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Title: Robinson Crusoe
Author: Daniel Defoe
Illustrator: N. C. Wyeth
Release Date: May 23, 2023 [eBook #70841]
Language: English
Produced by: Aaron Adrignola and the Online Distributed Proofreading
Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from
images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROBINSON CRUSOE ***
Transcriber’s Note: Italic text is enclosed in _underscores_.
[Illustration: (cover)]
ROBINSON CRUSOE
[Illustration: “_For a mile, or thereabouts, my raft went very
well_--”]
[Illustration:
ROBINSON CRUSOE
by
DANIEL DEFOE
_Pictures
by_ N. C. WYETH
]
NEW YORK
Cosmopolitan Book Corporation
M C M X X
ILLUSTRATOR’S PREFACE
The universal fame of The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe is
second only to the Bible. Notwithstanding its simple narrative style,
as well as the absence of the supposedly indispensable _love_ motive,
no modern book can boast of such world-wide esteem.
Written by Daniel Defoe and published in England in 1719 by William
Taylor, the Life and Adventures won immediate popularity. Its
phenomenal success called forth five reprintings in rapid succession.
In the following year came translations into French, German and Dutch,
marking the beginning of an unprecedented series of translations into
many other languages and dialects.
And now, after two centuries, the story still stands secure and
enduring--a monumental human document.
Hundreds of illustrated editions of The Life and Adventures of Robinson
Crusoe have been published, and many more will follow, but I, like most
illustrators enthusiastic in their work, have anticipated for years the
opportunity which is now offered to me in the present edition.
The outstanding appeal of this fascinating romance to me personally is
the remarkably sustained sensation one enjoys of Crusoe’s contact with
the elements--the sea and the sun, the night and the storms, the sand,
rocks, vegetation and animal life. In few books can the reader breathe,
live and move with his hero so intensely, so easily and so consistently
throughout the narrative. In Robinson Crusoe we have it; here is a
story that becomes history, history living and moving, carrying with it
irresistibly the compelling motive of a lone man’s conquest over what
seems to be inexorable Fate.
Do my pictures add a little to the vividness of this story? Do I aid
a little in the clearer vizualization of Robinson Crusoe as he moves
about on his sunny island? That is the most I can hope for.
N. C. WYETH.
Chadd’s Ford, Pa., 1920.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I PAGE
ROBINSON’S FAMILY--HIS ELOPEMENT FROM HIS PARENTS 1
CHAPTER II
FIRST ADVENTURES AT SEA--EXPERIENCE OF A MARITIME LIFE--VOYAGE
TO GUINEA 8
CHAPTER III
ROBINSON’S CAPTIVITY AT SALLEE--ESCAPE WITH XURY--ARRIVAL AT
THE BRAZILS 21
CHAPTER IV
HE SETTLES IN THE BRAZILS AS A PLANTER--MAKES ANOTHER VOYAGE
AND IS SHIPWRECKED 42
CHAPTER V
ROBINSON FINDS HIMSELF ON A DESOLATE ISLAND AND PROCURES
A STOCK OF ARTICLES FROM THE WRECK--HE CONSTRUCTS HIS
HABITATION 61
CHAPTER VI
ROBINSON CARRIES ALL HIS RICHES, PROVISIONS, ETC., INTO HIS
HABITATION--DREARINESS OF SOLITUDE--CONSOLATORY REFLECTIONS
77
CHAPTER VII
ROBINSON’S MODE OF RECKONING TIME--DIFFICULTIES ARISING FROM
WANT OF TOOLS--HE ARRANGES HIS HABITATION 83
CHAPTER VIII
ROBINSON’S JOURNAL--DETAILS OF HIS DOMESTIC ECONOMY AND
CONTRIVANCES--SHOCK OF AN EARTHQUAKE 91
CHAPTER IX
ROBINSON OBTAINS MORE ARTICLES FROM THE WRECK--HIS ILLNESS AND
AFFLICTION 109
CHAPTER X
HIS RECOVERY--HIS COMFORT IN READING THE SCRIPTURES--HE MAKES
AN EXCURSION INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE ISLAND--FORMS HIS
“BOWER” 120
CHAPTER XI
ROBINSON MAKES A TOUR TO EXPLORE HIS ISLAND--EMPLOYED IN BASKET
MAKING 139
CHAPTER XII
HE RETURNS TO HIS CAVE--HIS AGRICULTURAL LABORS AND SUCCESS
146
CHAPTER XIII
HIS MANUFACTURE OF POTTERY, AND CONTRIVANCES FOR BAKING BREAD
157
CHAPTER XIV
MEDITATES HIS ESCAPE FROM THE ISLAND--BUILDS A CANOE--FAILURE
OF HIS SCHEME AND RESIGNATION TO HIS CONDITION--HE MAKES
HIMSELF A NEW DRESS 164
CHAPTER XV
HE MAKES A SMALLER CANOE IN WHICH HE ATTEMPTS TO CRUISE ROUND
THE ISLAND--HIS PERILOUS SITUATION AT SEA--HE RETURNS HOME
180
CHAPTER XVI
HE REARS A FLOCK OF GOATS--HIS DIARY--HIS DOMESTIC HABITS AND
STYLE OF LIVING--INCREASING PROSPERITY 192
CHAPTER XVII
UNEXPECTED ALARM--CAUSE FOR APPREHENSION--HE FORTIFIES HIS
ABODE 203
CHAPTER XVIII
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST SURPRISE--ROBINSON DISCOVERS THAT HIS
ISLAND HAS BEEN VISITED BY CANNIBALS 215
CHAPTER XIX
ROBINSON DISCOVERS A CAVE, WHICH SERVES HIM AS A RETREAT
AGAINST THE SAVAGES 229
CHAPTER XX
ANOTHER VISIT OF THE SAVAGES--ROBINSON SEES THEM DANCING--HE
PERCEIVES THE WRECK OF A VESSEL 240
CHAPTER XXI
HE VISITS THE WRECK AND OBTAINS MANY STORES FROM IT--AGAIN
THINKS OF QUITTING THE ISLAND--HAS A REMARKABLE DREAM 249
CHAPTER XXII
ROBINSON RESCUES ONE OF THEIR CAPTIVES FROM THE SAVAGES, WHOM
HE NAMES FRIDAY, AND MAKES HIS SERVANT 266
CHAPTER XXIII
ROBINSON INSTRUCTS AND CIVILIZES HIS MAN FRIDAY AND ENDEAVORS
TO GIVE HIM AN IDEA OF CHRISTIANITY 279
CHAPTER XXIV
ROBINSON AND FRIDAY BUILD A CANOE TO CARRY THEM TO FRIDAY’S
COUNTRY--THEIR SCHEME PREVENTED BY THE ARRIVAL OF A PARTY
OF SAVAGES 294
CHAPTER XXV
ROBINSON RELEASES A SPANIARD--FRIDAY DISCOVERS HIS
FATHER--ACCOMMODATION PROVIDED FOR THESE NEW GUESTS,
WHO WERE AFTERWARD SENT TO LIBERATE THE OTHER
SPANIARDS--ARRIVAL OF AN ENGLISH VESSEL 310
CHAPTER XXVI
ROBINSON DISCOVERS HIMSELF TO THE ENGLISH CAPTAIN--ASSISTS HIM
IN REDUCING HIS MUTINOUS CREW, WHO SUBMIT TO HIM 335
CHAPTER XXVII
ATKINS ENTREATS THE CAPTAIN TO SPARE HIS LIFE--THE LATTER
RECOVERS HIS VESSEL FROM THE MUTINEERS, AND ROBINSON LEAVES
THE ISLAND 355
THE ILLUSTRATIONS
“For a mile, or thereabouts, my raft went very well--” _Frontispiece_
FACING
PAGE
“My father, a wise and grave man, gave me serious and excellent
counsel against what he foresaw was my design” 2
“--and making it into a great cross, I set it up on the shore
where I first landed--” 84
“All this while I sat upon the ground, very much terrified and
dejected” 106
“In the morning I took the Bible; and beginning at the New
Testament, I began seriously to read it--” 126
“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” 154
“--and thus I every now and then took a little voyage upon the
sea” 182
“I stood like one thunderstruck, or as if I had seen an
apparition” 204
“I laid me down flat on my belly on the ground, and began to
look for the place” 242
“--and then he kneeled down again, kissed the ground, and
taking me by the foot, set my foot upon his head” 270
“--we cut and hewed the outside into the true shape of a boat”
302
“--and no sooner had he the arms in his hands but, as if they
had put new vigor into him, he flew upon his murderers like
a fury” 312
“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” 362
NOTE. _The paintings by Mr. N. C. Wyeth, reproduced
in this volume, are fully protected by copyright._
ROBINSON CRUSOE
CHAPTER I
_Robinson’s Family--His Elopement from His Parents_
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 afterward at York, from whence he had married my
mother, whose relations were named Robinson, a very good family in that
country, and from whom I was called Robinson Kreutznaer; but by the
usual corruption of words in England we are now called, nay, we call
ourselves, and write our name, Crusoe, and so my companions always
called me.
I had two elder brothers, one of which 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 and mother did know what was become of me.
Being the third son of the family, and not bred to any trade, my head
began to be filled very early with rambling thoughts. My father, who
was very old, had given me a competent share of learning, as far as
house-education and a country free school generally goes, 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.
[Illustration: “_My father, a wise and grave man, gave me serious and
excellent counsel against what he foresaw was my design_”]
My father, a wise and grave man, gave me serious and excellent counsel
against what he foresaw was my design. He called me one morning into
his chamber, where he was confined by the gout, and expostulated very
warmly with me upon this subject. He asked me what reasons more than a
mere wandering inclination I had for leaving my father’s house and my
native country, where I might be well introduced, and had a prospect of
raising my fortunes 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 labor 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 this 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 wished they
had been placed in the middle of the two extremes, between the mean and
the great; that the wise man gave his testimony to this as the just
standard of true felicity, when he prayed to have neither poverty nor
riches.
He bid me observe it, and I should always find, that the calamities
of life were shared among the upper and lower part of mankind; but
that the middle station had the fewest disasters, and was not exposed
to so many vicissitudes as the higher or lower part of mankind. Nay,
they were not subjected to so many distempers and uneasiness either
of body or mind as those were who, by vicious living, luxury, and
extravagances on one hand, or by hard labor, want of necessaries, and
mean or 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 labors of the hands or of the head, not
sold to the life of slavery for daily bread, or harassed with perplexed
circumstances, which rob the soul of peace, and the body of rest; not
enraged with the passion of envy, or secret burning lust of ambition
for great things; but in easy circumstances sliding gently through the
world, and sensibly tasting the sweets of living, without the bitter,
feeling that they are happy, and learning by every day’s experience to
know it more sensibly.
After this, he pressed me earnestly, and in the most affectionate
manner, not to play the young man, not to precipitate myself into
miseries which Nature and the station of life I was born in seemed to
have provided against; that I was under no necessity of seeking my
bread; that he would do well for me, and endeavor to enter me fairly
into the station of life which he had been just recommending to me;
and that if I was not very easy and happy in the world it must be my
mere fate or fault that must hinder it, and that he should have nothing
to answer for, having thus discharged his duty in warning me against
measures which he knew would be to my hurt; in a word, that as he would
do very kind things for me if I would stay and settle at home as he
directed, so he would not have so much hand in my misfortunes, as to
give me any encouragement to go away. And to close all, he told me
I had my elder brother for an example, to whom he had used the same
earnest persuasions to keep him from going into the Low Country wars,
but could not prevail, his young desires prompting him to run into
the army, where he was killed; and though he said he would not cease
to pray for me, yet he would venture to say to me, that if I did take
this foolish step, God would not bless me, and I would have leisure
hereafter to reflect upon having neglected his counsel when there
might be none to assist in my recovery.
I observed in this last part of his discourse, which was truly
prophetic, though I suppose my father did not know it to be so
himself--I say, I observed the tears run down his face very
plentifully, and especially when he spoke of my brother who was killed;
and that when he spoke of my having leisure to repent, and none to
assist me, he was so moved, that he broke off the discourse, and told
me, his heart was so full he could say no more to me.
I was sincerely affected with this discourse, as, indeed, who could be
otherwise; and I resolved not to think of going abroad any more, but to
settle at home according to my father’s desire.
But alas! a few days wore it all off; and, in short, to prevent any of
my father’s farther 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 anything 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 but one voyage abroad, if I came home
again and did not like it, I would go no more, and I would promise by a
double diligence to recover that time I had lost.
This put my mother into a great passion. She told me, she knew it would
be to no purpose to speak to my father upon any such subject; that he
knew too well what was my interest to give his consent to anything so
much for my hurt, and that she wondered how I could think of any such
thing after such a discourse as I had had with my father, and such kind
and tender expressions as she knew my father had used to me; and that,
in short, if I would ruin myself there was no help for me; but I might
depend I should never have their consent to it; that for her part, she
would not have so much hand in my destruction, and I should never have
it to say that my mother was willing when my father was not.
Though my mother refused to move it to my father, yet, as I have heard
afterwards, she reported all the discourse to him, and that my father,
after showing a great concern at it, said to her with a sigh, “That boy
might be happy if he would stay at home, but if he goes abroad he will
be the miserablest wretch that was ever born: I can give no consent to
it.”
It was not till almost a year after this that I broke loose, though in
the meantime 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 that time;
but I say, being there, and one of my companions being 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 nor mother any more,
nor 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.
CHAPTER II
_First Adventures at Sea--Experience of a Maritime Life--Voyage to
Guinea_
On the 1st of September, 1651, I went on board a ship bound for London.
Never any young adventurer’s misfortunes, I believe, began sooner,
or continued longer than mine. The ship was no sooner gotten out of
the Humber, but the wind began to blow, and the waves to rise in a
most frightful manner; and as I had never been at sea before, I was
most inexpressibly sick in body, and terrified in my mind. I began
now seriously to reflect upon what I had done, and how justly I was
overtaken by the judgment of heaven for my wickedness in 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 which it has been since, reproached me with the contempt of
advice, and the breach of my duty to God and my father.
All this while the storm increased, and the sea, which I had never
been upon before, went very high, though nothing like what I have
seen many times since; no, nor like what I saw a few days after. But
it was enough to affect me then, who was but a young sailor, and had
never known anything 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 once got
my foot upon dry land again, I would go directly home to my father,
and never set it into a ship again while I lived; that I would take
his advice, and never run myself into such miseries as these any more.
Now I saw plainly the goodness of his observations about the middle
station of life, how easy, how comfortably he had lived all his days,
and never had been exposed to tempests at sea, or troubles on shore;
and I resolved that I would, like a true repenting prodigal, go home to
my father.
These wise and sober thoughts continued all the while the storm
continued, and indeed some time after; but the next day the wind
was abated and the sea calmer, and 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 ever I saw.
I had slept well in the night, and was now no more sea-sick but very
cheerful, looking with wonder upon the sea that was so rough and
terrible the day before, and could be so calm and so pleasant in so
little time after. And now lest my good resolutions should continue,
my companion, who had indeed enticed me away, came to me: “Well, Bob,”
said he, 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
capful of wind?” “A capful, d’you call it?” said I; “’twas a terrible
storm.” “A storm, you fool you,” replied he; “do you call that a storm?
Why, it was nothing at all; give us but a good ship and sea-room, and
we think nothing of such a squall of wind as that; but you’re but a
fresh-water sailor, Bob. Come, let us make a bowl of punch, and we’ll
forget all that; d’ye see what charming weather ’tis 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 the serious thoughts did, as
it were, endeavor to return again sometimes; but I shook them off,
and roused myself from them as it were from a distemper, and applying
myself to drink 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.
The sixth day of our being at sea we came into Yarmouth Roads; the wind
having been contrary and the weather calm, we had made but little way
since the storm. Here we were obliged to come to an anchor, and here we
lay, the wind continuing contrary, viz., at south-west, for seven or
eight days, during which time a great many ships from Newcastle came
into the same roads, as the common harbor where the ships might wait
for a wind for the river.
We had not, however, rid here so long, but should have tided it up the
river, but that the wind blew too fresh; and after we had lain four or
five days, blew very hard. However, the roads being reckoned as good as
a harbor, 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 everything snug and close, that
the ship might ride as easy as possible. By noon the sea went very high
indeed, and our ship rid 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 ahead,
and the cables veered out to the bitter end.
By this time it blew a terrible storm indeed, and now I began to see
terror and amazement in the faces even of the seamen themselves. The
master, though vigilant to the business of preserving the ship, yet
as he went in and out of his cabin by me, I could hear him softly to
himself say several times, “Lord be merciful to us, we shall be all
lost, we shall be all undone”; and the like. During these first hurries
I was stupid, lying still in my cabin, which was in the steerage, and
cannot describe my temper; I could ill re-assume 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 too, 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
frightened; I got up out 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 round us. Two ships that rode near us we found had cut
their masts by the board, being deep laden; and our men cried out,
that a ship which rode about a mile ahead 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 laboring in the sea; but two or
three of them drove, and came close by us, running away with only their
sprit-sail out before the wind.
Toward 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.
But the boatswain protesting to him that if he did not the ship would
founder, he consented; and when they had cut away the fore-mast, the
main-mast stood so loose, and shook the ship so much, they were obliged
to cut her away also, and make a clear deck.
Any one may judge what a condition I must be in at all this, who was
but a young sailor, and who had been in such a fright before at but
a little. But if I can express at this distance the thoughts 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 into such
a condition, that I can by no words describe it. But the worst was
not come yet; the storm continued with such fury, that the seamen
themselves acknowledged they had never known a worse.
We had a good ship, but she was deep laden, and wallowed in the sea,
that the seamen every now and then cried out she would founder. It was
my advantage in one respect, that I did not know what they meant by
founder till I inquired.
However, the storm was so violent, that I saw what is not often seen,
the master, the boatswain, and some others more sensible than the rest,
at their prayers, and expecting every moment that 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 the purpose to
see cried out we had sprung a leak; another said there was four foot
of water in the hold. Then all hands were called to the pump. At that
very word my heart, as I thought, died within me, and I fell backwards
upon the side of my bed where I sat, into the cabin. However, the men
roused me, and told me, that I, that was able to do nothing before, was
as well able to pump as another; at which I stirred up and went to the
pump and worked very heartily. While this was doing, the master seeing
some light colliers, who, not able to ride out the storm, were obliged
to slip and run away to sea, and would come near us, ordered 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 everybody had his own life to think of,
nobody minded me, or what was become of me; but another man stepped up
to the pump, and thrusting me aside with his foot, let me lie, thinking
I had been dead; and it was a great while before I came to myself.
We worked on, but the water increasing in the hold, it was apparent
that the ship would founder, and though the storm began to abate a
little, yet as it was not possible she could swim till we might run
into a port, so the master continued firing guns for help; and a light
ship, who had rid it out just ahead 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 labor and hazard took hold of, and we hauled them close under
our stern, and got all into their boat. It was to no purpose for them
or us after we were in the boat to think of reaching to their own ship,
so all agreed to let her drive, and only to pull her in towards shore
as much as we could, and our master promised them that if the boat was
staved upon shore he would make it good to their master; so partly
rowing and partly driving, our boat went away to the norward, sloping
towards the shore almost as far as Winterton Ness.
We were not much more than a quarter of an hour out of our ship but
we saw her sink, and then I understood for the first time what was
meant by a ship foundering in the sea. I must acknowledge I had hardly
eyes to look up when the seamen told me she was sinking; for from that
moment they rather put me into the boat than that I might be said to go
in; my heart was as it were dead within me, partly with fright, partly
with horror of mind and the thoughts of what was yet before me.
While we were in this condition, the men yet laboring 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 shore to assist us when we should come near. But we made
but slow way towards the shore, nor were we able to reach the shore,
till being past the lighthouse at Winterton, the shore falls off to
the westward towards Cromer, and so the land broke off a little the
violence of the wind. Here we got in, and though not without much
difficulty got all safe on shore, and walked afterwards on foot to
Yarmouth, where, as unfortunate men, we were used with great humanity
as well by the magistrates of the town, who assigned us good quarters,
as by particular merchants and owners of ships, and had money given us
sufficient to carry us either to London or back to Hull, as we thought
fit.
Had I now had the sense to have gone back to Hull and have gone home,
I had been happy, and my father, an emblem of our blessed Savior’s
parable, had even killed the fatted calf for me; for hearing the ship
I went away in was cast away in Yarmouth Road, it was a great while
before he had any assurance that I was not drowned.
But my ill-fate pushed me on now with an obstinacy that nothing could
resist; and though I had several times loud calls from my reason and my
more composed judgment to go home, yet I had no power to do it. I know
not what to call this, nor will I urge that it is a secret overruling
decree that hurries us on to be the instruments of our own destruction,
even though it be before us, and that we rush upon it with our eyes
open. Certainly nothing but some such decreed unavoidable misery
attending, and which it was impossible for me to escape, could have
pushed me forward against the calm reasonings and persuasions of my
most retired thoughts, and against two such visible instructions as I
had met with in my first attempt.
My comrade, who had helped to harden me before, and who was the
master’s son, was now less forward than I. The first time he spoke to
me after we were at Yarmouth, which was not till two or three days, for
we were separated in the town to several quarters--I say, the first
time he saw me, it appeared his tone was altered, and looking very
melancholy and shaking his head, asked me how I did, and telling his
father who I was, and how I had come this voyage only for a trial in
order to get farther abroad, his father turning to me with a very grave
and concerned tone, “Young man,” said he, “you ought never to go to sea
any more, you ought to take this for a plain and visible token, that
you are not to be a seafaring man.” “Why, sir,” said I, “will you go
to sea no more?” “That is another case,” said he; “it is my calling,
and therefore, my duty; but as you made this voyage for a trial, you
see what a taste Heaven has given you of what you are to expect if you
persist; perhaps this is all befallen us on your account, like Jonah in
the ship of Tarshish. Pray,” continued 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,” said 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, exhorted me to go back to my father, and
not tempt Providence to my ruin; told me I might see a visible hand
of Heaven against me. “And, young man,” said he, “depend upon it, if
you do not go back, wherever you go you will meet with nothing but
disasters and disappointments, till your father’s words are fulfilled
upon you.”
We parted soon after; for I made him little answer, and I saw him no
more; which way he went, I know not. As for me, having some money in
my pocket, I travelled to London by land; and there, as well as on the
road, had many struggles with myself what course of life I should take,
and whether I should go home, or go to sea.
As to going home, shame opposed the best motions that offered to my
thoughts; and it immediately occurred to me how I should be laughed at
among the neighbors, and should be ashamed to see, not my father and
mother only, but even everybody 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; not ashamed of the action for which they ought justly to be
esteemed fools, but are ashamed of the returning, which only can make
them be esteemed wise men.
In this state of life, however, I remained some time, uncertain what
measures to take, and what course of life to lead. An irresistible
reluctance continued to going home; and as I stayed a while, the
remembrance of the distress I had been in wore off; and as that abated,
the little motion I had in my desires to return wore off with it, till
at last I quite laid aside the thoughts of it, and looked out for a
voyage.
That evil influence which carried me first away from my father’s
house, that hurried me into the wild and indigested notion of raising
my fortune, and that impressed those conceits so forcibly upon me as
to make me deaf to all good advice, and to the entreaties and even
command of my father--I say, the same influence, whatever it was,
presented the most unfortunate of all enterprises to my view; and I
went on board a vessel bound to the coast of Africa, or, as our sailors
vulgarly call it, a voyage to Guinea.
It was my great misfortune that in all these adventures I did not ship
myself as a sailor, whereby, though I might indeed have worked a little
harder than ordinary, yet at the same time I had learned 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
learned to do any.
It was my lot first of all to fall into pretty good company in London,
which does not always happen to such loose and misguided 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 anything with me,
I should have all the advantage of it that the trade would permit, and
perhaps I might meet with some encouragement.
I embraced the offer, and, entering into a strict friendship with
this captain, who was an honest and plain-dealing man, I went the
voyage with him, and carried a small adventure with me, which, by
the disinterested honesty of my friend the captain, I increased very
considerably, for I carried about £40 in such toys and trifles as the
captain directed me to buy. This £40 I had mustered together by the
assistance of some of my relations whom I corresponded with, and who, I
believe, got my father, or at least my mother, to contribute so much as
that to my first adventure.
This was the only voyage which I may say 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, learned 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 introduce 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 since so completed my ruin.
Yet even in this voyage I had my misfortunes too; particularly, that
I was continually sick, being thrown into a violent fever 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.
CHAPTER III
_Robinson’s Captivity at Sallee--Escape with Xury--Arrival at the
Brazils_
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 the 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 toward the Canary Islands, or
rather between those islands and the African shore, was surprised in
the gray 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 canvas
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 rogue eighteen. About three in the afternoon he came up with
us, and bringing to, by mistake, just athwart our quarter, instead of
athwart our stern, as he intended, we brought eight of our guns to bear
on that side, and poured in a broadside upon him, which made him sheer
off again, after returning our fire and pouring in also his small-shot
from near 200 men which he had on board. However, we had not a man
touched, all our men keeping close. He prepared to attack us again, and
we to defend ourselves; but laying us on board the next time upon our
other quarter, he entered sixty men upon our decks, who immediately
fell to cutting and hacking the decks and rigging. We plied them with
small-shot, half-pikes, powder-chests, and such like, and cleared our
deck of them twice. However, to cut short this melancholy part of our
story, our ship being disabled, and three of our men killed and eight
wounded, we were obliged to yield, and were carried all prisoners into
Sallee, a port belonging to the Moors.
The usage I had there was not so dreadful as at first I apprehended,
nor was I carried up the country to the emperor’s court, as the rest
of our men were, but was kept by the captain of the rover as his
proper prize, and made his slave, being young and nimble, and fit for
his business. At this surprising change of my circumstances from a
merchant to a miserable slave, I was perfectly overwhelmed; and now I
looked back upon my father’s prophetic discourse to me, that I should
be miserable, and have none to relieve me, which I thought was now so
effectually brought to pass, that it could not be worse; that now the
hand of Heaven had overtaken me, and I was undone without redemption.
But alas; this was but a taste of the misery I was to go through, as
will appear in the sequel of this story.
As my new patron, or master, had taken me home to his house, so I was
in hopes that he would take me with him when he went to sea again,
believing that it would some time or other be his fate to be taken by
a Spanish or Portuguese man-o-war; and that then I should be set at
liberty. But this hope of mine was soon taken away; for when he went to
sea, he left me on shore to look after his little garden, and do the
common drudgery of slaves about his house; and when he came home again
from his cruise, he ordered me to lie in the cabin to look after the
ship.
Here I meditated nothing but my escape, and what method I might take
to effect it, but found no way that had the least probability in it.
Nothing presented to make the supposition of it rational; for I had
nobody to communicate it to that would embark with me, no fellow-slave,
no Englishman, Irishman, or Scotsman there but myself; so that for two
years, though I often pleased myself with the imagination, yet I never
had the least encouraging prospect of putting it in practice.
After about two years an odd circumstance presented itself, which put
the old thought of making some attempt for my liberty again in my head.
My patron lying at home longer than usual without fitting out his ship,
which, as I heard, was for want of money, he used constantly, once or
twice a week, sometimes oftener, if the weather was fair, to take the
ship’s pinnace, and go out into the road a-fishing; and as he always
took me and a young Maresco 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 the Maresco, as they called him, to catch a dish of fish for him.
It happened one time that, going a-fishing in a stark calm morning, a
fog rose so thick, that though we were not half a league from the shore
we lost sight of it; and rowing we knew not whither or which way, we
labored all day, and all the next night, and when the morning came we
found we had pulled off to sea instead of pulling in for the shore; and
that we were at least two leagues from the shore. However, we got well
in again, though with a great deal of labor, and some danger, for the
wind began to blow pretty fresh in the morning; but particularly we
were all very hungry.
But our patron, warned by this disaster, resolved to take more care of
himself for the future; and having lying by him the long-boat of our
English ship which he had taken, he resolved he would not go a-fishing
any more without a compass and some provisions; 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 jibed 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; particularly his bread, rice, and coffee.
We went frequently out with this boat a-fishing, and as I was most
dexterous to catch fish for him, he never went without me. It happened
that he had appointed to go out in this boat, either for pleasure or
for fish, with two or three Moors of some distinction in that place,
and for whom he had provided extraordinarily; and had therefore sent on
board the boat overnight a larger store of provisions than ordinary;
and had ordered me to get ready three fusees with powder and shot,
which were on board his ship, for that they designed some sport of
fowling as well as fishing.
I got all things ready as he had directed, and waited the next morning
with the boat, washed clean, her ancient and pendants out, and
everything 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 had got some
fish I should bring it home to his house; all which I prepared to do.
This moment my former notions of deliverance darted into my thoughts,
for now I found I was like to have a little ship at my command; and
my master being gone I prepared to furnish myself, not for a fishing
business, but for a voyage; though I knew not, neither did I so much
as consider, whither I should steer; for anywhere, to get out of that
place, was my way.
My first contrivance was to make a pretence to speak to this Moor,
to get something for our subsistence on board; for I told him we must
not presume to eat of our patron’s bread. He said that was true; so
he brought a large basket of rusk or biscuit of their kind, and three
jars with fresh water, into the boat. I knew where my patron’s case of
bottles stood, which it was evident by the make were taken out of some
English prize; and I conveyed them into the boat while the Moor was on
shore, as if they had been there before for our master.
I conveyed also a great lump of beeswax into the boat, which weighed
above half a hundredweight, 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, who
they call Muly, or Moely; so I called to him, “Moely,” 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,” said 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 everything 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 the
horrid place where I was, and leave the rest to Fate.
After we had fished some time and caught 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 twist, 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 the world over
with me.
He swam so strong after the boat, that he would have reached me very
quickly, there being but little wind; upon which I stepped into the
cabin, and fetching one of the fowling-pieces, I presented it at him,
and told him I had done him no hurt, and if he would be quiet I would
do him none. “But,” said I, “you swim well enough to reach to the
shore, and the sea is calm; make the best of your way to shore, and
I will do you no harm; but if you come near the boat I’ll shoot you
through the head, for I am resolved to have my liberty.” So he turned
himself about, and swam for the shore, and I make no doubt but he
reached it with ease, for he was an excellent swimmer.
I could have been content to have taken this Moor with me, and have
drowned the boy, but there was no venturing to trust him. When he was
gone I turned to the boy, whom they called Xury, and said to him,
“Xury, if you will be faithful to me I’ll make you a great man; but
if you will not stroke your face to be true to me,” that is, swear by
Mahomet and his father’s beard, “I must throw you into the sea too.”
The boy smiled in my face, and spoke so innocently, that I could not
mistrust him, and swore to be faithful to me, and go all over the world
with me.
While I was in view of the Moor who was swimming, I stood out directly
to sea with the boat, rather stretching to windward, that they might
think me gone toward the straits’ mouth (as indeed any one that had
been in their wits must have been supposed to be); for who would have
supposed we would sail on to the southward to the truly barbarian
coast, where whole nations of negroes were sure to surround us with
their canoes, and destroy us; where we could ne’er once go on shore but
we should be devoured by savage beasts, or more merciless savages of
human kind?
But as soon as it grew dusk in the evening, I changed my course, and
steered directly south and by east, bending my course a little toward
the east, that I might keep in with the shore; and having a fair, fresh
gale of wind, and a smooth, quiet sea, I made such sail that I believed
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
thereabouts, for we saw no people.
Yet such was the fright I had taken at the Moors, and the dreadful
apprehensions I had of falling into their hands, that I would not stop,
or go on shore, or come to 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 their vessels were in chase
of me, they also would now give over; so I ventured to make to the
coast, and came 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 to 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,” said Xury,
laughing; “make them run away.” Such English Xury spoke by conversing
among us slaves. However, I was glad to see the boy so cheerful, and
I gave him a dram (out of our patron’s case of bottles) to cheer him
up. After all, Xury’s advice was good, and I took it; we dropped our
little anchor and lay still all night. I say still, for we slept none;
for in two or three hours we saw vast great creatures (we knew not what
to call them) of many sorts come down to the sea-shore and run into the
water, wallowing and washing themselves for the pleasure of cooling
themselves; and they made such hideous howlings and yellings, that I
never indeed heard the like.
Xury was dreadfully frightened, and indeed so was I too; but we were
both more frightened when we heard one of these mighty creatures come
swimming towards our boat; we could not see him, but we might hear him
by his blowing to be a monstrous huge and furious beast. Xury said it
was a lion, and it might be so for aught I know; but poor Xury cried to
me to weigh the anchor and row away. “No,” says I, “Xury; we can slip
our cable with the buoy to it, and go off to sea; they cannot follow us
far.” I had no sooner said so, but I perceived the creature (whatever
it was) within two oars’ length, which something surprised me; however,
I immediately stepped to the cabin door, and taking up my gun, fired at
him, upon which he immediately turned about and swam towards the shore
again.
But it is impossible to describe the horrible noises, and hideous cries
and howlings, that were raised, as well upon the edge of the shore as
higher within the country, upon the noise or report of the gun, a thing
I have some reason to believe those creatures had never heard before.
This convinced me that there was no going on shore for us in the night
upon that coast; and how to venture on shore in the day was another
question too; for to have fallen into the hands of any of the savages,
had been as bad as to have fallen into the hands of lions and tigers;
at least we were equally apprehensive of the danger of it.
Be that as it would, we were obliged to go on shore somewhere or other
for water, for we had not a pint left in the boat; when or where to get
to it, was the point. Xury said if I would let him go on shore with one
of the jars, he would find if there was any water and bring some to
me. I asked him why he should 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. Said he, “If wild mans come, they eat me, you go way.”
“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 in the boat as near the shore
as we thought was proper, and so waded to shore, carrying nothing but
our arms and two jars for water.
I did not care to go out of sight of the boat, fearing the coming of
canoes with savages down the river; but the boy seeing a low place
about a mile up the country, rambled to it; and by and by I saw him
come running towards me. I thought he was pursued by some savage, or
frightened with some wild beast, and I ran 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
color, 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 had seen no wild mans.
But we found afterwards that we need not take such pains for water, for
a little higher up the creek where we were we found the water fresh
when the tide was out, which flowed but a little way up; so we filled
our jars, and feasted on the hare we had killed, and prepared to go on
our way, having seen no footsteps of any human creature in that part of
the country.
As I had been one voyage to this coast before, I knew very well that
the islands of the Canaries, and the Cape de Verde 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 did not exactly know,
or at least remember, what latitude they were in, I knew not where to
look for them, or when to stand off to sea towards them; otherwise I
might now easily have found some of these islands. But my hope was,
that if I stood along this coast till I came to that part where the
English traded, I should find some of their vessels upon their usual
design of trade, that would relieve and take us in.
By the best of my calculation, that place where I now was must be that
country which, lying between the Emperor of Morocco’s dominions and
the negroes, lies waste and uninhabited, except by wild beasts; the
negroes having abandoned it and gone farther south for fear of the
Moors, and the Moors not thinking it worth inhabiting, by reason of
its barrenness; and indeed both forsaking it because of the prodigious
numbers of tigers, lions, leopards, and other furious creatures which
harbor 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
roarings of wild beasts by night.
Once or twice in the daytime I thought I saw the Pico of Teneriffe,
being the high top of the Mountain Teneriffe in the Canaries, and had
a great mind to venture out, in hopes of reaching thither; but having
tried twice, I was forced in again by contrary winds, the sea also
going too high for my little vessel; so I resolved to pursue my first
design, and keep along the shore.
Several times I was obliged to land for fresh water after we had left
this place; and once in particular, being early in the morning, we came
to an anchor under a little point of land which was pretty high; and
the tide beginning to flow, we lay still to go farther in. Xury, whose
eyes were more about him than it seems mine were, called softly to me,
and told me that we had best go farther off the shore; “For,” said 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,” said 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 bade 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 into the head, but he
lay so with his leg raised a little above his nose, that the slugs hit
his leg about the knee, and broke the bone. He started up growling at
first, but finding his leg broke, fell down again, and then got up upon
three legs and gave the most hideous roar that ever I heard. I was a
little surprised that I had not hit him on the head. However, I took up
the second piece immediately, and, though he began to move off, fired
again, and shot him into the head, and had the pleasure to see him
drop, and make but little noise, but lay 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 into the head
again, which despatched him quite.
This was game indeed to us, but this was no food; and I was very sorry
to lose three charges of powder and shot upon a creature that was good
for nothing to us. However, Xury said he would have some of him; so he
comes on board, and asked me to give him the hatchet. “For what, Xury?”
said I. “Me cut off his head,” said he. However, Xury could not cut off
his head, but he cut off a foot, and brought it with him, and it was a
monstrous great one.
I bethought myself, however, that perhaps the skin of him might one way
or other be of some value to us; and I resolved to take off his skin
if I could. So Xury and I went to work with him; but Xury was much the
better workman at it, for I knew very ill how to do it. Indeed, it took
us up both the whole day, but at last we got off the hide of him, and
spreading it on the top of our cabin, the sun effectually dried it in
two days’ time, and it afterwards served me to lie upon.
After this stop we made on to the southward continually for ten or
twelve days, living very sparing on our provisions, which began
to abate very much, and going no oftener into the shore than we
were obliged to for fresh water. My design in this was to make the
river Gambia or Senegal--that is to say, anywhere about the Cape de
Verde--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 out for the
islands or perish there among the negroes. I knew that all the ships
from Europe, which sailed either to the coast of Guinea or to Brazil,
or to the East Indies, made this cape, or those islands; and in a word,
I put the whole of my fortune upon this single point, either that I
must meet with some ship, or must perish.
When I had pursued this resolution about ten days longer, as I have
said, I began to see that the land was inhabited; and in two or three
places, as we sailed by, we saw people stand upon the shore to look
at us; we could also perceive they were quite black, and stark naked.
I was once inclined to have gone on shore to them; but Xury was my
better councilor, 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 ran 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 Xury said was a
lance, and that they would throw them a great way with 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 that 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 dried flesh and some corn, such as is the produce
of their country; but we neither knew what the one or the other was.
