the land, and
+upon lower ground, lay my two pieces of corn land, which I kept duly
+cultivated and sowed, and which duly yielded me their harvest in its
+season: and whenever I had occasion for more corn, I had more land
+adjoining as fit as that.
+
+Besides this, I had my country seat; and I had now a tolerable
+plantation there also: for, first, I had my little bower, as I called
+it, which I kept in repair; that is to say, I kept the hedge which
+encircled it in constantly fitted up to its usual height, the ladder
+standing always in the inside: I kept the trees, which at first were no
+more than my stakes, but were now grown very firm and tall, always cut
+so, that they might spread and grow thick and wild, and make the more
+agreeable shade; which they did effectually to my mind. In the middle of
+this I had my tent always standing, being a piece of a sail spread over
+poles, set up for that purpose, and which never wanted any repair or
+renewing; and under this I had made me a squab or couch, with the skins
+of the creatures I had killed, and with other soft things; and a blanket
+laid on them, such as belonged to our sea-bedding, which I had saved,
+and a great watch-coat to cover me; and here, whenever I had occasion to
+be absent from my chief seat, I took up my country habitation.
+
+Adjoining to this I had my enclosures for my cattle, that is to say, my
+goats; and as I had taken an inconceivable deal of pains to fence and
+enclose this ground, I was so anxious to see it kept entire, lest the
+goats should break through, that I never left off, till, with infinite
+labour, I had stuck the outside of the hedge so full of small stakes,
+and so near to one another, that it was rather a pale than a hedge, and
+there was scarce room to put a hand through between them; which
+afterwards, when those stakes grew, as they all did in the next rainy
+season, made the enclosure strong like a wall,--indeed, stronger
+than any wall.
+
+This will testify for me that I was not idle, and that I spared no pains
+to bring to pass whatever appeared necessary for my comfortable support;
+for I considered the keeping up a breed of tame creatures thus at my
+hand would be a living magazine of flesh, milk, butter, and cheese for
+me as long as I lived in the place, if it were to be forty years; and
+that keeping them in my reach depended entirely upon my perfecting my
+enclosures to such a degree, that I might be sure of keeping them
+together; which, by this method, indeed, I so effectually secured, that
+when these little stakes began to grow, I had planted them so very
+thick, that I was forced to pull some of them up again.
+
+In this place also I had my grapes growing, which I principally depended
+on for my winter store of raisins, and which I never failed to preserve
+very carefully, as the best and most agreeable dainty of my whole diet:
+and indeed they were not only agreeable, but medicinal, wholesome,
+nourishing, and refreshing to the last degree.
+
+As this was also about half-way between my other habitation and the
+place where I had laid up my boat, I generally stayed and lay here in my
+way thither; for I used frequently to visit my boat; and I kept all
+things about, or belonging to her, in very good order: sometimes I went
+out in her to divert myself, but no more hazardous voyages would I go,
+nor scarce ever above a stone's cast or two from the shore, I was so
+apprehensive of being hurried out of my knowledge again by the currents
+or winds, or any other accident. But now I come to a new scene of
+my life.
+
+It happened one day, about noon, going towards my boat, I was
+exceedingly surprised with the print of a man's naked foot on the shore,
+which was very plain to be seen in the sand. I stood like one
+thunder-struck, or as if I had seen an apparition; I listened, I looked
+round me, but I could hear nothing, nor see any thing; I went up to a
+rising ground, to look farther; I went up the shore, and down the shore,
+but it was all one; I could see no other impression but that one. I went
+to it again to see if there were any more, and to observe if it might
+not be my fancy; but there was no room for that, for there was exactly
+the print of a foot, toes, heel, and every part of a foot: how it came
+thither I knew not, nor could I in the least imagine; but, after
+innumerable fluttering thoughts, like a man perfectly confused and out
+of myself, I came home to my fortification, not feeling, as we say, the
+ground I went on, but terrified to the last degree: looking behind me at
+every two or three steps, mistaking every bush and tree, and fancying
+every stump at a distance to be a man. Nor is it possible to describe
+how many various shapes my affrighted imagination represented things to
+me in, how many wild ideas were found every moment in my fancy, and what
+strange unaccountable whimsies came into my thoughts by the way.
+
+When I came to my castle (for so I think I called it ever after this,) I
+fled into it like one pursued; whether I went over by the ladder, as
+first contrived, or went in at the hole in the rock, which I had called
+a door, I cannot remember; no, nor could I remember the next morning;
+for never frightened hare fled to cover, or fox to earth, with more
+terror of mind than I to this retreat.
+
+I slept none that night; the farther I was from the occasion of my
+fright, the greater my apprehensions were; which is something contrary
+to the nature of such things, and especially to the usual practice of
+all creatures in fear; but I was so embarrassed with my own frightful
+ideas of the thing, that I formed nothing but dismal imaginations to
+myself, even though I was now a great way off it. Sometimes I fancied it
+must be the Devil, and reason joined in with me upon this supposition;
+for how should any other thing in human shape come into the place? Where
+was the vessel that brought them? What marks were there of any other
+footsteps? And how was it possible a man should come there? But then to
+think that Satan should take human shape upon him in such a place, where
+there could be no manner of occasion for it, but to leave the print of
+his foot behind him, and that even for no purpose too, for he could not
+be sure I should see it,--this was an amusement the other way. I
+considered that the Devil might have found out abundance of other ways
+to have terrified me than this of the single print of a foot; that as I
+lived quite on the other side of the island, he would never have been so
+simple as to leave a mark in a place where it was ten thousand to one
+whether I should ever see it or not, and in the sand too, which the
+first surge of the sea, upon a high wind, would have defaced entirely:
+all this seemed inconsistent with the thing itself, and with all the
+notions we usually entertain of the subtilty of the Devil.
+
+Abundance of such things as these assisted to argue me out of all
+apprehensions of its being the Devil; and I presently concluded then,
+that it must be some more dangerous creature, viz. that it must be some
+of the savages of the main land over against me, who had wandered out to
+sea in their canoes, and either driven by the currents or by contrary
+winds, had made the island, and had been on shore, but were gone away
+again to sea; being as loth, perhaps, to have stayed in this desolate
+island as I would have been to have had them.
+
+While these reflections were rolling upon my mind, I was very thankful
+in my thoughts that I was so happy as not to be thereabouts at that
+time, or that they did not see my boat, by which they would have
+concluded that some inhabitants had been in the place, and perhaps have
+searched farther for me: then terrible thoughts racked my imagination
+about their having found my boat, and that there were people here; and
+that if so, I should certainly have them come again in greater numbers,
+and devour me; that if it should happen so that they should not find me,
+yet they would find my enclosure, destroy all my corn, and carry away
+all my flock of tame goats, and I should perish at last for mere want.
+
+Thus my fear banished all my religious hope, all that former confidence
+in God, which was founded upon such wonderful experience as I had had of
+his goodness, as if he that had fed me by miracle hitherto could not
+preserve, by his power, the provision which he had made for me by his
+goodness. I reproached myself with my laziness, that would not sow any
+more corn one year than would just serve me till the next season, as if
+no accident would intervene to prevent my enjoying the crop that was
+upon the ground; and this I thought so just a reproof, that I resolved
+for the future to have two or three years' corn beforehand; so that
+whatever might come, I might not perish for want of bread.
+
+How strange a chequer-work of Providence is the life of man! and by what
+secret different springs are the affections hurried about, as different
+circumstances present! To-day we love what to-morrow we hate; to-day we
+seek what to-morrow we shun; to-day we desire what to-morrow we fear,
+nay, even tremble at the apprehensions of; this was exemplified in me,
+at this time, in the most lively manner imaginable; for I, whose only
+affliction was that I seemed banished from human society, that I was
+alone, circumscribed by the boundless ocean, cut off from mankind, and
+condemned to what I called silent life; that I was as one whom Heaven
+thought not worthy to be numbered among the living, or to appear among
+the rest of his creatures; that to have seen one of my own species would
+have seemed to me a raising me from death to life, and the greatest
+blessing that Heaven itself, next to the supreme blessing of salvation,
+could bestow; I say, that I should now tremble at the very apprehensions
+of seeing a man, and was ready to sink into the ground at but the shadow
+or silent appearance of a man's having set his foot in the island.
+
+Such is the uneven state of human life; and it afforded me a great many
+curious speculations afterwards, when I had a little recovered my first
+surprise. I considered that this was the station of life the infinitely
+wise and good providence of God had determined for me; that as I could
+not foresee what the ends of divine wisdom might be in all this, so I
+was not to dispute his sovereignty, who, as I was his creature, had an
+undoubted right, by creation, to govern and dispose of me absolutely as
+he thought fit; and who, as I was a creature that had offended him, had
+likewise a judicial right to condemn me to what punishment he thought
+fit; and that it was my part to submit to bear his indignation, because
+I had sinned against him. I then reflected, that as God, who was not
+only righteous, but omnipotent, had thought fit thus to punish and
+afflict me, so he was able to deliver me; that if he did not think fit
+to do so, it was my unquestioned duty to resign myself absolutely and
+entirely to his will; and, on the other hand, it was my duty also to
+hope in him, pray to him, and quietly to attend the dictates and
+directions of his daily providence.
+
+These thoughts took me up many hours, days, nay, I may say, weeks and
+months; and one particular effect of my cogitations on this occasion I
+cannot omit: One morning early, lying in my bed, and filled with
+thoughts about my danger from the appearances of savages, I found it
+discomposed me very much; upon which these words of the Scripture came
+into my thoughts, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will
+deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Upon this, rising cheerfully
+out of my bed, my heart was not only comforted, but I was guided and
+encouraged to pray earnestly to God for deliverance: when I had done
+praying, I took up my Bible, and opening it to read, the first words
+that presented to me were, "Wait on the Lord, and be of good cheer, and
+he shall strengthen thy heart; wait, I say, on the Lord." It is
+impossible to express the comfort this gave me. In answer, I thankfully
+laid down the book, and was no more sad, at least on that occasion.
+
+In the middle of these cogitations, apprehensions, and reflections, it
+came into my thoughts one day, that all this might be a mere chimera of
+my own, and that this foot might be the print of my own foot, when I
+came on shore from my boat: this cheered me up a little too, and I began
+to persuade myself it was all a delusion; that it was nothing else but
+my own foot: and why might I not come that way from the boat, as well as
+I was going that way to the boat? Again, I considered also, that I could
+by no means tell, for certain, where I had trod, and where I had not;
+and that if, at last, this was only the print of my own foot, I had
+played the part of those fools who try to make stories of spectres and
+apparitions, and then are frightened at them more than any body.
+
+Now I began to take courage, and to peep abroad again, for I had not
+stirred out of my castle for three days and nights, so that I began to
+starve for provisions; for I had little or nothing within doors but some
+barley-cakes and water: then I knew that my goats wanted to be milked
+too, which usually was my evening diversion; and the poor creatures were
+in great pain and inconvenience for want of it; and, indeed, it almost
+spoiled some of them, and almost dried up their milk. Encouraging
+myself, therefore, with the belief that this was nothing but the print
+of one of my own feet, and that I might be truly said to start at my own
+shadow, I began to go abroad again, and went to my country-house to milk
+my flock: but to see with what fear I went forward, how often I looked
+behind me, how I was ready, every now and then, to lay down my basket,
+and run for my life, it would have made any one have thought I was
+haunted with an evil conscience, or that I had been lately most terribly
+frightened; and so, indeed, I had. However, as I went down thus two or
+three days, and having seen nothing, I began to be a little bolder, and
+to think there was really nothing in it but my own imagination; but I
+could not persuade myself fully of this till I should go down to the
+shore again, and see this print of a foot, and measure it by my own, and
+see if there was any similitude or fitness, that I might be assured it
+was my own foot: but when I came to the place, first, it appeared
+evidently to me, that when I laid up my boat, I could not possibly be on
+shore any where thereabouts: secondly, when I came to measure the mark
+with my own foot, I found my foot not so large by a great deal. Both
+these things filled my head with new imaginations, and gave me the
+vapours again to the highest degree, so that I shook with cold like one
+in an ague; and I went home again, filled with the belief that some man
+or men had been on shore there; or, in short, that the island was
+inhabited, and I might be surprised before I was aware; and what course
+to take for my security I knew not.
+
+O what ridiculous resolutions men take when possessed with fear! It
+deprives them of the use of those means which reason offers for their
+relief. The first thing I proposed to myself was, to throw down my
+enclosures, and turn all my tame cattle wild into the woods, lest the
+enemy should find them, and then frequent the island in prospect of the
+same or the like booty: then to the simple thing of digging up my two
+corn fields, lest they should find such a grain there, and still be
+prompted to frequent the island: then to demolish my bower and tent,
+that they might not see any vestiges of habitation, and be prompted to
+look farther, in order to find out the persons inhabiting.
+
+These were the subject of the first night's cogitataions after I was
+come home again, while the apprehensions which had so over-run my mind
+were fresh upon me, and my head was full of vapours, as above. Thus fear
+of danger is ten thousand times more terrifying than danger itself, when
+apparent to the eyes; and we find the burthen of anxiety greater, by
+much, than the evil which we are anxious about: and, which was worse
+than all this, I had not that relief in this trouble from the
+resignation I used to practise, that I hoped to have. I looked, I
+thought, like Saul, who complained not, only that the Philistines were
+upon him, but that God had forsaken him; for I did not now take due ways
+to compose my mind, by crying to God in my distress, and resting upon
+his providence, as I had done before, for my defence and deliverance;
+which, if I had done, I had at least been more cheerfully supported
+under this new surprise, and perhaps carried through it with more
+resolution.
+
+This confusion of my thoughts kept me awake all night; but in the
+morning I fell asleep; and having, by the amusement of my mind, been, as
+it were, tired, and my spirits exhausted, I slept very soundly, and
+waked much better composed than I had ever been before. And now I began
+to think sedately; and, upon the utmost debate with myself, I concluded
+that this island, which was so exceeding pleasant, fruitful, and no
+farther from the main land than as I had seen, was not so entirely
+abandoned as I might imagine; that although there were no stated
+inhabitants who lived on the spot, yet that there might sometimes come
+boats off from the shore, who, either with design, or perhaps never but
+when they were driven by cross winds, might come to this place; that I
+had lived here fifteen years now, and had not met with the least shadow
+or figure of any people yet; and that if at any time they should be
+driven here, it was probable they went away again as soon as ever they
+could, seeing they had never thought fit to fix here upon any occasion;
+that the most I could suggest any danger from, was from any casual
+accidental landing of straggling people from the main, who, as it was
+likely, if they were driven hither, were here against their wills, so
+they made no stay here, but went off again with all possible speed;
+seldom staying one night on shore, lest they should not have the help of
+the tides and daylight back again; and that, therefore, I had nothing to
+do but to consider of some safe retreat, in case I should see any
+savages land upon the spot.
+
+Now I began sorely to repent that I had dug my cave so large as to bring
+a door through again, which door, as I said, came out beyond where my
+fortification joined to the rock: upon maturely considering this,
+therefore, I resolved to draw me a second fortification, in the same
+manner of a semi-circle, at a distance from my wall, just where I had
+planted a double row of trees about twelve years before, of which I made
+mention: these trees having been planted so thick before, they wanted
+but few piles to be driven between them, that they might be thicker and
+stronger, and my wall would be soon finished: so that I had now a double
+wall; and my outer wall was thickened with pieces of timber, old cables,
+and every thing I could think of, to make it strong; having in it seven
+little holes, about as big as I might put my arm out at. In the inside
+of this, I thickened my wall to about ten feet thick, with continually
+bringing earth out of my cave, and laying it at the foot of the wall,
+and walking upon it; and through the seven holes I contrived to plant
+the muskets, of which I took notice that I had got seven on shore out of
+the ship; these I planted like my cannon, and fitted them into frames,
+that held them like a carriage, so that I could fire all the seven guns
+in two minutes' time: this wall I was many a weary month in finishing,
+and yet never thought myself safe till it was done.
+
+When this was done, I stuck all the ground without my wall, for a great
+length every way, as full with stakes, or sticks, of the osier-like
+wood, which I found so apt to grow, as they could well stand; insomuch,
+that I believe I might set in near twenty thousand of them, leaving a
+pretty large space between them and my wall, that I might have room to
+see an enemy, and they might have no shelter from the young trees, if
+they attempted to approach my outer wall.
+
+Thus, in two years' time, I had a thick grove; and in five or six years'
+time I had a wood before my dwelling, growing so monstrous thick and
+strong, that it was indeed perfectly impassable; and no men, of what
+kind soever, would ever imagine that there was any thing beyond it, much
+less a habitation. As for the way which I proposed to myself to go in
+and out (for I left no avenue,) it was by setting two ladders, one to a
+part of the rock which was low, and then broke in, and left room to
+place another ladder upon that; so when the two ladders were taken down,
+no man living could come down to me without doing himself mischief; and
+if they had come down, they were still on the outside of my outer wall.
+
+Thus I took all the measures human prudence could suggest for my own
+preservation; and it will be seen, at length, that they were not
+altogether without just reason; though I foresaw nothing at that time
+more than my mere fear suggested to me.
+
+While this was doing, I was not altogether careless of my other affairs;
+for I had a great concern upon me for my little herd of goats; they were
+not only a ready supply to me on every occasion, and began to be
+sufficient for me, without the expense of powder and shot, but also
+without the fatigue of hunting after the wild ones; and I was loth to
+lose the advantage of them, and to have them all to nurse up
+over again.
+
+For this purpose, after long consideration, I could think of but two
+ways to preserve them: one was, to find another convenient place to dig
+a cave under ground, and to drive them into it every night; and the
+other was, to enclose two or three little bits of land, remote from one
+another, and as much concealed as I could, where I might keep about half
+a dozen young goats in each place; so that if any disaster happened to
+the flock in general, I might be able to raise them again with little
+trouble and time: and this, though it would require a great deal of time
+and labour, I thought was the most rational design.
+
+Accordingly, I spent some time to find out the most retired parts of the
+island; and I pitched upon one, which was as private, indeed, as my
+heart could wish for: it was a little damp piece of ground, in the
+middle of the hollow and thick woods, where, as is observed, I almost
+lost myself once before, endeavouring to come back that way from the
+eastern part of the island. Here I found a clear piece of land, near
+three acres, so surrounded with woods, that it was almost an enclosure
+by nature; at least, it did not want near so much labour to make it so
+as the other pieces of ground I had worked so hard at.
+
+I immediately went to work with this piece of ground, and in less than a
+month's time I had so fenced it round, that my flock, or herd, call it
+which you please, who were not so wild now as at first they might be
+supposed to be, were well enough secured in it: so, without any farther
+delay, I removed ten young she-goats and two he-goats to this piece;
+and when they were there, I continued to perfect the fence, till I had
+made it as secure as the other; which, however, I did at more leisure,
+and it took me up more time by a great deal. All this labour I was at
+the expense of, purely from my apprehensions on the account of the print
+of a man's foot which I had seen; for, as yet, I never saw any human
+creature come near the island; and I had now lived two years under this
+uneasiness, which, indeed, made my life much less comfortable than it
+was before, as may be well imagined by any who know what it is to live
+in the constant snare of the fear of man. And this I must observe, with
+grief too, that the discomposure of my mind had too great impressions
+also upon the religious part of my thoughts: for the dread and terror of
+falling into the hands of savages and cannibals lay so upon my spirits,
+that I seldom found myself in a due temper for application to my Maker,
+at least not with the sedate calmness and resignation of soul which I
+was wont to do: I rather prayed to God as under great affliction and
+pressure of mind, surrounded with danger, and in expectation every night
+of being murdered and devoured before morning; and I must testify from
+my experience, that a temper of peace, thankfulness, love, and
+affection, is much the more proper frame for prayer than that of terror
+and discomposure; and that under the dread of mischief impending, a man
+is no more fit for a comforting performance of the duty of praying to
+God, than he is for a repentance on a sick bed; for these discomposures
+affect the mind, as the others do the body; and the discomposure of the
+mind must necessarily be as great a disability as that of the body, and
+much greater; praying to God being properly an act of the mind, not
+of the body.
+
+But to go on: after I had thus secured one part of my little living
+stock, I went about the whole island, searching for another private
+place to make such another deposit; when, wandering more to the west
+point of the island than I had ever done yet, and looking out to sea, I
+thought I saw a boat upon the sea, at a great distance. I had found a
+perspective-glass or two in one of the seamen's chests, which I saved
+out of our ship, but I had it not about me; and this was so remote, that
+I could not tell what to make of it, though I looked at it till my eyes
+were not able to hold to look any longer: whether it was a boat or not,
+I do not know, but as I descended from the hill I could see no more of
+it; so I gave it over; only I resolved to go no more out without a
+perspective-glass in my pocket. When I was come down the hill to the end
+of the island, where, indeed, I had never been before, I was presently
+convinced that the seeing the print of a man's foot was not such a
+strange thing in the island as I imagined: and, but that it was a
+special providence that I was cast upon the side of the island where the
+savages never came, I should easily have known that nothing was more
+frequent than for the canoes from the main, when they happened to be a
+little too far out at sea, to shoot over to that side of the island for
+harbour: likewise, as they often met and fought in their canoes, the
+victors, having taken any prisoners, would bring them over to this
+shore, where, according to their dreadful customs, being all cannibals,
+they would kill and eat them; of which hereafter.
+
+When I was come down the hill to the shore, as I said above, being the
+S.W. point of the island, I was perfectly confounded and amazed; nor is
+it possible for me to express the horror of my mind, at seeing the shore
+spread with skulls, hands, feet, and other bones of human bodies; and
+particularly, I observed a place where there had been a fire made, and a
+circle dug in the earth, like a cock-pit, where I supposed the savage
+wretches had sat down to their inhuman feastings upon the bodies of
+their fellow creatures.
+
+I was so astonished with the sight of these things, that I entertained
+no notions of any danger to myself from it for a long while: all my
+apprehensions were buried in the thoughts of such a pitch of inhuman,
+hellish brutality, and the horror of the degeneracy of human nature,
+which, though I had heard of it often, yet I never had so near a view of
+before: in short, I turned away my face from the horrid spectacle; my
+stomach grew sick, and I was just at the point of fainting, when nature
+discharged the disorder from my stomach; and having vomited with
+uncommon violence, I was a little relieved, but could not bear to stay
+in the place a moment; so I got me up the hill again with all the speed
+I could, and walked on towards my own habitation.
+
+When I came a little out of that part of the island, I stood still
+awhile, as amazed, and then recovering myself, I looked up with the
+utmost affection of my soul, and, with a flood of tears in my eyes, gave
+God thanks, that had cast my first lot in a part of the world where I
+was distinguished from such dreadful creatures as these; and that,
+though I had esteemed my present condition very miserable, had yet given
+me so many comforts in it, that I had still more to give thanks for than
+to complain of: and this, above all, that I had, even in this miserable
+condition, been comforted with the knowledge of Himself, and the hope of
+His blessing; which was a felicity more than sufficiently equivalent to
+all the misery which I had suffered, or could suffer.
+
+In this frame of thankfulness, I went home to my castle, and began to be
+much easier now, as to the safety of my circumstances, than ever I was
+before: for I observed that these wretches never came to this island in
+search of what they could get; perhaps not seeking, not wanting, or not
+expecting, any thing here; and having often, no doubt, been up in the
+covered, woody part of it, without finding any thing to their purpose. I
+knew I had been here now almost eighteen years, and never saw the least
+footsteps of human creature there before; and I might be eighteen years
+more as entirely concealed as I was now, if I did not discover myself to
+them, which I had no manner of occasion to do; it being my only business
+to keep myself entirely concealed where I was, unless I found a better
+sort of creatures than cannibals to make myself known to. Yet I
+entertained such an abhorrence of the savage wretches that I have been
+speaking of, and of the wretched inhuman custom of their devouring and
+eating one another up, that I continued pensive and sad, and kept close
+within my own circle, for almost two years after this; when I say my
+own circle, I mean by it my three plantations, viz. my castle, my
+country-seat, which I called my bower, and my enclosure in the woods:
+nor did I look after this for any other use than as an enclosure for my
+goats; for the aversion which nature gave me to these hellish wretches
+was such, that I was as fearful of seeing them as of seeing the Devil
+himself. I did not so much as go to look after my boat all this time,
+but began rather to think of making me another; for I could not think of
+ever making any more attempts to bring the other boat round the island
+to me, lest I should meet with some of these creatures at sea; in which
+if I had happened to have fallen into their hands, I knew what would
+have been my lot.
+
+Time, however, and the satisfaction I had that I was in no danger of
+being discovered by these people, began to wear off my uneasiness about
+them; and I began to live just in the same composed manner as before;
+only with this difference, that I used more caution, and kept my eyes
+more about me, than I did before, lest I should happen to be seen by any
+of them; and particularly, I was more cautious of firing my gun, lest
+any of them being on the island should happen to hear it. It was
+therefore a very good providence to me that I had furnished myself with
+a tame breed of goats, and that I had no need to hunt any more about the
+woods, or shoot at them; and if I did catch any of them after this, it
+was by traps and snares, as I had done before: so that for two years
+after this, I believe I never fired my gun once off, though I never went
+out without it; and, which was more, as I had saved three pistols out
+of the ship, I always carried them out with me, or at least two of them,
+sticking them in my goat-skin belt. I also furbished up one of the great
+cutlasses that I had out of the ship, and made me a belt to hang it on
+also; so that I was now a most formidable fellow to look at when I went
+abroad, if you add to the former description of myself, the particular
+of two pistols, and a great broad-sword hanging at my side in a belt,
+but without a scabbard.
+
+Things going on thus, as I have said, for some time, I seemed, excepting
+these cautions, to be reduced to my former calm sedate way of living.
+All these things tended to show me, more and more, how far my condition
+was from being miserable, compared to some others; nay, to many other
+particulars of life, which it might have pleased God to have made my
+lot. It put me upon reflecting how little repining there would be among
+mankind at any condition of life, if people would rather compare their
+condition with those that were worse, in order to be thankful, than be
+always comparing them with those which are better, to assist their
+murmurings and complainings.
+
+As in my present condition there were not really many things which I
+wanted, so, indeed, I thought that the frights I had been in about these
+savage wretches, and the concern I had been in for my own preservation,
+had taken off the edge of my invention for my own conveniences; and I
+had dropped a good design, which I had once bent my thoughts too much
+upon, and that was, to try if I could not make some of my barley into
+malt, and then try to brew myself some beer. This was really a whimsical
+thought, and I reproved myself often for the simplicity of it; for I
+presently saw there would be the want of several things necessary to the
+making my beer, that it would be impossible for me to supply: as, first,
+casks to preserve it in, which was a thing that, as I have observed
+already, I could never compass; no, though I spent not only many days,
+but weeks, nay, months, in attempting it, but to no purpose. In the next
+place, I had no hops to make it keep, no yeast to make it work, no
+copper or kettle to make it boil; and yet, with all these things
+wanting, I verily believe, had not the frights and terrors I was in
+about the savages intervened, I had undertaken it, and perhaps brought
+it to pass too; for I seldom gave any thing over without accomplishing
+it, when once I had it in my head to begin it. But my invention now ran
+quite another way; for, night and day, I could think of nothing but how
+I might destroy some of these monsters in their cruel, bloody
+entertainment, and, if possible, save the victim they should bring
+hither to destroy. It would take up a larger volume than this whole work
+is intended to be, to set down all the contrivances I hatched, or rather
+brooded upon, in my thoughts, for the destroying these creatures, or at
+least frightening them so as to prevent their coming hither any more:
+but all this was abortive; nothing could be possible to take effect,
+unless I was to be there to do it myself: and what could one man do
+among them, when perhaps there might be twenty or thirty of them
+together, with their darts, or their bows and arrows, with which they
+could shoot as true to a mark as I could with my gun?
+
+Sometimes I thought of digging a hole under the place where they made
+their fire, and putting in five or six pounds of gunpowder, which, when
+they kindled their fire, would consequently take fire, and blow up all
+that was near it: but as, in the first place, I should be unwilling to
+waste so much powder upon them, my store being now within the quantity
+of one barrel, so neither could I be sure of its going off at any
+certain time, when it might surprise them; and, at best, that it would
+do little more than just blow the fire about their ears, and fright
+them, but not sufficient to make them forsake the place: so I laid it
+aside; and then proposed that I would place myself in ambush in some
+convenient place, with my three guns all double-loaded, and, in the
+middle of their bloody ceremony, let fly at them, when I should be sure
+to kill or wound perhaps two or three at every shot; and then falling in
+upon them with my three pistols, and my sword, I made no doubt but that
+if there were twenty I should kill them all. This fancy pleased my
+thoughts for some weeks; and I was so full of it, that I often dreamed
+of it, and sometimes that I was just going to let fly at them in my
+sleep. I went so far with it in my imagination, that I employed myself
+several days to find out proper places to put myself in ambuscade, as I
+said, to watch for them; and I went frequently to the place itself,
+which was now grown more familiar to me: but while my mind was thus
+filled with thoughts of revenge, and a bloody putting twenty or thirty
+of them to the sword, as I may call it, the horror I had at the place,
+and at the signals of the barbarous wretches devouring one another,
+abetted my malice. Well, at length, I found a place in the side of the
+hill, where I was satisfied I might securely wait till I saw any of
+their boats coming: and might then, even before they would be ready to
+come on shore, convey myself, unseen, into some thickets of trees, in
+one of which there was a hollow large enough to conceal me entirely and
+there I might sit and observe all their bloody doings, and take my full
+aim at their heads, when they were so close together as that it would be
+next to impossible that I should miss my shot, or that I could fail
+wounding three or four of them at the first shot. In this place, then, I
+resolved to fix my design; and, accordingly, I prepared two muskets and
+my ordinary fowling-piece. The two muskets I loaded with a brace of
+slugs each, and four or five smaller bullets, about the size of
+pistol-bullets; and the fowling-piece I loaded with near a handful of
+swan-shot, of the largest size: I also loaded my pistols with about four
+bullets each; and in this posture, well provided with ammunition for a
+second and third charge, I prepared myself for my expedition.
+
+After I had thus laid the scheme of my design, and, in my imagination,
+put it in practice, I continually made my tour every morning up to the
+top of the hill, which was from my castle, as I called it, about three
+miles, or more, to see if I could observe any boats upon the sea, coming
+near the island, or standing over towards it: but I began to tire of
+this hard duty, after I had, for two or three months, constantly kept
+my watch, but came always back without any discovery; there having not,
+in all that time, been the least appearance, not only on or near the
+shore, but on the whole ocean, so far as my eyes or glasses could reach
+every way.
+
+As long as I kept my daily tour to the hill to look out, so long also I
+kept up the vigour of my design, and my spirits seemed to be all the
+while in a suitable form for so outrageous an execution as the killing
+twenty or thirty naked savages, for an offence which I had not at all
+entered into a discussion of in my thoughts, any farther than my
+passions were at first fired by the horror I conceived at the unnatural
+custom of the people of that country; who, it seems, had been suffered
+by Providence, in his wise disposition of the world, to have no other
+guide than that of their own abominable and vitiated passions; and,
+consequently, were left, and perhaps had been so for some ages, to act
+such horrid things, and receive such dreadful customs, as nothing but
+nature, entirely abandoned by Heaven, and actuated by some hellish
+degeneracy, could have run them into. But now, when, as I have said, I
+began to be weary of the fruitless excursion which I had made so long
+and so far every morning in vain, so my opinion of the action itself
+began to alter; and I began, with cooler and calmer thoughts, to
+consider what I was going to engage in; what authority or call I had to
+pretend to be judge and executioner upon these men as criminals, whom
+Heaven had thought fit, for so many ages, to suffer, unpunished, to go
+on, and to be, as it were, the executioners of his judgments one upon
+another. How far these people were offenders against me, and what right
+I had to engage in the quarrel of that blood which they shed
+promiscuously upon one another, I debated this very often with myself,
+thus: How do I know what God himself judges in this particular case? It
+is certain these people do not commit this as a crime; it is not against
+their own consciences reproving, or their light reproaching them; they
+do not know it to be an offence, and then commit it in defiance of
+divine justice, as we do in almost all the sins we commit. They think it
+no more a crime to kill a captive taken in war, than we do to kill an
+ox; nor to eat human flesh, than we do to eat mutton.
