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AUSTIN DOBSON.
1

uitHIm
GR.H
Millan
ARIS
PRAY WORK
MAVE
THE LIFE AND STRANGE SURPRISING
ADVENTURES OF ROBINSON
CRUSOE OF YORK,
MARINER.
INTERESTING FACSIMILES.
Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progrels.
Being a Facfimile Reproduction of the First Edition,
publiſhed in 1678, of which only two copies are known to exiſt at
the preſent day. Price 3s. 6d.; old ſtyle calf, ios. 6d.; in mo-
rocco, £1 Is.
George Herbert's Temple.
Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations. By Mr.
George Herbert, late Oratour of the Univerfitie of Cambridge.
This Reprint is made from one of the few copies which were
ftruck off for preſentation to Herbert's Friends, in 1633, before the
iffue to the public of the Firſt Edition.
Reproduced from Mr. Huth's copy. Price 5.; old ftyle calf,
10s. 6d.; antique morocco, £1 15.
Milton's Paradile Lof.
A Facfimile Reproduction of the First Edition of
1667. With an Introduction by David Maſſon, M.A., LL.D.,
Author of the "Life of Milton," &c. Small 4to, antique binding,
Ios. 6d.; antique cloth, 11s.; polifhed morocco, £1 11s. 6d.
Large paper copies, 155.; in Roxburgh binding, £1 Is.; in
Turkey morocco antique, £2 10s.
Walton's Compleat Angler;
Or, The Contemplative Man's Recreation. A Re-
print of the First Edition, publifhed in 1653. In crown 8vo, 6s.;
old ftyle calf, 10s. 6d. ; antique morocco, 1 Is.
The Imitation of Chrift.
Being the Autograph Manuſcript of Thomas à
Kempis. Reproduced in Facfimile from the Original, preferved in
the Royal Library, Bruffels. With an Introduction by Charles
Ruelens, Keeper of Department of MSS., Royal Library, Bruffels.
The preface to this facfimile gives fresh and undeniable evidence
concerning the authorſhip of the "De Imitatione." Price 10s. 6d.
in contemporary leather binding, or in paper boards, or 215. in
poliſhed morocco, gilt edges.
THE LIFE AND STRANGE SURPRISING
ADVENTURES OF ROBINSON
CRUSOE OF YORK,
MARINER,
AS RELATED BY HIMSELF.
BY
DANIEL DEFOE.
4
BEING A FACSIMILE REPRINT OF THE FIRST EDITION
PUBLISHED IN 1719.
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
AUSTIN DOBSON.
ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW
LONDON, E.C.
1883.

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06-4-59
INTRODUCTION.
PREFACE to Robinſon Crufoe
has a certain air of fuperfluity. The
fame of the book is fo well established,
and its popularity is fo enduring,
that one is naturally reminded of the homely
adage which warns us that "good wine needs no
bush." Yet although, in this inftance, criticism
is unneceffary, and praife impertinent, it is
always profitable to remember from what fource,
and under what conditions, a time-honoured
claffic had its origin. If this be true of any
literary masterpiece, it is especially true where
fome particular edition of it is concerned. Here
it is a fac fimile reprint of the editio princeps;
and we shall, therefore, make no further apology
for the brief biographico-bibliographical notes
which follow.
According to a depreffing French epigram-
or rather a French epigram that is depreffing to
middle-aged talent-the man who has not fuc-
ceeded before he is thirty is hopeleſly doomed to
failure. If fuccefs is to be meaſured by greateſt
achievements only, and minor efforts are to count

vi
for nothing, then Defoe is a striking inftance of
the fallacy of this dictum. When Robinſon
Crufoe first appeared, its author was in his
fifty-eighth year, and already a voluminous and
very various writer. Mr. William Lee, his
latest and beſt biographer, whofe labours have
well-nigh made further inquiry unneceſſary, enu-
merates in his revifed Catalogue of Defoe's
works no less than one hundred and ninety pre-
deceffors to this—his beſt-known book. Some of
thefe, it is true, are only pamphlets of two or
three leaves, but others are bulky volumes. The
majority are on commercial or political themes;
but the lift, taken as a whole, and judged by the
titles alone, affords an extraordinary idea of the
Sleepless activity and unwearied verſatility of
the author. It helps us, too, to comprehend from
what wide referves of experience and what a
vast magazine of facts he drew the material for
Robinſon Crufoe, and thofe lefs-known "fictions
in fac fimile of nature," which, during the last
decade of his life, followed fo rapidly upon it.
From the first fugitive 4to. Sheet in double
columns, to which in 1687 he had configned his
Reflections on His Majeſty's Declaration for
Liberty of Confcience, down to the Family
Inftructor of 1718, he had written upon almost
every fubject that commends itself to the curiofity
of the middle class intelligence; and when in
vii
1719, not long after he had been fricken with
apoplexy, he fat down undaunted to add fiction
to his current journaliſm (which, as Mr. Lee
has ſhown, he had never relinquiſhed, but was
only conducting clandeftinely), he had accumulated
an inexhaustible ftore of miscellaneous information.
His habit of mind had accuſtomed him to minute
and almost unconscious flock-taking, even of the
trivial and commonplace; and his habit of the pen
had enabled him to record his impreffions with
the mechanical precifion of stenography. He
could not only "report," in short-hand writers'
phrafe, with literal fidelity, but, in the abfence
of anything to report, he could invent a report,
which ſhould exhibit all the petty negligences, the
every-day phraſeology, the unleſſoned afpect, and
the inartiſtic barrenness of naked truth. Add
to this a very pronounced mental bias towards
circumftantial forgeries like the Minutes of the
Negociations of Mons. Mefnager, or matter-
of-fact mystifications like the True Relation of
the Apparition of one Mrs. Veal; and we
have, fuperficially Speaking, the qualities which
produced Robinſon Crufoe.
It is the inevitable characteristic of a mind of
this type that we do not find in it the highest
creative gifts. It collects and adjusts rather
than originates, and its invention is shown chiefly
in the ingenuity of its combinations. As a rule
viii
it has a tendency to be difconnected in its opera-
tions; but, once furnished with a fitting central
idea, its ability to fupply detail and fupple-
ment is practically unlimited. With Robinfon
Crufoe this favourable germ was an actual
In September, 1704, a certain
occurrence.
moody and ill-conditioned Alexander Selkirk or
Selcraig, a failor on board one of Dampier's
fleet, had quarrelled with his captain, who had
forthwith "marooned" him, as the phrafe then
was, upon the defolate island of Juan Fernandez.
Here he lived alone for more than four years,
being taken off at last in February, 1709, by
Captain Woodes Rogers. He returned to Eng-
land in 1711, and when Captain Rogers fhortly
afterwards published an account of his voyage,
due mention was made of the interefting caft-
away whom he had refcued in the Southern Seas.
Somewhat later, in 1713, Selkirk was “inter-
viewed" in London by Steele, who gave an oft-
reprinted account of his adventures in No. 26
of the Engliſhman. Whether Defoe, too, faw
Selkirk in the flesh is not recorded; but it is
most probable that the first idea of his masterpiece
came from Steele's paper.
However this may be, it was not until ſome
years afterwards that Robinſon Crufoe was
actually published. The date of its issue by
William Taylor "at the Ship in Pater-Nofter-
ix
Row" was the 25th of April, 1719; and the
title, which is accurately reproduced in the
prefent edition, ran as follows:-The Life and
Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinſon
Crufoe, of York, Mariner: Who lived Eight
and Twenty Years all alone in an un-inha-
bited Iſland on the Coaft of America, near
the Mouth of the Great River of Oroonoque;
Having been caſt on Shore by Shipwreck,
wherein all the Men periſhed but himſelf.
With An Account how he was at laft as
ftrangely deliver'd by Pyrates. Written by
Himfelf. The volume was an octavo of 364
pages, preface and title (2 leaves) not included,
and it was embellished by a rude copper plate
(here copied) in which Crufoe is reprefented on the
Sea Shore with his brace of guns and his basket-
hilted fword. At the end were two pages of ad-
vertiſements, from which, as they are to be found
in the prefent reprint, the reader may judge in
what curious companionship of dramas and fer-
mons-new editions of Byfshe's Art of Poetry
and continuations of the Turkish Spy-the most
popular book of the century made its entry into
the world. In the " Preface," where Defoe
maſquerades as Editor, he gravely vouches for
the authenticity of the narrative. He calls
attention to the modesty and ſeriouſneſs with
which the tale is told; and he lays ſtreſs upon
X
its excellent morality. He believes it (be fays)
to be "a juft Hiftory of Fact; neither is there
any Appearance of Fiction in it," and he con-
fiders that he does the world "a great Service
in the Publication." Its immediate fuccefs
Showed that he had not mifcalculated. The
book—as Byron faid of Gray's Elegy—“ pleaſed
inftantly and eternally." Before the middle of
May, a fecond edition was called for. A third
followed in June, and a fourth in Auguft.
With a forethought that was a part of his
nature, Defoe had not omitted to leave the ways
open for a fequel. "All theſe things," fays Crufoe
in his concluding lines," with fome very furpriz-
ing Incidents in fome new Adventures of my own,
for ten Years more, I may perhaps give a further
Account of hereafter." From this it is clear
that the author only waited for the fuccefs of the
first part to prepare a fecond; and, by the rapidity
with which this fecond part was produced, he
must have fet about it immediately. Only twelve
days after the issue of the fourth edition of Part I.,
appeared The Farther Adventures of Robinſon
Crufoe; Being the Second and Laſt Part of
his Life, and of the Strange Surprizing Ac-
counts of his Travels round three Parts of the
Globe. Written by Himſelf. To which is
added a Map of the World, in which is de-
lineated the Voyages of Robinſon Crufoe.
xi
To this, a volume of 373 pages, with a Title,
Preface, and Advertiſements occupying 4 leaves,
was prefixed a fomewhat longer announcement
than that which ushered in Part I, Retaining
his editorial character, Defoe refers with edifying
complacency to the fuccefs of the preceding volume,
a fuccefs which he attributes “to the Surprizing
variety of the Subject, and to the agreeable Man-
ner of the Performance. All the endeavours of
envious People (he goes on) to reproach it with
being a Romance, to fearch it for Errors in
Geography, Inconfiftency in the Relation, and
Contradictions in the Fact, have proved abortive,
and as impotent as malicious. The juſt Appli-
cation of every Incident, the religious and useful
Inferences drawn from every Part, are fo many
Teftimonies to the good Defign of making it
Publick; and must legitimate all the Part that
may
be call'd Invention, or Parable, in the Story."
The remainder of the "Preface," which begins
by promifing that, ("contrary to the Ufage of
Second Parts," the new volume will be "every
Way as entertaining as the First," is occupied
by a protest against an unauthorized abridgment
of the book which, it appears, had been put forth
few days before, from the "Amfterdam Coffee-
Houfe," by a piratical publisher. Defoe's
unfeigned indignation at this proceeding almost
makes him forget his editorial character. "The
xii
Injury thefe Men do the Proprietor of this Work
is a Practice all honeft Men abhor; and he be-
lieves he may challenge them to shew the Diffe-
rence between that and Robbing on the Highway,
or Breaking open a Houfe. If they can't fhew
any Difference in the Crime, they will find it
hard to fhew any Difference in the Punishment.
And he will anfwer for it, that nothing fhall be
wanting on his Part, to do them Justice."
Deſpite the promiſes of the Preface, the ſecond
Part of Robinſon Crufoe did not meet with the
fuccefs of its predeceffor. Had it been equally
well received, it is not impoffible that Defoe, who
(unlike Addifon and Cervantes) had been careful
not to kill his hero, might have difcovered a pre-
text for a fresh confignment of "furprizing Ad-
ventures." As it was, he did attempt to divert
the intereft in a new direction by a fupplementary
volume of Serious Reflections during the Life
and Surprizing Adventures of Robinſon
Crufoe: With his Vifion of the Angelick
World. Written by Himſelf. 1720. The
book made little or no impreffion on the public,
and is now feldom or never affociated with Parts
I. and II. But the Preface, which purports
to be from the pen of Crufoe himself, is even
of greater intereft than thofe from which we
have already made extracts. It speaks of his
previous biography as inculcating "invincible
1.
xiii
Patience under the worst of Mifery; indefatigable
Application and undaunted Refolution under the
greatest and most difcouraging Circumftances."
The story, though "Allegorical," is alfo declared
to be "Hiftorical." "Farther," fays the writer
(and it must be borne in mind that Crufoe is
Suppoſed to be speaking), “there is a man alive,
and well-known too, the Actions of whofe Life
are the juft Subject of thefe Volumes, and to
whom all or most Part of the Story directly
alludes." Thefe words, taken in connection with
other paffages of the fame "Preface" and of
the book itself, have generally been held to fignify
that, to fome extent, Defoe intended Robinfon
Crufoe to Symbolize his own folitary and ſelf-
reliant career. Whether this was a part of
the original plan, or merely the refult of an
after-thought, there can be little doubt that in
his practical character, his fortitude, his perfe-
verance, and most of the qualities which have
endeared him and his adventures to so many
generations of Engliſhmen, there are manifeft
affinities between Robinson Crusoe and his creator,
Daniel Defoe.