However, we were willing to accept it, but how to come at it was our
next dispute, for I was not for venturing on shore to them, and they
were as much afraid of us; but they took a safe way for us all, for
they brought it to the shore and laid it down, and went and stood a
great way off till we fetched it on board, and then came close to us
again.
We made signs of thanks to them, for we had nothing to make them
amends. But an opportunity offered that very instant to oblige them
wonderfully; for while we were lying by the shore came two mighty
creatures, one pursuing the other (as we took it) with great fury from
the mountains towards the sea; whether it was the male pursuing the
female, or whether they were in sport or in rage, we could not tell,
any more than we could tell whether it was usual or strange, but I
believe it was the latter: because, in the first place, those ravenous
creatures seldom appear but in the night; and in the second place, we
found the people terribly frightened, especially the women.
The man that had the lance or dart did not fly from them but the rest
did; however, as the two creatures ran directly into the water, they
did not seem to offer to fall upon any of the negroes, but plunged
themselves into the sea, and swam about, as if they had come for their
diversion. At last, one of them began to come nearer our boat than at
first I 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 into the
head; immediately he sunk down into the water, but rose instantly, and
plunged up and down, as if he was struggling for life, and so indeed he
was. He immediately made to the shore; but between the wound, which was
his mortal hurt, and the strangling of the water, he died just before
he reached the shore.
It is impossible to express the astonishment of these poor creatures,
at the noise and the 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 the 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 I had killed
him with.
The other creature, frightened with the flash of fire and the noise
of the gun, swam on shore, and ran up directly to the mountains from
whence they came; nor could I, at that distance, know what it was. I
found quickly the negroes were for eating the flesh of this creature,
so I was willing to have them take it as a favor 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 provision,
which though I did not understand, yet I accepted. Then I 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 for me, as before, and I sent
Xury on shore with my jars, and filled them all three. The women were
as stark naked as the men.
I was now furnished with roots and corn, such as it was, and water;
and leaving my friendly negroes, I made forward for about eleven days
more, without offering to go near the shore, till I saw the land rim
out a great length into the sea, at about the distance of four or five
leagues before me; and the sea being very calm. I kept a large offing,
to make this point. At length doubling the point, at about two leagues
from the land, I saw plainly land on the other side, to seaward; then
I concluded, as it was most certain indeed, that this was the Cape de
Verde, and those the islands, called from thence Cape de Verde 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 fresh wind, I might
neither reach one nor other.
In this dilemma, as I was very pensive, I stepped into the cabin, and
sat me down, Xury having the helm; when, on a sudden, the boy cried
out, “Master, master, a ship with a sail!” and the foolish boy was
frightened out of his wits, thinking it must needs be some of his
master’s ships sent to pursue us, when I knew we were gotten far enough
out of their reach. I jumped out of the cabin, and immediately saw not
only the ship, but what she was, viz., that it was a Portuguese ship,
and, as I thought, was bound to the coast of Guinea, for negroes. But
when I observed the course she steered, I was soon convinced they were
bound some other way, and did not design to come any nearer to the
shore; upon which I stretched out to sea as much as I could, resolving
to speak with them, if possible.
With all the sail I could make, I found I should not be able to come
in their way, but that they would be gone by before I could make any
signal to them; but after I had crowded to the utmost, and began to
despair, they, it seems, saw me by the help of their perspective
glasses, and that it was some European boat, which, as they supposed,
must belong to some ship that was lost, so they shortened sail to let
me come up.
I was encouraged with this; and as I had my patron’s flag on board, I
made a waft of it to them for a signal of distress, and fired a gun,
both of which they saw; for they told me they saw the smoke, though
they did not hear the gun. Upon these signals they very kindly brought
to, and lay by for me; and in about three hours’ time I came up with
them.
They asked me what I was, in Portuguese, and in Spanish, and in French,
but I understood none of them; but at last a Scots 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. Then they bade me come on board, and very kindly took me in,
and all my goods.
It was an inexpressible joy to me, that 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,” says 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,” says he, “Mr.
Englishman, I will carry you thither in charity, and those things will
help you to buy your subsistence there, and your passage home again.”
CHAPTER IV
_He Settles in the Brazils as a Planter--Makes another Voyage and is
Shipwrecked_
As he was charitable in his proposal, so he was just in the performance
to a tittle; for he ordered the seamen that none should offer to touch
anything I had; then he took everything into his own possession, and
gave me back an exact inventory of them, that I might have them, even
so much as my three earthen jars.
As to my boat, it was a very good one, and that he saw, and told me he
would buy it of me for the ship’s use, and asked me what I would have
for it? I told him he had been so generous to me in everything, that I
could not offer to make any price for the boat, but left it entirely to
him; upon which he told me he would give me a note of his hand to pay
me eighty pieces of eight for it at Brazil, and when it came there, if
any one offered to give more, he would make it up. He offered me also
sixty pieces of eight more for my boy, Xury, which I was loth to take;
not that I was not willing to let the captain have him, but I was very
loth to sell the poor boy’s liberty, who had assisted me so faithfully
in procuring my own. However, when I let him know my reason, he owned
it to be just, and offered me this medium, that he would give the boy
an obligation to set him free in ten years if he turned Christian.
Upon this, and Xury saying he was willing to go to him, I let the
captain have him.
We had a very good voyage to the Brazils, and arrived in the Bay
de Todos los Santos, or All Saints’ Bay, in about twenty-two days
after. And now I was once more delivered from the most miserable of
all conditions of life; and what to do next with myself I was now to
consider.
The generous treatment the captain gave me, I can never enough
remember. He would take nothing of me for my passage, gave me twenty
ducats for the leopard’s skin, and forty for the lion’s skin, which
I had in my boat, and caused everything I had in the ship to be
punctually delivered me; and what I was willing to sell he bought, such
as the case of bottles, two of my guns, and a piece of the lump of
beeswax--for I had made candles of the rest; in a word, I made about
220 pieces of eight of all my cargo, and with this stock I went on
shore in the Brazils.
I had not been long here, but being 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 their planting and
making of sugar; and seeing how well the planters lived, and how they
grew rich suddenly, I resolved, if I could get a license to settle
there, I would turn planter among them, resolving in the meantime to
find out some way to get my money which I 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, and such a one as might
be suitable to the stock which I proposed to myself to receive from
England.
I had a neighbor, 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 neighbor, 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 anything else, for about two years.
However, we began to increase, and our land began to come into order;
so that the third year we planted some tobacco, and made each of us a
large piece of ground ready for planting canes in the year to come. But
we both wanted help; and now I found more than before, I had done wrong
in parting with my boy Xury.
But alas! for me to do wrong that never did right was no great wonder.
I had no remedy but to go on. I was gotten 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 coming 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 stayed 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 5,000 miles off to do it among strangers and
savages, in a wilderness, and at such a distance as never to hear from
any part of the world that had the least knowledge of me.
In this manner I used to look upon my condition with the utmost regret.
I had nobody to converse with, but now and then this neighbor; no work
to be done, but by the labor of my hands; and I used to say, I lived
just like a man cast away upon some desolate island, that had nobody
there but himself. But how just has it been! and how should all men
reflect, that when they compare their present conditions with others
that are worse, Heaven may oblige them to make the exchange, and be
convinced of their former felicity by their experience;--I say, how
just has it been, that the truly solitary life I reflected on in an
island of mere desolation should be my lot, who had so often unjustly
compared it with the life which I then led, in which, had I continued,
I had in all probability been exceeding prosperous and rich.
I was in some degree settled in my measures for carrying on the
plantation before my kind friend, the captain of the ship that took
me up at sea, went back; for the ship remained there in providing his
loading, 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 disaster, I would have you give orders
but for one hundred pounds sterling, which, you say, is half your
stock, and let the hazard be run for the first; so that if it come
safe, you may order the rest the same way; and if it miscarry, you may
have the other half to have recourse to for your supply.”
This was so wholesome advice, and looked so friendly, that I could not
but be convinced it was the best course I could take; so I accordingly
prepared letters to the gentlewoman with whom I had left my money, and
a procuration to the Portuguese captain, as he desired.
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 behavior, and in what condition
I was now in, with all other necessary directions for my supply. And
when this honest captain came to Lisbon, he found means, by some of
the English merchants there, to send over not the order only, but a
full account of my story to a merchant at London, who represented it
effectually to her; whereupon, she not only delivered the money, but
out of her own pocket sent the Portuguese captain a very handsome
present for his humanity and charity to me.
The merchant in London vesting this hundred pounds in English goods,
such as the captain had written for, sent them directly to him at
Lisbon, and he brought them all safe to me to the Brazils; among which,
without my direction (for I was too young in my business to think of
them), he had taken care to have all sorts of tools, iron-work, and
utensils necessary for my plantation, and which were of great use to
me.
When this cargo arrived, I thought my fortune made, for I was surprised
with joy of it; and my good steward, the captain, had laid out the five
pounds, which my friend had sent him for a present for himself, to
purchase and bring me over a servant under bond for six years’ service,
and would not accept of any consideration, except a little tobacco,
which I would have him accept, being of my own produce.
Neither was this all; but my goods being all English manufactures, such
as cloth, 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 may say I had more than four times the value of my first
cargo, and was now infinitely beyond my poor neighbor, I mean in the
advancement of my plantation; for the first thing I did, I bought me a
negro slave, and an European servant also; I mean another besides that
which the captain brought me from Lisbon.
But as abused prosperity is oftentimes made the very means of our
greatest 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
neighbors; and these fifty rolls, being each of above a hundredweight,
were well cured, and laid by against the return of the fleet from
Lisbon. And now, increasing in business and in wealth, my head began
to be full of projects and undertakings beyond my reach, such as are,
indeed, often the ruin of the best heads in business. Had I continued
in the station I was now in, I had room for all the happy things to
have yet befallen me for which my father so earnestly recommended a
quiet, retired life, and of 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 abroad, and pursuing that
inclination in contradiction to the clearest views of doing myself good
in a fair and plain pursuit of those prospects, and those measures of
life, which Nature and Providence concurred to present me with, and to
make my duty.
As I had once done thus in my 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 gulf
of human misery that ever man fell into, or perhaps could be consistent
with life and a state of health in the world.
To come then, by the just degrees to the particulars of this part of
my story. You may suppose, that having now lived almost four years in
the Brazils, and beginning to thrive and prosper very well upon my
plantation, I had not only learned the language, but had contracted
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 upon the coast for trifles--such
as beads, toys, knives, scissors, hatchets, bits of glass, and the
like--not only gold dust, Guinea grains, elephants’ teeth, etc., but
negroes, for the service of the Brazils, in great numbers.
They listened always very attentively to my discourses on these heads,
but especially to that part which related to the buying negroes; which
was a trade, at that time, not only not far entered into, but, as far
as it was, had been carried on by the _assiento_, or permission, of the
Kings of Spain and Portugal, and engrossed in the public, so that few
negroes were bought, and those excessive dear.
It happened, being in company with some merchants and planters of my
acquaintance, and talking of those things very earnestly, three of them
came to me the next morning, and told me they had been musing very much
upon what I had discoursed with them of, the last night, and they came
to make a secret proposal to me. And after enjoining me secrecy, they
told me that they had a mind to fit out a ship to go to Guinea; that
they had all plantations as well as I, and were straitened for nothing
so much as servants; that as it was a trade that could not be carried
on because they could not publicly sell the negroes when they came
home, so they desired to make but one voyage, to bring the negroes on
shore privately, and divide them among their own plantations; and, in a
word, the question was, whether I would go as their supercargo in the
ship, to manage the trading part upon the coast of Guinea; and they
offered me that I should have my equal share of the negroes without
providing any part of the stock.
This was a fair proposal, it must be confessed, had it been made to
any one that had not had a settlement and plantation of his own to
look after, which was in a fair way of coming to be very considerable,
and with a good stock upon it. But for me, that was thus entered and
established, and had nothing to do but go on as I had begun, for three
or four years more, and to have sent for the other hundred pounds
from England; and who, in that time, and with that little addition,
could scarce have failed of being worth three or four thousand pounds
sterling, and that increasing too--for me to think of such a voyage,
was the most preposterous thing that ever man, in such circumstances,
could be guilty of.
But I, that was born to be my own destroyer, could no more resist the
offer than I could restrain my first rambling designs, when my father’s
good counsel was lost upon me. In a word, I told them I would go with
all my heart, if they would undertake to look after my plantation in
my absence, and would dispose of it to such as I should direct if I
miscarried. This they all engaged to do, and entered into writings or
covenants to do so; I made a formal will, disposing of my plantation
and effects, in case of my death; making the captain of the ship that
had saved my life, as before, my universal heir, but obliging him to
dispose of my effects as I had directed in my will; one-half of the
produce being to himself, and the other to be shipped to England.
In short, I took all possible caution to preserve my effects, and 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 upon a voyage to sea, attended with
all its common hazards, to say nothing of the reasons I had to expect
particular misfortunes to myself.
But I was hurried on, and obeyed blindly the dictates of my fancy
rather than my reason. And accordingly, the ship being fitted out, and
the cargo furnished, and all things done as by agreement by my partners
in the voyage, I went on board in an evil hour, the first of September,
1659, being the same day eight years that I went from my father and
mother at Hull, in order to act the rebel to their authority, and the
fool to my own interest.
Our ship was about 120 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, scissors, hatchets, and the
like.
The same day I went on board we set sail, standing away to the
northward upon our own coast, with design to stretch over for the
African coast, when they came about 10 or 12 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
into 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 wherever fate and the fury of
the winds directed; and during these twelve days, I need not say that I
expected every day to be swallowed up, nor, indeed, did any in the ship
expect to save their lives.
In this distress we had, besides the terror of the storm, one of
our men die of the fever, and one man and the 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 gotten
upon the coast of Guiana, or the north part of Brazil, beyond the river
Amazon, toward that of the river Orinoco, 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, and he was going directly back
to the coast of Brazil.
I was positively against that; and looking over the charts of the
sea-coast of America with him, we concluded there was no inhabited
country for us to have recourse to till we came within the circle
of the Caribbee Islands, and therefore resolved to stand away for
Barbadoes, which by keeping off at sea, to avoid the indraft 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 to
ourselves.
With this design we changed our course, and steered away N.W. by W. in
order to reach some of our English islands, where I hoped for relief;
but our voyage was otherwise determined; for being in the latitude of
12 degrees 18 minutes, a second storm came upon us, which carried us
away with the same impetuosity westward, and drove us so out of the
very way of all human commerce, that had all our lives been saved, as
to the sea, we were rather in danger of being devoured by savages than
ever returning to our own country.
In this distress, the wind still blowing very hard, one of our men
early in the morning cried out, “Land!” and we had no sooner ran
out of our cabin to look out, in hopes of seeing whereabouts in the
world we were, but the ship struck upon a sand, and in a moment, her
motion being so stopped, the sea broke over her in such a manner,
that we expected we should all have perished immediately; and we were
immediately driven into our close quarters, to shelter us from the very
foam and spray of the sea.
It is not easy for any one, who has not been in the like condition, to
describe or conceive the consternation of men in such circumstances. We
knew nothing where we were, or upon what land it was we were driven,
whether an island or the main, whether inhabited or not inhabited;
and as the rage of the wind was still great, though rather less than
at first, we could not so much as hope to have the ship hold many
minutes without breaking in pieces, unless the winds, by a kind of
miracle, should turn immediately about. In a word, we sat looking one
upon another, and expecting death every moment, and every man acting
accordingly, as preparing for another world; for there was little or
nothing more for us to do in this. That which was our present comfort,
and all the comfort we had, was that, contrary to our expectation, the
ship did not break yet, and that the master said the wind began to
abate.
Now, though we thought that the wind did a little abate, yet the ship
having thus struck upon the sand, and sticking too fast for us to
expect her getting off, we were in a dreadful condition indeed, and had
nothing to do but to think of saving our lives as well as we could. We
had a boat at our stern just before the storm, but she was first staved
by dashing against the ship’s rudder, and in the next place, she broke
away, and either sunk, or was driven off to sea, so there was no hope
from her; we had another boat on board, but how to get her off into the
sea was a doubtful thing. However, there was no room to debate, for we
fancied the ship would break in pieces every minute, and some told us
she was actually broken already.
In this distress, the mate of our vessel lays hold of the boat, and
with the help of the rest of the men they got her slung over the ship’s
side; and getting all into her, let 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 well be called _den wild zee_, as the Dutch call the
sea in a storm.
And now our case was very dismal indeed, for we all saw plainly that
the sea went so high, that the boat could not live, and that we should
be inevitably drowned. As to making sail, we had none; nor, if we had,
could we have done anything with it; so we worked at the oar toward the
land, though with heavy hearts, like men going to execution, for we
all knew that when the boat came nearer the shore, she would be dashed
in a thousand pieces by the breach of the sea. However, we committed
our souls to God in the most earnest manner; and the wind driving us
towards the shore, we hastened our destruction with our own hands,
pulling as well as we could towards land.
What the shore was, whether rock or sand, whether steep or shoal, we
knew not; the only hope that could rationally give us the least shadow
of expectation was, if we may 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; but as we made nearer and
nearer the shore, the land looked more frightful than the sea.
After we had rowed, or rather driven, about a league and a half, as we
reckoned it, a raging wave, mountain-like, came rolling astern of us,
and plainly bade us expect the _coup de grâce_. In a word, it took us
with such a fury that it overset the boat at once; and separating us,
as well from the boat as from one another, gave us not time hardly to
say, “O God!” for we were all swallowed up in a moment.
Nothing can describe the confusion of thought which I felt when I sunk
into the water; for though I swam very well, yet I could not deliver
myself from the waves so as to draw 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 mainland than I
expected, I got upon my feet, and endeavored to make on towards the
land as fast as I could, before another wave should return and take me
up again. But I soon found it was impossible to avoid it; for I saw the
sea come after me as high as a great hill, and as furious as an enemy,
which I had no means or strength to contend with. My business was to
hold my breath, and raise myself upon the water, if I could; and so, by
swimming, to preserve my breathing, and pilot myself towards the shore,
if possible; my greatest concern now being, that the sea, as it would
carry me a great way towards the shore when it came on, might not carry
me back again with it when it gave back towards the sea.
The wave that came upon me again, buried me at once 20 or 30 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 the ground again with my feet. I stood still a few
moments to recover breath, and till the water went from me, and then
took to my heels and ran with what strength I had farther towards the
shore. But neither would this deliver me from the fury of the sea,
which came pouring in after me again, and twice more I was lifted up by
the waves and carried forwards as before, the shore being very flat.
The last time of these two had well near 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 as 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 be covered again 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 at
first, being near land, I held my hold till the wave abated and then
fetched another run, which brought me so near the shore, that the next
wave though it went over me yet did not swallow me up as to carry me
away, and the next run I took I got to the mainland, where to my great
comfort I clambered up the cliffs of the shore, and sat me down upon
the grass, free from danger and quite out of the reach of the water.
I was now landed, and safe on shore, and began to look up and thank God
that my life was saved in a case wherein there was 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 very grave; and I do not wonder now
at that 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 his blood that every moment they tell him of it, that the
surprise may not drive the animal spirits from his heart, and overwhelm
him:
For sudden joys, like griefs, confound at first.
I walked about on the shore, lifting up my hands, and my whole being,
as I may say, wrapt up in the contemplation of my deliverance, making a
thousand gestures and motions which I cannot describe, reflecting upon
all my comrades that were drowned, and that there should not be one
soul saved but myself; for, as for them, I never saw them afterwards,
or any sign of them except three of their hats, one cap, and two shoes
that were not fellows.
I cast my eyes to the stranded vessel when the breach and froth of
the sea being so big, I could hardly see it, it lay so far off, and
considered, Lord! how was it possible I could get on shore?
After I had solaced my mind with the comfortable part of my condition
I began to look round me to see what kind of 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 anything 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 terrible agonies of mind that
for a while I ran about like a madman. Night coming upon me, I began,
with a heavy heart, to consider what would be my lot if there were
any ravenous beasts in that country, seeing at night they always come
abroad for their prey.
All the remedy that offered to my thoughts at that time was, to get up
into a thick bushy tree like a fir, but thorny, which grew near me, and
where I resolved to sit all night, and consider the next day what death
I should die, for as yet I saw no prospect of life. I walked about
a furlong from the shore, to see if I could find any fresh water to
drink, which I did, to my great joy; and having drank, and put a little
tobacco in my mouth to prevent hunger, I went to the tree, and getting
up into it, endeavored to place myself so, as that if I should sleep 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.
CHAPTER V
_Robinson Finds Himself on a Desolate Island and Procures a Stock of
Articles from the Wreck--He Constructs His Habitation_
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 first mentioned, where I had been
so bruised by the 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 have some
necessary things for my use.
When I came down from my apartment in the tree I looked about me again
and the first thing I found was the boat, which lay as the wind and the
sea had tossed her up upon the land, about two miles on my right hand.
I walked as far as I could upon the shore to have got to her, but found
a neck or inlet of water between me and the boat, which was about half
a mile broad; so I came back for the present, being more intent upon
getting at the ship, where I hoped to find something for my present
subsistence.
A little after noon I found the sea very calm, and the tide ebbed so
far out, that I could come within a quarter of a mile of the ship; and
here I found a fresh renewing of my grief, for I saw evidently, that
if we had kept on board we had been all safe, that is to say, we had
all got safe on shore, and I had not been so miserable as to be left
entirely destitute of all comfort and company as I now was. This forced
tears from my eyes again; but as there was little relief in that, I
resolved, if possible, to get to the ship; so I pulled off my clothes,
for the weather was hot to extremity, and took the water. But when I
came to the ship my difficulty was still greater to know how to get on
board; for as she lay aground, and high out of the water, there was
nothing within my reach to lay hold of. I swam round her twice, and the
second time I spied a small piece of a rope, which I wondered I did not
see at first, hang down by the fore-chains so low, as that with great
difficulty I got hold of it, and by the help of that rope got up 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 ate it
as I went about other things, for I had no time to lose. I also found
some rum in the great cabin, of which I took a large dram, and which I
had indeed need enough of, to spirit me for what was before me. Now I
wanted nothing but a boat, to furnish myself with many things which I
foresaw would be very necessary to me.
It was in vain to sit still and wish for what was not to be had, and
this extremity roused my application. We had several spare yards, and
two or three large spars of wood, and a spare top-mast or two in the
ship. I resolved to fall to work with these, and flung as many of them
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 shore 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 labor and pains; but hope
of furnishing myself with the necessaries encouraged me to go beyond
what I should have been able to have done upon another occasion.
My raft was now strong enough to bear any reasonable weight. My next
care was what to load it with, and how to preserve what I laid upon it
from the surf of the sea; but I was not long considering this. I first
laid all the planks or boards upon it that I could get, and having
considered well what I most wanted, I first got three of the seamen’s
chests which I had broken open and emptied, and lowered them down upon
my raft. The first of these I filled with provisions, viz., bread,
rice, three Dutch cheeses, five pieces of dried goat’s flesh, which
we lived much upon, and a little remainder of European corn which had
been laid by for some fowls which we 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 chest, nor no 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-kneed, 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 out the
carpenter’s desk, which was indeed a very useful prize to me, and much
more valuable than a ship-loading of gold would have been at that time.
I got it down to my raft, even whole as it was, without losing time to
look into it, for I knew in general what it contained.
My next care was for some ammunition and arms; there were two very good
fowling-pieces in the great cabin, and two pistols; these I secured
first, with some powder-horns, and a small bag of shot, and two old
rusty swords. I knew there were three barrels of powder in the ship,
but knew not where our gunner had stowed them; but with much search I
found them, two of them dry and good, the third had taken water; those
two I got to my raft with the arms. And now I thought myself pretty
well freighted, and began to think how I should get to shore with them,
having neither sail, oar, nor rudder; and the least capful of wind
would have overset all my navigation.
I had three encouragements. 1. A smooth, calm sea. 2. The tide rising
and setting in to the shore. 3. What little wind there was blew me
towards the land. And thus, having found two or three broken oars
belonging to the boat, and besides the tools which were in the chest, I
found two saws, an axe, and a hammer, and with this cargo I put to sea.
For a mile or thereabouts my raft went very well, only that I found
it drive a little distant from the place where I had landed before,
by which I perceived that there was some indraft of the water, and
consequently I hoped to find some creek or river there, which I might
make use of as a port to get to land with my cargo.
As I imagined, so it was; there appeared before me a little opening of
the land, and I found a strong current of the tide set into it, so I
guided my raft as well as I could to keep in 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 broke 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, stood in that manner near half
an hour, in which time the rising of the water brought me a little
more upon a level; and a little after, the water still rising, my
raft floated again, and I thrust her off with the oar I had into the
channel, and then driving up higher, I at length found myself in the
mouth of a little river, with land on both sides, and a strong current
or tide running up. I looked on both sides for a proper place to get to
shore, for I was not willing to be driven too high up the river, hoping
in time to see some ship at sea, and therefore resolved to place myself
as near the coast as I could.
At length I spied a little cove on the right shore of the creek, to
which, with great pain and difficulty, I guided my raft, and at last
got so near, as that, reaching ground with my oar, I could thrust her
directly in; but here I had like to have dipped all my cargo in 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 run 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 on upon that flat piece of ground, and there fastened or moored her
by sticking my two broken oars into the ground; one on one side near
one end, and one on the other side near the other end; and thus I lay
till the water ebbed away, and left my raft and all my cargo safe on
shore.
My next work was to view the country and seek a proper place for my
habitation, and where to stow my goods to secure them from whatever
might happen. Where I was, I yet knew not; whether on the continent, or
on an island; whether inhabited, or not inhabited; whether in danger
of wild beasts, or not. There was a hill, not above a mile from me,
which rose up very steep and high, and which seemed to overtop some
other hills, which lay as in a ridge from it, northward. I took out one
of the fowling-pieces and one of the pistols, and a horn of powder;
and thus armed, I travelled for discovery up to the top of that hill,
where, after I had with great labor and difficulty got to the top,
I saw my fate to my great affliction, viz., that I was on an island
environed every way with the sea, no land to be seen, except some rocks
which lay a great way off, and two small islands less than this, which
lay about three leagues to the west.
I found also that the island I was on 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 color and beak resembling it, but had no talons
or claws more than common; its flesh was carrion, and fit for nothing.
Contented with this discovery, I came back to my raft, and fell to work
to bring my cargo on shore, which took me the rest of that day; and
what to do with myself at night, I knew not, nor indeed where to rest;
for I was afraid to lie down on the ground, not knowing but some wild
beast might devour me, though, as I afterwards found, there was really
no need for those fears. However, as well as I could, I barricaded
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 woods where I shot the fowl.
I now began to consider, that I might yet get a great many things out
of the ship, which would be useful to me, and particularly some of the
rigging and sails, and such other things as might come to land; and I
resolved to make another voyage on board the vessel, if possible. And
as I knew that the first storm that blew must necessarily break her
all in pieces, I resolved to set all other things apart till I got
everything 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 checkered shirt and a pair of
linen drawers, and a pair of pumps on my feet.
I got on board the ship as before, and prepared a second raft, and
having had experience of the first, I neither made this so unwieldy,
nor loaded it so hard; but yet I brought away several things very
useful to me; as, first, in the carpenter’s store I found two or three
bags full of nails and spikes, a great screw-jack, a dozen or two of
hatchets, and above all that most useful thing called a grindstone.
All these I secured, together with several things belonging to the
gunner, particularly two or three iron crows, and two barrels of musket
bullets, seven muskets, and another fowling-piece, with some small
quantity of powder more; a large bag full of small-shot, and a great
roll of sheet lead; but this last was so heavy, I could not hoist it up
to get it over the ship’s side. Besides these things, I took all the
men’s clothes that I could find, and a spare fore-top sail, a hammock,
and some bedding, and with this I loaded my second raft, and brought
them all safe on shore, to my very great comfort.
I was under some apprehensions during my absence from the land, that
at least my provisions might be devoured on shore; but when I came
back, I found no sign of any visitor, only there sat a creature like
a wild cat upon one of the chests, which, when I came towards it, ran
away a little distance, and then stood still. She sat very composed
and unconcerned, and looked full in my face, as if she had a mind to
be acquainted with me. I presented my gun at her; but as she did not
understand it, she was perfectly unconcerned at it, nor did she offer
to stir away; upon which I tossed her a bit of biscuit, though, by the
way, I was not very free of it, for my store was not great. However, I
spared her a bit, I say, and she went to it, smelled of it, and ate it
and looked (as pleased) for more; but I thanked her and could spare no
more, so she marched off.
Having got my second cargo on shore, though I was fain to open the
barrels of powder and bring them by parcels, for they were too heavy,
being large casks, I went to work to make me a little tent with the
sail and some poles which I cut for that purpose; and into this tent I
brought everything that I knew would spoil either with rain or sun; and
I piled all the empty chests and casks up in a circle round the tent,
to fortify it from any sudden attempt, either from man or beast.
When I had done this I blocked up the door of the tent with some boards
within, and an empty chest set up on end without; and spreading one of
the beds upon the ground, laying my two pistols just at my head, and my
gun at length by me, I went to bed for the first time, and slept very
quietly all night, for I was very weary and heavy; for the night before
I had slept little, and had labored very hard all day, as well to fetch
all those things from the ship, as to get them on shore.
I had the biggest magazine of all kinds now that ever was laid up, I
believe, for one man; but I was not satisfied still, for while the ship
sat upright in that posture, I thought I ought to get everything 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 canvas,
which was to mend the sails upon occasion, the barrel of wet gunpowder;
in a word, I brought away all the sails first and last, only that I was
fain to cut them in pieces, and bring as much at a time as I could; for
they were no more useful to be sails, but as mere canvas only.
But that which comforted me more still was, that at 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 spoilt by the water. I soon
emptied the hogshead of that bread, and wrapped it up parcel by parcel
in pieces of the sails, which I cut out; and, in a word, I got all this
safe on shore also.
The next day I made another voyage. And now, having plundered the ship
of what was portable and fit to hand out, I began with the cables;
and cutting the great cable into pieces, such as I could move, I got
two cables and a hawser on shore, with all the iron-work I could get;
and having cut down the sprit-sail-yard, and the mizzen-yard, and
everything I could to make a large raft, I loaded it with all those
heavy goods, and came away. But my good luck began now to leave me;
for this raft was so unwieldy, and so overladen, that after I was
entered the little cove where I had landed the rest of my goods, not
being able to guide it so handily as I did the other, it overset,
and threw me and all my cargo into the water. As for myself, it was
no great harm, for I was near the shore; but as to my cargo, it was
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 labor; for I was fain to dip for it into the water, a work
which fatigued me very much. After this I went every day on board, and
brought away what I could get.
I had been now thirteen days on shore, 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 begin to rise. However, at low water I went on board,
and though I thought I had rummaged the cabin so effectually as that
nothing more 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 scissors, 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, some silver.
I smiled to myself at the sight of this money. “O drug!” said I aloud,
“what art thou good for? Thou art not worth to me, no, not the taking
off of the ground; one of those knives is worth all this heap. I have
no manner of use for thee; even remain where thou art, and go to the
bottom as a creature whose life is not worth saving.” However, upon
second thoughts, I took it away; and wrapping all this in a piece
of canvas, I began to think of making another raft; but while I was
preparing this, I found the sky overcast, 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, otherwise I might not be able to reach the
shore at all. Accordingly I let myself down into the water, and swam
across the channel, which lay between the ship and the sands, and even
that with difficulty enough, partly with the weight of the things I had
about me, and partly the roughness of the water; for the wind rose very
hastily, and before it was quite high water it blew a storm.
But I was gotten 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 everything out of her that could be useful to me, and that indeed
there was little left in her that I was able to bring away if I had had
more time.
I now gave over any more thoughts of the ship, or of anything out of
her, except what might drive on shore from her wreck, as indeed divers
pieces of her afterwards did; but those things were of small use to me.
My thoughts were now wholly employed about securing myself against
either savages, if any should appear, or wild beasts, if any were in
the island; and I had many thoughts of the method how to do this, and
what kind of dwelling to make, whether I should make me a cave in the
earth, or a tent upon the earth; and, in short, I resolved upon both,
the manner and description of which it may not be improper to give an
account of.
I soon found the place I was in was not for my settlement, particularly
because it was upon a low moorish ground near the sea, and I believed
would not be wholesome; and more particularly because there was no
fresh water near it. So I resolved to find a more healthy and more
convenient spot of ground.
I consulted several things in my situation, which I found would be
proper for me. First, health and fresh water, I just now mentioned.
Secondly, shelter from the heat of the sun. Thirdly, security from
ravenous creatures, whether men or beasts. Fourthly, a view to the sea,
that if God sent any ship in sight I might not lose any advantage for
my deliverance, of which I was not willing to banish all my expectation
yet.
In search of a place proper for this, I found a little plain on the
side of a rising hill, whose front towards this little plain was steep
as a house-side, so that nothing could come down upon me from the top;
on the side of this rock there was a hollow place, worn a little way
in, like the entrance or door of a cave; but there was not really any
cave, or way into the rock at all.
On the flat of the green, just before this hollow place, I resolved to
pitch my tent. This plain was not above an 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 grounds
by the seaside. It was on the N.N.W. side of the hill, so that I was
sheltered from the heat every day, till it came to a W. and by S. sun,
or thereabouts, which in those countries is near the setting.
Before I set up my tent, I drew a half circle before the hollow place,
which took in about ten yards in its semi-diameter from the rock, and
twenty yards in its diameter from its beginning and ending. In this
half-circle I pitched two rows of strong stakes, driving them into the
ground till they stood very firm like piles, the biggest end being out
of the ground about five feet and a half, and sharpened on the top. The
two rows did not stand above six inches from one another.
Then I took the pieces of cable which I had 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 labor,
especially to cut the piles in the woods, bring them to the place, and
drive them into the earth.
The entrance into this place I made to be not by a door, but by a short
ladder, to go over the top; which ladder, when I was in, I lifted
over after me, and so I was completely fenced in, and fortified, as
I thought, from all the world, and consequently slept secure in the
night, which otherwise I could not have done; though, as it appeared
afterwards, there was no need of all this caution from the enemies that
I apprehended danger from.
CHAPTER VI
_Robinson Carries all His Riches, Provisions, etc., into His
Habitation--Dreariness of Solitude--Consolatory Reflections_
Into this fence or fortress, with infinite labor, I carried all my
riches, all my provisions, ammunition, and stores, of which you have
the account above; and I made me a large tent, which, to preserve me
from the rains that in one part of the year are very violent there, I
made double, viz., one smaller tent within, and one larger tent above
it, and covered the uppermost with a large tarpaulin, which I had saved
among the sails. And now I lay no more for a while in the bed which I
had brought on shore, but in a hammock, which was indeed a very good
one, and belonged to the mate of the ship.
Into this tent I brought all my provisions, and everything that would
spoil by the wet; and having thus enclosed all my goods, I made up the
entrance, which, till now, I had left open, and so passed and repassed,
as I said, by a short ladder.
When I had done this, I began to work my way into the rock; and
bringing all the earth and stones that I dug down out through my tent,
I laid them up within my fence in the nature of a terrace, so that it
raised the ground within about a foot and a half; and thus I made me a
cave just behind my tent, which served me like a cellar to my house.
It cost me much labor, and many days, before all these things were
brought to perfection, and therefore I must go back to some other
things which took up some of my thoughts. At the same time it happened,
after I had laid my scheme for the setting up my tent, and making the
cave, that a storm of rain falling from a thick dark cloud, a sudden
flash of lightning happened, and after that a great clap of thunder,
as is naturally the effect of it. I was not so much surprised with the
lightning, as I was with a thought which darted into my mind as swift
as the lightning itself. O my powder! My very heart sunk within me
when I thought, that at one blast all my powder might be destroyed, on
which, not my defence only, but the providing me food, as I thought,
entirely depended. I was nothing near so anxious about my own danger;
though had the powder took fire, I had never known who had hurt me.
Such impression did this make upon me, that after the storm was over
I laid aside all my works, my building, and fortifying, and applied
myself to make bags and boxes to separate the powder, and 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 pounds weight, was divided in not less than a hundred
parcels. As to the barrel that had been wet, I did not apprehend any
danger from that, so I placed it in my new cave, which in my fancy I
called my kitchen, and the rest I hid up and down in holes among the
rocks, so that no wet might come to it, marking very carefully where I
laid it.
In the interval of time while this was doing, I went out once, at
least, every day with my gun, as well to divert myself, as to see if I
could kill anything 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 in 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 difficultest thing in the world to come at them. But
I was not discouraged at this, not doubting but I might now and then
shoot one, as it soon happened; for after I had found their haunts a
little, I laid wait in this manner for them. I observed if they saw me
in the valleys, though they were upon the rocks, they would run away as
in a terrible fright; but if they were feeding in the valleys, and I
was upon the rocks, they took no notice of me, from whence I concluded
that, by the position of their optics, their sight was so directed
downward, that they did not readily see objects that were above them.
So afterwards I took this method; I always climbed the rocks first to
get above them, and then had frequently a fair mark. The first shot I
made among these creatures I killed a she-goat, which had a little kid
by her, which she gave suck to, which grieved me heartily; but when the
old one fell, the kid stood stock still by her till I came and took
her up; and not only so, but when I carried the old one with me upon
my shoulder, 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 saved my provisions, my bread
especially, as much as possibly I could.
Having now fixed my habitation, I found it absolutely necessary to
provide a place to make a fire in, and fuel to burn; and what I did for
that, as also how I enlarged my cave, and what conveniences I made, I
shall give a full account of in its place. But I must first give some
little account of myself, and of my thoughts about living, which it may
well be supposed were not a few.
I had a dismal prospect of my condition; for as I was not cast away
upon that island without being driven, as is said, by a violent storm,
quite out of the course of our intended voyage, and a great way, viz.,
some hundreds of leagues out of the ordinary course of the trade of
mankind, I had great reason to consider it as a determination of
Heaven, that in this desolate place, and in this desolate manner, I
should end my life. The tears would run plentifully down my face when I
made these reflections, and sometimes I would expostulate with myself,
why Providence should thus completely ruin its creatures, and render
them so absolutely miserable, so without help abandoned, so entirely
depressed, that it could hardly be rational to be thankful for such a
life.