+
+When I considered this a little, it followed necessarily that I was
+certainly in the wrong in it; that these people were not murderers in
+the sense that I had before condemned them in my thoughts, any more than
+those Christians were murderers who often put to death the prisoners
+taken in battle; or more frequently, upon many occasions, put whole
+troops of men to the sword, without giving quarter, though they threw
+down their arms and submitted. In the next place, it occurred to me,
+that although the usage they gave one another was thus brutish and
+inhuman, yet it was really nothing to me; these people had done me no
+injury: that if they attempted me, or I saw it necessary, for my
+immediate preservation, to fall upon them, something might be said for
+it; but that I was yet out of their power, and they really had no
+knowledge of me, and consequently no design upon me; and therefore it
+could not be just for me to fall upon them: that this would justify the
+conduct of the Spaniards in all their barbarities practised in America,
+where they destroyed millions of these people: who, however they were
+idolaters and barbarians, and had several bloody and barbarous rites in
+their customs, such as sacrificing human bodies to their idols, were
+yet, as to the Spaniards, very innocent people; and that the rooting
+them out of the country is spoken of with the utmost abhorrence and
+detestation by even the Spaniards themselves at this time, and by all
+other Christian nations in Europe, as a mere butchery, a bloody and
+unnatural piece of cruelty, unjustifiable either to God or man; and for
+which the very name of a Spaniard is reckoned to be frightful and
+terrible to all people of humanity, or of Christian compassion; as if
+the kingdom of Spain were particularly eminent for the produce of a race
+of men who were without principles of tenderness, or the common bowels
+of pity to the miserable, which is reckoned to be a mark of generous
+temper in the mind.
+
+These considerations really put me to a pause, and to a kind of a full
+stop; and I began, by little and little, to be off my design, and to
+conclude I had taken wrong measures in my resolution to attack the
+savages; and that it was not my business to meddle with them, unless
+they first attacked me; and this it was my business, if possible, to
+prevent; but that if I were discovered and attacked by them, I knew my
+duty. On the other hand, I argued with myself, that this really was the
+way not to deliver myself, but entirely to ruin and destroy myself; for
+unless I was sure to kill every one that not only should be on shore at
+that time, but that should ever come on shore afterwards, if but one of
+them escaped to tell their country-people what had happened, they would
+come over again by thousands to revenge the death of their fellows, and
+I should only bring upon myself a certain destruction, which, at
+present, I had no manner of occasion for. Upon the whole, I concluded,
+that neither in principle nor in policy, I ought, one way or other, to
+concern myself in this affair: that my business was, by all possible
+means, to conceal myself from them, and not to leave the least signal to
+them to guess by that there were any living creatures upon the island, I
+mean of human shape. Religion joined in with this prudential resolution;
+and I was convinced now, many ways, that I was perfectly out of my duty
+when I was laying all my bloody schemes for the destruction of innocent
+creatures, I mean innocent as to me. As to the crimes they were guilty
+of towards one another, I had nothing to do with them; they were
+national, and I ought to leave them to the justice of God, who is the
+governor of nations, and knows how, by national punishments, to make a
+just retribution for national offences, and to bring public judgments
+upon those who offend in a public manner, by such ways as best please
+him. This appeared so clear to me now, that nothing was a greater
+satisfaction to me than that I had not been suffered to do a thing which
+I now saw so much reason to believe would have been no less a sin than
+that of wilful murder, if I had committed it; and I gave most humble
+thanks on my knees to God, that had thus delivered me from
+blood-guiltiness; beseeching him to grant me the protection of his
+providence, that I might not fall into the hands of the barbarians, or
+that I might not lay my hands upon them, unless I had a more clear call
+from Heaven to do it, in defence of my own life.
+
+In this disposition I continued for near a year after this; and so far
+was I from desiring an occasion for falling upon these wretches, that in
+all that time I never once went up the hill to see whether there were
+any of them in sight, or to know whether any of them had been on shore
+there or not, that I might not be tempted to renew any of my
+contrivances against them, or be provoked, by any advantage which might
+present itself, to fall upon them: only this I did, I went and removed
+my boat, which I had on the other side of the island, and carried it
+down to the east end of the whole island, where I ran it into a little
+cove, which I found under some high rocks, and where I knew, by reason
+of the currents, the savages durst not, at least would not come, with
+their boats, upon any account whatever. With my boat I carried away
+every thing that I had left there belonging to her, though not necessary
+for the bare going thither, viz. a mast and sail which I had made for
+her, and a thing like an anchor, but which, indeed, could not be called
+either anchor or grapnel; however, it was the best I could make of its
+kind: all these I removed, that there might not be the least shadow of
+any discovery, or any appearance of any boat, or of any human
+habitation, upon the island. Besides this, I kept myself, as I said,
+more retired than ever, and seldom went from my cell, other than upon my
+constant employment, viz. to milk my she-goats, and manage my little
+flock in the wood, which, as it was quite on the other part of the
+island, was quite out of danger; for certain it is, that these savage
+people, who sometimes haunted this island, never came with any thoughts
+of finding any thing here, and consequently never wandered off from the
+coast; and I doubt not but they might have been several times on shore
+after my apprehensions of them had made me cautious, as well as before.
+Indeed, I looked back with some horror upon the thoughts of what my
+condition would have been if I had chopped upon them and been discovered
+before that, when, naked and unarmed, except with one gun, and that
+loaded often only with small shot, I walked every where, peeping and
+peering about the island to see what I could get; what a surprise should
+I have been in, if, when I discovered the print of a man's foot, I had,
+instead of that, seen fifteen or twenty savages, and found them pursuing
+me, and by the swiftness of their running, no possibility of my escaping
+them! The thoughts of this sometimes sunk my very soul within me, and
+distressed my mind so much, that I could not soon recover it, to think
+what I should have done, and how I should not only have been unable to
+resist them, but even should not have had presence of mind enough to do
+what I might have done; much less what now, after so much consideration
+and preparation, I might be able to do. Indeed, after serious thinking
+of these things, I would be very melancholy, and sometimes it would last
+a great while; but I resolved it all, at last, into thankfulness to that
+Providence which had delivered me from so many unseen dangers, and had
+kept from me those mischiefs which I could have no way been the agent in
+delivering myself from, because I had not the least notion of any such
+thing depending, or the least supposition of its being possible. This
+renewed a contemplation which often had come to my thoughts in former
+time, when first I began to see the merciful dispositions of Heaven, in
+the dangers we run through in this life; how wonderfully we are
+delivered when we know nothing of it; how, when we are in a quandary,
+(as we call it) a doubt or hesitation, whether to go this way, or that
+way, a secret hint shall direct us this way, when we intended to go that
+way: nay, when sense, our own inclination, and perhaps business, has
+called to go the other way, yet a strange impression upon the mind, from
+we know not what springs, and by we know not what power, shall over-rule
+us to go this way; and it shall afterwards appear, that had we gone that
+way which we should have gone, and even to our imagination ought to have
+gone, we should have been ruined and lost. Upon these, and many like
+reflections, I afterwards made it a certain rule with me, that whenever
+I found those secret hints or pressings of mind, to doing or not doing
+any thing that presented, or going this way or that way, I never failed
+to obey the secret dictate; though I knew no other reason for it than
+that such a pressure, or such a hint, hung upon my mind. I could give
+many examples of the success of this conduct in the course of my life,
+but more especially in the latter part of my inhabiting this unhappy
+island; besides many occasions which it is very likely I might have
+taken notice of, if I had seen with the same eyes then that I see with
+now. But it is never too late to be wise; and I cannot but advise all
+considering men, whose lives are attended with such extraordinary
+incidents as mine, or even though not so extraordinary, not to slight
+such secret intimations of Providence, let them come from what invisible
+intelligence they will. That I shall not discuss, and perhaps cannot
+account for; but certainly they are a proof of the converse of spirits,
+and a secret communication between those embodied and those unembodied,
+and such a proof as can never be withstood; of which I shall have
+occasion to give some very remarkable instances in the remainder of my
+solitary residence in this dismal place.
+
+I believe the reader of this will not think it strange if I confess that
+these anxieties, these constant dangers I lived in, and the concern that
+was now upon me, put an end to all invention, and to all the
+contrivances that I had laid for my future accommodations and
+conveniences. I had the care of my safety more now upon my hands than
+that of my food. I cared not to drive a nail, or chop a stick of wood
+now, for fear the noise I might make should be heard: much less would I
+fire a gun, for the same reason: and, above all, I was intolerably
+uneasy at making any fire, lest the smoke, which is visible at a great
+distance in the day, should betray me. For this reason I removed that
+part of my business which required fire, such as burning of pots and
+pipes, &c. into my new apartment in the woods; where, after I had been
+some time, I found, to my unspeakable consolation, a mere natural cave
+in the earth, which went in a vast way, and where, I dare say, no
+savage, had he been at the mouth of it, would be so hardy as to venture
+in; nor, indeed, would any man else, but one who, like me, wanted
+nothing so much as a safe retreat.
+
+The mouth of this hollow was at the bottom of a great rock, where by
+mere accident (I would say, if I did not see abundant reason to ascribe
+all such things now to Providence,) I was cutting down some thick
+branches of trees to make charcoal; and before I go on, I must observe
+the reason of my making this charcoal, which was thus: I was afraid of
+making a smoke about my habitation, as I said before; and yet I could
+not live there without baking my bread, cooking my meat, &c.; so I
+contrived to burn some wood here, as I had seen done in England, under
+turf, till it became chark, or dry coal: and then putting the fire out,
+I preserved the coal to carry home, and perform the other services for
+which fire was wanting, without danger of smoke. But this is by the
+by:--While I was cutting down some wood here, I perceived that behind a
+very thick branch of low brush-wood, or under-wood, there was a kind of
+hollow place: I was curious to look in it, and getting with difficulty
+into the mouth of it, I found it was pretty large: that is to say,
+sufficient for me to stand upright in it, and perhaps another with me:
+but I must confess to you that I made more haste out than I did in,
+when, looking farther into the place, and which was perfectly dark, I
+saw two broad shining eyes of some creature, whether devil or man I knew
+not, which twinkled like two stars; the dim light from the cave's mouth
+shining directly in, and making the reflection. However, after some
+pause, I recovered myself, and began to call myself a thousand fools,
+and to think, that he that was afraid to see the devil was not fit to
+live twenty years in an island all alone; and that I might well think
+there was nothing in this cave that was more frightful than myself. Upon
+this, plucking up my courage, I took up a firebrand, and in I rushed
+again, with the stick flaming in my hand: I had not gone three steps in,
+but I was almost as much frightened as I was before; for I heard a very
+loud sigh, like that of a man in some pain, and it was followed by a
+broken noise, as of words half-expressed, and then a deep sigh again. I
+stepped back, and was indeed struck with such a surprise, that it put me
+into a cold sweat; and if I had had a hat on my head, I will not answer
+for it, that my hair might not have lifted it off. But still plucking up
+my spirits as well as I could, and encouraging myself a little with
+considering that the power and presence of God was every where, and was
+able to protect me, upon this I stepped forward again, and by the light
+of the firebrand, holding it up a little over my head, I saw lying on
+the ground a most monstrous, frightful, old he-goat just making his
+will, as we say, and gasping for life; and dying, indeed, of mere old
+age. I stirred him a little to see if I could get him out, and he
+essayed to get up, but was not able to raise himself; and I thought with
+myself he might even lie there; for if he had frightened me, so he would
+certainly fright any of the savages, if any one of them should be so
+hardy as to come in there while he had any life in him.
+
+I was now recovered from my surprise, and began to look round me, when I
+found the cave was but very small, that is to say, it might be about
+twelve feet over, but in no manner of shape, neither round nor square,
+no hands having ever been employed in making it but those of mere
+Nature. I observed also that there was a place at the farther side of it
+that went in further, but was so low that it required me to creep upon
+my hands and knees to go into it, and whither it went I knew not: so
+having no candle, I gave it over for that time; but resolved to come
+again the next day, provided with candles and a tinder-box, which I had
+made of the lock of one of the muskets, with some wild fire in the pan.
+
+Accordingly, the next day I came provided with six large candles of my
+own making (for I made very good candles now of goats' tallow, but was
+hard set for candle-wick, using sometimes rags or rope-yarn, and
+sometimes the dried rind of a weed like nettles;) and going into this
+low place, I was obliged to creep upon all fours, as I have said, almost
+ten yards; which, by the way, I thought was a venture bold enough,
+considering that I knew not how far it might go, nor what was beyond it.
+When I had got through the strait, I found the roof rose higher up, I
+believe near twenty feet; but never was such a glorious sight seen in
+the island, I dare say, as it was, to look round the sides and roof of
+this vault or cave; the wall reflected an hundred thousand lights to me
+from my two candles. What it was in the rock, whether diamonds, or any
+other precious stones, or gold, which I rather supposed it to be, I
+knew not. The place I was in was a most delightful cavity or grotto of
+its kind, as could be expected, though perfectly dark; the floor was dry
+and level, and had a sort of a small loose gravel upon it, so that there
+was no nauseous or venomous creature to be seen, neither was there any
+damp or wet on the sides or roof: the only difficulty in it was the
+entrance; which, however, as it was a place of security, and such a
+retreat as I wanted, I thought that was a convenience; so that I was
+really rejoiced at the discovery, and resolved, without any delay, to
+bring some of those things which I was most anxious about to this place;
+particularly, I resolved to bring hither my magazine of powder, and all
+my spare arms, viz. two fowling-pieces, for I had three in all, and
+three muskets, for of them I had eight in all: so I kept at my castle
+only five, which stood ready-mounted, like pieces of cannon, on my
+outmost fence; and were ready also to take out upon any expedition. Upon
+this occasion of removing my ammunition, I happened to open the barrel
+of powder, which I took up out of the sea, and which had been wet; and I
+found that the water had penetrated about three or four inches into the
+powder on every side, which, caking, and growing hard, had preserved the
+inside like a kernel in the shell; so that I had near sixty pounds of
+very good powder in the centre of the cask: this was a very agreeable
+discovery to me at that time; so I carried all away thither, never
+keeping above two or three pounds of powder with me in my castle, for
+fear of a surprise of any kind: I also carried thither all the lead I
+had left for bullets.
+
+I fancied myself now like one of the ancient giants, which were said to
+live in caves and holes in the rocks, where none could come at them; for
+I persuaded myself, while I was here, that if five hundred savages were
+to hunt me, they could never find me out; or, if they did, they would
+not venture to attack me here. The old goat, whom I found expiring, died
+in the mouth of the cave the next day after I made this discovery: and I
+found it much easier to dig a great hole there, and throw him in and
+cover him with earth, than to drag him out; so I interred him there, to
+prevent offence to my nose.
+
+I was now in the twenty-third year of my residence in this island; and
+was so naturalized to the place, and the manner of living, that could I
+have but enjoyed the certainty that no savages would come to the place
+to disturb me, I could have been content to have capitulated for
+spending the rest of my time there, even to the last moment, till I had
+laid me down and died, like the old goat in the cave. I had also arrived
+to some little diversions and amusements, which made the time pass a
+great deal more pleasantly with me than it did before: as, first, I had
+taught my Pol, as I noted before, to speak; and he did it so familiarly,
+and talked so articulately and plain, that it was very pleasant to me;
+for I believe no bird ever spoke plainer; and he lived with me no less
+than six and twenty years: how long he might have lived afterwards I
+know not, though I know they have a notion in the Brazils that they
+live a hundred years. My dog was a very pleasant and loving companion to
+me for no less than sixteen years of my time, and then died of mere old
+age. As for my cats, they multiplied, as I have observed, to that
+degree, that I was obliged to shoot several of them at first, to keep
+them from devouring me and all I had; but, at length, when the two old
+ones I brought with me were gone, and after some time continually
+driving them from me, and letting them have no provision with me, they
+all ran wild into the woods, except two or three favourites, which I
+kept tame, and whose young, when they had any, I always drowned; and
+these were part of my family. Besides these, I always kept two or three
+household kids about me, whom I taught to feed out of my hand; and I had
+two more parrots, which talked pretty well, and would all call Robin
+Crusoe, but none like my first; nor, indeed, did I take the pains with
+any of them that I had done with him. I had also several tame sea-fowls,
+whose names I knew not, that I caught upon the shore, and cut their
+wings; and the little stakes which I had planted before my castle wall
+being now grown up to a good thick grove, these fowls all lived among
+these low trees, and bred there, which was very agreeable to me; so
+that, as I said above, I began to be very well contented with the life I
+led, if I could have been secured from the dread of the savages. But it
+was otherwise directed; and it may not be amiss for all people who shall
+meet with my story, to make this just observation from it, viz. How
+frequently, in the course of our lives, the evil which in itself we seek
+most to shun, and which, when we are, fallen into, is the most dreadful
+to us, is oftentimes the very means or door of our deliverance, by which
+alone we can be raised again from the affliction we are fallen into. I
+could give many examples of this in the course of my unaccountable life;
+but in nothing was it more particularly remarkable than in the
+circumstances of my last years of solitary residence in this island.
+
+It was now the month of December, as I said above, in my twenty-third
+year; and this, being the southern solstice (for winter I cannot call
+it,) was the particular time of my harvest, and required my being pretty
+much abroad in the fields: when going out pretty early in the morning,
+even before it was thorough daylight, I was surprised with seeing a
+light of some fire upon the shore, at a distance from me of about two
+miles, towards the end of the island where I had observed some savages
+had been, as before, and not on the other side; but, to my great
+affliction, it was on my side of the island.
+
+I was indeed terribly surprised at the sight, and stopped short within
+my grove, not daring to go out, lest I might be surprised, and yet I had
+no more peace within, from the apprehensions I had that if these
+savages, in rambling over the island, should find my corn standing or
+cut, or any of my works and improvements, they would immediately
+conclude that there were people in the place, and would then never give
+over till they had found me out. In this extremity, I went back directly
+to my castle, pulled up the ladder after me, and made all things without
+look as wild and natural as I could.
+
+Then I prepared myself within, putting myself in a posture of defence:
+I loaded all my cannon, as I called them, that is to say, my muskets,
+which were mounted upon my new fortification, and all my pistols, and
+resolved to defend myself to the last gasp; not forgetting seriously to
+commend myself to the divine protection, and earnestly to pray to God to
+deliver me out of the hands of the barbarians. I continued in this
+posture about two hours; and began to be mighty impatient for
+intelligence abroad, for I had no spies to send out. After sitting
+awhile longer, and musing what I should do in this, I was not able to
+bear sitting in ignorance any longer; so setting up my ladder to the
+side of the hill, where there was a flat place, as I observed before,
+and then pulling the ladder up after me, I set it up again, and mounted
+to the top of the hill; and pulling out my perspective-glass, which I
+had taken on purpose, I laid me down flat on my belly on the ground, and
+began to look for the place. I presently found there were no less than
+nine naked savages, sitting round a small fire they had made, not to
+warm them, for they had no need of that, the weather being extremely
+hot, but, as I supposed, to dress some of their barbarous diet of human
+flesh, which they had brought with them, whether alive or dead, I
+could not tell.
+
+They had two canoes with them, which they had hauled up upon the shore;
+and as it was then tide of ebb, they seemed to me to wait for the return
+of the flood to go away again. It is not easy to imagine what confusion
+this sight put me into, especially seeing them come on my side of the
+island, and so near me too; but when I considered their coming must be
+always with the current of the ebb, I began, afterwards, to be more
+sedate in my mind, being satisfied that I might go abroad with safety
+all the time of the tide of flood, if they were not on shore before: and
+having made this observation, I went abroad about my harvest-work with
+the more composure.
+
+As I expected, so it proved; for as soon as the tide made to the
+westward, I saw them all take boat, and row (or paddle, as we call it)
+away. I should have observed, that for an hour or more before they went
+off, they went a dancing; and I could easily discern their postures and
+gestures by my glass. I could not perceive, by my nicest observation,
+but that they were stark naked, and had not the least covering upon
+them; but whether they were men or women, I could not distinguish.
+
+As soon as I saw them shipped and gone, I took two guns upon my
+shoulders, and two pistols in my girdle, and my great sword by my side,
+without a scabbard, and with all the speed I was able to make, went away
+to the hill where I had discovered the first appearance of all; and as
+soon as I got thither, which was not in less than two hours (for I could
+not go apace, being so loaden with arms as I was,) I perceived there had
+been three canoes more of savages at that place; and looking out
+farther, I saw they were all at sea together, making over for the main.
+This was a dreadful sight to me, especially as, going down to the shore,
+I could see the marks of horror, which the dismal work they had been
+about had left behind it, viz. the blood, the bones, and part of the
+flesh, of human bodies, eaten and devoured by those wretches with
+merriment and sport. I was so filled with indignation at the sight, that
+I now began to premeditate the destruction of the next that I saw there,
+let them be whom or how many soever. It seemed evident to me that the
+visits which they made thus to this island were not very frequent, for
+it was above fifteen months before any more of them came on shore there
+again; that is to say, I neither saw them; nor any footsteps or signals
+of them, in all that time; for, as to the rainy seasons, then they are
+sure not to come abroad, at least not so far: yet all this while I lived
+uncomfortably, by reason of the constant apprehensions of their coming
+upon me by surprise: from whence I observe, that the expectation of evil
+is more bitter than the suffering, especially if there is no room to
+shake off that expectation, or those apprehensions.
+
+During all this time I was in the murdering humour, and took up most of
+my hours, which should have been better employed, in contriving how to
+circumvent and fall upon them, the very next time I should see them;
+especially if they should be divided, as they were the last time, into
+two parties: nor did I consider at all, that if I killed one party,
+suppose ten or a dozen, I was still the next day, or week, or month, to
+kill another, and so another, even _ad infinitum_, till I should be at
+length no less a murderer than they were in being man-eaters, and
+perhaps much more so. I spent my days now in great perplexity and
+anxiety of mind, expecting that I should, one day or other, fall into
+the hands of these merciless creatures; and if I did at any time
+venture abroad, it was not without looking round me with the greatest
+care and caution imaginable. And now I found, to my great comfort, how
+happy it was that I had provided a tame flock or herd of goats; for I
+durst not, upon any account, fire my gun, especially near that side of
+the island where they usually came, lest I should alarm the savages; and
+if they had fled from me now, I was sure to have them come again, with
+perhaps two or three hundred canoes with them, in a few days, and then I
+knew what to expect. However, I wore out a year and three months more
+before I ever saw any more of the savages, and then I found them again,
+as I shall soon observe. It is true, they might have been there once or
+twice, but either they made no stay, or at least I did not see them: but
+in the month of May, as near as I could calculate, and in my four and
+twentieth year, I had a very strange encounter with them; of which in
+its place.
+
+The perturbation of my mind, during this fifteen or sixteen months'
+interval, was very great; I slept unquiet, dreamed always frightful
+dreams, and often started out of my sleep in the night: in the day great
+troubles overwhelmed my mind; and in the night, I dreamed often of
+killing the savages, and of the reasons why I might justify the doing of
+it. But, to wave all this for a while.--It was in the middle of May, on
+the sixteenth day, I think, as well as my poor wooden calendar would
+reckon, for I marked all upon the post still; I say, it was on the
+sixteenth of May that it blew a very great storm of wind all day, with a
+great deal of lightning and thunder, and a very foul night it was after
+it. I knew not what was the particular occasion of it, but as I was
+reading in the Bible, and taken up with very serious thoughts about my
+present condition, I was surprised with the noise of a gun, as I
+thought, fired at sea. This was, to be sure, a surprise quite of a
+different nature from any I had met with before; for the notions this
+put into my thoughts were quite of another kind. I started up in the
+greatest haste imaginable, and, in a trice, clapped my ladder to the
+middle place of the rock, and pulled it after me; and mounting it the
+second time, got to the top of the hill the very moment that a flash of
+fire bid me listen for a second gun, which accordingly, in about half a
+minute, I heard; and, by the sound, knew that it was from that part of
+the sea where I was driven down the current in my boat. I immediately
+considered that this must be some ship in distress, and that they had
+some comrade, or some other ship in company, and fired these guns for
+signals of distress, and to obtain help. I had the presence of mind, at
+that minute, to think, that though I could not help them, it might be
+they might help me: so I brought together all the dry wood I could get
+at hand, and making a good handsome pile, I set it on fire upon the
+hill. The wood was dry, and blazed freely; and though the wind blew very
+hard, yet it burnt fairly out, so that I was certain, if there was any
+such thing as a ship, they must needs see it, and no doubt they did; for
+as soon as ever my fire blazed up I heard another gun, and after that
+several others, all from the same quarter, I plied my fire all night
+long, till daybreak; and when it was broad day, and the air cleared up,
+I saw something at a great distance at sea, full east of the island,
+whether a sail or a hull I could not distinguish, no, not with my glass;
+the distance was so great, and the weather still something hazy also; at
+least it was so out at sea.
+
+I looked frequently at it all that day, and soon perceived that it did
+not move; so I presently concluded that it was a ship at anchor; and
+being eager, you may be sure, to be satisfied, I took my gun in my hand,
+and ran towards the south side of the island, to the rocks where I had
+formerly been carried away with the current; and getting up there, the
+weather by this time being perfectly clear, I could plainly see, to my
+great sorrow, the wreck of a ship, cast away in the night upon those
+concealed rocks which I found when I was out in my boat; and which
+rocks, as they checked the violence of the stream, and made a kind of
+counter-stream, or eddy, were the occasion of my recovering from the
+most desperate, hopeless condition that ever I had been in, all my life.
+Thus, what is one man's safety is another man's destruction; for it
+seems these men, whoever they were, being out of their knowledge, and
+the rocks being wholly under water, had been driven upon them in the
+night, the wind blowing hard at E.N.E. Had they seen the island, as I
+must necessarily suppose they did not, they must, as I thought, have
+endeavoured to have saved themselves on shore by the help of their boat;
+but their firing off guns for help, especially when they saw, as I
+imagined, my fire, filled me with many thoughts: first, I imagined that
+upon seeing my light, they might have put themselves into their boat,
+and endeavoured to make the shore; but that the sea going very high,
+they might have been cast away: other times I imagined that they might
+have lost their boat before, as might be the case many ways; as,
+particularly, by the breaking of the sea upon their ship, which many
+times obliges men to stave, or take in pieces, their boat, and sometimes
+to throw it overboard with their own hands: other times I imagined they
+had some other ship or ships in company, who, upon the signals of
+distress they had made, had taken them up and carried them off: other
+times I fancied they were all gone off to sea in their boat, and being
+hurried away by the current that I had been formerly in, were carried
+out into the great ocean, where there was nothing but misery and
+perishing; and that, perhaps, they might by this time think of starving,
+and of being in a condition to eat one another.
+
+As all these were but conjectures at best, so, in the condition I was
+in, I could do no more than look on upon the misery of the poor men, and
+pity them; which had still this good effect on my side, that it gave me
+more and more cause to give thanks to God, who had so happily and
+comfortably provided for me in my desolate condition; and that of two
+ships' companies who were now cast away upon this part of the world, not
+one life should be spared but mine. I learned here again to observe,
+that it is very rare that the providence of God casts us into any
+condition of life so low, or any misery so great, but we may see
+something or other to be thankful for, and may see others in worse
+circumstances than our own. Such certainly was the case of these men, of
+whom I could not so much as see room to suppose any of them were saved;
+nothing could make it rational so much as to wish or expect that they
+did not all perish there, except the possibility only of their being
+taken up by another ship in company; and this was but mere possibility
+indeed, for I saw not the least sign or appearance of any such thing. I
+cannot explain, by any possible energy of words, what a strange longing
+or hankering of desires I felt in my soul upon this sight, breaking out
+sometimes thus: "O that there had been but one or two, nay, or but one
+soul, saved out of this ship, to have escaped to me, that I might but
+have had one companion, one fellow-creature to have spoken to me, and to
+have conversed with!" In all the time of my solitary life, I never felt
+so earnest, so strong a desire after the society of my fellow-creatures,
+or so deep a regret at the want of it.
+
+There are some secret moving springs in the affections, which, when they
+are set a going by some object in view, or, though not in view, yet
+rendered present to the mind by the power of imagination, that motion
+carries out the soul, by its impetuosity, to such violent, eager
+embracings of the object, that the absence of it is insupportable. Such
+were these earnest wishings that but one man had been saved. I believe I
+repeated the words, "O that it had been but one!" a thousand times; and
+my desires were so moved by it, that when I spoke the words my hands
+would clinch together, and my fingers would press the palms of my
+hands, so that if I had had any soft thing in my hand, it would have
+crushed it involuntarily; and the teeth in my head would strike
+together, and set against one another so strong, that for some time I
+could not part them again. Let the naturalists explain these things, and
+the reason and manner of them: all I can say to them is, to describe the
+fact, which was even surprising to me, when I found it, though I knew
+not from whence it proceeded: it was doubtless the effect of ardent
+wishes, and of strong ideas formed in my mind, realizing the comfort
+which the conversation of one of my fellow-christians would have been to
+me.--But it was not to be; either their fate or mine, or both, forbade
+it: for, till the last year of my being on this island, I never knew
+whether any were saved out of that ship or no; and had only the
+affliction, some days after, to see the corpse of a drowned boy come on
+shore at the end of the island which was next the shipwreck. He had no
+clothes on but a seaman's waistcoat, a pair of open-kneed linen drawers,
+and a blue linen shirt; but nothing to direct me so much as to guess
+what nation he was of: he had nothing in his pockets but two
+pieces-of-eight and a tobacco-pipe;--the last was to me of ten times
+more value than the first.
+
+It was now calm, and I had a great mind to venture out in my boat to
+this wreck, not doubting but I might find something on board that might
+be useful to me: but that did not altogether press me so much as the
+possibility that there might be yet some living creature on board, whose
+life I might not only save, but might, by saving that life, comfort my
+own to the last degree; and this thought clung so to my heart, that I
+could not be quiet night or day, but I must venture out in my boat on
+board this wreck; and committing the rest to God's providence, I thought
+the impression was so strong upon my mind that it could not be resisted,
+that it must come from some invisible direction, and that I should be
+wanting to myself if I did not go.
+
+Under the power of this impression, I hastened back to my castle,
+prepared every thing for my voyage, took a quantity of bread, a great
+pot of fresh water, a compass to steer by, a bottle of rum (for I had
+still a great deal of that left,) and a basket of raisins: and thus,
+loading myself with every thing necessary, I went down to my boat, got
+the water out of her, put her afloat, loaded all my cargo in her, and
+then went home again for more. My second cargo was a great bag of rice,
+the umbrella to set up over my head for a shade, another large pot of
+fresh water, and about two dozen of my small loaves, or barley-cakes,
+more than before, with a bottle of goat's milk and a cheese: all which,
+with great labour and sweat, I carried to my boat; and praying to God to
+direct my voyage, I put out; and rowing, or paddling, the canoe along
+the shore, came at last to the utmost point of the island on the
+north-east side. And now I was to launch out into the ocean, and either
+to venture or not to venture. I looked on the rapid currents which ran
+constantly on both sides of the island at a distance, and which were
+very terrible to me, from the remembrance of the hazard I had been in
+before, and my heart began to fail me; for I foresaw that if I was
+driven into either of those currents, I should be carried a great way
+out to sea, and perhaps out of my reach, or sight of the island again;
+and that then, as my boat was but small, if any little gale of wind
+should rise, I should be inevitably lost.
+
+These thoughts so oppressed my mind, that I began to give over my
+enterprise; and having hauled my boat into a little creek on the shore,
+I stepped out, and sat me down upon a rising bit of ground, very pensive
+and anxious, between fear and desire, about my voyage; when, as I was
+musing, I could perceive that the tide was turned, and the flood come
+on; upon which my going was impracticable for so many hours. Upon this,
+presently it occurred to me, that I should go up to the highest piece of
+ground I could find, and observe, if I could how the sets of the tide,
+or currents, lay when the flood came in, that I might judge whether, if
+I was driven one way out, I might not expect to be driven another way
+home, with the same rapidness of the currents. This thought was no
+sooner in my head than I cast my eye upon a little hill, which
+sufficiently overlooked the sea both ways, and from whence I had a clear
+view of the currents, or sets of the tide, and which way I was to guide
+myself in my return. Here I found, that as the current of the ebb set
+out close by the south point of the island, so the current of the flood
+set in close by the shore of the north side; and that I had nothing to
+do but to keep to the north side of the island in my return, and I
+should do well enough.