To give any account of the various forms
under which Robinfon Crufoe has appeared
fince its first iffue in 1719, would be impoffible
in this place. But one or two particulars, chiefly
in rectification of the earlier biographies, may
xiv
be here added. Much debate has taken place
as to where the book was actually compofed.
Halifax, Gateshead in Durham, Whitechapel,
the village of Hartley in Kent, have all claimed
this honour. Mr. Lee, however, has shown con-
clufively that, as his predeceffor Mr. Wilfon
affumed, it was planned and penned in Defoe's
own house at Stoke Newington. Further, it was
alleged by Chalmers that the MS. went the round
of the trade before it found a purchaſer. Mr.
Lee was unable to trace anything to ſupport this
Statement, which, moreover, the known talents
of Defoe make very improbable. Lastly, it was
for fome time fuppofed that Robinſon Crufoe
first appeared in the Original London Poft, or
Heathcote's Intelligencer. It was in fact
printed in the journal in queſtion, but the publi-
cation did not begin until the 7th October, 1719,
at which date both the first and fecond Parts
had been given to the world in book form.
A. D.
Ealing, November, 1882.

کو برج
Clark & Pinest.
THE
LIFE
AND
STRANGE SURPRIZING
ADVENTURES

OF
ROBINSON CRUSOE,
Of TORK MARINER:
Who lived Eight and Twenty Years,
all alone in an un-inhabited Ifland on the
Coaſt of AMERICA, near the Mouth of
the Great River of OROONOQUE;
Having been caft on Shore by Shipwreck, where-
in all the Men perifhed but himſelf.
WITH
An Account how he was at laft as ftrangely deli-
ver'd by PYRATES.
Written by Himself.
LONDON;
Printed for W. TAYLOR at the Ship in Pater-Nofter-
Row. MDCCXIX.

THE
PREFACE.

I'
Fever the Story of any private
Man's Adventures in the
World were worth making
Publick, and were acceptable when
Publifh'd. the Editor of this Ac-
count thinks this will be fo.
The Wonders of this Man's
Life exceed all that (he thinks)
is to be found extant; the Life of
one Man being ſcarce capable of a
greater Variety.
The Story is told with Modefty,
with Seriousness, and with a reli-
gious Application of Events to the
Ufes to which wife Men always




apply
The PREFACE.

applythem (viz.) tothe Inftruction
of others by this Example, and to
justify and honour the Wisdom of
Providence in all the Variety of
our Circumftances, let them hap
pen how they will.
The Editor believes the thing
to be a juft History of Fact; nez-
ther is there any Appearance of
Fiction in it: And however
thinks, because all fuch things are
dispatch'd, that the Improvement of
it, as well to the Diverfion, as
to the Inftruction of the Reader,
will be the fame; and as fuch, be
thinks, without farther Compli
ment to the World, he does them
a great Service in the Publica-


tion.
THE

t
THE
LIFE
AND


ADVENTURES
OF
ROBINSON CRUSOE, &C.
Was born in the Year 1632, in the
City of York, of a good Family, tho'
not of that Country, my Father be-
ing a Foreigner of Bremen, who fettled
firſt at Hull: He got a good Eftate
by Merchandiſe, and leaving off his
Trade, lived afterward at York, from whence he had
married my Mother, whofe Relations were named
Robinson, a very good Family in that Country, and
from whom I was called Robinfan Kreutznaer; but by
the uſual Corruption of Words in England, we are
now called, nay we call our felves, and write our
Name Crufoe, and fo my Companions always call'd me.
I had

B
S
[ 2 ]
I had two elder Brothers, one of which was
Lieutenant Collonel to an Engliſh Regiment of Foot
in Flanders, formerly commanded by the famous Coll.
Lockhart, and was killed at the Battle near Dunkirk
inagaft the Spaniards: What became of my fecond
Brother I never knew any more than my Father or
Mother did know what was become of me.
Being the third Son of the Family, and not bred
to any Trade, my Head began to be fill'd very
early with rambling Thoughts: My Father, who
was very ancient, had given me a competent Share
of Learning, as far as Houfe-Education, and a
Country Free-School generally goes, and defign'd
me for the Law; but I would be fatisfied with no-
thing but going to Sea, and my Inclination to this
led me fo ſtrongly againſt the Will, nay the Com-
mands of my Father, and againſt all the Entreaties
and Perſwaſions of my Mother and other Friends,
that there ſeem'd to be fomething fatal in that Pro-
penfion of Nature tending directly to the Life of
Mifery which was to befal me.
My Father, a wife and grave Man, gave me
ferious and excellent Counſel againſt what he fore-
faw was my Defign. He call'd me one Morning in-
to his Chamber, where he was confined by the
Gout, and expoftulated very warmly with me upon
this Subject: He ask'd me what Reaſons more than
a meer wandring Inclination I had for leaving my
Father's Houſe and my native Country, where I
might be well introduced, and had a Profpect
of raising my Fortunes by Application and In-
duftry, with a Life of Eafe and Pleaſure. He
told me it was for Men of defperate Fortunes on
one Hand, or of afpiring, fuperior Fortunes on the
other, who went abroad upon Adventures, to rife
by Enterprize, and make themſelves famous in Un-
dertakings of a Nature out of the common Road;
that
[ 3 ]
]
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 beft State in the World, the moft fuited to
human Happineſs, not expofed to the Miſeries and
Hardſhips, the Labour and Sufferings of the me-
chanick Part of Mankind, and not embarafs'd with
the Pride, Luxury, Ambition and Envy of the up-
per 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 la-
mented the miferable Confequences of being born
to great things, and wifh'd they had been placed
in the Middle of the two Exremes, between the
Mean and the Great; that the wife Man gave his
Teftimony to this as the juft Standard of true Fe-
licity, when he prayed to have neither Poverty or
Riches.
He bid me obferve it, and I fhould always find,
that the Calamities of Life were fhared among the
upper and lower Part of Mankind; but that the
middle Station had the fewest Difafters, and was
not expos'd to ſo many Viciffitudes as the higher or
lower Part of Mankind; nay, they were not ſubje-
cted to fo many Diftempers and Uneafineffes either
of Body or Mind, as thofe were who, by vicious
Living, Luxury and Extravagancies on one Hand,
or by hard Labour, Want of Neceffaries, and mean
or infufficient Diet on the other Hand, bring Di-
ftempers upon themſelves by the natural Confequen-
ces of their Way of Living; That the middle Sta-
tion of Life was calculated for all kind of Vertues
and all kinds of Enjoyments; that Peace and Plen-
ty were the Hand-maids of a middle Fortune;
that Temperance, Moderation, Quietnefs, Health,
B 2
Soci-
[4]
Society, all agreeable Diverfions, and all defirable
Pleaſures, were the Bleffings attending the middle
Station of Life; that this Way Men went filently
and ſmoothly thro' the World, and comfortably out
of it, not embarafs'd with the Labours of the
Hands or of the Head, not fold to the Life of Slave-
ry for daily Bread, or harraft with perplex'd Cir-
cumftances, which rob the Soul of Peace, and the
Body of Reft; not enrag'd with the Paffion of En-
vy, or fecret burning Luft of Ambition for great
things; but in eafy Circumftances fliding gently
thro' the World, and fenfibly tafting 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 prefs'd me earnestly, and in the
moſt affectionate manner, not to play the young
Man, not to precipitate my felf into Miferies which
Nature and the Station of Life I was born in,
feem'd to have provided againft; that I was under
no Neceffity of feeking my Bread; that he would
do well for me, and endeavour to enter me fairly
into the Station of Life which he had been juft re-
commending to me; and that if I was not very ea-
fy and happy in the World, it muſt be my meer
Fate or Fault that muft hinder it, and that he
fhould have nothing to anſwer for, having thus dif-
charg'd 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 fettle at Home as he directed,
fo he would not have fo much Hand in my Misfor-
tunes, as to give me any Encouragement to go
away: And to clofe all, he told me I had my
elder Brother for an Example, to whom he had ufed
the fame earneſt Perſwaſions to keep him from go-
ing into the Low Country Wars, but could not pre-
vail
[ 5 ]
vail, his young Defires prompting him to run into
the Army where he was kill'd; and tho' he ſaid
he would not ceafe to pray for me, yet he would
venture to ſay to me, that if I did take this fooliſh
Step, God would not blefs me, and I would have
Leifure hereafter to reflect upon having neglected
his Counſel when there might be none to affift in
my Recovery.
I obferved in this laft Part of his Difcourfe,
which was truly Prophetick, tho' I fuppofe my
Father did not know it to be ſo himſelf; I fay, I ob-
ferved the Tears run down his Face very plentiful-
ly, and efpecially when he ſpoke of my Brother who
was kill'd; and that when he spoke of my having
Leiſure to repent, and none to affift me, he was fo
mov'd, that he broke off the Difcourfe, and told
me, his Heart was fo full he could fay no more
to me.
I was fincerely affected with this Diſcourſe, as
indeed who could be otherwiſe; and I reſolv'd not
to think of going abroad any more, but to
fettle at home according to my Father's Defire.
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 refolv'd to run quite away
from him. However, I did not act ſo haſtily neither
as my firft Heat of Refolution 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 fo entirely bent upon feeing the
World, that I fhould never fettle to any thing
with Reſolution enough to go through with it, and
my Father had better give me his Confent 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 fure
if I did, I fhould never ferve out my time, and I
fhould
B 3
[6]
fhould certainly run away from my Maſter before
my Time was out, and go to Sea; and if fhe would
ſpeak to my Father to let me go but one Voyage a-
broad, 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 loft.
This put my Mother into a great Paffion: She told
me, fhe knew it would be to no Purpoſe to ſpeak
to my Father upon any fuch Subject; that he knew
too well what was my Intereft to give his Confent to
any thing fo much for my Hurt, and that ſhe wonde-
red how I could think of any fuch thing after ſuch a
Difcourfe as I had had with my Father, and ſuch
kind and tender Expreffions as fhe knew my Father
had us'd to me; and that in fhort, if I would ruine
my ſelf there was no Help for me; but I might de-
pend I ſhould never have theif Conſent to it: That
for her Part ſhe would not have fo much Hand in my
Deſtruction; and I fhould never have it to fay, that
my Mother was willing when my Father was not.
Tho' my Mother refused to move it to my Fa-
ther, yet as I have heard afterwards, fhe reported
all the Diſcourſe to him, and that my Father, after
fhewing a great Concern at it, faid 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 mi-
ferableft Wretch that was ever born: I can give no
Confent to it.
It was not till almoft a Year after this that I broke
loofe, tho' in the mean time I continued obftinate-
ly deaf to all Propoſals of fettling to Buſineſs,
and frequently expoftulating with my Father and
Mother, about their being fo pofitively determin'd
againſt what they knew my Inclinations prompted
me to. But being one Day at Hull, where I went
cafually, and without any Purpoſe of making an
Elopement that time; but I fay, being there, and
one
[ 7 ]
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
Paffage, I confulted neither Father or Mother any
more, nor fo much as fent them Word of it; but leav-
ing them to hear of it as they might, without asking
God's Bleffing, or my Father's, without any Con-
fideration of Circumftances or Confequences, and
in an ill Hour, God knows. On the firſt of Septem-
ber 1661 I went on Board a Ship bound for London;
never any young Adventurer's Misfortunes, I be-
lieve, began fooner, or continued longer than mine.
The Ship was no fooner gotten out of the Hum-
ber, but the Wind began to blow, and the Winds to
rife in a moft frightful manner; and as I had ne-
ver been at Sea before, I was moſt inexpreffibly fick
in Body, and terrify'd in my Mind: I began now feri-
ouſly to reflect upon what I had done, and how juſt-
ly I was overtaken by the Judgment of Heaven for
my wicked leaving my Father's Houſe, and aban-
doning my Duty; all the good Counſel of my Pa-
rents, my Father's Tears and my Mother's En-
treaties came now fresh into my Mind, and my
Confcience, which was not yet come to the Pitch
of Hardneſs which it has been fince, reproach'd
me with the Contempt of Advice, and the Breach
of my Duty to God and my Father.
All this while the Storm encreas'd, and the Sea,
which I had never been upon before, went very high,
tho' nothing like what I have feen many times
fince; no, nor like what I faw a few Days after :
But it was enough to affect me then, who was but
a young Sailor, and had never known any thing of
the matter. I expected every Wave would have
fwallowed us up, and that every time the Ship fell
down, as I thought, in the Trough or Hollow
B 4
of
[ 8 ]
of the Sea, we ſhould never rife more; and in this
Agony of Mind, I made many Vows and Refolu-
tions, that if it would pleaſe God here to fpare
my Life this one Voyage, if ever I got once my
Foot upon dry Land again, I would go directly
home to my Father, and never fet it into a Ship a-
gain while I liv'd; that I would take his Advice,
and never run my ſelf into fuch Miſeries as theſe a-
ny more. Now I faw plainly the Goodneſs of his
Obfervations about the middle Station of Life,
how eafy, how comfortably he had liv'd all his
Days, and never had been expos'd to Tempeſts at
Sea, or Troubles on Shore; and I refolv'd that I
would, like a true repenting Prodigal, go home to
my Father.