But something always returned swift upon me to check these thoughts,
and to reprove me; and particularly one day, walking with my gun in my
hand by the seaside, I was very pensive upon the subject of my present
condition, when Reason, as it were, expostulated with me t’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 they not saved, and you
lost? Why were you singled out? Is it better to be here, or there?” And
then I pointed to the sea. All evils are to be considered with the good
that is in them, and with what worse attends them.
Then it occurred to me again, how I was furnished for my subsistence,
and what would have been my case if it had not happened, which was an
hundred thousand to one, that the ship floated from the place where
she first struck and was driven so near to the shore that I had time
to get all these things out of her; what would have been my case, if
I had been to have lived in the condition in which I at first came
on shore, without necessaries of life, or necessaries to supply and
procure them? “Particularly,” said I aloud (though to myself), “what
should I have done without a gun, without ammunition, without any tools
to make anything 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 would provide for the accidents
that might happen, and for the time that was to come, even not only
after my ammunition should be spent, but even after my health or
strength should decay.
I confess I had not entertained any notion of my ammunition being
destroyed at one blast--I mean, my powder being blown up by lightning;
and this made the thoughts of it so surprising to me when it lightened
and thundered, as I observed just now.
And now being to enter into a melancholy relation of a scene of silent
life, such, perhaps, as was never heard of in the world before, I shall
take it from its beginning, and continue it in its order. It was, by
my account, the 30th of September when, in the manner as above said, I
first set foot upon this horrid island, when the sun being to us in its
autumnal equinox, was almost just over my head, for I reckoned myself,
by observation, to be in the latitude of 9 degrees 22 minutes north of
the line.
CHAPTER VII
_Robinson’s Mode of Reckoning Time--Difficulties Arising from Want of
Tools--He Arranges His Habitation_
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.
In the next place we are to observe, 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
all less useful to me, which I omitted setting down before; 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 of which I huddled together, whether I might want
them or no. Also I found three very good Bibles, which came to me in
my cargo from England, and which I had packed up among my things; some
Portuguese books also, and among them two or three Popish prayer-books,
and several other books, all which I carefully secured. And I must not
forget, that we had in the ship a dog and two cats, of whose eminent
history I may have occasion to say something in its place; for I
carried both the cats with me; and as for the dog, he jumped out of
the ship of 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 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 pen, ink, and paper, and I husbanded
them to the utmost; and I shall show that while my ink lasted, I kept
things very exact; but after that was gone, I could not, for I could
not make any ink by any means that I could devise.
And this put me in mind that I wanted many things, notwithstanding all
that I had amassed together; and of these, this of ink was one, as also
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.
[Illustration: “_--and making it into a great cross, I set it up on the
shore where I first landed--_”]
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 habitation. The piles or stakes, which were as heavy as
I could well lift, were a long time in cutting and preparing in the
woods, and more by far in bringing home; so that I spent sometimes two
days in cutting and bringing home one of those posts, and a third
day in driving it into the ground; for which purpose I got a heavy
piece of wood at first, but at last bethought myself of one of the iron
crows, which, however, though I found it, yet it made driving those
posts or piles very laborious and tedious work.
But what need I have been concerned at the tediousness of anything I
had to do, seeing I had time enough to do it in? Nor had I any other
employment, if that had been over, at least, that I could foresee,
except the ranging the island to seek for food, which I did more or
less every day.
I now began to consider seriously my condition, and the circumstance I
was reduced to; and I drew up the state of my affairs in writing; not
so much to leave them to any that were to come after me, for I was like
to have but few heirs, as to deliver my thoughts from daily poring upon
them, and afflicting my mind. And as my reason began now to master my
despondency, I began to comfort myself as well as I could, and to set
the good against the evil, that I might have something to distinguish
my case from worse; and I stated it very impartially, like debtor and
creditor, the comforts I enjoyed against the miseries I suffered, thus:
_Evil._ _Good._
I am cast upon a horrible But I am alive, and not
desolate island, void of all drowned, as all my ship’s
hope of recovery. company was.
I am singled out and separated, But I am singled out, too,
as it were, from all the from all the ship’s crew to be
world to be miserable. spared from death; and He
that miraculously saved me
from death, can deliver me
from this condition.
I am divided from mankind, But I am not starved and
a solitaire, one banished perishing on a barren place,
from human society. affording no sustenance.
I have not clothes to cover But I am in a hot climate,
me. where if I had clothes I could
hardly wear them.
I am without any defence But I am cast on an island,
or means to resist any violence where I see no wild beasts to
of man or beast. hurt me, as I saw on the coast
of Africa; and what if I had
been shipwrecked there?
I have no soul to speak to, But God wonderfully sent
or relieve me. the ship in near enough to the
shore, that I have gotten out
so many necessary things as
will either supply my wants,
or enable me to supply myself
even as long as I live.
Upon the whole, here was an undoubted testimony, that there was scarce
any condition in the world so miserable, but there was something
negative or something positive to be thankful for in it; and let this
stand as a direction from the experience of the most miserable of all
conditions in this world, that we may always find in it something to
comfort ourselves from, and to set in the description of good and evil
on the credit side of the account.
Having now brought my mind a little to relish my condition, and given
over looking out to sea, to see if I could spy a ship; I say, giving
over these things, I began to apply myself to accommodate my way of
living, and to make things as easy to me as I could.
I have already described my habitation, which was a tent under the
side of a rock, surrounded with a strong pale of posts and cables;
but I might now rather call it a wall, for I raised a kind of wall up
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
leading to the rock, and thatched or covered it with boughs of trees
and such things as I could get to keep out the rain, which I found at
some times of the year very violent.
I have already observed how I brought all my goods into this pale, and
into the cave which I had made behind me. But I must observe, too, that
at first this was a confused heap of goods, which as they lay in no
order, so they took up all my place; I had no room to turn myself. So
I set myself to enlarge my cave and works farther into the earth; for
it was a loose sandy rock, which yielded easily to the labor I bestowed
on it. And so, when I found I was pretty safe as to 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 on
the outside of my pale or fortification. This gave me not only egress
and regress, as it were a back-way to my tent and to my storehouse,
but gave me room to stow my goods.
And now I began to apply myself to make such necessary things as I
found I most wanted, as particularly a chair and a table; for without
these I was not able to enjoy the few comforts I had in the world. I
could not write or eat, or do several things with so much pleasure
without a table.
So I went to work; and here I must needs observe, that as reason is
the substance and original of the mathematics, so by stating and
squaring everything 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 labor,
application, and contrivance, I found at last that I wanted nothing but
I could have made it, 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 labor. 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
thin as a plank, and then dub it smooth with my adze. It is true, by
this method I could make but one board out of a whole tree; but this I
had no remedy for but patience, any more than I had for the prodigious
deal of time and labor which it took me up to make a plank or board.
But my time or labor was little worth, and so it was as well employed
one way as another.
However, I made me a table and a chair, as I observed above, in the
first place, and this I did out of the short pieces of boards that
I brought on my raft from the ship. But when I had 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; and, in a word, to separate everything
at large in their places, that I might come easily 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 to be seen, it looked like a
general magazine of all necessary things; and I had everything so ready
at my hand, that it was a great pleasure to me to see all my goods in
such order, and especially to find my stock of all necessaries so great.
And now it was when 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 labor, but in too much discomposure of mind; and
my journal would have been full of many dull things. For example, I
must have said thus: _Sept, the 30th_.--After I got to shore, and had
escaped drowning, instead of being thankful to God for my deliverance,
having first vomited with the great quantity of salt water which was
gotten into my stomach, and recovering myself a little, I ran about the
shore, wringing my hands, and beating my head and face, exclaiming at
my misery, and crying out, I was undone, undone, till, tired and faint,
I was forced to lie down on the ground to repose; but durst not sleep,
for fear of being devoured.
Some days after this, and after I had been on board the ship, and got
all that I could out of her, yet 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 at a vast distance I spied a sail, please myself with
the hopes of it, and then, after looking steadily till I was almost
blind, lose it quite, and sit down and weep like a child, and thus
increase my misery by my folly.
But having gotten over these things in some measure, and having settled
my household stuff and habitation, made me a table and a chair, and all
as handsome about me as I could, I began to keep my journal, of which
I shall here give you the copy (though in it will be told all these
particulars over again) as long as it lasted; for, having no more ink,
I was forced to leave it off.
CHAPTER VIII
_Robinson’s Journal--Details of His Domestic Economy and
Contrivances--Shock of an Earthquake_
_September 30, 1659._--I, poor miserable Robinson Crusoe, being
shipwrecked, during a dreadful storm, in the offing, came on shore on
this dismal unfortunate island, which I called the Island of Despair,
all the rest of the ship’s company being drowned, and myself almost
dead.
All the rest of that day I spent in afflicting myself at the dismal
circumstances I was brought to, viz., I had neither food, house,
clothes, weapon, nor place to fly to; and in despair of any relief, saw
nothing but death before me; either that I should 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.
_Oct. 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 to pieces, I hoped, if the wind abated, I
might get on board, and get some food and necessaries out of her for
my relief; so, on the other hand, it renewed my grief at the loss of
my comrades, who, I imagined, if we had all stayed on board, might
have saved the ship, or at least that they would not have been all
drowned as they were; and that had the men been saved, we might perhaps
have built us a boat out of the ruins of the ship, to have carried us
to some other part of the world. I spent great part of this day in
perplexing myself on these things; but at length seeing the ship almost
dry, I went upon the sand as near as I could, and then swam on board;
this day also it continued raining, though with no wind at all.
From the 1st of _October_ to the 24th.--All these days entirely spent
in many several voyages to get all I could out of the ship, which I
brought on shore, every tide of flood, upon rafts. Much rain also in
these days, though with some intervals of fair weather; but, it seems,
this was the rainy season.
_Oct. 20._--I overset my raft, and all the goods I had got upon it; but
being in shoal water, and the things being chiefly heavy, I recovered
many of them when the tide was out.
_Oct. 25._--It rained all night and all day, with some gusts of wind,
during which time the ship broke in pieces, the wind blowing a little
harder than before, and was no more to be seen, except the wreck of
her, and that only at low water. I spent this day in covering and
securing the goods which I had saved, that the rain might not spoil
them.
_Oct. 26._--I walked about the shore almost all day to find out a
place to fix my habitation, greatly concerned to secure myself from
an 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 semicircle
for my encampment, which I resolved to strengthen with a work, wall,
or fortification made of double piles, lined within with cables, and
without with turf.
From the 26th to the 30th I worked very hard in carrying all my goods
to my new habitation, though some part of the time it rained exceeding
hard.
The 31st, in the morning, I went out into the island with my gun to
seek 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.
_Nov. 1._--I set up my tent under a rock, and lay there the first
night, making it as large as I could, with stakes driven in to swing my
hammock upon.
_Nov. 2._--I set up all my chests and boards, and the pieces of timber
which made my rafts, and with them formed a fence round me, a little
within the place I had marked out for my fortification.
_Nov. 3._--I went out with my gun, and killed two fowls like ducks,
which were very good food. In the afternoon went to work to make me a
table.
_Nov. 4._--This morning I began to order my times of work, of going
out with my gun, time of sleep, and time of diversion, viz., every
morning I walked out with my gun for two or three hours, if it did not
rain; then employed myself to work till about eleven o’clock; then eat
what I had to live on; and from twelve to two I lay down to sleep, the
weather being excessive hot; and then in the evening to work again. The
working part of this day and of the next were 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
it would do any one else.
_Nov. 5._--This day went abroad with my gun and my dog, and killed a
wild cat; her skin pretty soft, but her flesh good for nothing. Every
creature I killed, I took off the skins and preserved them. Coming
back by the sea-shore, I saw many sorts of sea-fowls, which I did not
understand; but was surprised, and almost frightened, with two or three
seals, which, while I was gazing at, not well knowing what they were,
got into the sea, and escaped me for that time.
_Nov. 6._--After my morning walk I went to work with my table again,
and finished it, though not to my liking; nor was it long before I
learned to mend it.
_Nov. 7._--Now it began to be settled fair weather. The 7th, 8th, 9th,
10th, and part of the 12th (for the 11th was Sunday) I took wholly up
to make me a chair, and with much ado, brought it to a tolerable shape,
but never to please me; and even in the making, I pulled it in pieces
several times. Note, I soon neglected my keeping Sundays; for, omitting
my mark for them on my post, I forgot which was which.
_Nov. 13._--This day it rained, which refreshed me exceedingly, and
cooled the earth; but it was accompanied with terrible thunder and
lightning, which frightened me dreadfully, for fear of my powder. As
soon as it was over, I resolved to separate my stock of powder into as
many little parcels as possible, that it might not be in danger.
_Nov. 14, 15, 16._--These three days I spent in making little square
chests or boxes, which might hold about a pound, or two pound at most,
of powder; and so putting the powder in, I stowed it in places as
secure and remote from one another as possible. On one of these three
days I killed a large bird that was good to eat, but I know not what to
call it.
_Nov. 17._--This day I began to dig behind my tent into the rock,
to make room for my farther convenience. Note, three things I
wanted exceedingly for this work, viz., a pick-axe, a shovel, and
a wheelbarrow or basket; so I desisted from my work, and began to
consider how to supply that want, and make me some tools. As for a
pick-axe, I made use of the iron crows, which were proper enough,
though heavy; but the next thing was a shovel or spade. This was so
absolutely necessary, that indeed I could do nothing effectually
without it; but what kind of one to make, I knew not.
_Nov. 18._--The next day, in searching the woods, I found a tree
of that wood, or like it, which in the Brazils they call the iron
tree, for its exceeding hardness; of this, with great labor, and
almost spoiling my axe, I cut a piece, and brought it home, too, with
difficulty enough, for it was exceeding heavy.
The excessive hardness of the wood, and having no other way, made me a
long while upon this machine, for I worked it effectually, by little
and little, into the form of a shovel or spade, the handle exactly
shaped like ours in England, only that the broad part having no iron
shod upon it at bottom, it would not last me so long. However, it
served well enough for the uses which I had occasion to put it to; but
never was a shovel, I believe, made after that fashion, or so long
a-making.
I was still deficient, for I wanted a basket or a wheelbarrow. A
basket I could not make by any means, having no such things at twigs
that would bend to make wicker-ware, at least none yet found out. And
as to a wheelbarrow, 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 the iron gudgeons for the spindle or axis
of the wheel to run in, so I gave it over; and so for carrying away the
earth which I dug out of the cave, I made me a thing like a hod which
the laborers carry mortar in, when they serve the bricklayers.
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 wheelbarrow, took me up no less than four days; I mean always,
excepting my morning walk with my gun, which I seldom failed, and very
seldom failed also bringing home something fit to eat.
_Nov. 23._--My other work having now stood still because of my making
these tools, when they were finished I went on, and working every
day, as my strength and time allowed, I spent eighteen days entirely
in widening and deepening my cave, that it might hold my goods
commodiously.
_Note._--During all this time I worked to make this room or cave
spacious enough to accommodate me as a warehouse or magazine, a
kitchen, a dining-room, and a cellar; as for my 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.
_Dec. 10._--I began now to think my cave or vault finished, when on a
sudden (it seems I had made it too large) a great quantity of earth
fell down from the top and one side, so much, that, in short, it
frightened me, and not without reason too; for if I had been under it,
I had never wanted a grave-digger. Upon this disaster I had a great
deal of work to do over again; for I had the loose earth to carry out;
and, which was of more importance, I had the ceiling to prop up, so
that I might be sure no more would come down.
_Dec. 11._--This day I went to work with it accordingly, and got two
shores or posts pitched upright to the top, with two pieces of boards
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 secure; and
the posts standing in rows, served me for partitions to part of my
house.
_Dec. 17._--From this day to the twentieth I placed shelves, and
knocked up nails on the posts to hang everything up that could be hung
up; and now I began to be in some order within doors.
_Dec. 20._--Now I carried everything into the cave, and began to
furnish my house, and set up some pieces of boards, like a dresser, to
order my victuals upon; but boards began to be very scarce with me;
also I made me another table.
_Dec. 24._--Much rain all night and all day; no stirring out.
_Dec. 25._--Rain all day.
_Dec. 26._--No rain, and the earth much cooler than before, and
pleasanter.
_Dec. 27._--Killed a young goat, and lamed another, so that I caught
it, and led it home on a string. When I had it home, I bound and
splintered up its leg, which was broke. _N.B._--I took such care of it,
that it lived; and the leg grew well and as strong as ever; but by my
nursing it so long it grew tame, and fed upon the little green at my
door, and would not go away. This was the first time that I entertained
a thought of breeding up some tame creatures, that I might have food
when my powder and shot was all spent.
_Dec. 28, 29, 30._--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.
_Jan. 1._--Very hot still, but I went abroad early and late with my
gun, and lay still in the middle of the day. This evening, going
farther into the valleys which lay towards the centre of the island, I
found there was plenty of goats, though exceeding shy, and hard to come
at. However I resolved to try if I could not bring my dog to hunt them
down.
_Jan. 2._--Accordingly, the next day, I went out with my dog, and set
him upon the goats; but I was mistaken, for they all faced about upon
the dog; and he knew his danger too well, for he would not come near
them.
_Jan. 8._--I began my fence or wall; which, being still jealous of my
being attacked by somebody, I resolved to make very thick and strong.
_N.B._--This wall being described before, I purposely omit what
was said in the journal. It is sufficient to observe that I was no
less time than from the 3rd of January to the 14th of April working,
finishing, and perfecting this wall, though it was no more than about
twenty-four yards in length, being a half circle from one place in the
rock to another place about eight yards from it, the door of the cave
being in the centre behind it.
* * * * *
All this time I worked very hard, the rains hindering me many days,
nay, sometimes weeks together; but I thought I should never be
perfectly secure till this wall was finished. And it is scarce credible
what inexpressible labor everything 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 need to have done.
When this wall was finished, and the outside double-fenced with a
turf-wall raised up close to it, I persuaded myself that if any people
were to come on shore there, they would not perceive anything like a
habitation; and it was very well I did so, as may be observed hereafter
upon a very remarkable occasion.
During this time, I made my rounds in the woods for game every day,
when the rain admitted me, and made frequent discoveries in these walks
of something or other to my advantage; particularly I found a kind of
wild pigeons, who built, not as wood pigeons, in a tree, but rather as
house pigeons, in the holes of the rocks. And taking some young ones, I
endeavored 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, or joint
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 candles; so that as soon
as ever it was dark, which was generally by seven o’clock, I was
obliged to go to bed. I remembered the lump of beeswax with which I
made candles in my African adventure, but I had none of that now.
The only remedy I had was, that when I had killed a goat I saved the
tallow, and with a little dish made of clay, which I baked in the sun,
to which I added a wick of some oakum, I made me a lamp; and this gave
me light, though not a clear steady light like a candle.
In the middle of all my labors it happened, that rummaging my things,
I found a little bag, which, as I hinted before, had been filled with
corn for the feeding of poultry, not for this voyage, but before, as I
suppose, when the ship came from Lisbon. What little remainder of corn
had been in the bag was all devoured with the rats, and I saw nothing
in the bag but husks and dust; and being willing to have the bag for
some other use, I think it was to put powder in, when I divided it for
fear of the lightning, or some such use, I shook the husks of corn out
of it on one side of my fortification, under the rock. It was a little
before the great rains, just now mentioned, that I threw this stuff
away, taking no notice of anything, and not so much as remembering
that I had thrown anything there; when, about a month after, or
thereabout, I saw some few stalks of something green shooting out of
the ground, which I fancied might be some plant I had not seen; but I
was surprised, and perfectly astonished, when, after a little longer
time, I saw about ten or twelve ears come out, which were perfect green
barley of the same kind as our European, nay, as our English barley.
It is impossible to express the astonishment and confusion of my
thoughts on this occasion. I had hitherto acted upon no religious
foundation at all; indeed, I had very few notions of religion in my
head, or had entertained any sense of anything that had befallen me
otherwise than as a chance, or, as we lightly say, what pleases God;
without so much as inquiring into the end of Providence in these
things, or His order in governing events in the world. But after I
saw barley grow there, in a climate which I know was not proper for
corn, and especially that I knew not how it came there, it startled
me strangely, and I began to suggest that God had miraculously caused
this grain to grow without any help of seed sown, and that it was so
directed purely for my sustenance on that wild miserable place.
This touched my heart a little, and brought tears out of my eyes; and
I began to bless myself, that such a prodigy of Nature should happen
upon my account; and this was the more strange to me, because I saw
near it still, all along by the side of the rock, some other straggling
stalks, which proved to be stalks of rice, and which I knew, because I
had seen it grow in Africa, when I was ashore there.
I not only thought these the pure productions of Providence for my
support, but, not doubting but that there was more in the place, I
went all over that part of the island where I had been before, peering
in every corner, and under every rock, to see for more of it; but I
could not find any. At last it occurred to my thoughts that I had
shook a bag of chickens’ meat out 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 Providence, as if it had been miraculous;
for it was really the work of Providence as to me, that should order or
appoint, that ten or twelve grains of corn should remain unsoiled (when
the rats had destroyed all the rest), as if it had been dropped 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 out immediately;
whereas, if I had thrown it anywhere else at that time, it had been
burnt up and destroyed.
I carefully saved the ears of this corn, you may be sure, in their
season, which was about the end of June; and laying up every corn, I
resolved to sow them all again, hoping in time to have some quantity
sufficient to supply me with bread. But it was not till the fourth year
that I could allow myself the least grain of this corn to eat, and even
then but sparingly, as I shall say afterwards in its order; for I lost
all that I sowed the first season, by not observing the proper time;
for I sowed it just before the dry season, so that it never came up at
all, at least not as it would have done; of which in its place.
Besides this barley, there was, as above, twenty or thirty stalks of
rice, which I preserved with the same care, and whose use was of the
same kind, or to the same purpose, viz., to make me bread, or rather
food; for I found ways to cook it up without baking, though I did that
also after some time. But to return to my journal.
I worked excessive hard these three or four months to get my wall done;
and on the 14th of April I closed it up, contriving to go into it, not
by a door, but over the wall by a ladder, that there might be no sign
in the outside of my habitation.
_April 16._--I finished the ladder, so I went up with the ladder to the
top, and then pulled it up after me, and let it down on the inside.
This was a complete enclosure to me; for within I had room enough, and
nothing could come at me from without, unless it could first mount my
wall.
The very next day after this wall was finished, I had almost had all
my labor overthrown at once, and myself killed. The case was thus: As
I was busy in the inside of it, behind my tent, just in 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
was really 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 was no sooner stepped down upon the
firm ground, but 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 the very sea was put into violent motion by it; and I
believe the shocks were stronger under the water than on the island.
I was so amazed with the thing itself, having never felt the like,
or discoursed with any one that had, that I was like one dead or
stupefied; 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 stupefied condition I was in,
filled me with horror, and I thought of nothing then but the hill
falling upon my tent and all my household goods, and burying all at
once; and this sunk my very soul within me a second time.
After the third shock was over, and I felt no more for some time, I
began to take courage; and yet I had not heart enough to go over my
wall again, for fear of being buried alive, but sat still upon the
ground, greatly cast down and disconsolate, not knowing what to do. All
this while I had not the least serious religious thought, nothing but
the common, “Lord, have mercy upon me!” and when it was over, that went
away too.
While I sat thus, I found the air overcast, and grow cloudy, as if it
would rain. Soon after that 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 over with foam and froth; the shore was
covered with the breach of the water; the trees were torn up by the
roots; and a terrible storm it was; and this held about three hours,
and then began to abate; and in two hours more it was stark calm, and
began to rain very hard.
All this while I sat upon the ground, very much terrified and dejected;
when on a sudden it came into my thoughts, that these winds and rain
being the consequences 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 go 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 some time, and
found still 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; but concluded, if I stayed
where I was, I should certainly, one time or other, be buried alive.
With these thoughts I resolved to remove my tent from the place where
it stood, which was just under the hanging precipice of the hill, and
which, if it should be shaken again, would certainly fall upon my tent;
and I spent the two next days, being the 19th and 20th of April, in
contriving where and how to remove my habitation.
[Illustration: “_All this while I sat upon the ground, very much
terrified and dejected_”]
The fear of being swallowed up alive made me 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
everything was put in order, how pleasantly concealed I was, and how
safe from danger, it made me very loth to remove.
In the meantime 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 venture
where I was, till I had formed a camp for myself, and had secured it
so as to remove to it. So with this resolution 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 cable, etc., in a circle as before, and set my tent
up in it when it was finished, but that I would venture to stay where I
was till it was finished, and fit to remove to. This was the 21st.
_April 22._--The next morning I began to consider of means to put
this resolve in execution; but I was at a great loss about my 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 grindstone, I could not turn it and grind my tools too.
This cost me as much thought as a statesman would have bestowed upon a
grand point of politics, or a judge upon the life and death of a man.
At length I contrived a wheel with a string, to turn it with my foot,
that I might have both my hands at liberty. Note, I had never seen any
such thing in England, or at least not to take notice how it was done,
though since I have observed it is very common there; besides that, my
grindstone was very large and heavy. This machine cost me a full week’s
work to bring it to perfection.
_April 28, 29._--These two whole days I took up in grinding my tools,
my machine for turning my grindstone performing very well.
_April 30._--Having perceived my bread had been low a great while, now
I took a survey of it, and reduced myself to one biscuit-cake a day,
which made my heart very heavy.
CHAPTER IX
_Robinson Obtains More Articles from the Wreck--His Illness and
Affliction_
_May 1._--In the morning, looking towards the seaside, 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 which 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
stone. However, I rolled it farther on shore for the present, and went
on upon the sands as near as I could to the wreck of the ship to look
for more.
When I came down to the ship I found it strangely removed. The
forecastle, which lay before buried in sand, was heaved up at least six
feet; and the stern, which was broken to pieces, and parted from the
rest by the force of the sea soon after I had left rummaging 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 whereas there was a great
place of water before, so that I could not come within a quarter of a
mile of the wreck without swimming, I could now walk quite up to her
when the tide was out. 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 broken open than formerly, so many things came daily
on shore, which the sea had loosened, and which the winds and water
rolled by degrees to the land.
This wholly diverted my thoughts from the design of removing my
habitation; and I busied myself mightily, that day especially, in
searching whether I could make any way into the ship. But I found
nothing was to be expected of that kind, for that all the inside of the
ship was choked up with sand. However, as I had learned not to despair
of anything, I resolved to pull everything to pieces that I could of
the ship, concluding, that everything I could get from her would be of
some use or other to me.
_May 3._--I began with my saw, and cut a piece of a beam through, which
I thought held some of the upper part or quarter-deck together; and
when I had cut it through, I cleared away the sand as well as I could
from the side which lay highest; but the tide coming in, I was obliged
to give over for that time.
_May 4._--I went a-fishing, but caught not one fish that I durst eat
of, till I was weary of my sport; when, just going to leave off, I
caught a young dolphin. I had made me a long line of some rope-yarn,
but I had no hooks; yet I frequently caught fish enough, as much as I
cared to eat; all which I dried in the sun, and eat them dry.
_May 5._--Worked on the wreck, cut another beam asunder, and brought
three great fir-planks off from the decks, which I tied together, and
made swim on shore, when the tide flood came on.
_May 6._--Worked on the wreck, got several iron bolts out of her, and
other pieces of ironwork; worked very hard, and came home very much
tired, and had thoughts of giving it over.
_May 7._--Went to the wreck again, but with an intent not to work, but
found the weight of the wreck had broke itself down, the beams being
cut; that several pieces of the ship seemed to lie loose, and the
inside of the hold lay so open, that I could see into it, but almost
full of water and sand.
_May 8._--Went to the wreck, and carried an iron crow to wrench up the
deck, which lay now quite clear of the water and sand. I wrenched open
two planks, and brought them on shore also with the tide. I left the
iron crow in the wreck for the next day.
_May 9._--Went to the wreck, and with the crow made way into the body
of the wreck, and felt several casks, and loosened them with the crow,
but could not break them up. I felt also the roll of English lead, and
could stir it, but it was too heavy to remove.
_May 10, 11, 12, 13, 14._--Went every day to the wreck, and got a
great deal of pieces of timber, and boards, or plank, and two or three
hundredweight of iron.
_May 15._--I carried two hatchets to try if I could not cut a piece off
of the roll of lead, by placing the edge of one hatchet, and driving it
with the other; but as it lay about a foot and a half in the water, I
could not make any blow to drive the hatchet.
_May 16._--It had blowed hard in the night, and the wreck appeared more
broken by the force of the water; but I stayed so long in the woods to
get pigeons for food, that the tide prevented me going to the wreck
that day.
_May 17._--I saw some pieces of the wreck blown on shore, at a great
distance, near two miles off me, but resolved to see what they were,
and found it was a piece of the head, but too heavy for me to bring
away.
_May 24._--Every day to this day I worked on the wreck, and with hard
labor I loosened some things so much with the crow, that the first
blowing tide several casks floated out, and two of the seamen’s chests.
But the wind blowing from the shore, nothing came to land that day but
pieces of timber, and a hogshead, which had some Brazil pork in it, but
the salt water and the sand had spoiled it.
I continued this work every day to the 15th of June, except the time
necessary to get food, which I always appointed, during this part of
my employment, to be when the tide was up, that I might be ready when
it was ebbed out. And by this time I had gotten timber, and plank,
and ironwork enough to have builded a good boat, if I had known how;
and also, I got at several times, and in several pieces, near one
hundredweight of the sheet lead.
_June 16._--Going down to the seaside, I found a large tortoise,
or turtle. This was the first I had seen, which it seems was only
my misfortune, not any defect of the place, or scarcity; for had
I happened to be on the other side of the island, I might have had
hundreds of them every day, as I found afterwards; but, perhaps, had
paid dear enough for them.
_June 17_--I spent in cooking the turtle. I found in her threescore
eggs; and her flesh was to me, at that time, the most savory and
pleasant that ever I tasted in my life, having had no flesh, but of
goats and fowls, since I landed in this horrid place.
_June 18._--Rained all day, and I stayed within. I thought at this time
the rain felt cold, and I was something chilly, which I knew was not
usual in that latitude.
_June 19._--Very ill, and shivering, as if the weather had been cold.
_June 20._--No rest all night; violent pains in my head, and feverish.
_June 21._--Very ill, frightened almost to death with the apprehensions
of my sad condition, to be sick, and no help. Prayed to God for the
first time since the storm off of Hull, but scarce knew what I said, or
why; my thoughts being all confused.
_June 22._--A little better, but under dreadful apprehensions of
sickness.
_June 23._--Very bad again; cold and shivering, and then a violent
headache.
_June 24._--Much better.
_June 25._--An ague very violent; the fit held me seven hours; cold
fit, and hot, with faint sweats after it.
_June 26._--Better; and having no victuals to eat, took my gun, but
found myself very weak. However, I killed a she-goat, and with much
difficulty got it home, and broiled some of it, and ate. I would fain
have stewed it and made some broth, but had no pot.
_June 27._--The ague again so violent that I lay abed 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 I 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 waked, I found
myself much refreshed, but weak, and exceeding thirsty. However, as I
had no water in my whole habitation, I was forced to lie till morning,
and went to sleep again. In this second sleep I had this terrible dream.
I thought that I was sitting on the ground, on the outside of my wall,
where I sat when the storm blew after the earthquake, and that I saw
a man descend from a great black cloud, in a bright flame of fire,
and light upon the ground. He was all over as bright as a flame, so
that I could but just bear to look towards him. His countenance was
most inexpressibly dreadful, impossible for words to describe. When he
stepped upon the ground with his feet, I thought the earth trembled,
just as it had done before in the earthquake, and all the air looked,
to my apprehension, as if it had been filled with flashes of fire.
He was no sooner landed upon the earth, but he moved forward towards
me, with a long spear or weapon in his hand, to kill me; and when he
came to a rising ground, at some distance, he spoke to me, or I heard a
voice so terrible, that it is impossible to express the terror of it.
All that I can say I understood was this: “Seeing all these things have
not brought thee to repentance, now thou shalt die;” at which words I
thought he lifted up the spear that was in his hand to kill me.
No one that shall ever read this account, will expect that I should
be able to describe the horrors of my soul at this terrible vision; I
mean, that even while it was a dream, I even dreamed of these horrors;
nor is it any more possible to describe the impression that remained
upon my mind when I awaked, and found it was but a dream.
I had, alas! no divine knowledge; what I had received by the good
instruction of my father was then worn out, by an uninterrupted series,
for eight years, of seafaring wickedness, and a constant conversation
with nothing 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 upwards toward God,
or inwards toward a reflection upon my ways; but a certain stupidity
of soul, without desire of good, or conscience of evil, had entirely
overwhelmed me; and I was all that the most hardened, unthinking,
wicked creature among our common sailors can be supposed to be; not
having the least sense, either of the fear of God in danger, or of
thankfulness to God in deliverances.
In the relating what is already past of my story, this will be the more
easily believed, when I shall add, that through all the variety of
miseries that had to this day befallen me, I never had so much as one
thought of it being the hand of God, or that it was a just punishment
for my sin; my rebellious behavior against my father, or my present
sins, which were great; or so much 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 dangers which apparently surrounded me,
as well from voracious creatures as cruel savages. But I was merely
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 justly and honorably with, as well as charitably,
I had not the least thankfulness in my thoughts. When again I was
shipwrecked, ruined, and in danger of drowning on this island, I was as
far from remorse, or looking on it as a judgment; I only said to myself
often, that I was an unfortunate dog, and born to be always miserable.
It is true, when I got on shore first here, and found all my ship’s
crew drowned, and myself spared, I was surprised with a kind of
ecstasy, and some transports of soul, which, had the grace of God
assisted, might have come up to true thankfulness; but it ended where
it begun, in a mere common flight of joy, or, as I may say, being
glad I was alive, without the least reflection upon the distinguishing
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; even just the same common sort
of joy which seamen generally have after they are got safe ashore from
a shipwreck, which they drown all in the next bowl of punch, and forget
almost as soon as it is over, and all the rest of my life was like it.
Even when I was afterwards, on due consideration, made sensible of my
condition, how I was cast on this dreadful place, out of the reach of
human kind, out of all hope of relief, or prospect of redemption, as
soon as I saw but a prospect of living, and that I should not starve
and perish for hunger, all the sense of my affliction wore off, and
I began to be very easy, applied myself to the works proper for my
preservation and supply, and was far enough from being afflicted, at my
condition, as a judgment from heaven, or, as the hand of God against
me; these were thoughts which very seldom entered into my head.
The growing up of the corn, as is hinted in my journal, had at first
some little influence upon me, and began to affect me with seriousness,
as long as I thought it had something miraculous in it; but as soon as
ever that part of the thought was removed, all the impression which was
raised from it wore off also, as I have noted already.
Even the earthquake, though nothing could be more terrible in its
nature, or more immediately directing to the invisible Power, which
alone directs such things, yet no sooner was the first 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 leisurely 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 began to reproach 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 some words from me, like praying
to God, though I cannot say they were either a prayer attended 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
vapors into my head with the mere apprehensions; and in these hurries
of my soul, I know not what my tongue might express; but it was rather
exclamation, such as, “Lord! what a miserable creature am I! If I
should be sick, I shall certainly die for want of help; and what will
become of me?” Then the tears burst out of my eyes, and I could say no
more for a good while.
In this interval, the good advice of my father came to my mind, and
presently his prediction, which I mentioned at the beginning of this
story, viz., that if I did take this foolish step, God would not bless
me, and I would 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 posture or
station of life wherein I might have been happy and easy; but I would
neither see it myself, or learn to know the blessing of it from my
parents. 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 lifted me into the world, and would have made everything
easy to me; and now I have difficulties to struggle with, too great for
even Nature itself to support, and no assistance, no help, 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.
CHAPTER X
_His Recovery--His Comfort in Reading the Scriptures--He Makes an
Excursion into the Interior of the Island--Forms His “Bower”_
_June 28._--Having been somewhat refreshed with the sleep I had had,
and the fit being entirely off, I got up; and though the fright and
terror of my dream was very great, yet I considered that the fit of
the ague would return again the next day, and now was my time to get
something to refresh and support myself when I should be ill. And the
first thing I did I filled 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 in the
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 eat, as we call it, in the shell; and
this was the first bit of meat I had ever asked God’s blessing to, even
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
there, 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? Sure 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 it all. Well,
but then it came on strangely, if God has made all these things, He
guides and governs them all, and all things that concern them; for the
Power that could make all things, must certainly have power to guide
and direct them.
If so, nothing can happen in the great circuit of His works, either
without His knowledge or appointment. And if nothing happens without
His knowledge, He knows that I am here, and am in this dreadful
condition. And if nothing happens without His appointment, He has
appointed all this to befall me.
Nothing occurred to my thoughts to contradict any of these conclusion;
and therefore it rested upon me with the greater 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 everything that happened in the
world. Immediately it followed, Why has God done this to me? What have
I done to be thus used?
My conscience presently checked me in that inquiry, as if I had
blasphemed, and methought it spoke to me like a voice: “Wretch! dost
thou ask what thou hast done? Look back upon a dreadful misspent life,
and ask thyself what thou hast not done? Ask, Why is it that thou wert
not long ago destroyed? Why wert thou not drowned in Yarmouth Roads;
killed in the fight when the ship was taken by the Sallee man-of-war;
devoured by the wild beasts on the coast of Africa; or drowned here,
when all the crew perished but thyself? Dost thou ask, What have I
done?”
I was struck dumb with these reflections, as one astonished, and had
not a word to say, no, not to answer to myself, but rose up pensive and
sad, walked back to my retreat, and went up over my wall, as if I had
been going to bed. But my thoughts were sadly disturbed, and I had no
inclination to sleep; so I sat down in my chair, and lighted my lamp,
for it began to be dark. Now, as the apprehension of the return of my
distemper terrified me very much, it occurred to my thought that the
Brazilians take no physic but their tobacco for almost all distempers;
and I had a piece of a roll of tobacco in one of the chests, which was
quite cured, and some also that was green, and not quite cured.