+
+Encouraged with this observation, I resolved, the next morning, to set
+out with the first of the tide; and reposing myself for the night in my
+canoe, under the great watch-coat I mentioned, I launched out. I first
+made a little out to sea, full north, till I began to feel the benefit
+of the current, which set eastward, and which carried me at a great
+rate; and yet did not so hurry me as the current on the south side had
+done before, so as to take from me all government of the boat; but
+having a strong steerage with my paddle, I went at a great rate directly
+for the wreck, and in less than two hours I came up to it. It was a
+dismal sight to look at: the ship, which, by its building, was Spanish,
+stuck fast, jammed in between two rocks; all the stern and quarter of
+her were beaten to pieces with the sea; and as her forecastle, which
+stuck in the rocks, had run on with great violence, her mainmast and
+foremast were brought by the board, that is to say, broken short off;
+but her bowsprit was sound, and the head and bow appeared firm. When I
+came close to her, a dog appeared upon her, who, seeing me coming,
+yelped and cried; and as soon as I called him, jumped into the sea to
+come to me; I took him into the boat, but found him almost dead with
+hunger and thirst. I gave him a cake of my bread, and he devoured it
+like a ravenous wolf that had been starving a fortnight in the snow: I
+then gave the poor creature some fresh water, with which, if I would
+have let him, he would have burst himself. After this, I went on board;
+but the first sight I met with was two men drowned in the cook-room, or
+forecastle of the ship, with their arms fast about one another. I
+concluded, as is indeed probable, that when the ship struck, it being in
+a storm, the sea broke so high, and so continually over her, that the
+men were not able to bear it, and were strangled with the constant
+rushing in of the water, as much as if they had been under water.
+Besides the dog, there was nothing left in the ship that had life; nor
+any goods, that I could see, but what were spoiled by the water. There
+were some casks of liquor, whether wine or brandy I knew not, which lay
+lower in the hold, and which, the water being ebbed out, I could see;
+but they were too big to meddle with. I saw several chests, which I
+believed belonged to some of the seamen; and I got two of them into the
+boat, without examining what was in them. Had the stern of the ship been
+fixed, and the fore-part broken off, I am persuaded I might have made a
+good voyage; for, by what I found in these two chests, I had room to
+suppose the ship had a great deal of wealth on board; and, if I may
+guess from the course she steered, she must have been bound from Buenos
+Ayres, or the Rio de la Plata, in the south part of America, beyond the
+Brazils, to the Havanna, in the Gulf of Mexico, and so perhaps to Spain.
+She had, no doubt, a great treasure in her, but of no use, at that time,
+to any body; and what became of her crew, I then knew not.
+
+I found, besides these chests, a little cask full of liquor, of about
+twenty gallons, which I got into my boat with much difficulty. There
+were several muskets in the cabin, and a great powder-horn, with about
+four pounds of powder in it; as for the muskets, I had no occasion for
+them, so I left them, but took the powder-horn. I took a fireshovel and
+tongs, which I wanted extremely; as also two little brass kettles, a
+copper pot to make chocolate, and a gridiron: and with this cargo, and
+the dog, I came away, the tide beginning to make home again; and the
+same evening, about an hour within night, I reached the island again,
+weary and fatigued to the last degree. I reposed that night in the boat;
+and in the morning I resolved to harbour what I had got in my new cave,
+and not carry it home to my castle. After refreshing myself, I got all
+my cargo on shore, and began to examine the particulars. The cask of
+liquor I found to be a kind of rum, but not such as we had at the
+Brazils, and, in a word, not at all good; but when I came to open the
+chests, I found several things of great use to me: for example, I found
+in one a fine case of bottles, of an extraordinary kind, and filled with
+cordial waters, fine and very good; the bottles held about three pints
+each, and were tipped with silver. I found two pots of very good
+succades, or sweetmeats, so fastened also on the top, that the salt
+water had not hurt them; and two more of the same, which the water had
+spoiled. I found some very good shirts, which were very welcome to me;
+and about a dozen and a half of white linen handkerchiefs and coloured
+neckcloths; the former were also very welcome, being exceeding
+refreshing to wipe my face in a hot day. Besides this, when I came to
+the till in the chest, I found there three great bags of
+pieces-of-eight, which held about eleven hundred pieces in all; and in
+one of them, wrapped up in a paper, six doubloons of gold, and some
+small bars or wedges of gold; I suppose they might all weigh near a
+pound. In the other chest were some clothes, but of little value; but,
+by the circumstances, it must have belonged to the gunner's mate; though
+there was no powder in it, except two pounds of fine glazed powder, in
+three small flasks, kept, I suppose, for charging their fowling-pieces
+on occasion. Upon the whole, I got very little by this voyage that was
+of any use to me; for, as to the money, I had no manner of occasion for
+it; it was to me as the dirt under my feet; and I would have given it
+all for three or four pair of English shoes and stockings, which were
+things I greatly wanted, but had none on my feet for many years. I had
+indeed got two pair of shoes now, which I took off the feet of the two
+drowned men whom I saw in the wreck, and I found two pair more in one of
+the chests, which were very welcome to me; but they were not like our
+English shoes, either for ease or service, being rather what we call
+pumps than shoes. I found in this seaman's chest about fifty
+pieces-of-eight in rials, but no gold: I suppose this belonged to a
+poorer man than the other, which seemed to belong to some officer. Well,
+however, I lugged this money home to my cave, and laid it up, as I had
+done that before which I brought from our own ship: but it was a great
+pity, as I said, that the other part of this ship had not come to my
+share; for I am satisfied I might have loaded my canoe several times
+over with money; and, thought I, if I ever escape to England, it might
+lie here safe enough till I may come again and fetch it.
+
+Having now brought all my things on shore, and secured them, I went back
+to my boat, and rowed or paddled her along the shore to her old
+harbour, where I laid her up, and made the best of my way to my old
+habitation, where I found every thing safe and quiet. I began now to
+repose myself, live after my old fashion, and take care of my family
+affairs; and, for a while, I lived easy enough, only that I was more
+vigilant than I used to be, looked out oftener, and did not go abroad so
+much; and if at any time I did stir with any freedom, it was always to
+the east part of the island, where I was pretty well satisfied the
+savages never came, and where I could go without so many precautions,
+and such a load of arms and ammunition as I always carried with me if I
+went the other way. I lived in this condition near two years more; but
+my unlucky head, that was always to let me know it was born to make my
+body miserable, was all these two years filled with projects and
+designs, how, if it were possible, I might get away from this island:
+for, sometimes I was for making another voyage to the wreck, though my
+reason told me that there was nothing left there worth the hazard of my
+voyage; sometimes for a ramble one way, sometimes another; and I believe
+verily, if I had had the boat that I went from Sallee in, I should have
+ventured to sea, bound any where, I knew not whither. I have been, in
+all my circumstances, a _memento_ to those who are touched with the
+general plague of mankind, whence, for aught I know, one half of their
+miseries flow; I mean that of not being satisfied with the station
+wherein God and nature hath placed them: for, not to look back upon my
+primitive condition, and the excellent advice of my father, the
+opposition to which was, as I may call it, my _original sin_, my
+subsequent mistakes of the same kind had been the means of my coming
+into this miserable condition; for had that Providence, which so happily
+seated me at the Brazils as a planter, blessed me with confined desires,
+and I could have been contented to have gone on gradually, I might have
+been, by this time, I mean in the time of my being in this island, one
+of the most considerable planters in the Brazils; nay, I am persuaded,
+that by the improvements I had made in that little time I lived there,
+and the increase I should probably have made if I had remained, I might
+have been worth a hundred thousand moidores: and what business had I to
+leave a settled fortune, a well-stocked plantation, improving and
+increasing, to turn supercargo to Guinea to fetch negroes, when patience
+and time would have so increased our stock at home, that we could have
+bought them at our own door from those whose business it was to fetch
+them? and though it had cost us something more, yet the difference of
+that price was by no means worth saving at so great a hazard. But as
+this is usually the fate of young heads, so reflection upon the folly of
+it is as commonly the exercise of more years, or of the dear-bought
+experience of time: so it was with me now; and yet so deep had the
+mistake taken root in my temper, that I could not satisfy myself in my
+station, but was continually poring upon the means and possibility of my
+escape from this place: and that I may, with the greater pleasure to the
+reader, bring on the remaining part of my story, it may not be improper
+to give some account of my first conceptions on the subject of this
+foolish scheme for my escape, and how, and upon what foundation I acted.
+
+I am now to be supposed retired into my castle, after my late voyage to
+the wreck, my frigate laid up and secured under water, as usual, and my
+condition restored to what it was before; I had more wealth, indeed,
+than I had before, but was not at all the richer; for I had no more use
+for it than the Indians of Peru had before the Spaniards came there.
+
+It was one of the nights in the rainy season in March, the four and
+twentieth year of my first setting foot in this island of solitude, I
+was lying in my bed, or hammock, awake; very well in health, had no
+pain, no distemper, no uneasiness of body, nor any uneasiness of mind,
+more than ordinary, but could by no means close my eyes, that is, so as
+to sleep; no, not a wink all night long, otherwise than as follows:--It
+is impossible to set down the innumerable crowd of thoughts that whirled
+through that great thoroughfare of the brain, the memory, in this
+night's time: I ran over the whole history of my life in miniature, or
+by abridgment, as I may call it, to my coming to this island, and also
+of that part of my life since I came to this island. In my reflections
+upon the state of my case since I came on shore on this island, I was
+comparing the happy posture of my affairs in the first years of my
+habitation here, compared to the life of anxiety, fear, and care, which
+I had lived in, ever since I had seen the print of a foot in the sand;
+not that I did not believe the savages had frequented the island even
+all the while, and might have been several hundreds of them at times on
+shore there; but I had never known it, and was incapable of any
+apprehensions about it; my satisfaction was perfect, though my danger
+was the same, and I was as happy in not knowing my danger as if I had
+never really been exposed to it. This furnished my thoughts with many
+very profitable reflections, and particularly this one: How infinitely
+good that Providence is, which has provided, in its government of
+mankind, such narrow bounds to his sight and knowledge of things; and
+though he walks in the midst of so many thousand dangers, the sight of
+which, if discovered to him, would distract his mind and sink his
+spirits, he is kept serene and calm, by having the events of things hid
+from his eyes, and knowing nothing of the dangers which surround him.
+
+After these thoughts had for some time entertained me, I came to reflect
+seriously upon the real danger I had been in for so many years in this
+very island, and how I had walked about in the greatest security, and
+with all possible tranquillity, even when perhaps nothing but the brow
+of a hill, a great tree, or the casual approach of night, had been
+between me and the worst kind of destruction, viz. that of falling into
+the hands of cannibals and savages, who would have seized on me with the
+same view as I would on a goat or a turtle, and have thought it no more
+a crime to kill and devour me, than I did of a pigeon or curlew. I would
+unjustly slander myself, if I should say I was not sincerely thankful to
+my great Preserver, to whose singular protection I acknowledged, with
+great humility, all these unknown deliverances were due, and without
+which I must inevitably have fallen into their merciless hands.
+
+When these thoughts were over, my head was for some time taken up in
+considering the nature of these wretched creatures, I mean the savages,
+and how it came to pass in the world, that the wise Governor of all
+things should give up any of his creatures to such inhumanity, nay, to
+something so much below even brutality itself, as to devour its own
+kind: but as this ended in some (at that time) fruitless speculations,
+it occurred to me to inquire, what part of the world these wretches
+lived in? how far off the coast was, from whence they came? what they
+ventured over so far from home for? what kind of boats they had? and why
+I might not order myself and my business so, that I might be as able to
+go over thither as they were to come to me?
+
+I never so much as troubled myself to consider what I should do with
+myself when I went thither; what would become of me, if I fell into the
+hands of the savages; or how I should escape from them, if they attacked
+me; no, nor so much as how it was possible for me to reach the coast,
+and not be attacked by some or other of them, without any possibility of
+delivering myself; and if I should not fall into their hands, what I
+should do for provision, or whither I should bend my course: none of
+these thoughts, I say, so much as came in my way; but my mind was wholly
+bent upon the notion of my passing over in my boat to the main land. I
+looked upon my present condition as the most miserable that could
+possibly be; that I was not able to throw myself into any thing, but
+death, that could be called worse; and if I reached the shore of the
+main, I might perhaps meet with relief, or I might coast along, as I did
+on the African shore, till I came to some inhabited country, and where I
+might find some relief; and after all, perhaps, I might fall in with
+some Christian ship that might take me in; and if the worst came to the
+worst, I could but die, which would put an end to all these miseries at
+once. Pray note, all this was the fruit of a disturbed mind, an
+impatient temper, made desperate, as it were, by the long continuance of
+my troubles, and the disappointments I had met in the wreck I had been
+on board of, and where I had been so near obtaining what I so earnestly
+longed for, viz. somebody to speak to, and to learn some knowledge from
+them of the place where I was, and of the probable means of my
+deliverance. I was agitated wholly by these thoughts; all my calm of
+mind, in my resignation to Providence, and waiting the issue of the
+dispositions of Heaven, seemed to be suspended; and I had, as it were,
+no power to turn my thoughts to any thing but to the project of a voyage
+to the main; which came upon me with such force, and such an impetuosity
+of desire, that it was not to be resisted.
+
+When this had agitated my thoughts for two hours or more, with such
+violence that it set my very blood into a ferment, and my pulse beat as
+if I had been in a fever, merely with the extraordinary fervour of my
+mind about it, nature, as if I had been fatigued and exhausted with the
+very thought of it, threw me into a sound sleep. One would have thought
+I should have dreamed of it, but I did not, nor of any thing relating
+to it: out I dreamed that as I was going out in the morning, as usual,
+from my castle, I saw upon the shore two canoes and eleven savages
+coming to land, and that they brought with them another savage, whom
+they were going to kill, in order to eat him; when, on a sudden, the
+savage that they were going to kill jumped away, and ran for his life;
+and I thought, in my sleep, that he came running into my little thick
+grove before my fortification, to hide himself; and that I, seeing him
+alone, and not perceiving that the others sought him that way, showed
+myself to him, and smiling upon him, encouraged him: that he kneeled
+down to me, seeming to pray me to assist him; upon which I showed him my
+ladder, made him go up, and carried him into my cave, and he became my
+servant: and that as soon as I had got this man, I said to myself, "Now
+I may certainly venture to the main land; for this fellow will serve me
+as a pilot, and will tell me what to do, and whither to go for
+provisions, and whither not to go for fear of being devoured; what
+places to venture into, and what to shun." I waked with this thought;
+and was under such inexpressible impressions of joy at the prospect of
+my escape in my dream, that the disappointments which I felt upon coming
+to myself, and finding that it was no more than a dream, were equally
+extravagant the other way, and threw me into a very great dejection
+of spirits.
+
+Upon this, however, I made this conclusion; that my only way to go about
+to attempt an escape was, if possible, to get a savage into my
+possession; and, if possible, it should be one of their prisoners whom
+they had condemned to be eaten, and should bring hither to kill. But
+these thoughts still were attended with this difficulty, that it was
+impossible to effect this without attacking a whole caravan of them, and
+killing them all; and this was not only a very desperate attempt, and
+might miscarry, but, on the other hand, I had greatly scrupled the
+lawfulness of it to myself; and my heart trembled at the thoughts of
+shedding so much blood, though it was for my deliverance. I need not
+repeat the arguments which occurred to me against this, they being the
+same mentioned before: but though I had other reasons to offer now, viz.
+that those men were enemies to my life, and would devour me if they
+could; that it was self-preservation, in the highest degree, to deliver
+myself from this death of a life, and was acting in my own defence as
+much as if they were actually assaulting me, and the like; I say, though
+these things argued for it, yet the thoughts of shedding human blood for
+my deliverance were very terrible to me, and such as I could by no means
+reconcile myself to for a great while. However, at last, after many
+secret disputes with myself, and after great perplexities about it (for
+all these arguments, one way and another, struggled in my head a long
+time,) the eager prevailing desire of deliverance at length mastered all
+the rest; and I resolved, if possible, to get one of those savages into
+my hands, cost what it would. My next thing was to contrive how to do
+it, and this indeed was very difficult to resolve on: but as I could
+pitch upon no probable means for it, so I resolved to put myself upon
+the watch, to see them when they came on shore, and leave the rest to
+the event; taking such measures as the opportunity should present, let
+what would be.
+
+With these resolutions in my thoughts, I set myself upon the scout as
+often as possible, and indeed so often, that I was heartily tired of it;
+for it was above a year and a half that I waited; and for great part of
+that time went out to the west end, and to the south-west corner of the
+island, almost every day, to look for canoes, but none appeared. This
+was very discouraging, and began to trouble me much; though I cannot say
+that it did in this case (as it had done some time before) wear off the
+edge of my desire to the thing; but the longer it seemed to be delayed,
+the more eager I was for it: in a word, I was not at first so careful to
+shun the sight of these savages, and avoid being seen by them, as I was
+now eager to be upon them. Besides, I fancied myself able to manage one,
+nay, two or three savages, if I had them, so as to make them entirely
+slaves to me, to do whatever I should direct them, and to prevent their
+being able at any time to do me any hurt. It was a great while that I
+pleased myself with this affair; but nothing still presented; all my
+fancies and schemes came to nothing, for no savages came near me for a
+great while.
+
+About a year and a half after I entertained these notions (and by long
+musing had, as it were, resolved them all into nothing, for want of an
+occasion to put them into execution,) I was surprised, one morning
+early, with seeing no less than five canoes all on shore together on my
+side the island, and the people who belonged to them all landed, and out
+of my sight. The number of them broke all my measures; for seeing so
+many, and knowing that they always came four or six, or sometimes more,
+in a boat, I could not tell what to think of it, or how to take my
+measures, to attack twenty or thirty men single-handed; so lay still in
+my castle, perplexed and discomforted: however, I put myself into all
+the same postures for an attack that I had formerly provided, and was
+just ready for action, if any thing had presented. Having waited a good
+while, listening to hear if they made any noise, at length, being very
+impatient, I set my guns at the foot of my ladder, and clambered up to
+the top of the hill, by my two stages, as usual; standing so, however,
+that my head did not appear above the hill, so that they could not
+perceive me by any means. Here I observed, by the help of my
+perspective-glass, that they were no less than thirty in number; that
+they had a fire kindled, and that they had meat dressed. How they had
+cooked it I knew not, or what it was; but they were all dancing, in I
+know not how many barbarous gestures and figures, their own way,
+round the fire.
+
+While I was thus looking on them, I perceived, by my perspective, two
+miserable wretches dragged from the boats, where, it seems, they were
+laid by, and were now brought out for the slaughter. I perceived one of
+them immediately fall, being knocked down, I suppose, with a club or
+wooden sword, for that was their way, and two or three others were at
+work immediately, cutting him open for their cookery, while the other
+victim was left standing by himself, till they should be ready for him.
+In that very moment, this poor wretch seeing himself a little at
+liberty, and unbound, nature inspired him with hopes of life, and he
+started away from them, and ran with incredible swiftness along the
+sands, directly towards me, I mean towards that part of the coast where
+my habitation was. I was dreadfully frightened, I must acknowledge, when
+I perceived him run my way, and especially when, as I thought, I saw him
+pursued by the whole body: and now I expected that part of my dream was
+coming to pass, and that he would certainly take shelter in my grove:
+but I could not depend, by any means, upon my dream for the rest of it,
+viz. that the other savages would not pursue him thither, and find him
+there. However, I kept my station, and my spirits began to recover, when
+I found that there was not above three men that followed him; and still
+more was I encouraged when I found that he outstripped them exceedingly
+in running, and gained ground of them; so that if he could but hold it
+for half an hour, I saw easily he would fairly get away from them all.
+
+There was between them and my castle the creek, which I mentioned often
+in the first part of my story, where I landed my cargoes out of the
+ship; and this I saw plainly he must necessarily swim over, or the poor
+wretch would be taken there: but when the savage escaping came thither,
+he made nothing of it, though the tide was then up; but plunging in,
+swam through in about thirty strokes, or thereabouts, landed, and ran on
+with exceeding strength and swiftness. When the three persons came to
+the creek, I found that two of them could swim, but the third could
+not, and that, standing on the other side, he looked at the others, but
+went no farther, and soon after went softly back again; which, as it
+happened, was very well for him in the end. I observed, that the two who
+swam were yet more than twice as long swimming over the creek as the
+fellow was that fled from them. It came now very warmly upon my
+thoughts, and indeed irresistibly, that now was the time to get me a
+servant, and perhaps a companion or assistant, and that I was called
+plainly by Providence to save this poor creature's life. I immediately
+ran down the ladders with all possible expedition, fetched my two guns,
+for they were both at the foot of the ladders, as I observed above, and
+getting up again, with the same haste, to the top of the hill, I crossed
+towards the sea, and having a very short cut, and all down hill, placed
+myself in the way between the pursuers and the pursued, hallooing aloud
+to him that fled, who, looking back, was at first, perhaps, as much
+frightened at me as at them; but I beckoned with my hand to him to come
+back; and, in the mean time, I slowly advanced towards the two that
+followed; then rushing at once upon the foremost, I knocked him down
+with the stock of my piece. I was loth to fire, because I would not have
+the rest hear; though, at that distance, it would not have been easily
+heard, and being out of sight of the smoke too, they would not have
+easily known what to make of it. Having knocked this fellow down, the
+other who pursued him stopped, as if he had been frightened, and I
+advanced apace towards him: but as I came nearer, I perceived presently
+he had a bow and arrow, and was fitting it to shoot at me; so I was
+then necessitated to shoot at him first, which I did, and killed him at
+the first shot. The poor savage who fled, but had stopped, though he saw
+both his enemies fallen and killed, as he thought, yet was so frightened
+with the fire and noise of my piece, that he stood stock-still, and
+neither came forward nor went backward, though he seemed rather inclined
+still to fly, than to come on. I hallooed again to him, and made signs
+to come forward, which he easily understood, and came a little way; then
+stopped again, and then a little farther, and stopped again; and I could
+then perceive that he stood trembling, as if he had been taken prisoner,
+and had just been to be killed, as his two enemies were. I beckoned to
+him again to come to me, and gave him all the signs of encouragement
+that I could think of; and he came nearer and nearer, kneeling down
+every ten or twelve steps, in token of acknowledgment for saving his
+life. I smiled at him, and looked pleasantly, and beckoned to him to
+come still nearer: at length he came close to me; and then he kneeled
+down again, kissed the ground, and laid his head upon the ground, and
+taking me by the foot, set my foot upon his head; this, it seems, was in
+token of swearing to be my slave for ever. I took him up, and made much
+of him, and encouraged him all I could. But there was more work to do
+yet; for I perceived the savage whom I knocked down was not killed, but
+stunned with the blow, and began to come to himself: so I pointed to
+him, and showed him the savage, that he was not dead; upon this he spoke
+some words to me, and though I could not understand them, yet I thought
+they were pleasant to hear; for they were the first sound of a man's
+voice that I had heard, my own excepted, for above twenty-five years.
+But there was no time for such reflections now; the savage who was
+knocked down recovered himself so far as to sit up upon the ground, and
+I perceived that my savage began to be afraid; but when I saw that, I
+presented my other piece at the man, as if I would shoot him: upon this
+my savage, for so I call him now, made a motion to me to lend him my
+sword, which hung naked in a belt by my side, which I did. He no sooner
+had it, but he runs to his enemy, and, at one blow, cut off his head so
+cleverly, no executioner in Germany could have done it sooner or better;
+which I thought very strange for one who, I had reason to believe, never
+saw a sword in his life before, except their own wooden swords: however,
+it seems, as I learned afterwards, they make their wooden swords so
+sharp, so heavy, and the wood is so hard, that they will cut off heads
+even with them, aye, and arms, and that at one blow too. When he had
+done this, he comes laughing to me, in sign of triumph, and brought me
+the sword again, and with abundance of gestures, which I did not
+understand, laid it down, with the head of the savage that he had
+killed, just before me. But that which astonished him most, was to know
+how I killed the other Indian so far off: so pointing to him, he made
+signs to me to let him go to him; so I bade him go, as well as I could.
+When he came to him, he stood like one amazed, looking at him, turning
+him first on one side, then on the other, looked at the wound the bullet
+had made, which, it seems, was just in his breast, where it had made a
+hole, and no great quantity of blood had followed; but he had bled
+inwardly, for he was quite dead. He took up his bow and arrows, and came
+back; so I turned to go away, and beckoned him to follow me, making
+signs to him that more might come after them. Upon this, he made signs
+to me that he should bury them with sand, that they might not be seen by
+the rest, if they followed; and so I made signs to him again to do so.
+He fell to work; and, in an instant, he had scraped a hole in the sand
+with his hands, big enough to bury the first in, and then dragged him
+into it, and covered him; and did so by the other also: I believe he had
+buried them both in a quarter of an hour. Then calling him away, I
+carried him, not to my castle, but quite away to my cave, on the farther
+part of the island: so I did not let my dream come to pass in that part,
+viz. that he came into my grove for shelter. Here I gave him bread and
+a bunch of raisins to eat, and a draught of water, which I found he was
+indeed in great distress for, by his running; and having refreshed him,
+I made signs for him to go and lie down to sleep, showing him a place
+where I had laid some rice-straw, and a blanket upon it, which I used to
+sleep upon myself sometimes; so the poor creature lay down, and went
+to sleep.
+
+He was a comely handsome fellow, perfectly well made, with straight
+strong limbs, not too large, tall, and well shaped; and, as I reckon,
+about twenty-six years of age. He had a very good countenance, not a
+fierce and surly aspect, but seemed to have something very manly in his
+face; and yet he had all the sweetness and softness of an European in
+his countenance too, especially when he smiled. His hair was long and
+black, not curled like wool; his forehead very high and large; and a
+great vivacity and sparkling sharpness in his eyes. The colour of his
+skin was not quite black, but very tawny; and yet not an ugly, yellow,
+nauseous tawny, as the Brazilians and Virginians, and other natives of
+America are, but of a bright kind of a dun olive colour, that had in it
+something very agreeable, though not very easy to describe. His face was
+round and plump; his nose small, not flat like the Negroes; a very good
+mouth, thin lips, and his fine teeth well set, and as white as ivory.
+
+After he had slumbered, rather than slept, about half an hour, he awoke
+again, and came out of the cave to me, for I had been milking my goats,
+which I had in the enclosure just by: when he espied me, he came
+running to me, laying himself down again upon the ground, with all the
+possible signs of an humble thankful disposition, making a great many
+antic gestures to show it. At last, he lays his head flat upon the
+ground, close to my foot, and sets my other foot upon his head, as he
+had done before; and after this, made all the signs to me of subjection,
+servitude, and submission, imaginable, to let me know how he would serve
+me so long as he lived. I understood him in many things, and let him
+know I was very well pleased with him. In a little time I began to speak
+to him, and teach him to speak to me; and, first, I let him know his
+name should be FRIDAY, which was the day I saved his life: I called him
+so for the memory of the time. I likewise taught him to say Master; and
+then let him know that was to be my name: I likewise taught him to say
+Yes and No, and to know the meaning of them. I gave him some milk in an
+earthen pot, and let him see me drink it before him, and sop my bread in
+it; and gave him a cake of bread to do the like, which he quickly
+complied with, and made signs that it was very good for him. I kept
+there with him all that night; but as soon as it was day, I beckoned to
+him to come with me, and let him know I would give him some clothes; at
+which he seemed very glad, for he was stark naked. As we went by the
+place where he had buried the two men, he pointed exactly to the place,
+and showed me the marks that he had made to find them again, making
+signs to me that we should dig them up again, and eat them. At this I
+appeared very angry, expressed my abhorrence of it, made as if I would
+vomit at the thoughts of it, and beckoned with my hand to him to come
+away; which he did immediately, with great submission. I then led him up
+to the top of the hill, to see if his enemies were gone; and pulling out
+my glass, I looked, and saw plainly the place where they had been, but
+no appearance of them or their canoes; so that it was plain they were
+gone, and had left their two comrades behind them, without any search
+after them.
+
+But I was not content with this discovery; but having now more courage,
+and consequently more curiosity, I took my man Friday with me, giving
+him the sword in his hand, with the bow and arrows at his back, which I
+found he could use very dexterously, making him carry one gun for me,
+and I two for myself; and away we marched to the place where these
+creatures had been; for I had a mind now to get some fuller intelligence
+of them. When I came to the place, my very blood ran chill in my veins,
+and my heart sunk within me, at the horror of the spectacle; indeed, it
+was a dreadful sight, at least it was so to me, though Friday made
+nothing of it. The place was covered with human bones, the ground dyed
+with their blood, and great pieces of flesh left here and there,
+half-eaten, mangled, and scorched; and, in short, all the tokens of the
+triumphant feast they had been making there, after a victory over their
+enemies. I saw three skulls, five hands, and the bones of three or four
+legs and feet, and abundance of other parts of the bodies; and Friday,
+by his signs, made me understand that they brought over four prisoners
+to feast upon; that three of them were eaten up, and that he, pointing
+to himself, was the fourth; that there had been a great battle between
+them and their next king, whose subject, it seems, he had been one of,
+and that they had taken a great number of prisoners; all which were
+carried to several places by those who had taken them in the fight, in
+order to feast upon them, as was done here by these wretches upon those
+they brought hither.
+
+I caused Friday to gather all the skulls, bones, flesh, and whatever
+remained, and lay them together in a heap, and make a great fire upon
+it, and burn them all to ashes. I found Friday had still a hankering
+stomach after some of the flesh, and was still a cannibal in his nature;
+but I discovered so much abhorrence at the very thoughts of it, and at
+the least appearance of it, that he durst not discover it: for I had, by
+some means, let him know, that I would kill him if he offered it.
+
+When he had done this, we came back to our castle; and there I fell to
+work for my man Friday: and, first of all, I gave him a pair of linen
+drawers, which I had out of the poor gunner's chest I mentioned, which I
+found in the wreck; and which, with a little alteration, fitted him very
+well: and then I made him a jerkin of goat's-skin, as well as my skill
+would allow (for I was now grown a tolerable good tailor;) and I gave
+him a cap, which I made of hare's-skin, very convenient and fashionable
+enough: and thus he was clothed for the present, tolerably well, and was
+mighty well pleased to see himself almost as well clothed as his master.
+It is true, he went awkwardly in these clothes at first; wearing the
+drawers was very awkward to him; and the sleeves of the waistcoat
+galled his shoulders, and the inside of his arms; but a little easing
+them where he complained they hurt him, and using himself to them, he
+took to them at length very well.
+
+The next day after I came home to my hutch with him, I began to consider
+where I should lodge him; and that I might do well for him, and yet be
+perfectly easy myself, I made a little tent for him in the vacant place
+between my two fortifications, in the inside of the last and in the
+outside of the first. As there was a door or entrance there into my
+cave, I made a formal framed door case, and a door to it of boards, and
+set it up in the passage, a little within the entrance; and causing the
+door to open in the inside, I barred it up in the night, taking in my
+ladders too; so that Friday could no way come at me in the inside of my
+innermost wall, without making so much noise in getting over that it
+must needs waken me; for my first wall had now a complete roof over it
+of long poles, covering all my tent, and leaning up to the side of the
+hill; which was again laid across with smaller sticks, instead of laths,
+and then thatched over a great thickness with the rice-straw, which was
+strong, like reeds; and at the hole or place which was left to go in or
+out by the ladder, I had placed a kind of trap-door, which, if it had
+been attempted on the outside, would not have opened at all, but would
+have fallen down, and make a great noise: as to weapons, I took them all
+into my side every night. But I needed none of all this precaution; for
+never man had a more faithful, loving, sincere servant, than Friday was
+to me; without passions, sullenness, or designs, perfectly obliged and
+engaged; his very affections were tied to me, like those of a child to a
+father; and I dare say, he would have sacrificed his life for the saving
+mine, upon any occasion whatsoever: the many testimonies he gave me of
+this put it out of doubt, and soon convinced me that I needed to use no
+precautions, as to my safety on his account.
+
+This frequently gave me occasion to observe, and that with wonder, that
+however it had pleased God, in his providence, and in the government of
+the works of his hands, to take from so great a part of the world of his
+creatures the best uses to which their faculties and the powers of their
+souls are adapted, yet that he has bestowed upon them the same powers,
+the same reason, the same affections, the same sentiments of kindness
+and obligation, the same passions and resentments of wrongs, the same
+sense of gratitude, sincerity, fidelity, and all the capacities of doing
+good, and receiving good, that he has given to us; and that when he
+pleases to offer them occasions of exerting these, they are as ready,
+nay, more ready, to apply them to the right uses for which they were
+bestowed, than we are. This made me very melancholy sometimes, in
+reflecting, as the several occasions presented, how mean a use we make
+of all these, even though we have these powers enlightened by the great
+lamp of instruction, the Spirit of God, and by the knowledge of his word
+added to our understanding; and why it has pleased God to hide the like
+saving knowledge from so many millions of souls, who, if I might judge
+by this poor savage, would make a much better use of it than we did.