Theſe wife and fober Thoughts continued all the
while the Storm continued, and indeed fome
time after; but the next Day the Wind was aba-
ted and the Sea calmer, and I began to be a little
inur'd to it: However I was very grave for all that
Day, being alfo a little Sea fick ftill; but towards
Night the Weather clear'd up, the Wind was quite
over, and a charming fine Evening follow'd; the
Sun went down perfectly clear and roſe ſo the next
Morning; and having little or no Wind and a
fmooth Sea, the Sun fhining upon it, the Sight was,
as I thought, the moſt delightful that ever I faw.
I had flept well in the Night, and was now no
more Sea fick but very chearful, looking with
Wonder upon the Sea that was fo rough and terri-
ble the Day before, and could be fo calm and fo
pleaſant in fo little time after. And now leaſt my
good Refolutions fhould continue, my Companion,
who had indeed entic'd me away, comes to me,
Well Bob, fays he, clapping me on the Shoulder,
How do you do after it? I warrant you were frighted,
wa'n't you, laft Night, when it blew but a Cap full of
Wind;
[9]
Wind? A Cap full d'you call it? faid I, 'twas a terri-
ble Storm: A Storm, you Fool you, replies 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 fuch
a Squal 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 fee what charming Weather'tis
поче. To make fhort this fad 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 Repen-
tance, all my Reflections upon my paft Conduct,
and all my Refolutions for my future. In a word,
as the Sea was returned to its Smoothnefs of Sur-
face and fettled Calmneſs by the Abatement of that
Storm, fo the Hurry of my Thoughts being over,
my Fears and Apprehenfions of being ſwallow'd up
by the Sea being forgotten, and the Current of
my former Defires return'd, I entirely forgot the
Vows and Promiſes that I made in my Diftreſs. I
found indeed fome Intervals of Reflection, and the
ferious Thoughts did, as it were endeavour to re-
turn again fometimes, but I fhook them off, and
rouz'd my ſelf from them as it were from a Di-
ftemper, and applying my ſelf to Drink and Com-
pany, foon mafter'd the Return of thoſe Fits, for
fo I call'd them, and I had in five or fix Days got as
compleat a Victory over Confcience as any young,
Fellow that refolv'd not to be troubled with it,
could defire: But I was to have anothet Trial for
it ftill; and Providence, as in fuch Cafes generally it
does, refolved to leave me entirely without Excufe.
For if I would not take this for a Deliverance, the
next was to be fuch a one as the worst and moſt
Wretch among us would confefs both the harden'd
Danger and the Mercy.
·
The
[ 10 。]
]
The fixth Day of our being at Sea we came in-
to Yarmouth Roads; the Wind having been contrary,
and the Weather calm, we had made but little Way
fince the Storm. Here we were obliged to come to
an Anchor, and here we lay, the Wind continuing
contrary, viz. at South-weft, for feven or eight
Days, during which time a great many Ships from
Newcastle came into the fame Roads, as the com-
mon Harbour where the Ships might wait for a
Wind for the River.
We had not however rid here ſo long, but ſhould
have Tided it up the River, but that the Wind
blew too freſh; and after we had lain four or five
Days, blew very hard. However, the Roads be-
ing reckoned as good as a Harbour, the Ancho-
rage good, and our Ground-Tackle very ftrong,
our Men were unconcerned, and not in the leaſt ap-
prehenfive of Danger, but ſpent the Time in Reft
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 ftrike our Top-
Mafts, and make everything fnug and clofe, that
the Ship might ride as eafy as poffible. By Noon
the Sea went very high indeed, and our Ship rid
Forecaſtle in, fhipp'd feveral Seas, and we thought
once or twice our Anchor had come home; upon
which our Mafter order'd out the Sheet Anchor; fo
that we rode with two Anchors a-Head, and the
Cables vered out to the better End.
By this Time it blew a terrible Storm indeed,
and now I began to fee Terror and Amazement in
the Faces even of the Seamen themſelves. The Ma-
fter, tho' vigilent to the Bufinefs of preferving the
Ship, yet as he went in and out of his Cabbin by
me, I could hear him foftly to himſelf ſay ſeveral
times, Lord be merciful to us, we ſhall be all loft, we
ſhall be all undone; and the like. During theſe firſt
Hur-
[II]
Hurries, I was ſtupid, lying ftill in my Cabbin,
which was in the Steerage, and cannot deſcribe my
Temper: I could ill re-affume the firft Penitence,
which I had fo apparently trampled upon, and har-
den'd my felf against: I thought the Bitterneſs of
Death had been past, and that this would be no-
thing too like the firſt. But when the Mafter him-
felf came by me, as I ſaid juſt now, and ſaid we
ſhould be all loft, I was dreadfully frighted: I got
up out of my Cabbin, and look'd out; but fuch a
diſmal Sight I never faw: The Sea went Mountains
high, and broke upon us every three or four Mi-
nutes: when I could look about, I could fee
nothing but Diftrefs round us: Two Ships that
rid near us we found had cut their Mafts by the
Board, being deep loaden; and our Men cry'd out,
that a Ship which rid about a Mile a-Head of us
was foundered. Two more Ships being driven from
their Anchors, were run out of the Roads to Sea at
all Adventures, and that with not a Maſt ſtanding.
The light Ships fared the beft, as not ſo much la-
bouring in the Sea; but two or three of them drove,
and came cloſe by us, running away with only their
Sprit-fail out before the Wind.
Towards Evening the Mate and Boat-Swain
begg'd the Maſter of our Ship to let them cut away
the Foremaft, which he was very unwilling to: But
the Boat-Swain proteſting to him, that if he did
not, the Ship would founder, he confented; and
when they had cut away the Foremaft, the Main-
Maſt ſtood fo looſe, and ſhook the Ship fo much,
they were obliged to cut her away alfo, 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 fuch a Fright before at but a lit-
tle. But if I can exprefs at this Diſtance the
Thoughts
[ 12 ]
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 Refolutions I had wickedly taken at firſt,
than I was at Death it felf; and thefe added to the
Terror of the Storm, put me into fuch a Condition,
that I can by no Words defcribe 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 loaden, and wallowed in the Sea,
that the Seamen every now and then cried out, fhe
would founder. It was my Advantage in one reſpect,
that I did not know what they meant by Founder,
till I enquir'd. However, the Storm was fo vio-
lent, that I faw what is not often feen, the Mafter,
the Boat-Swain, and fome others more fenfible than
the reſt, at their Prayers, and expecting every Mo-
ment when the Ship would go to the Bottom. In
the Middle of the Night, and under all the reſt of
of our Diftreffes, one of the Men that had been
down on Purpoſe to fee, cried out we had fprung a
Leak; another faid there was four Foot Water in
the Hold. Then all Hands were called to the Pump.
At that very Word my Heart, as I thought, died
within me, and I fell backwards upon the Side of
my Bed where I fat, into the Cabbin. However,
the Men roufed me, and told me, that I that was
able to do nothing before, was as well able to
pump as another; at which I ftirr'd up, and went
to the Pump and work'd very heartily. While this
was doing, the Mafter feeing fome light Colliers,
who not able to ride out the Storm, were oblig'd
to flip and run away to Sea, and would come near
us, ordered to fire a Gun as a Signal of Diftrefs. I
who knew nothing what that meant, was fo furpri-
fed, that I thought the Ship had broke, or fome
dread-
[ 13 ]
dreadful thing had happen'd. In a word, I was fo
furpriſed, that I fell down in a Swoon. As this was
a time when every Body had his own Life to think
of, no Body minded me, or what was become of
me; but another Man ftept up to the Pump, and
thruſting me afide with his Foot, let me lye, thin-
king I had been dead; and it was a great while
before I came to my felf.
We work'd on, but the Water encreafing in the
Hold, it was apparent that the Ship would founder,
and tho' the Storm began to abate a little, yet as
it was not poffible ſhe could fwim till we might run
into a Port, fo the Mafter continued firing Guns
for Help; and a light Ship who had rid it out juſt a
Head of us ventured a Boat out to help us. It was
with the utmoft Hazard the Boat came near us,
but it was impoffible for us to get on Board, or for
the Boat to lie near the Ship Side, till at laft the
Men rowing very heartily, and venturing their Lives
to fave ours, our Men caft them a Rope over the
Stern with a Buoy to it, and then vered it out a great
Length, which they after great Labour and Ha-
zard took hold of and we hall'd them clofe 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, fo all
agreed to let her drive and only to pull her in to-
wards Shore as much as we could, and our Maſter
promiſed them, That if the Boat was ftav'd upon
Shore he would make it good to their Maſter, fo
partly rowing and partly driving our Boat went a-
way to the Norward floaping towards the Shore
almoſt as far as Winterton Nefs.
We were not much more than a quarter of an
Hour out of our Ship but we faw her fink, and
then I underſtood for the firft time what was meant
by a Ship foundering in the Sea; I muſt acknow-
ledge
[14]
ledge I had hardly Eyes to look up when the Sea-
men told me ſhe was finking; for from that Mo-
ment they rather put me into the Boat than that I
might be faid to go in, my Heart was as it were
dead within me, partly with Fright, partly with
Horror of Mind and the Thoughts of what was
yet before me.
While we were in this Condition, the Men yet
labouring at the Oar to bring the Boat near the
Shore, we could fee, when our Boat mounting the
Waves, we were able to fee the Shore, a great
many People running along the Shore to affift us
when we ſhould come near, but we made but flow
way towards the Shore, nor were we able to reach
the Shore, till being paſt the Light-Houſe at Win-
terton, the Shore falls off to the Weftward towards
Cromer, and fo the Land broke off a little the Violence
of the Wind: Here we got in, and tho' not with-
out much Difficulty got all fafe on Shore and walk'd
afterwards on Foot to Yarmouth, where, as unfor-
tunate Men, we were uſed with great Humanity as
well by the Magiftrates of the Town, who affign'd
us good Quarters, as by particular Merchants and
Owners of Ships, and had Money given us fuffi-
cient 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 Bleffed Saviour's
Parable, had even kill'd the fatted Calf for me;
for hearing the Ship I went away in was caft away
in Yarmouth Road, it was a great while before he
had any Affurance that I was not drown'd.
But my ill Fate pufh'd me on
ftinacy that nothing could refift;
veral times loud Calls from my
now with an Ob-
and tho' I had ſe-
Reafon and my
more compofed Judgment to go home, yet I had
no
[ 15 ]
no Power to do it. I know not what to call this, nor
will I urge, that it is a fecret over-ruling Decree
that hurries us on to be the Inftruments of our own
Deſtruction, even tho' it be before us, and that we
ruſh upon it with our Eyes open. Certainly no-
thing but fome fuch decreed unavoidable Mifery
attending, and which it was impoffible for me to
eſcape, could have puſh'd me forward againſt the
calm Reaſonings and Perfwafions of my moft re-
tired Thoughts, and againſt two fuch vifible In-
ftructions as I had met with in my firſt Attempt.
My Comrade, who had help'd to harden me be-
fore, 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 feparated in the Town
to feveral Quarters; I fay, the firſt time he ſaw me,
it appear'd his Tone was alter'd, and looking very
melancholy and ſhaking his Head, ask'd me how
I did, and telling his Father who I was, and how
I had come this Voyage only for a Trial in order
to go farther abroad; his Father turning to me
with a very grave and concern'd Tone, Young Man,
fays 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, faid I, will
go to Sea no more? That is another Cafe, faid he,
it is my Calling, and therefore my Duty; but as you made
this Voyage for a Trial, you fee what a Tafte Heaven has
given you of what you are to expect if ou perfift; perhaps
this is all befallen us on your Account, like Jonah in the
Ship of Tarfhiſh. Pray, continues he, what are you?
and on what Account did you go to Sea? Upon that I
told him ſome of my Story; at the End of which he
burst out with a ſtrange kind of Paffion, What had
I done, fays he, that fuch an unhappy Wretch fhould
come into my Ship? I would not fet my Foot in
you
the
[ 16 ]
the fame Ship with thee again for a Thouſand
Pounds. This indeed was, as I faid, an Excurfion
of his Spirits which were yet agitated by the Senſe
of his Lofs, and was farther than he could have
Authority to go. However he afterwards talk'd very
gravely to me, exhorted me to go back to my Fa-
ther, and not tempt Providence to my Ruine; told
me I might fee a vifible Hand of Heaven againſt
me, And young Man, faid he, depend upon it, if you
do not go back, where-ever you go, you will meet with no-
thing but Difafters and Diſappointments till your Fathers
Words are fulfilled upon you.
We parted foon after; for I made him little
Anfwer, and I faw him no more; which way he
went, I know not.
As for me, having ſome Mo-
ney in my Pocket, I travelled to London by Land;
and there, as well as on the Road, had many Strug-
gles with my felf, what Courfe of Life I fhould 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 im-
mediately occurr❜d to me how I fhould be laugh'd
at among the Neighbours, and fhould be afham'd
to fee, not my Father and Mother only, but even
every Body elfe; from whence I have fince often
obferved, how incongruous and irrational the com-
mon Temper of Mankind is, eſpecially of Youth,
to that Reaſon which ought to guide them in fuch
Cafes, viz. That they are not afham'd to fin, and
yet are aſham'd to repent; not afham'd of the Acti-
on for which they onght justly to be eſteemed Fools,
but are afham'd of the returning, which only can.
make them be eſteem'd wife Men.