I went, directed by Heaven no doubt; for in this chest I found a cure
both for soul and body. I opened the chest, and found what I looked
for, viz., the tobacco; and as the few books I had saved lay there too,
I took out one of the Bibles which I mentioned before, and which to
this time I had not found leisure, or so much as inclination, to look
into. I say, I took it out, and brought both that and the tobacco with
me to the table.
What use to make of the tobacco I knew not, as to my distemper, or
whether it was good for it or no; 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 stupefied my brain, the tobacco being green and strong, and that
I had not been much used to it. Then I took some and steeped it an hour
or two in some rum, and resolved to take a dose of it when I lay down.
And lastly, I burnt some upon a pan of coals, and held my nose close
over the smoke of it, as long as I could bear it, as well for the heat,
as almost for suffocation.
In the interval of this operation, I took up the Bible, and began to
read, but my head was too much disturbed with the tobacco to bear
reading, at least 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, and thou shalt glorify Me.”
The words were very apt to my case, and made some impression upon my
thoughts at the time of reading them, though not so much as they did
afterwards; for as for being delivered, the word had no sound, as I may
say, to me, the thing was so remote, so impossible in my apprehension
of things, that I began to say, as the children of Israel did when they
were promised flesh to eat, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?”
so I began to say, Can God Himself deliver me from this place? And as
it was not for many years that any hope 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 grew now late, and the tobacco had, as I said, dazed my head so
much, that I inclined to sleep; so I left my lamp burning in the cave,
lest I should want anything 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 it flew up in 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 the opinion that I slept all the next day and night,
and till almost three that day after; for otherwise I knew not how I
should lose a day out of my reckoning in the days of the week, as it
appeared some years after I had done. For if I had lost it by crossing
and re-crossing the line, I should have lost more than one day. But
certainly I lost a day in my account, and never knew which way.
Be that, however, one way or the other, when I awaked I found myself
exceedingly refreshed, and my spirits lively and cheerful. When I got
up, I was stronger than I was the day before, and my stomach better,
for I was hungry; and, in short, I had no fit the next day, but
continued much altered for the better. This was the 29th.
The 30th was my well day, of course, and I went abroad with my gun, but
did not care to travel too far. I killed a seafowl or two, something
like a brand goose, and brought them home, but was not very forward
to eat them; so I eat 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
first of July, as I hoped I should have been; for I had a little spice
of the cold fit, but it was not much.
_July 2._--I renewed the medicine all the three ways; and dosed myself
with it as at first, and doubled the quantity which I drank.
_July 3._--I missed the fit for good and all, though I did not recover
my full strength for some weeks after. While I was thus gathering
strength, my thoughts ran exceedingly upon this Scripture, “I will
deliver thee”; and the impossibility of my deliverance lay much upon
my mind, in bar of my ever expecting it. But as I was discouraging
myself with such thoughts, it occurred to my mind that I pored so
much upon my deliverance from the main affliction, that I disregarded
the deliverance I had received; and I was, as it were, made to ask
myself such questions as these, viz., Have I not been delivered, and
wonderfully too, from sickness? from the most distressed condition
that could be, and that was so frightful to me? and what notice had I
taken of it? Had I done my part? God had delivered me, but I had not
glorified Him; that is to say, I had not owned and been thankful for
that as a deliverance; and how could I expect greater deliverance?
This touched my heart very much; and immediately I kneeled down, and
gave God thanks aloud for my recovery from my sickness.
_July 4._--In the morning I took the Bible; and beginning at the New
Testament, I began seriously to read it, and imposed upon myself to
read awhile every morning and every night, not tying 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, but I found my heart more
deeply and sincerely affected with the wickedness of my past life.
[Illustration: “_In the morning I took the Bible; and beginning at the
New Testament, I began seriously to read it--_”]
The impression of my dream revived, and the words, “All these things
have not brought thee to repentance” ran seriously in my thought. I
was earnestly begging of God to give me repentance, when it happened
providentially, the very day, that, reading the Scripture, I came to
these words, “He is exalted a Prince and a Savior, 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 Savior, give me repentance!”
This was the first time that I could say, in the true sense of the
words, that I prayed in all my life; for now I prayed with a sense
of my condition, and with a true Scripture view of hope founded on the
encouragement of the Word of God; and from this time, I may say, I
began to have hope that God would hear me.
Now I began to construe the words mentioned above, “Call on Me, and
I will deliver you,” in a different sense from what I had ever done
before; for then I had no notion of anything being called deliverance
but my being delivered from the captivity I was in; for though I was
indeed at large in the place, yet the island was certainly a prison
to me, and that in the worst sense in the world. But now I learned to
take it in another sense; now I looked back upon my past life with
such horror, and my sins appeared so dreadful, that my soul sought
nothing of God but deliverance from the load of guilt that bore down
all my comfort. As for my solitary life, it was nothing; I did not so
much as pray to be delivered from it or think of it; it was all of no
consideration, in comparison to this. And I add this part here, to hint
to whoever shall read it, that whenever they come to a true sense of
things, they will find deliverance from sin a much greater blessing
than deliverance from affliction.
But leaving this part, I return to my journal.
My condition began now to be, though not less miserable as to my way of
living, yet much easier to my mind; and my thoughts being directed, by
a constant 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
myself to furnish myself with everything that I wanted, and make my
way of living as regular as I could.
From the 4th of July to the 14th, I was chiefly employed in walking
about with my gun in my hand, a little and a little at a time, as a
man that was gathering up his strength after a fit of sickness; for
it is hardly to be imagined how low I was, and to what weakness I was
reduced. The application which I made use of was perfectly new, and
perhaps what had never cured an ague before; neither can I recommend it
to any one to practise, by this experiment; and though it did carry off
the fit, yet it rather contributed to weakening me; for I had frequent
convulsions in my nerves and limbs for some time.
I learnt from it also this, in particular, that being abroad in the
rainy season was the most pernicious thing to my health that could
be, especially in those rains which came attended with storms and
hurricanes of wind; for as the rain which came in the dry season was
always most accompanied with such storms, so I found that rain was much
more dangerous than the rain which fell in September and October.
I had been now 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 now secured my habitation, as I thought, fully to
my mind, I had a great desire to make a more perfect discovery of the
island, and to see what other productions I might find, which I yet
knew nothing of.
It was 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, and very fresh and good; but this being
the dry season, there was hardly any water in some parts of it, at
least, not enough to run in any stream, so as it could be perceived.
On the bank of this brook I found many pleasant savannas or meadows,
plain, smooth, and covered with grass; and on the rising parts of them,
next to the higher grounds, where the water, as might be supposed,
never overflowed, I found a great deal of tobacco, green, and growing
to a great and very strong stalk. There were divers other plants, which
I had no notion of, or understanding about, and might perhaps have
virtues of their own, which I could not find out.
I searched for the cassava root, which the Indians, in all that
climate, make their bread of, but I could find none. I saw large plants
of aloes, but did not then understand them. I saw several sugar-canes,
but wild, and, for want of cultivation, imperfect.
I contented myself with these discoveries for this time, and came back,
musing with myself what course I might take to know the virtue and
goodness of any of the fruits or plants which I should discover; but
could bring it to no conclusion; for, in short, I had made so little
observation while I was in the Brazils, that I knew little of the
plants in the field, at least very little that might serve me to any
purpose now in my distress.
The next day, the 16th, I went up the same way again; and after going
something farther than I had gone the day before, I found the brook and
the savannas began to cease, and the country became 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 had spread indeed over the trees, and the clusters of grapes
were just now in their prime, very ripe and rich. This was a surprising
discovery, and I was exceeding glad of them; but I was warned by my
experience to eat sparingly of them, remembering that when I was ashore
in Barbary eating of grapes killed several of our Englishmen, who were
slaves there, by throwing them into fluxes and fevers. But I found an
excellent use for these grapes; and that was, to cure or dry them in
the sun, and keep them as dried grapes or raisins are kept, which I
thought would be, as indeed they were, as wholesome as agreeable to
eat, when no grapes might be to be had.
I spent all that evening there, and went not back to my habitation;
which, by the way, was the first night, as I might say, I had lain
from home. In the night, I took my first contrivance, and got up into
a tree, where I slept well; and the next morning proceeded upon 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 side 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,
everything 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 my 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, orange, and lemon, and citron
trees; but all wild, and very few bearing fruit, at least not then.
However, the green limes that I gathered were not only pleasant to eat,
but very wholesome; and I mixed their juice afterwards with water,
which made it very wholesome, and very cool and refreshing.
I found now I had business enough to gather and carry home; and I
resolved to lay up a store, as well of grapes as limes and lemons to
furnish myself for the wet season, which I knew was approaching.
In order to do this, I gathered a great heap of grapes in one place,
and a lesser heap in another place, and a great parcel of limes and
lemons 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 them and bruised them, they were good for little
or nothing: as to the limes, they were good, but I could bring but a
few.
The next day, being the 19th, I went back, having made me two small
bags to bring home my harvest; but I was surprised, when, coming to my
heap of grapes, which were so rich and fine when I gathered them, I
found them all spread about, trod to pieces, and dragged about, some
here, some there, and abundance eaten and devoured. By this I concluded
there were some wild creatures thereabouts, which had done this; but
what they were, I knew not.
However, as I found that there was no laying them up on 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; for I gathered a large quantity of the grapes, and hung
them up 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 stand under.
When I came home from this journey, I contemplated with great pleasure
the fruitfulness of that valley, and the pleasantness of the situation;
the security from storms on that side the water and the wood; and
concluded that I had pitched upon a place to fix my abode, 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 now was situate, if possible, in that pleasant fruitful
part of the island.
This thought ran long in my head, and I was exceeding fond of it
for some time, the pleasantness of the place tempting me; but when
I came to a nearer view of it and to consider that I was now by the
seaside, 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 enamored 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, 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 brushwood. And 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 house and my
seacoast house; and this work took me up to the beginning of August.
I had but newly finished my fence, and began to enjoy my labor, but
the rains came on, and made me stick close to my first habitation; for
though I had made me a tent like the other, with a piece of a sail, and
spread it very well, yet I had not the shelter of a hill to keep me
from storms, nor a cave behind me to retreat into when the rains were
extraordinary.
About the beginning of August, as I said, I had finished my bower, and
began to enjoy myself. The 3rd 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, for the rains which followed would have spoiled them,
and I had lost the best part of my winter food; for I had above two
hundred large bunches of them. No sooner had I taken them all down, and
carried most of them home to my cave, but it began to rain; and from
hence, which was the 14th of August, it rained, more or less, every day
till the middle of October, and sometimes so violently, that I could
not stir out of my cave for several days.
In this season, I was much surprised with the increase of my family.
I had been concerned for the loss of one of my cats, who ran away
from me, or, as I thought, had been dead, and I heard no more tale or
tidings of her, till, to my astonishment, she came home about the end
of August with three kittens. This was the more strange to me, because,
though I had killed a wild cat, as I called it, with my gun, yet I
thought it was a quite different kind from our European cats; yet the
young cats were the same kind of house-breed like the old one; and both
my cats being females, I thought it very strange. But from these three
cats I afterwards came to be so pestered with cats, that I was forced
to kill them like vermin, or wild beasts, and to drive them from my
house as much as possible.
From the 14th of August to the 26th, incessant rain, so that I could
not stir, and was now very careful not to be much wet. In this
confinement, I began to be straitened for food; but venturing out
twice, I one day killed a goat, and the last day, which was the 26th,
found a very large tortoise, which was a treat to me, and my food was
regulated thus: I ate a bunch of raisins for my breakfast, a piece of
the goat’s flesh, or of the turtle, for my dinner, broiled; for, to my
great misfortune, I had no vessel to boil or stew anything; and two or
three of the turtle’s eggs for my supper.
During this confinement in my cover by the rain, I worked daily two or
three hours at enlarging my cave, and by degrees worked it on towards
one side, till I came to the outside of the hill, and made a door, or
way out, which came beyond my fence or wall; and so I came in and out
this way. But I was not perfectly easy at lying so open; for as I had
managed myself before, I was in a perfect enclosure; whereas now, I
thought I lay exposed, and open for anything to come in upon me; 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.
_Sept. 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 to 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-cake 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 began to fail me, and so I contented myself
to use it more sparingly, and to write down only the most remarkable
events of my life, without continuing a daily memorandum of other
things.
The rainy season and the dry season began now to appear regular to me,
and I learned to divide them so as to provide for them accordingly;
but I bought all my experience before I had it, and this I am going
to relate was one of the most discouraging experiments that I made
at all. I have mentioned that I had saved the few ears of barley and
rice, which I had so surprisingly found spring up, as I thought, of
themselves, and 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 up 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.
It was a great comfort to me afterwards that I did so, for not one
grain of that I sowed this time came to anything, for the dry months
following, the earth having 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 by 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. And
this having the rainy months of March and April to water it, sprung up
very pleasantly, and yielded a very good crop; but having part of the
seed left only, and not daring to sow all that I had, I had 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 the proper season was to sow, and that I might
expect two seed-times and two harvests every year.
While this corn was growing, I made a little discovery, which was of
use to me afterwards. As soon as the rains were over, and the weather
began to settle, which was about the month of November, I made a visit
up the country to my bower, where, though I had not been some months,
yet I found all things just as I left them. The circle or double hedge
that I had made was not only firm and entire, but the stakes which I
had cut out of some trees that grew thereabouts were all shot out, and
grown with long branches, as much as a willow-tree usually shoots the
first year after lopping its head. 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
up 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 semicircle round my wall (I mean that of my first dwelling),
which I did; and placing the trees or stakes in a double row, at about
eight yards distance from my first fence, they grew presently, and were
at first a fine cover to my habitation, and afterward served for a
defence also, as I shall observe in its order.
CHAPTER XI
_Robinson Makes a Tour to Explore His Island--Employed in Basket Making_
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. The rainy season sometimes held longer or shorter
as the winds happened to blow, but this was the general observation
I made. After I had found by experience the ill consequence 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 of many things which I had no way
to furnish myself with but by hard labor and constant application;
particularly, I tried many ways to make myself a basket; but all the
twigs I could get for the purpose proved so brittle, that they would
do nothing. It proved of excellent advantage to me now, that when I
was a boy I used to take great delight in standing at a basket-maker’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 this means full knowledge of the methods of
it, 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, and 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
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, a
great many baskets, both to carry earth, or to lay up anything as I had
occasion. And 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 I made strong deep baskets to place my corn in,
instead of sacks, when I should come to have any quantity of it.
Having mastered this difficulty, and employed a world of time about it,
I bestirred myself to see, if possible, how to supply two wants. I had
no vessels to hold anything that was liquid, except two runlets, which
were almost full of rum, and some glass bottles, some of the common
size, and others which were case-bottles square, for the holding of
waters, spirits, etc. 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 rows of stakes or piles and in
this wicker-working all the summer or dry season, when another business
took me up more time than it could be imagined I could spare.
I mentioned before that I had a great mind to see the whole island, and
that I had travelled up the brook, and so on to where I 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 seashore 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 a continent I could not tell; but it lay very
high, extending from the west to the W.S.W. at a very great distance;
by my guess, it could not be less than fifteen or twenty leagues off.
I could not tell what part of the world this might be, otherwise than
that I knew it must be part of America, and, as I concluded, by all
my observations, must be near the Spanish dominions, and perhaps was
all inhabited by savages, where, if I should have landed, I had been
in a worse condition than I was now; and therefore I acquiesced in the
dispositions of Providence, which I began now to own and to believe
ordered everything for the best. I say, I quieted my mind with this,
and left afflicting myself with fruitless wishes of being there.
Besides, after some pause upon this affair, I considered that if this
land was the Spanish coast, I should certainly, one time or other, see
some vessel pass or repass one way or other; but if not, then it was
the savage coast between the Spanish country and Brazils, which are
indeed the worst of savages; for they are cannibals or men-eaters, and
fail not to murder and devour all the human bodies that fall into their
hands.
With these considerations I walked very leisurely forward. I found that
side of the island, where I now was, much pleasanter than mine, the
open or savanna fields sweet, adorned with flowers and full of very
fine woods.
I saw abundance of parrots, and fain I would have caught one, if
possible, to have kept it to be tame, and taught it to speak to me. I
did, after some painstaking, catch a young parrot, for I knocked it
down with a stick, and having recovered it, I brought it home; but
it was some years before I could make him speak. However, at last I
taught him to call me by my name very familiarly. But the accident that
followed, though it be a trifle, will be very diverting in its place.
I was exceedingly diverted 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; which, 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, and that I was not driven to any extremities for food,
but rather plenty, even to dainties.
I never travelled in 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 all night; and then I either reposed myself
in a tree, or surrounded myself with a row of stakes, set upright in
the ground, either from one tree to another, or so as no wild creature
could come at me without waking me.
As soon as I came to the seashore, 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 which I had seen, and some which
I had not seen before, and many of them very good meat, but such as I
knew not the names of except those called penguins.
I could have shot as many as I pleased, but was very sparing of my
powder and shot, and therefore had more mind to kill a she-goat, if
I could, which I could better feed on; and 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 on the hill.
I confess this side of the country was much pleasanter than mine; but
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 shore of the sea towards the east, I suppose about
twelve miles, and then setting up a great pole upon the shore for a
mark, I concluded I would go home again; and that the next journey I
took should be on the other side of the island, east from my dwelling,
and so round till I came to my post again; of which in its place.
I took another way to come back than that I went, thinking I could
easily keep all the island so much in my view, that I could not miss
finding 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.
It happened to my farther misfortune, that the weather proved hazy
for three or four days while I was in this valley; and not being able
to see the sun, I wandered about very uncomfortably, and at last was
obliged to find out the seaside, look for my post, and come back the
same way I went; and then by easy journeys I turned homeward, the
weather being exceeding hot, and my gun, ammunition, hatchet, and other
things very heavy.
CHAPTER XII
_He Returns to His Cave--His Agricultural Labors and Success_
In this journey my dog surprised a young kid, and seized upon it, and I
running in to take hold of it, 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 to this little creature, and with a string, which I
made of some rope-yarn, which I always carried about me, I led him
along, though with some difficulty, till I came to my bower, and there
I enclosed him and left him, for I was very impatient to be at home,
from whence I had been absent above a month.
I cannot express what a satisfaction it was to me to come into my old
hutch, and lie down in my hammock-bed. This little wandering journey,
without 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 be
compared to that; and it rendered everything about me so comfortable,
that I resolved I would never go a great way from it again, while it
should be my lot to stay on the island.
I reposed myself here a week, to rest and regale myself after my long
journey; during which most of the time was taken up in the weighty
affair of making a cage for my Poll, who began now to be a mere
domestic, and to be mighty well acquainted with me. Then I began to
think of the poor kid which I had penned in within my little circle,
and resolved to go and 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 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 became from that time
one of my domestics also, and would never leave me afterwards.
The rainy season of the autumnal equinox was now come, and I kept
the 30th of September in the same solemn manner as before, being
the anniversary of my landing on the island, having now been there
two years, and no more prospect of being delivered than the first
day I came there. I spent the whole day in humble and thankful
acknowledgments of 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 that God
had been pleased to discover to me even that it was possible I might
be more happy in this solitary condition, than I should have been in
a liberty 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 want of human society, by His presence, and the communications of
His grace to my soul, supporting, comforting, and encouraging me to
depend upon His providence here, and hope for His eternal presence
hereafter.
It was now that I began sensibly to feel how much more happy this life
I now led was, with all its miserable circumstances, than the wicked,
cursed, abominable life I led all the past part of my days. And now
I changed both my sorrows and my joys; my very desires altered, my
affections changed their gusts, and my delights were perfectly new from
what they were at my first coming, or indeed for the two years past.
Before, as I walked about, either on my hunting, or for viewing the
country, the anguish of my soul at my condition would break out upon
me on a sudden, and my very heart would die within me, to think of
the woods, the mountains, the deserts I was in, and how I was a
prisoner, locked up with the eternal bars and bolts of the ocean, in
an uninhabited wilderness, without redemption. In the midst of the
greatest composures of my mind, this would break out upon me like a
storm, and make me wring my hands, and weep like a child. Sometimes it
would take me in the middle of my work, and I would immediately sit
down and sigh, and look upon the ground for an hour or two together;
and this was still worse to me, for if I could burst out into tears, or
vent myself by words, it would go off, and the grief, having exhausted
itself, would abate.
But now I began to exercise myself with new thoughts. I daily read the
Word of God, and applied all the comforts of it to my present state.
One morning, being very sad, I opened the Bible upon these words,
“I will never, 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 all forsake me, seeing on the other
hand if I had all the world, and should lose the favor and blessing of
God, there would be no comparison in the loss?”
From this moment I began to conclude in my mind that it was possible
for me to be more happy in this forsaken solitary condition, than it
was probable I should ever have been in any other particular state in
the world, and with this thought I was going to give thanks to God for
bringing me to this place.
I know not what it was, but something shocked my mind at that thought,
and I durst not speak the words. “How canst thou be such a hypocrite,”
said I, even audibly, “to pretend to be thankful for a condition which,
however thou mayest endeavor to be contented with, thou wouldest rather
pray heartily to be delivered from?” So I stopped there; but though
I could not say I thanked God for being there, yet I sincerely gave
thanks to God for opening my eyes, by whatever afflicting providences,
to see the former condition of my life, and to mourn for my wickedness,
and repent. I never opened the Bible, or shut it, but my very soul
within me blessed God for directing my friend in England, without any
order of mine, to pack it up among my goods, and for assisting me
afterwards to save it out of the wreck of the ship.
Thus, and in this disposition of mind, I began my third year; and
though I have not given the reader the trouble of so particular 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, the
going abroad with my gun for food, which generally took me up three
hours in every morning, when it did not rain; thirdly, the ordering,
curing, preserving, and cooking what I had killed or caught for my
supply; these took up a great part of the day; also, it is to be
considered that the middle of the day, when the sun was in the zenith,
the violence of the heat was too great to stir out; so that about four
hours in the evening was all the time I could be supposed to work in,
with this exception, that sometimes I changed my hours of hunting and
working, and went to work in the morning, and abroad with my gun in the
afternoon.
To this short time allowed for labor, 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, everything I did took up out of
my time. For example, I was full two and forty days making me a board
for a long shelf, which I wanted in my cave; whereas two sawyers, with
their tools and a saw-pit, would have cut six of them out of the same
tree in half a day.
My case was this: it was to be a large tree which was to be cut down,
because my board was to be a broad one. This tree I was three days
a-cutting down, and two more 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 begun to be 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 labor of my
hands in such a piece of work; but labor 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 labor and required a prodigious time to do alone, and
by hand. But notwithstanding this, with patience and labor, I went
through many things, and, indeed, everything that my circumstances made
necessary to me to do, as will appear by what follows.
I was now, in the months of November and December, expecting my crop of
barley and rice. The ground I had manured or dug up for them was not
great; for as I observed, my seed of each was not above the quantity of
half a peck; for I had lost one whole crop by sowing in the dry season.
But now my crop promised very well, when of a sudden I found I was in
danger of losing it all again by enemies of several sorts, which it was
scarce possible to keep from it; as, first the goats and wild creatures
which I called hares, who, tasting the sweetness of the blade, lay in
it night and day, as soon as it came up, and ate it so close, that it
could get no time to shoot up into stalk.
This I saw no remedy for 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 totally well fenced in about three weeks’ time, and
shooting some of the creatures in the daytime, I set my dog to guard it
in the night, tying him up to a stake at the gate, where he would stand
and bark all night long; so in a little time the enemies forsook the
place, and the corn grew very strong and well, and began to ripen apace.
But as the beasts ruined me before while my corn was in the blade, so
the birds were as likely to ruin me now when it was in the ear; for
going along by the place to see how it throve, I saw my little crop
surrounded with fowls, of I know not how many sorts, who stood, as it
were, watching till I should be gone. I immediately let fly among them,
for I always had my gun with me. I had no sooner shot, but there rose
up a little cloud of fowls, which I had not seen at all, from among the
corn itself.
This touched me sensibly, for I foresaw that in a few days they would
devour all my hopes, that I should be starved, and never be able to
raise a crop at all, and what to do I could not tell. However, I
resolved not to lose my corn, if possible, though I should watch it
night and day. In the first place, I went among it to see what damage
was already done, and found they had spoiled a good deal of it; but
that as it was yet too green for them, the loss was not so great but
that the remainder was like to be a good crop if it could be saved.
I stayed 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 I was gone, I was no sooner out of their sight but they
dropped 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 that they ate now was, as it might be said, a peck-loaf to me in
the consequence; but 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 almost
that this should have such an effect as it had, for the fowls would not
only not come at 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
scarecrows 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 crop.
I was sadly put to it for a scythe or a sickle to cut it down, and
all I could do was to make one as well as I could out of one of
the broadswords, or cutlasses, which I saved among the arms out of
the ship. However, as my first crop was but small, I had no great
difficulty to cut it down; in short, I reaped it my way, for I cut
nothing off but the ears, and carried it away in a great basket which
I had made, and so rubbed it out with my hands; and at the end of all
my harvesting, I found that out of my half peck of seed I had near two
bushels of rice, and above two bushels and a half of barley, that is to
say, by my guess, for I had no measure at that time.
However, this was a 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 meantime, to employ all my study and hours of
working to accomplish this great work of providing myself with corn and
bread.
It might be truly said, that now I worked for my bread. ’Tis 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.
[Illustration: “_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_”]
I, that was reduced to a mere state of nature, found this to my daily
discouragement, and was made more and more sensible of it every
hour, even after I had got the first handful of seed-corn, which, as I
have said, came up unexpectedly, and indeed to a surprise.
First, I had no plough to turn up the earth, no spade or shovel to dig
it. Well, this I conquered by making a wooden spade, as I observed
before, but this did my work in but 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 made it be
performed 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 sowed, 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 yet the corn was an inestimable comfort and
advantage to me too. All this, as I said, made everything 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 labor and invention, to furnish
myself with utensils proper for the performing all the operations
necessary for the making the corn, when I had it, fit for my use.
CHAPTER XIII
_His Manufacture of Pottery, and Contrivances for Baking Bread_
But first I was to prepare more land, for I had now 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 labor 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
of 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 was not so little as to take me
up less than three months, because great part of that time was of the
wet season, when I could not go abroad.
Within doors, that is, when it rained, and I could not go out, I found
employment on the following occasions; always observing, that all the
while I was at work, I diverted myself with talking to my parrot, and
teaching him to speak, and I quickly taught him to know his own name,
and at last to speak it out pretty loud, “Poll,” 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,
viz., I had long studied, by some means or other to make myself some
earthern vessels, which indeed I wanted sorely, 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 such clay, I might botch up some such
pot as might, being dried in the sun, be hard enough and strong enough
to bear handling, and to hold anything that was dry, and required to be
kept so; and as this was necessary in the preparing corn, meal, etc.,
which was the thing I was upon, I resolved to make some as large as I
could, and fit only to stand jars, to hold what should be put into them.
It would make the reader pity me, or rather laugh at me, to tell how
many awkward ways I took to raise this paste; 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 labored hard to find the
clay, to dig it, to temper it, to bring it home, and work it, I could
not make above two large earthen ugly things (I cannot call them jars)
in about two months’ labor.
However, as the sun baked these two very dry and hard, I lifted them
very gently up, and set them down again in two great wicker baskets,
which I had made on purpose for them, that they might not break; and
as between the pot and the basket there was a little room to spare, I
stuffed it full of the rice and barley straw, and these two pots being
to stand always dry, I thought would hold my dry corn, and perhaps the
meal, when the corn was bruised.
Though I miscarried so much in my design for large pots, yet I made
several smaller things with better success; such as little round pots,
flat dishes, pitchers, and pipkins, and any things my hand turned to;
and the heat of the sun baked them strangely hard. But all this would
not answer my end, which was to get an earthen pot to hold what was
liquid, and bear the fire, which none of these could do. It happened
after some time, 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 earthenware vessels in the fire, burnt as hard as a stone,
and red as a tile. I was agreeably surprised to see it, and said to
myself, that certainly they might be made to burn whole, if they would
burn broken.
This set me to studying how to order my fire, so as to make it burn me
some pots. I had no notion of a kiln, such as the potters burn in, or
of glazing them with lead, though I had some lead to do it with; but I
placed three large pipkins, and two or three pots in a pile, one upon
another, and placed my firewood all around 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 heart 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 color; and watching
them all night, that I might not let the fire abate too fast, in the
morning I had three very good, I will not say handsome, pipkins, and
two other earthen pots, as hard burnt as could be desired, and one of
them perfectly glazed with the running of the sand.
After this experiment, I need not say that I wanted no sort of
earthenware for my use; but I must needs say, as to the shapes of them,
they were very indifferent, as any one may suppose, when I had no way
of making them but as the children make dirt pies, or as a woman would
make pies that never learned to raise paste.
No joy at a thing of so mean a nature was ever equal to mine, when
I found I had made an earthen pot that would bear fire; and I had
hardly patience to stay till they were cold, before I set one on the
fire again, with some water in it, to boil me some meat, which it did
admirably well; and with a piece of a kid I made some very good broth,
though I wanted oatmeal and several other ingredients requisite to make
it so good as I would have had it been.
My next concern was to get me 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 stone-cutter 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 it fit for a mortar, and 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 hardness
sufficient, but were all of a sandy crumbling stone, which neither
would bear the weight of a heavy pestle or 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 about for 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 in the
outside with my axe and hatchet, and then, with the help of fire, and
infinite labor, 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 the iron-wood; and this I prepared and laid by
against I had my next crop of corn, when I proposed to myself to grind,
or rather pound, my corn into meal, to make my bread.
My next difficulty was to make a sieve, or search, 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,
so much as but to think on, for to be sure I had nothing like the
necessary thing to make it; I mean fine thin canvas or stuff, to search
the meal through.
And 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
goat’s hair, but neither knew I how to weave it nor spin it; and had I
known how, there were no tools to work it with. All the remedy I found
for this was, that at last I did remember I had, among the seamen’s
clothes which were saved out of the ship, some neckcloths of calico or
muslin; and with some pieces of these I made three small sieves, but
proper enough for the work; and thus I made shift for some years. How I
did afterwards, I shall show in its place.
The baking part was the next thing to be considered, and how I should
make bread when I came to have corn; for, first, I had no yeast. As to
that part, as there was no supplying the want, so I did not concern
myself much about it; but for an oven I was indeed in great pain. At
length I found out an experiment for that also, which was this: I made
some earthen vessels very broad, but not deep, that is to say, about
two feet diameter, and not above nine inches deep; these I burned in
the fire, as I had done the other, and laid them by; and when I wanted
to bake, I made a great fire upon my hearth, which I had paved with
some square tiles, of my own making and burning also; but I should not
call them square.
When the firewood was burned pretty much into embers, or live coals,
I drew them forward upon this hearth, so as to cover it all over, and
there I let them lie till the hearth was very hot; then sweeping away
all the embers, I set down my loaf, or loaves, and whelming down the
earthen pot upon them, 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 little
time, a mere pastry-cook into the bargain; for I made myself several
cakes of the rice, and puddings; indeed I made no pies, neither had
I anything to put into them, supposing I had, except flesh either of
fowls or goats.
It need not be wondered at, if all these things took me up most part of
the third year of my abode here; for it is to be observed, that in the
intervals of these things I had my new harvest and husbandry to manage;
for I reaped my corn in its season, and carried it home as well as I
could, and laid it up in the ear, in my large baskets, till I had time
to rub it out, for I had no floor to thrash it on, or instrument to
thrash it with.
And now, indeed, my stock of corn increasing, I really wanted to build
my barns bigger. I wanted a place to lay it up in, for the increase of
the corn now yielded me so much, that I had of the barley about twenty
bushels, and of the 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; also, I resolved to see what quantity would be sufficient for me
a whole year, and to sow but once a year.
Upon the whole, I found that the forty bushels of barley and rice was
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, etc.
CHAPTER XIV
_Meditates His Escape from the Island--Builds a Canoe--Failure of His
Scheme and Resignation to His Condition--He Makes Himself a New Dress_
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 secret wishes that I were
on shore there, fancying the seeing the mainland, and in an inhabited
country, I might find some way or other to convey myself farther, and
perhaps at last find some means of escape.
But all this while I made no allowance for the dangers of such a
condition, and how 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 into their power, I should run
a hazard more than a thousand to one of being killed, and perhaps of
being eaten; for I had heard that the people of the Caribbean coasts
were cannibals, or man-eaters, and I knew by the latitude that I could
not be far off from that shore. Suppose they were not cannibals, yet
that they might kill me, as many Europeans who had fallen into their
hands had been served, even when they had been ten or twenty together,
much more I, that was but one, and could make 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, yet took up none of my apprehensions
at first, but my head ran mightily upon the thought of getting over to
the shore.
Now I wished for my boy Xury, and the long-boat with the
shoulder-of-mutton sail, with which I sailed above a thousand miles on
the coast of Africa; but this was in vain. Then I thought I would go
and look at our ship’s boat, which, as I have said, was blown up upon
the shore a great way, in the storm, when we were first cast away. She
lay almost where she did at first, but not quite; and was 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 well enough, 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, resolved to try what I could
do; suggesting to myself that if I could but turn her down, I might
easily repair the damage she had received, and she would be a very good
boat, and I might go to sea in her very easily.
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 it up with my little strength, I fell to digging away the sand,
to undermine it, and so to make it fall down, setting pieces of wood
to thrust and guide it right in the fall. But when I had done this, I
was unable to stir it up again, or to get under it, much less to move
it forward towards the water; so I was forced to give it over. And yet,
though I gave over the hopes of the boat, my desire to venture over for
the main increased, rather than decreased, as the means for it seemed
impossible.
This at length put me upon thinking 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, viz.,
of the trunk of a great tree. This I not only thought possible, but
easy, and pleased myself extremely with the thoughts 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., want of hands to move it,
when it was made, into the water, a difficulty much harder for me to
surmount than all the consequences of want of tools could be to them.
For what was it to me, that when I had chosen a vast tree in the woods,
I might with much trouble cut it down, if, after I 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 to make a boat of
it; if, after all this, I must leave it just there where I found it,
and was not able to launch it into the water?
One would have thought I could not have had the least reflection upon
my mind of my circumstance while I was making this boat, but I should
have immediately thought how I should get it into the sea; but my
thoughts were so intent upon my voyage over the sea in it, that I never
once considered how I should get it off of the land; and it was really,
in its own nature, more easy for me to guide it over forty-five miles
of sea, than about forty-five fathoms of land, where it lay, to set it
afloat in the water.
I went to work upon this boat the most like a fool that ever man did
who had any of his senses awake. I pleased myself with the design,
without determining whether I was ever 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 which I
gave myself, “Let’s first make it! I’ll warrant I’ll find some way or
other to get it along when ’tis done.”
This was a most preposterous method; but the eagerness of my fancy
prevailed, and to work I went. I felled a cedar tree: I question much
whether Solomon ever had such a one for the building of the Temple
of 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, after which it lessened for awhile, and then parted
into branches. It was not without infinite labor that I felled this
tree. I was twenty days hacking and hewing at it at the bottom; I was
fourteen more getting the branches and limbs, and the vast spreading
head of it cut off, which I hacked and hewed through with axe and
hatchet, and inexpressible labor. 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 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 labor, till I had brought it to
be a very handsome _periagua_ and big enough to have carried six and
twenty men, and consequently big enough to have carried me all my cargo.
When I had gone through this work, I was extremely delighted with it.
The boat was really much bigger than I ever 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; and had I gotten it into the water, I made no question but
I should have begun the maddest voyage, and the most unlikely to be
performed, that ever was undertaken.
But all my devices to get it into the water failed me, though they cost
me infinite labor too. It lay about one hundred yards from the water,
and not more; but the first inconvenience was, it was uphill 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 began,
and it cost me a prodigious deal of pains; but who grudges pains, that
have their deliverance in view? But when this was worked through, and
this difficulty managed, it was still much at one, 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 into it, and calculate how deep it was to be dug, how broad, how
the stuff to be thrown out, I found that by the number of hands I had,
being none but my own, it must have been ten or twelve years before
I should have gone through with it; for the shore lay high, so that
at the upper end it must have been at least twenty feet deep; so at
length, though with great reluctancy, I gave this attempt over also.
This grieved me heartily; and now I saw, though too late, the folly of
beginning a work before we count the cost, and before we judge rightly
of our own strength to go through with it.
In the middle of this work I finished my fourth year in this place, and
kept my anniversary with the same devotion, and with as much comfort as
ever before; for, by a constant study and serious application of 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 indeed to do with it, nor was ever like to
have; so I thought it looked, as we may perhaps look upon it hereafter,
viz., as a place I had lived in, but was come out of it; and well might
I say, as father Abraham to Dives, “Between me and thee is a great gulf
fixed.”
In the first place, I was removed from all the wickedness of the
world here. I had neither the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye,
or the pride of life. I had nothing to covet, for I had all that I
was now capable of enjoying. I was lord of the whole manor; or, if I
pleased, I might call myself king or emperor over the whole country
which I had possession of. There were no rivals: I had no competitor,
none to dispute sovereignty or command with me. I might have raised
ship-loadings of corn, but I had no use for it; so I let as little
grow as I thought enough for my occasion. I had tortoise or turtles
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. I had grapes enough
to have made wine, or to have cured into raisins, to have loaded that
fleet when they had been built.
But all I could make use of was all that was valuable. I had enough
to eat and to supply my wants, and what was all the rest to me? If I
killed more flesh than I could eat, the dog must eat it, or the 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 occasion for but to dress
my food.
In a word, the nature and experience of things dictated to me, upon
just reflection, that all the good things of this world are no farther
good to us than they are for our use; and that whatever we may heap
up indeed to give others, we enjoy just as much as we can use, and no
more. The most covetous, gripping 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 of things which I had not, and they were
but trifles, though indeed of great use to me. I had, as I hinted
before, a parcel of money, as well gold as silver, about thirty-six
pounds sterling. Alas! there the nasty, sorry, useless stuff lay; I
had no manner of business for it; and I often thought with 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 six-pennyworth of turnip and carrot seed out of 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 moldy with the damp of the cave in the wet season; and
if I had had the drawer full of diamonds, it had been the same case,
and they had been of no manner of value to me because of no use.