+From hence, I sometimes was led too far, to invade the sovereignty of
+Providence, and as it were arraign the justice of so arbitrary a
+disposition of things, that should hide that light from some, and reveal
+it to others, and yet expect a like duty from both; but I shut it up,
+and checked my thoughts with this conclusion: first, That we did not
+know by what light and law these should be condemned; but that as God
+was necessarily, and, by the nature of his being, infinitely holy and
+just, so it could not be, but if these creatures were all sentenced to
+absence from himself, it was on account of sinning against that light,
+which, as the Scripture says, was a law to themselves, and by such rules
+as their consciences would acknowledge to be just, though the foundation
+was not discovered to us; and, secondly, That still, as we all are the
+clay in the hand of the potter, no vessel could say to him, "Why hast
+thou formed me thus?"
+
+But to return to my new companion:--I was greatly delighted with him,
+and made it my business to teach him every thing that was proper to make
+him useful, handy, and helpful; but especially to make him speak, and
+understand me when I spoke: and he was the aptest scholar that ever was;
+and particularly was so merry, so constantly diligent, and so pleased
+when he could but understand me, or make me understand him, that it was
+very pleasant to me to talk to him. Now my life began to be so easy,
+that I began to say to myself, that could I but have been safe from more
+savages, I cared not if I was never to remove from the place where
+I lived.
+
+After I had been two or three days returned to my castle, I thought
+that, in order to bring Friday off from his horrid way of feeding, and
+from the relish of a cannibal's stomach, I ought to let him taste other
+flesh; so I took him out with me one morning to the woods. I went,
+indeed, intending to kill a kid out of my own flock, and bring it home
+and dress it; but as I was going, I saw a she-goat lying down in the
+shade, and two young kids sitting by her. I catched hold of
+Friday;--Hold, said I; stand still; and made signs to him not to stir:
+immediately I presented my piece, shot, and killed one of the kids. The
+poor creature, who had, at a distance, indeed, seen me kill the savage,
+his enemy, but did not know, nor could imagine, how it was done, was
+sensibly surprised, trembled and shook, and looked so amazed, that I
+thought he would have sunk down. He did not see the kid I shot at, or
+perceive I had killed it, but ripped up his waistcoat, to feel whether
+he was not wounded; and, as I found presently, thought I was resolved to
+kill him: for he came and kneeled down to me, and embracing my knees,
+said a great many things I did not understand; but I could easily see
+the meaning was, to pray me not to kill him.
+
+I soon found a way to convince him that I would do him no harm; and
+taking him up by the hand, laughed at him, and pointing to the kid which
+I had killed, beckoned to him to run and fetch it, which he did: and
+while he was wondering, and looking to see how the creature was killed,
+I loaded my gun again. By and by, I saw a great fowl, like a hawk,
+sitting upon a tree, within shot; so, to let Friday understand a little
+what I would do, I called him to me again, pointed at the fowl, which
+was indeed a parrot, though I thought it had been a hawk; I say,
+pointing to the parrot, and to my gun, and to the ground under the
+parrot, to let him see I would make it fall, I made him understand that
+I would shoot and kill that bird; accordingly, I fired, and bade him
+look, and immediately he saw the parrot fall. He stood like one
+frightened again, notwithstanding all I had said to him; and I found he
+was the more amazed, because he did not see me put any thing into the
+gun, but thought that there must be some wonderful fund of death and
+destruction in that thing, able to kill man, beast, bird, or any thing
+near or far off; and the astonishment this created in him was such, as
+could not wear off for a long time; and I believe, if I would have let
+him, he would have worshipped me and my gun. As for the gun itself, he
+would not so much as touch it for several days after; but he would speak
+to it, and talk to it, as if it had answered him, when he was by
+himself; which, as I afterwards learned of him, was to desire it not to
+kill him. Well, after his astonishment was a little over at this, I
+pointed to him to run and fetch the bird I had shot, which he did, but
+staid some time; for the parrot, not being quite dead, had fluttered
+away a good distance from the place where she fell: however, he found
+her, took her up, and brought her to me; and as I had perceived his
+ignorance about the gun before, I took this advantage to charge the gun
+again, and not to let him see me do it, that I might be ready for any
+other mark that might present; but nothing more offered at that time: so
+I brought home the kid, and the same evening I took the skin off, and
+cut it out as well as I could; and having a pot fit for that purpose, I
+boiled or stewed some of the flesh, and made some very good broth. After
+I had begun to eat some, I gave some to my man, who seemed very glad of
+it, and liked it very well; but that which was strangest to him, was to
+see me eat salt with it. He made a sign to me that the salt was not good
+to eat; and putting a little into his own mouth, he seemed to nauseate
+it, and would spit and sputter at it, washing his mouth with fresh water
+after it: on the other hand, I took some meat into my mouth without
+salt, and I pretended to spit and sputter for want of salt, as fast as
+he had done at the salt; but it would not do; he would never care for
+salt with his meat or in his broth; at least, not for a great while, and
+then but a very little.
+
+Having thus fed him with boiled meat and broth, I was resolved to feast
+him the next day with roasting a piece of the kid: this I did, by
+hanging it before the fire on a string, as I had seen many people do in
+England, setting two poles up, one on each side of the fire, and one
+across on the top, and tying the string to the cross stick, letting the
+meat turn continually. This Friday admired very much; but when he came
+to taste the flesh, he took so many ways to tell me how well he liked
+it, that I could not but understand him: and at last he told me, as well
+as he could, he would never eat man's flesh any more, which I was very
+glad to hear.
+
+The next day, I set him to work to beating some corn out, and sifting it
+in the manner I used to do, as I observed before; and he soon understood
+how to do it as well as I, especially after he had seen what the
+meaning of it was, and that it was to make bread of; for after that I
+let him see me make my bread, and bake it too; and in a little time
+Friday was able to do all the work for me, as well as I could do
+it myself.
+
+I began now to consider, that having two mouths to feed instead of one,
+I must provide more ground for my harvest, and plant a larger quantity
+of corn than I used to do; so I marked out a larger piece of land, and
+began the fence in the same manner as before, in which Friday worked not
+only very willingly and very hard, but did it very cheerfully: and I
+told him what it was for; that it was for corn to make more bread,
+because he was now with me, and that I might have enough for him and
+myself too. He appeared very sensible of that part, and let me know that
+he thought I had much more labour upon me on his account, than I had for
+myself; and that he would work the harder for me, if I would tell him
+what to do.
+
+This was the pleasantest year of all the life I led in this place;
+Friday began to talk pretty well, and understand the names of almost
+every thing I had occasion to call for, and of every place I had to send
+him to, and talked a great deal to me; so that, in short, I began now to
+have some use for my tongue again, which, indeed, I had very little
+occasion for before, that is to say, about speech. Besides the pleasure
+of talking to him, I had a singular satisfaction in the fellow himself:
+his simple unfeigned honesty appeared to me more and more every day, and
+I began really to love the creature; and, on his side, I believe he
+loved me more than it was possible for him ever to love any
+thing before.
+
+I had a mind once to try if he had any hankering inclination to his own
+country again; and having taught him English so well that he could
+answer me almost any question, I asked him whether the nation that he
+belonged to never conquered in battle? At which he smiled, and said,
+"Yes, yes, we always fight the better:" that is, he meant, always get
+the better in fight; and so we began the following discourse:
+
+_Master_. You always fight the better; how came you to be taken prisoner
+then, Friday?
+
+_Friday_. My nation beat much for all that.
+
+_Master_. How beat? If your nation beat them, how came you to be taken?
+
+_Friday_. They more many than my nation in the place where me was; they
+take one, two, three, and me: my nation over-beat them in the yonder
+place, where me no was; there my nation take one, two, great thousand.
+
+_Master_. But why did not your side recover you from the hands of your
+enemies then?
+
+_Friday_. They run one, two, three, and me, and make go in the canoe; my
+nation have no canoe that time.
+
+_Master_. Well, Friday, and what does your nation do with the men they
+take? Do they carry them away and eat them, as these did?
+
+_Friday_. Yes, my nation eat mans too; eat all up.
+
+_Master_. Where do they carry them?
+
+_Friday_. Go to other place, where they think.
+
+_Master_. Do they come hither?
+
+_Friday_. Yes, yes, they come hither; come other else place.
+
+_Master_. Have you been here with them?
+
+_Friday_. Yes, I have been here (points to the N.W. side of the island,
+which, it seems, was their side.)
+
+By this I understood that my man Friday had formerly been among the
+savages who used to come on shore on the farther part of the island, on
+the same man-eating occasions he was now brought for; and, some time
+after, when I took the courage to carry him to that side, being the same
+I formerly mentioned, he presently knew the place, and told me he was
+there once when they eat up twenty men, two women, and one child: he
+could not tell twenty in English, but he numbered them, by laying so
+many stones in a row, and pointing to me to tell them over.
+
+I have told this passage, because it introduces what follows; that after
+I had this discourse with him, I asked him how far it was from our
+island to the shore, and whether the canoes were not often lost. He told
+me there was no danger, no canoes ever lost; but that, after a little
+way out to sea, there was a current and wind, always one way in the
+morning, the other in the afternoon. This I understood to be no more
+than the sets of the tide, as going out or coming in; but I afterwards
+understood it was occasioned by the great draft and reflux of the mighty
+river Oroonoko, in the mouth or gulf of which river, as I found
+afterwards, our island lay; and that this land which I perceived to the
+W. and N.W. was the great island Trinidad, on the north point of the
+mouth of the river. I asked Friday a thousand questions about the
+country, the inhabitants, the sea, the coast, and what nations were
+near: he told me all he knew, with the greatest openness imaginable. I
+asked him the names of the several nations of his sort of people, but
+could get no other name than Caribs: from whence I easily understood,
+that these were the Caribbees, which our maps place on the part of
+America which reaches from the mouth of the river Oroonoko to Guiana,
+and onwards to St. Martha. He told me that up a great way beyond the
+moon, that was, beyond the setting of the moon, which must be west from
+their country, there dwelt white bearded men, like me, and pointed to my
+great whiskers, which I mentioned before; and that they had killed much
+mans, that was his word: by all which I understood, he meant the
+Spaniards, whose cruelties in America had been spread over the whole
+country, and were remembered by all the nations, from father to son.
+
+I inquired if he could tell me how I might go from this island and get
+among those white men; he told me, Yes, yes, you may go in two canoe. I
+could not understand what he meant, or make him describe to me what he
+meant by two canoe; till, at last, with great difficulty, I found he
+meant it must be in a large boat, as big as two canoes. This part of
+Friday's discourse began to relish with me very well; and from this time
+I entertained some hopes that, one time or other, I might find an
+opportunity to make my escape from this place, and that this poor savage
+might be a means to help me.
+
+During the long time that Friday had now been with me, and that he began
+to speak to me, and understand me, I was not wanting to lay a foundation
+of religious knowledge in his mind: particularly I asked him one time,
+Who made him? The poor creature did not understand me at all, but
+thought I had asked him who was his father: but I took it up by another
+handle, and asked him who made the sea, the ground we walked on, and the
+hills and woods? He told me, it was one old Benamuckee, that lived
+beyond all; he could describe nothing of this great person, but that he
+was very old, much older, he said, than the sea or the land, than the
+moon or the stars. I asked him then, if this old person had made all
+things, why did not all things worship him? He looked very grave, and
+with a perfect look of innocence said, All things say O to him. I asked
+him if the people who die in his country went away any where? He said,
+Yes; they all went to Benamuckee: then I asked him whether these they
+eat up went thither too? He said, Yes.
+
+From these things I began to instruct him in the knowledge of the true
+God: I told him that the great Maker of all things lived up there,
+pointing up towards heaven; that he governed the world by the same power
+and providence by which he made it; that he was omnipotent, and could do
+every thing for us, give every thing to us, take every thing from us;
+and thus, by degrees, I opened his eyes. He listened with great
+attention, and received with pleasure the notion of Jesus Christ being
+sent to redeem us, and of the manner of making our prayers to God, and
+his being able to hear us, even in heaven. He told me one day, that if
+our God could hear us up beyond the sun, he must needs be a greater God
+than their Benamuckee, who lived but a little way off, and yet could not
+hear till they went up to the great mountains where he dwelt to speak to
+him. I asked him if ever he went thither to speak to him? He said, No;
+they never went that were young men; none went thither but the old men,
+whom he called their Oowokakee; that is, as I made him explain it to me,
+their religious, or clergy; and that they went to say O (so he called
+saying prayers,) and then came back, and told them what Benamuckee said.
+By this I observed, that there is priestcraft even among the most
+blinded, ignorant pagans in the world; and the policy of making a secret
+of religion, in order to preserve the veneration of the people to the
+clergy, is not only to be found in the Roman, but perhaps among all
+religions in the world, even among the most brutish and
+barbarous savages.
+
+I endeavoured to clear up this fraud to my man Friday; and told him,
+that the pretence of their old men going up to the mountains to say O to
+their god Benamuckee was a cheat; and their bringing word from thence
+what he said was much more so; that if they met with any answer, or
+spake with any one there, it must be with an evil spirit: and then I
+entered into a long discourse with him about the devil, the original of
+him, his rebellion against God, his enmity to man, the reason of it, his
+setting himself up in the dark parts of the world to be worshipped
+instead of God, and as God, and the many stratagems he made use of to
+delude mankind to their ruin; how he had a secret access to our
+passions and to our affections, and to adapt his snares to our
+inclinations, so as to cause us even to be our own tempters, and run
+upon our destruction by our own choice.
+
+I found it was not so easy to imprint right notions in his mind about
+the devil, as it was about the being of a God: nature assisted all my
+arguments to evidence to him even the necessity of a great First Cause,
+and over-ruling, governing Power, a secret, directing Providence, and of
+the equity and justice of paying homage to him that made us, and the
+like; but there appeared nothing of this kind in the notion of an evil
+spirit; of his original, his being, his nature, and, above all, of his
+inclination to do evil, and to draw us in to do so too: and the poor
+creature puzzled me once in such a manner, by a question merely natural
+and innocent, that I scarce knew what to say to him. I had been talking
+a great deal to him of the power of God, his omnipotence, his aversion
+to sin, his being a consuming fire to the workers of iniquity; how, as
+he had made us all, he could destroy us and all the world in a moment;
+and he listened with great seriousness to me all the while. After this,
+I had been telling him how the devil was God's enemy in the hearts of
+men, and used all his malice and skill to defeat the good designs of
+Providence, and to ruin the kingdom of Christ in the world, and the
+like. "Well," says Friday, "but you say God is so strong, so great; is
+he not much strong, much might as the devil?"--"Yes, yes," says I,
+"Friday, God is stronger than the devil: God is above the devil, and
+therefore we pray to God to tread him down under our feet, and enable us
+to resist his temptations, and quench his fiery darts."--"But," says he
+again, "if God much stronger, much might as the devil, why God no kill
+the devil, so make him no more do wicked?" I was strangely surprised at
+this question; and, after all, though I was now an old man, yet I was
+but a young doctor, and ill qualified for a casuist, or a solver of
+difficulties; and, at first, I could not tell what to say; so I
+pretended not to hear him, and asked him what he said; but he was too
+earnest for an answer, to forget his question, so that he repeated it in
+the very same broken words as above. By this time I had recovered myself
+a little, and I said, "God will at last punish him severely; he is
+reserved for the judgment, and is to be cast into the bottomless pit, to
+dwell with everlasting fire." This did not satisfy Friday; but he
+returns upon me, repeating my words, "_Reserve at last_! me no
+understand: but why not kill the devil now; not kill great ago?"--"You
+may as well ask me," said I, "why God does not kill you and me, when we
+do wicked things here that offend him: we are preserved to repent and be
+pardoned." He mused some time on this: "Well, well," says he, mighty
+affectionately, "that well: so you, I, devil, all wicked, all preserve,
+repent, God pardon all." Here I was run down again by him to the last
+degree; and it was a testimony to me, how the mere notions of nature,
+though they will guide reasonable creatures to the knowledge of a God,
+and of a worship or homage due to the supreme being of God, as the
+consequence of our nature, yet nothing but divine revelation can form
+the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and of redemption purchased for us, of a
+Mediator of the new covenant, and of an Intercessor at the footstool of
+God's throne; I say, nothing but a revelation from Heaven can form these
+in the soul; and that, therefore, the gospel of our Lord and Saviour
+Jesus Christ, I mean the Word of God, and the Spirit of God, promised
+for the guide and sanctifier of his people, are the absolutely necessary
+instructors of the souls of men in the saving knowledge of God, and the
+means of salvation.
+
+I therefore diverted the present discourse between me and my man, rising
+up hastily, as upon some sudden occasion of going out; then sending him
+for something a good way off, I seriously prayed to God that he would
+enable me to instruct savingly this poor savage; assisting, by his
+Spirit, the heart of the poor ignorant creature to receive the light of
+the knowledge of God in Christ, reconciling him to himself, and would
+guide me to speak so to him from the word of God, as his conscience
+might be convinced, his eyes opened, and his soul saved. When he came
+again to me, I entered into a long discourse with him upon the subject
+of the redemption of man by the Saviour of the world, and of the
+doctrine of the gospel preached from heaven, viz. of repentance towards
+God, and faith in our blessed Lord Jesus. I then explained to him as
+well as I could; why our blessed Redeemer took not on him the nature of
+angels, but the seed of Abraham; and how, for that reason, the fallen
+angels had no share in the redemption; that he came only to the lost
+sheep of the house of Israel, and the like.
+
+I had, God knows, more sincerity than knowledge in all the methods I
+took for this poor creature's instruction, and must acknowledge, what I
+believe all that act upon the same principle will find, that in laying
+things open to him, I really informed and instructed myself in many
+things that either I did not know, or had not fully considered before,
+but which occurred naturally to my mind upon searching into them, for
+the information of this poor savage; and I had more affection in my
+inquiry after things upon this occasion than ever I felt before: so
+that, whether this poor wild wretch was the better for me or no, I had
+great reason to be thankful that ever he came to me; my grief sat
+lighter upon me; my habitation grew comfortable to me beyond measure:
+and when I reflected, that in this solitary life which I had been
+confined to, I had not only been moved to look up to heaven myself, and
+to seek to the hand that had brought me here, but was now to be made an
+instrument, under Providence, to save the life, and, for aught I knew,
+the soul, of a poor savage, and bring him to the true knowledge of
+religion, and of the Christian doctrine, that he might know Christ
+Jesus, in whom is life eternal; I say, when I reflected upon all these
+things, a secret joy ran through every part of my soul, and I frequently
+rejoiced that ever I was brought to this place, which I had so often
+thought the most dreadful of all afflictions that could possibly have
+befallen me.
+
+I continued in this thankful frame all the remainder of my time; and the
+conversation which employed the hours between Friday and me was such,
+as made the three years which we lived there together perfectly and
+completely happy, if any such thing as complete happiness can he formed
+in a sublunary state. This savage was now a good Christian, a much
+better than I; though I have reason to hope, and bless God for it, that
+we were equally penitent, and comforted, restored penitents. We had here
+the word of God to read, and no farther off from his Spirit to instruct,
+than if we had been in England. I always applied myself, in reading the
+Scriptures, to let him know, as well as I could, the meaning of what I
+read; and he again, by his serious inquiries and questionings, made me,
+as I said before, a much better scholar in the Scripture-knowledge than
+I should ever have been by my own mere private reading. Another thing I
+cannot refrain from observing here also, from experience in this retired
+part of my life, viz. how infinite and inexpressible a blessing it is
+that the knowledge of God; and of the doctrine of salvation by Christ
+Jesus, is so plainly laid down in the word of God, so easy to be
+received and understood, that, as the bare reading the Scripture made me
+capable of understanding enough of my duty to carry me directly on to
+the great work of sincere repentance for my sins, and laying hold of a
+Saviour for life and salvation, to a stated reformation in practice, and
+obedience to all God's commands, and this without any teacher or
+instructor, I mean human; so the same plain instruction sufficiently
+served to the enlightening this savage creature, and bringing him to be
+such a Christian, as I have known few equal to him in my life.
+
+As to all the disputes, wrangling, strife, and contention which have
+happened in the world about religion, whether niceties in doctrines, or
+schemes of church-government, they were all perfectly useless to us,
+and, for aught I can yet see, they have been so to the rest of the
+world. We had the sure guide to heaven, viz. the word of God; and we
+had, blessed be God, comfortable views of the Spirit of God teaching and
+instructing us by his word, leading us into all truth, and making us
+both willing and obedient to the instruction of his word. And I cannot
+see the least use that the greatest knowledge of the disputed points of
+religion, which have made such confusions in the world, would have been
+to us, if we could have obtained it.--But I must go on with the
+historical part of things, and take every part in its order.
+
+After Friday and I became more intimately acquainted, and that he could
+understand almost all I said to him, and speak pretty fluently, though
+in broken English, to me, I acquainted him with my own history, or at
+least so much of it as related to my coming to this place; how I had
+lived here, and how long: I let him into the mystery, for such it was to
+him, of gunpowder and bullet, and taught him how to shoot. I gave him a
+knife; which he was wonderfully delighted with; and I made him a belt,
+with a frog hanging to it, such as in England we wear hangers in; and in
+the frog, instead of a hanger, I gave him a hatchet, which was not only
+as good a weapon, in some cases, but much more useful upon other
+occasions.
+
+I described to him the country of Europe, particularly England, which I
+came from; how we lived, how we worshipped God, how we behaved to one
+another, and how we traded in ships to all parts of the world. I gave
+him an account of the wreck which I had been on board of, and showed
+him, as near as I could, the place where she lay; but she was all beaten
+in pieces before, and gone. I showed him the ruins of our boat, which we
+lost when we escaped, and which I could not stir with my whole strength
+then; but was now fallen almost all to pieces. Upon seeing this boat,
+Friday stood musing a great while, and said nothing. I asked him what it
+was he studied upon? At last, says he, "Me see such boat like come to
+place at my nation." I did not understand him a good while; but, at
+last, when I had examined farther into it, I understood by him, that a
+boat, such as that had been, came on shore upon the country where he
+lived; that is, as he explained it, was driven thither by stress of
+weather. I presently imagined that some European ship must have been
+cast away upon their coast, and the boat might get loose, and drive
+ashore; but was so dull, that I never once thought of men making their
+escape from a wreck thither, much less whence they might come: so I only
+inquired after a description of the boat.
+
+Friday described the boat to me well enough; but brought me better to
+understand him when he added with some warmth, "We save the white mans
+from drown." Then I presently asked him, if there were any white mans,
+as he called them, in the boat? "Yes," he said; "the boat full of white
+mans." I asked him how many? He told upon his fingers seventeen, I
+asked him then what became of them? He told me, "They live, they dwell
+at my nation."
+
+This put new thoughts into my head; for I presently imagined that these
+might be the men belonging to the ship that was cast away in the sight
+of my island, as I now called it; and who, after the ship was struck on
+the rock, and they saw her inevitably lost, had saved themselves in
+their boat, and were landed upon that wild shore among the savages. Upon
+this, I inquired of him more critically what was become of them; he
+assured me they lived still there; that they had been there about four
+years; that the savages let them alone, and gave them victuals to live
+on. I asked him how it came to pass they did not kill them, and eat
+them? He said, "No, they make brother with them;" that is, as I
+understood him, a truce; and then he added, "They no eat mans but when
+make the war fight;" that is to say, they never eat any men but such as
+come to fight with them, and are taken in battle.
+
+It was after this some considerable time, that being upon the top of the
+hill, at the east side of the island, from whence, as I have said, I
+had, in a clear day, discovered the main or continent of America,
+Friday, the weather being very serene, looks very earnestly towards the
+main land, and, in a kind of surprise, fells a jumping and dancing, and
+calls out to me, for I was at some distance from him. I asked him what
+was the matter? "O joy!" says he; "O glad! there see my country, there
+my nation!" I observed an extraordinary sense of pleasure appeared in
+his face, and his eyes sparkled, and his countenance discovered a
+strange eagerness, as if he had a mind to be in his own country again.
+This observation of mine put a great many thoughts into me, which made
+me at first not so easy about my new man Friday as I was before; and I
+made no doubt but that if Friday could get back to his own nation again,
+he would not only forget all his religion, but all his obligation to me,
+and would be forward enough to give his countrymen an account of me, and
+come back perhaps with a hundred or two of them, and make a feast upon
+me, at which he might be as merry as he used to be with those of his
+enemies, when they were taken in war. But I wronged the poor honest
+creature very much, for which I was very sorry afterwards. However, as
+my jealousy increased, and held me some weeks, I was a little more
+circumspect, and not so familiar and kind to him as before: in which I
+was certainly in the wrong too; the honest, grateful creature, having no
+thought about it, but what consisted with the best principles, both as a
+religious Christian, and as a grateful friend; as appeared afterwards,
+to my full satisfaction.
+
+While my jealousy of him lasted, you may be sure I was every day pumping
+him, to see if he would discover any of the new thoughts which I
+suspected were in him: but I found every thing he said was so honest and
+so innocent, that I could find nothing to nourish my suspicion; and, in
+spite of all my uneasiness, he made me at last entirely his own again;
+nor did he, in the least, perceive that I was uneasy, and therefore I
+could not suspect him of deceit.
+
+One day, walking up the same hill, but the weather being hazy at sea, so
+that we could not see the continent, I called to him, and said, "Friday,
+do not you wish yourself in your own country, your own nation?"--"Yes,"
+he said, "I be much O glad to be at my own nation." "What would you do
+there?" said I: "would you turn wild again, eat men's flesh again, and
+be a savage as you were before?" He looked full of concern, and shaking
+his head, said, "No, no, Friday tell them to live good; tell them to
+pray God; tell them to eat corn-bread, cattle-flesh, milk; no eat man
+again."--"Why then," said I to him, "they will kill you." He looked
+grave at that, and then said, "No, no; they no kill me, they willing
+love learn." He meant by this, they would be willing to learn. He added,
+they learned much of the bearded mans that came in the boat. Then I
+asked him if he would go back to them. He smiled at that, and told me
+that he could not swim so far. I told him, I would make a canoe for him.
+He told me he would go, if I would go with him. "I go!" says I, "why,
+they will eat me if I come there."--"No, no," says he, "me make they no
+eat you; me make they much love you," He meant, he would tell them how I
+had killed his enemies, and saved his life, and so he would make them
+love me. Then he told me, as well as he could, how kind they were to
+seventeen white men, or bearded men, as he called them, who came on
+shore there in distress.
+
+From this time, I confess I had a mind to venture over, and see if I
+could possibly join with those bearded men, who, I made no doubt, were
+Spaniards and Portuguese: not doubting but if I could, we might find
+some method to escape from thence, being upon the continent, and a good
+company together, better than I could from an island forty miles off the
+shore, and alone, without help. So, after some days, I took Friday to
+work again, by way of discourse; and told him I would give him a boat to
+go back to his own nation; and accordingly I carried him to my frigate,
+which lay on the other side of the island, and having cleared it of
+water (for I always kept it sunk in water,) I brought it out, showed it
+him, and we both went into it. I found he was a most dexterous fellow at
+managing it, and would make it go almost as swift again as I could. So
+when he was in, I said to him, "Well, now, Friday, shall we go to your
+nation?" He looked very dull at my saying so; which, it seems, was
+because he thought the boat too small to go so far: I then told him I
+had a bigger; so the next day I went to the place where the first boat
+lay which I had made, but which I could not get into the water. He said
+that was big enough: but then, as I had taken no care of it, and it had
+lain two or three and twenty years there, the sun had split and dried
+it, that, it was in a manner rotten. Friday told me such a boat would do
+very well, and would carry "much enough vittle, drink, bread;" that was
+his way of talking.
+
+Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going over
+with him to the continent, that I told him we would go and make one as
+big as that, and he should go home in it. He answered not one word, but
+looked very grave and sad. I asked him what was the matter with him? He
+asked me again, "Why you angry mad with Friday? what me done?" I asked
+him what he meant: I told him I was not angry with him at all. "No
+angry!" says he, repeating the words several times, "why send Friday
+home away to my nation?"--"Why," says I, "Friday, did not you say you
+wished you were there?"--"Yes, yes," says he, "wish be both there; no
+wish Friday there, no master there." In a word, he would not think of
+going there without me. "I go there, Friday!" says I, "what shall I do
+there?" He returned very quick upon me at this: "You do great deal much
+good," says he; "you teach wild mans be good, sober, tame mans; you tell
+them know God, pray God, and live new life."--"Alas! Friday," says I,
+"thou knowest not what thou sayest; I am but an ignorant man
+myself."--"Yes, yes," says he, "you teachee me good, you teachee them
+good."--"No, no, Friday," says I, "you shall go without me; leave me
+here to live by myself, as I did before." He looked confused again at
+that word; and running to one of the hatchets which he used to wear, he
+takes it up hastily, and gives it to me. "What must I do with this?"
+says I to him. "You take kill Friday," says he. "What must I kill you
+for?" said I again. He returns very quick, "What you send Friday away
+for? Take kill Friday, no send Friday away." This he spoke so earnestly,
+that I saw tears stand in his eyes: in a word, I so plainly discovered
+the utmost affection in him to me, and a firm resolution in him, that I
+told him then, and often after, that I would never send him away from
+me, if he was willing to stay with me.
+
+Upon the whole, as I found, by all his discourse, a settled affection to
+me, and that nothing should part him from me, so I found all the
+foundation of his desire to go to his own country was laid in his ardent
+affection to the people, and his hopes of my doing them good; a thing,
+which, as I had no notion of myself, so I had not the least thought, or
+intention, or desire of undertaking it. But still I found a strong
+inclination to my attempting an escape, as above, founded on the
+supposition gathered from the discourse, viz. that there were seventeen
+bearded men there: and, therefore, without any more delay, I went to
+work with Friday, to find out a great tree proper to fell, and make a
+large periagua, or canoe, to undertake the voyage. There were trees
+enough in the island to have built a little fleet, not of periaguas, or
+canoes, but even of good large vessels: but the main thing I looked at
+was, to get one so near the water that we might launch it when it was
+made, to avoid the mistake I committed at first. At last, Friday pitched
+upon a tree; for I found he knew much better than I what kind of wood
+was fittest for it; nor can I tell, to this day, what wood to call the
+tree we cut down, except that it was very like the tree we call fustic,
+or between that and the Nicaragua wood, for it was much of the same
+colour and smell. Friday was for burning the hollow or cavity of this
+tree out, to make it for a boat, but I showed him how to cut it with
+tools; which, after I had showed him how to use, he did very handily:
+and in about a month's hard labour we finished it, and made it very
+handsome; especially when, with our axes, which I showed him how to
+handle, we cut and hewed the outside into the true shape of a boat.
+After this, however, it cost us near a fortnight's time to get her
+along, as it were inch by inch, upon great rollers into the water; but
+when she was in, she would have carried twenty men with great ease.
+
+When she was in the water, and though she was so big, it amazed me to
+see with what dexterity, and how swift my man Friday would manage her,
+turn her, and paddle her along. So I asked him if he would, and if we
+might venture over in her. "Yes," he said, "we venture over in her very
+well, though great blow wind." However, I had a farther design that he
+knew nothing of, and that was to make a mast and a sail, and to fit her
+with an anchor and cable. As to a mast, that was easy enough to get; so
+I pitched upon a straight young cedar tree, which I found near the
+place, and which there were great plenty of in the island: and I set
+Friday to work to cut it down, and gave him directions how to shape and
+order it. But as to the sail, that was my particular care. I knew I had
+old sails, or rather pieces of old sails enough; but as I had had them
+now six and twenty years by me, and had not been very careful to
+preserve them, not imagining that I should ever have this kind of use
+for them, I did not doubt but they were all rotten, and, indeed, most of
+them were so. However, I found two pieces, which appeared pretty good,
+and with these I went to work; and with a great deal of pains, and
+awkward stitching, you may be sure, for want of needles, I, at length,
+made a three-cornered ugly thing, like what we call in England a
+shoulder of mutton sail, to go with a boom at bottom, and a little short
+sprit at the top, such as usually our ships' long-boats sail with, and
+such as I best knew how to manage, as it was such a one I had to the
+boat in which I made my escape from Barbary, as related in the first
+part of my story.
