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diff --git a/old/11239-h/11239-h.htm b/old/11239-h/11239-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cb33a40 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11239-h/11239-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,14816 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + +<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> + + <style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + p {text-align: justify;} + blockquote {text-align: justify;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center;} + pre {font-size: 0.7em;} + + hr {text-align: center; width: 50%;} + html>body hr {margin-right: 25%; margin-left: 25%; width: 50%;} + hr.full {width: 100%;} + html>body hr.full {margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%;} + hr.short {text-align: center; width: 20%;} + html>body hr.short {margin-right: 40%; margin-left: 40%; width: 20%;} + + .note, + {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + + span.pagenum + {position: absolute; left: 1%; right: 91%; font-size: 8pt;} + + .poem + {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem p {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem p.i2 {margin-left: 1em;} + .poem p.i4 {margin-left: 2em;} + .poem p.i6 {margin-left: 3em;} + .poem p.i8 {margin-left: 4em;} + .poem p.i10 {margin-left: 5em;} + + .figure, .figcenter, .figright + {padding: 1em; margin: 0; text-align: center; font-size: 0.8em;} + .figure img, .figcenter img, .figright img + {border: none;} + .figure p, .figcenter p, .figright p + {margin: 0; text-indent: 1em;} + .figcenter {margin: auto;} + .figright {float: right;} + + .footnote {font-size: 0.9em; margin-right: 10%; margin-left: 10%;} + + .side { float:right; + font-size: 75%; + width: 25%; + padding-left:10px; + border-left: dashed thin; + margin-left: 10px; + text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; + font-weight: bold; + font-style: italic;} + --> + </style> +</head> +<body> + + +<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—</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.—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?"—"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 +<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,"—"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."—"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."—"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."—"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,—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:—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—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.</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—whether rock or sand, whether +steep or shoal—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—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?</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—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 +<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—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.</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—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> </td><td> </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> </td><td>that miraculously save me</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td>from death, can deliver me</td></tr> +<tr><td> </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> </td><td> </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> </td><td>hardly wear them.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td> </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> </td><td>of Africa: and what if I had</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td>been shipwrecked there?</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td> </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> </td><td>shore, that I have got out so</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td>many necessary things as will</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td>either supply my wants, or</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td>enable me to supply myself,</td></tr> +<tr><td> </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,—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—"<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.—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:—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, &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—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,—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.</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, &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, &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, &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,—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,—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.</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, &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.—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,—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,—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, &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, &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 +<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.—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.—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.</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:—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:—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;—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?"—"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."—"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?"—"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.—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?"—"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.</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?"—"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 +<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!"—"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!"—" 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 +<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—"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.—"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.—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:—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."—"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."</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."—"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."</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?"—"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 +<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."—"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.—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."—"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."—"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."</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."—" 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, &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, &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;—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,"—"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,—"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?"—"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."—"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 + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROBINSON CRUSOE, VOL. 1 *** + +***** This file should be named 11239-h.htm or 11239-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/2/3/11239/ + +Produced by Internet Archive; University of Florida, Charlie Kirschner +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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