In this State of Life however I remained fome
time, uncertain what Meaſures to take, and what
Courſe of Life to lead. An irreſiſtible Reluctance
continu'd to going Home; and as I ftay'd a while,
the
[ 17 ]
the Remembrance of the Diftrefs I had been in
wore off; and as that abated, the little Motion I
had in my Defires to a Return wore off with it, till
at laft I quite lay'd afide the Thoughts of it, and
lookt out for a Voyage.
That evil Influence which carryed me firſt away
from my Father's Houfe, that hurried me into the
wild and indigefted Notion of raifing my Fortune;
and that impreft thofe Conceits fo forcibly upon
me, as to make me deaf to all good Advice, and
to the Entreaties and even Command of my Fa-
ther: I fay the fame Influence, whatever it was,
prefented 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 fhip my felf as a Sailor;
whereby, tho' I might indeed have workt a little
harder than ordinary, yet at the fame time I had
learn'd the Duty and Office of a Fore-maſt Man;
and in time might have quallified my felf for a
Mate or Lieutenant, if not for a Maſter: But as
it was always my Fate to chooſe for the worſe,
fo I did here; for having Money in my Pocket,
and good Cloaths upon my Back, I would always
go on board in the Habit of a Gentleman; and fo
I neither had any Buſineſs in the Ship, or learn'd to
do any.
It was my Lot first of all to fall into pretty good
Company in London, which does not always hap-
pen to fuch looſe and unguided young Fellows as I
then was; the Devil generally not omitting to lay
fome Snare for them very early: But it was not fo
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 re-
C
folved
[ 18 ]
folved to go again; and who taking a Fancy to my
Converfation, which was not at all difagreeable at
that time, hearing me fay I had a mind to fee the
Word, told me if I wou'd go the Voyage with
him I ſhould be at no Expence; I fhould be his
Meſs-mate and his Companion, and if I could
carry any thing with me, I fhould have all the
Advantage of it that the Trade would admit; and
perhaps I might meet with ſome Encouragement.
I embrac'd the Offer, and entring into a ftrict
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 difintereſted Honeſty of my Friend the Cap-
tain, I increaſed very confiderably; for I carried
about 40 l. in fuch Toys and Trifles as the Cap-
tain directed me to buy. This 40 l. I had mufte-
red together by the Affiſtance of ſome of my Rela-
tions whom I correfponded with, and who, I be-
lieve, got my Father, or at leaſt my Mother, to
contribute fo much as that to my firft Adventure.
This was the only Voyage which I may fay was
fuccefsful in all my Adventures, and which I owe to
the Integrity and Honefty of my Friend the Cap-
tain, under whon alfo I got a competent Know-
ledge of the Mathematicks and the Rules of Na-
vigation, learn'd 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 un-
derstood 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 L. 5. 9 Ounces of
Gold Duft for my Adventure, which yielded me in
London at my Return, almoſt 300 l. and this fill'd
me with thoſe aſpiring Thoughts which have fince
fo compleated my Ruin.
Yet
[ 19 ]
Yet even in this Voyage I had my Misfortunes.
too; particularly, that I was continually fick, be-
ing thrown into a violent Calenture by the exceffive
Heat of the Climate; our principal Trading being
upon the Coaſt, from the Latitude of 15 Degrees,
North even to the Line it felf.
I was now fet up for a Guiney Trader; and my
Friend, to my great Misfortune, dying foon after his
Arrival, I refolved to go the fame Voyage again,
and I embark'd in the fame Veffel with one who was
his Mate in the former Voyage, and had now got
the Command of the Ship. This was the unhap-
pieſt Voyage that ever Man made; for tho' I did
not carry quite 100 l. of my new gain'd Wealth,
fo that I had 200 left, and which I lodg'd with
my Friend's Widow, who was very juft to me, yet
I fell into terrible Misfortunes in this Voyage; and
the firſt was this, viz. Our Ship making her Courſe
towards the Canary Iſlands, or rather between thoſe
Iflands and the African Shore, was ſurpriſed in the
Grey of the Morning, by a Turkish Rover of Sallee,
who gave Chafe to us with all the Sail fhe could
make. We crowded alfo as much Canvaſs as our
Yards would ſpread, or our Mafts carry, to have
got clear; but finding the Pirate gain'd upon us,
and would certainly come up with us in a few
Hours, we prepar'd to fight; our Ship having 12
Guns, and the Rogue 18. About three in the Af-
ternoon he came up with us, and bringing to by
Mistake, juſt athwart our Quarter, inftead of
athwart our Stern, as he intended, we brought 8 of
our Guns to bear on that Side, and pour'd in a
Broadfide upon him, which made him fheer off
again, after returning our Fire, and pouring in alfo
his ſmall Shot from near 200 Men which he had on
Board. However, we had not a Man touch'd, all
our Men keeping clofe. He prepar'd to attack us
again
C 2
[20]
again, and we to defend our felves; but laying us
on Board the next time upon our other Quarter,
he entred 60 Men upon our Decks, who imme-
diatel fell to cutting and hacking the Decks and
Rigging. We ply'd them with Small-ſhot, Half-
Pikes, Powder-Chefts, and fuch like, and clear'd
our Deck of them twice. However, to cut fhort
this melancholly Part of our Story, our Ship being
difabled, and three of our Men kill'd, and eight
wounded, we were obliged to yield, and were car-
ry'd all Priſoners into Sallee, a Port belonging to the
Moors.
The Ufage I had there was not fo dreadful as at
firſt I apprehended, nor was I carried up the Coun-
try to the Emperor's Court, as the reft 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 Bufinefs. At this
furpriſing Change of my Circumftances from a Mer-
chant to a miferable Slave, I was perfectly over-
whelmed; and now I look'd back upon my Father's
prophetick Diſcourſe to me, that I ſhould be miſe-
rable, and have none to relieve me, which I thought
was now fo effectually brought to paſs, that it could
not be worſe; that now the Hand of Heaven had
overtaken me, and I was undone without Redem-
ption. But alas! this was but a Taste of the Mife-
ry I was to go thro', as will appear in the Sequel
of this Story.
As my new Patron or Mafter had taken me Home
to his Houſe, fo I was in hopes that he would
take me with him when he went to Sea again, be-
lieving that it would fome time or other be his
Fate to be taken by a Spanish or Portugal Man of
War; and that then I fhould be fet at Liberty. But
this Hope of mine was foon taken away; for when
he went to Sea, he left me on Shoar to look after his
little
[ 21 ]
little Garden, and do the common Drudgery of Slaves
about his Houſe; and when he came home again
from his Cruiſe, he order'd me to lye in the Cab-
bin 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 leaft Probability in it: No-
thing preſented to make the Suppofition of it ratio-
nal; for I had no Body to communicate it to, that
would embark with me; no Fellow-Slave, no Eng-
lifhman, Irishman, or Scotfman there but my felf; fo
that for two Years, tho' I often pleafed my felf with
the Imagination, yet I never had the leaft encoura-
ging Profpect of putting it in Practice.
After about two Years an odd Circumſtance pre-
fented it felf, which put the old Thought of ma-
king fome Attempt for my Liberty, again in my
Head: My Patron lying at Home longer than ufu-
al, without fitting out his Ship, which, as I heard,
was for want of Money; he ufed conftantly, once or
twice a Week, fometimes oftner, 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 Marefco with him to row the Boat, we
made him very merry, and I prov'd very dexterous
in catching Fifh; infomuch that fometimes he
would fend me with a Moor, one of his Kinf-
men, and the Youth the Marefco, as they call'd him,
to catch a Difh of Fiſh for him.
It happen'd one time, that going a fifhing in a
ftark calm Morning, a Fog rofe fo thick, that tho'
we were not half a League from the Shoar we loſt
Sight of it; and rowing we knew not whither or
which way, we labour'd all Day and all the next.
Night, and when the Morning came we found we
had pull'd off to Sea inftead of pulling in for the
Shoar; and that we were at leaft two Leagues from
C 3
the
[ 22 ]
the Shoar: However we got well in again, tho'
with a great deal of Labour, and fome Danger;
for the Wind began to blow pretty freſh in the Mor-
ning; but particularly we were all very hungry.
But our Patron warn'd by this Difafter, refolved
to take more Care of himſelf for the future; and
having lying by him the Long-boat of our English
Ship we had taken, he refolved he would not go a
fiſhing any more without a Compafs and fome
Provifion; fo he ordered the Carpenter of his
Ship, who alfo 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 ftand
behind it to fteer and hale home the Main-fheet;
and Room before for a hand or two to ftand and
work the Sails; fhe fail'd with that we call a Shoul-
der of Mutton Sail; and the Boom gib'd over the
Top of the Cabbin, which lay very fnug and low,
and had in it Room for him to lye, with a Slave
or two, and a Table to eat on, with fome ſmall
Lockers to put in fome Bottles of fuch Liquor as he
thought fit to drink in; particularly his Bread,
Rice and Coffee.
We went frequently out with this Boat a fiſhing,
and as I was moſt dextrous to catch fish for him,
he never went without me: It happen'd that he
had appointed to go out in this Boat, either for
Pleaſure or for Fifh, with two or three Moors of
fome Diſtinction in that Place, and for whom he
had provided extraordinarily; and had therefore
fent on board the Boat over Night, a larger Store
of Proviſions than ordinary; and had order'd me
to get ready three Fuzees with Powder and Shot,
which were on board his Ship; for that they de-
fign'd fome 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,
[23]
clean, her Antient and Pendants out, and every
thing to accomodate his Gueſts; when by and by
my Patroon came on board alone, and told me
his Gueſts had put off going, upon fome Buſineſs
that fell out, and order'd me with the Man and
Boy, as ufual, to go out with the Boat and catch
them fome Fiſh, for that his Friends were to ſup
at his Houſe; and commanded that as foon as I
had got fome Fiſh I fhould bring it home to his
Houfe; all which I prepar'd to do.
This Moment my former Notions of Deliver-
ance darted into my Thoughts, for now I found I
was like to have a little Ship at my Command; and
my Mafter being gone, I prepar'd to furnish my
felf, not for a fifhing Bufinefs but for a Voyage;
tho' I knew not, neither did I fo much as confider
whither I fhould fteer; for any where to get out
of that Place was my Way.
My first Contrivance was to make a Pretence
to ſpeak to this Moor, to get fomething for our Sub-
fiftance on board; for I told him we muſt not pre-
fume to eat of our Patroon's Bread, he faid that
was true; fo he brought a large Basket of Rusk
or Bisket of their kind, and three Jarrs with freſh
Water into the Boat; I knew where my Patroon's
Cafe of Bottles ftood, which it was evident by
the make were taken out of fome Engliſh Prize; and
I convey'd them into the Boat while the Moor was
on Shoar, as if they had heen there before, for our
Maſter: I convey'd alfo a great Lump of Bees-
Wax into the Boat, which weighed above half
a Hundred Weight, with a Parcel of Twine
or Thread, a Hatchet, a Saw and a Hammer, all
which were of great Ufe to us afterwards; efpe-
cially the Wax to make Candles. Another Trick
I try'd upon him, which he innocently came into
alfo; his Name was Ifmael, who they call Muly
C 4
or
[24]
or Moely, fo I call'd to him, Moely faid I, our Pa-
troon's Guns are on board the Boat, can you not
get a little Powder and Shot, it may be we may
kill fome Alcamies (a Fowl like our Curlieus) for our
felves, for I know he keeps the Gunner's Storesin the
Ship? Yes, fays he, I'll bring fome, and accordingly he
brought a great Leather Pouch which held about a
Pound and half of Powder, or rather more; and ano-
ther with Shot, that had five or fix Pound, with fome
Bullets; and put all into the Boat: At the fame time
I had found fome Powder of my Maſters in the Great
Cabbin, with which I fill'd one of the large Bot-
tles in the Cafe, which was almoft empty; pou-
ring what was in it into another: and thus furniſh-
ed with every thing needful, we fail'd out of
the Port to fifh: The Caſtle which is at the En-
trance 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 hal'd in our Sail, and fet
us down to fish: The Wind blew from the N.NE.
which was contrary to my Defire; for had it blown
foutherly I had been fure to have made the Coaft
of Spain, and at leaſt reacht to the Bay of Cadiz;
but my Refolutions were, blow which way it would,
I would be gone from that horrid Place where I
was, and leave thereft to Fate.