+
+I was near two months performing this last work, viz. rigging and
+fitting my mast and sails; for I finished them very complete, making a
+small stay, and a sail, or fore-sail, to it, to assist, if we should
+turn to windward; and, which was more than all, I fixed a rudder to the
+stern of her to steer with. I was but a bungling shipwright, yet, as I
+knew the usefulness, and even necessity of such a thing, I applied
+myself with so much pains to do it, that at last I brought it to pass;
+though, considering the many dull contrivances I had for it that failed,
+I think it cost me almost as much labour as making the boat.
+
+After all this was done, I had my man Friday to teach as to what
+belonged to the navigation of my boat; for, though he knew very well how
+to paddle a canoe, he knew nothing what belonged to a sail and a rudder;
+and was the most amazed when he saw me work the boat to and again in the
+sea by the rudder, and how the sail gibbed, and filled this way, or that
+way, as the course we sailed changed; I say, when he saw this, he stood
+like one astonished and amazed. However, with a little use, I made all
+these things familiar to him, and he became an expert sailor, except
+that as to the compass; I could make him understand very little of that.
+On the other hand, as there was very little cloudy weather, and seldom
+or never any fogs in those parts, there was the less occasion for a
+compass, seeing the stars were always to be seen by night, and the shore
+by day, except in the rainy seasons, and then nobody cared to stir
+abroad, either by land or sea.
+
+I was now entered on the seven and twentieth year of my captivity in
+this place; though the three last years that I had this creature with me
+ought rather to be left out of the account, my habitation being quite of
+another kind than in all the rest of the time. I kept the anniversary of
+my landing here with the same thankfulness to God for his mercies as at
+first; and if I had such cause of acknowledgment at first, I had much
+more so now, having such additional testimonies of the care of
+Providence over me, and the great hopes I had of being effectually and
+speedily delivered; for I had an invincible impression upon my thoughts
+that my deliverance was at hand, and that I should not be another year
+in this place. I went on, however, with my husbandry; digging, planting,
+and fencing, as usual. I gathered and cured my grapes, and did every
+necessary thing as before.
+
+The rainy season was, in the mean time, upon me, when I kept more within
+doors than at other times. We had stowed our new vessel as secure as we
+could, bringing her up into the creek, where, as I said in the
+beginning, I landed my rafts from the ship; and hauling her up to the
+shore, at high-water mark, I made my man Friday dig a little dock, just
+big enough to hold her, and just deep enough to give her water enough to
+float in; and then, when the tide was out, we made a strong dam across
+the end of it, to keep the water out; and so she lay dry, as to the
+tide, from the sea; and to keep the rain off, we laid a great many
+boughs of trees, so thick, that she was as well thatched as a house; and
+thus we waited for the months of November and December, in which I
+designed to make my adventure.
+
+When the settled season began to come in, as the thought of my design
+returned with the fair weather, I was preparing daily for the voyage:
+and the first thing I did was to lay by a certain quantity of
+provisions, being the stores for our voyage: and intended, in a week or
+a fortnight's time, to open the dock, and launch out our boat. I was
+busy one morning upon something of this kind, when I called to Friday,
+and bid him go to the sea-shore, and see if he could find a turtle, or
+tortoise, a thing which we generally got once a week, for the sake of
+the eggs as well as the flesh. Friday had not been long gone, when he
+came running back and flew over my outer-wall, or fence, like one that
+felt not the ground, or the steps he set his feet on; and before I had
+time to speak to him, he cries out to me, "O master! O master! O sorrow!
+O bad!"--"What's the matter, Friday?" says I. "O yonder, there," says
+he, "one, two, three canoe; one, two, three!" By this way of speaking, I
+concluded there were six; but, on inquiry, I found it was but three.
+"Well, Friday," says I, "do not be frightened." So I heartened him up
+as well as I could: however, I saw the poor fellow was most terribly
+scared; for nothing ran in his head but that they were come to look for
+him, and would cut him in pieces, and eat him; and the poor fellow
+trembled so, that I scarce knew what to do with him. I comforted him as
+well as I could, and told him I was in as much danger as he, and that
+they would eat me as well as him. "But," says I, "Friday, we must
+resolve to fight them. Can you fight, Friday!"--"Me shoot," says he;
+but there come many great number."--No matter for that," said I, again;
+"our guns will fright them that we do not kill." So I asked him whether,
+if I resolved to defend him, he would defend me, and stand by me, and do
+just as I bid him. He said, "Me die, when you bid die, master." So I
+went and fetched a good dram of rum and gave him; for I had been so good
+a husband of my rum, that I had a great deal left. When he drank it, I
+made him take the two fowling-pieces, which we always carried, and
+loaded them with large swan-shot, as big as small pistol-bullets; then I
+took four muskets, and loaded them with two slugs, and five small
+bullets each; and my two pistols I loaded with a brace of bullets each;
+I hung my great sword, as usual, naked by my side, and gave Friday his
+hatchet. When I had thus prepared myself, I took my perspective-glass,
+and went up to the side of the hill, to see what I could discover; and I
+found quickly, by my glass, that there were one and twenty savages,
+three prisoners, and three canoes; and that their whole business seemed
+to be the triumphant banquet upon these three human bodies; a barbarous
+feast indeed! but nothing more than, as I had observed, was usual with
+them. I observed also, that they were landed, not where they had done
+when Friday made his escape, but nearer to my creek: where the shore was
+low, and where a thick wood came almost close down to the sea. This,
+with the abhorrence of the inhuman errand these wretches came about,
+filled me with such indignation, that I came down again to Friday, and
+told him I was resolved to go down to them, and kill them all; and asked
+him if he would stand by me. He had now got over his fright, and his
+spirits being a little raised with the dram I had given him, he was very
+cheerful, and told me, as before, he would die when I bid die.
+
+In this fit of fury, I took and divided the arms which I had charged, as
+before, between us: I gave Friday one pistol to stick in his girdle, and
+three guns upon his shoulder; and I took one pistol, and the other three
+guns, myself; and in this posture we marched out. I took a small bottle
+of rum in my pocket, and gave Friday a large bag with more powder and
+bullets; and, as to orders, I charged him to keep close behind me, and
+not to stir, or shoot, or do any thing, till I bid him; and, in the mean
+time, not to speak a word. In this posture, I fetched a compass to my
+right hand of near a mile, as well to get over the creek as to get into
+the wood, so that I might come within shot of them before I should be
+discovered, which I had seen, by my glass, it was easy to do.
+
+While I was making this march, my former thoughts returning, I began to
+abate my resolution: I do not mean that I entertained any fear of their
+number; for, as they were naked, unarmed wretches, it is certain I was
+superior to them; nay, though I had been alone. But it occurred to my
+thoughts, what call, what occasion, much less what necessity I was in,
+to go and dip my hands in blood, to attack people who had neither done
+or intended me any wrong? Who, as to me, were innocent, and whose
+barbarous customs were their own disaster; being, in them, a token
+indeed of God's having left them, with the other nations of that part of
+the world, to such stupidity, and to such inhuman courses; but did not
+call me to take upon me to be a judge of their actions, much less an
+executioner of his justice; that, whenever he thought fit, he would take
+the cause into his own hands, and, by national vengeance, punish them,
+as a people, for national crimes; but that, in the mean time, it was
+none of my business; that, it was true, Friday might justify it, because
+he was a declared enemy, and in a state of war with those very
+particular people, and it was lawful for him to attack them; but I could
+not say the same with respect to myself. These things were so warmly
+pressed upon my thoughts all the way as I went, that I resolved I would
+only go and place myself near them, that I might observe their barbarous
+feast, and that I would act then as God should direct; but that, unless
+something offered that was more a call to me than yet I knew of, I would
+not meddle with them.
+
+With this resolution I entered the wood; and, with all possible
+weariness and silence, Friday following close at my heels, I marched
+till I came to the skirt of the wood, on the side which was next to
+them, only that one corner of the wood lay between me and them. Here I
+called softly to Friday, and showing him a great tree, which was just at
+the corner of the wood, I bade him go to the tree, and bring me word if
+he could see there plainly what they were doing. He did so; and came
+immediately back to me, and told me they might be plainly viewed there;
+that they were all about their fire, eating the flesh of one of their
+prisoners, and that another lay bound upon the sand, a little from them,
+which, he said, they would kill next, and which fired the very soul
+within me. He told me it was not one of their nation, but one of the
+bearded men he had told me of, that came to their country in the boat. I
+was filled with horror at the very naming the white-bearded man; and,
+going to the tree, I saw plainly, by my glass, a white man, who lay upon
+the beach of the sea, with his hands and his feet tied with flags, or
+things like rushes, and that he was an European, and had clothes on.
+
+There was another tree, and a little thicket beyond it, about fifty
+yards nearer to them than the place where I was, which, by going a
+little way about, I saw I might come at undiscovered, and that then I
+should be within half a shot of them: so I withheld my passion, though I
+was indeed enraged to the highest degree; and going back about twenty
+paces, I got behind some bushes, which held all the way till I came to
+the other tree; and then came to a little rising ground, which gave me a
+full view of them, at the distance of about eighty yards.
+
+I had now not a moment to lose, for nineteen of the dreadful wretches
+sat upon the ground, all close huddled together, and had just sent the
+other two to butcher the poor Christian, and bring him, perhaps, limb by
+limb, to their fire; and they were stooping down to untie the bands at
+his feet. I turned to Friday--"Now, Friday," said I, "do as I bid thee."
+Friday said he would. "Then, Friday," says I, "do exactly as you see me
+do; fail in nothing." So I set down one of the muskets and the
+fowling-piece upon the ground, and Friday did the like by his; and with
+the other musket I took my aim at the savages, bidding him to do the
+like: then asking him if he was ready, he said, "Yes." "Then fire at
+them," said I; and the same moment I fired also.
+
+Friday took his aim so much better than I, that on the side that he
+shot, he killed two of them, and wounded three more; and on my side, I
+killed one, and wounded two. They were, you may be sure, in a dreadful
+consternation; and all of them who were not hurt jumped upon their feet,
+but did not immediately know which way to run, or which way to look, for
+they knew not from whence their destruction came. Friday kept his eyes
+close upon me, that, as I had bid him, he might observe what I did; so,
+as soon as the first shot was made, I threw down the piece, and took up
+the fowling-piece, and Friday did the like: he saw me cock and present;
+he did the same again. "Are you ready, Friday?" said I.--"Yes," says he.
+"Let fly, then," says I, "in the name of God!" and with that, I fired
+again among the amazed wretches, and so did Friday; and as our pieces
+were now loaden with what I called swan-shot, or small pistol-bullets,
+we found only two drop, but so many were wounded, that they ran about
+yelling and screaming like mad creatures, all bloody, and most of them
+miserably wounded, whereof three more fell quickly after, though not
+quite dead.
+
+"Now, Friday," says I, laying down the discharged pieces, and taking up
+the musket which was yet loaden, "follow me;" which he did with a great
+deal of courage; upon which I rushed out of the wood, and showed myself,
+and Friday close at my foot. As soon as I perceived they saw me, I
+shouted as loud as I could, and bade Friday do so too; and running as
+fast as I could, which, by the way, was not very fast, being loaded with
+arms as I was, I made directly towards the poor victim, who was, as I
+said, lying upon, the beach, or shore, between the place where they sat
+and the sea. The two butchers, who were just going to work with him, had
+left him at the surprise of our first fire, and fled in a terrible
+fright to the sea-side, and had jumped into a canoe, and three more of
+the rest made the same way. I turned to Friday, and bade him step
+forwards, and fire at them; he understood me immediately, and running
+about forty yards, to be nearer them, he shot at them, and I thought he
+had killed them all, for I saw them all fall of a heap into the boat,
+though I saw two of them up again quickly: however, he killed two of
+them, and wounded the third so, that he lay down in the bottom of the
+boat as if he had been dead.
+
+While my man Friday fired at them, I pulled out my knife and cut the
+flags that bound the poor victim; and loosing his hands and feet, I
+lifted him up, and asked him in the Portuguese tongue, what he was. He
+answered in Latin, Christianus; but was so weak and faint that he could
+scarce stand or speak. I took my bottle out of my pocket, and gave it
+him, making signs that he should drink, which he did; and I gave him a
+piece of bread, which he eat. Then I asked him what countryman he was:
+and he said, Espagniole; and being a little recovered, let me know, by
+all the signs he could possibly make, how much he was in my debt for his
+deliverance. "Seignior," said I, with as much Spanish as I could make
+up, "we will talk afterwards, but we must fight now: if you have any
+strength left, take this pistol and sword, and lay about you." He took
+them very thankfully; and no sooner had he the arms in his hands, but,
+as if they had put new vigour into him, he flew upon his murderers like
+a fury, and had cut two of them in pieces in an instant; for the truth
+is, as the whole was a surprise to them, so the poor creatures were so
+much frightened with the noise of our pieces, that they fell down for
+mere amazement and fear, and had no more power to attempt their own
+escape, than their flesh had to resist our shot: and that was the case
+of those five that Friday shot at in the boat; for as three of them fell
+with the hurt they received, so the other two fell with the fright.
+
+I kept my piece in my hand still without firing, being willing to keep
+my charge ready, because I had given the Spaniard my pistol and sword:
+so I called to Friday, and bade-him run up to the tree from whence we
+first fired, and fetch the arms which lay there that had been
+discharged, which he did with great swiftness; and then giving him my
+musket, I sat down myself to load all the rest again, and bade them come
+to me when they wanted. While I was loading these pieces, there happened
+a fierce engagement between the Spaniard and one of the savages, who
+made at him with one of their great wooden swords, the same-like weapon
+that was to have killed him before, if I had not prevented it. The
+Spaniard, who was as bold and brave as could be imagined, though weak,
+had fought this Indian a good while, and had cut him two great wounds on
+his head; but the savage being a stout, lusty fellow, closing in with
+him, had thrown him down, being faint, and was wringing my sword out of
+his hand; when the Spaniard, though undermost, wisely quitting the
+sword, drew the pistol from his girdle, shot the savage through the
+body, and killed him upon the spot, before I, who was running to help
+him, could come near him.
+
+Friday being now left to his liberty, pursued the flying wretches, with
+no weapon in his hand but his hatchet; and with that he dispatched those
+three, who, as I said before, were wounded at first, and fallen, and all
+the rest he could come up with: and the Spaniard coming to me for a gun,
+I gave him one of the fowling-pieces, with which he pursued two of the
+savages, and wounded them both; but, as he was not able to run, they
+both got from him into the wood, where Friday pursued them, and killed
+one of them, but the other was too nimble for him; and though he was
+wounded, yet had plunged himself into the sea, and swam, with all his
+might, off to those two who were left in the canoe, which three in the
+canoe, with one wounded, that we knew not whether he died or no, were
+all that escaped our hands of one and twenty; the account of the whole
+is as follows: three killed at our first shot from the tree; two killed
+at the next shot; two killed by Friday in the boat; two killed by Friday
+of those at first wounded; one killed by Friday in the wood; three
+killed by the Spaniard; four killed, being found dropped here and there,
+of their wounds, or killed by Friday in his chase of them; four escaped
+in the boat, whereof one wounded, if not dead.--Twenty-one in all.
+
+Those that were in the canoe worked hard to get out of gun-shot, and
+though Friday made two or three shots at them, I did not find that he
+hit any of them. Friday would fain have had me take one of their
+canoes, and pursue them; and, indeed, I was very anxious about their
+escape, lest carrying the news home to their people, they should come
+back perhaps with two or three hundred of the canoes, and devour us by
+mere multitude; so I consented to pursue them by sea, and running to one
+of their canoes, I jumped in, and bade Friday follow me; but when I was
+in the canoe, I was surprised to find another poor creature lie there,
+bound hand and foot, as the Spaniard was, for the slaughter, and almost
+dead with fear, not knowing what was the matter; for he had not been
+able to look up over the side of the boat, he was tied so hard neck and
+heels, and had been tied so long, that he had really but little life
+in him.
+
+I immediately cut the twisted flags or rushes, which they had bound him
+with, and would have helped him up; but he could not stand or speak, but
+groaned most piteously, believing, it seems, still, that he was only
+unbound in order to be killed. When Friday came to him, I bade him speak
+to him, and tell him of his deliverance; and, pulling out my bottle,
+made him give the poor wretch a dram; which, with the news of his being
+delivered, revived him, and he sat up in the boat. But when Friday came
+to hear him speak, and look in his face, it would have moved any one to
+tears to have seen how Friday kissed him, embraced him, hugged him,
+cried, laughed, hallooed, jumped about, danced, sung; then cried again,
+wrung his hands, beat his own face and head; and then sung and jumped
+about again, like a distracted creature. It was a good while before I
+could make him speak to me, or tell me what was the matter; but when he
+came a little to himself, he told me that it was his father.
+
+It is not easy for me to express how it moved me to see what ecstasy and
+filial affection had worked in this poor savage at the sight of his
+father, and of his being delivered from death; nor, indeed, can I
+describe half the extravagances of his affection after this; for he went
+into the boat, and out of the boat, a great many times: when he went in
+to him, he would sit down by him, open his breast, and hold his father's
+head close to his bosom for many minutes together, to nourish it; then
+he took his arms and ancles, which were numbed and stiff with the
+binding, and chafed and rubbed them with his hands; and I, perceiving
+what the case was, gave him some rum out of my bottle to rub them with,
+which did them a great deal of good.
+
+This affair put an end to our pursuit of the canoe with the other
+savages, who were now got almost out of sight; and it was happy for us
+that we did not, for it blew so hard within two hours after, and before
+they could be got a quarter of their way, and continued blowing so hard
+all night, and that from the north-west, which was against them, that I
+could not suppose their boat could live, or that they ever reached their
+own coast.
+
+But, to return to Friday; he was so busy about his father, that I could
+not find in my heart to take him off for some time: but after I thought
+he could leave him a little, I called him to me, and he came jumping and
+laughing, and pleased to the highest extreme; then I asked him if he
+had given his father any bread. He shook his head, and said, "None; ugly
+dog eat all up self," I then gave him a cake of bread, out of a little
+pouch I carried on purpose; I also gave him a dram for himself, but he
+would not taste it, but carried it to his father. I had in my pocket two
+or three bunches of raisins, so I gave him a handful of them for his
+father. He had no sooner given his father these raisins, but I saw him
+come out of the boat, and run away, as if he had been bewitched, he ran
+at such a rate; for he was the swiftest fellow on his feet that ever I
+saw: I say, he ran at such a rate, that he was out of sight, as it were,
+in an instant; and though I called, and hallooed out too, after him, it
+was all one, away he went; and in a quarter of an hour I saw him come
+back again, though not so fast as he went; and as he came nearer, I
+found his pace slacker, because he had something in his hand. When he
+came up to me, I found he had been quite home for an earthen jug, or
+pot, to bring his father some fresh water, and that he had two more
+cakes or loaves of bread; the bread he gave me, but the water he carried
+to his father; however, as I was very thirsty too, I took, a little sup
+of it. The water revived his father more than all the rum or spirits I
+had given him, for he was just fainting with thirst.
+
+When his father had drank, I called to him to know, if there was any
+water left: he said, "Yes;" and I bade him give it to the poor Spaniard,
+who was in as much want of it as his father; and I sent one of the
+cakes, that Friday brought, to the Spaniard too, who was indeed very
+weak, and was reposing himself upon a green place under the shade of a
+tree; and whose limbs were also very stiff and very much swelled with
+the rude bandage he had been tied with. When I saw that, upon Friday's
+coming to him with the water, he sat up and drank, and took the bread,
+and began to eat, I went to him and gave him a handful of raisins: he
+looked up in my face with all the tokens of gratitude and thankfulness
+that could appear in any countenance; but was so weak, notwithstanding
+he had so exerted himself in the fight, that he could not stand up upon
+his feet; he tried to do it two or three times, but was really not able,
+his ancles were so swelled and so painful to him; so I bade him sit
+still, and caused Friday to rub his ancles, and bathe them with rum, as
+he had done his father's.
+
+I observed the poor affectionate creature, every two minutes, or perhaps
+less, all the while he was here, turn his head about, to see if his
+father was in the same place and posture as he left him sitting; and at
+last he found he was not to be seen; at which he started up, and,
+without speaking a word, flew with that swiftness to him, that one could
+scarce perceive his feet to touch the ground as he went: but when he
+came, he only found he had laid himself down to ease his limbs, so
+Friday came back to me presently; and then I spoke to the Spaniard to
+let Friday help him up, if he could, and lead him to the boat, and then
+he should carry him to our dwelling, where I would take care of him: but
+Friday, a lusty strong fellow, took the Spaniard quite up upon his back,
+and carried him away to the boat, and set him down softly upon the side
+or gunnel of the canoe, with his feet in the inside of it; and then
+lifting him quite in, he set him close to his father; and presently
+stepping out again, launched the boat off, and paddled it along the
+shore faster than I could walk, though the wind blew pretty hard too: so
+he brought them both safe into our creek, and leaving them in the boat,
+ran away to fetch the other canoe. As he passed me, I spoke to him, and
+asked him whither he went. He told me, "Go fetch more boat:" so away he
+went like the wind, for sure never man or horse ran like him; and he had
+the other canoe in the creek almost as soon as I got to it by land; so
+he wafted me over, and then went to help our new guests out of the boat,
+which he did; but they were neither of them able to walk, so that poor
+Friday knew not what to do.
+
+To remedy this, I went to work in my thought, and calling to Friday to
+bid them sit down on the bank while he came to me, I soon made a kind of
+a hand-barrow to lay them on, and Friday and I carried them both up
+together upon it, between us.
+
+But when we got them to the outside of our wall, or fortification, we
+were at a worse loss than before, for it was impossible to get them
+over, and I was resolved not to break it down: so I set to work again;
+and Friday and I, in about two hours' time, made a very handsome tent,
+covered with old sails, and above that with boughs of trees, being in
+the space without our outward fence, and between, that and the grove of
+young wood which I had planted: and here we made them two beds of such
+things as I had, viz. of good rice-straw, with blankets laid upon it,
+to lie on, and another to cover them, on each bed.
+
+My island was now peopled, and I thought myself very rich in subjects;
+and it was a merry reflection, which I frequently made, how like a king
+I looked. First of all, the whole country was my own mere property, so
+that I had an undoubted right of dominion. Secondly, my people were
+perfectly subjected; I was absolutely lord and lawgiver; they all owed
+their lives to me, and were ready to lay down their lives, if there had
+been occasion for it, for me. It was remarkable, too, I had but three
+subjects, and they were of three different religions: my man Friday was
+a Protestant, his father was a Pagan and a cannibal, and the Spaniard
+was a Papist: however, I allowed liberty of conscience throughout my
+dominions:--But this is by the way.
+
+As soon as I had secured my two weak rescued prisoners, and given them
+shelter, and a place to rest them upon, I began to think of making some
+provision for them; and the first thing I did, I ordered Friday to take
+a yearling goat, betwixt a kid and a goat, out of my particular flock,
+to be killed; when I cut off the hinder-quarter, and chopping it into
+small pieces, I set Friday to work to boiling and stewing, and made them
+a very good dish, I assure you, of flesh and broth, having put some
+barley and rice also into the broth: and as I cooked it without doors,
+for I made no fire within my inner wall, so I carried it all into the
+new tent, and having set a table there for them, I sat down, and eat my
+dinner also with them, and, as well as I could, cheered them, and
+encouraged them. Friday was my interpreter, especially to his father,
+and, indeed, to the Spaniard too; for the Spaniard spoke the language of
+the savages pretty well.
+
+After we had dined, or rather supped, I ordered Friday to take one of
+the canoes, and go and fetch our muskets and other fire-arms, which, for
+want of time, we had left upon the place of battle: and, the next day, I
+ordered him to go and bury the dead bodies of the savages, which lay
+open to the sun, and would presently be offensive. I also ordered him to
+bury the horrid remains of their barbarous feast, which I knew were
+pretty much, and which I could not think of doing myself; nay, I could
+not bear to see them, if I went that way; all which he punctually
+performed, and effaced the very appearance of the savages being there;
+so that when I went again, I could scarce know where it was, otherwise
+than by the corner of the wood pointing to the place.
+
+I then began to enter into a little conversation with my two new
+subjects: and, first, I set Friday to inquire of his father what he
+thought of the escape of the savages in that canoe, and whether we might
+expect a return of them, with a power too great for us to resist. His
+first opinion was, that the savages in the boat never could live out the
+storm which blew that night they went off, but must, of necessity, be
+drowned, or driven south to those other shores, where they were as sure
+to be devoured as they were to be drowned, if they were cast away: but,
+as to what they would do, if they came safe on shore, he said he knew
+not; but it was his opinion, that they were so dreadfully frightened
+with the manner of their being attacked, the noise, and the fire, that
+he believed they would tell the people they were all killed by thunder
+and lightning, not by the hand of man; and that the two which appeared,
+viz. Friday and I, were two heavenly spirits, or furies, come down to
+destroy them, and not men with weapons. This, he said, he knew; because
+he heard them all cry out so, in their language, one to another; for it
+was impossible for them to conceive that a man could dart fire, and
+speak thunder, and kill at a distance, without lifting up the hand, as
+was done now: and this old savage was in the right; for, as I understood
+since, by other hands, the savages never attempted to go over to the
+island afterwards, they were so terrified with the accounts given by
+those four men (for, it seems, they did escape the sea,) that they
+believed whoever went to that enchanted island would be destroyed with
+fire from the gods. This, however, I knew not; and therefore was under
+continual apprehensions for a good while, and kept always upon my guard,
+with all my army: for, as there were now four of us, I would have
+ventured upon a hundred of them, fairly in the open field, at any time.
+
+In a little time, however, no more canoes appearing, the fear of their
+coming wore off; and I began to take my former thoughts of a voyage to
+the main into consideration; being likewise assured, by Friday's
+father, that I might depend upon good usage from their nation, on his
+account, if I would go. But my thoughts were a little suspended when I
+had a serious discourse with the Spaniard, and when I understood that
+there were sixteen more of his countrymen and Portuguese, who, having
+been cast away, and made their escape to that side, lived there at
+peace, indeed, with the savages, but were very sore put to it for
+necessaries, and indeed for life. I asked him all the particulars of
+their voyage, and found they were a Spanish ship, bound from the Rio de
+la Plata to the Havanna, being directed to leave their loading there,
+which was chiefly hides and silver, and to bring back what European
+goods they could meet with there; that they had five Portuguese seamen
+on board, whom they took out of another wreck; that five of their own
+men were drowned, when first the ship was lost, and that these escaped,
+through infinite dangers and hazards, and arrived, almost starved, on
+the cannibal coast, where they expected to have been devoured every
+moment. He told me they had some arms with them, but they were perfectly
+useless, for that they had neither powder nor ball, the washing of the
+sea having spoiled all their powder, but a little, which they used, at
+their first landing, to provide themselves some food.
+
+I asked him what he thought would become of them there, and if they had
+formed any design of making their escape. He said they had many
+consultations about it; but that having neither vessel, nor tools to
+build one, nor provisions of any kind, their councils always ended in
+tears and despair. I asked him how he thought they would receive a
+proposal from me, which might tend towards an escape; and whether, if
+they were all here, it might not be done. I told him with freedom, I
+feared mostly their treachery and ill usage of me, if I put my life in
+their hands; for that gratitude was no inherent virtue in the nature of
+man, nor did men always square their dealings by the obligations they
+had received, so much as they did by the advantages they expected. I
+told him it would be very hard that I should be the instrument of their
+deliverance, and that they should afterwards make me their prisoner in
+New Spain, where an Englishman was certain to be made a sacrifice, what
+necessity, or what accident soever brought him thither; and that I had
+rather be delivered up to the savages, and be devoured alive, than fall
+into the merciless claws of the priests, and be carried into the
+Inquisition. I added, that otherwise I was persuaded, if they were all
+here, we might, with so many hands, build a bark large enough to carry
+us all away, either to the Brazils, southward, or to the islands, or
+Spanish coast, northward; but that if, in requital, they should, when I
+had put weapons into their hands, carry me by force among their own
+people, I might be ill used for my kindness to them, and make my case
+worse than it was before.
+
+He answered, with a great deal of candour and ingenuousness, that their
+condition was so miserable, and that they were so sensible of it, that,
+he believed, they would abhor the thought of using any man unkindly that
+should contribute to their deliverance; and that if I pleased, he would
+go to them with the old man, and discourse with them about it and return
+again, and bring me their answer; that he would make conditions with
+them upon their solemn oath, that they should be absolutely under my
+leading, as their commander and captain; and that they should swear upon
+the holy sacraments and gospel, to be true to me, and go to such
+Christian country as that I should agree to, and no other, and to be
+directed wholly and absolutely by my orders, till they were landed
+safely in such country as I intended; and that he would bring a contract
+from them, under their hands, for that purpose. Then he told me he would
+first swear to me himself, that he would never stir from me as long as
+he lived, till I gave him orders; and that he would take my side to the
+last drop of his blood, if there should happen the least breach of faith
+among his countrymen. He told me they were all of them very civil,
+honest men, and they were under the greatest distress imaginable, having
+neither weapons or clothes, nor any food, but at the mercy and
+discretion of the savages; out of all hopes of ever returning to their
+own country; and that he was sure, if I would undertake their relief,
+they would live and die by me.
+
+Upon these assurances, I resolved to venture to relieve them, if
+possible, and to send the old savage and this Spaniard over to them to
+treat. But when we had got all things in readiness to go, the Spaniard
+himself started an objection, which had so much prudence in it, on one
+hand, and so much sincerity on the other hand, that I could not but be
+very well satisfied in it; and, by his advice, put off the deliverance
+of his comrades for at least half a year. The case was thus: He had been
+with us now about a month, during which time I had let him see in what
+manner I had provided, with the assistance of Providence, for my
+support; and he saw evidently what stock of corn and rice I had laid up;
+which, though it was more than sufficient for myself, yet it was not
+sufficient, without good husbandry, for my family, now it was increased
+to four; but much less would it be sufficient if his countrymen, who
+were, as he said, sixteen, still alive, should come over; and, least of
+all, would it be sufficient to victual our vessel, if we should build
+one, for a voyage to any of the Christian colonies of America; so he
+told me he thought it would be more adviseable to let him and the other
+two dig and cultivate some more land, as much as I could spare seed to
+sow, and that we should wait another harvest, that we might have a
+supply of corn for his countrymen, when they should come; for want might
+be a temptation to them to disagree, or not to think themselves
+delivered, otherwise than out of one difficulty into another. "You
+know," says he, "the children of Israel, though they rejoiced at first
+for their being delivered out of Egypt, yet rebelled even against God
+himself, that delivered them, when they came to want bread in the
+wilderness."
+
+His caution was so seasonable, and his advice so good, that I could not
+but be very well pleased with his proposal, as well as I was satisfied
+with his fidelity: so we fell to digging all four of us, as well as the
+wooden tools we were furnished with permitted; and in about a month's
+time, by the end of which it was seed-time, we had got as much land
+cured and trimmed up as we sowed two and twenty bushels of barley on,
+and sixteen jars of rice; which was, in short, all the seed we had to
+spare: nor, indeed, did we leave ourselves barley sufficient for our own
+food, for the six months that we had to expect our crop; that is to say,
+reckoning from the time we set our seed aside for sowing; for it is not
+to be supposed it is six months in the ground in that country.
+
+Having now society enough, and our number being sufficient to put us out
+of fear of the savages, if they had come, unless their number had been
+very great, we went freely all over the island, whenever we found
+occasion; and as here we had our escape or deliverance upon our
+thoughts, it was impossible, at least for me, to have the means of it
+out of mine. For this purpose, I marked out several trees which I
+thought fit for our work, and I set Friday and his father to cutting
+them down; and then I caused the Spaniard, to whom I imparted my
+thoughts on that affair, to oversee and direct their work. I showed them
+with what indefatigable pains I had hewed a large tree into single
+planks, and I caused them to do the like, till they had made about a
+dozen large planks of good oak, near two feet broad, thirty-five feet
+long, and from two inches to four inches thick: what prodigious labour
+it took up, any one may imagine.