I had now brought my state of life to be much easier in itself than
it was at first, and much easier to my mind, as well as to my body. I
frequently sat down to my meat with thankfulness, and admired the hand
of God’s providence, which had thus spread my table in the wilderness.
I learned to look more upon the bright side of my condition, and less
upon the dark side, and to consider what I enjoyed, rather than what
I wanted; and this gave me sometimes such secret comforts, that I
cannot express them; and which I take notice of here, to put those
discontented people in mind of it, who cannot enjoy comfortably what
God has given them, because they see and covet something that He has
not given them. All our discontents about what we want, appeared to me
to spring from the want of thankfulness for what we have.
Another reflection was of great use to me, and doubtless would be so to
any one that should fall into such distress as mine was; and this was,
to compare my present condition with what I at first expected it should
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 nearer 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, or gunpowder and shot
for getting my food.
I spent whole hours, I may say whole days, in representing to myself,
in the most lively colors, how I must have acted if I had got nothing
out of the ship. How 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 first; 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 them, or part the flesh
from the skin and the bowels, or to cut it up; but must gnaw it with my
teeth, and pull it with my claws, like a beast.
These reflections made me very sensible of the goodness of Providence
to me, and very thankful for my present condition, with all its
hardships and misfortunes; and this part also I cannot but recommend
to the reflection of those who are apt, in their misery, to say, Is
any affliction like mine? Let them consider how much worse the cases
of some people are, and their case might have been, if Providence had
thought fit.
I had another reflection, which assisted me also to comfort my mind
with hopes; and this was, comparing my present condition with what
I had deserved, and had therefore reason to expect from the hand of
Providence. I had lived a dreadful life, perfectly destitute of the
knowledge and fear of God. I had been well instructed by father and
mother; neither had they been wanting to me in their early endeavors
to infuse a religious awe of God into my mind, a sense of my duty,
and of what the nature and end of my being required of me. But alas!
falling early into the seafaring life, which, of all the 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 anything but what was
like myself, or to hear anything that was good, or tended towards it.
So void was I of everything 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 the 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,” as much as on my mind, or in my mouth; nor in the
greatest distress had I so much as a thought to pray to Him, or so much
as to say, “Lord, have mercy upon me!” no, nor to mention the name of
God, unless it was to swear by and blaspheme it.
I had terrible reflections upon my mind for many months, as I have
already observed, on the 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 mercy in
store for me.
With these reflections, I worked my mind up, not only to 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 even by 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 unhabitable
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 creatures or poisonous, which I might feed on to
my hurt; no savages to murder and devour me.
In a word, as my life was a life of sorrow one way, so it was a life
of mercy another; and I wanted nothing to make it a life of comfort,
but to be able to make my sense of God’s goodness to me, and care over
me in this condition, be my daily consolation; and after I did make a
just improvement of these things, I went away, and was no more sad.
I had now been here so long, that many things which I brought on shore
for my help were either quite gone, or very much wasted, and near
spent. My ink, as I observed, had been gone for some time, all but a
very little, which I eked out with water, a little and a little, till
it was so pale it scarce left any appearance of black upon the paper.
As long as it lasted, I made use of it to minute down the days of the
month on which any remarkable thing happened to me. And, first, by
casting up times past, I remember that there was a strange concurrence
of days in the various providences which befell me, and which, if I had
been superstitiously inclined to observe days as fatal or fortunate,
I might have had reason to have looked upon with a great deal of
curiosity.
First, I had observed that the same day that I broke away from my
father and my friends, and run 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 that ship
in Yarmouth Roads, that same day-year afterwards I made my escape from
Sallee in the boat.
The same day of the year I was born on, viz., the 30th of September,
that same day I had my life so miraculously saved twenty-six years
after, when I was cast on shore in this island; so that my wicked life
and my solitary life began both on a day.
The next thing to my ink’s being wasted, was that of my bread; I mean
the biscuit, which I brought out of the ship. This I had husbanded to
the last degree, allowing myself but one cake of bread a day for above
a year; and yet I was quite without bread for near a year before I got
any corn of my own; and great reason I had to be thankful that I had
any at all, the getting it being, as has been already observed, next to
miraculous.
My clothes began to decay, too, mightily. As to linen, I had none a
good while, except some checkered shirts which I found in the chests of
the other seamen, and which I carefully preserved, because many times
I could bear no other 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 several thick watch-coats of the
seamen’s which were left indeed, but they were too hot to wear; and
though it is true that the weather was so violent 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 abide the thoughts 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 that shirt, was
twofold cooler than without it. No more could I ever bring myself to go
out in the heat of the sun without a cap or hat. The heat of the sun
beating with such violence, as it does in that place, would give me the
headache presently, by darting so directly on my head, without a cap or
hat on, so that I could not bear it; whereas, if I put on my hat, it
would presently go away.
Upon those 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 which 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 me 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 afterward.
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 it seems were
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 these skins, that is to say, a waistcoat, and breeches open at
knees, and both loose, for they were rather wanting to keep me cool
than to keep me warm. I must not omit to acknowledge that they were
wretchedly made; for if I was a bad carpenter, I was a worse tailor.
However, they were such as I made very good shift with; and when I was
abroad, if it happened to rain, the hair of my waistcoat and cap being
outermost, I was kept very dry.
After this I spent a great deal of time and pains to make me an
umbrella. I was indeed in great want of one, and had a great mind to
make one. I had seen them made in the Brazils, where they are 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 anything 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 to 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 rains like
a pent-house, and kept off the sun so effectually, that I would walk
out in the hottest of the weather with greater advantage than I could
before in the coolest; and when I had no need of it, could close it,
and carry it under my arm.
Thus I lived mighty comfortably, my mind being entirely composed by
resigning to the will of God, and throwing myself wholly upon the
disposal of His providence. This made my life better than sociable; for
when I began to regret the want of conversation, I would ask myself
whether thus conversing mutually with my own thoughts and, as I hope
I may say, with even God Himself, by ejaculations, was not better than
the utmost enjoyment of human society in the world?
CHAPTER XV
_He Makes a Smaller Canoe in which He Attempts to Cruise Round the
Island--His Perilous Situation at Sea--He Returns Home_
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 labor 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 provisions beforehand--and my daily labor of going out with
my gun, I had one labor, 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 to 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
next time. Indeed, the next time, though I could not get a tree proper
for it, and 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 labor, in hopes of having a
boat to go off to sea at last.
However, though my little _periagua_ was finished, yet the size of it
was not at all answerable to the design which I had in view when I made
the first; I mean, of venturing over to the _terra firma_, where it was
above forty miles broad. Accordingly, the smallness of my boat assisted
to put an end to that design, and now I thought no more of it. But as I
had a boat, my next design was to make a tour round the island; for as
I had been on the other side in one place, crossing, as I have already
described it, over the land, so the discoveries I made in that little
journey made me very eager to see other parts of the coast; and now I
had a boat, I thought of nothing but sailing round the island.
For this purpose, that I might do everything with discretion and
consideration, I fitted up a little mast to my boat, and made a sail to
it out of some of the piece of the ship’s sail, 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 either end of
my boat, to put provisions, necessaries, and ammunition, etc., into,
to be kept dry, either from rain or the spray of the sea; and a little
long hollow place I cut in the inside of the boat, where I could lay my
gun, making a flap to hang down over it to keep it dry.
I fixed my umbrella also in a step at the stern, like a mast, to stand
over my head, and keep the heat of the sun off of 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. But at last, being
eager to view the circumference of my little kingdom, I resolved upon
my tour; and accordingly I victualled my ship for the voyage, putting
in two dozen of my loaves (cakes I should rather call them) of barley
bread, an earthen pot full of parched rice, a food I ate a great deal
of, a little bottle of rum, half a goat, and powder and shot for
killing more, and two large watch-coats, of those which, as I mentioned
before, I had saved out of the seamen’s chests; these I took, one to
lie upon, and the other to cover me in the night.
It was the 6th of November, in the sixth year of my reign, or my
captivity, which you please, that I set out on this voyage, and I found
it much longer than I expected; for though the island itself was not
very large, yet when I came to the east side of it I found a great
ledge of rocks lie out about two leagues into the sea, some above
water, some under it, and beyond that a shoal of sand, lying dry half
a league more; so that I was obliged to go a great way out to sea to
double the point.
When first I discovered them, I was going to give over my enterprise,
and come back again, not knowing how far it might oblige me to go out
to sea, and, above all, doubting how I should get back again, so I came
to an anchor; for I had made me a kind of anchor with a piece of a
broken grappling which I got out of the ship.
Having secured my boat, I took my gun and went on shore, climbing up
upon a hill, which seemed to overlook that point, where I saw the full
extent of it, and resolved to venture.
[Illustration: “_--and thus I every now and then took a little voyage
upon the sea_”]
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 gotten first up upon this
hill, I believe it would have been so; for there was the same current
on the other side of 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 in out of the first current, and I should
presently be in an eddy.
I lay here, however, two days; because the wind, blowing pretty fresh
at E.S.E., and that being just contrary to the said current, made a
great breach of the sea upon the point; so that it was not safe for me
to keep too close to the shore for the breach, nor to go too far off
because of the stream.
The third day, in the morning, the wind having abated overnight, the
sea was calm, and I ventured. But I am a warning-piece again to all
rash and ignorant pilots; for no sooner was I come to the point, when
even I was not 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 paddlers signified nothing. And now I began to give myself over for
lost; for, as the current was on both sides the island, I knew in a few
leagues’ distance they must join again, and then I was irrevocably
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 mainland or island,
for a thousand leagues at least.
And now I saw how easy it was for the providence of God to make the
most miserable condition mankind could be in worse. Now I looked
back upon my desolate solitary island as the most pleasant place in
the world, and all the happiness my heart could wish for was to be
but there again. I stretched out my hands to it, with eager wishes.
“O happy desert!” said I, “I shall never see thee more. O miserable
creature,” said I, “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 the S.S.E.
This cheered my heart a little, and especially when, in about half
an hour more, it blew a pretty small gentle gale. By this time I was
gotten at a frightful distance from the island; and had the least
cloud or hazy weather intervened, I had been undone another way too;
for I had no compass on board, and should never have known how to have
steered towards the island if I had but once lost sight of it. But the
weather continuing clear, I applied myself to get up my mast again, and
spread my sail, standing away to the north as much as possible, to get
out of the current.
Just as I had set my mast and sail, and the boat began to stretch away,
I saw even by the clearness of the water some alteration of the current
was near; for where the current was so strong, the water was foul. But
perceiving the water clear, I found the current abate, and presently I
found to the east, at about half a mile, a breach of the sea upon some
rocks. These rocks I found caused the current to part again; and as the
main stress of it ran away more southerly, leaving the rocks to the
north-east, so the other returned by the repulse of the rocks, and made
a strong eddy, which ran back again to the north-west with a very sharp
stream.
They who know what it is to have a reprieve brought to them upon the
ladder, or to be rescued from thieves just going to murder them, or
who have been in such like extremities, may guess what my present
surprise of joy was, and how gladly I put my boat into the stream of
this eddy; and the wind also freshening, how gladly I spread my sail to
it, running cheerfully before the wind, and with a strong tide or eddy
under foot.
This eddy carried me about a league in my way back again, directly
towards the island, but about two leagues more to the northward than
the current which carried me away at first; so that when I came near
the island, I found myself open to the northern shore of it, that is
to say, the outer end of the island, opposite to that which I went out
from.
When I had made something more than a league of way by the help of
this current or eddy, I found it was spent, and served me no farther.
However, I found that being between the two great currents, viz., that
on the south side, which had hurried me away, and that on the north,
which lay about a league on the other side; I say, between these two,
in the wake of the island, I found the water at least still, and
running no way; and having still a breeze of wind fair for me, I kept
on steering directly for the island, though not making such fresh way
as I did before.
About four o’clock in the evening, being then within about 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 southwardly had, of course, made another
eddy to the north, and this I found very strong, but not directly
setting the way my course lay, which was due west, but almost full
north. However, having a fresh gale, I stretched across this eddy,
slanting north-west; and in about an hour came within about a mile of
the shore, where, it being smooth water, I soon got to land.
When I was on shore, I fell on my knees, and gave God thanks for my
deliverance, resolving to lay aside all thoughts of my deliverance by
my boat; and refreshing myself with such things as I had, I brought my
boat close to the shore, in a little cove that I had spied under some
trees, and laid me down to sleep, being quite spent with the labor and
fatigue of the voyage.
I was now at a great loss which way to get home with my boat. I had run
so much hazard, and knew too much the case, to think of attempting it
by the way I went out; and what might be at the other side (I mean the
west side) I knew not, nor had I any mind to run any more ventures. So
I only resolved in the morning to make my way westward along the shore,
and to see if there was no creek where I might lay up my frigate in
safety, so as to have her again if I wanted her. In about three miles,
or thereabouts, coasting the shore, I came to a very good inlet or bay,
about a mile over, which narrowed till it came to a very little rivulet
or brook, where I found a very convenient harbor for my boat, and where
she lay as if she had been in a little dock made on purpose for her.
Here I put in, and having stowed my boat very safe, I went on shore to
look about me, and see where I was.
I soon found I had but a little passed by the place where I had been
before, when I travelled on foot to that shore; so taking nothing out
of my boat but my gun and my umbrella, for it was exceedingly 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
everything standing as I left it; for I always kept it in good order,
being, as I said before, my country house.
I got over the fence, and laid me down in the shade to rest my limbs,
for I was very weary, and fell asleep. But judge you, if you can, that
read my story, what a surprise I must be in, when I was waked out of my
sleep by a voice calling me by my name several times, “Robin, Robin,
Robin Crusoe, poor Robin Crusoe! Where are you, Robin Crusoe? Where are
you? Where have you been?”
I was so dead asleep at first, being fatigued with rowing, or paddling,
as it is called, the first part of the day, and with walking the latter
part, that I did not wake thoroughly; but dozing between sleeping
and waking, thought I dreamed that somebody spoke to me. But as the
voice continued to repeat “Robin Crusoe, Robin Crusoe,” at last I
began to wake more perfectly, and was at first dreadfully frightened,
and started up in the utmost consternation. But no sooner were my
eyes open, but I saw my Poll sitting on the top of the hedge, and
immediately knew that 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 come you here?” and such things as I had
taught him.
However, even though I knew it was the parrot, and that indeed it
could be nobody else, it was a good while before I could compose
myself. First, I was amazed how the creature got thither, and then, how
he should just keep about the place, and nowhere else. But as I was
well satisfied it could be nobody but honest Poll, I got it over; and
holding out my hand, and calling him by his name, Poll, the sociable
creature, came to me, and sat upon my thumb, as he used to do, and
continued talking to me, “Poor Robin Crusoe! and how did I come here?
and where had I been?” just as if he had been overjoyed to see me
again; and so I carried him home along with me.
I had now had enough of rambling to sea for some time, and had enough
to do for many days to sit still, and reflect upon the danger I had
been in. I would have been very glad to have had my boat again on my
side of the island; but I knew not how it was practicable to get it
about. As to the east side of the island, which I had gone round, I
knew well enough there was no venturing that way; my very heart would
shrink, and my very blood run chill, but to think of it. And as to the
other side of the island, I did not know how it might be there; but
supposing the current ran with the same force against the shore at
the east as it passed by it on the other, I might run the same risk
of being driven down the stream, and carried by the island, as I had
been before of being carried away from it. So, with these thoughts, I
contented myself to be without any boat, though it had been the product
of so many months’ labor to make it and of so many more to get it unto
the sea.
In this government of my temper I remained near a year, lived a very
sedate, retired life, as you may well suppose; and my thoughts being
very much composed as to my condition, and fully comforted in resigning
myself to the dispositions of Providence, I thought I lived really very
happily in all things, except that of society.
I improved myself in this time in all the mechanic exercises which my
necessities put me upon applying myself to, and I believe could, upon
occasion, make a very good carpenter, especially considering how few
tools I had. Besides this, I arrived at an unexpected perfection in
my earthenware, 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
anything 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 earthenware, 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 knowing that there was tobacco in the island;
and afterwards, when I searched the ship again, I could not come at any
pipes at all.
In my wicker-ware also I improved much, and made abundance of necessary
baskets, as well as my invention showed me; though not very handsome,
yet they were such as were very handy and convenient for my laying
things up in, or fetching things home in. For example, if I killed a
goat abroad, I could hang it up in a tree, flay it, and 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 my receivers for
my corn, which I always rubbed out as soon as it was dry, and cured,
and kept it in great baskets.
I began now to perceive my powder abated considerably, and 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 hope of getting a he-goat. But I could not by any means bring
it to pass, till my kid grew an old goat; and I could never find in my
heart to kill her, till she died at last of mere age.
CHAPTER XVI
_He Rears a Flock of Goats--His Diary--His Domestic Habits and Style of
Living--Increasing Prosperity_
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.
To 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
these 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 mark 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 trap; and, not to trouble you with
particulars, going one morning to see my trap, I found in one of them a
large old he-goat, and in one of the others three kids, a male and two
females.
As to the old one, I knew not what to do with him, he was so fierce I
durst not go into the pit to him; that is to say, to go about to bring
him away alive, which was what I wanted. I could have killed him, but
that was not my business, nor would it answer my end; so I even let him
out, and he ran away, as if he had been frightened out of his wits. But
I had forgotten then what I learned afterwards, that hunger will tame
a lion. If I had let him stay there three or four days without food,
and then have carried him some water to drink, and then a little corn,
he would have been as tame as one of the kids, for they are mighty
sagacious, tractable creatures where they are well used.
However, for the present I let him go, knowing no better at that time.
Then I went to the three kids, and taking them one by one, I tied them
with strings together, and with some difficulty brought them all home.
It was a good while before they would feed, but throwing them some
sweet corn, it tempted them, and they began to be tame. And now I
found that if I expected to supply myself with goat-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 presently occurred to me that I must keep the tame from
the wild, or else they would always run wild when they grew up; and
the only way for this was to have some enclosed piece of ground, well
fenced either with hedge or pale, to keep them in so effectually, that
those within might not break out, or those without break in.
This was a great undertaking for one pair of hands; yet as I saw there
was an absolute necessity of doing it, my first piece of work was to
find out a proper piece of ground, viz., where there was likely to be
herbage for them to eat, water for them to drink, and cover to keep
them from the sun.
Those who understand such enclosures will think I had very little
contrivance when I pitched upon a place very proper for all these,
being a plain open piece of meadow land, or savanna (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 of
this piece of ground in such a manner, that my hedge or pale must have
been at least two miles about. Nor was the madness of it so great as
to the compass, for if it was ten miles about, I was like to have time
enough to do it in. But I did not consider that my goats would be as
wild in so much compass as if they had had the whole island, and I
should have so much room to chase them in, that I should never catch
them.
My hedge was begun and carried on, I believe, about fifty yards, when
this thought occurred to me, so I presently stopped short, and, for the
first beginning, I resolved to enclose a piece of about 150 yards in
length, and 100 yards in breadth; which, as it would maintain as many
as I should have in any reasonable time, so, as my flock increased, I
could add more ground to my enclosure.
This was acting with some prudence, and I went to work with courage.
I was about three months hedging in the first piece, and, till I had
done it, I tethered the three kids in the best part of it, and used
them to feed as near me as possible, to make them familiar; and very
often I would go and carry them some ears of barley, or a handful of
rice, and feed them out of my hand; so that after my enclosure was
finished, and I let them loose, they would follow me up and down,
bleating after me for a handful of corn.
This answered my end, and in about a year and 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. And after
that I enclosed five several pieces of ground to feed them in, with
little pens to drive them into, to take them as I wanted, and gates out
of one piece of ground into another.
But this was not all, for now I not only had goat’s flesh to feed on
when I pleased, but milk too, a thing which, indeed, in my 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, very readily and handily, though after a great
many essays and miscarriages, made me both butter and cheese at last,
and never wanted it afterwards.
How mercifully can our great Creator treat His creatures, even in those
conditions in which they seemed to be overwhelmed in destruction! How
can He sweeten the bitterest providences, and give us cause to praise
Him for dungeons and prisons! What a table was here spread for me in a
wilderness, where I saw nothing at first but to perish for hunger!
It would have made a stoic smile, to have seen me and my little family
sit down to dinner. There was my majesty, the prince and lord of
the whole island; I had the lives of all my subjects at my absolute
command. I could hang, draw, give liberty, and take it away; and no
rebels among all my subjects.
Then to see how like a king I dined, too, all alone, attended by my
servants. Poll, as if he had been my favorite, 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 the table, and one on the
other, expecting now and then a bit from my hand, as a mark of special
favor.
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 ran 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 anything but society;
and of that in some time after this, I was like to have too much.
I was something impatient, as I have observed, to have the use of my
boat, though very loth to run any more hazards; and therefore sometimes
I sat contriving ways to get her about the island, and at other times
I sat myself down contented enough without her. But I had a strange
uneasiness in my mind to go down to the point of the island, where, as
I have said, in my last ramble, I went up the hill to see how the shore
lay, and how the current set, that I might see what I had to do. This
inclination increased upon me every day, and at length I resolved to
travel thither by land, following the edge of the shore. I did so; but
had any one in England been to meet such a man as I was, it must either
have frightened them, or raised a great deal of laughter; and as I
frequently stood still to look at myself, I could not but smile at the
notion of my travelling through Yorkshire, with such an equipage, and
in such a dress. Be pleased to take a sketch of my figure, as follows:
I had a great high shapeless cap, made of a goat’s skin, with a flap
hanging down behind, as well to keep the sun from me, as to shoot the
rain off from running into my neck; nothing being so hurtful in these
climates as the rain upon the flesh, under the clothes.
I had a short jacket of goat’s skin, the skirts coming down to about
the middle of my thighs; and a pair of open-kneed breeches of the same.
The breeches were made of the skin of an old he-goat, whose hair hung
down such a length on either side, that, like pantaloons, it reached to
the middle of my legs. Stockings and shoes I had none, but had made me
a pair of somethings, I scarce know what to call them, like buskins, to
flap over my legs, and lace on either side like spatterdashes; but of
a most barbarous shape, as indeed were all the rest of my clothes.
I had on a broad belt of goat’s skin dried, which I drew together with
two thongs of the same, instead of buckles; and in a kind of a frog on
either side of this, instead of a sword and a dagger, hung a little
saw and a hatchet, one on one side, 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, on my shoulder my gun,
and over my head a great clumsy ugly goat-skin umbrella, but which,
after all, was the most necessary thing I had about me, next to my
gun. As for my face, the color of it was really not so mulatto-like
as one might expect from a man not at all careful of it, and living
within nineteen 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
scissors 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 whom I saw at
Sallee; for the Moors did not wear such, though the Turks did. Of these
mustachios or whiskers, I will not say they were long enough to hang my
hat upon them, but they were of a length and shape monstrous enough,
and such as, in England, would have passed for frightful.
But all this is by the bye; for, as to my figure, I had so few to
observe me, that it was of no manner of consequence; so I say no more
to that part. In this kind of figure I went my new journey, and was
out five or six days. I travelled first along the sea-shore, directly
to the place where I first brought my boat to an anchor, to get up
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 other places.
I was at a strange loss to understand this, and resolved to spend some
time in the observing it, to see if nothing from the sets of the tide
had occasioned it. But I was presently convinced how it was, viz., that
the tide of ebb setting from the west, and joining with the current of
waters from some great river on the shore, must be the occasion of this
current; and that according as the wind blew more forcibly from the
west, or from the north, this current came near, or went farther from
the shore; for waiting thereabouts till evening, I went up to the rock
again, and then the tide of ebb being made, I plainly saw the current
again as before, only that it ran farther off, being near half a league
from the shore; whereas in my case it set close upon the shore, and
hurried me and my canoe along with it, which, at another time, it would
not have done.
This observation convinced me that I had nothing to do but to observe
the ebbing and the flowing of the tide, and I might very easily bring
my boat about the island again. But when I began to think of putting it
in practice, I had such a terror upon my spirits at the remembrance
of the danger I had been in, that I could not think of it again with
any patience; but, on the contrary, I took up another resolution, which
was more safe, though more laborious; and this was, that I would build,
or rather make me another _periagua_ or canoe; and so have one for one
side of the island, and one for the other.
You are to understand that now I had, as I may call it, two plantations
in the island; one, my little fortification or tent, with the wall
about it, under the rock, with the cave behind me, which, by this time,
I had enlarged into several apartments or caves, one within another.
One of these, which was the driest and largest, and had a door out
beyond my wall or fortification, that is to say, beyond where my wall
joined to the rock, was all filled up with the large earthen pots,
of which I have given an account, and with fourteen or fifteen great
baskets, which would hold five or six bushels each, where I laid up my
stores of provision, especially my corn, some in the ear, cut off short
from the straw, and the other rubbed out with my hand.
As for my wall, made, as before, with long stakes or piles, those piles
grew all like trees, and were by this time grown so big, and spread so
very much, that there was not the least appearance, to any one’s view,
of any habitation behind them.
Near this dwelling of mine, but a little farther within the land, and
upon lower ground, lay my two pieces of corn ground, which I kept duly
cultivated and sowed, and which duly yielded me their harvest in its
season; and whenever I had occasion for more corn, I had more land
adjoining as fit as that.
Besides this, I had my country seat, and I had now a tolerable
plantation there also; for, first, I had my little bower, as I called
it, which I kept in repair; that is to say, I kept the hedge which
circled 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, I kept them
always so cut, that they might spread and grow thick and wild, and make
the more agreeable shade, which they did effectually to my mind. In the
middle of this, I had my tent always standing, being a piece of a sail,
spread over poles, set up for that purpose, and which never wanted any
repair or renewing; and under this I had made me a squab or couch, with
the skins of the creatures I had killed, and with other soft things,
and a blanket laid on them, such as belonged to our sea-bedding, which
I had saved, and a great watch-coat to cover me; and here, whenever
I had occasion to be absent from my chief seat, I took up my country
habitation.
Adjoining to this I had my enclosures for my cattle, that is to say, my
goats. And as I had taken an inconceivable deal of pains to fence and
enclose this ground, so I was so uneasy to see it kept entire, lest the
goats should break through, that I never left off till, with infinite
labor, I had stuck the outside of the hedge so full of small stakes,
and so near to one another, that it was rather a pale than a hedge,
and there was scarce room to put a hand through between them; which
afterwards, when those stakes grew, as they all did in the next rainy
season, made the enclosure strong like a wall, indeed, stronger than
any wall.
This will testify for me that I was not idle, and that I spared no
pains to bring to pass whatever appeared necessary for my comfortable
support; for I considered the keeping up a breed of tame creatures
thus at my hand would be a living magazine of flesh, milk, butter,
and cheese for me as long as I lived in the place, if it were to be
forty years; and that keeping them in my reach depended entirely upon
my perfecting my enclosures to such a degree, that I might be sure of
keeping them together; which, by this method, indeed, I so effectually
secured, that when these little stakes began to grow, I had planted
them so very thick, I was forced to pull some of them up again.
In this place also I had my grapes growing, which I principally
depended on for my winter store of raisins, and which I never failed
to preserve very carefully, as the best and most agreeable dainty of
my whole diet. And indeed they were not agreeable only, but physical,
wholesome, nourishing, and refreshing to the last degree.
As this was also about half-way between my other habitation and the
place where I had laid up my boat, I generally stayed and lay here in
my way thither; for I used frequently to visit my boat, and I kept all
things about, or belonging to her, in very good order. Sometimes I went
out in her to divert myself, but no more hazardous voyages would I go,
nor scarce ever above a stone’s cast or two from the shore, I was so
apprehensive of being hurried out of my knowledge again by the currents
or winds, or any other accident. But now I come to a new scene of my
life.
CHAPTER XVII
_Unexpected Alarm--Cause for Apprehension--He Fortifies His Abode_
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
thunderstruck, or as if I had seen an apparition. I listened, I looked
round me, I could hear nothing, nor see anything. 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 very print of a foot--toes, heel, and every part of a foot.
How it came thither I knew not, nor could in the least imagine. But
after innumerable fluttering thoughts, like a man perfectly confused
and out of myself, I came home to my fortification, not feeling, as we
say, the ground I went on, but terrified to the last degree, looking
behind me at every two or three steps, mistaking every bush and tree,
and fancying every stump at a distance to be a man; nor is it possible
to describe how many various shapes affrighted imagination represented
things to me in, how many wild ideas were found every moment in my
fancy, and what strange, unaccountable whimsies came into my thoughts
by the way.
When I came to my castle, for so I think I called it ever after this,
I fled into it like one pursued. Whether I went over by the ladder, as
first contrived, or went in at the hole in the rock, which I called a
door, I cannot remember; no, nor could I remember the next morning, for
never frightened hare fled to cover, or fox to earth, with more terror
of mind than I to this retreat.
[Illustration: “_I stood like one thunderstruck, or as if I had seen an
apparition_”]
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 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 subtility
of the devil.
Abundance of such things as these assisted to argue me out of all
apprehensions of its being the devil; and I presently concluded then,
that it must be some more dangerous creature, viz., that it must be
some of the savages of the mainland over against me, who had wandered
out to sea in their canoes, and, either driven by the currents or by
contrary winds, had made the island, and had been on shore, but were
gone away again to sea, being as loth, perhaps, to have stayed in this
desolate island as I would have been to have had them.
While these reflections were rolling upon my mind, I was very thankful
in my thoughts that I was so happy as not to be thereabouts at that
time, or that they did not see my boat, by which they would have
concluded that some inhabitants had been in the place, and perhaps have
searched farther for me. Then terrible thoughts racked my imagination
about their having found my boat, and that there were people here; and
that if so, I should certainly have them come again in greater numbers,
and devour me; and if it should happen so that they should not find me,
yet they would find my enclosure, destroy all my corn, carry away all
my flock of tame goats, and I should perish at last for mere want.
Thus my fear banished all my religious hope. All that former confidence
in God, which was founded upon such wonderful experience as I had had
of His goodness, now vanished, 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 easiness,
that would not sow any more corn one year than would just serve me
till the next season, as if no accident could intervene to prevent my
enjoying the crop that was upon the ground. And this I thought so just
a reproof, that I resolved for the future to have two or three years’
corn beforehand, so that, whatever might come, I might not perish for
want of bread.
How strange a checker-work of Providence is the life of man! and by
what secret differing springs are the affections hurried about as
differing circumstances present! To-day we love what to-morrow we
hate; to-day we seek what to-morrow we shun; to-day we desire what
to-morrow we fear; nay, even tremble at the apprehensions of. This was
exemplified in me, at this time, in the most lively manner imaginable;
for I, whose only affliction was that I seemed banished from human
society, that I was alone, circumscribed by the boundless ocean, cut
off from mankind, and condemned to what I called silent life; that I
was as one whom Heaven thought not worthy to be numbered among the
living, or to appear among the rest of His creatures; that to have
seen one of my own species would have seemed to me a raising me from
death to life, and the greatest blessing that Heaven itself, next to
the supreme blessing of salvation, could bestow; I say, that I should
now tremble at the very apprehensions of seeing a man, and was ready to
sink into the ground at but the shadow or silent appearance of a man’s
having set his foot in the island!
Such is the uneven state of human life; and it afforded me a great many
curious speculations afterwards, when I had a little recovered my first
surprise. I considered that this was the station of life the infinitely
wise and good providence of God had determined for me; that, as I could
not foresee what the ends of Divine wisdom might be in all this, so I
was not to dispute His sovereignty, who, as I was His creature, had an
undoubted right, by creation, to govern and dispose of me absolutely as
He thought fit, and who, as I was a creature who 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 God, who was not only righteous, but omnipotent,
as He 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 it ’twas my unquestioned
duty to resign myself absolutely and entirely to His will; and, on
the other hand, it was my duty also to hope in Him, pray to Him, and
quietly to attend the dictates and directions of His daily providence.
These thoughts took me up many hours, days, nay, I may say, weeks and
months; and one particular effect of my cogitations on this occasion
I cannot omit, viz., one morning early, lying in my bed, and filled
with thought about my danger from the appearance of savages, I found
it discomposed me very much; upon which those words of the Scripture
came into my thoughts, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble, and I will
deliver, and thou shalt glorify Me.”
Upon this, rising cheerfully out of my bed, my heart was not only
comforted, but I was guided and encouraged to pray earnestly to God for
deliverance. When I had done praying, I took up my Bible, and opening
it to read, the first words that presented to me were, “Wait on the
Lord, and be of good cheer, and He shall strengthen thy heart; wait, I
say, on the Lord.” It is impossible to express the comfort this gave
me. In answer, I thankfully laid down the book, and was no more sad, at
least, not on that occasion.
In the middle of these cogitations, apprehensions, and reflections, it
came into my thought 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 not I 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 strive to make stories
of spectres and apparitions, and then are frightened at them more than
anybody.
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 provision; for I had little or nothing within doors but some
barley-cakes and water. Then I knew that my goats wanted to be milked
too, which usually was my evening diversion; and the poor creatures
were in great pain and inconvenience for want of it; and, indeed, it
almost spoiled some of them, and almost dried up their milk.
Heartening myself, therefore, with the belief that this was nothing but
the print of one of my own feet, and so 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 anywhere
thereabout; 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 imaginings, and gave me the vapors 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.
Oh, what ridiculous resolutions men take when possessed with fear! It
deprives them of the use of those means which reason offers for their
relief. The first thing I proposed to myself was to throw down my
enclosures, and turn all my tame cattle wild into the woods, that the
enemy might not 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 cornfields, that they might not find such a grain there, and still
be prompted to frequent the island; then to demolish my bower and tent,
that they might not see any vestiges of habitation, and be prompted to
look farther, in order to find out the persons inhabiting.
These were the subject of the first night’s cogitation, after I was
come home again, while the apprehensions which had so overrun my mind
were fresh upon me, and my head was full of vapors, as above. Thus
fear of danger is ten thousand times more terrifying than danger
itself when apparent to the eyes; and we find the burden of anxiety
greater, by much, than the evil which we are anxious about; and, which
was worse than all this, I had not that relief in this trouble from
the resignation I used to practise, that I hoped to have. I looked,
I thought, like Saul, who complained not only that the Philistines
were upon him, but that God had forsaken him; for I did not now take
due ways to compose my mind, by crying to God in my distress, and
resting upon His providence, as I had done before, for my defence and
deliverance; which, if I had done, I had at least been more cheerfully
supported under this new surprise, and perhaps carried through it with
more resolution.
This confusion of my thoughts kept me waking 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 mainland 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, which, 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 there upon any
occasion to this time; that the most I could suggest any danger from,
was from any such casual accidental landing of straggling people from
the main, who, as it was likely if they were driven hither, were here
against their wills; so they made no stay here, but went off again with
all possible speed, seldom staying one night on shore, lest they should
not have the help of the tides and daylight back again; and that,
therefore, I had nothing to do but to consider of some safe retreat, in
case I should see any savages land upon the spot.
Now I began sorely to repent that I had dug my cave so large as to
bring a door through again, which door, as I said, came out beyond
where my fortification joined to the rock. Upon maturely considering
this, therefore, I resolved to draw me a second fortification in the
same manner of a semicircle, 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 a few piles to be driven between them, that they should 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 everything 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 continual 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
got seven on shore out of the ship. These, I say, I planted like my
cannon, and fitted them into frames, that held them like a carriage,
that so I could fire all the seven guns in two minutes’ time. This wall
I was many a weary month a-finishing, and yet never thought myself safe
till it was done.
When this was done, I stuck all the ground without my wall, for a great
way every way, as full with stakes, or sticks, of the osier-like wood,
which I found so apt to grow, as they could well stand; insomuch, that
I believe I might set in near twenty thousand of them, leaving a pretty
large space between them and my wall, that I might have room to see
an enemy, and they might have no shelter from the young trees, if they
attempted to approach my outer wall.
Thus in two years’ time I had a thick grove; and in five or six years’
time I had a wood before my dwelling, growing so monstrous thick and
strong, that it was indeed perfectly impassable; and no men, of what
kind soever, would ever imagine that there was anything 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 hurting himself; and
if they had come down, they were still on the outside of my outer wall.
Thus I took all the measures human prudence could suggest for my own
preservation; and it will be seen, at length, that they were not
altogether without just reason; though I foresaw nothing at that time
more than my mere fear suggested to me.
While this was doing, I was not altogether careless of my other
affairs; for I had a great concern upon me for my little herd of goats.
They were not only a present supply to me upon every occasion, and
began to be sufficient to 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.
To 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 labor, I thought was the most rational design.
Accordingly I spent some time to find out the most retired parts of the
island; and I pitched upon one which was as private indeed as my heart
could wish for. It was a little damp piece of ground, in the middle of
the hollow and thick woods, where, as is observed, I almost lost myself
once before, endeavoring 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 labor to make it so as the other
pieces of ground I had worked so hard at.
CHAPTER XVIII
_Precautions Against Surprise--Robinson Discovers that His Island Has
Been Visited by Cannibals_
I immediately went to work with this piece of ground, and in less than
a month’s time I had so fenced it round, that my flock, or herd, call
it which you please, who were not so wild now as at first they might be
supposed to be, were well enough secured in it. So, without any farther
delay, I removed ten young she-goats and two he-goats to this piece.
And when they were there, I continued to perfect the fence, till I had
made it as secure as the other, which, however, I did at more leisure,
and it took me up more time by a great deal.
All this labor 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 these uneasinesses, which, indeed, made my
life much less comfortable than it was before, as may well be 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 or 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 more the 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 repentance on a sick-bed. For these discomposures affect
the mind, as the others do the body; and the discomposure of the mind
must necessarily be as great a disability as that of the body, and much
greater, praying to God being properly an act of the mind, not of the
body.