After we had fiſht fome time and catcht nothing,
for when I had Fiſh on my Hook, Iwould not pull
them up, that he might not fee them; I faid to
the Moor, this will not do, our Mafter will not
be thus ferv'd, we muſt ſtand farther off: He think-
ing no harm agreed, and being in the head of the
Boat fet the Sails; and as I had the Helm I run
the Boat out near a League farther, and then
brought her too as if I would fifh; when giving
the Boy the Helm, I ftept forward to where the
Moor was, and making as if I ftoopt for fome-
thing
[ 25 ]
thing hehind him, I took him by Surprize with
my Arm under his Twift, and toft him clear o-
ver-board into the Sea; he rife immediately, for
he ſwam like a Cork, and call'd to me, begg'd to be
taken in, told me he would go all over the World
with me; he ſwam fo ftrong after the Boat that he
would have reacht me very quickly, there bieng but
little Wind; upon which I ftept into the Cabbin
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
faid I, you ſwim well enough to reach to the
Shoar, and the Sea is calm, make the beſt of your
Way to Shoar and I will do you no harm, but if
you come near the Boat I'll fhoot you thro' the
Head; for I am refolved to have my Liberty; fo
he turn'd himſelf about and fwam for the Shoar,
and I make no doubt but he reacht it with Eafe,
for he was an Excellent Swimmer.
I could ha' been content to ha' taken this Moor
with me, and ha' drown'd the Boy, but there was no
venturing to truft him: When he was gone I turn'd
to the Boy, who they call'd Xury, and faid to
him, Xury, if you will be faithful to me I'll make
you a great Man, but if you will not ftroak your
Face to be true to me, that is, fwear by Mahomet and
his Father's Beard, I muſt throw you into the Sea
too; the Boy fmil'd in my Face and ſpoke fo inno-
cently that I could not miſtruſt him;`and ſwore to
be faithful to me, and go all over the World with
me.
While I was in View of the Moor that was
fwimming, I ftood out directly to Sea with the Boat,
rather ftretching to Windward, that they might
think me gone towards the Straits-mouth (as indeed
any one that had been in their Wits muſt ha' been ſup-
pofed to do) for who would ha' fuppos'd we were faild
on
[ 26 ]
1
on to the fouthward to the truly Barbarian Coaft,
where whole Nations of Negroes were fure to
furround us with their Canoes, and deftroy us;
where we could ne'er once go on fhoar but we
ſhould be devour'd by favage Beafts, or more mer-
cilefs Savages of humane kind.
But as foon as it grew dusk in the Evening, I
chang'd my Courfe, and fteer'd directly South and
by Eaft, bending my Courſe a little toward the
Eaft, that I might keep in with the Shoar; and
having a fair freſh Gale of Wind, and a ſmooth quiet
Sea, I made fuch Sail that I believe by the next
Day at Three a Clock in the Afternoon, when I
first made the Land, I could not be lefs than 150
Miles South of Sallee; quite beyond the Em-
peror
of Morocco's Dominions, or indeed of any o-
ther King thereabouts, for we faw no People.
Yet fuch was the Fright I had taken at the
Moors, and the dreadful Apprehenfions I had of
falling into their Hands, that I would not ftop, or
go on Shoar, or come to an Anchor; the Wind
continuing fair, 'till I had fail'd in that manner five
Days: And then the Wind fhifting to the fouth-
ward, I concluded alfo that if any of ourVeffels were
in Chaſe of me, they alſo would now give over;
fo I ventur'd to make to the Coaft, and came to
an Anchor in the Mouth of a little River, I knew
not what, or where; neither what Latitude, what
Country, what Nations, or what River: I neither
faw, or defir'd to fee any People, the principal thing
I wanted was fresh Water: We came into this
Creek in the Evening, refolving to fwim on fhoar
as foon as it was dark, and diſcover the Country;
but as foon as it was quite dark, we heard fuch
dreadful Noifes 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,
[ 27 ]
Fear, and beg'd of me not to go on fhoar till
Day; well Xury faid I, then I won't, but it may
be we may fee Men by Day, who will be as bad
to us as thofe Lyons; then we give them the shoot Gun
fays Xury laughing, make them run wey; fuch English
Xury ſpoke by converfing among us Slaves, how-
ever I was glad to fee the Boy fo cheerful, and I
gave him a Dram (out of our Patroon's Cafe of Bot-
tles) to chear him up: After all, Xury's Advice
was good, and I took it, we dropt our little An-
chor and lay ftill 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 forts, come down to the Sea-fhoar and run
into the Water, wallowing and waſhing themfelves
for the Pleaſure of cooling themſelves; and they
made fuch hideous Howlings and Yellings, that I
never indeed heard the like.
Xury was dreadfully frighted, and indeed to was
I too; but we were both more frighted when we
heard one of theſe mighty Creatures come fwim-
ming towards our Boat, we could not fee him, but
we might hear him by his blowing to be a mon-
ftrous, huge and furious Beaft; Xury faid it was
a Lyon, and it might be fo for ought I know; but
poor Xury cryed to me to weigh the Anchor and
row away; no fays I, Xury, we can flip our Cable
with the Buoy to it and go off to Sea, they can-
not follow us far; I had no fooner faid fo, but I
perceiv'd the Creature (whatever it was) within
Two Oars Length, which fomething furprized
me; however I immediately ftept to the Cabbin-
door, and taking up my Gun fir'd at him, upon
which he immediately turn'd about and fwam to-
wards the Shoar again.
But it is impoffible to defcribe the horrible Noi-
fes, and hideous Cryes and Howlings, that were
raifed
[ 28 ]
P
raiſed as well upon the Edge of the Shoar, as high-
er within the Country; upon the Noife or Re-
port of the Gun, a Thing I have fome Reaſon to
believe thoſe Creatures had never heard before :
This Convinc'd me that there was no going on
Shoar for us in the Night upon that Coaſt, and
how to venture on Shoar in the Day was ano-
ther 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 Lyons and
Tygers; at leaft we were equally apprehenfive
of the Danger of it.
Be that as it would, we were oblig'd to go on
Shoar fomewhere 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 faid, if I would let him go
on Shoar with one of the Jarrs, he would find if there
was any Water and bring fome to me. I ask'd
him why he would go? Why I fhould not go and
he ftay in the Boat? The Boy anfwer'd with fo
much Affection that made me love him ever
after. Says he, If wild Mans come, they eat me, you
go wey.
Well, Xury, faid I, we will both go, and
if the wild Man's come we will kill them, they
fhall Eat neither of us; fo I gave Xury a piece of
Rusk-bread to Eat and a Dram out of our Pa-
troons Cafe of Bottles which I mentioned before;
and we hal'd the Boat in as near the Shoar as we
thought was proper, and fo waded on Shoar, car-
rying nothing but our Arms and two Jarrs 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 feeing a low Place
about a Mile up the Country rambled to it; and
by and by I faw him come running towards me,
I thought he was purfued by some Savage, or
frighted
[ 29 ]
frighted with ſome wild Beaft, and I run forward
towards him to help him, but when I came near-
er to him, I faw fomething hanging over his
Shoulders which was a Creature that he had fhot,
like a Hare but different in Colour, and longer
Legs, however we were very glad of it, and it
was very good Meat; but the great Joy that poor
Xury came with, was to tell me he had found good
Water and feen no wild Mans.
But we found afterwards that we need not take
fuch Pains for Water, for a little higher up the
Creek where we were, we found the Water frefh
when the Tide was out, which flowed but a little
way up; fo we filled our Jarrs and feafted on the
Hare we had killed, and prepared to go on our
Way, having feen no Foot-ſteps of any humane
Creature in that part of the Country.
As I had been one Voyage to this Coaft before,
I knew very well that the Iflands of the Canaries,
and the Cape de Verd Iflands alfo, lay not far off
from the Coaft. But as I had no Inftruments to
take an Obfervation to know what Latitude we
were in, and did not exactly know, or at leaſt re-
member what Latitude they were in; I knew not
where to look for them, or when to stand off to Sea
towards them; otherwife I might now eafily have
found ſome of theſe Iſlands. But my hope was,
that if I ftood along this Coaſt till I came to that
Part where the English Traded, I fhould find fome.
of their Veffels upon their ufual Defign of Trade,
that would relieve and take us in.
By the beſt of my Calculation, that Place were
I now was, muſt be that Country, which lying be-
tween the Emperor of Morocco's Dominions and the
Negro's, lies waft and uninhabited, except by wild
Beaſts; the Negroes having abandon'd it and gone
farther South for fear of the Moors; and the Moors
not
[ ]
30]
30 not thinking it worth inhabiting, by reafon of its
Barrennefs; and indeed both forfaking it becauſe
of the prodigious Numbers of Tygers, Lyons,
Leopards and other furious Creatures which har-
bour there; fo that the Moors ufe it for their Hun-
ting 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 faw
nothing but a waſt uninhabited Country, by Day;
and heard nothing but Howlings and Roaring of
wild Beafts, by Night.
Once or twice in the Day time, I thought I faw
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 alfo going too high for
my little Veffel, fo I refolved to purfue my firft
Deſign and keep along the Shoar.
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 ftill to go farther in; Xury, whofe Eyes were
more about him than it feems mine were, calls
foftly to me, and tells me that we had beſt
go
farther off the Shoar; for, fays he, look yonder lies
a dreadful Monſter on the fide of that Hillock
faft afleep: I look'd where he pointed, and faw a
dreadful Monſter indeed, for it was a terrible great
Lyon that lay on the Side of the Shoar, under the
Shade of a Piece of the Hill that hung as it were
a little over him. Xury, fays I, you
Xury, fays I, you ſhall go on
Shoar and kill him; Xury look'd frighted, and faid,
Me kill! be eat me at one Mouth; one Mouthful he
meant; however, I faid no more to the Boy, but
bad
[ 31 ]
bad him lye ftill, and I took our biggeſt Gun,
which was almoſt Muſquet-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 fmaller Bullets. I took
the beſt aim I could with the firft Piece to have
fhot him into the Head, but he lay fo with his Leg
rais'd a little above his Nofe, that the Slugs hit
his Leg about the Knee, and broke the Bone. He
ſtarted up growling at firft, but finding his Leg broke
fell down again, and then got up upon three Legs
and gave the moft hideous Roar that ever I heard;
I was a little fuppriz'd that I had not hit him on
the Head; however I took up the fecond Piece
immediately, and tho' he began to move off fir'd
again, and fhot him into the Head, and had the
Pleaſure to ſee him drop, and make but little Noiſe,
but lay ftruggling for Life. Then Xury took Heart,
and would have me let him go on Shoar: Well, go
faid I, fo the Boy jump'd into the Water, and ta-
king a little Gun in one Hand fwam to Shoar
with the other Hand, and coming cloſe to the
Creature, put the Muzzle of the Piece to his Ear,
and fhot him into the Head again which di-
fpatch'd him quite.
•
This was Game indeed to us, but this was no
Food, and I was very forry to loſe three Charges
of Powder and Shot upon a Creature that was
good for nothing to us. However Xury faid he
would have fome of him; fo he comes on board,
and ask'd me to give him the Hatchet; for what,
Xury, faid I? Me cut off his Head, faid he. How-
ever Xury could not cut off his Head, but he cut
off a Foot and brought it with him, and it was a
monftrous great one.
I be-
[ ]
32]
32 I bethought my ſelf however, that perhaps the
Skin of him might one way or other be of ſome
Value to us; and I refolved 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 of the
Hide of him, and fpreading it on the top of our
Cabbin, the Sun effectually dried it in two Days
time, and it afterwards ferv'd me to lye upon.
After this Stop we made on to the Southward
continually for ten or twelve Days, living very
fparing on our Provifions, which began to abate
very much, and going no oftner into the Shoar
than we were oblig'd to for frefh Water; my De-
fign in this was to make the River Gambia or Sen-
negall, that is to fay, any where about the Cape de
Verd, where I was in hopes to meet with fome Euro-
pean Ship, and if I did not, I knew not what Courſe
I had to take, but to feek out for the Iſlands, or pe-
rifh there among the Negroes. I knew that all the
Ships from Europe, which fail'd either to the Coaſt
of Guiney, or to Brafil, or to the East-Indies, made
this Cape or thoſe Iſlands; and in a word, I put the
whole of my Fortune upon this fingle Point, either
that I muſt meet with fome Ship, or muft perish.
When I had purfued this Refolution about ten
Days longer, as I have faid, I began to fee that
the Land was inhabited, and in two or three
Places as we failed by, we faw People ftand upon
the Shoar to look at us, we could alſo perceive
they were quite Black and Stark-naked. I was once
inclin'd to ha' gone on Shoar to them; but Xury
was my better Councellor, and faid to me, no go,
no go; however I hal'd in nearer the Shoar that I
might talk to them, and I found they run along
the Shoar by me a good way; I obferv'd they had
no
[ 33 ]
no Weapons in their Hands, except one who had a
long flender Stick, which Xury faid was a Lance,
and that they would throw them a great way with
good aim; fo I kept at a diſtance, but talk'd with
them by Signs as well as I could; and particularly
made Signs for fome thing to Eat, they beckon'd to
me to stop my Boat, and that they would fetch me
fome Meat; upon this I lower'd the top of my
Sail, and lay by, and two of them run up into the
Country, and in leſs than half an Hour came back
and brought with them two Pieces of dry Flefh
and fome Corn, fuch 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 Difpute, for I
was not for venturing on Shore to them, and they
were as much affraid 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 ftood a great way off
till we fetch'd it on Board, and then came clofe to
us again.