+
+At the same time, I contrived to increase my little flock of tame goats
+as much as I could; and, for this purpose, I made Friday and the
+Spaniard go out one day, and myself with Friday the next day (for we
+took our turns,) and by this means we got about twenty young kids to
+breed up with the rest; for whenever we shot the dam, we saved the kids,
+and added them to our flock. But, above all, the season for curing the
+grapes coming on, I caused such a prodigious quantity to be hung up in
+the sun, that, I believe, had we been at Alicant, where the raisins of
+the sun are cured, we could have filled sixty or eighty barrels; and
+these, with our bread, was a great part of our food, and was very good
+living too, I assure you, for it is exceeding nourishing.
+
+It was now harvest, and our crop in good order: it was not the most
+plentiful increase I had seen in the island, but, however, it was enough
+to answer our end; for from twenty-two bushels of barley we brought in
+and threshed out above two hundred and twenty bushels, and the like in
+proportion of the rice; which was store enough for our food to the next
+harvest, though all the sixteen Spaniards had been on shore with me; or
+if we had been ready for a voyage, it would very plentifully have
+victualled our ship to have carried us to any part of the world, that is
+to say, any part of America. When we had thus housed and secured our
+magazine of corn, we fell to work to make more wicker-ware, viz. great
+baskets, in which we kept it; and the Spaniard was very handy and
+dexterous at this part, and often blamed me that I did not make some
+things for defence of this kind of work; but I saw no need of it.
+
+And now having a full supply of food for all the guests I expected, I
+gave the Spaniard leave to go over to the main, to see what he could do
+with those he had left behind them there. I gave him a strict charge not
+to bring any man with him who would not first swear, in the presence of
+himself and the old savage, that he would no way injure, fight with, or
+attack the person he should find in the island, who was so kind as to
+send for them in order to their deliverance; but that they would stand
+by him, and defend him against all such attempts, and wherever they
+went, would be entirely under and subjected to his command; and that
+this should be put in writing, and signed with their hands. How they
+were to have done this, when I knew they had neither pen nor ink, was a
+question which we never asked. Under these instructions, the Spaniard
+and the old savage, the father of Friday, went away in one of the canoes
+which they might be said to come in, or rather were brought in, when
+they came as prisoners to be devoured by the savages. I gave each of
+them a musket, with a firelock on it, and about eight charges of powder
+and ball, charging them to be very good husbands of both, and not to use
+either of them but upon urgent occasions.
+
+This was a cheerful work, being the first measures used by me, in view
+of my deliverance, for now twenty-seven years and some days. I gave them
+provisions of bread, and of dried grapes, sufficient for themselves for
+many days, and sufficient for all the Spaniards for about eight days'
+time; and wishing them a good voyage, I saw them go; agreeing with them
+about a signal they should hang out at their return, by which I should
+know them again, when they came back, at a distance, before they came on
+shore. They went away with a fair gale, on the day that the moon was at
+full, by my account in the month of October; but as for an exact
+reckoning of days, after I had once lost it, I could never recover it
+again; nor had I kept even the number of years so punctually as to be
+sure I was right; though, as it proved, when I afterwards examined my
+account, I found I had kept a true reckoning of years.
+
+It was no less than eight days I had waited for them, when a strange and
+unforeseen accident intervened, of which the like has not perhaps been
+heard of in history. I was fast asleep in my hutch one morning, when my
+man Friday came running in to me, and called aloud, "Master, master,
+they are come, they are come!" I jumped up, and, regardless of danger, I
+went out as soon as I could get my clothes on, through my little grove,
+which, by the way, was by this time grown to be a very thick wood; I
+say, regardless of danger, I went without my arms, which was not my
+custom to do: but I was surprised, when turning my eyes to the sea, I
+presently saw a boat at about a league and a half distance, standing in
+for the shore, with a shoulder of mutton sail, as they call it, and the
+wind blowing pretty fair to bring them in: also I observed presently,
+that they did not come from that side which the shore lay on, but from
+the southernmost end of the island. Upon this, I called Friday in, and
+bade him lie close, for these were not the people we looked for, and
+that we might not know yet whether they were friends or enemies. In the
+next place, I went in to fetch my perspective-glass, to see what I could
+make of them; and having taken the ladder out, I climbed up to the top
+of the hill, as I used to do when I was apprehensive of any thing, and
+to take my view the plainer, without being discovered. I had scarce set
+my foot upon the hill, when my eye plainly discovered a ship lying at an
+anchor, at about two leagues and a half distance from me, S.S.E. but not
+above a league and a half from the shore. By my observation, it appeared
+plainly to be an English ship, and the boat appeared to be an English
+long-boat.
+
+I cannot express the confusion I was in; though the joy of seeing a
+ship, and one that I had reason to believe was manned by my own
+countrymen, and consequently friends, was such as I cannot describe; but
+yet I had some secret doubts hung about me, I cannot tell from whence
+they came, bidding me keep upon my guard. In the first place, it
+occurred to me to consider what business an English ship could have in
+that part of the world, since it was not the way to or from any part of
+the world where the English had any traffic; and I knew there had been
+no storms to drive them in there, as in distress; and that if they were
+really English, it was most probable that they were here upon no good
+design; and that I had better continue as I was, than fall into the
+hands of thieves and murderers.
+
+Let no man despise the secret hints and notices of danger, which
+sometimes are given him when he may think there is no possibility of its
+being real. That such hints and notices are given us, I believe few that
+have made any observations of things can deny; that they are certain
+discoveries of an invisible world, and a converse of spirits, we cannot
+doubt; and if the tendency of them seems to be to warn us of danger, why
+should we not suppose they are from some friendly agent (whether
+supreme, or inferior and subordinate, is not the question,) and that
+they are given for our good?
+
+The present question abundantly confirms me in the justice of this
+reasoning; for had I not been made cautious by this secret admonition,
+come it from whence it will, I had been undone inevitably, and in a far
+worse condition than before, as you will see presently. I had not kept
+myself long in this posture, but I saw the boat draw near the shore, as
+if they looked for a creek to thrust in at, for the convenience of
+landing; however, as they did not come quite far enough, they did not
+see the little inlet where I formerly landed my rafts, but run their
+boat on shore upon the beach, at about half a mile from me, which was
+very happy for me; for otherwise they would have landed just at my door,
+as I may say, and would soon have beaten me out of my castle, and
+perhaps have plundered me of all I had. When they were on shore, I was
+fully satisfied they were Englishmen, at least most of them; one or two
+I thought were Dutch, but it did not prove so; there were in all eleven
+men, whereof three of them I found were unarmed, and, as I thought,
+bound; and when the first four or five of them were jumped on shore,
+they took those three out of the boat, as prisoners: one of the three I
+could perceive using the most passionate gestures of entreaty,
+affliction, and despair, even to a kind of extravagance; the other two,
+I could perceive, lifted up their hands sometimes, and appeared
+concerned, indeed, but not to such a degree as the first. I was
+perfectly confounded at the sight, and knew not what the meaning of it
+should be. Friday called out to me in English, as well as he could, "O
+master! you see English mans eat prisoner as well as savage
+mans."--"Why, Friday," says I, "do you think they are going to eat them
+then?"--"Yes," says Friday, "they will eat them."--"No, no," says I,
+"Friday; I am afraid they will murder them, indeed, but you may be sure
+they will not eat them."
+
+All this while I had no thought of what the matter really was, but stood
+trembling with the horror of the sight, expecting every moment when the
+three prisoners should be killed; nay, once I saw one of the villains
+lift up his arm with a great cutlass, as the seamen call it, or sword,
+to strike one of the poor men; and I expected to see him fall every
+moment; at which all the blood in my body seemed to run chill in my
+veins. I wished heartily now for my Spaniard, and the savage that was
+gone with him, or that I had any way to have come undiscovered within
+shot of them, that I might have rescued the three men, for I saw no
+fire-arms they had among them; but it fell out to my mind another way.
+After I had observed the outrageous usage of the three men by the
+insolent seamen, I observed the fellows run scattering about the island,
+as if they wanted to see the country. I observed that the three other
+men had liberty to go also where they pleased; but they sat down all
+three upon the ground, very pensive, and looked like men in despair.
+This put me in mind of the first time when I came on shore, and began to
+look about me; how I gave myself over for lost; how wildly I looked
+round me; what dreadful apprehensions I had; and how I lodged in the
+tree all night, for fear of being devoured by wild beasts. As I knew
+nothing, that night, of the supply I was to receive by the providential
+driving of the ship nearer the land by the storms and tide, by which I
+have since been so long nourished and supported; so these three poor
+desolate men knew nothing how certain of deliverance and supply they
+were, how near it was to them, and how effectually and really they were
+in a condition of safety, at the same time that they thought themselves
+lost, and their case desperate. So little do we see before us in the
+world, and so much reason have we to depend cheerfully upon the great
+Maker of the world, that he does not leave his creatures so absolutely
+destitue, but that, in the worst circumstances, they have always
+something to be thankful for, and sometimes are nearer their deliverance
+than they imagine; nay, are even brought to their deliverance by the
+means by which they seem to be brought to their destruction.
+
+It was just at the top of high water when these people came on shore;
+and partly while they rambled about to see what kind of a place they
+were in, they had carelessly staid till the tide was spent, and the
+water was ebbed considerably away, leaving their boat aground. They had
+left two men in the boat, who, as I found afterwards, having drank a
+little too much brandy, fell asleep; however, one of them waking a
+little sooner than the other, and finding the boat too fast aground for
+him to stir it, hallooed out for the rest, who were straggling about;
+upon which they all soon came to the boat: but it was past all their
+strength to launch her, the boat being very heavy, and the shore on that
+side being a soft oozy sand, almost like a quicksand. In this condition,
+like true seamen, who are perhaps the least of all mankind given to
+forethought, they gave it over, and away they strolled about the country
+again; and I heard one of them say aloud to another, calling them off
+from the boat, "Why, let her alone, Jack, can't you? she'll float next
+tide:" by which I was fully confirmed in the main inquiry of what
+countrymen they were. All this while I kept myself very close, not once
+daring to stir out of my castle, any farther than to my place of
+observation, near the top of the hill; and very glad I was to think how
+well it was fortified. I knew it was no less than ten hours before the
+boat could float again, and by that time it would be dark, and I might
+be at more liberty to see their motions, and to hear their discourse, if
+they had any. In the mean time, I fitted myself up for a battle, as
+before, though with more caution, knowing I had to do with another kind
+of enemy than I had at first. I ordered Friday also, whom I had made an
+excellent marksman with his gun, to load himself with arms. I took
+myself two fowling-pieces, and I gave him three muskets. My figure,
+indeed, was very fierce; I had my formidable goat-skin coat on, with the
+great cap I have mentioned, a naked sword by my side, two pistols in my
+belt, and a gun upon each shoulder.
+
+It was my design, as I said above, not to have made any attempt till it
+was dark: but about two o'clock, being the heat of the day, I found
+that, in short, they were all gone straggling into the woods, and, as I
+thought, laid down to sleep. The three poor distressed men, too anxious
+for their condition to get any sleep, were, however, sat down under the
+shelter of a great tree, at about a quarter of a mile from me, and, as I
+thought, out of sight of any of the rest. Upon this I resolved to
+discover myself to them, and learn something of their condition;
+immediately I marched in the figure as above, my man Friday at a good
+distance behind me, as formidable for his arms as I, but not making
+quite so staring a spectre-like figure as I did. I came as near them
+undiscovered as I could, and then, before any of them saw me, I called
+aloud to them in Spanish, "What are ye, gentlemen?" They started up at
+the noise; but were ten times more confounded when they saw me, and the
+uncouth figure that I made. They made no answer at all, but I thought I
+perceived them just going to fly from me, when I spoke to them in
+English: "Gentlemen," said I, "do not be surprised at me: perhaps you
+may have a friend near, when you did not expect it."--"He must be sent
+directly from Heaven then," said one of them very gravely to me, and
+pulling off his hat at the same time to me; "for our condition is past
+the help of man."--"All help is from Heaven, Sir," said I: "But can you
+put a stranger in the way how to help you? for you seem to be in some
+great distress. I saw you when you landed; and when you seemed to make
+application to the brutes that came with you, I saw one of them lift up
+his sword to kill you."
+
+The poor man, with tears running down his face, and trembling, looking
+like one astonished, returned, "Am I talking to God or man? Is it a real
+man or an angel?"--"Be in no fear about that, Sir," said I; "if God had
+sent an angel to relieve you, he would have come better clothed, and
+armed after another manner than you see me: pray lay aside your fears; I
+am a man, an Englishman, and disposed to assist you: you see I have one
+servant only; we have arms and ammunition; tell us freely, can we serve
+you? What is your case?"--"Our case," said he, "Sir, is too long to tell
+you, while our murderers are so near us; but, in short, Sir, I was
+commander of that ship, my men have mutinied against me; they have been
+hardly prevailed on not to murder me; and at last have set me on shore
+in this desolate place, with these two men with me, one my mate, the
+other a passenger, where we expected to perish, believing the place to
+be uninhabited, and know not yet what to think of it."--"Where are these
+brutes, your enemies?" said I: "Do you know where they are
+gone?"--"There they lie, Sir," said he, pointing to a thicket of trees;
+"my heart trembles for fear they have seen us, and heard you speak; if
+they have, they will certainly murder us all."--"Have they any
+fire-arms?" said I. He answered, "they had only two pieces, one of which
+they left in the boat." "Well then," said I, "leave the rest to me; I
+see they are all asleep, it is an easy thing to kill them all: but shall
+we rather take them prisoners?" He told me there were two desperate
+villains among them, that it was scarce safe to show any mercy to; but
+if they were secured, he believed all the rest would return to their
+duty. I asked him which they were? He told me he could not at that
+distance distinguish them, but he would obey my orders in any thing I
+would direct. "Well," says I, "let us retreat out of their view or
+hearing, lest they awake, and we will resolve further." So they
+willingly went back with me, till the woods covered us from them.
+
+"Look you, Sir," said I, "if I venture upon your deliverance, are you
+willing to make two conditions with me?" He anticipated my proposals, by
+telling me, that both he and the ship, if recovered, should be wholly
+directed and commanded by me in every thing; and, if the ship was not
+recovered, he would live and die with me in what part of the world
+soever I would send him; and the two other men said the same. "Well,"
+says I, "my conditions are but two: first, That while you stay in this
+island with me, you will not pretend to any authority here; and if I put
+arms in your hands, you will, upon all occasions, give them up to me,
+and do no prejudice to me or mine upon this island; and, in the mean
+time, be governed by my orders: secondly, That if the ship is, or may be
+recovered, you will carry me and my man to England, passage free."
+
+He gave me all the assurances that the invention or faith of man could
+devise, that he would comply with these most reasonable demands; and,
+besides, would owe his life to me, and acknowledge it upon all
+occasions, as long as he lived. "Well then," said I, "here are three
+muskets for you, with powder and ball: tell me next what you think is
+proper to be done." He showed all the testimonies of his gratitude that
+he was able, but offered to be wholly guided by me. I told him I thought
+it was hard venturing any thing; but the best method I could think of
+was to fire upon them at once, as they lay, and if any were not killed
+at the first volley, and offered to submit, we might save them, and so
+put it wholly upon God's providence to direct the shot. He said very
+modestly, that he was loath to kill them, if he could help it: but that
+those two were incorrigible villains, and had been the authors of all
+the mutiny in the ship, and if they escaped, we should be undone still;
+for they would go on board and bring the whole ship's company, and
+destroy us all. "Well then," says I, "necessity legitimates my advice,
+for it is the only way to save our lives." However, seeing him still
+cautious of shedding blood, I told him they should go themselves, and
+manage as they found convenient.
+
+In the middle of this discourse we heard some of them awake, and soon
+after we saw two of them on their feet. I asked him if either of them
+were the heads of the mutiny? He said, No. "Well then," said I, "you may
+let them escape; and Providence seems to have awakened them on purpose
+to save themselves.--Now," says I, "if the rest escape you, it is your
+fault." Animated with this, he took the musket I had given him in his
+hand, and a pistol in his belt, and his two comrades with him, with each
+a piece in his hand; the two men who were with him going first, made
+some noise, at which one of the seamen who was awake turned about, and
+seeing them coming, cried out to the rest; but it was too late then, for
+the moment he cried out they fired; I mean the two men, the captain
+wisely reserving his own piece. They had so well aimed their shot at the
+men they knew, that one of them was killed on the spot, and the other
+very much wounded; but not being dead, he started up on his feet, and
+called eagerly for help to the other; but the captain stepping to him,
+told him it was too late to cry for help, he should call upon God to
+forgive his villany; and with that word knocked him down with the stock
+of his musket, so that he never spoke more: there were three more in the
+company, and one of them was also slightly wounded. By this time I was
+come; and when they saw their danger, and that it was in vain to resist,
+they begged for mercy. The captain told them he would spare their lives,
+if they would give him any assurance of their abhorrence of the
+treachery they had been guilty of, and would swear to be faithful to him
+in recovering the ship, and afterwards in carrying her back to Jamaica,
+from whence they came. They gave him all the protestations of their
+sincerity that could be desired, and he was willing to believe them, and
+spare their lives, which I was not against, only that I obliged him to
+keep them bound hand and foot while they were on the island.
+
+While this was doing, I sent Friday with the captain's mate to the boat,
+with orders to secure her, and bring away the oars and sails, which they
+did: and by and by three straggling men, that were (happily for them)
+parted from the rest, came back upon hearing the guns fired; and seeing
+the captain, who before was their prisoner, now their conqueror, they
+submitted to be bound also; and so our victory was complete.
+
+It now remained that the captain and I should inquire into one another's
+circumstances: I began first, and told him my whole history, which he
+heard with an attention even to amazement; and particularly at the
+wonderful manner of my being furnished with provisions and ammunition;
+and, indeed, as my story is a whole collection of wonders, it affected
+him deeply. But when he reflected from thence upon himself, and how I
+seemed to have been preserved there on purpose to save his life, the
+tears ran down his face, and he could not speak a word more. After this
+communication was at an end, I carried him and his two men into my
+apartment, leading them in just where I came out, viz. at the top of the
+house, where I refreshed them with such provisions as I had, and showed
+them all the contrivances I had made, during my long, long inhabiting
+that place.
+
+All I showed them, all I said to them, was perfectly amazing; but,
+above all, the captain admired my fortification, and how perfectly I had
+concealed my retreat with a grove of trees, which, having been now
+planted near twenty years, and the trees growing much faster than in
+England, was become a little wood, and so thick, that it was impassable
+in any part of it, but at that one side where I had reserved my little
+winding passage into it. I told him this was my castle and my residence,
+but that I had a seat in the country, as most princes have, whither I
+could retreat upon occasion, and I would show him that too another time:
+but at present our business was to consider how to recover the ship. He
+agreed with me as to that; but told me, he was perfectly at a loss what
+measures to take, for that there were still six and twenty hands on
+board, who having entered into a cursed conspiracy, by which they had
+all forfeited their lives to the law, would be hardened in it now by
+desperation, and would carry it on, knowing that, if they were subdued,
+they would be brought to the gallows as soon as they came to England, or
+to any of the English colonies; and that, therefore, there would be no
+attacking them with so small a number as we were.
+
+I mused for some time upon what he had said, and found it was a very
+rational conclusion, and that, therefore, something was to be resolved
+on speedily, as well to draw the men on board into some snare for their
+surprise, as to prevent their landing upon us, and destroying us. Upon
+this, it presently occurred to me, that in a little while the ship's
+crew, wondering what was become of their comrades, and of the boat,
+would certainly come on shore in their other boat, to look for them;
+and that then, perhaps, they might come armed, and be too strong for us:
+this he allowed to be rational. Upon this, I told him the first thing we
+had to do was to stave the boat, which lay upon the beach, so that they
+might not carry her off: and taking every thing out of her, leave her so
+far useless as not to be fit to swim: accordingly we went on board, took
+the arms which were left on board out of her, and whatever else we found
+there, which was a bottle of brandy, and another of rum, a few
+biscuit-cakes, a horn of powder, and a great lump of sugar in a piece of
+canvass (the sugar was five or six pounds;) all which was very welcome
+to me, especially the brandy and sugar, of which I had none left for
+many years.
+
+When we had carried all these things on shore, (the oars, mast, sail,
+and rudder of the boat were carried away before, as above,) we knocked a
+great hole in her bottom, that if they had come strong enough to master
+us, yet they could not carry off the boat. Indeed, it was not much in my
+thoughts that we could be able to recover the ship; but my view was,
+that if they went away without the boat, I did not much question to make
+her fit again to carry us to the Leeward Islands, and call upon our
+friends the Spaniards in my way; for I had them still in my thoughts.
+
+While we were thus preparing our designs, and had first, by main
+strength, heaved the boat upon the beach so high, that the tide would
+not float her off at high water mark, and besides, had broke a hole in
+her bottom too big to be quickly stopped, and were set down musing what
+we should do, we heard the ship fire a gun, and saw her make a waft with
+her ensign as a signal for the boat to come on board: but no boat
+stirred; and they fired several times, making other signals for the
+boat. At last, when all their signals and firing proved fruitless, and
+they found the boat did not stir, we saw them, by the help of my
+glasses, hoist another boat out, and row towards the shore; and we
+found, as they approached, that there were no less than ten men in her;
+and that they had fire-arms with them.
+
+As the ship lay almost two leagues from the shore, we had a full view of
+them as they came, and a plain sight even of their faces; because the
+tide having set them a little to the east of the other boat, they rowed
+up under shore, to come to the same place where the other had landed,
+and where the boat lay; by this means, I say, we had a full view of
+them, and the captain knew the persons and characters of all the men in
+the boat, of whom, he said, there were three very honest fellows, who,
+he was sure, were led into this conspiracy by the rest, being
+overpowered and frightened; but that as for the boatswain, who, it
+seems, was the chief officer among them, and all the rest, they were as
+outrageous as any of the ship's crew, and were no doubt made desperate
+in their new enterprise; and terribly apprehensive he was that they
+would be too powerful for us. I smiled at him, and told him that men in
+our circumstances were past the operation of fear; that seeing almost
+every condition that could be was better than that which we were
+supposed to be in, we ought to expect that the consequence, whether
+death or life, would be sure to be a deliverance, I asked him what he
+thought of the circumstances of my life, and whether a deliverance were
+not worth venturing for? "And where, Sir," said I, "is your belief of my
+being preserved here on purpose to save your life, which elevated you a
+little while ago? For my part," said I, "there seems to me but one thing
+amiss in all the prospect of it."--"What is that?" says he. "Why," said
+I, "it is, that as you say there are three or four honest fellows among
+them, which should be spared, had they been all of the wicked part of
+the crew I should have thought God's providence had singled them out to
+deliver them into your hands; for depend upon it, every man that comes
+ashore are our own, and shall die or live as they behave to us." As I
+spoke this with a raised voice and cheerful countenance, I found it
+greatly encouraged him; so we set vigorously to our business.
+
+We had, upon the first appearance of the boat's coming from the ship,
+considered of separating our prisoners; and we had, indeed, secured them
+effectually. Two of them, of whom the captain was less assured than
+ordinary, I sent with Friday, and one of the three delivered men, to my
+cave, where they were remote enough, and out of danger of being heard or
+discovered, or of finding their way out of the woods if they could have
+delivered themselves: here they left them bound, but gave them
+provisions; and promised them, if they continued there quietly, to give
+them their liberty in a day or two; but that if they attempted their
+escape, they should be put to death without mercy. They promised
+faithfully to bear their confinement with patience, and were very
+thankful that they had such good usage as to have provisions and light
+left them; for Friday gave them candles (such as we made ourselves) for
+their comfort; and they did not know but that he stood centinel over
+them at the entrance.
+
+The other prisoners had better usage; two of them were kept pinioned,
+indeed, because the captain was not free to trust them; but the other
+two were taken into my service, upon the captain's recommendation, and
+upon their solemnly engaging to live and die with us; so with them and
+the three honest men we were seven men well armed; and I made no doubt
+we should be able to deal well enough with the ten that were coming,
+considering that the captain had said there were three or four honest
+men among them also. As soon as they got to the place where their other
+boat lay, they ran their boat into the beach, and came all on shore,
+hauling the boat up after them, which I was glad to see; for I was
+afraid they would rather have left the boat at an anchor, some distance
+from the shore, with some hands in her, to guard her, and so we should
+not be able to seize the boat. Being on shore, the first thing they did,
+they ran all to their other boat; and it was easy to see they were under
+a great surprise to find her stripped, as above, of all that was in her,
+and a great hole in her bottom. After they had mused a while upon this,
+they set up two or three great shouts, hallooing with all their might,
+to try if they could make their companions hear; but all was to no
+purpose: then they came all close in a ring, and fired a volley of their
+small arms, which, indeed, we heard, and the echoes made the woods
+ring; but it was all one; those in the cave we were sure could not hear,
+and those in our keeping, though they heard it well enough, yet durst
+give no answer to them. They were so astonished at the surprise of this,
+that, as they told us afterwards, they resolved to go all on board
+again, to their ship, and let them know that the men were all murdered,
+and the long-boat staved; accordingly, they immediately launched their
+boat again, and got all of them on board.
+
+The captain was terribly amazed, and even confounded at this, believing
+they would go on board the ship again, and set sail, giving their
+comrades over for lost, and so he should still lose the ship, which he
+was in hopes we should have recovered; but he was quickly as much
+frightened the other way.
+
+They had not been long put off with the boat, but we perceived them all
+coming on shore again; but with this new measure in their conduct, which
+it seems they consulted together upon, viz. to leave three men in the
+boat, and the rest to go on shore, and go up into the country to look
+for their fellows. This was a great disappointment to us, for now we
+were at a loss what to do; as our seizing those seven men on shore would
+be no advantage to us, if we let the boat escape; because they would
+then row away to the ship, and then the rest of them would be sure to
+weigh and set sail, and so our recovering the ship would be lost.
+However, we had no remedy but to wait and see what the issue of things
+might present. The seven men came on shore, and the three who remained
+in the boat put her off to a good distance from the shore, and came to
+an anchor to wait for them; so that it was impossible for us to come at
+them in the boat. Those that came on shore kept close together, marching
+towards the top of the little hill under which my habitation lay; and we
+could see them plainly, though they could not perceive us. We could have
+been very glad they would have come nearer to us, so that we might have
+fired at them, or that they would have gone farther off, that we might
+have come abroad. But when they were come to the brow of the hill, where
+they could see a great way into the valleys and woods, which lay towards
+the north-east part, and where the island lay lowest, they shouted and
+hallooed till they were weary; and not caring, it seems, to venture far
+from the shore, nor far from one another, they sat down together under a
+tree, to consider of it. Had they thought fit to have gone to sleep
+there, as the other part of them had done, they had done the job for us;
+but they were too full of apprehensions of danger to venture to go to
+sleep, though they could not tell what the danger was they had to
+fear neither.
+
+The captain made a very just proposal to me upon this consultation of
+theirs, viz. that perhaps they would all fire a volley again, to
+endeavour to make their fellows hear, and that we should all sally upon
+them, just at the Juncture when their pieces were all discharged, and
+they would certainly yield, and we should have them without bloodshed. I
+liked this proposal, provided it was done while we were near enough to
+come up to them before they could load their pieces again. But this
+event did not happen; and we lay still a long time, very irresolute what
+course to take. At length I told them there would be nothing done, in my
+opinion, till night; and then, if they did not return to the boat,
+perhaps we might find a way to get between them and the shore, and so
+might use some stratagem with them in the boat to get them on shore. We
+waited a great while, though very impatient for their removing; and were
+very uneasy, when, after long consultations, we saw them all start up,
+and march down towards the sea: it seems they had such dreadful
+apprehensions upon them of the danger of the place, that they resolved
+to go on board the ship again, give their companions over for lost, and
+so go on with their intended voyage with the ship.
+
+As soon as I perceived them to go towards the shore, I imagined it to
+be, as it really was, that they had given over their search, and were
+for going back again; and the captain, as soon as I told him my
+thoughts, was ready to sink at the apprehensions of it: but I presently
+thought of a stratagem to fetch them back again, and which answered my
+end to a tittle. I ordered Friday and the captain's mate to go over the
+little creek westward, towards the place where the savages came on shore
+when Friday was rescued, and as soon as they came to a little rising
+ground, at about half a mile distance, I bade them halloo out, as loud
+as they could, and wait till they found the seamen heard them; that as
+soon as ever they heard the seamen answer them, they should return it
+again; and then keeping out of sight, take a round, always answering
+when the others hallooed, to draw them as far into the island, and among
+the woods, as possible, and then wheel about again to me, by such ways
+as I directed them.
+
+They were just going into the boat when Friday and the mate hallooed:
+and they presently heard them, and answering, run along the shore
+westward, towards the voice they heard, when they were presently stopped
+by the creek, where the water being up, they could not get over, and
+called for the boat to come up and set them over; as, indeed, I
+expected. When they had set themselves over, I observed that the boat
+being gone a good way into the creek, and, as it were, in a harbour
+within the land, they took one of the three men out of her, to go along
+with them, and left only two in the boat, having fastened her to the
+stump of a little tree on the shore. This was what I wished for; and
+immediately leaving Friday and the captain's mate to their business, I
+took the rest with me, and crossing the creek out of their sight, we
+surprised the two men before they were aware; one of them lying on the
+shore, and the other being in the boat. The fellow on shore was between
+sleeping and waking, and going to start up; the captain, who was
+foremost, ran in upon him, and knocked him down; and then called out to
+him in the boat to yield, or he was a dead man. There needed very few
+arguments to persuade a single man to yield, when he saw five men upon
+him, and his comrade knocked down; besides, this was, it seems, one of
+the three who were not so hearty in the mutiny as the rest of the crew,
+and therefore was easily persuaded not only to yield, but afterwards to
+join very sincerely with us. In the mean time, Friday and the captain's
+mate so well managed their business with the rest, that they drew them,
+by hallooing and answering, from one hill to another, and from one wood
+to another, till they not only heartily tired them, but left them where
+they were very sure they could not reach back to the boat before it was
+dark; and, indeed, they were heartily tired themselves also, by the time
+they came back to us.
+
+We had nothing now to do but to watch for them in the dark, and to fall
+upon them, so as to make sure work with them. It was several hours after
+Friday came back to me before they came back to their boat; and we could
+hear the foremost of them, long before they came quite up, calling to
+those behind to come along; and could also hear them answer, and
+complain how lame and tired they were, and not able to come any faster;
+which was very welcome news to us. At length they came up to the boat:
+but it is impossible to express their confusion when they found the boat
+fast aground in the creek, the tide ebbed out, and their two men gone.
+We could hear them call to one another in a most lamentable manner,
+telling one another they were got into an enchanted island; that either
+there were inhabitants in it, and they should all be murdered, or else
+there were devils and spirits in it, and they should be all carried away
+and devoured. They hallooed again, and called their two comrades by
+their names a great many times; but no answer. After some time, we could
+see them, by the little light there was, run about, wringing their
+hands like men in despair; and that sometimes they would go and sit down
+in the boat, to rest themselves: then come ashore again, and walk about
+again, and so the same thing over again. My men would fain have had me
+give them leave to fall upon them at once in the dark; but I was willing
+to take them at some advantage, so to spare them, and kill as few of
+them as I could; and especially I was unwilling to hazard the killing
+any of our men, knowing the others were very well armed. I resolved to
+wait, to see if they did not separate; and, therefore, to make sure of
+them, I drew my ambuscade nearer, and ordered Friday and the captain to
+creep upon their hands and feet, as close to the ground as they could,
+that they might not be discovered, and get as near them as they could
+possibly, before they offered to fire.
+
+They had not been long in that posture, when the boatswain, who was the
+principal ringleader of the mutiny, and had now shown himself the most
+dejected and dispirited of all the rest, came walking towards them, with
+two more of the crew: the captain was so eager at having this principal
+rogue so much in his power, that he could hardly have patience to let
+him come so near as to be sure of him, for they only heard his tongue
+before: but when they came nearer, the captain and Friday, starting up
+on their feet, let fly at them. The boatswain was killed upon the spot;
+the next man was shot in the body, and fell just by him, though he did
+not die till an hour or two after; and the third run for it. At the
+noise of the fire, I immediately advanced with my whole army,
+which was now eight men, viz. myself, generalissimo; Friday, my
+lieutenant-general; the captain and his two men, and the three prisoners
+of war, whom we had trusted with arms. We came upon them, indeed, in the
+dark, so that they could not see our number; and I made the man they had
+left in the boat, who was now one of us, to call them by name, to try if
+I could bring them to a parley, and so might perhaps reduce them to
+terms; which fell out just as we desired: for indeed it was easy to
+think, as their condition then was, they would be very willing to
+capitulate. So he calls out as loud as he could, to one of them, "Tom
+Smith! Tom Smith!" Tom Smith answered immediately, "Is that Robinson?"