But to go on. After I had thus secured one part of my little living
stock, I went about the whole island, searching for another private
place to make such another deposit; when, wandering more to the west
point of the island than I had ever done yet, and looking out to sea, I
thought I saw a boat upon the sea, at a great distance. I had found a
perspective glass or two in one of the seamen’s chests, which I saved
out of our ship, but I had it not about me; and this was so remote,
that I could not tell what to make of it, though I looked at it till my
eyes were not able to hold to look any longer. Whether it was a boat
or not, I do not know; but as I descended from the hill, I could see
no more of it, so I gave it over; only I resolved to go no more out
without a perspective glass in my pocket.
When I was come down the hill to the end of the island, where, indeed,
I had never been before, I was presently convinced that the seeing the
print of a man’s foot was not such a strange thing in the island as I
imagined. And, but that it was a special providence that I was cast
upon the side of the island where the savages never came, I should
easily have known that nothing was more frequent than for the canoes
from the main, when they happened to be a little too far out at sea,
to shoot over to that side of the island for harbor; likewise, as they
often met and fought in their canoes, the victors having taken any
prisoners would bring them over to this shore, where, according to
their dreadful customs, being all cannibals, they would kill and eat
them; of which hereafter.
When I was come down the hill to the shore, as I said above, being the
S.W. point of the island, I was perfectly confounded and amazed; nor is
it possible for me to express the horror of my mind at seeing the shore
spread with skulls, hands, feet, and other bones, of human bodies; and
particularly, I observed a place where there had been a fire made, and
a circle dug in the earth, like a cockpit, where it is supposed the
savage wretches had sat down to the inhuman feastings upon the bodies
of their fellow-creatures.
I was so astonished with the sight of these things, that I entertained
no notion 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 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 an
uncommon violence, I was a little relieved, but could not bear to stay
in the place a moment; so I got me up the hill again with all the speed
I could, and walked on towards my own habitation.
When I came a little out of that part of the island, I stood still a
while, as amazed; and then recovering myself, I looked up with the
utmost affection of my soul, and with a flood of tears in my eyes, gave
God thanks, that had cast my first lot in a part of the world where
I was distinguished from such dreadful creatures as these; and that,
though I had esteemed my present condition very miserable, had yet
given me so many comforts in it, that I had still more to give thanks
for than to complain of; and this above all, that I had, even in this
miserable condition, been comforted with the knowledge of Himself, and
the hope of His blessing; which was a felicity more than sufficiently
equivalent to all the misery which I had suffered, or could suffer.
In this frame of thankfulness I went home to my castle, and began to be
much easier now, as to the safety of my circumstances, than ever I was
before; for I observed that these wretches never came to this island in
search of what they could get; perhaps not seeking, not wanting, or not
expecting, anything here; and having often, no doubt, been up in the
covered, woody part of it, without finding anything 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 here
eighteen more as entirely concealed as I was now, if I did not discover
myself to them, which I had no manner of occasion to do; it being my
only business to keep myself entirely concealed where I was, unless I
found a better sort of creatures than cannibals to make myself known to.
Yet I entertained such an abhorrence of the savage wretches that I
have been speaking of, and of the wretched, inhuman custom of their
devouring and eating one another up, that I continued pensive and sad,
and kept close within my own circle for almost two years after this.
When I say my own circle, I mean by it my three plantations, viz., my
castle, my country seat, which I called my bower, and my enclosure
in the woods. Nor did I look after this for any other use than as an
enclosure for my goats; for the aversion which Nature gave me to these
hellish wretches was such, that I was fearful of seeing them as of
seeing the devil himself. Nor did I so much as go to look after my boat
in all this time, but began rather to think of making me another; for
I could not think of ever making any more attempts to bring the other
boat round the island to me, lest I should meet with some of these
creatures at sea, in which, if I had happened to have fallen into their
hands, I knew what would have been my lot.
Time, however, and the satisfaction I had that I was in no danger of
being discovered by these people, began to wear off my uneasiness
about them; and I began to live just in the same composed manner as
before; only with this difference, that I used more caution, and kept
my eyes more about me, than I did before, lest I should happen to be
seen by any of them; and particularly, I was more cautious of firing
my gun, lest any of them being on the island should happen to hear of
it. And it was, therefore, a very good providence to me that I had
furnished myself with a tame breed of goats, that I needed not hunt
any more about the woods, or shoot at them. And if I did catch any of
them after this, it was by traps and snares, as I had done before; so
that for two years after this I believe I never fired my gun once off,
though I never went out without it; and, which was more, as I had saved
three pistols out of the ship, I always carried them out with me, or at
least two of them, sticking them in my goat-skin belt. Also I furbished
up one of the great cutlasses that I had out of the ship, and made me
a belt to put 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 broadsword hanging at
my side in a belt, but without a scabbard.
Things going on thus, as I have said, for some time, I seemed,
excepting these cautions, to be reduced to my former calm, sedate way
of living. All these things tended to showing 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 are worse, in order to
be thankful, than be always comparing them with those which are better,
to assist their murmurings and complainings.
As in my present condition there were not really many things which I
wanted, so indeed I thought that the frights I had been in about these
savage wretches, and the concern I had been in for my own preservation,
had taken off the edge of my invention for my own conveniences. And
I had dropped a good design, which I had once bent my thoughts too
much upon; and that was, to try if I could not make some of my barley
into malt, and then try to brew myself some beer. This was really a
whimsical thought, and I reproved myself often for the simplicity of
it; for I presently saw there would be the want of several things
necessary to the making my beer, that it would be impossible for me to
supply. As, first, casks to preserve it in, which was a thing that, as
I have observed already, I could never compass; no, though I spent not
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 all these things
notwithstanding, I verily believe, had not these things intervened,
I mean the frights and terrors I was in about the savages, I had
undertaken it, and perhaps brought it to pass too; for I seldom gave
anything over without accomplishing it when I once had it in my head
enough 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 thought, for
the destroying these creatures, or at least frightening them so as to
prevent their coming hither any more. But all was abortive; nothing
could be possible to take effect, unless I was to be there to do it
myself. And what could one man do among them, when perhaps there might
be twenty or thirty of them together, with their darts, or their bows
and arrows, which they could shoot as true to a mark as I could with my
gun?
Sometimes I contrived to dig a hole under the place where they made
their fire, and put 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 very loth 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 frighten
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 was 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; and especially while my mind was
thus filled with thoughts of revenge, and of a bloody putting twenty
or thirty of them to the sword, as I may call it, the horror I had at
the place, and at the signals of the barbarous wretches devouring one
another, abated 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 thickets of trees, in one of which there
was a hollow large enough to conceal me entirely; and where 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 swanshot, of the largest size. I also loaded
my pistols with about four bullets each; and in this posture, well
provided with ammunition for a second and third charge, I prepared
myself for my expedition.
After I had thus laid the scheme of my design, and in my imagination
put it in practice, I continually made my tour every morning up to the
top of the hill, which was from my castle, as I called it, about three
miles, or more, to see if I could observe any boats upon the sea coming
near the island, or standing over towards it. But I began to tire of
this hard duty, after I had, for two or three months, constantly kept
my watch, but came always back without any discovery; there having not,
in all that time, been the least appearance, not only on or near the
shore, but not on the whole ocean so far as my eyes or glasses could
reach every way.
As long as I kept up my daily tour to the hill to look out, so long
also I kept up the vigor 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 that people of the 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 of Heaven, and acted 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 it was I was going to engage in.
What authority or call I had to pretend to be judge and executioner
upon these men as criminals, whom Heaven had thought fit, for so many
ages, to suffer, unpunished, to go on, and to be, as it were, the
executioners of His judgments one upon another? How far these people
were offenders against me, and what right I had to engage in the
quarrel of that blood which they shed promiscuously one upon 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
either 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 offense, and then commit it in defiance of Divine
justice, as we do in almost all the sins we commit. They think it no
more a crime to kill a captive taken in war, than we do to kill an ox;
nor to eat human flesh, than we do to eat mutton.
When I had 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 albeit the usage they thus
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 as I was
yet out of their power, and they had really no knowledge of me, and
consequently no design upon me, and therefore it could not be just
for me to fall upon them. That this would justify the conduct of the
Spaniards in all their barbarities practised in America, and 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 of Europe, as a mere butchery, a bloody and unnatural
piece of cruelty, unjustifiable either to God or man; and such, as
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 product of a
race of men who were without principles of tenderness, or the common
bowels of pity to the miserable, which is reckoned to be a mark of
generous temper in the mind.
These considerations really put me to a pause, and to a kind of a full
stop; and I began, by little and little, to be off of my design, and
to conclude I had taken wrong measures in my resolutions to attack
the savages; 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, then I knew my
duty.
On the other hand, I argued with myself that this really was the way
not to deliver myself, but entirely to ruin and destroy myself; for
unless I was sure to kill every one that not only should be on shore at
that time, but that should ever come on shore afterwards, if but one of
them escaped to tell their country people what had happened, they would
come over again by thousands to revenge the death of their fellows,
and I should only bring upon myself a certain destruction, which, at
present, I had no manner of occasion for.
Upon the whole, I concluded that neither in principles 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, 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 offenses, and to bring public judgments upon those who offend
in a public manner by such ways as best pleases Him.
This appeared so clear to me now, that nothing was a greater
satisfaction to me than that I had not been suffered to do a thing
which I now saw so much reason to believe would have been no less a
sin than that of wilful murder, if I had committed it. And I gave most
humble thanks on my knees to God, that had thus delivered me from
blood-guiltiness; beseeching Him to grant me the protection of His
providence, that I might not fall into the hands of the barbarians, or
that I might not lay my hands upon them, unless I had a more clear call
from Heaven to do it, in defense of my own life.
CHAPTER XIX
_Robinson Discovers a Cave, which Serves Him as a Retreat Against the
Savages_
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 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 whatsoever.
With my boat I carried away everything 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
indeed which could not be called either anchor or grappling; however,
it was the best I could make of its kind. All these I removed,
that there might not be the least shadow of any discovery, or any
appearance of any boat, or of any human habitation, upon the island.
Besides this, I kept myself, as I said, more retired than ever, and
seldom went from my cell, other than upon my constant employment, viz.,
to milk my she-goats, and manage my little flock in the wood, which, as
it was quite on the other part of the island, was quite out of danger;
for certain it is, that these savage people, who sometimes haunted
this island, never came with any thoughts of finding anything 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; and 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 everywhere, peeping and peeping 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 not only should not have been
able 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 should be very melancholy, and
sometimes it would last a great while; but I resolved it, at last, all
into thankfulness to that Providence which had delivered me from so
many unseen dangers, and had kept me from those mischiefs which I could
no way have been the agent in delivering myself from, because I had not
the least notion of any such thing depending, or the least supposition
of it 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 overrule 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 my mind to doing, or not doing, anything that presented, or to
going this way or that way, I never failed to obey the secret dictate,
though I knew no other reason for it than that such a pressure, or
such a hint, hung upon my mind. I could give many examples of the
success of this conduct in the course of my life, but more especially
in the latter part of my inhabiting this unhappy island; besides many
occasions which it is very likely I might have taken notice of, if I
had seen with the same eyes then that I saw with now. But ’tis 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 the secret
communication between those embodied and those unembodied, and such
a proof as can never be withstood, of which I shall have occasion to
give some very remarkable instances in the remainder of my solitary
residence in this dismal place.
I believe the reader of this will not think 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 should 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; and for this reason I removed
that part of my business which required fire, such as burning of pots
and pipes, etc., into my new apartment in the woods; where, after I had
been some time, I found, to my unspeakable consolation, a mere natural
cave in the earth, which went in a vast way, and where, I dare say, no
savage, had he been at the mouth of it, would be so hardy as to venture
in; nor, indeed, would any man else, but one who, like me, wanted
nothing so much as a safe retreat.
The mouth of this hollow was at the bottom of a great rock, where, by
mere accident I would say (if I did not see abundant reason to ascribe
all such things now to Providence), I was cutting down some thick
branches of trees to make charcoal; and before I go on, I must observe
the reason of my making this charcoal, which was thus.
I was afraid of making a smoke about my habitation, as I said before;
and yet I could not live there without baking my bread, cooking my
meat, etc. 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 which fire was wanting for at home, without danger of smoke.
But this is by the bye. While I was cutting down some wood here,
I perceived that behind a very thick branch of low brushwood, or
underwood, there was a kind of hollow place. I was curious to look into
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 I made more
haste out than I did in when, looking farther into the place, and which
was perfectly dark, I saw two broad shining eyes of some creature,
whether devil or man I knew not, which twinkled like two stars, the
dim light from the cave’s mouth shining directly in, and making the
reflection.
However, after some pause I recovered myself, and began to call myself
a thousand fools, and tell myself that he that was afraid to see the
devil was not fit to live twenty years on an island all alone, and
that I durst to believe there was nothing in this cave that was more
frightful than myself. Upon this, plucking up my courage, I took up
a great 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 if
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 everywhere, 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 frighten any of the savages, if any of them should be so
hardy as to come in there while he had any life in him.
I was now recovered from my surprise, and began to look around 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, either round or 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 farther, but was so low, that it required me to creep upon my
hands and knees to go into it, and whither I went I knew not; so having
no candle, I gave it over for some time, but resolved to come again the
next day, provided with candles and a tinderbox, which I had made of
the lock of one of the muskets, with some wild-fire in the pan.
Accordingly, the next day I came provided with six large candles of
my own making, for I made very good candles now of goat’s tallow; 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 was 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 walls reflected a
hundred thousand lights to me from my two candles. What it was in the
rock, whether diamonds, or any other precious stones, or gold, which I
rather supposed it to be, I knew not.
The place I was in was a most delightful cavity or grotto of its kind,
as could be expected, though perfectly dark. The floor was dry and
level, and had a sort of 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 took occasion 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 a shell; so that I had near
sixty pounds of very good powder in the centre of the cask. And this
was an agreeable discovery to me at that time; so I carried all away
thither, never keeping above two or three pounds of powder with me in
my castle, for fear of a surprise of any kind. I also carried thither
all the lead I had left for bullets.
I fancied myself now like one of the ancient giants, which were said to
live in caves and holes in the rocks, where none could come at them;
for I persuaded myself, while I was here, 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 offense to my nose.
I was now in my twenty-third year of residence in this island; and was
so naturalized to the place, and to 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 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 more pleasantly with me a great deal than it did before. As,
first, I had taught my Poll, 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; and he lived with me no less than six and twenty
years. How long he might live afterwards I know not, though I know they
have a notion in the Brazils that they live a hundred years. Perhaps
poor Poll may be alive there still, calling after poor Robin Crusoe to
this day. I wish no Englishman the ill luck to come there and hear
him; but if he did, he would certainly believe it was the devil. 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 favorites, 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, which 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 know not, which 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
groove, 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 it might but have been
secured from the dread of the savages.
But it was otherwise directed; and it may not be amiss for all people
who shall meet with my story, to make this just observation from it,
viz., how frequently, in the course of our lives, the evil which in
itself we seek most to shun, and which, when we are fallen into it, 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.
CHAPTER XX
_Another Visit of the Savages--Robinson Sees Them Dancing--He Perceives
the Wreck of a Vessel_
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. But not on the other side; but, to my
great affliction, it was on my side of the island.
I was indeed terribly surprised at the sight, and stopped short within
my grove, not daring to go out, lest I might be surprised; and yet I
had no more peace within, from the apprehensions I had that if these
savages, in rambling over the island, should find my corn standing
or cut, or any of my works and improvements, they would immediately
conclude that there were people in the place, and would then never give
over till they had found me out. In this extremity I went back directly
to my castle, pulled up the ladder after me, and made all things
without look as wild and natural as I could.
Then I prepared myself within, putting myself in a posture of defense.
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. And in this posture
I continued about two hours; but began to be mighty impatient for
intelligence abroad, for I had no spies to send out.
After sitting a while longer, and musing what I should do in this case,
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 was 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 extreme 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 know.
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 the island, and so near me too. But when I observed their
coming must be always with the current of the ebb, I began afterwards
to be more sedate in my mind, being satisfied that I might go abroad
with safety all the time of the tide of flood, if they were not on
shore before; and having made this observation, I went abroad about my
harvest-work with the more composure.
As I expected, so it proved; for as soon as the tide made to the
westward, I saw them all take boat, and row (or paddle, as we call it)
all away. I should have observed, that for an hour and more before
they went off, they went to dancing; and I could easily discern their
postures and gestures by my glasses. 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, that I could
not distinguish.
As soon as I saw them shipped and gone, I took two guns upon my
shoulders, and two pistols at my girdle, and my great sword by my side,
without a scabbard, and with all the speed I was able to make I went
away to the hill where I had discovered the first appearance of all.
And as soon as I got thither, which was not less than two hours (for
I could not go apace, being so laden with arms as I was), I perceived
there had been three canoes more of savages on that place; and looking
out farther, I saw they were all at sea together, making over for the
main.
[Illustration: “_I laid me down flat on my belly on the ground, and
began to look for the place_”]
This was a dreadful sight to me, especially when, going down to the
shore, I could see the marks of horror which the dismal work they had
been about had left behind it, viz., the blood, the bones, and part
of the flesh of human bodies, eaten and devoured by those wretches with
merriment and sport. I was so filled with indignation at the sight,
that I began now to premeditate the destruction of the next that I saw
there, let them be who or how many soever.
It seemed evident to me that the visits which they thus made 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 nor 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 I was in of their coming upon me by
surprise; from whence I observe, that the expectation of evil is more
bitter than the suffering, especially if there is no room to shake off
that expectation, or those apprehensions.
During all this time I was in a murdering humor, and took up most of
my hours, which should have been better employed, in contriving how to
circumvent and fall upon them the very next time I should see them;
especially if they should be divided, as they were the last time, into
two parties. Nor did I consider at all that if I killed one party,
suppose ten or a dozen, I was still the next day, or week, or month,
to kill another, and so another, even _ad infinitum_, till I should be
at length no less a murderer than they were in being man-eaters, and
perhaps much more so.
I spent my days now in great perplexity and anxiety of mind, expecting
that I should, one day or other, fall into the hands of these
merciless creatures; and if I did at any time venture abroad, it
was not without looking round me with the greatest care and caution
imaginable. And now I found, to my great comfort, how happy it was that
I provided for 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 back 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 hear them; but in
the month of May, as near as I could calculate, and in my four and
twentieth year, I had a very strange encounter with them; of which in
its place.
The perturbation of my mind, during this fifteen or sixteen months’
interval, was very great. I slept unquiet, dreamed always frightful
dreams, and often started out of my sleep in the night. In the day
great troubles overwhelmed my mind, and in the night I dreamed often of
killing the savages, and of the reasons why I might justify the doing
of it. But, to waive 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 the
sixteenth of May that it blew a very great storm of wind all day, with
a great deal of lightning and thunder, and a very foul night it was
after it. I know 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 a noise of a gun, as I
thought, fired at sea.
This was, to be sure, a surprise of a quite 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 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 this
presence of mind, at that minute, as to think that though I could not
help them, it may be they might help me; so I brought together all the
dry wood I could get at hand, and, making a good handsome pile, I set
it on fire upon the hill. The wood was dry, and blazed freely; and
though the wind blew very hard, yet it burnt fairly out; so that I was
certain, if there was any such thing as a ship, they must needs see it,
and no doubt they did; for as soon as ever my fire blazed up I heard
another gun, and after that several others, all from the same quarter.
I plied my fire all night long till day broke; 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 glasses, the distance was so great, and
the weather still something hazy also; at least it was so out at sea.
I looked frequently at it all that day, and soon perceived that it did
not move; so I presently concluded that it was a ship at an anchor. And
being eager, you may be sure, to be satisfied, I took my gun in my hand
and ran toward 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 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. and E.N.E. Had they seen the island,
as I must necessarily suppose they did not, they must, as I thought,
have endeavored to have saved themselves on shore by the help of their
boat; but their firing of guns for help, especially when they saw, as I
imagined, my fire, filled me with many thoughts. First, I imagined that
upon seeing my light, they might have put themselves into their boat,
and have endeavored to make the shore; but that the sea going very
high, they might have been cast away. Other times I imagined that they
might have lost their boat before, as might be the case many ways; as,
particularly, by the breaking of the sea upon their ship, which many
times obliges men to stave, or take in pieces their boat, and sometimes
to throw it overboard with their own hands.
Other times I imagined they had some other ship or ships in company,
who, upon the signals of distress they had made, had taken them up and
carried them off. Other times I fancied they were all gone off to sea
in their boat, and being hurried away by the current that I had been
formerly in, were carried out into the great ocean, where there was
nothing but misery and perishing; and that, perhaps, they might by this
time think of starving, and of being in a condition to eat one another.
As all these were but conjectures at best, so, in the condition I was
in, I could do no more than look on upon the misery of the poor men,
and pity them; which had still this good effect on my side, that it
gave me more and more cause to give thanks to God, who had so happily
and comfortably provided for me in my desolate condition; and that
of two ships’ companies who were now cast away upon this part of the
world, not one life should be spared but mine. I learned here again
to observe, that it is very rare that the providence of God casts us
into any condition of life so low, or any misery so great, but we may
see something or other to be thankful for, and may see others in worse
circumstances than our own.
Such certainly was the case of these men, of whom I could not so much
as see room to suppose any of them were saved. Nothing could make it
rational so much as to wish or expect that they did not all perish
there, except the possibility only of their being taken up by another
ship in company; and this was but mere possibility indeed, for I saw
not the least sign or appearance of any such thing.
I cannot explain, by any possible energy of words, what a strange
longing or hankering of desires I felt in my soul upon this sight,
breaking out sometimes thus: “Oh 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.
CHAPTER XXI
_He Visits the Wreck and Obtains many Stores from it--Again Thinks of
Quitting the Island--Has a Remarkable Dream_
There are some secret moving springs in the affections which, when they
are set agoing by some object in view, or be it some object, 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! “Oh
that it had been but one!” I believe I repeated the words a thousand
times; and the desires were so moved by it, that when I spoke the
words my hands would clinch together, and my fingers press the palms
of my hands, that if I had had any soft thing in my hand, it would
have crushed it involuntarily; and my 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 what it should
proceed. It was doubtless the effect of ardent wishes, and of strong
ideas formed in my mind, realising 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, forbid 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
on no clothes 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 pocket but two
pieces of eight and a tobacco-pipe. The last was to me of ten times
more value than the first.
It was now calm, and I had a great mind to venture out in my boat to
this wreck, not doubting but I might find something on board that
might be useful to me. But that did not altogether press me so much
as the possibility that there might be yet some living creature on
board, whose life I might not only save, but might, by saving that
life, comfort my own to the last degree. And this thought clung so to
my heart, that I could not be quiet night nor day, but I must venture
out in my boat on board this wreck; and committing the rest to God’s
providence, I thought, the impression was so strong upon my mind
that it could not be resisted, that it must come from some invisible
direction, and that I should be wanting to myself if I did not go.
Under the power of this impression, I hastened back to my castle,
prepared everything for my voyage, took a quantity of bread, a great
pot for fresh water, a compass to steer by, a bottle of rum (for I had
still a great deal of that left), a basket full of raisins. And thus,
loading myself with everything necessary, I went down to my boat, got
the water out of her, and got her afloat, loaded all my cargo in her,
and then went home again for more. My second cargo was a great bag
full of rice, the umbrella to set up over my head for shade, another
large pot full 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 of which, with great labor and sweat, I brought to my
boat. And praying to God to direct my voyage, I put out; and rowing,
or paddling, the canoe along the shore, I came at last to the utmost
point of the island on that side, viz., N.E. And now I was to launch
out into the ocean, and either to venture or not to venture. I looked
on the rapid currents which ran constantly on both sides of the island
at a distance, and which were very terrible to me, from the remembrance
of the hazard I had been in before, and my heart began to fail me; for
I foresaw that if I was driven into either of those currents, I should
be carried a vast way out to sea, and perhaps out of my reach, or sight
of the island again; and that then, as my boat was but small, if any
little gale of wind should rise, I should be inevitably lost.
These thoughts so oppressed my mind, that I began to give over my
enterprise; and having hauled my boat into a little creek on the shore,
I stepped out, and sat me down upon a little 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 for so many hours impracticable. 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 but 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 of the island in my return, and
I should do well enough.
Encouraged with this observation, I resolved the next morning to set
out with the first of the tide, and reposing myself for the night in
the canoe, under the great watch-coat I mention, I launched out. I
made first 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 southern side current
had done before, and 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 was 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, and I took him into the boat, but found him
almost dead for hunger and thirst. I gave him a cake of my bread, and
he ate it like a ravenous wolf that had been starving a fortnight in
the snow. I then gave the poor creature some fresh water, with which,
if I would have let him, he would have burst himself.
After this I went on board; but the first sight I met with was two men
drowned in the cook-room, or forecastle of the ship, with their arms
fast about one another. I concluded, as is indeed probable, that when
the ship struck, it being in a storm, the sea broke so high, and so
continually over her, that the men were not able to bear it, and were
strangled with the constant rushing in of the water, as much as if
they had been under water. Besides the dog, there was nothing left in
the ship that had life; nor any goods that I could see, but what were
spoiled by the water. There were some casks of liquor, whether wine or
brandy I knew not, which lay lower in the hold, and which, the water
being ebbed out, I could see; but they were too big to meddle with. I
saw several chests which I believed belonged to some of the seamen; and
I got two of them into the boat, without examining what was in them.
Had the stern of the ship been fixed, and the forepart 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 by the course she steered, she must have
been bound from the Buenos Ayres, or the Rio de la Plata, in the south
part of America, beyond the Brazils, to Havana, 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 anybody; and what became of the rest of
her people, I then knew not.
I found, besides these chests, a little cask full of liquor, of about
twenty gallons, which I got into my boat with much difficulty. There
were several muskets in a 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 fire-shovel
and tongs, which I wanted extremely; as also two little brass kettles,
a copper pot to make chocolate, and a gridiron. And with this cargo,
and the dog, I came away, the tide beginning to make home again; and
the same evening, about an hour within night, I reached the island
again, weary and fatigued to the last degree.
I reposed that night in the boat; and in the morning I resolved to
harbor what I had gotten in my new cave, not to 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 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 half of
linen white handkerchiefs and colored neck-cloths. The former were also
very welcome, being exceeding refreshing to wipe my face on 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 out 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.
The other chest I found had some clothes in it, but of little value;
but by the circumstances, it must have belonged to the gunner’s mate;
though there was no powder in it, but about 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; ’twas 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 not had on my
feet now for many years. I had indeed gotten two pair of shoes now,
which I took off of 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 royals, 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
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, which, if I had ever escaped to England, would have
lain here safe enough till I might have come again and fetched it.
Having now brought all my things on shore, and secured them, I went
back to my boat, and rowed or paddled her along the shore to her old
harbor, where I laid her up, and made the best of my way to my old
habitation, where I found everything safe and quiet. So I began 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 this 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 anywhere, I knew not whither.
I have been, in all my circumstances, a memento to those who are
touched with the general plague of mankind, whence, for aught I know
one-half of their miseries flow; I mean, that of not being satisfied
with the station wherein God and Nature has placed them; for now to
look back upon my primitive condition, and the excellent advice of my
father, the opposition to which was, as I may call it, my _original
sin_, my subsequent mistakes of the same kind had been the means of
my coming into this miserable condition; for had that Providence,
which so happily had 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 stayed, I might have been worth an 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 ordinarily the fate of young heads, so reflection upon
the folly of it is as ordinarily the exercise of more years, or of
the dear-bought experience of time; and so it was with me now. And
yet, so deep had the mistake taken root in my temper, that I could
not satisfy myself in my station, but was continually poring upon the
means and possibility of my escape from this place. And that I may,
with the greater pleasure to the reader, bring on the remaining part
of my story, it may not be improper to give some account of my first
conceptions on the subject of this foolish scheme for my escape, and
how, and upon what foundation, I acted.
I am now to be supposed retired into my castle, after my late voyage to
the wreck, my frigate laid up and secured under water, as usual, and my
condition restored to what it was before. I had more wealth, indeed,
than I had before, but was not at all the richer; for I had no more use
for it than the Indians of Peru had before the Spaniards came there.
It was one of the nights in the rainy season in March, the four and
twentieth year of my first setting foot in this island of solitariness.
I was lying in my bed, or hammock, awake, very well in health, had no
pain, no distemper, no uneasiness of body, no, 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 as impossible, as needless, 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 the 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 ever since I had seen the print of a foot in the
sand; not that I did not believe the savages had frequented the island
even all the while, and might have been several hundreds of them at
times on shore there; but I had never know it, and was incapable of any
apprehensions about it. My satisfaction was perfect, though my danger
was the same; and I was as happy in not knowing my danger, as if I had
never really been exposed to it. This furnished my thoughts with many
very profitable reflections, and particularly this one: how infinitely
good that Providence is which has provided, in its government of
mankind, such narrow bounds to his sight and knowledge of things; and
though he walks in the midst of so many thousand dangers, the sight
of which, if discovered to him, would distract his mind and sink his
spirits, he is kept serene and calm, by having the events of things hid
from his eyes, and knowing nothing of the dangers which surround him.
After these thoughts had for some time entertained me, I came to
reflect seriously upon the real danger I had been in for so many
years in this very island, and how I had walked about in the greatest
security, and with all possible tranquillity, even when perhaps nothing
but a 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 did of 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 a 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, that all these unknown
deliverances were due, and without which I must inevitably have fallen
into their merciless hands.
When these thoughts were over, my head was for some time taken up in
considering the nature of these wretched creatures, I mean the savages,
and how it came to pass in the world that the wise Governor of all
things should give up any of His creatures to such inhumanity; nay, to
something so much below even brutality itself, as to devour its own
kind. But as this ended in some (at that time fruitless) speculations,
it occurred to me to inquire what part of the world these wretches
lived in? how far off the coast was from whence they came? what they
ventured over so far from home for? what kind of boats they had? and
why I might not order myself and my business so, that I might be as
able to go over thither, as they were to come to me.
I never so much as troubled myself to consider what I should do with
myself when I came thither; what would become of me, if I fell into
the hands of the savages; or how I should escape from them, if they
attempted me; no, nor so much as how it was possible for me to reach
the coast, and not be attempted 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 mainland. I looked back upon my present condition as the
most miserable that could possibly be; that I was not able to throw
myself into anything, but death, that could be called worse; that if I
reached the shore of the main, I might perhaps meet with relief, or I
might coast along, as I did on the shore of Africa, 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 worse 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 as it were desperate
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
the obtaining what I so earnestly longed for, viz., somebody to speak
to, and to learn some knowledge from of the place where I was, and of
the probable means of my deliverance. I say, 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
anything but to the project of a voyage to the main, which came upon me
with such force, and such an impetuosity of desire, that it was not to
be resisted.
When this had agitated my thoughts for two hours, or more, with such
violence that it set my very blood into a ferment, and my pulse beat
as high as if I had been in a fever, merely with the extraordinary
fervor of my mind about it, Nature, as if I had been fatigued and
exhausted with the very thought of it, threw me into a sound sleep. One
would have thought I should have dreamed of it, but I did not, nor of
anything relating to it; but 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 my ladder, made him go up, and carried him into my cave, and he
became my servant; and that as soon as I had gotten this man, I said to
myself, “Now I may certainly venture to the mainland; 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 escape.” 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 it was no more than a dream
were equally extravagant the other way, and threw me into a very great
dejection of spirit.
Upon this, however, I made this conclusion; that my only way to go
about an attempt for an escape was, if possible, to get a savage into
my possession; and, if possible, it should be one of their prisoners
whom they had condemned to be eaten, and should bring thither 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 me; 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 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 then was to contrive how to do it, and this indeed
was very difficult to resolve on. But as I could pitch upon no probable
means for it, so I resolved to put myself upon the watch, to see them
when they came on shore, and leave the rest to the event, taking such
measures as the opportunity should present, let be what would be.
With these resolutions in my thoughts, I set myself upon the scout as
often as possible, and indeed so often, till I was heartily tired of
it; for it was above a year and 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 see 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
that, viz., 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.
CHAPTER XXII
_Robinson Rescues One of Their Captives from the Savages, Whom He Names
Friday, and Makes His Servant_
About a year and half after I had entertained these notions, and by
long musing had, as it were, resolved them all into nothing, for want
of an occasion to put them in execution, I was surprised, one morning
early, with seeing no less than five canoes all on shore together on my
side the island, and the people who belonged to them all landed, and
out of my sight. The number of them broke all my measures; for seeing
so many, and knowing that they always came four, or six, or sometimes
more, in a boat, I could not tell what to think of it, or how to take
my measures to attack twenty or thirty men single-handed; so I 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 anything 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, that they had had meat dressed.
How they had cooked it, that I knew not, or what it was; but they were
all dancing, in I know not how many barbarous gestures and figures,
their own way, round the fire.
While I was thus looking on them, I perceived by my perspective two
miserable wretches dragged from the boats, where, it seems, they were
laid by, and were now brought out for the slaughter. I perceived one of
them immediately fell, being knocked down, I suppose, with a club or
wooden sword, for that was their way, and two or three others were at
work immediately, cutting him open for their cookery, while the other
victim was left standing by himself, till they should be ready for
him. In that very moment this poor wretch seeing himself a little at
liberty, 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 (that I must acknowledge) when I perceived
him to run my way, and especially when, as I thought, I saw him pursued
by the whole body; and now I expected that part of my dream was coming
to pass, and that he would certainly take shelter in my grove; but
I could not depend, by any means, upon my dream for the rest of it,
viz., that the other savages would not pursue him thither, and find him
there. However, I kept my station, and my spirits began to recover when
I found that there was not above three men that followed him; and still
more was I encouraged when I found that he outstripped them exceedingly
in running, and gained ground of them; so that if he could but hold it
for half an hour, I saw easily he would fairly get away from them all.
There was between them and my castle the creek, which I mentioned often
at the first part of my story, when I landed my cargoes out of the
ship; and this I saw plainly he must necessarily swim over, or the poor
wretch would be taken there. But when the savage escaping came thither
he made nothing of it, though the tide was then up; but plunging in,
swam through in about thirty strokes or thereabouts, landed, and ran
on with exceeding strength and swiftness. When the three persons came
to the creek, I found that two of them could swim, but the third could
not, and that, standing on the other side, he looked at the other,
but went no farther, and soon after went softly back, which, as it
happened, was very well for him in the main.
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
my 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 but 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 toward the sea, and having a very short cut,
and all down hill, clapped 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; and I beckoned
with my hand to him to come back; and, in the meantime, 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 with him stopped, as if
he had been frightened, and I advanced apace towards him; but as I came
nearer, I perceived presently he had a bow and arrow, and was fitting
it to shoot at me; so I was then necessitated to shoot at him first,
which I did, and killed him at the first shot.
The poor savage who fled, but had stopped, though he saw both his
enemies fallen and killed, as he thought, yet was so frightened with
the fire and noise of my piece, that he stood stock-still, and neither
came forward nor went backward, though he seemed rather inclined to fly
still, 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 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 my 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 showing him the
savage, that he was not dead, upon this he spoke some words to me; and
though I could not understand them, yet I thought they were pleasant to
hear; for they were the first sound of a man’s voice that I had heard,
my own excepted, for above twenty-five years. But there was no time for
such reflections now. The savage who was knocked down recovered himself
so far as to sit up upon the ground and I perceived that my savage
began to be afraid; but when I saw that, I presented my other piece at
the man, as if I would shoot him. Upon this my savage, for so I call
him now, made a motion to me to lend him my sword, which hung naked in
a belt by my side; so I did. He no sooner had it but he runs to his
enemy, and, at one blow, cut off his head as cleverly, no executioner
in Germany could have done it sooner or better; which I thought very
strange for one who, I had reason to believe, never saw a sword in his
life before, except their own wooden swords. However, it seems, as I
learned afterwards, they make their wooden swords so sharp, so heavy,
and the wood is so hard, that they will cut off heads even with
them, ay, and arms, and that at one blow too. When he had done this, he
came 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.
[Illustration: “_--and then he kneeled down again, kissed the ground,
and taking me by the foot, set my foot upon his head_”]
But that which astonished him most was to know how I had 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, turned him first on
one side, then on t’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 to him to follow me making signs to him
that more might come after them.
Upon this he signed 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 again to him 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 also by
the other. I believe he had buried them both in a quarter of an hour.
Then calling him away, I carried him, not to my castle, but quite away
to my cave, on the farther part of the island; so I did not let my
dream come to pass in that part, viz., that he came into my grove for
shelter.
Here I gave him bread and a bunch of raisins to eat, and a draught
of water, which I found he was indeed in great distress for, by his
running; and having refreshed him, I made signs for him to go lie down
and sleep, pointing to a place where I had laid a great parcel of
rice-straw, and a blanket upon it, which I used to sleep upon myself
sometimes; so the poor creature laid down, and went to sleep.
He was a comely, handsome fellow, perfectly well made, with straight
strong limbs, not too large, tall, and well-shaped, and, as I reckon,
about twenty-six years of age. He had a very good countenance, not a
fierce and surly aspect, but seemed to have something very manly in
his face; and yet he had all the sweetness and softness of an European
in his countenance too, especially when he smiled. His hair was long
and black, not curled like wool; his forehead very high and large; and
a great vivacity and sparkling sharpness in his eyes. The color of
his skin was not quite black, but very tawny; and yet not of 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 color, 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
white as ivory.
After he had slumbered, rather than slept, about half an hour, he
waked again, and came out of the cave to me, for I had been milking
my goats, which I had in the enclosure just by. When he espied me, he
came running to me, laying himself down again upon the ground, with
all the possible signs of an humble, thankful disposition, making
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 as 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 made 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 I gave him a cake of bread to do the like, which he
quickly complied with, and made signs that it was very good for him.
I kept there with him all that night; but as soon as it was day, I
beckoned to him to come with me, and let him know I would give him
some clothes; at which he seemed very glad, for he was stark naked.
As we went by the place where he had buried the two men, he pointed
exactly to the place, and showed me the marks that he had made to find
them again, making signs to me that we should dig them up again, and
eat them. At this I appeared very angry, expressed my abhorrence of
it, made as if I would vomit at the thoughts of it, and beckoned with
my hand to him to come away; which he did immediately, with great
submission. I then led him up to the top of the hill, to see if his
enemies were gone; and pulling out my glass, I looked, and saw plainly
the place where they had been, but no appearance of them or of their
canoes; so that it was plain that they were gone, and had left their
two comrades behind them, without any search after them.