We made Signs of Thanks to them, for we had
nothing to make them amends; but an Opportuni-
ty offer'd that very Inftant to oblige them won-
derfully, for while we were lying by the Shore,
came two mighty Creatures one purfuing the other,
(as we took it)with great Fury, from the Mountains
towards the Sea; whether it was the Mal puruing
the Female, or whether they were in Sporter in R
we could not tell, any more than we could rell whe-
ther it was uſual or ftrange, but I believe it was the
latter; becauſe in the firft Place, the
Creatures feldom appear but in the N
the fecond Place, we found the Peo
frighted, eſpecially the Women.
The
ire,
rave Rous
in
ribly
that
1
had the Lance or Dart did not fly from them,
but the reft did; however as the two
D
rures
ran
[ 34 ]
ran directly into the Water, they did not ſeem to of
fer to fall upon any of the Negroes, but plung'd
themſelves into the Sea and fwam 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 poffible Expedition, and bad Xury
load both the other; as foon as he came fairly with-
in my reach, I fir'd, and ſhot him directly into the
Head; immediately he funk down into the Water,
but rofe inſtantly and plung'd up and down as if
he was ſtruggling for Life; and fo indeed he was,
he immediately made to the Shore, but between
the Wound which was his mortal Hurt, and the
ftrangling of the Water, he dyed juft before he
reach'd the Shore.
It is impoffible to expreſs the Aſtoniſhment of
theſe poor Creatures at the Noife and the Fire of
my Gun; fome of them were even ready to dye
for Fear, and fell down as Dead with the very
Terror. But when they faw the Creature dead and
funk 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 fearch for the Creature,
I found him by his Blood ſtaining the Water, and
by the help of a Rope which I flung round him
and gave the Negroes to hawl, they drag'd him on
Shore, and found that it was a moft curious Leo-
pard, fpotted and fine to an admirable Degree, and
the Negroes held up their Hands with Admiration
to think what it was I had kill'd him with.
The other Creature frighted with the flafh of
Fire and the Noife of the Gun fwam 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, fo I was wil-
ling
[ 35 ]
ling to have them take it as a Favour from me,
which when I made Signs to them that they might
take him, they were very thankful for, immediate-
ly they fell to work with him, and tho' they had no
Knife, yet with a ſharpen'd Piece of Wood they took
off his Skin as readily, and much more readily than
we cou'd have done with a Knife; they offer'd 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 Provifion, which
tho' I did not underſtand, yet I accepted; then I
made Signs to them for fome Water, and held out
one of my Jarrs to them, turning it bottom up-
ward, to fhew that it was empty, and that I wanted
to have it filled. They call'd immediately to
fome of their Friends, and there came two Wo-
men and brought a great Veffel made of Earth,
and burnt as I suppoſe in the Sun; this they ſet
down for me, as before, and I fent Xury on Shore
with my Jarrs, and filled them all three: The Wo-
men were as ftark Naked as the Men.
I was now furniſhed with Roots and Corn, fuch
as it was, and Water, and leaving my friendly Ne-
groes, I made forward for about eleven Days more
without offering to go near the Shoar, till I faw
the Land run out a great Length into the Sea, at a-
bout 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
faw plainly Land on the other Side to Seaward;
then I concluded, as it was moſt certain indeed,
that this was the Cape de Verd, and thoſe the I-
Дlands, call'd from thence Cape de Verd Inlands.
However they were at a great Diſtance, and I
could not well tell what I had beſt to do, for if I
fhould
D 2
[36]
i
ſhould be taken with a Freſh of Wind I might
neither reach one or other.
In this Dilemna, as I was very penfive, I ſtept
into the Cabbin and fat me down, Xury having
the Helm, when on a fuddain the Boy cry'd out,
Maſter, Maſter, a Ship with a Sail, and the fooliſh
Boy was frighted out of his Wits, thinking it
muſt needs be fome of his Mafter's Ships fent to
purfue us, when, I knew we were gotten far enough
out of their reach. I jump'd out of the Cabbin,
and immediately faw not only the Ship, but what
fhe was, (viz.) that it was a Portuguese Ship, and
as I thought was bound to the Coaft of Guinea for
Negroes. But when I obferv'd the Courfe fhe
fteer'd, I was foon convinc'd they were bound
fome other way, and did not defign to come any
nearer to the Shoar; upon which I ftretch'd out to
Sea as much as I could, refolving to ſpeak with
them if poffible.
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 utmoft,
and began to deſpair, they it ſeems faw me by the
help of their Perſpective-Glaffes, and that it was
fome European Boat, which as they ſuppoſed muſt
belong to fome Ship that was loft, fo they fhort-
ned Sail to let me come up. I was encouraged
with this, and as I had my Patroon's Antient on
Board, I made a Waft of it to them for a Signal
of Diſtreſs, and fir'd a Gun, both which they faw,
for they told me they faw the Smoke, tho' they did
not hear the Gun; upon theſe Signals they very
kindly brought too, and lay by for me, and in a-
bout three Hours time I came up with them.
They ask'd me what I was, in Portugueſe, and in
Spanish, and in French, but I underſtood none of
them;
[ 37 ]
them; but at laſt a Scots Sailor who was on board,
call'd to me, and I anſwer'd him, and told him I
was an Englishman, that I had made my eſcape out
of Slavery from the Moors at Sallee; then they bad
me come on board, and very kindly took me in,
and all my Goods.
It was an inexpreffible Joy to me, that any one
will believe, that I was thus deliver'd, as I e-
ſteem'd it, from fuch a miſerable and almoſt hope-
lefs Condition as I was in, and I immediately of-
fered 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 deliver'd fafe to me when I
came to the Brafils, for fays he, I have fav'd your
Life on no other Terms than I would be glad to be faved
my felf, and it may one time or other be my Lot to be
taken up in the fame Condition; befides, faid he, when
I carry you to the Brafils, fogreat away 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, Seignor Inglefe, fays he,
Mr. Engliſhman, I will carry you thither in Charity,
and thofe things will help you to buy your Subfiftance there
and your Paffage home again.
As he was Charitable in his Propofal, fo he was
Juſt in the Performance to a tittle, for he ordered
the Seamen that none fhould offer to touch any
thing I had; then he took every thing into his own
Poffeffion, and gave me back an exact Inventory
of them, that I might have them, even ſo much as
my three Earthen Jarrs.
As to my Boat it was a very good one, and
that he faw, and told me he would buy it of me
for the Ship's uſe, and ask'd me what I would have
for it? I told him he had been fo generous to me
in every thing, that I could not offer to make a-
D 3
ny
[ 38 ]
2
ny Price of 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 80 Pieces of Eight for it
at Brafil, and when it came there, if any one
offer'd to give more he would make it up; he of-
fer'd me alfo 60 Pieces of Eight more for my Boy
Xury, which I was loath to take, not that I was not
willing to let the Captain have him, but I was very
loath to fell the poor Boy's Liberty, who had affi-
fted me fo faithfully in procuring my own. How-
ever when I let him know my Reafon. he own'd
it to be juft, and offer'd me this Medium, that he
would give the Boy an Obligation to fet him free
in ten Years, if he turn'd Chriftian; upon this, and
Xury faying he was willing to go to him, I let the
Captain have him.
We had a very good Voyage to the Brafils, and ar-
riv'd in the Bay de Todos los Santos, or All-Saints Bay,
in about Twenty-two Days after. And now I was
once more deliver'd from the moſt miferable of all
Conditions of Life, and what to do next with my
ſelf I was now to confider.
The generous Treatment the Captain gave me, I
can never enough remember; he would take nothing
of me for my Paffage, gave me twenty Ducats for
the Leopard's Skin, and forty for the Lyon's Skin
which I had in my Boat, and caufed every thing
I had in the Ship to be punctually deliver'd me, and
what I was willing to fell he bought, fuch as the
Cafe of Bottles, two of my Guns, and a Piece of
the Lump of Bees-wax, for I had made Candles of
the reſt; in a word, I made about 220 Pieces of
Eight of all my Cargo, and with this Stock I went
on Shoar in the Brafilo.
I had not been long here, but being recommen-
ded to the Houſe of a good honeft Man like him-
felf, who had an Ingeino as they call it; that is, a
Plan-
[ 39 ]
Plantation and a Sugar-Houfe. I lived with him
fome time, and acquainted my felf by that means
with the Manner of their planting and making of
Sugar; and feeing how well the Planters liv'd, and
how they grew rich fuddenly, I refolv'd, if I could
get Licence to fettle there, I would turn Planter
among them, refolving in the mean time to find out
fome Way to get my Money which I had left in
London remitted to me. To this Purpoſe getting a
kind of a Letter of Naturalization, I purchaſed as
much Land that was Uncur'd, as my Money would
reach,and form'd a Plan for my Plantation and Settle-
ment, and fuch a one as might be ſuitable to the Stock
which I propoſed to my felf to receive from England.
I had a Neighbour, a Portugueze of Lisbon, but
born of English Parents, whofe Name was Wells,
and in much fuch Circumftances as I was. I call
him my Neighbour, becauſe his Plantation lay next
to mine, and we went on very fociably together. My
Stock was but low as well as his; and we rather
planted for Food than any thing elfe, for about two
Years. However, we began to increaſe, and our
Land began to come into Order; fo that the third
Year we planted fome 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 forfook my Fa-
ther's Houſe, and broke thro' all his good Advice;
nay, I was coming into the very Middle Station, or
upper Degree of low Life, which my Father advi-
fed me to before; and which if I refolved to go on
D 4
with,
[ 40 ]
with, I might as well ha' ftaid at Home, and never
have fatigu'd my felf in the World as I had done;
and I uſed often to fay to my felf, I could ha'
done this as well in England among my Friends, as
ha' gone 5000 Miles off to do it among Strangers
and Salvages in a Wilderneſs, and at fuch a Diſtance,
as never to hear from any Part of the World that
had the leaft Knowledge of me.
In this manner I uſed to look upon my Condition
with the utmoſt Regret. I had no body to con-
verſe with but now and then this Neighbour; no
Work to be done, but by the Labour of my Hands;
and I uſed to ſay, I liv'd just like a Man caft away
upon fome defolate Iſland, that had no body there
but himſelf. But how juft has it been, and how ſhould
all Men reflect, that when they compare their pre-
fent Conditions with others that are worfe, Heaven
may oblige them to make the Exchange, and be
convinc'd of their former Felicity by their Experi-
ence: I fay, how juſt has it been, that the truly foli-
tary Life I reflected on in an Iſland of meer Defola-
tion ſhould be my Lot, who had ſo often unjuftly
compar'd it with the Life which I then led, in which
had I continued, I had in all Probability been ex-
ceeding profperous and rich.
I was in fome Degree fettled 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 provi-
ding 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 fincere Advice, Seignior Inglefe fays be;
for fo 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
Effects to Lisbon, to fuch Perfons as I fhall di-
rect,
your
[ 41 ]
rect, and in fuch Goods as are proper for this Coun-
try, I will bring you the Produce of them, God
willing, at my Return; but fince human Affairs are
all fubject to Changes and Diſaſters, I would have
you give Orders but for One Hundred Pounds Sterl.
which you fay is Half your Stock, and let the Ha-
zard be run for the firft; fo that if it come fafe,
you may order the reft the fame Way; and if it
miſcarry, you may have the other Half to have Re-
courfe to for your Supply.
This was fo wholefom Advice, and look'd fo
friendly, that I could not but be convinc'd it was the
beſt Courſe I could take; fo I accordingly prepared
Letters to the Gentlewoman with whom I had left
my Money, and a Procuration to the Portugueſe
Captain, as he defired.
I wrote the English Captain's Widowa full Account
of all my Adventures, my Slavery, Efcape, and how
I had met with the Portugal Captain at Sea, the Hu-
manity of his Behaviour, and in what Condition I was
now in, with all other neceffary Directions for my
Supply; and when this honeft Captain came to Lisbon,
he found means by fome of the English Merchants
there, to fend 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 fent the Portugal Captain a very hand-
fom Preſent for his Humanity and Charity to me.
The Merchant in London veſting this Hundred
Pounds in English Goods, fuch as the Captain had
writ for, fent them directly to him at Lisbon, and he
brought them all fafe to me to the Brafils, 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 Uten-
fils
[ 42 ]
fils neceffary for my Plantation, and which were of
great Uſe to me.
When this Cargo arrived, I thought my Fortunes
made, for I was ſurpriſed with the Joy of it; and
my good Steward the Captain had laid out the Five
Pounds which my Friend had fent him for a Pre-
fent for himſelf, to purchaſe, and bring me over a
Servant under Bond for fix Years Service, and would
not accept of any Confideration, except a little To-
bacco, which I would have him accept, being of
own Produce.
my
Neither was this all; but my Goods being all
English Manufactures, fuch as Cloath, Stuffs, Bays,
and things particularly valuable and defirable in the
Country, I found means to fell them to a very great
Advantage; fo that I might fay, I had more than
four times the Value of my firft Cargo, and was
now infinitely beyond my poor Neighbour, I mean
in the Advancement of my Plantation; for the firſt
thing I did, I bought me a Negro Slave, and an
European Servant alfo; I mean another befides
that which the Captain brought me from Lisbon.
me.