+For it seems he knew the voice. The other answered, "Aye aye; for God's
+sake, Tom Smith, throw down your arms and yield, or you are all dead men
+this moment."--"Who must we yield to? Where are they?" says Smith again.
+"Here they are," says he; "here's our captain and fifty men with him;
+have been hunting you these two hours: the boatswain is killed, Will Fry
+is wounded, and I am a prisoner; and if you do not yield, you are all
+lost."--"Will they give us quarter then?" says Tom Smith, "and we will
+yield."--"I'll go and ask, if you promise to yield," says Robinson: so
+he asked the captain; and the captain himself then calls out, "You,
+Smith, you know my voice; if you lay down your arms immediately, and
+submit, you shall have your lives, all but Will Atkins."
+
+Upon this Will Atkins cried out, "For God's sake, captain, give me
+quarter; what have I done? They have all been as bad as I:" which, by
+the way, was not true neither; for, it seems, this Will Atkins was the
+first man that laid hold of the captain, when they first mutinied, and
+used him barbarously, in tying his hands, and giving him injurious
+language. However, the captain told him he must lay down his arms at
+discretion, and trust to the governor's mercy: by which he meant, me,
+for they all called me governor. In a word, they all laid down their
+arms, and begged their lives; and I sent the man that had parleyed with
+them, and two more, who bound them all; and then my great army of fifty
+men, which, particularly with those three, were in all but eight, came
+up and seized upon them, and upon their boat; only that I kept myself
+and one more out of sight for reasons of state.
+
+Our next work was to repair the boat, and think of seizing the ship: and
+as for the captain, now he had leisure to parley with them, he
+expostulated with them upon the villany of their practices with him, and
+at length upon the further wickedness of their design, and how certainly
+it must bring them to misery and, distress in the end, and perhaps to
+the gallows. They all appeared very penitent, and begged hard for their
+lives. As for that, he told them they were none of his prisoners, but
+the commander's of the island; that they thought they had set him on
+shore in a barren, uninhabited island; but it had pleased God so to
+direct them, that it was inhabited, and that the governor was an
+Englishman; that he might hang them all there, if he pleased; but as he
+had given them all quarter, he supposed he would send them to England,
+to be dealt with there as justice required, except Atkins, whom he was
+commanded by the governor to advise to prepare for death, for that he
+would be hanged in the morning.
+
+Though this was all but a fiction of his own, yet it had its desired
+effect: Atkins fell upon his knees, to beg the captain to intercede with
+the governor for his life; and all the rest begged of him, for God's
+sake, that they might not be sent to England.
+
+It now occurred to me, that the time of our deliverance was come, and
+that it would be a most easy thing to bring these fellows in to be
+hearty in getting possession of the ship; so I retired in the dark from
+them, that they might not see what kind of a governor they had, and
+called the captain to me: when I called, as at a good distance, one of
+the men was ordered to speak again, and say to the captain, "Captain,
+the commander calls for you;" and presently the captain replied, "Tell
+his excellency I am just a coming." This more perfectly amused them, and
+they all believed that the commander was just by with his fifty men.
+Upon the captain's coming to me, I told him my project for seizing the
+ship, which he liked wonderfully well, and resolved to put it in
+execution the next morning. But, in order to execute it with more art,
+and to be secure of success, I told him we must divide the prisoners,
+and that he should go and take Atkins, and two more of the worst of
+them, and send them pinioned to the cave where the others lay. This was
+committed to Friday, and the two men who came on shore with the captain.
+They conveyed them to the cave, as to a prison: and it was, indeed, a
+dismal place, especially to men in their condition. The others I
+ordered to my bower, as I called it, of which I have given a full
+description; and as it was fenced in, and they pinioned, the place was
+secure enough, considering they were upon their behaviour.
+
+To these in the morning I sent the captain, who was to enter into a
+parley with them; in a word, to try them, and tell me whether he thought
+they might be trusted or no to go on board and surprise the ship. He
+talked to them of the injury done him, of the condition they were
+brought to, and that though the governor had given them quarter for
+their lives as to the present action, yet that if they were sent to
+England, they would all be hanged in chains, to be sure; but that if
+they would join in so just an attempt as to recover the ship, he would
+have the governor's engagement for their pardon.
+
+Any one may guess how readily such a proposal would be accepted by men
+in their condition; they fell down on their knees to the captain, and
+promised, with the deepest imprecations, that they would be faithful to
+him to the last drop, and that they should owe their lives to him, and
+would go with him all over the world; that they would own him as a
+father as long as they lived. "Well," says the captain, "I must go and
+tell the governor what you say, and see what I can do to bring him to
+consent to it." So he brought me an account of the temper he found them
+in, and that he verily believed they would be faithful. However, that we
+might be very secure, I told him he should go back again and choose out
+those five, and tell them, that they might see he did not want men, that
+he would take out those five to be his assistants, and that the
+governor would keep the other two, and the three that were sent
+prisoners to the castle (my cave) as hostages for the fidelity of those
+five; and that if they proved unfaithful in the execution, the five
+hostages should be hanged in chains alive on the shore. This looked
+severe, and convinced them that the governor was in earnest: however,
+they had no way left them but to accept it; and it was now the business
+of the prisoners, as much as of the captain, to persuade the other five
+to do their duty.
+
+Our strength was now thus ordered for the expedition: first, The
+captain, his mate, and passenger: second, Then the two prisoners of the
+first gang, to whom, having their character from the captain, I had
+given their liberty, and trusted them with arms: third, The other two
+that I had kept till now in my bower pinioned, but, on the captain's
+motion, had now released: fourth, These five released at last: so that
+they were twelve in all, besides five we kept prisoners in the cave
+for hostages.
+
+I asked the captain if he was willing to venture with these hands on
+board the ship: but as for me and my man Friday, I did not think it was
+proper for us to stir, having seven men left behind; and it was
+employment enough for us to keep them asunder, and supply them with
+victuals. As to the five in the cave, I resolved to keep them fast, but
+Friday went in twice a day to them, to supply them with necessaries; and
+I made the other two carry provisions to a certain distance, where
+Friday was to take it.
+
+When I showed myself to the two hostages, it was with the captain, who
+told them I was the person the governor had ordered to look after them:
+and that it was the governor's pleasure they should not stir any where
+but by my direction; that if they did, they would be fetched into the
+castle, and be laid in irons: so that as we never suffered them to see
+me as a governor, I now appeared as another person, and spoke of the
+governor, the garrison, the castle, and the like, upon all occasions.
+
+The captain now had no difficulty before him, but to furnish his two
+boats, stop the breach of one, and man them. He made his passenger
+captain of one, with four of the men; and himself, his mate, and five
+more, went in the other; and they contrived their business very well,
+for they came up to the ship about midnight. As soon as they came within
+call of the ship, he made Robinson hail them, and tell them they had
+brought off the men and the boat, but that it was a long time before
+they had found them, and the like, holding them in a chat till they came
+to the ship's side; when the captain and the mate entering first, with
+their arms, immediately knocked down the second mate and carpenter with
+the but end of their muskets, being very faithfully seconded by their
+men; they secured all the rest that were upon the mainland quarterdecks,
+and began to fasten the hatches, to keep them down that were below; when
+the other boat and their men entering at the fore-chains, secured the
+forecastle of the ship, and the scuttle which went down into the
+cook-room, making three men they found there prisoners. When this was
+done, and all safe upon deck, the captain ordered the mate, with three
+men, to break into the round-house, where the new rebel captain lay, who
+having taken the alarm, had got up, and with two men and a boy had got
+fire-arms in their hands; and when the mate, with a crow, split open the
+door, the new captain and his men fired boldly among them, and wounded
+the mate with a musket ball, which broke his arm, and wounded two more
+of the men, but killed nobody. The mate calling for help, rushed,
+however, into the round-house, wounded as he was, and with his pistol
+shot the new captain through the head, the bullet entering at his mouth,
+and came out again behind one of his ears, so that he never spoke a word
+more: upon which the rest yielded, and the ship was taken effectually,
+without any more lives lost.
+
+As soon as the ship was thus secured, the: captain ordered seven guns to
+be fired, which was the signal agreed upon with me to give me notice of
+his success, which you may be sure I was very glad to hear, having sat
+watching upon the shore for it till near two o'clock in the morning.
+Having thus heard the signal plainly, I laid me down; and it having been
+a day of great fatigue to me, I slept very sound, till I was something
+surprised with the noise of a gun; and presently starting up, I heard a
+man call me by the name of Governor, Governor, and presently I knew the
+captain's voice; when climbing up to the top of the hill, there he
+stood, and pointing to the ship, he embraced me in his arms. "My dear
+friend and deliverer," says he, "there's your ship, for she is all
+your's, and so are we, and all that belong to her." I cast my eyes to
+the ship, and there she rode within little more than half a mile of the
+shore; for they had weighed her anchor as soon as they were masters of
+her, and the weather being fair, had brought her to an anchor just
+against the mouth of the little creek; and the tide being up, the
+captain had brought the pinnace in near the place where I at first
+landed my rafts, and so landed just at my door, I was at first ready to
+sink down with the surprise; for I saw my deliverance, indeed, visibly
+put into my hands, all things easy, and a large ship just ready to carry
+me away whither I pleased to go. At first, for some time, I was not able
+to answer him one word; but as he had taken me in his arms, I held fast
+by him, or I should have fallen to the ground. He perceived the
+surprise, and immediately pulls a bottle out of his pocket, and gave me
+a dram of cordial, which he had brought on purpose for me. After I had
+drank it, I sat down upon the ground; and though it brought me to
+myself, yet it was a good while before I could speak a word to him. All
+this time the poor man was in as great an ecstasy as I, only not under
+any surprise, as I was; and he said a thousand kind and tender things to
+me, to compose and bring me to myself: but such was the flood of joy in
+my breast, that it put all my spirits into confusion; at last it broke
+out into tears; and in a little while after I recovered my speech. I
+then took my turn, and embraced him as my deliverer, and we rejoiced
+together. I told him I looked upon him as a man sent from Heaven to
+deliver me, and that the whole transaction seemed to be a chain of
+wonders; that such things as these were the testimonies we had of a
+secret hand of Providence governing the world, and an evidence that the
+eye of an infinite power could search into the remotest corner of the
+world, and send help to the miserable whenever he pleased. I forgot not
+to lift up my heart in thankfulness to Heaven; and what heart could
+forbear to bless him, who had not only in a miraculous manner provided
+for me in such a wilderness, and in such a desolate condition, but from
+whom every deliverance must always be acknowledged to proceed?
+
+When we had talked a while, the captain told me he had brought me some
+little refreshment, such as the ship afforded, and such as the wretches
+that had been so long his masters had not plundered him of. Upon this he
+called aloud to the boat, and bade his men bring the things ashore that
+were for the governor; and, indeed, it was a present as if I had been
+one that was not to be carried away with them, but as if I had been to
+dwell upon the island still. First, he had brought me a case of bottles
+full of excellent cordial waters, six large bottles of Madeira wine,
+(the bottles held two quarts each,) two pounds of excellent good
+tobacco, twelve good pieces of the ship's beef, and six pieces of pork,
+with a bag of peas, and about an hundred weight of biscuit: he also
+brought me a box of sugar, a box of flour, a bag full of lemons, and two
+bottles of lime juice, and abundance of other things. But, besides
+these, and what was a thousand times more useful to me, he brought me
+six new clean shirts, six very good neckcloths, two pair of gloves, one
+pair of shoes, a hat, and one pair of stockings, with a very good suit
+of clothes of his own, which had been worn but very little; in a word,
+he clothed me from head to foot. It was a very kind and agreeable
+present, as any one may imagine, to one in my circumstances; but never
+was any thing in the world of that kind so unpleasant, awkward, and
+uneasy, as it was to me to wear such clothes at first.
+
+After these ceremonies were past, and after all his good things were
+brought into my little apartment, we began to consult what was to be
+done with the prisoners we had; for it was worth considering whether we
+might venture to take them away with us or no, especially two of them,
+whom he knew to be incorrigible and refractory to the last degree; and
+the captain said he knew they were such rogues, that there was no
+obliging them; and if he did carry them away, it must be in irons, as
+malefactors, to be delivered over to justice at the first English colony
+he could come at; and I found that the captain himself was very anxious
+about it. Upon this I told him, that if he desired it, I would undertake
+to bring the two men he spoke of to make it their own request that he
+should leave them upon the island. "I should be very glad of that," says
+the captain, "with all my heart."--"Well," says I, "I will send for
+them up, and talk with them for you," So I caused Friday and the two
+hostages, for they were now discharged, their comrades having performed
+their promise; I say, I caused them to go to the cave, and bring up the
+five men, pinioned as they were, to the bower, and keep them there till
+I came. After some time, I came thither dressed in my new habit; and now
+I was called governor again. Being all met, and the captain with me, I
+caused the men to be brought before me, and I told them I had got a full
+account of their villanous behaviour to the captain, and how they had
+run away with the ship, and were, preparing to commit farther robberies,
+but that Providence had ensnared them in their own ways, and that they
+were fallen into the pit which they had dug for others. I let them know
+that by my direction the ship had been seized; that she lay now in the
+road; and they might see, by and by, that their new captain had received
+the reward of his villany, and that they would see him hanging at the
+yard-arm: that as to them, I wanted to know what they had to say why I
+should not execute them as pirates, taken in the fact, as by my
+commission they could not doubt but I had authority so to do.
+
+One of them answered in the name of the rest, that they had nothing to
+say but this, that when they were taken, the captain promised them their
+lives, and they humbly implored my mercy. But I told them I knew not
+what mercy to show them; for as for myself, I had resolved to quit the
+island with all my men, and had taken passage with the captain to go for
+England; and as for the captain, he could not carry them to England
+other than as prisoners, in irons, to be tried for mutiny, and running
+away with the ship; the consequence of which, they must needs know,
+would be the gallows; so that I could not tell what was best for them,
+unless they had a mind to take their fate in the island; if they desired
+that, as I had liberty to leave the island, I had some inclination to
+give them their lives, if they thought they could shift on shore. They
+seemed very thankful for it, and said they would much rather venture to
+stay there than be carried to England to be hanged: so I left it on
+that issue.
+
+However, the captain seemed to make some difficulty of it, as if he
+durst not leave them there. Upon this I seemed a little angry with the
+captain, and told him that they were my prisoners, not his; and that
+seeing I had offered them so much favour, I would be as good as my word;
+and that if he did not think fit to consent to it I would set them at
+liberty, as I found them; and if he did not like it, he might take them
+again if he could catch them. Upon this they appeared very thankful, and
+I accordingly set them at liberty, and bade them retire into the woods
+to the place whence they came, and I would leave them some fire-arms,
+some ammunition, and some directions how they should live very well, if
+they thought fit. Upon this I prepared to go on board the ship; but told
+the captain I would stay that night to prepare my things, and desired
+him to go on board, in the mean time, and keep all right in the ship,
+and send the boat on shore next day for me; ordering him, at all events,
+to cause the new captain, who was killed, to be hanged at the yard-arm,
+that these men might see him.
+
+When the captain was gone, I sent for the men up to me to my apartment,
+and entered seriously into discourse with them on their circumstances. I
+told them I thought they had made a right choice; that if the captain
+had carried them away, they would certainly be hanged. I showed them the
+new captain hanging at the yard-arm of the ship, and told them they had
+nothing less to expect.
+
+When they had all declared their willingness to stay, I then told them I
+would let them into the story of my living there, and put them into the
+way of making it easy to them: accordingly, I gave them the whole
+history of the place, and of my coming to it; showed them my
+fortifications, the way I made my bread, planted my corn, cured my
+grapes; and, in a word, all that was necessary to make them easy. I told
+them the story also of the seventeen Spaniards that were to be expected,
+for whom I left a letter, and made them promise to treat them in common
+with themselves. Here it may be noted, that the captain had ink on
+board, who was greatly surprised that I never hit upon a way of making
+ink of charcoal and water, or of something else, as I had done things
+much more difficult.
+
+I left them my fire-arms, viz. five-muskets, three fowling-pieces; and
+three swords. I had above a barrel and a half of powder left; for after
+the first year or two I used but little, and wasted none. I gave them a
+description of the way I managed the goats, and directions to milk and
+fatten them, and to make both butter and cheese: in a word, I gave them
+every part of my own story; and told them I should prevail with the
+captain to leave them two barrels of gunpowder more, and some garden
+seeds, which I told them I would have been very glad of: also I gave
+them the bag of peas which the captain had brought me to eat, and bade
+them be sure to sow and increase them.
+
+Having done all this, I left them the next day, and went on board the
+ship. We prepared immediately to sail, but did not weigh that night. The
+next morning early, two of the five men came swimming to the ship's
+side, and making a most lamentable complaint of the other three, begged
+to be taken into the ship, for God's sake, for they should be murdered,
+and begged the captain to take them on board, though he hanged them
+immediately. Upon this, the captain pretended to have no power without
+me; but after some difficulty, and after their solemn promises of
+amendment, they were taken on board, and were some time after soundly
+whipped and pickled: after which they proved very honest and
+quiet fellows.
+
+Some time after this, the boat was ordered on shore, the tide being up,
+with the things promised to the men; to which the captain, at my
+intercession, caused their chests and clothes to be added, which they
+took, and were very thankful for. I also encouraged them, by telling
+them that if it lay in my power to send any vessel to take them in, I
+would not forget them.
+
+When I took leave of this island, I carried on board, for reliques, the
+great goat-skin cap I had made, my umbrella, and one of my parrots; also
+I forgot not to take the money I formerly mentioned, which had lain by
+me so long useless, that it was grown rusty or tarnished, and could
+hardly pass for silver, till it had been a little rubbed and handled; as
+also the money I found in the wreck of the Spanish ship. And thus I left
+the island, the 19th of December, as I found by the ship's account, in
+the year 1686, after I had been upon it eight and twenty years, two
+months, and nineteen days; being delivered from this second captivity
+the same day of the month that I first made my escape in the long-boat,
+from among the Moors of Sallee. In this vessel, after a long voyage, I
+arrived in England the 11th of June, in the year 1687, having been
+thirty-five years absent.
+
+When I came to England, I was as perfect a stranger to all the world as
+if I had never been known there. My benefactor and faithful steward,
+whom I had left my money in trust with, was alive, but had had great
+misfortunes in the world; was become a widow the second time, and very
+low in the world. I made her very easy as to what she owed me, assuring
+her I would give her no trouble; but on the contrary, in gratitude for
+her former care and faithfulness to me, I relieved her as my
+little-stock would afford; which, at that time, would indeed allow me to
+do but little for her; but I assured her I would never forget her former
+kindness to me; nor did I forget her when I had sufficient to help her,
+as shall be observed in its proper place. I went down afterwards into
+Yorkshire; but my father was dead, and my mother and all the family
+extinct, except that I found two sisters, and two of the children of one
+of my brothers; and as I had been long ago given over for dead, there
+had been no provision made for me: so that, in a word, I found nothing
+to relieve or assist me; and that the little money I had would not do
+much for me as to settling in the world.
+
+I met with one piece of gratitude, indeed, which I did not expect; and
+this was, that the master of the ship whom I had so happily delivered,
+and by the same means saved the ship and cargo, having given a very
+handsome account to the owners of the manner how I had saved the lives
+of the men, and the ship, they invited me to meet them, and some other
+merchants concerned, and all together made me a very handsome compliment
+upon the subject, and a present of almost L200 sterling.
+
+But after making several reflections upon the circumstances of my life,
+and how little way this would go towards settling me in the world, I
+resolved to go to Lisbon, and see if I might not come by some
+information of the state of my plantation in the Brazils, and of what
+was become of my partner, who, I had reason to suppose, had some years
+past given me over for dead. With this view I took shipping for Lisbon,
+where I arrived in April following; my man Friday accompanying me very
+honestly in all these ramblings, and proving a most faithful servant
+upon all occasions. When I came to Lisbon, I found out, by inquiry, and
+to my particular satisfaction, my old friend the captain of the ship who
+first took me up at sea off the shore of Africa. He was now grown old,
+and had left off going to sea, having put his son, who was far from a
+young man, into his ship, and who still used the Brazil trade. The old
+man did not know me; and, indeed, I hardly knew him: but I soon brought
+him to my remembrance, and as soon brought myself to his remembrance,
+when I told him who I was.
+
+After some passionate expressions of the old acquaintance between us, I
+inquired, you may be sure, after my plantation and my partner. The old
+man told me he had not been in the Brazils for about nine years; but
+that he could assure me, that when he came away my partner was living;
+but the trustees, whom I had joined with him to take cognizance of my
+part, were both dead: that, however, he believed I would have a very
+good account of the improvement of the plantation; for that upon the
+general belief of my being cast away and drowned, my trustees had given
+in the account of the produce of my part of the plantation to the
+procurator-fiscal, who had appropriated it, in case I never came to
+claim it, one-third to the king, and two-thirds to the monastery of St.
+Augustine, to be expended for the benefit of the poor, and for the
+conversion of the Indians to the Catholic faith; but that if I appeared,
+or any one for me, to claim the inheritance, it would be restored; only
+that the improvement or annual production, being distributed to
+charitable uses, could not be restored: but he assured me that the
+steward of the king's revenue from lands, and the provedore, or steward
+of the monastery, had taken great care all along that the incumbent,
+that is to say, my partner, gave every year a faithful account of the
+produce, of which they had duly received my moiety. I asked him if he
+knew to what height of improvement he had brought the plantation, and
+whether he thought it might be worth looking after; or whether, on my
+going thither, I should meet with any obstruction to my possessing my
+just right in the moiety. He told me he could not tell exactly to what
+degree the plantation was improved; but this he knew, that my partner
+was grown exceeding rich upon the enjoying his part of it; and that, to
+the best of his remembrance, he had heard that the king's third of my
+part, which was, it seems, granted away to some other monastery or
+religious house, amounted to above two hundred moidores a year: that as
+to my being restored to a quiet possession of it, there was no question
+to be made of that, my partner being alive to witness my title, and my
+name being also enrolled in the register of the country; also he told
+me, that the survivors of my two trustees were very fair honest people,
+and very wealthy; and he believed I would hot only have their assistance
+for putting me in possession, but would find a very considerable sum of
+money in their hands for my account, being the produce of the farm while
+their fathers held the trust, and before it was given up, as above;
+which, as he remembered, was for about twelve years.
+
+I showed myself a little concerned and uneasy at this account, and
+inquired of the old captain how it came to pass that the trustees should
+thus dispose of my effects, when he knew that I had made my will, and
+had made him, the Portuguese captain, my universal heir, &c.
+
+He told me that was true; but that as there was no proof of my being
+dead, he could not act as executor, until some certain account should
+come of my death; and, besides, he was not willing to intermeddle with a
+thing so remote: that it was true he had registered my will, and put in
+his claim; and could he have given any account of my being dead or
+alive, he would have acted by procuration, and taken possession of the
+ingeino, (so they called the sugar-house) and have given his son, who
+was now at the Brazils, orders to do it. "But," says the old man, "I
+have one piece of news to tell you, which perhaps may not be so
+acceptable to you as the rest; and that is, believing you were lost, and
+all the world believing so also, your partner and trustees did offer to
+account with me, in your name, for six or eight of the first years'
+profits, which I received. There being at that time great disbursements
+for increasing the works, building an ingeino, and buying slaves, it did
+not amount to near so much as afterwards it produced: however," says the
+old man, "I shall give you a true account of what I have received in
+all, and how I have disposed of it."
+
+After a few days' farther conference with this ancient friend, he
+brought me an account of the first six years' income of my plantation,
+signed by my partner and the merchant-trustees, being always delivered
+in goods, viz. tobacco in roll, and sugar in chests, besides rum,
+molasses, &c. which is the consequence of a sugar-work; and I found, by
+this account, that every year the income considerably increased; but, as
+above, the disbursements being large, the sum at first was small:
+however, the old man let me see that he was debtor to me four hundred
+and seventy moidores of gold, besides sixty chests of sugar, and fifteen
+double rolls of tobacco, which were lost in his ship; he having been
+shipwrecked coming home to Lisbon, about eleven years after my leaving
+the place. The good man then began to complain of his misfortunes, and
+how he had been obliged to make use of my money to recover his losses,
+and buy him a share in a new ship. "However, my old friend," says he,
+"you shall not want a supply in your necessity; and as soon as my son
+returns, you shall be fully satisfied." Upon this, he pulls out an old
+pouch, and gives me one hundred and sixty Portugal moidores in gold; and
+giving the writings of his title to the ship, which his son was gone to
+the Brazils in, of which he was a quarter-part owner, and his son
+another, he puts them both into my hands for security of the rest.
+
+I was too much moved with the honesty and kindness of the poor man to be
+able to bear this; and remembering what he had done for me, how he had
+taken me up at sea, and how generously he had used me on all occasions,
+and particularly how sincere a friend he was now to me, I could hardly
+refrain weeping at what he had said to me; therefore I asked him if his
+circumstances admitted him to spare so much money at that time, and if
+it would not straiten him? He told me he could not say but it might
+straiten him a little; but, however, it was my money, and I might want
+it more than he.
+
+Every thing the good man said was full of affection, and I could hardly
+refrain from tears while he spoke; in short, I took one hundred of the
+moidores, and called for a pen and ink to give him a receipt for them:
+then I returned him the rest, and told him if ever I had possession of
+the plantation, I would return the other to him also, (as, indeed, I
+afterwards did;) and that as to the bill of sale of his part in his
+son's ship, I would not take it by any means; but that if I wanted the
+money, I found he was honest enough to pay me; and if I did not, but
+came to receive what he gave me reason to expect, I would never have a
+penny more from him.
+
+When this was past, the old man asked me if he should put me into a
+method to make my claim to my plantation? I told him I thought to go
+over to it myself. He said I might do so if I pleased; but that if I did
+not, there were ways enough to secure my right, and immediately to
+appropriate the profits to my use: and as there were ships in the river
+of Lisbon just ready to go away to Brazil, he made me enter my name in a
+public register, with his affidavit, affirming, upon oath, that I was
+alive, and that I was the same person who took up the land for the
+planting the said plantation at first. This being regularly attested by
+a notary, and a procuration affixed, he directed me to send it, with a
+letter of his writing, to a merchant of his acquaintance at the place;
+and then proposed my staying with him till an account came of
+the return.
+
+Never was any thing more honourable than the proceedings upon this
+procuration; for in less than seven months I received a large packet
+from the survivors of my trustees, the merchants, for whose account I
+went to sea, in which were the following particular letters and
+papers enclosed.
+
+First, There was the account-current of the produce of my farm or
+plantation, from the year when their fathers had balanced with my old
+Portugal captain, being for six years; the balance appeared to be one
+thousand one hundred and seventy-four moidores in my favour.
+
+Secondly, There was the account of four years more, while they kept the
+effects in their hands, before the government claimed the
+administration, as being the effects of a person not to be found, which
+they called civil death; and the balance of this, the value of the
+plantation increasing, amounted to nineteen thousand four hundred and
+forty-six crusadoes, being about three thousand two hundred and
+forty moidores.
+
+Thirdly, There was the prior of Augustine's account, who had received
+the profits for above fourteen years; but not being to account for what
+was disposed of by the hospital, very honestly declared he had eight
+hundred and seventy-two moidores not distributed, which he acknowledged
+to my account: as to the king's part, that refunded nothing.
+
+There was a letter of my partner's, congratulating me very
+affectionately upon my being alive, giving me an account how the estate
+was improved, and what it produced a year; with a particular of the
+number of squares or acres that it contained, how planted, how many
+slaves there were upon it, and making two and twenty crosses for
+blessings, told me he had said so many _Ave Marias_ to thank the blessed
+Virgin that I was alive; inviting me very passionately to come over and
+take possession of my own; and, in the mean time, to give him orders to
+whom he should deliver my effects, if I did not come myself; concluding
+with a hearty tender of his friendship, and that of his family; and sent
+me, as a present, seven fine leopards' skins, which he had, it seems,
+received from Africa, by some other ship that he had sent thither, and
+who, it seems, had made a better voyage than I. He sent me also five
+chests of excellent sweetmeats, and a hundred pieces of gold uncoined,
+not quite so large as moidores. By the same fleet, my two
+merchant-trustees shipped me one thousand two hundred chests of sugar,
+eight hundred rolls of tobacco, and the rest of the whole account
+in gold.
+
+I might well say now, indeed, that the latter end of Job was better than
+the beginning. It is impossible to express the flutterings of my very
+heart when I found all my wealth about me; for as the Brazil ships come
+all in fleets, the same ships which brought my letters brought my goods:
+and the effects were safe in the river before the letters came to my
+hand. In a word, I turned pale, and grew sick; and had not the old man
+run and fetched me a cordial, I believe the sudden surprise of joy had
+overset nature, and I had died upon the spot: nay, after that, I
+continued very ill, and was so some hours till a physician being sent
+for, and something of the real cause of my illness being known, he
+ordered me to be let blood; after which I had relief, and grew well: but
+I verily believe, if I had not been eased by a vent given in that manner
+to the spirits, I should have died.
+
+I was now master, all on a sudden, of above five thousand pounds
+sterling in money, and had an estate, as I might well call it, in the
+Brazils, of above a thousand pounds a year, as sure as an estate of
+lands in England; and, in a word, I was in a condition which I scarce
+knew how to understand, or how to compose myself for the enjoyment of
+it. The first thing I did was to recompense my original benefactor, my
+good old captain, who had been first charitable to me in my distress,
+kind to me in my beginning, and honest to me at the end. I showed him
+all that was sent to me; I told him, that next to the providence of
+Heaven, which disposed all things, it was owing to him; and that it now
+lay on me to reward him, which I would do a hundredfold: so I first
+returned to him the hundred moidores I had received of him; then I sent
+for a notary, and caused him to draw up a general release or discharge
+from the four hundred and seventy moidores, which he had acknowledged he
+owed me, in the fullest and firmest manner possible. After which I
+caused a procuration to be drawn, empowering him to be my receiver of
+the annual profits of my plantation, and appointing my partner to
+account with him, and make the returns by the usual fleets to him in my
+name; and a clause in the end, being a grant of one hundred moidores a
+year to him during his life, out of the effects, and fifty moidores a
+year to his son after him, for his life: and thus I requited my old man.
+
+I was now to consider which way to steer my course next, and what to do
+with the estate that Providence had thus put into my hands; and, indeed,
+I had more care upon my head now than I had in my silent state of life
+in the island, where I wanted nothing but what I had, and had nothing
+but what I wanted; whereas I had now a great charge upon me, and my
+business was how to secure it. I had never a cave now to hide my money
+in, or a place where it might lie without lock or key, till it grew
+mouldy and tarnished before any body would meddle with it: on the
+contrary, I knew not where to put it, or whom to trust with it. My old
+patron, the captain, indeed, was honest, and that was the only refuge I
+had. In the next place, my interest in the Brazils seemed to summon me
+thither; but now I could not tell how to think of going thither till I
+had settled my affairs, and left my effects in some safe hands behind
+me. At first I thought of my old friend the widow, who I knew was
+honest, and would be just to me; but then she was in years, and but
+poor, and, for aught. I knew, might be in debt; so that, in a word, I
+had no way but to go back to England myself, and take my effects
+with me.
+
+It was some months, however, before I resolved upon this; and therefore,
+as I had rewarded the old captain fully, and to his satisfaction, who
+had been my former benefactor, so I began to think of my poor widow,
+whose husband had been my first benefactor, and she, while it was in her
+power, my faithful steward and instructor. So the first thing I did, I
+got a merchant in Lisbon to write to his correspondent in London, not
+only to pay a bill, but to go find her out, and carry her in money a
+hundred pounds from me, and to talk with her, and comfort her in her
+poverty, by telling her she should, if I lived, have a further supply:
+at the same time I sent my two sisters in the country a hundred pounds,
+each, they being, though not in want, yet not in very good
+circumstances; one having been married and left a widow; and the other
+having a husband not so kind to her as he should be. But among all my
+relations or acquaintances, I could not yet pitch upon one to whom I
+durst commit the gross of my stock, that I might go away to the
+Brazils, and leave things safe behind me; and this greatly perplexed me.