But I was not content with this discovery; but having now more courage,
and consequently more curiosity, I took my man Friday with me, giving
him the sword in his hand, with the bow and arrows at his back, which
I found he could use very dexterously, making him carry one gun for
me, and I two for myself, and away we marched to the place where
these creatures had been; for I had a mind now to get some fuller
intelligence of them. When I came to the place, my very blood ran
chill in my veins, and my heart sunk within me, at the horror of the
spectacle. Indeed, it was a dreadful sight, at least it was so to me,
though Friday made nothing of it. The place was covered with human
bones, the ground dyed with their blood, great pieces of flesh left
here and there, half-eaten, mangled, and scorched; and, in short,
all the tokens of the triumphant feast they had been making there,
after a victory over their enemies. I saw three skulls, five hands,
and the bones of three or four legs and feet, and abundance of other
parts of the bodies; and Friday, by his signs, made me understand that
they brought over four prisoners to feast upon; that three of them
were eaten up, and that he, pointing to himself, was the fourth; that
there had been a great battle between them and their next king, whose
subjects it seems he had been one of, and that they had taken a great
number of prisoners; all of which were carried to several places by
those that had taken them in the fight, in order to feast upon them, as
was done here by these wretches upon those they brought hither.
I caused Friday to gather all the skulls, bones, flesh, and whatever
remained, and lay them together on a heap, and make a great fire upon
it, and burn them all to ashes. I found Friday had still a hankering
stomach after some of the flesh, and was still a cannibal in his
nature; but I discovered so much abhorrence at the very thoughts of it,
and at the least appearance of it, that he durst not discover it; for I
had, by some means, let him know that I would kill him if he offered it.
When we 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, and
which I found in the wreck; and which, with a little alteration, fitted
him very well. Then I made him a jerkin of goat’s skin, as well as my
skill would allow, and I was now grown a tolerable good tailor; and I
gave him a cap, which I had made of a hare-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 things at first;
wearing the drawers was very awkward to him, and the sleeves of the
waistcoat galled his shoulders, and the inside of his arms; but a
little easing them where he complained they hurt him, and using himself
to them, at length he took to them very well.
The next day after I came home to my hutch with him, I began to
consider where I should lodge him. And that I might do well for him,
and yet be perfectly easy myself, I made a little tent for him in the
vacant place between my two fortifications, in the inside of the last
and in the outside of the first; and 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 on the inside, I barred it up in the
night, taking in my ladders too; so that Friday could in 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 cross 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 made a great noise;
and as to weapons, I took them all into my side every night.
But I needed none of all this precaution; for never man had a more
faithful, loving, sincere servant than Friday was to me; without
passions, sullenness, or designs, perfectly obliged and engaged; his
very affections were tied to me, like those of a child to a father;
and I dare say he would have sacrificed his life for the saving mine,
upon any occasion whatsoever. The many testimonies he gave me of this
put it out of doubt, and soon convinced me that I needed to use no
precautions as to my safety on his account.
This frequently gave me occasion to observe, and that with wonder, that
however it had pleased God, in His providence, and in the government
of the works of His hands, to take from so great a part of the world
of His creatures the best uses to which their faculties and the powers
of their souls are adapted, yet that He has bestowed upon them the
same powers, the same reason, the same affections, the same sentiments
of kindness and obligation, the same passions and resentments of
wrongs, the same sense of gratitude, sincerity, fidelity, and all the
capacities of doing good, and receiving good, that He has given to us;
and that when He pleases to offer to 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. And 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 life saving knowledge from so many millions of
souls, who, if I might judge by this poor savage, would make a much
better use of it than we did.
From hence, I sometimes was led too far to invade the sovereignty
of Providence, and as it were arraign the justice of so arbitrary a
disposition of things, that should hide that light from some, and
reveal it to others, and yet expect a like duty from both. But I shut
it up, and checked my thoughts with this conclusion: first, that we
did not know by what light and law these should be condemned; but that
as God was necessarily, and by the nature of His being, infinitely
holy and just, so it could not be but that 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, second, that still, as we
are all the clay in the hand of the potter, no vessel could say to Him,
“Why hast Thou formed me thus?”
But to return to my new companion. I was greatly delighted with him,
and made it my business to teach him everything that was proper to make
him useful, handy, and helpful; but especially to make him speak, and
understand me when I spake. 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. And 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 while I lived.
CHAPTER XXIII
_Robinson Instructs and Civilizes His Man Friday and Endeavors to Give
Him an Idea of Christianity_
After I had been two or three days returned to my castle, I thought
that, in order to bring Friday off from his horrid way of feeding, and
from the relish of a cannibal’s stomach, I ought to let him taste other
flesh; so I took him out with me one morning to the woods. I went,
indeed, intending to kill a kid out of my own flock, and bring him
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 caught hold of Friday.
“Hold,” says 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, or 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 had shot at,
or perceive I had killed it, but ripped up his waistcoat to feel if 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
that the meaning was to pray me not to kill him.
I soon found a way to convince him that I would do him no harm; and
taking him up by the hand, laughed at him, and pointing to the kid
which I had killed, beckoned to him to run and fetch it, which he did;
and while he was wondering, and looking to see how the creature was
killed, I loaded my gun again; and by and by I saw a great fowl, like
a hawk, sit upon a tree, within shot; so, to let Friday understand
a little what I would do, I called him to me again, pointing 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 anything 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 anything
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 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 stayed
some time; for the parrot, not being quite dead, fluttered a good way
off 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 let
him see me do it, that I might be ready for any other mark that might
present. But nothing more offered at that time; so I brought home the
kid, and the same evening I took the skin off, and cut it out as well
as I could; and having a pot for that purpose, I boiled or stewed some
of the flesh, and made some very good broth; and 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 in 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 a great while, and then but a very
little.
Having thus fed him with boiled meat and broth, I was resolved to
feast him the next day with roasting a piece of the kid. This I did by
hanging it before the fire in a string, as I had seen many people do in
England, setting two poles up, one on each side of the fire, and one
cross 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 he would never eat man’s flesh
any more, which I was very glad to hear.
The next day I set him to work to beating some corn out, and sifting
it in the manner I used to do, as I observed before; and he soon
understood how to do it as well as I, especially after he had seen what
the meaning of it was, and that it was to make bread of; for after that
I let him see me make my bread, and bake it too; and in a little time
Friday was able to do all the work for me, as well as I could do it
myself.
I began now to consider that, having two mouths to feed instead of one,
I must provide more ground for my harvest, and plant a larger quantity
of corn than I used to do; so I marked out a larger piece of land, and
began the fence in the same manner as before, in which Friday not only
worked 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 labor upon me on his account, than I
had for myself; and that he would work the harder for me, if I would
tell him what to do.
This was the pleasantest year of all the life I led in this place.
Friday began to talk pretty well, and understand the names of almost
everything I had occasion to call for, and of every place I had to send
him to, and talk a great deal to me; so that, in short, I began now to
have some use for my tongue again, which, indeed, I had very little
occasion for before, that is to say, about speech. Besides the pleasure
of talking to him, I had a singular satisfaction in the fellow himself.
His simple, unfeigned honesty appeared to me more and more every day,
and I began really to love the creature; and, on his side, I believed
he loved me more than it was possible for him ever to love anything
before.
I had a mind once to try if he had any hankering inclination for his
own country again; and having taught him English so well that he could
answer me almost any questions, 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: “You
always fight the better,” said I. “How came you to be taken prisoner
then, Friday?”
_Friday._ My nation beat much for all that.
_Master._ How beat? If your nation beat them, how came you to be taken?
_Friday._ They more many than my nation in the place where me was; they
take one, two, three, and me. My nation overbeat them in the yonder
place, where me no was: there my nation take one, two, great thousand.
_Master._ But why did not your side recover you from the hands of your
enemies then?
_Friday._ They run one, two, three and me, and make go in the canoe; my
nation have no canoe that time.
_Master._ Well, Friday, and what does your nation do with the men they
take? Do they carry them away and eat them, as these did?
_Friday._ Yes, my nation eat mans too; eat all up.
_Master._ Where do they carry them?
_Friday._ Go to other place, where they think.
_Master._ Do they come hither?
_Friday._ Yes, yes, they come hither; come other else place.
_Master._ Have you been here with them?
_Friday._ Yes, I been here. (_Points to the N.W. side of the island,
which, it seems, was their side._)
By this I understood that my man Friday had formerly been among the
savages who used to come on shore on the farther part of the island, on
the same man-eating occasions that 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 ate up twenty men, two women, and one
child. He could not tell twenty in English, but he numbered them by
laying so many stones in a row, and pointing to me to tell them over.
I have told this passage, because it introduces what follows; that
after I had 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 the sea, there was a current and a 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 draught and reflux of the mighty river Orinoco, in the mouth or
the gulf of which river, as I found afterwards, our island lay; and
this land which I perceived to the W. and N.W. was the great island
Trinidad, on the north point of the mouth of the river. I asked Friday
a thousand questions about the country, the inhabitants, the sea, the
coast, and what nations were near. He told me all he knew, with the
greatest openness imaginable. I asked him the names of the several
nations of his sort of people, but could get no other name than Caribs;
from whence I easily understood that these were the Caribbees, which
our maps place on the part of America which reaches from the mouth of
the river Orinoco 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 W. 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 countries, and was remembered by all the
nations from father to son.
I inquired if he could tell me how I might come from this island and
get among those white men. He told me, “Yes, yes, I might 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 great 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 to do it.
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 who was his father. But I took it 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 do say O to him.”
I asked him if the people who die in his country went away anywhere?
He said, “Yes, they all went to Benamuckee.” Then I asked him whether
these they ate up went thither too? He said “Yes.”
From these things I began to instruct him in the knowledge of the true
God. I told him that the great Maker of all things lived up there,
pointing up towards heaven; that He governs the world by the same power
and providence by which He made it; that He was omnipotent, could do
everything for us, give everything to us, take everything 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 into heaven. He told me one day that if our
God could hear us up beyond the sun, He must needs be a greater God
than their Benamuckee, who lived but a little way off, and yet could
not hear till they went up to the great mountains where he dwelt to
speak to him. I asked him if he ever 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. But this I observed that there is priestcraft
even amongst the most blinded, ignorant pagans in the world; and the
policy of making a secret religion in order to preserve the veneration
of the people to the clergy is not only to be found in the Roman, but
perhaps among all religions in the world, even among the most brutish
and barbarous savages.
I endeavored to clear up this fraud to my man Friday, and told him that
the pretense 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
spoke with any one there, it must be with an evil spirit; and then I
entered into a long discourse with him about the devil, the original
of him, his rebellion against God, his enmity to man, the reason
of it, his setting himself up in the dark parts of the world to be
worshipped instead of God, and as God, and the many stratagems he made
use of to delude mankind to their ruin; how he had a secret access
to our passions and to our affections, to adapt his snares so to our
inclinations, as to cause us even to be our own tempters, and to run
upon our destruction by our own choice.
I found it was not so easy to imprint right notions in his mind about
the devil, as it was about the being of a God. Nature assisted all my
arguments to evidence to him even the necessity of a great First Cause
and overruling, 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 all this 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 dreadful
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 no much strong, much might as the devil?” “Yes, yes,” says
I, “Friday, God is stronger than the devil; God is above the devil, and
therefore we pray to God to tread him down under our feet, and enable
us to resist his temptation, and quench his fiery darts.” “But,” says
he again, “if God much strong, much might as the devil, why God no kill
the devil, so make him no more do wicked?”
I was strangely surprised at his question; and after all, though I was
now an old man, yet I was but a young doctor, and ill enough 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 returned upon me, repeating my words “Reserve at
last! me no understand; but why not kill the devil now? not kill great
ago?” “You may as well ask me,” said I, “why God does not kill you and
I, when we do wicked things here that offend Him; we are preserved to
repent and be pardoned.” He muses awhile at this. “Well, well,” says
he, mighty affectionately, “that well; so you, I, devil, all wicked,
all preserve, repent, God pardon all.” Here I was run down again by him
to the last degree, and it was a testimony to me how the mere notions
of nature, though they will guide reasonable creatures to the knowledge
of a God, and of a worship or homage due to the supreme being of God,
as the consequence of our nature, yet nothing but Divine revelation can
form the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and of a 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 Savior Jesus Christ, I mean the Word of God, and the Spirit of God,
promised for the guide and sanctifier of His people, are the absolutely
necessary instructors of the souls of men in the saving knowledge of
God, and the means of salvation.
I therefore diverted the present discourse between me and my man,
rising up hastily, as upon some sudden occasion of going out; then
sending him for something a good way off, I seriously prayed to
God that He would enable me to instruct savingly this poor savage,
assisting, by His Spirit, the heart of the poor ignorant creature to
receive the light of the knowledge of God in Christ, reconciling him to
Himself, and would guide me to speak so to him from the Word of God as
his conscience might be convinced, his eyes opened, and his soul saved.
When he came again to me, I entered into a long discourse with him upon
the subject of the redemption of man by the Savior of the world, and of
the doctrine of the Gospel preached from heaven, viz., of repentance
towards God, and faith in our blessed Lord Jesus. I then explained to
him as well as I could why our blessed Redeemer took not on Him the
nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham; and how, for that reason,
the fallen angels had no share in the redemption; that He came only to
the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and the like.
I had, God knows, more sincerity than knowledge in all the methods I
took for this poor creature’s instruction, and must acknowledge, what I
believe all that act upon the same principle will find, that in laying
things open to him, I really informed and instructed myself in many
things that either I did not know, or had not fully considered before,
but which occurred naturally to my mind upon my 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 set
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 myself to look up to heaven,
and to seek to the Hand that had brought me there, but was now to be
made an instrument, under Providence, to save the life, and, for aught
I know, 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, to know 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.
In this thankful frame I continued all the remainder of my time, and
the conversation which employed the hours between Friday and me was
such, as made the three years which we lived there together perfectly
and completely happy, if any such thing as complete happiness can be
formed in a sublunary state. The 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 to reading the Scripture, to let him know,
as well as I could, the meaning of what I read; and he again, by his
serious inquiries and questions, made me, as I said before, a much
better scholar in the Scripture-knowledge than I should ever have
been by my own private mere 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 repentance for my sins, and laying hold of a Savior for life
and salvation, to a stated reformation in practice, and obedience to
all God’s commands, and this without any teacher or instructor (I
mean human); so the same plain instruction sufficiently served to
the enlightening this savage creature, and bringing him to be such a
Christian, as I have known few equal to him in my life.
As to all the disputes, wranglings, strife, and contention which has
happened in the world about religion, whether niceties in doctrines,
or schemes of Church government, they were all perfectly useless to
us; as, for aught I can yet see, they have been to all the rest in 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 in 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.
CHAPTER XXIV
_Robinson and Friday Build a Canoe to Carry them to Friday’s
Country--Their Scheme Prevented by the Arrival of a Party of Savages_
After Friday and I became more intimately acquainted and that he could
understand almost all I said to him, and speak fluently, though in
broken English, to me, I acquainted him with my own story, or at least
so much of it as related to my coming into the place; how I had lived
there, and how long. I let him into the mystery, for such it was to
him, of gunpowder and bullet, and taught him how to shoot; I gave him a
knife, which he was wonderfully delighted with, and I made him a belt,
with a frog hanging to it, such as in England we wear hangers in; and
in the frog, instead of a hanger, I gave him a hatchet, which was not
only as good a weapon, in some cases, but much more useful upon other
occasions.
I described to him the country of Europe, and particularly England,
which I came from; how we lived, how we worshipped God, how we behaved
to one another, and how we traded in ships to all parts of the world.
I gave him an account of the wreck which I had been on board of, and
showed him, as near as I could, the place where she lay; but she was
all beaten in pieces before, and gone.
I showed him the ruins of our boat, which we lost when we escaped, and
which I could not stir with my whole strength then, but was now fallen
almost all to pieces. Upon seeing this boat, Friday stood musing a
great while, and said nothing. I asked him what it was he studied upon.
At last says he, “Me see such boat like come to place at my nation.”
I did not understand him a good while; but at last, when I had examined
farther into it, I understood by him that a boat such as that had been,
came on shore upon the country where he lived; that is, as he explained
it, was driven thither by stress of weather.
I presently imagined that some European ship must have been cast away
upon their coast, and the boat might get loose and drive ashore; but
was so dull, that I never once thought of men making escape from a
wreck thither, much less whence they might come; so I only inquired
after a description of the boat.
Friday described the boat to me well enough; but brought me better to
understand him when he added with some warmth, “We save the white mans
from drown.” Then I presently asked him if there was any white mans, as
he called them, in the boat. “Yes,” he said, “the boat full of white
mans.” I asked him how many. He told upon his fingers seventeen. I
asked him then what became of them. He told me, “They live, they dwell
at my nation.”
This put new thoughts into my head; for I presently imagined that these
might be the men belonging to the ship that was cast away in sight of
my island, as I now call 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.
I asked him how it came to pass they did not kill them, and eat them.
He said, “No, they make brother with them;” that is, as I understood
him, a truce; and then he added, “They no eat mans but when make the
war fight;” that is to say, they never eat any men but such as come to
fight with them and are taken in battle.
It was after this some considerable time, that being on 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
mainland, and, in a kind of surprise, falls a-jumping and dancing, and
calls out to me, for I was at some distance from him. I asked him what
was the matter? “O joy!” says he, “O glad! there see my country, there
my nation!”
I observed an extraordinary sense of pleasure appeared in his face,
and his eyes sparkled, and his countenance discovered a strange
eagerness, as if he had a mind to be in his own country again; and this
observation of mine put a great many thoughts into me, which made me at
first not so easy about my new man Friday as I was before; and I made
no doubt but that if Friday could get back to his own nation again, he
would not only forget all his religion, but all his obligation to me;
and would be forward enough to give his countrymen an account of me,
and come back perhaps with a hundred or two of them, and make a feast
upon me, at which he might be as merry as he used to be with those of
his enemies, when they were taken in war.
But I wronged the poor honest creature very much, for which I was very
sorry afterwards. However, as my jealousy increased, and held me some
weeks, I was a little more circumspect, and not so familiar and kind to
him as before; in which I was certainly in the wrong too, the honest,
grateful creature having no thought about it but what consisted with
the best principles, both as a religious Christian and as a grateful
friend, as appeared afterwards to my full satisfaction.
While my jealousy of him lasted, you may be sure I was every day
pumping him, to see if he would discover any of the new thoughts which
I suspected were in him; but I found everything he said was so honest
and so innocent, that I could find nothing to nourish my suspicion;
and, in spite of all my uneasiness, he made me at last entirely his
own again, nor did he in the least perceive that I was uneasy, and
therefore I could not suspect him of deceit.
One day, walking up the same hill, but the weather being hazy at
sea, so that we could not see the continent, I called to him, and
said, “Friday, do not you wish yourself in your own country, your own
nation?” “Yes,” he said, “I be much O glad to be at my own nation.”
“What would you do there?” said I. “Would you turn wild again, eat
men’s flesh again, and be a savage as you were before?” He looked
full of concern, and shaking his head said, “No, no; Friday tell them
to live good; tell them to pray God; tell them to eat corn-bread,
cattle-flesh, milk, no eat man again.” “Why then,” said I to him,
“they will kill you.” He looked grave at that, and then said, “No,
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 come in the boat. Then I asked him if he would go back to them?
He smiled at that, and told me he could not swim so far. I told him I
would make a canoe for him. He told me he would go, if I would go with
him. “I go?” says I; “why, they will eat me if I come there.” “No, no,”
says he, “me make they no eat you; me make they much love you.” He
meant, he would tell them how I had killed his enemies, and saved his
life, and so he would make them love me. Then he told me, as well as he
could, how kind they were to seventeen white men, or bearded men, as he
called them, who came on shore there in distress.
From this time I confess I had a mind to venture over, and see if I
could possibly join with these bearded men, who, I made no doubt, were
Spaniards or Portuguese; not doubting that, 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 the 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 and fast 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 told him then 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 victual, drink, bread;” that was his way of
talking.
Upon the whole, I was by this time so fixed upon my design of going
over with him to the continent, that I told him we would go and make
one as big as that, and he should go home in it. He answered not one
word, but looked very grave and sad. I asked him what was the matter
with him? He asked me again thus, “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! no angry!” says he, repeating the words
several times. “Why send Friday home away to my nation?” “Why,” says
I, “Friday, did you not 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 turned very quick upon me
at this: “You do great deal much good,” says he; “you teach wild mans
to 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, comes and
gives it me. “What must I do with this?” says I to him. “You take kill
Friday,” says he. “What must I kill you for?” said I again. He returns
very quick, “What you send Friday away for? Take kill Friday, no send
Friday away.” This he spoke so earnestly, that I saw tears stand in his
eyes. In a word, I so plainly discovered the utmost affection in him
to me, and a firm resolution in him, that I told him then, and often
after, that I would never send him away from me if he was willing to
stay with me.
Upon the whole, as I found by all his discourse a settled affection
to me, and that nothing should part him from me, so I found all the
foundation of his desire to go to his own country was laid in his
ardent affection to the people, and his hopes of my doing them good;
a thing which, as I had no notion of myself, so I had not the least
thought or intention or desire of undertaking it. But still I found a
strong inclination to my attempting an escape, as above, founded on
the supposition gathered from the discourse, viz., that there were
seventeen bearded men there; and, therefore, without any more delay I
went to work with Friday to find out a great tree proper to fell, and
make a large _periagua_, or canoe, to undertake the voyage. There
were trees enough in the island to have built a little fleet, not of
_periaguas_ and 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 color 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 rather to cut it out with tools; which, after I had showed him
how to use, he did very handily; and in about a month’s hard labor
we finished it, and made it very handsome; especially when, with our
axes, which I showed him how to handle, we cut and hewed the outside
into the true shape of a boat. After this, however, it cost us near a
fortnight’s time to get her along, as it were inch by inch, upon great
rollers into the water; but when she was in, she would have carried
twenty men with great ease.
When she was in the water, and though she was so big, it amazed me to
see with what dexterity, and how swift my man Friday would manage her,
turn her, and paddle her along. So I asked him if he would, and if we
might venture over in her. “Yes,” he said, “he 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 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 was 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 twenty-six years by me, and had not been very careful to preserve
them, not imagining that I should ever have this kind of use for
them, I did not doubt but they were all rotten, and, indeed, most of
them were so. However, I found two pieces which appeared pretty good,
and with these I went to work, and with a great deal of pains, and
awkward tedious 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’ longboats sail with,
and such as I best knew how to manage; because it was such a one as I
had to the boat in which I made my escape from Barbary, as related in
the first part of my story.
[Illustration: “--_we cut and hewed the outside into the true shape of
a boat_”]
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 foresail, 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; and though 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 labor as making the
boat.
After all this was done too, 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 jibed, and filled this
way, or that way, as the course we sailed changed; I say, when he saw
this, he stood like one astonished and amazed. However, with a little
use I made all these things familiar to him, and he became an expert
sailor, except that as to the compass I could make him understand very
little of that. On the other hand, as there was very little cloudy
weather, and seldom or never any fogs in those parts, there was the
less occasion for a compass, seeing the stars were always to be seen
by night, and the shore by day, except in the rainy seasons, and then
nobody cared to stir abroad, either by land or sea.
I was now entered on the seven and twentieth year of my captivity in
this place; though the three last years that I had this creature with
me ought rather to be left out of the account, my habitation being
quite of another kind than in all the rest of the time. I kept the
anniversary of my landing here with the same thankfulness to God for
His mercies as at first; and if I had such cause of acknowledgement
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. However, I went on with my husbandry,
digging, planting, fencing, as usual. I gathered and cured my grapes,
and did every necessary thing as before.
The rainy season was, in the meantime, upon me, when I kept more within
doors than at other times; so I had stowed our new vessel as secure
as we could, bringing her up into the creek, where, as I said in the
beginning, I landed my rafts from the ship; and hauling her up to the
shore at high-water mark, I made my man Friday dig a little dock, just
big enough to hold her, and just deep enough to give her water enough
to float in; and then, when the tide was out, we made a strong dam
cross 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 month of November and December, in which I
designed to make my adventure.
When the settled season began to come in, as the thought of my
design returned with the fair weather, I was preparing daily for the
voyage; and the first thing I did was to lay by a certain quantity of
provisions, being the stores for our voyage; and intended, in a week or
a fortnight’s time, to open the dock, and launch out our boat. I was
busy one morning upon something of this kind, when I called to Friday,
and bid him go to the seashore 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 his way of
speaking, I concluded there were six; but, on inquiry, I found it was
but three.
“Well, Friday,” says I, “do not be frightened.” So I heartened him up
as well as I could. However, I saw the poor fellow was most terribly
scared; for nothing ran in his head but that they were come to look
for him, and would cut him in pieces, and eat him; and the poor fellow
trembled so, that I scarce knew what to do with him. I comforted him
as well as I could, and told him I was in as much danger as he, and
that they would eat me as well as him. “But,” says I, “Friday, we
must resolve to fight them. Can you fight, Friday?” “Me shoot,” says
he; “but there come many great number.” “No matter for that,” said I
again; “our guns will frighten 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 load them with large swanshot, as big as small
pistol-bullets. Then I took four muskets, and loaded them with two
slugs and five small bullets each; and my two pistols I loaded with a
brace of bullets each. I hung my great sword, as usual, naked by my
side, and gave Friday his hatchet.
When I had thus prepared myself, I took my perspective-glass, and went
up to the side of the hill to see what I could discover; and I found
quickly, by my glass, that there were one and twenty savages, three
prisoners, and three canoes, and that their whole business seemed to be
the triumphant banquet upon these three human bodies; a barbarous feast
indeed, but nothing more than, as I had observed, was usual with them.
I observed also that they were landed, not where they had done when
Friday made his escape, but nearer to my creek, where the shore was
low, and where the thick wood came close almost 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 was now gotten over his fright,
and his spirits being a little raised with the dram I had given him, he
was very cheerful, and told me, as before, he would die when I bid die.
In this fit of fury, I took first 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 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 bullet; and as to orders, I charged him to keep close
behind me, and not to stir, or shoot, or do anything, till I bid him,
and in the meantime not to speak a word. In this posture I fetched a
compass to my right hand of near a mile as well to get over the creek
as to get into the wood, so that I might come within shot of them
before I should be discovered, which I had seen, by my glass, it was
easy to do.
While I was making this march, my former thoughts returning, I began
to abate my resolution. I do not mean that I entertained any fear of
their number; for as they were naked, unarmed wretches, ’tis 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 meantime, it
was none of my business; that, it was true, Friday might justify it,
because he was a declared enemy, and in 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 me. These things were so warmly
pressed upon my thoughts all the way as I went, that I resolved I
would only go and place myself near them, that I might observe their
barbarous feast, and that I would act then as God should direct; but
that, unless something offered that was more a call to me than yet I
knew of, I would not meddle with them.
With this resolution I entered the wood, and with all possible wariness
and silence, Friday following close at my heels, I marched till I came
to the skirt of the wood, on the side which was next to them; only that
one corner of the wood lay between me and them. Here I called softly
to Friday, and showing him a great tree, which was just at the corner
of the wood, I bade him go to the tree and bring me word if he could
see there plainly what they were doing. He did so, and came immediately
back to me, and told me they might be plainly viewed there; that they
were all about their fire, eating the flesh of one of their prisoners,
and that another lay bound upon the sand, a little from them, which, he
said, they would kill next; and, which fired all the very soul within
me, he told me it was not one of their nation, but one of the bearded
men, whom 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 feet tied with flags, or
things like rushes, and that he was an European, and had clothes on.
There was another tree, and a little ticket 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 when I
should be within half 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 I came to a little rising ground, which gave
me a full view of them, at the distance of about eighty yards.
CHAPTER XXV
_Robinson Releases a Spaniard--Friday Discovers His
Father--Accommodation Provided for These New Guests, Who Were Afterward
Sent to Liberate the Other Spaniards--Arrival of an English Vessel_
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 stooped 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 do the like.
Then asking him if he was ready, he said, “Yes.” “Then fire at them,”
said I; and the same moment I fired also.
Friday took his aim so much better than I, that on the side that he
shot he killed two of them, and wounded three more; and on my side I
killed one and wounded two. They were, you may be sure, in a dreadful
consternation; and all of them who were not hurt jumped up 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,” said he. “Let fly, then,” said 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 loaded with what I called swanshot
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 miserably wounded most of them; whereof three more fell
quickly after, though not quite dead.
“Now, Friday,” says I, laying down the discharged pieces, and taking
up the musket which was yet loaded, “follow me,” says I, 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
loaden with arms as I was, I made directly towards the poor victim,
who was, as I said, lying upon the beach, or shore, between the place
where they sat and the sea. The two butchers, who were just going to
work with him, had left him at the surprise of our first fire, and fled
in a terrible fright to the seaside, and had jumped into a canoe, and
three more of the rest made the same way. I turned to Friday, and bid
him step forwards and fire at them. He understood me immediately, and
running about forty yards, to be near 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.
[Illustration: “--_and no sooner had he the arms in his hands but, as
if they had put new vigor into him, he flew upon his murderers like a
fury_”]
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 who 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 ate. 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. “Señor,” said I, with as much Spanish as
I could make up, “we will talk afterwards, but we must fight now. If
you have any strength left, take this pistol and sword, and lay about
you.” He took them very thankfully, and no sooner had he the arms in
his hands but, as if they had put new vigor into him, he flew upon his
murderers like a fury, and had cut two of them in pieces in an instant;
for the truth is, as the whole was a surprise to them, so the poor
creatures were so much frightened with the noise of our pieces, that
they fell down for mere amazement and fear, and had no more power to
attempt their own escape, than their flesh had to resist our shot; and
that was the case of those five that Friday shot at in the boat; for
as three of them fell with the hurt they received, so the other two
fell with the fright.
I kept my piece in my hand still without firing, being willing to
keep my charge ready, because I had given the Spaniard my pistol and
sword. So I called to Friday, and bade him run up to the tree from
whence we first fired, and fetch the arms which lay there that had
been discharged, which he did with great swiftness; and then giving
him my musket, I sat down myself to load all the rest again, and bade
them come to me when they wanted. While I was loading these pieces,
there happened a fierce engagement between the Spaniard and one of the
savages, who made at him with one of their great wooden swords, the
same weapon that was to have killed him before if I had not prevented
it. The Spaniard, who was as bold and as brave as could be imagined,
though weak, had fought this Indian a good while, and had cut him two
great wounds on his head; but the savage being a stout lusty fellow,
closing in with him, had thrown him down being faint, and was wringing
my sword out of his hand, when the Spaniard, though undermost, wisely
quitting the sword, drew the pistol from his girdle, shot the savage
through the body, and killed him upon the spot, before I, who was
running to help him, could come near him.
Friday being now left to his liberty, pursued the flying wretches with
no weapon in his hand but his hatchet; and with that he despatched
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 away 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, who we know not whether he died
or no, were all that escape our hands of one and twenty. The account of
the rest is as follows:--
3 killed at our first shot from the tree.
2 killed at the next shot.
2 killed by Friday in the boat.
2 killed by ditto, of those at first wounded.
1 killed by ditto in the wood.
3 killed by the Spaniard.
4 killed, being found dropped here and there of their
wounds, or killed by Friday in his chase of them.
4 escaped in the boat, whereof one wounded, if not dead.
--
21 in all.
Those that were in the canoe worked hard to get out of gun-shot; and
though Friday made two or three shots at them, I did not find that
he hit any of them. Friday would fain have had me take one of their
canoes, and pursue them; and, indeed, I was very anxious about their
escape, lest carrying the news home to their people they should come
back perhaps with two or three hundred of their 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 alive, bound hand and foot, as the Spaniard was, for the
slaughter, and almost dead with fear, not knowing what the matter was;
for he had not been able to look up over the side of the boat, he was
tied so hard, neck and heels, and had been tied so long, that he had
really but little life in him.
I immediately cut the twisted flags or rushes, which they had bound him
with, and would have helped him up; but he could not stand or speak,
but groaned most piteously, believing, it seems, still that he was only
unbound in order to be killed.
When Friday came to him, I bade him speak to him, and tell him of his
deliverance; and pulling out my bottle made him give the poor wretch a
dram; which, with the news of his being delivered, revived him, and he
sat up in the boat. But when Friday came to hear him speak, and look in
his face, it would have moved any one to tears to have seen how Friday
kissed him, embraced him, hugged him, cried, laughed, hallooed, jumped
about, danced, sang; then cried again, wrung his hands, beat his own
face and head, and then sang and jumped about again, like a distracted
creature. It was a good while before I could make him speak to me, or
tell me what was the matter; but when he came a little to himself, he
told me that it was his father.
It is not easy for me to express how it moved me to see what ecstasy
and filial affection had worked in this poor savage at the sight of
his father, and of his being delivered from death; nor, indeed, can I
describe half the extravagances of his affection after this; for he
went into the boat, and out of the boat, a great many times. When he
went in to him, he would sit down by him, open his breast, and hold his
father’s head close to his bosom, half an hour together to nourish it;
then he took his arms and ankles, which were numbed and stiff with the
binding, and chafed and rubbed them with his hands; and I, perceiving
what the case was, gave him some rum out of my bottle to rub them with,
which did them a great deal of good.
This action put an end to our pursuit of the canoe with the other
savages, who were now gotten 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 gotten a quarter of the way, and continued blowing
so hard all night, and that from the north-west, which was against
them, that I should not suppose their boat could live, or that they
ever reached to their own coast.
But to return to Friday. He was so busy about his father, that I could
not find in my heart to take him off for some time; but after I thought
he could leave him a little, called him to me, and he came jumping and
laughing, and pleased to the highest extreme. Then I asked him if he
had given his father any bread. He shook his head, and said, “None;
ugly dog eat all up self.” So I 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 also two or three bunches of my 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
of his foot 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 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 was 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 got
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. This water revived his father more than all the rum
or spirits I had given him, for he was just fainting with thirst.
When his father had drank, I called to him to know if there was any
water left. He said “Yes”; and I bade him give it to the poor Spaniard,
who was in as much want of it as his father; and I sent one of the
cakes, that Friday brought, to the Spaniard too, who was indeed very
weak, and was reposing himself upon a green place under the shade of a
tree; and whose limbs were also very stiff, and very much swelled with
the rude bandage he had been tied with. When I saw that upon Friday’s
coming to him with the water he sat up and drank, and took the bread,
and began to eat, I went to him, and gave him a handful of raisins. He
looked up in my face with all the tokens of gratitude and thankfulness
that could appear in any countenance; but was so weak, notwithstanding
he had so exerted himself in the fight, that he could not stand up upon
his feet. He tried to do it two or three times, but was really not
able, his ankles were so swelled and so painful to him; so I bade him
sit still, and caused Friday to rub his ankles, and bathe them with
rum, as he had done his father’s.
I observed the poor affectionate creature, every two minutes, or
perhaps less, all the while he was here, turn his head about to see if
his father was in the same place and posture as he left him sitting;
and at last he found he was not to be seen; at which he started up,
and without speaking a word, flew with that swiftness to him, that one
could scarce perceive his feet to touch the ground as he went. But when
he came, he only found he had laid himself down to ease his limbs; so
Friday came back to me presently, and I then spoke to the Spaniard to
let Friday help him up, if he could, and lead him to the boat, and then
he should carry him to our dwelling, where I would take care of him.
But Friday, a lusty strong fellow, took the Spaniard quite up upon his
back, and carried him away to the boat, and set him down softly upon
the side or gunwale of the canoe, with his feet in the inside of it,
and then lifted him quite in, and set him close to his father; and
presently stepping out again, launched the boat off, and paddled it
along the shore faster than I could walk, though the wind blew pretty
hard too. So he brought them both safe into our creek, and leaving them
in the boat, ran away to fetch the other canoe. As he passed me, I
spoke to him, and asked him whither he went. He told me, “Go fetch more
boat.” So away he went like the wind, for sure never man or horse ran
like him; and he had the other canoe in the creek almost as soon as I
got to it by land; so he wafted me over, and then went to help our new
guests out of the boat, which he did; but they were neither of them
able to walk, so that poor Friday knew not what to do.
To remedy this I went to work in my thought, and calling to Friday to
bid him sit down on the bank while he came to me, I soon made a kind
of hand-barrow to lay them on, and Friday and I carried them up both
together upon it between us. But when we got them to the outside of
our wall, or fortification, we were at a worse loss than before, for
it was impossible to get them over, and I was resolved not to break it
down. So I set to work again; and Friday and I, in about two hours’
time, made a very handsome tent, covered with old sails, and above that
with boughs of trees, being in the space without our outward fence,
and between that and the grove of young wood which I had planted; and
here we made them two beds of such things as I had, viz., of good
rice-straw, with blankets laid upon it to lie on, and another to cover
them, on each bed.
My island was now peopled, and I thought myself very rich in subjects;
and it was a merry reflection, which I frequently made, how like a king
I looked. First of all, the whole country was my own mere property, so
that I had an undoubted right of dominion. Secondly, my people were
perfectly subjected. I was absolute lord and lawgiver; they all owed
their lives to me, and were ready to lay down their lives, if there had
been occasion of it, for me. It was remarkable, too, we had but three
subjects, and they were of three different religions. My man Friday was
a Protestant, his father was a Pagan and a cannibal, and the Spaniard
was a Papist. However, I allowed liberty of conscience throughout my
dominions. But this is by the way.
As soon as I had secured my two weak rescued prisoners, and given them
shelter and a place to rest them upon, I began to think of making some
provision for them; and the first thing I did, I ordered Friday to take
a yearling goat, betwixt a kid and a goat, out of my particular flock,
to be killed; when I cut off the hinder-quarter, and chopping it into
small pieces, I set Friday to work to boiling and stewing, and made
them a very good dish, I assure you, of flesh and broth, having put
some barley and rice also into the broth; and as I cooked it without
doors, for I made no fire within my inner wall, so I carried it all
into the new tent, and having set a table there for them, I sat down
and ate my own dinner also with them, and as well as I could cheered
them, and encouraged them; Friday being my interpreter, especially to
his father, and indeed, to the Spaniard too; for the Spaniard spoke the
language of the savages pretty well.