But as abus'd Profperity is oftentimes made the
very Means of our greateſt Adverfity, fo was it with
I went on the next Year with great Succefs in
my Plantation: I raiſed fifty great Rolls of Tobac-
co on my own Ground, more than I had difpofed of
for Neceffaries among my Neighbours; and thefe
fifty Rolls being each of above a 100 Wt. were
well cur'd and laid by againſt the Return of the
Fleet from Lisbon: and now increafing in Bufinefs
and in Wealth, my Head began to be full of Pro-
jects and Undertakings beyond my Reach; fuch as
are indeed often the Ruine of the best Heads in
Bufinefs.
Had
[ 43 ]
Had I continued in the Station I was now in, I
had room for all the happy things to have yet be-
fallen me, for which my Father fo earneſtly recom-
mended a quiet retired Life, and of which
he had fo fenfibly defcrib'd 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 encreaſe my
Fault and double the Reflections upon my felf,
which in my future Sorrows I fhould have leifure
to make; all thefe Mifcarriages were procured by
my apparent obftinate adhering to my foolifh incli-
nation of wandring abroad and purfuing that In-
clination, in contradiction to the cleareſt Views of
doing my felf good in a fair and plain purſuit of
thofe Profpects and thoſe meaſures of Life, which
Nature and Providence concurred to prefent 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 be-
ing a rich and thriving Man in my new Plantation,
only to purfue a rash and immoderate Defire of
rifing faſter than the Nature of the Thing admit-
ted; and thus I caft my felf down again into the
deepeſt Gulph of human Mifery that ever Man
fell into, or perhaps could be confiftent with Life
and a State Health of in the World.
To come then by the juft Degrees, to the Par-
ticulars of this Part of my Story; you may fup-
pofe, that having now lived almoft four Years in
the Brafilo, and beginning to thrive and profper ve-
ry well upon my Plantation; I had not only learn'd
the Language, but had contracted Acquaintance
and Friendſhip among my Fellow-Planters, as well
as among the Merchants at St. Salvadore, which
was our Port; and that in my Difcourfes among
them,
[ 44 ]
44]
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, fuch as Beads, Toys, Knives, Sciffars,
Hatchets, bits of Glaſs, and the like; not only
Gold Duft, Guinea Grains, Elephants Teeth, &c.
but Negroes for the Service of the Brafils, in great
Numbers.
They liftened always very attentively to my
Difcourfes 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 entred
into, but as far as it was, had been carried on by
the Affiento's, or Permiffion of the Kings of Spain
and Portugal, and engrofs'd in the Publick, fo that
few Negroes were brought, and thofe exceffive
dear.
It happen'd, being in Company with fome Mer-
chants and Planters of my Acquaintance, and
talking of thofe 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
difcourfed with them of, the laft Night, and they
came to make a fecret Propofal 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
ftraiten'd for nothing fo much as Servants; that as
it was a Trade that could not be carried on, be-
cauſe they could not publickly fell the Negroes
when they came home, ſo they defired to
make but one Voyage, to bring the Negroes on
Shoar privately, and divide them among their
own Plantations; and in a Word, the Queſtion
was, whether I would go their Super-Cargo in the
Ship to manage the Trading Part upon the Coaſt
of
[ 45 ]
of Guinea? And they offer'd 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 confefs'd,
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
Confiderable, 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 fent for the
other hundred Pound from England, and who in
that time, and with that little Addition, could
ſcarce ha' fail'd of being worth three or four thou-
fand Pounds Sterling, and that encreafing too; for
me to think of fuch a Voyage, was the moſt pre-
poſtorous Thing that ever Man in fuch Circum-
ſtances could be guilty of.
But I that was born to be my own Deftroyer,
could no
more refift the Offer than I could re-
ſtrain my first rambling Deſigns, when my Fa-
ther's good Counfel was loft 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 difpoſe of it to fuch
as I should direct if I mifcarry'd. This they all
engag'd to do, and entred into Writings or Cove-
nants to do fo; and I made a formal Will, difpo-
ſing of my Plantation and Effects, in Caſe of my
Death, making the Captain of the Ship that had
fav'd my Life as before, my univerfal Heir, but
obliging him to difpofe of my Effects as I had di-
rected in my Will, one half of the Produce being
to himſelf, and the other to be ſhip'd to England.
In fhort, I took all poffible Caution to preferve
my Effects, and keep up my Plantation; had I u-
fed half as much Prudence to have look'd into my
own
[ 46 ]
own Intreft, and have made a Judgment of what
I ought to have done, and not to have done, I
had certainly never gone away from fo prof-
perous an Undertaking, leaving all the probable
Views of a thriving Circumftance, and gone up-
on a Voyage to Sea, attended with all its com-
mon Hazards; to ſay nothing of the Reaſons I
had to expect particular Misfortunes to my felf.
But I was hurried on, and obey'd 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 Agree-
ment, by my Partners in the Voyage. I went on
Board in an evil Hour, the th of
>
be-
ing the fame Day eight Year 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 Tun Burthen, carried
6 Guns, and 14 Men, befides the Mafter, his Boy,
and my felf; we had on board no large Cargo of
Goods, except of fuch Toys as were fit for our
Trade with the Negroes, fuch as Beads, bits of
Glafs, Shells, and odd Trifles, eſpecially little
Looking-Glaffes, Knives, Sciffars, Hatchets, and
the like.
The fame Day I went on board we fet fail,
ftanding away to the Northward upon our own
Coaft, with Deſign to ſtretch over for the Affrican
Coaſt, when they came about 10 or 12 Degrees of
Northern Latitude, which it feems was the man-
ner of their Courſe in thoſe Days. We had very
good Weather, only exceffive hot, all the way up-
on our own Coaft, till we came the Height of
Cape St. Auguftino, from whence keeping farther off
at Sea we loft Sight of Land, and fteer'd as if we
was bound for the Ifle Fernand de Noronha holding
our

ILLUSTRATION FROM A NEW EDITION OF ROBINSON CRUSOE
IN THE "WASHINGTON SQUARE CLASSICS"
Geo. W.Jacobs & Company
[ 47
]
our Courfe N.E. by N. and leaving thoſe Ifles on
the Eaft; in this Courſe we paft the Line in about
12 Days time, and were by our laft Obfervation
in 7 Degrees 22 Min. Northern Latitude, when a
violent Tournado or Hurricane took us quite out
of our Knowledge; it began from the South-Eaſt,
came about to the North-Weft, and then ſettled
into the North-Eaft, from whence it blew in fuch
a terrible manner, that for twelve Days together
we could do nothing but drive, and fcudding away
before it, let it carry us whither ever Fate and the
Fury of the Winds directed; and during theſe
twelve Days, I need not fay, that I expected e-
very Day to be ſwallowed up, nor indeed did any
in the Ship expect to fave their Lives.
In this Diftrefs, we had befides the Terror of
the Storm, one of our Men dyed of the Calenture,
and one Man and the Boy wafh'd over board; a-
bout the 12th Day the Weather abating a little,
the Mafter made an Obfervation 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 Weft from Cape St. Auguftino;
fo that he found he was gotten upon the Coaft
of Guinea, or the North Part of Brafil, beyond
the River Amozones, toward that of the River O-
ronoque, commonly call'd the Great River, and be-
gan to confult with me what Courſe he fhould
take, for the Ship was leaky and very much diſa-
bled, and he was going directly back to the Coaft
of Brafil.
I was pofitively againſt that, and looking over
the Charts of the Sea-Coaft of America with him,
we concluded there was no inhabited Country for
us to have recourſe to, till we came within the Cir-
cle of the Carribbe-Iſlands, and therefore refolved
to ſtand away for Barbadoes, which by keeping off
at
[ 48 ]
at Sea, to avoid the Indraft of the Bay or Gulph
of Mexico, we might eaſily perform, as we hoped,
in about fifteen Days Sail; whereas we could not
poffibly make our Voyage to the Coaſt of Affrica
without fome Affiftance, both to our Ship and to
our felves.
With this Defign we chang'd our Courſe and
fteer'd away N. W. by W. in order to reach
fome of our Engliſh Iſlands, where I hoped for Re-
lief; but our Voyage was otherwiſe determined,
for being in the Latitude of 12 Deg. 18 Min. a
fecond Storm came upon us, which carry'd us a-
way with the fame Impetuofity Weftward, and
drove us fo out of the very Way of all humane
Commerce, that had all our Lives been faved, as
to the Sea, we were rather in Danger of being de-
voured 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,
cry'd out, Land; and we had no fooner run out
of the Cabbin to look out in hopes of feeing
where abouts in the World we were; but the Ship
ſtruck upon a Sand, and in a moment her Motion
being fo ftopp'd, the Sea broke over her in fuch a
manner, that we expected we fhould all have pe-
rifh'd immediately, and we were immediately dri-
ven into our clofe Quarters to fhelter us from the
very Foam and Sprye of the Sea.
It is not eafy for any one, who has not been
in the like Condition, to defcribe or conceive the
Confternation of Men in fuch Circumſtances; we
knew nothing where we were, or upon what Land
it was we were driven, whether an Ifland or the
Main, whether inhabited or not inhabited; and
as the Rage of the Wind was ſtill great, tho' ra-
ther less than at firft, we could not fo much as
hope
[49]
hope to have the Ship hold many Minutes with-
out breaking in Pieces, unless the Winds by a
kind of Miracle fhould turn immediately about.
In a word, we fat looking upon one another, and
expecting Death every Moment, and every Man
acting accordingly, as preparing for another
World, for there was little or nothing more for us
to do in this; that which was our prefent Comfort,
and all the Comfort we had, was, that contrary
to our Expectation the Ship did not break yet.
and that the Mafter faid the Wind began to a-
bate.
Now tho' we thought that the Wind did a lit-
tle abate, yet the Ship having thus ftruck upon
the Sand, and ticking 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 fa-
ving our Lives as well as we could; we had a
Boat at our Stern juft before the Storm, but ſhe
was firft ftav'd by dafhing against the Ship's Rud-
der, and in the next Place fhe broke away, and ei-
ther funk or was driven off to Sea, fo there was
no hope from her; we had another Boat on board,
but how to get her off into the Sea, was a doubt-
ful thing; however there was no room to debate,
for we fancy'd the Ship would break in Pieces e-
very Minute, and fome told us fhe was actually
broken already.
In this Diſtreſs the Mate of our Veffel lays
hold of the Boat, and with the help of the reſt of
the Men, they got her flung over the Ship's-fide,
and getting all into her, let go, and committed our
felves being Eleven in Number, to God's Mercy,
and the wild Sea; for tho' the Storm was abated
confiderably, yet the Sea went dreadful high up-
on the Shore, and might well be call'd, Den wild
Zee, as the Dutch call the Sea in a Storm.
E
And
[50]
And now our Cafe was very difmal indeed; for
we all faw plainly, that the Sea went fo high, that
the Boat could not live, and that we ſhould be ine-
vitably drowned. As to making Sail, we had none,
nor, if we had, could we ha' done any thing with
it: fo we work'd at the Oar towards the Land,
tho' with heavy Hearts, like Men going to Execu-
tion; for we all knew, that when the Boat came
nearer the Shore, fhe would be dafh'd in a Thou-
fand 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 haften'd 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 leaft Shadow
of Expectation, was, if we might happen into fome
Bay or Gulph, or the Mouth of fome 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 look'd more frightful than the Sea.
After we had row'd, or rather driven about a
League and a Half, as we reckon'd it, a raging
Wave, Mountain-like, came rowling a-ftern of us,
and plainly bad us expect the Coup de Grace. In a
word, it took us with fuch a Fury, that it overfet
the Boat at once; and feparating us as well from the
Boat, as from one another, gave us not time hardly
to fay, O God! for we were all ſwallowed up in a
Moment.
Nothing can defcribe the Counfufion of Thought
which I felt when I funk into the Water; for tho' I
fwam very well, yet I could not deliver my ſelf from
the Waves fo as to draw Breath, till that Wave
having
[51]
having driven me, or rather carried me a vaft Way
on towards the Shore, and having ſpent it felf,
went back, and left me upon the Land almoft dry,
but half-dead with the Water I took in. I had fo
much Preſence of Mind as well as Breath left, that
ſeeing my felf nearer the main Land than I expected,
I got upon my Feet, and endeavoured to make on
towards the Land as faft as I could, before another
Wave fhould return, and take me up again. But I
foon found it was impoffible to avoid it; for I faw
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 my ſelf upon the Water, if I
could; and fo by fwimming to preferve my Breath-
ing, and Pilot my ſelf towards the Shore, if poffi-
ble; 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 Foot deep in its own Body; and I
could feel my ſelf carried with a mighty Force and
Swiftnefs towards the Shore a very great Way; but
I held my Breath, and affifted my felf to fwim ftill
forward with all my Might. I was ready to burſt
with holding my Breath, when, as I felt my felf
rifing up, fo to my immediate Relief, I found my
Head and Hands fhoot out above the Surface of the
Water; and tho' it was not two Seconds of Time
that I could keep my ſelf ſo, yet it reliev'd me
greatly, gave me Breath and new Courage. I was
covered again with Water a good while, but not
fo long but I held it out; and finding the Water
had ſpent it felf, and began to return, I ftrook for-
ward againſt the Return of the Waves, and felt
Ground again with my Feet. I ſtood ſtill a few
E 2
Mo-
[ 52 ]
Moments to recover Breath, and till the Water
went from me, and then took to my Heels, and run
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.
my
The laft Time of thefe two had well near been
fatal to me; for the Sea having hurried me along as
before, landed me, or rather dafh'd me againſt a
Piece of a Rock, and that with fuch Force, as it
left me fenfelefs, 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
Body; and had it returned again immediately, I
muſt have been ftrangled in the Water; but I re-
cover'd a little before the return of the Waves,
and feeing I ſhould be cover'd again with the
Water, I refolv'd to hold faft by a Piece of the
Rock, and fo to hold my Breath, if poffible, till
the Wave went back; now as the Waves were not
fo high as at first, being nearer Land, I held my
Hold till the Wave abated, and then fetch'd ano-
ther Run, which brought me fo near the Shore,
that the next Wave, tho' it went over me, yet did
not fo ſwallow me up as to carry me away, and
the next run I took, I got to the main Land,
where, to my great Comfort, I clamber'd up the
Clifts of the Shore, and fat me dowu upon the
Grafs, free from Danger, and quite out of the
Reach of the Water.