+
+I had once a mind to have gone to the Brazils, and have settled myself
+there, for I was, as it were, naturalized to the place; but I had some
+little scruple in my mind about religion, which insensibly drew me back.
+However, it was not religion that kept me from going there for the
+present; and as I had made no scruple of being openly of the religion of
+the country all the while I was among them, so neither did I yet; only
+that, now and then, having of late thought more of it than formerly,
+when I began to think of living and dying among them, I began to regret
+my having professed myself a papist, and thought it might not be the
+best religion to die with.
+
+But, as I have said, this was not the main thing that kept me from going
+to the Brazils, but that really I did not know with whom to leave my
+effects behind me; so I resolved, at last, to go to England with it,
+where, if I arrived, I concluded I should make some acquaintance, or
+find some relations that would be faithful to me; and, accordingly, I
+prepared to go to England with all my wealth.
+
+In order to prepare tilings for my going home, I first, the Brazil fleet
+being just going away, resolved to give answers suitable to the just and
+faithful account of things I had from thence; and, first, to the prior
+of St. Augustine I wrote a letter full of thanks for their just
+dealings, and the offer of the eight hundred and seventy-two moidores
+which were undisposed of, which I desired might be given, five hundred
+to the monastery, and three hundred and seventy-two to the poor, as the
+prior should direct; desiring the good padre's prayers for me, and the
+like. I wrote next a letter of thanks to my two trustees, with all the
+acknowledgment that so much justice and honesty called for; as for
+sending them any present, they were far above having any occasion for
+it. Lastly, I wrote to my partner, acknowledging his industry in the
+improving the plantation, and his integrity in increasing the stock of
+the, works; giving him instructions for his future government of my
+part, according to the powers I had left with my old patron, to whom I
+desired him to send whatever became due to me, till he should hear from
+me more particularly; assuring him that it was my intention not only to
+come to him, but to settle myself there for the remainder of my life. To
+this I added a very handsome present of some Italian silks for his wife
+and two daughters, for such the captain's son informed me he had; with
+two pieces of fine English broad-cloth, the best I could get in Lisbon,
+five pieces of black baize, and some Flanders lace of a good value.
+
+Having thus settled my affairs, sold my cargo, and turned all my effects
+into good bills of exchange, my next difficulty was, which way to go to
+England: I had been accustomed enough to the sea, and yet I had a
+strange aversion to go to England by sea at that time; and though I
+could give no reason for it, yet the difficulty increased upon me so
+much, that though I had once shipped my baggage in order to go, yet I
+altered my mind, and that not once, but two or three times.
+
+It is true; I had been very unfortunate by sea, and this might be some
+of the reasons; but let no man slight the strong impulses of his own
+thoughts in cases of such moment: two of the ships which I had singled
+out to go in, I mean more particularly singled out than any other,
+having put my things on board one of them, and in the other to have
+agreed with the captain; I say, two of these ships miscarried, viz. one
+was taken by the Algerines, and the other was cast away on the Start,
+near Torbay, and all the people drowned, except three; so that in either
+of those vessels I had been made miserable.
+
+Having been thus harassed in my thoughts, my old pilot, to whom I
+communicated every thing, pressed me earnestly not to go by sea, but
+either to go by land to the Groyne, and cross over the Bay of Biscay to
+Rochelle, from whence it was but an easy and safe journey by land to
+Paris, and so to Calais and Dover; or to go up to Madrid, and so all the
+way by laud through France. In a word, I was so prepossessed against my
+going by sea at all, except from Calas to Dover, that I resolved to
+travel all the way by land; which, as I was not in haste, and did not
+value the charge, was by much the pleasanter way: and to make it more
+so, my old captain brought an English gentleman, the son of a merchant
+in Lisbon, who was willing to travel with me; after which we picked up
+two more English merchants also, and two young Portuguese gentlemen, the
+last going to Paris only; so that in all there were six of us, and five
+servants; the two merchants and the two Portuguese contenting themselves
+with one servant between two, to save the charge; and as for me, I got
+an English sailor to travel with me as a servant, besides my man Friday,
+who was too much a stranger to be capable of supplying the place of a
+servant on the road.
+
+In this manner I set out from Lisbon; and our company being very well
+mounted and armed, we made a little troop, whereof they did me the
+honour to call me captain, as well because I was the oldest man, as
+because I had two servants, and, indeed, was the original of the
+whole journey.
+
+As I have troubled you with none of my sea journals, so I shall trouble
+you now with none of my land journal; but some adventures that happened
+to us in this tedious and difficult journey I must not omit.
+
+When we came to Madrid, we being all of us strangers to Spain, were
+willing to stay some time to see the court of Spain, and to see what was
+worth observing; but it being the latter part of the summer, we hastened
+away, and set out from Madrid about the middle of October; but when we
+came to the edge of Navarre, we were alarmed, at several towns on the
+way, with an account that so much snow was fallen on the French side of
+the mountains, that several travellers were obliged to come back to
+Pampeluna, after having attempted, at an extreme hazard, to pass on.
+
+When we came to Pampeluna itself, we found it so indeed; and to me, that
+had been always used to a hot climate, and to countries where I could
+scarce bear any clothes on, the cold was insufferable: nor, indeed, was
+it more painful than surprising, to come but ten days before out of Old
+Castile, where the weather was not only warm, but very hot, and
+immediately to feel a wind from the Pyrenean mountains so very keen, so
+severely cold, as to be intolerable, and to endanger benumbing and
+perishing of our fingers and toes.
+
+Poor Friday was really frightened when he saw the mountains all covered
+with snow, and felt cold weather, which he had never seen or felt before
+in his life. To mend the matter, when we came to Pampeluna, it continued
+snowing with so much violence, and so long, that the people said winter
+was come before its time; and the roads, which were difficult before,
+were now quite impassable; for, in a word, the snow lay in some places
+too thick for us to travel, and being not hard frozen, as is the case in
+the northern countries, there was no going without being in danger of
+being buried alive every step. We stayed no less than twenty days at
+Pampeluna; when seeing the winter coming on, and no likelihood of its
+being better, for it was the severest winter all over Europe that had
+been known in the memory of man, I proposed that we should all go away
+to Fontarabia, and there take shipping for Bourdeaux, which was a very
+little voyage. But while I was considering this, there came in four
+French gentlemen, who having been stopped on the French side of the
+passes, as we were on the Spanish, had found out a guide, who,
+traversing the country near the head of Languedoc, had brought them over
+the mountains by such ways, that they were not much incommoded with the
+snow; for where they met with snow in any quantity, they said it was
+frozen hard enough to bear them and their horses. We sent, for this
+guide, who told us he would undertake to carry us the same way with no
+hazard from the snow, provided we were armed sufficiently to protect
+ourselves from wild beasts; for, he said, upon these great snows it was
+frequent for some wolves to show themselves at the foot of the
+mountains, being made ravenous for want of food, the ground being
+covered with snow. We told him we were well enough prepared for such
+creatures as they were, if he would ensure us from a kind of two-legged
+wolves, which, we were told, we were in most danger from, especially on
+the French side of the mountains. He satisfied us that there was no
+danger of that kind in the way that we were to go: so we readily agreed
+to follow him, as did also twelve other gentlemen, with their servants,
+some French, some Spanish, who, as I said, had attempted to go, and were
+obliged to come back again.
+
+Accordingly, we set out from Pampeluna, with our guide, on the 15th of
+November; and, indeed, I was surprised, when, instead of going forward,
+he came directly back with us on the same road that we came from Madrid,
+about twenty miles; when having passed two rivers, and come into the
+plain country, we found ourselves in a warm climate again, where the
+country was pleasant, and no snow to be seen; but on a sudden, turning
+to his left, he approached the mountains another way: and though it is
+true the hills and precipices looked dreadful, yet he made so many
+tours, such meanders, and led us by such winding ways, that we
+insensibly passed the height of the mountains without being much
+encumbered with the snow; and, all on a sudden, he showed us the
+pleasant fruitful provinces of Languedoc and Gascony, all green and
+flourishing, though, indeed, at a great distance, and we had some rough
+way to pass still.
+
+We were a little uneasy, however, when we found it snowed one whole day
+and a night so fast, that we could not travel; but he bid us be easy; we
+should soon be past it all: we found, indeed, that we began to descend
+every day, and to come more north than before; and so depending upon our
+guide, we went on.
+
+It was about two hours before night, when our guide being something
+before us, and not just in sight, out rushed three monstrous wolves, and
+after them a bear, out of a hollow way adjoining to a thick wood: two of
+the wolves made at the guide, and had he been far before us, he would
+have been devoured before we could have helped him; one of them fastened
+upon his horse, and the other attacked the man with that violence, that
+he had not time, or presence of mind enough, to draw his pistol, but
+hallooed and cried out to us most lustily. My man Friday being next me,
+I bade him ride up, and see what was the matter. As soon as Friday came
+in sight of the man, he hallooed out as loud as the other, "O master! O
+master!" but, like a bold fellow, rode directly up to the poor man, and
+with his pistol shot the wolf that attacked him in the head.
+
+It was happy for the poor man that it was my man Friday; for he having
+been used to such creatures in his country, he had no fear upon him, but
+went close up to him and shot him, as above; whereas any other of us
+would have fired at a farther distance, and have perhaps either missed
+the wolf, or endangered shooting the man.
+
+But it was enough to have terrified a bolder man than I; and, indeed, it
+alarmed all our company, when, with the noise of Friday's pistol, we
+heard on both sides the most dismal howling of wolves; and the noise,
+redoubled by the echo of the mountains, appeared to us as if there had
+been a prodigious number of them; and perhaps there was not such a few
+as that we had no cause of apprehensions: however, as Friday had killed
+this wolf, the other that had fastened upon the horse left him
+immediately, and fled, without doing him any damage, having happily
+fastened upon his head, where the bosses of the bridle had stuck in his
+teeth. But the man was most hurt; for the raging creature had bit him
+twice, once in the arm, and the other time a little above his knee; and
+though he had made some defence, he was just as it were tumbling down by
+the disorder of his horse, when Friday came up and shot the wolf.
+
+It is easy to suppose that at the noise of Friday's pistol we all mended
+our pace, and rode up as fast as the way, which was very difficult,
+would give us leave, to see what was the matter. As soon as we came
+clear of the trees, which blinded us before, we saw clearly what had
+been the case, and how Friday had disengaged the poor guide, though we
+did not presently discern what kind of creature it was he had killed.
+
+But never was a fight managed so hardily, and in such a surprising
+manner, as that which followed between Friday and the bear, which gave
+us all, though at first we were surprised and afraid for him, the
+greatest diversion imaginable. As the bear is a heavy clumsy creature,
+and does not gallop as the wolf does, who is swift and light, so he has
+two particular qualities, which generally are the rule of his actions:
+first, as to men, who are not his proper prey, (he does not usually
+attempt them, except they first attack him, unless he be excessive
+hungry, which it is probable might now be the case, the ground being
+covered with snow,) if you do not meddle with him, he will not meddle
+with you; but then you must take care to be very civil to him, and give
+him the road, for he is a very nice gentleman; he will not go a step out
+of his way for a prince; nay, if you are really afraid, your best way is
+to look another way, and keep going on; for sometimes if you stop, and
+stand still, and look steadfastly at him, he takes it for an affront;
+but if you throw or toss any thing at him, and it hits him, though it
+were but a bit of stick as big as your finger, he thinks himself abused,
+and sets all other business aside to pursue his revenge, and will have
+satisfaction in point of honour;--this is his first quality: the next
+is, if he be once affronted, he will never leave yon, night nor day,
+till he has his revenge, but follows, at a good round rate, till he
+overtakes yon.
+
+My man Friday had delivered our guide, and when we came up to him, he
+was helping him off from his horse, for the man was both hurt and
+frightened, when, on a sudden, we espied the bear come out of the wood,
+and a vast monstrous one it was, the biggest by far that ever I saw. We
+were all a little surprised when we saw him; but when Friday saw him,
+it was easy to see joy and courage in the fellow's countenance: "O, O,
+O!" says Friday, three times, pointing to him; "O master! you give me
+te leave, me shakee te hand with him; me makee you good laugh."
+
+I was surprised to see the fellow so well pleased; "You fool," says I,
+"he will eat you up,"--"Eatee me up! eatee me up!" says Friday, twice
+over again; "me eatee him up; me' makee you good laugh; you all stay
+here, me show you good laugh." So down he sits, and gets off his boots
+in a moment, and puts on a pair of pumps, (as we call the flat shoes
+they wear, and which he had in his pocket,) gives my other servant his
+horse, and with his gun away he flew, swift like the wind.
+
+The bear was walking softly on, and offered to meddle with nobody, till
+Friday coming pretty near, calls to him, as if the bear could understand
+him, "Hark ye, hark ye," says Friday, "me speakee with you." We followed
+at a distance; for now being come down on the Gaseony side of the
+mountains, we were entered a vast great forest, where the country was
+plain and pretty open, though it had many trees in it scattered here and
+there. Friday, who had, as we say, the heels of the bear, came up with
+him quickly, and takes up a great stone and throws it at him, and hit
+him just on the head, but did him no more harm than if he had thrown it
+against a wall; but it answered Friday's end, for the rogue was so void
+of fear that he did it purely to make the bear follow him, and show us
+some laugh, as he called it. As soon as the bear felt the blow, and saw
+him, he turns about, and comes after him, taking devilish long strides,
+and shuffling on at a strange rate, so as would have put a horse to a
+middling gallop: away runs Friday, and takes his course as if he run
+towards us for help; so we all resolved to fire at once upon the bear,
+and deliver my man; though I was angry at him heartily for bringing the
+bear back upon us, when he was going about his own business another way:
+and especially I was angry that he had turned the bear upon us, and then
+run away; and I called out, "You dog, is this your making us laugh? Come
+away, and take your horse, that we may shoot the creature." He heard me,
+and cried out, "No shoot, no shoot; stand still, and you get much
+laugh:" and as the nimble creature ran two feet for the bear's one, he
+turned on a sudden, on one side of us, and seeing a great oak tree fit
+for his purpose, he beckoned to us to follow; and doubling his pace, he
+gets nimbly up the tree, laying his gun down upon the ground, at about
+five or six yards from the bottom of the tree. The bear soon came to the
+tree, and we followed at a distance: the first thing he did, he stopped
+at the gun, smelt to it, but let it lie, and up he scrambles into the
+tree, climbing like a cat, though so monstrous heavy. I was amazed at
+the folly, as I thought it, of my man, and could not for my life see any
+thing to laugh at yet, till seeing the bear get up the tree, we all rode
+near to him.
+
+When we came to the tree, there was Friday got out to the small end of a
+large branch, and the bear got about half way to him. As soon as the
+bear got out to that part where the limb of the tree was weaker,--"Ha!"
+says he to us, "now you see me teachee the bear dance:" so he falls a
+jumping and shaking the bough, at which the bear began to totter, but
+stood still, and began to look behind him, to see how he should get
+back; then, indeed, we did laugh heartily. But Friday had not done with
+him by a great deal; when seeing him stand still, he calls out to him
+again, as if he had supposed the bear could speak English, "What, you
+come no farther? pray you come farther:" so he left jumping and shaking
+the tree; and the bear, just as if he understood what he said, did come
+a little farther; then he fell a jumping again, and the bear stopped
+again. We thought now was a good time to knock him in the head, and
+called to Friday to stand still, and we would shoot the bear: but he
+cried out earnestly, "O pray! O pray! no shoot, me shoot by and then;"
+he would have said by and by. However, to shorten the story, Friday
+danced so much, and the bear stood so ticklish, that we had laughing
+enough, but still could not imagine what the fellow would do: for first
+we thought he depended upon shaking the bear off; and we found the bear
+was too cunning for that too; for he would not go out far enough to be
+thrown down, but clings fast with his great broad claws and feet, so
+that we could not imagine what would be the end of it, and what the jest
+would be at last. But Friday put us out of doubt quickly: for seeing the
+bear cling fast to the bough, and that he would not be persuaded to come
+any farther, "Well, well," says Friday, "you no come farther, me go; you
+no come to me, me come to you:" and upon this he goes out to the smaller
+end of the bough, where it would bend with his weight, and gently lets
+himself down by it, sliding down the bough, till he came near enough to
+jump down on his feet, and away he runs to his gun, takes it up, and
+stands still. "Well," said I to him, "Friday, what will you do now? Why
+don't you shoot him?"--"No shoot," says Friday, "no yet; me shoot now,
+me no kill; me stay, give you one more laugh:" and, indeed, so he did,
+as you will see presently; for when the bear saw his enemy gone, he
+comes back from the bough where he stood, but did it mighty cautiously,
+looking behind him every step, and coming backward till he got into the
+body of the tree; then with the same hinder end foremost, he came down
+the tree, grasping it with his claws, and moving one foot at a time,
+very leisurely. At this juncture, and just before he could set his hind
+foot on the ground, Friday stepped up close to him, clapped the muzzle
+of his piece into his ear, and shot him dead. Then the rogue turned
+about to see if we did not laugh; and when he saw we were pleased, by
+our looks, he falls a laughing himself very loud. "So we kill bear in
+my country," says Friday. "So you kill them?" says I: "why, you have no
+guns."--"No," says he, "no gun, but shoot great much long arrow." This
+was a good diversion to us; but we were still in a wild place, and our
+guide very much hurt, and what to do we hardly knew: the howling of
+wolves ran much in my head; and, indeed, except the noise I once heard
+on the shore of Africa, of which I have said something already, I never
+heard any thing that filled me with so much horror.
+
+These things, and the approach of night, called us off, or else, as
+Friday would have had us, we should certainly have taken the skin of
+this monstrous creature off, which was worth saving; but we had near
+three leagues to go, and our guide hastened us; so we left him, and went
+forward on our journey.
+
+The ground was still covered with snow, though not so deep and dangerous
+as on the mountains; and the ravenous creatures, as we heard afterwards,
+were come down into the forest and plain country, pressed by hunger, to
+seek for food, and had done a great deal of mischief in the villages,
+where they surprised the country people, killed a great many of their
+sheep and horses, and some people too. We had one dangerous place to
+pass, which our guide told us, if there were more wolves in the country
+we should find them there; and this was a small plain, surrounded with
+woods on every side, and a long narrow defile, or lane, which we were to
+pass to get through the wood, and then we should come to the village
+where we were to lodge. It was within half an hour of sunset when we
+entered the first wood, and a little after sunset when we came into the
+plain; we met with nothing in the first wood, except that, in a little
+plain within the wood, which was not above two furlongs over, we saw
+five great wolves cross the road, full speed, one after another, as if
+they had been in chase of some prey, and had it in view; they took no
+notice of us, and were gone out of sight in a few moments. Upon this our
+guide, who, by the way, was but a fainthearted fellow, bid us keep in a
+ready posture, for he believed there were more wolves a coming. We kept
+our arms ready, and our eyes about us; but we saw no more wolves till we
+came through that wood, which was near half a league, and entered the
+plain. As soon as we came into the plain, we had occasion enough to look
+about us: the first object we met with was a dead horse, that is to say,
+a poor horse which the wolves had killed, and at least a dozen of them
+at work, we could not say eating of him, but picking of his bones
+rather; for they had eaten up all the flesh before. We did not think fit
+to disturb them at their feast, neither did they take much notice of us.
+Friday would have let fly at them, but I would not suffer him by any
+means; for I found we were like to have more business upon our hands
+than we were aware of. We were not gone half over the plain, when we
+began to hear the wolves howl in the wood on our left in a frightful
+manner, and presently after we saw about a hundred coming on directly
+towards us, all in a body, and most of them in a line, as regularly as
+an army drawn up by experienced officers. I scarce knew in what manner
+to receive them, but found, to draw ourselves in a close line was the
+only way; so we formed in a moment: but that we might not have, too
+much interval, I ordered that only every other man should fire, and that
+the others who had not fired should stand ready to give them a second
+volley immediately, if they continued to advance upon us; and then that
+those who had fired at first should not pretend to load their fusees
+again, but stand ready every one with a pistol, for we were all armed
+with a fusee and a pair of pistols each man; so we were, by this method,
+able to fire six volleys, half of us at a time: however, at present we
+had no necessity; for upon firing the first volley, the enemy made a
+full stop, being terrified as well with the noise as with the fire; four
+of them being shot in the head, dropped; several others were wounded,
+and went bleeding off, as we could see by the snow. I found they
+stopped, but did not immediately retreat; whereupon, remembering that I
+had been told that the fiercest creatures were terrified at the voice of
+a man, I caused all the company to halloo as loud as we could; and I
+found the notion not altogether mistaken; for upon our shout they began
+to retire, and turn about. I then ordered a second volley to be fired in
+their rear, which put them to the gallop, and away they went to the
+woods. This gave us leisure to charge our pieces again; and that we
+might lose no time, we kept going: but we had but little more than
+loaded our fusees, and put ourselves in readiness, when we heard a
+terrible noise in the same wood, on our left, only that it was farther
+onward, the same way we were to go.
+
+The night was coming on, and the light began to be dusky, which made it
+worse on our side; but the noise increasing, we could easily perceive
+that it was the howling and yelling of those hellish creatures; and, on
+a sudden, we perceived two or three troops of wolves, one on our left,
+one behind us, and one in our front, so that we seemed to be surrounded
+with them: however, as they did not fall upon us, we kept our way
+forward, as fast as we could make our horses go, which, the way being
+very rough, was only a good hard trot. In this manner we came in view of
+the entrance of a wood, through which we were to pass, at the farther
+side of the plain; but we were greatly surprised, when coming nearer the
+lane or pass, we saw a confused number of wolves standing just at the
+entrance. On a sudden, at another opening of the wood, we heard the
+noise of a gun, and looking that way, out rushed a horse, with a saddle
+and a bridle on him, flying like the wind, and sixteen or seventeen
+wolves after him, full speed; indeed the horse had the heels of them,
+but as we supposed that he could not hold it at that rate, we doubted
+not but they would get up with him at last; no question but they did.
+
+But here we had a most horrible sight; for riding up to the entrance
+where the horse came out, we found the carcasses of another horse and of
+two men, devoured by the ravenous creatures; and one of the men was no
+doubt the same whom we heard fire the gun, for there lay a gun just by
+him fired off; but as to the man, his head and the upper part of his
+body were eaten up. This filled us with horror, and we knew not what
+course to take; but the creatures resolved us soon, for they gathered
+about us presently, in hopes of prey; and I verily believe there were
+three hundred of them. It happened very much to our advantage, that at
+the entrance into the wood, but a little way from it, there lay some
+large timber-trees, which had been cut down the summer before, and I
+suppose lay there for carriage. I drew my little troop in among those
+trees, and placing ourselves in a line behind one long tree, I advised
+them all to alight, and keeping that tree before us for a breastwork, to
+stand in a triangle, or three fronts, enclosing our horses in the
+centre. We did so, and it was well we did; for never was a more furious
+charge than the creatures made upon us in this place. They came on with
+a growling kind of noise, and mounted the piece of timber, which, as I
+said, was our breastwork, as if they were only rushing upon their prey;
+and this fury of theirs, it seems, was principally occasioned by their
+seeing our horses behind us. I ordered our men to fire as before, every
+other man; and they took their aim so sure, that they killed several of
+the wolves at the first volley; but there was a necessity to keep a
+continual firing, for they came on like devils, those behind pushing on
+those before.
+
+When we had fired a second volley of our fusees, we thought they stopped
+a little, and I hoped they would have gone off, but it was but a moment,
+for others came forward again; so we fired two volleys of our pistols;
+and I believe in these four firings we had killed seventeen or eighteen
+of them, and lamed twice as many, yet they came on again. I was loath to
+spend our shot too hastily; so I called my servant, not my man Friday,
+for he was better employed, for, with the greatest dexterity imaginable,
+he had charged my fusee and his own while we were engaged; but, as I
+said, I called my other man, and giving him a horn of powder, I bade him
+lay a train all along the piece of timber, and let it be a large train.
+He did so; and had but just time to get away, when the wolves came up to
+it, and some got upon it, when I, snapping an uncharged pistol close to
+the powder, set it on fire: those that were upon the timber were
+scorched with it, and six or seven of them fell, or rather jumped in
+among us, with the force and fright of the fire; we dispatched these in
+an instant, and the rest were so frightened with the light, which the
+night, for it was now very near dark, made more terrible, that they drew
+back a little; upon which I ordered our last pistols to be fired off in
+one volley, and after that we gave a shout: upon this the wolves turned
+tail, and we sallied immediately upon near twenty lame ones, that we
+found struggling on the ground, and fell a cutting them with our
+swords, which answered our expectation; for the crying and howling they
+made was better understood by their fellows; so that they all fled
+and left us.
+
+We had, first and last, killed about threescore of them; and had it been
+daylight, we had killed many more. The field of battle being thus
+cleared, we made forward again, for we had still near a league to go. We
+heard the ravenous creatures howl and yell in the woods as we went,
+several times, and sometimes we fancied we saw some of them, but the
+snow dazzling our eyes, we were not certain: in about an hour more we
+came to the town where we were to lodge, which we found in a terrible
+fright, and all in arms; for, it seems, the night before, the wolves and
+some bears had broke into the village, and put them in such terror, that
+they were obliged to keep guard night and day, but especially in the
+night, to preserve their cattle, and, indeed, their people.
+
+The next morning our guide was so ill, and his limbs swelled so much
+with the rankling of his two wounds, that he could go no farther; so we
+were obliged to take a new guide here, and go to Thoulouse, where we
+found a warm climate, a fruitful pleasant country, and no snow, no
+wolves, nor any thing like them: but when we told our story at
+Thoulouse, they told us it was nothing but what was ordinary in the
+great forest at the foot of the mountains, especially when the snow lay
+on the ground; but they inquired much what kind of a guide we had got,
+who would venture to bring us that way in such a severe season; and told
+us it was surprising we were not all devoured. When we told them how we
+placed ourselves, and the horses in the middle, they blamed us
+exceedingly, and told us it was fifty to one but we had been all
+destroyed; for it was the sight of the horses which made the wolves so
+furious, seeing their prey; and that, at other times, they are really
+afraid of a gun; but being excessive hungry, and raging on that account,
+the eagerness to come at the horses had made them senseless of danger;
+and that if we had not, by the continued fire, and at last by the
+stratagem of the train of powder, mastered them, it had been great odds
+but that we had been torn to pieces: whereas, had we been content to
+have sat still on horseback, and fired as horsemen, they would not have
+taken the horses so much for their own, when men were on their backs, as
+otherwise; and withal they told us, that at last, if we had stood all
+together, and left our horses, they would have been so eager to have
+devoured them, that we might have come off safe, especially having our
+fire-arms in our hands, and being so many in number. For my part, I was
+never so sensible of danger in my life; for seeing above three hundred
+devils come roaring and open-mouthed to devour us, and having nothing to
+shelter us, or retreat to, I gave myself over for lost; and, as it was,
+I believe I shall never care to cross those mountains again; I think I
+would much rather go a thousand leagues by sea, though I was sure to
+meet with a storm once a week.
+
+I have nothing uncommon to take notice of in my passage through France,
+nothing but what other travellers have given an account of, with much
+more advantage than I can. I travelled from Thoulouse to Paris, and
+without any considerable stay came to Calais, and landed safe at Dover,
+the 14th of Jan. after having a severe cold season to travel in.
+
+I was now come to the centre of my travels, and had in a little time all
+my new-discovered estate safe about me; the bills of exchange which I
+brought with me having been very currently paid.
+
+My principal guide and privy counsellor was my good ancient widow; who,
+in gratitude for the money I had sent her, thought no pains too much,
+nor care too great, to employ for me; and I trusted her so entirely with
+every thing, that I was perfectly easy as to the security of my effects:
+and, indeed, I was very happy from the beginning, and now to the end, in
+the unspotted integrity of this good gentlewoman.
+
+And now having resolved to dispose of my plantation in the Brazils, I
+wrote to my old friend at Lisbon; who having offered it to the two
+merchants, the survivors of my trustees, who lived in the Brazils, they
+accepted the offer, and remitted thirty-three thousand pieces-of-eight
+to a correspondent of theirs at Lisbon, to pay for it.
+
+In return, I signed the instrument of sale in the form which they sent
+from Lisbon, and sent it to my old man, who sent me the bills of
+exchange for 32,800 pieces-of-eight for the estate; reserving the
+payment of 100 moidores a year to him (the old man) during his life, and
+50 moidores afterwards to his son for his life, which I had promised
+them; and which the plantation was to make good as a rent-charge. And
+thus I have given the first part of a life of fortune and adventure, a
+life of Providence's chequer-work, and of a variety which the world will
+seldom be able to show the like of: beginning foolishly, but closing
+much more happily than any part of it ever gave me leave so much as
+to hope for.
+
+Any one would think, that in this state of complicated good fortune, I
+was past running any more hazards, and so indeed I had been, if other
+circumstances had concurred: but I was inured to a wandering life, had
+no family, nor many relations; nor, however rich, had I contracted much
+acquaintance; and though I had sold my estate in the Brazils, yet I
+could not keep that country out of my head, and had a great mind to be
+upon the wing again; especially I could not resist the strong
+inclination I had to see my island, and to know if the poor Spaniards
+were in being there. My true friend, the widow, earnestly dissuaded me
+from it, and so far prevailed with me, that, for almost seven years, she
+prevented my running abroad; during which time I took my two nephews,
+the children of one of my brothers, into my care: the eldest having
+something of his own, I bred up as a gentleman, and gave him a
+settlement of some addition to his estate, after my decease. The other I
+put out to a captain of a ship: and after five years, finding him a
+sensible, bold, enterprising young fellow, I put him into a good ship,
+and sent him to sea: and this young fellow afterwards drew me in, as old
+as I was, to farther adventures myself.
+
+In the mean time, I in part settled myself here; for, first of all, I
+married, and that not either to my disadvantage or dissatisfaction, and
+had three children, two sons and one daughter; but my wife dying, and my
+nephew coming home with good success from a voyage to Spain, my
+inclination to go abroad, and his importunity, prevailed, and engaged
+me to go in his ship as a private trader to the East Indies: this was in
+the year 1694.
+
+In this voyage I visited my new colony in the island, saw my successors
+the Spaniards, had the whole story of their lives, and of the villains I
+left there; how at first they insulted the poor Spaniards, how they
+afterwards agreed, disagreed, united, separated, and how at last the
+Spaniards were obliged to use violence with them; how they were
+subjected to the Spaniards; how honestly the Spaniards used them; an
+history, if it were entered into, as full of variety and wonderful
+accidents as my own part: particularly also as to their battles with the
+Caribbeans, who landed several times upon the island, and as to the
+improvement they made upon the island itself; and how five of them made
+an attempt upon the main land, and brought away eleven men and five
+women prisoners; by which, at my coming, I found about twenty young
+children on the island.
+
+Here I stayed about twenty days; left them supplies of all necessary
+things, and particularly of arms, powder, shot, clothes, tools, and two
+workmen, which I brought from England with me; viz. a carpenter and
+a smith.
+
+Besides this, I shared the lands into parts with them, reserved to
+myself the property of the whole, but gave them such parts respectively,
+as they agreed on; and, having settled all things with them, and engaged
+them not to leave the place, I left them there.
+
+From thence I touched at the Brazils, from whence I sent a bark, which
+I bought there, with more people, to the island; and in it, besides
+other supplies, I sent seven women, being such as I found proper for
+service, or for wives to such as would take them. As to the Englishmen,
+I promised them to send them some women from England, with a good cargo
+of necessaries, if they would apply themselves to planting; which I
+afterwards could not perform: the fellows proved very honest and
+diligent, after they were mastered, and had their properties set apart
+for them. I sent them also from the Brazils five cows, three of them
+being big with calf, some sheep, and some hogs, which, when I came again
+were considerably increased.
+
+But all these things, with an account how three hundred Caribbees came
+and invaded them, and ruined their plantations, and how they fought with
+that whole number twice, and were at first defeated and one of them
+killed; but at last a storm destroying their enemies canoes, they
+famished or destroyed almost all the rest, and renewed and recovered the
+possession of their plantation, and still lived upon the island.
+
+All these things, with some very surprising incidents in some new
+adventures of my own, for ten years more, I shall give a farther account
+of in another volume.
+
+END OF, VOL.I.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life and Adventures of Robinson
+Crusoe Of York, Mariner, Vol. 1, by Daniel Defoe
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