After we had dined, or rather supped, I ordered Friday to take one of
the canoes and go and fetch our muskets and other firearms, 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; and I also ordered
him to bury the horrid remains of their barbarous feast, 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 defaced the
very appearance of the savages being there; so that when I went again
I could scarce know where it was, otherwise than by the corner of the
wood pointing to the place.
I then began to enter into a little conversation with my two new
subjects; and first, I set Friday to inquire of his father what he
thought of the escape of the savages in that canoe, and whether we
might expect a return of them, with a power too great for us to resist.
His first opinion was, that the savages in the boat never could live
out the storm which blew that night they went off, but must, of
necessity, be drowned, or driven south to those other shores, where
they were as sure to be devoured as they were to be drowned if they
were cast away. But as to what they would do if they came safe on
shore, he said he knew not; but it was his opinion that they were so
dreadfully frightened with the manner of their being attacked, the
noise, and the fire, that he believed they would tell their people
they were all killed by thunder and lightning, not by the hand of
man; and that the two which appeared, viz., Friday and me, 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 to one another; for it was impossible to 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 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, me and
all my army; for as we were now four of us, I would have ventured upon
a hundred of them, fairly in the open field, at any time.
In a little time, however, no more canoes appearing, the fear of their
coming wore off, and I began to take my former thoughts of a voyage
to the main into consideration; being likewise assured, by Friday’s
father, that I might depend upon good usage from their nation, on his
account, if I would go.
But my thoughts were a little suspended when I had a serious discourse
with the Spaniard, and when I understood that there were sixteen more
of his countrymen and Portuguese, who, having been cast away, and
made their escape to that side, lived there at peace, indeed, with
the savages, but were very sore put to it for necessaries, and indeed
for life. I asked him all the particulars of their voyage, and found
they were a Spanish ship bound from the Rio de la Plata to Havana,
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 the
first ship was lost, and that these escaped, through infinite dangers
and hazards, and arrived, almost starved, on the cannibal coast, where
they expected to have been devoured every moment.
He told me they had some arms with them, but they were perfectly
useless, for that they had neither powder nor ball, the washing of the
sea having spoiled all their powder but a little, which they used, at
their first landing, to provide themselves some food.
I asked him what he thought would become of them there, and if they
had formed no design of making any escape? He said they had many
consultations about it; but that having neither vessel, or tools to
build one, or provisions of any kind, their councils always ended in
tears and despair.
I asked him how he thought they would receive a proposal from me, which
might tend towards an escape; and whether, if they were all here, it
might not be done? I told him with freedom, I feared mostly their
treachery and ill usage of me if I put my life in their hands; for that
gratitude was no inherent virtue in the nature of man, nor did men
always square their dealings by the obligations they had received, so
much as they did by the advantages they expected. I told him it would
be very hard that I should be the instrument of their deliverance, and
that they should afterwards make me their prisoner, in New Spain, where
an Englishman was certain to lose his life, what necessity or what
accident soever brought him thither; and that I had rather be delivered
up to the savages, and be devoured alive. I added, that otherwise I
was persuaded, if they were all here, we might, with so many hands,
build a bark large enough to carry us all away, either to the Brazils,
southward, or to the islands, or Spanish coast, northward; but that
if, in requital, they should, when I had put weapons into their hands,
carry me by force among their own people, I might be ill used for my
kindness to them, and make my case worse than it was before.
He answered, with a great deal of candor and ingenuity, that their
condition was so miserable, and they were so sensible of it, that
he believed they would abhor the thought of using any man unkindly
that should contribute to their deliverance; and that, if I pleased,
he would go to them with the old man, and discourse with them about
it, and return again, and bring me their answer; that he would make
conditions with them upon their solemn oath that they should be
absolutely under my leading, as their commander and captain; and that
they should swear upon the holy sacraments and the gospel to be true to
me, and to go to such Christian country as that I should agree to, and
no other, and to be 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 nor
clothes, nor any food, but at the mercy and discretion of the savages;
out of all hopes of ever returning to their own country; and that he
was sure, if I would undertake their relief, they would live and die by
me.
Upon these assurances, I resolved to venture to relieve them, if
possible, and to send the old savage and this Spaniard over to them
to treat. But when we had gotten all things in readiness to go, the
Spaniard himself started an objection, which had so much prudence in
it on one hand, and so much sincerity on the other hand, that I could
not but be very well satisfied in it, and by his advice put off the
deliverance of his comrades for at least half a year. The case was thus:
He had been with us now about a month, during which time I had let him
see in what manner I had provided, with the assistance of Providence,
for my support; and he saw evidently what stock of corn and rice I had
laid up; which, as it was more than sufficient for myself, so it was
not sufficient, at least without good husbandry, for my family, now it
was increased to number four; but much less would it be sufficient if
his countrymen, who were, as he said, fourteen, 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
advisable to let him and the two others dig and cultivate some more
land, as much as I could spare seed to sow; and that we should wait
another harvest, that we might have a supply of corn for his countrymen
when they should come; for want might be a temptation to them to
disagree, or not to think themselves delivered, otherwise than out
of one difficulty into another. “You know,” says he, “the children of
Israel, though they rejoiced at first for their being delivered out of
Egypt, yet rebelled even against God Himself, that delivered them, when
they came to want bread in the wilderness.”
His caution was so seasonable, and his advice so good, that I could not
but be very well pleased with his proposal, as well as I was satisfied
with his fidelity. So we fell to digging all four of us, as well as the
wooden tools we were furnished with permitted; and in about a month’s
time, by the end of which it was seed-time, we had gotten as much land
cured and trimmed up as we sowed twenty-two bushels of barley on, and
sixteen jars of rice; which was, in short, all the seed we had to
spare; nor, indeed, did we leave ourselves barley sufficient for our
own food for the six months that we had to expect our crop; that is to
say, reckoning from the time we set our seed aside for sowing; for it
is not to be supposed it is six months in the ground in that country.
Having now society enough, and our number being sufficient to put us
out of fear of the savages, if they had come, unless their number
had been very great, we went freely all over the island, whenever we
found occasion; and as here we had our escape or deliverance upon our
thoughts, it was impossible, at least for me, to have the means of it
out of mine. To 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 thought 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 labor it took up,
any one may imagine.
At the same time, I contrived to increase my little flock of tame goats
as much as I could; and to this purpose I made Friday and the Spaniard
go out one day, and myself with Friday the next day, for we took our
turns, and by this means we got about twenty young kids to breed up
with the rest, for whenever we shot the dam, we saved the kids, and
added them to our flock. But above all, the season for curing the
grapes coming on, I caused such a prodigious quantity to be hung up
in the sun, that I believe, had we been at Alicant, where the raisins
of the sun are cured, we could have filled sixty or eighty barrels;
and these, with our bread, was a great part of our food, and very good
living too, I assure you; for it is an exceeding nourishing food.
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 our twenty-two bushels we brought in
and thrashed 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, of America.
When we had thus housed and secured our magazine of corn, we fell to
work to make more wicker-work, 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 defense of this
kind of work; but I saw no need of it.
And now having a full supply of food for all the guests I expected, I
gave the Spaniard leave to go over to the main, to see what he could do
with those he had left behind him there. I gave him a strict charge in
writing not to bring any man with him who would not first swear, in the
presence of himself and of 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 to send for them in order to their deliverance; but that they
would stand by and defend him against all such attempts, and wherever
they went would be entirely under and subjected to his commands; and
that this should be put in writing, and signed with their hands. How we
were to have this done, when I knew they had neither pen nor ink, that
indeed 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 occasion.
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 their countrymen for about eight
days’ time; and wishing them a good voyage, I saw them go, agreeing
with them about a signal they should hang out at their return, by which
I should know them again, when they came back, at a distance, before
they came on shore.
They went away with a fair gale on the day that the moon was at full,
by my account in the month of October; but as for an exact reckoning of
days, after I had once lost it, I could never recover it again; nor had
I kept even the number of years so punctually as to be sure that I was
right, though as it proved, when I afterwards examined my account, I
found I had kept a true reckoning of years.
It was no less than eight days I had waited for them, when a strange
and unforeseen accident intervened, of which the like has not perhaps
been heard of in history. I was fast asleep in my hutch one morning,
when my man Friday came running in to me, and called aloud, “Master,
master, they are come, they are come!”
I jumped up, and, regardless of danger, I went out as soon as I could
get my clothes on, through my little grove, which, by the way, was by
this time grown to be a very thick wood; I say, regardless of danger,
I went without my arms, which was not my custom to do; but I was
surprised when, turning my eyes to the sea, I presently saw a boat at
about a league and a half’s 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 bid 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
anything, and to take my view the plainer, without being discovered.
I had scarce set my foot on the hill, when my eye plainly discovered a
ship lying at an anchor at about two leagues and a half’s distance from
me, south-south-east, 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 longboat.
I cannot express the confusion I was in; though the joy of seeing
a ship, and one who 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 English really, it was most probable that they were here upon no
good design; and that I had better continue as I was, than fall into
the hands of thieves and murderers.
Let no man despise the secret hints and notices of danger which
sometimes are given him when he may think there is no possibility of
its being real. That such hints and notices are given us, I believe
few that have made any observation of things can deny; that they are
certain discoveries of an invisible world, and a converse of spirits,
we cannot doubt; and if the tendency of them seems to be to warn us of
danger, why should we not suppose they are from some friendly agent,
whether supreme, or inferior and subordinate, is not the question, and
that they are given for our good?
The present question abundantly confirms me in the justice of this
reasoning; for had I not been made cautious by this secret admonition,
come it from whence it will, I had been undone inevitably, and in a far
worse condition than before, as you will see presently.
I had not kept myself long in this posture, but I saw the boat draw
near the shore, as if they looked for a creek to thrust in at, for the
convenience of landing. However, as they did not come quite far enough,
they did not see the little inlet where I formerly landed my rafts;
but ran 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, as I may say, at my door, 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 that they were
Englishmen, at least most of them; one or two I thought were Dutch,
but it did not prove so. There were in all eleven men, whereof three
of them I found were unarmed, and, as I thought, bound; and when the
first four or five of them were jumped on shore, they took those three
out of the boat, as prisoners. One of the three I could perceive using
the most passionate gestures of entreaty, affliction, and despair, even
to a kind of extravagance; the other two, I could perceive, lifted up
their hands sometimes, and appeared concerned indeed, but not to such a
degree as the first.
I was perfectly confounded at the sight, and knew not what the meaning
of it should be. Friday called out to me in English as well as he
could, “O master! you see English mans eat prisoner as well as savage
mans.” “Why,” says I, “Friday, do you think they are agoing to eat them
then?” “Yes,” says Friday, “they will eat them.” “No, no,” says I,
“Friday, I am afraid they will murder them, indeed, but you may be sure
they will not eat them.”
All this while I had no thought of what the matter really was, but
stood trembling with the horror of the sight, expecting every moment
when the three prisoners should be killed; nay, once I saw one of the
villains lift up his arm with a great cutlass, as the seamen call it,
or sword, to strike one of the poor men; and I expected to see him
fall every moment, at which all the blood in my body seemed to run
chill in my veins.
I wished heartily now for my Spaniard, and the savage that was gone
with him; or that I had any way to have come undiscovered within shot
of them, that I might have rescued the three men, for I saw no firearms
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 land,
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 destitute, 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.
CHAPTER XXVI
_Robinson Discovers Himself to the English Captain--Assists Him In
Reducing His Mutinous Crew, Who Submit to Him_
It was just at the top of high-water when these people came on shore;
and while partly they stood parleying with the prisoners they brought,
and partly while they rambled about to see what kind of a place they
were in, they had carelessly stayed 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 sooner than the other, and finding the boat too fast aground
for him to stir it, hallooed 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 ye?
she will 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 be on 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 meantime, I fitted myself up for a battle, as before, though
with more caution, knowing I had to do with another kind of enemy than
I had at first. I ordered Friday also, whom I had made an excellent
marksman with his gun, to load himself with arms. I took myself two
fowling-pieces, and I gave him three muskets. My figure, indeed, was
very fierce. I had my formidable goat-skin coat on, with the great cap
I have mentioned, a naked sword by my side, two pistols in my belt, and
a gun upon each shoulder.
It was my design, as I said above, not to have made any attempt till
it was dark; but about two o’clock, being the heat of the day, I found
that, in short, they were all gone straggling into the wood, and, as I
thought, were laid down to sleep. The three poor distressed men, too
anxious for their condition to get any sleep, were, however, set 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 you, when you did not expect
it.” “He must be sent directly from heaven then,” said one of them very
gravely to me, and pulling off his hat at the same time to me, “for our
condition is past the help of man.” “All help is from heaven, sir,”
said I. “But can you put a stranger in the way how to help you, for you
seem to me to be in some great distress? I saw you when you landed; and
when you seemed to make applications to the brutes that came with you,
I saw one of them lift up his sword to kill you.”
The poor man, with tears running down his face, and trembling, looking
like one astonished, returned, “Am I talking to God, or man? Is it
a real man, or an angel?” “Be in no fear about that, sir,” said I.
“If God had sent an angel to relieve you, he would have come better
clothed, and armed after another manner than you see me in. 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; 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 those brutes, your enemies?” said I. “Do you know where
they are gone?” “There they lie, sir,” said he, pointing to a thicket
of trees. “My heart trembles for fear they have seen us, and heard you
speak. If they have, they will certainly murder us all.”
“Have they any firearms?” said I. He answered, “They have only two
pieces, and one 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 describe them, but he would obey my orders
in anything I would direct. “Well,” says I, “let us retreat out of
their view or hearing, lest they awake, and we will resolve farther.”
So they willingly went back with me, till the woods covered us from
them.
“Look you, sir,” said I, “if I venture upon your deliverance, are you
willing to make two conditions with me?” He anticipated my proposals,
by telling me that both he and the ship, if recovered, should be
wholly directed and commanded by me in everything; 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. 1. That while you stay on
this island with me, you will not pretend to any authority here; and if
I put arms into your hands, you will, upon all occasions, give them up
to me, and do no prejudice to me or mine upon this island; and in the
meantime, be governed by my orders. 2. That if the ship is, or may be,
recovered, you will carry me and my man to England, passage free.”
He gave me all the assurances that the invention and 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 testimony of his gratitude that he was able, but offered to
be wholly guided by me. I told him I thought it was hard venturing
anything; but the best method I could think of was to fire upon them at
once, as they lay; and if any was 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 loth to kill them, if he could help
it; but that those two were incorrigible villains, and had been the
authors of all the mutiny in the ship, and if they escaped, we should
be undone still; for they would go on board and bring the whole
ship’s company, and destroy us all. “Well then,” says I, “necessity
legitimates my advice, for it is the only way to save our lives.”
However, seeing him still cautious of shedding blood, I told him they
should go themselves, and manage as they found convenient.
In the middle of this discourse we heard some of them awake, and soon
after we saw two of them on their feet. I asked him if either of them
were of the men who he had said were the heads of the mutiny? He said,
“No.” “Well then,” said I, “you may let them escape; and Providence
seems to have wakened them on purpose to save themselves. Now,” says I,
“if the rest escape you, it is your fault.”
Animated by 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 man
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 upon
his feet, and called eagerly for help to the other. But the captain
stepping to him, told him ’twas too late to cry for help, he should
call upon God to forgive his villainy; and with that word knocked him
down with the stock of his musket, so that he never spoke more. There
were three more in the company, and one of them was also slightly
wounded. By this time I was come; and when they saw their danger, and
that it was in vain to resist, they begged for mercy. The captain told
them he would spare their lives if they would give him any assurance of
their abhorrence of the treachery they had been guilty of, and would
swear to be faithful to him in recovering the ship, and afterwards in
carrying her back to Jamaica, from whence they came. They gave him all
the protestations of their sincerity that could be desired, and he
was willing to believe them, and spare their lives, which I was not
against, only I obliged him to keep them bound hand and foot while they
were upon the island.
While this was doing, I sent Friday with the captain’s mate to the
boat, with orders to secure her, and bring away the oars and sail,
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 their captain, who before was their prisoner, now their
conqueror, they submitted to be bound also, and so our victory was
complete.
It now remained that the captain and I should inquire into one
another’s circumstances. I began first, and told him my whole history,
which he heard with an attention even to amazement; and particularly
at the wonderful manner of my being furnished with provisions and
ammunition; and, indeed, as my story is a whole collection of wonders,
it affected him deeply. But when he reflected from thence upon himself,
and how I seemed to have been preserved there on purpose to save his
life, the tears ran down his face, and he could not speak a word more.
After this communication was at an end, I carried him and his two men
into my apartment, leading them in just where I came out, viz., at the
top of the house, where I refreshed them with such provisions as I had,
and showed them all the contrivances I had made during my long, long
inhabiting that place.
All I showed them, all I said to them, was perfectly amazing; but
above all, the captain admired my fortification, and how perfectly I
had concealed my retreat with a grove of trees, which, having been
now planted near twenty years, and the trees growing much faster
than in England, was become a little wood, and so thick, that it was
impassable in any part of it but at that one side where I had reserved
my little winding passage into it. I told him this was my castle and
my residence, but that I had a seat in the country, as most princes
have, whither I could retreat upon occasion, and I would show him
that too another time; but at present, our business was to consider
how to recover the ship. He agreed with me as to that but told me he
was perfectly at a loss what measures to take, for that there were
still six and twenty hands on board, who having entered into a cursed
conspiracy, by which they had all forfeited their lives to the law,
would be hardened in it now by desperation, and would carry it on,
knowing that if they were reduced, they should be brought to the
gallows as soon as they came to England, or to any of the English
colonies; and that therefore there would be no attacking them with so
small a number as we were.
I mused for some time upon what he said, and found it was a very
rational conclusion, and that therefore something was to be resolved
on very speedily, as well to draw the men on board into some snare for
their surprise, as to prevent their landing upon us, and destroying us.
Upon this it presently occurred to me that in a little while the ship’s
crew, wondering what was become of their comrades, and of the boat,
would certainly come on shore in their other boat to see for them; and
that then, perhaps, they might come armed, and be too strong for us.
This he allowed was 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 everything 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 what 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 canvas--the sugar was
five or six pounds; all of which was very welcome to me, especially the
brandy and sugar, of which I had had none left for many years.
When we had carried all these things on shore (the oars, mast, sail,
and rudder of the boat were carried away before, as above), we knocked
a great hole in her bottom that if they had come strong enough to
master us, yet they could not carry off the boat.
Indeed, it was not much in my thoughts that we could be able to recover
the ship; but my view was, that if they went away without the boat, I
did not much question to make her fit again to carry us away to the
Leeward Islands, and call upon our friends the Spaniards in my way;
for I had them still in my thoughts.
While we were thus preparing our designs, and had first, by main
strength, heaved the boat up upon the beach so high that the tide would
not fleet her off at high-water mark; and besides, had broke a hole in
her bottom too big to be quickly stopped, and were sat down musing what
we should do, we heard the ship fire a gun, and saw her make a waft
with her flag 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 firings 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 was no less than ten men in her, and that
they had firearms with them.
As the ship lay almost two leagues from the shore we had a full view of
them as they came, and a plain sight of the men, 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
that there were three very honest fellows, who, he was sure, were led
into this conspiracy by the rest, being overpowered and frightened; but
that as for the boatswain, who, it seems, was the chief officer among
them, and all the rest, they were as outrageous as any of the ship’s
crew, and were no doubt made desperate in their new enterprise; and
terribly apprehensive he was that they would be too powerful for us.
I smiled at him, and told him that men in our circumstances were past
the operation of fear; that seeing almost every condition that could
be was better than that which we were supposed to be in, we ought to
expect that the consequence, whether death or life, would be sure to
be a deliverance. I asked him what he thought of the circumstances of
my life, and whether a deliverance were not worth venturing for? “And
where, sir,” said I, “is your belief of my being preserved here on
purpose to save your life which elevated you a little while ago? For
my part,” said I, “there seems to be but one thing amiss in all the
prospect of it.” “What’s that?” said he. “Why,” said I, “’tis 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 of that that comes
ashore are our own, and shall die or live as they behave to us.”
As I spoke this with a raised voice and cheerful countenance, I found
it greatly encouraged him; so we set vigorously to our business. We
had, upon the first appearance of the boat’s coming from the ship,
considered of separating our prisoners, and had, indeed, secured them
effectually.
Two of them, of whom the captain was less assured than ordinary, I sent
with Friday and one of the three delivered men to my cave, where they
were remote enough, and out of danger of being heard or discovered,
or of finding their way out of the woods if they could have delivered
themselves. Here they left them bound, but gave them provisions, and
promised them, if they continued there quietly, to give them their
liberty in a day or two; but that if they attempted their escape, they
should be put to death without mercy. They promised faithfully to bear
their confinement with patience, and were very thankful that they had
such good usage as to have provisions and a 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 sentinel over them at the entrance.
The other prisoners had better usage. Two of them were kept pinioned,
indeed, because the captain was not free to trust them; but the other
two were taken into my service, upon their 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
a-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 was to run to their other
boat; and it was easy to see that they were under a great surprise to
find her stripped, as above, of all that was in her, and a great hole
in her bottom.
After they had mused a while upon this, they set up two or three great
shouts, hallooing with all their might, to try if they could make their
companions hear; but all was to no purpose. Then they came all close
in a ring, and fired a volley of their small arms, which, indeed, we
heard, and the echoes made the woods ring. But it was all one; those in
the cave we were sure could not hear, and those in our keeping, though
they heard it well enough, yet durst give no answer to them.
They were so astonished at the surprise of this, that, as they told us
afterwards, they resolved to go all on board again, to their ship, and
let them know there that the men were all murdered, and the longboat
staved. Accordingly, they immediately launched their boat again, and
got all of them on board.
The captain was terribly amazed, and even confounded at this, believing
they would go on board the ship again, and set sail, giving their
comrades for lost, and so he should still lose the ship, which he
was in hopes we should have recovered; but he was quickly as much
frightened the other way.
They had not been long put off with the boat but we perceived them all
coming on shore again; but with this new measure in their conduct,
which it seems they consulted together upon, viz., to leave three men
in the boat, and the rest to go on shore, and go up into the country to
look for their fellows.
This was a great disappointment to us, for now we were at a loss what
to do; for our seizing those seven men on shore would be no advantage
to us if we let the boat escape, because they would then row away to
the ship, and then the rest of them would be sure to weigh and set
sail, and so our recovering the ship would be lost. However, we had no
remedy but to wait and see what the issue of things might present. The
seven men came on shore, and the three who remained in the boat put her
off to a good distance from the shore, and came to an anchor to wait
for them; so that it was impossible for us to come at them in the boat.
Those that came on shore kept close together, marching towards the top
of the little hill under which my habitation lay; and we could see them
plainly, though they could not perceive us. We could have been very
glad they would have come nearer to us, so that we might have fired at
them, or that they would have gone farther off, that we might have come
abroad.
But when they were come to the brow of the hill, where they could see a
great way into the valleys and woods which lay towards the north-east
part, and where the island lay lowest, they shouted and hallooed till
they were weary; and not caring, it seems, to venture far from the
shore, nor far from one another, they sat down together under a tree,
to consider of it. Had they thought fit to have gone to sleep there,
as the other party of them had done, they had done the job for us;
but they were too full of apprehensions of danger to venture to go to
sleep, though they could not tell what the danger was they had to fear
neither.
The captain made a very just proposal to me upon this consultation
of theirs, viz., that perhaps they would all fire a volley again, to
endeavor 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 the proposal, provided it was done while we were near enough to
come up to them before they could load their pieces again.
But this event did not happen, and we lay still a long time, very
irresolute what course to take. At length I told them there would be
nothing to be 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 start all
up, and march down toward the sea. It seems they had such dreadful
apprehensions upon them of the danger of the place, that they resolved
to go on board the ship again, give their companions over for lost, and
so go on with their intended voyage with the ship.
As soon as I perceived them 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 as loud as they could,
and wait till they found the seamen heard them; that as soon as ever
they heard the seamen answer them, they should return it again; and
then keeping out of sight, take a round, always answering when the
others hallooed, to draw them as far into the island, and among the
woods, as possible, and then wheel about again to me by such ways as I
directed them.
They were just going into the boat when Friday and the mate hallooed;
and they presently heard them, and answering, ran 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
up a good way into the creek, and, as it were, in a harbor 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.
That 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 shore, and the other being in the boat. The
fellow on shore was between sleeping and waking, and going to start up.
The captain, who was foremost, ran in upon him, and knocked him down,
and then called out to him in the boat to yield, or he was a dead man.
There needed very few arguments to persuade a single man to yield when
he saw five men upon him, and his comrade knocked down; besides, this
was, it seems, one of the three who were not so hearty in the mutiny
as the rest of the crew and therefore was easily persuaded not only to
yield but afterwards to join very sincerely with us.
In the meantime Friday and the captain’s mate so well managed their
business with the rest that they drew them, by hallooing and answering,
from one hill to another, and from one wood to another, till they not
only heartily tired them, but left them where they were very sure they
could not reach back to the boat before it was dark; and, indeed, they
were heartily tired themselves also by the time they came back to us.
We had nothing now to do but to watch for them in the dark, and to fall
upon them, so as to make sure work with them.
It was several hours after Friday came back to me before they came back
to their boat; and we could hear the foremost of them, long before they
came quite up, calling to those behind to come along, and could also
hear them answer and complain how lame and tired they were, and not
able to come any faster; which was very welcome news to us.
At length they came up to the boat; but ’tis 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
gotten onto an enchanted island; that either there were inhabitants
on it, and they should all be murdered, or else there were devils and
spirits on it, and they should be all carried away and devoured.
They hallooed again, and called their two comrades by their names a
great many times; but no answer. After some time we could see them, by
the little light there was, run about, wringing their hands like men in
despair, and that sometimes they would go and sit down in the boat to
rest themselves; then come ashore again, and walk about again, and so
the same thing over again.
My men would fain have 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 own men, knowing the others
were very well armed. I resolved to wait, to see if they did not
separate; and, therefore, to make sure of them, I drew my ambuscade
nearer, and ordered Friday and the captain to creep upon their hands
and feet, as close to the ground as they could, that they might not be
discovered, and get as near them as they could possibly, before they
offered to fire.
They had not been long in that posture but that 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 their crew. The captain was so eager, as 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 into the
body, and fell just by him, though he did not die till an hour or two
after; and the third ran for it.
At the noise of the fire I immediately advanced with my whole army,
which was now eight men, viz., myself, generalissimo; Friday, my
lieutenant-general; the captain and his two men, and the three
prisoners of war, whom we had trusted with arms.
We came upon them, indeed, in the dark, so that they could not see our
number; and I made the man we had left in the boat, who was now one of
us, call to 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, “Who’s that? Robinson?” For it seems he knew his voice.
The other answered, “Ay, ay; 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 this two hours; the boatswain is killed, Will Frye 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 then calls himself 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.”
CHAPTER XXVII
_Atkins Entreats the Captain to Spare His Life--The Latter Recovers His
Vessel from the Mutineers, and Robinson Leaves the Island_
Upon this Will Atkins cried out, “For God’s sake, captain, give me
quarter; what have I done? They have been all 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 all but eight, came up and seized upon them all, and
upon their boat; only that I kept myself and one more out of sight for
reasons of state.
Our next work was to repair the boat, and think of seizing the ship;
and as for the captain, now he had leisure to parley with them, he
expostulated with them upon the villainy of their practices with him,
and at length upon the farther 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 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 the island was inhabited, and that the governor was an
Englishman; that he might hang them all there, if he pleased; but as he
had given them all quarter, he supposed he would send them to England,
to be dealt with there as justice required, except Atkins, whom he was
commanded by the governor to advise to prepare for death, for that he
would be hanged in the morning.
Though this was all a fiction of his own, yet it had its desired
effect. Atkins fell upon his knees, to beg the captain to intercede
with the governor for his life; and all the rest begged of him, for
God’s sake, that they might not be sent to England.
It now occurred to me that the time of our deliverance was come, and
that it would be a most easy thing to bring these fellows in to be
hearty in getting possession of the ship; so I retired in the dark from
them, that they might not see what kind of a governor they had, and
called the captain to me. When I called, as at a good distance, one of
the men was ordered to speak again, and say to the captain, “Captain,
the commander calls for you.” And presently the captain replied, “Tell
his excellency I am just a-coming.” This more perfectly amazed 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 secure of success, I told him we must divide the prisoners, and
that he should go and take Atkins and two more of the worst of them,
and send them pinioned to the cave where the others lay. This was
committed to Friday and the two men who came on shore with the captain.
They conveyed them to the cave, as to a prison. And it was, indeed,
a dismal place, especially to men in their condition. The others I
ordered to my bower, as I called it, of which I have given a full
description; and as it was fenced in, and they pinioned, the place was
secure enough, considering they were upon their behavior.
To these in the morning I sent the captain, who was to enter into
a parley with them; in a word, to try them, and tell me whether he
thought they might be trusted or no to go on board and surprise the
ship. He talked to them of the injury done him, of the condition they
were brought to; and that though the governor had given them quarter
for their lives as to the present action, yet that if they were sent
to England they would all be hanged in chains, to be sure; but that if
they would join in so just an attempt as to recover the ship, he would
have the governor’s engagement for their pardon.
Any one may guess how readily such a proposal would be accepted by men
in their condition. They fell down on their knees to the captain, and
promised, with the deepest imprecations, that they would be faithful to
him to the last drop, and that they should owe their lives to him and
would go with him all over the world; that they would own him for a
father to them 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 five of them, and tell them they might see that
he did not want men, that he would take out those five to be his
assistants, and that the governor would keep the other two and the
three that were sent prisoners to the castle, my cave, as hostages for
the fidelity of those five; and that if they proved unfaithful in the
execution, the five hostages should be hanged in chains alive upon the
shore.
This looked severe, and convinced them that the governor was in
earnest. However, they had no way left then but to accept it; and it
was now the business of the prisoners as much as of the captain, to
persuade the other five to do their duty.
Our strength was now thus ordered for the expedition. 1. The captain,
his mate, and passenger. 2. Then the two prisoners of the first gang,
to whom, having their characters from the captain, I had given their
liberty, and trusted them with arms. 3. The other two whom I had kept
till now in my bower, pinioned, but upon the captain’s motion had now
released. 4. These five released at last; so that they were twelve in
all, besides five we kept prisoners in the cave for hostages.
I asked the captain if he was willing to venture with these hands on
board the ship; for as for me and my man Friday, I did not think it
was proper for us to stir, having seven men left behind, and it was
employment enough for us to keep them asunder and supply them with
victuals. As to the five in the cave, I resolved to keep them fast; but
Friday went in twice a day to them, to supply them with necessaries,
and I made the other two carry provisions to a certain distance, where
Friday was to take it.
When I showed myself to the two hostages it was with the captain, who
told them I was the person the governor had ordered to look after them,
and that it was the governor’s pleasure they should not stir anywhere
but by my direction; that if they did, they should be fetched into the
castle, and be laid in irons; so that as we never suffered them to see
me as governor, so I now appeared as another person, and spoke of the
governor, the garrison, the castle, and the like, upon all occasions.
The captain now had no difficulty before him but to furnish his two
boats, stop the breach of one, and man them. He made his passenger
captain of one, with four other men; and himself, and 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 butt-end of their muskets, being very faithfully
seconded by their men. They secured all the rest that were upon the
main and quarter-decks, and began to fasten the hatches to keep them
down who were below; when the other boat and their men entering at
the forechains, secured the forecastle of the ship, and the scuttle
which went down into the cookroom, making three men they found there
prisoners.
When this was done, and all safe upon the deck, the captain ordered the
mate, with three men, to break into the roundhouse, where the new rebel
captain lay, and having taken the alarm was gotten up, and with two men
and a boy had gotten firearms 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 roundhouse, 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; upon which the rest yielded, and
the ship was taken effectually, without any more lives lost.
As soon as the ship was thus secured, the captain ordered seven guns to
be fired, which was the signal agreed upon with me to give me notice
of his success, which you may be sure I was very glad to hear, having
sat watching upon the shore for it till near two of the 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 yours, and so are we, and all that belong to her.” I
cast my eyes to the ship, and there she rode within little more than
half 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 pulled a bottle out of his
pocket, and gave me a dram of cordial, which he had brought on purpose
for me. After I 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 while 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 tender
things to me, to compose me 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.
Then I took my turn, and embraced him as my deliverer, and we rejoiced
together. I told him I looked upon him as a man sent from heaven to
deliver me, and that the whole transaction seemed to be a chain of
wonders; that such things as these were the testimonies we had of a
secret hand of Providence governing the world, and an evidence that the
eyes 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 one in such a wilderness, and in such a desolate
condition, but from whom every deliverance must always be acknowledged
to proceed?
When we had talked a while, the captain told me he had brought me some
little refreshment, such as the ship afforded, and such as the wretches
that had been so long his masters had not plundered him of. Upon this
he called aloud to the boat, and bid his men bring the things ashore
that were for the governor; and, indeed, it was a present as if I had
been one, not that was to be carried away along with them, but as if I
had been to dwell upon the island still, and they were to go without me.
[Illustration: “_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_”]
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 apiece), 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 a hundredweight of biscuit.
He brought me also 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 clean new shirts, six very good neckcloths, two pair of
gloves, one pair of shoes, a hat, and one pair of stockings, and a very
good suit of clothes of his own, which had been worn but very little;
in a word, he clothed me from head to foot.
It was a very kind and agreeable present, as any one may imagine, to
one in my circumstances; but never was anything in the world of that
kind so unpleasant, awkward, and uneasy, as it was to me to wear such
clothes at their first putting on.
After these ceremonies passed, 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 with us or no, especially two of them,
whom we 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 durst undertake to bring
the two men he spoke of to make it their own request that he should
leave them upon the island. “I should be very glad of that,” says the
captain, “with all my heart.”
“Well,” says I, “I will send for them up, and talk with them for you.”
So I caused Friday and the two hostages, for they were now discharged,
their comrades having performed their promise; I say I caused them to
go to the cave and bring up the five men, pinioned as they were, to the
bower, and keep them there till I came.
After some time I came thither, dressed in my new habit; and now I was
called governor again. Being all met, and the captain with me, I caused
the men to be brought before me, and I told them I had had a full
account of their villainous behavior 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 digged 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 villainy, for that they might
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 I had authority to do.
One of them answered in the name of the rest that they had nothing
to say but this, that when they were taken the captain promised them
their lives, and they humbly implored my mercy. But I told them I knew
not what mercy to show them; for as for myself, I had resolved to quit
the island with all my men, and had taken passage with the captain
to go for England. And as for the captain, he could not carry them to
England other than as prisoners in irons, to be tried for mutiny, and
running away with the ship; the consequence of which, they must needs
know, would be the gallows; so that I could not tell which was best for
them, unless they had a mind to take their fate in the island. If they
desired that, I did not care, as I had liberty to leave it. I had some
inclination to give them their lives, if they thought they could shift
on shore.
They seemed very thankful for it and said they would much rather
venture to stay there than to be carried to England to be hanged; so I
left it on that issue.
However, the captain seemed to make some difficulty of it, as if he
durst not leave them there. Upon this I seemed a little angry with the
captain, and told him that they were my prisoners, not his; and that
seeing I had offered them so much favor, 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 firearms, 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 that
I would stay that night to prepare my things, and desired him to go on
board in the meantime, and keep all right in the ship, and send the
boat on shore the next day for me; ordering him, in the meantime, to
cause the new captain, who was killed, to be hanged at the yard-arm,
that these men might see him.
When the captain was gone, I sent for the men up to me to my apartment,
and entered seriously into discourse with them of their circumstances.
I told them I thought they had made a right choice; that if the captain
carried them away, they would certainly be hanged. I showed them the
new captain hanging at the yard-arm of the ship, and told them they had
nothing less to expect.
When they had all declared their willingness to stay, I then told
them I would let them into the story of my living there, and put them
into the way of making it easy to them. Accordingly I gave them the
whole history of the place, and of my coming to it, showed them my
fortifications, the way I made my bread, planted my corn, cured my
grapes; and in a word, all that was necessary to make them easy. I told
them the story also of the sixteen Spaniards that were to be expected,
for whom I left a letter, and made them promise to treat them in common
with themselves.
I left them my firearms, viz., five muskets, three fowling-pieces, and
three swords. I had above a barrel and 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 I told them I
would prevail with the captain to leave them two barrels of gunpowder
more, and some garden seeds, which I told them I would have been very
glad of. Also I gave them the bag of peas which the captain had brought
me to eat, and bade them be sure to sow and increase them.
Having done all this, I left them the next day, and went on board the
ship. We prepared immediately to sail, but did not weigh that night.
The next morning early two of the five men came swimming to the ship’s
side, and making a most lamentable complaint of the other three, begged
to be taken into the ship for God’s sake, for they should be murdered,
and begged the captain to take them on board, though he hanged them
immediately.
Upon this, the captain pretended to have no power without me; but
after some difficulty, and after their solemn promises of amendment,
they were taken on board, and were some time after soundly whipped and
pickled, after which they proved very honest and quiet fellows.
Some time after this the boat was ordered on shore, the tide being
up, with the things promised to the men, to which the captain, at my
intercession, caused their chests and clothes to be added, which they
took, and were very thankful for. I also encouraged them by telling
them that if it lay in my way to send any vessel to take them in, I
would not forget them.
When I took leave of this island, I carried on board, for relics, the
great goat-skin cap I had made, my umbrella, and my parrot; also I
forgot not to take the money I formerly mentioned, which had lain by me
so long useless that it was grown rusty or tarnished, and could hardly
pass for silver till it had been a little rubbed and handled; as also
the money I found in the wreck of the Spanish ship.
And thus I left the island, the 19th of December, as I found by the
ship’s account, in the year 1686, after I had been upon it eight and
twenty years, two months, and nineteen days, being delivered from this
second captivity the same day of the month that I first made my escape
in the _barco-longo_, 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 and five years absent.
[Illustration: (back cover)]
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