I was now landed, and fafe on Shore, and began
to look up and thank God that my Life was fav'd in
a Cafe wherein there was fome Minutes before ſcarce
any room to hope. I believe it is impoffible to ex-
prefs to the Life what the Extaſies and Tranſports of
the
[53]
the Soul are, when it is fo fav'd, as I may fay, out
of the very Grave; and I do not wonder now at
that Cuftom, viz. That when a Malefactor who
has the Halter about his Neck, is tyed up, and just
going to be turn'd off, and has a Reprieve brought
to him: I fay, I do not wonder that they bring a
Surgeon with it, to let him Blood that very Mo-
ment they tell him of it, that the Surpriſe may not
drive the Animal Spirits from the Heart, and over-
whelm him:
For fudden Foys, like Griefs, confound at first.
I walk'd 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 Thou-
fand Geſtures and Motions which I cannot defcribe,
reflecting upon all my Comerades that were drown'd,
and that there fhould not be one Soul fav'd but
my
felf; for, as for them, I never faw them afterwards,
or any Sign of them, except three of their Hats,
one Cap, and two Shoes that were not Fellows.
I caft my Eyes to the ftranded Veffel, when the
Breach and Froth of the Sea being fo big, I could
hardly fee it, it lay fo far off, and confidered, Lord!
how was it poffible I could get on Shore?
After I had folac'd my Mind with the comfortable
Part of my Condition, I began to look round me to
fee what kind of Place I was in, and what was next
to be done, and I foon found my Comforts abate,
and that in a word I had a dreadful Deliverance:
For I was wet, had no Clothes to ſhift me, nor any
thing either to eat or drink to comfort me, nei-
ther did I fee any Proſpect before me, but that of
perifhing with Hunger, or being devour'd by wild
Beaſts; and that which was particularly afflicting
to me, was, that I had no Weapon either to hunt
E 3
and
[54]
and kill any Creature for my Suftenance, or to de-
fend my felf against any other Creature that might
defire to kill me for theirs: In a Word, I had no-
thing about me but a Knife, a Tobacco-pipe, and
a little Tobacco in a Box, this was all my Provi-
fion, and this threw me into terrible Agonies of
Mind, that for a while I run about like a Mad-man;
Night coming upon me, I began with a heavy
Heart to confider what would be my Lot if there
were any ravenous Beafts in that Country, ſeeing
at Night they always come abroad for their Prey.
All the Remedy that offer'd to my Thoughts at
that Time, was, to get up into a thick bufhy Tree
like a Firr, but thorny, which grew near me, and
where I refolv'd to fet all Night, and confider the
next Day what Dearh I fhould dye, for as yet I
faw no Proſpect of Life; I walk'd about a Furlong
from the Shore, to fee if I could find any freſh Wa-
ter 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, endeavour'd to place my
felf fo, as that if I fhould fleep I might not fall
and having cut me a fhort Stick, like a Truncheon,
for my Defence, I took up my Lodging, and ha-
ving been exceffively fatigu'd, I fell faft afleep,
and ſlept as comfortably as, I believe, few could
have done in my Condition, and found my felf
the moſt refresh'd with it, that I think I ever was
on fuch an Occafion.
;
When I wak'd it was broad Day, the Weather
clear, and the Storm abated, fo that the Sea did
not rage and fwell as before: But that which fur-
pris'd me moft, was, that the Ship was lifted off
in the Night from the Sand where the lay, by
the Swelling of the Tyde, and was driven up al-
moft as far as the Rock which I first mention'd,
where
[55]
where I had been fo bruis'd by the dashing me
against it; this being within about a Mile
from the Shore where I was, and the Ship feem-
ing to ftand upright ftill, I wifh'd my felf on
board, that, at leaft, I might fave fome neceffary
things for my uſe.
When I came down from my Appartment in the
Tree, I look'd about me again, and the firſt thing
I found was the Boat, which lay as the Wind
and the Sea had tofs'd her up upon the Land, a-
bout two Miles on my right Hand, I walk'd 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,
fo I came back for the prefent, being more intent
upon getting at the Ship, where I hop'd to find
fomething for my prefent Subfiftence.
A little after Noon I found the Sea very calm,
and the Tyde ebb'd 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 faw
evidently, that if we had kept on board, we had
been all fafe, that is to fay, we had all got fafe
on Shore, and I had not been fo miferable as to
be left entirely deſtitute of all Comfort and Com-
pany, as I now was; this forc'd Tears from my
Eyes again, but as there was little Relief in that,
I refolv'd, if poffible, to get to the Ship, ſo I
pull'd off my Clothes, for the Weather was hot to
Extremity, and took the Water, but when I came
to the Ship, my Difficulty was ftill greater to
know how to get on board, for as fhe lay a ground,
and high out of the Water, there was nothing
within my Reach to lay hold of, I fwam round
her twice, and the fecond Time I fpy'd a ſmall
Piece of a Rope, which I wonder'd I did not fee
at first, hang down by the Fore-Chains fo low,
E 4
as
[56]
as that with great Difficulty I got hold of it, and
by the help of that Rope, got up into the Fore-
caſtle of the Ship, here I found that the Ship was
bulg'd, and had a great deal of Water in her Hold,
but that ſhe lay fo 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 fure my firft Work was to ſearch
and to fee what was fpoil'd and what was
free; and first I found that all the Ship's Pro-
vifions were dry and untouch'd by the Water,
and being very well difpos'd to eat, I went to
the Bread-room and fill'd my Pockets with Bif-
ket, and eat it as I went about other things,
for I had no time to lofe; I alfo found fome Rum
in the great Cabbin, 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 my felf with
many things which I forefaw would be very ne-
ceffary to me.
It was in vain to fit ftill and wiſh for what was
not to be had, and this Extremity rouz'd my
Application; we had feveral fpare Yards, and
two or three large fparrs of Wood, and a ſpare
Top-maſt or two in the Ship; I refolv'd to fall to
work with theſe, and I flung as many of them
over board 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 ty'd
four of them faft together at both Ends as well
as I could, in the Form of a Raft, and laying
two or three fhort Pieces of Plank upon them
croſs-ways, I found I could walk upon it very
well,
[57]
well, but that it was not able to bear any great
Weight, the Pieces being too light; fo I went to
work, and with the Carpenters Saw I cut a fpare
Top-maft into three Lengths, and added them to
my Raft, with a great deal of Labour and Pains,
but hope of furniſhing my felf with Neceffaries,
encourag'd me to go beyond what I fhould have
been able to have done upon another Occafion.
My Raft was now ftrong enough to bear any
reaſonable Weight; my next Care was what to
load it with, and how to preferve what I laid upon
it from the Surf of the Sea; But I was not long confi-
dering this, I firſt laid all the Plank or Boards upon it
that I could get, and having confider'd well what
I moft wanted, I first got three of the Seamens
Chefts, which I had broken open and empty'd,
and lower'd them down upon my Raft; the firſt
of theſe I fill'd with Provifion, viz. Bread, Rice,
three Dutch Cheeſes, five Pieces of dry'd Goat's
Fleſh, which we liv'd much upon, and a little Re-
mainder of European Corn which had been laid by
for fome Fowls which we brought to Sea with us,
but the Fowls were kill'd, there had been fome
Barly and Wheat together, but, to my great Dif
appointment, I found afterwards that the Rats had
eaten or ſpoil'd it all; as for Liquors, I found fe-
veral Cafes of Bottles belonging to our Skipper, in
which were fome Cordial Waters, and in all about
five or fix Gallons of Rack, theſe I ftow'd by
themſelves, there being no need to put them into
the Cheft, nor no room for them. While I was
doing this, I found the Tyde began to flow, tho'
very calm, and I had the Mortification to fee my
Coat, Shirt, and Waft-coat which I had left on
Shore upon the Sand, fwim away; as for my
Breeches which were only Linnen and open knee'd,
I fwam on board in them and my Stockings: How-
ever
[58]
ever this put me upon rummaging for Clothes, of
which I found enough, but took no more than I
wanted for prefent ufe, for I had other things.
which my Eye was more upon, as firft Tools to
work with on Shore, and it was after long fearch-
ing that I found out the Carpenter's Cheft, 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 lofing time to look
into it, for I knew in general what it contain'd
My next Care was for fome Ammunition and
Arms; there were two very good Fowling-pieces
in the great Cabbin, and two Piftols, thefe I fe-
cur'd firft, with fome 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 ftow'd them,
but with much feareh 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 my felf pretty well freighted, and be-
gan to think how I fhould get to Shore with them,
having neither Sail, Oar, or Rudder, and the leaſt
Cap full of Wind would have overſet all my Na-
vigation.
I had three Encouragements, 1. A fmooth
calm Sea, 2. The Tide rifing and fetting in to
the Shore, 3. What little Wind there was blew
me towards the Land; and thus, having found two
or three broken Oars belong to the Boat, and be-
fides the Tools which were in the Cheft 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 be-
fore, by which I perceiv'd that there was fome In-
draft
[59]
draft of the Water, and confequently I hop'd 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 imagin'd, fo it was, there appear'd before
me a little opening of the Land, and I found a
ftrong Current of the Tide fet into it, fo I gui-
ded my Raft as well as I could to keep in the Mid-
dle of the Stream: But here I had like to have
fuffer'd a fecond Shipwreck, which, if I had, I
think verily would have broke my Heart, for know-
ing nothing of the Coaft, my Raft run a-ground
at one End of it upon a Shoal, and not being a-
ground at the other End, it wanted but a little
that all my Cargo had flip'd off towards that End
that was a-float, and fo fall'n into the Water: I
did my utmoſt by fetting my Back againſt the
Chefts, to keep them in their Places, but could
not thrust off the Raft with all my Strength, nei-
ther durft I ftir from the Pofture I was in, but
holding up the Chefts with all my Might, ftood in
that Manner near half an Hour, in which time
the rifing of the Water brought me a little more
upon a Level, and a little after, the Water ſtill
rifing, my Raft floated again, and I thruft her off
with the Oar I had, into the Channel, and then
driving up higher, I at length found my felf in
the Mouth of a little River, with Land on both
Sides, and a strong Current or Tide running up,
I look'd 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 fee fome Ship
at Sea, and therefore refolv'd to place my felf as
near the Coaſt as I could.
At length I fpy'd a little Cove on the right
Shore of the Creek, to which with great Pain and
Difficulty I guided my Raft, aud at laſt got ſo near,
as
[60]
as that, reaching Ground with my Oar, I could
thruſt her directly in, but here I had like to have
dipt all my Cargo in the Sea again; for that Shore
lying pretty steep, that is to fay floping, there
was no Place to land, but where one End of my
Float, if it run on Shore, would lie fo high, and
the other fink lower as before, that it would en-
danger my Cargo again: All that I could do, was
to wait 'till the Tide was at higheft, keeping the
Raft with my Oar like an Anchor to hold the Side
of it faft to the Shore, near a flat Piece of
Ground, which I expected the Water would flow
over; and fo it did: As foon as I found Water
enough, for my Raft drew about a Foot Water, I
thruſt her on upon that flat Piece of Ground, and
there faften'd or mor'd her by fticking 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 ebb'd
away, and left my Raft and all my Cargoe fafe on
Shore.
My next Work was to view the Country, and
feek a proper Place for my Habitation, and where
to fłow my Goods to fecure them from whatever
might happen; where I was I yet knew not, whe-
ther on the Continent or on an Ifland, whether in-
habited or not inhabited, whether in Danger of
wild Beafts or not: There was a Hill not above
a Mile from me, which rofe up very ſteep and high,
and which feem'd to over-top fome other Hills,
which lay as in a Ridge from it northward; I took
out one of the fowling Pieces, and one of the Pi-
ftols, and an Horn of Powder, and thus arm'd I
travell❜d for Diſcovery up to the Top of that Hill,
where after I had with great Labour and Difficul-
ty got to the Top, I faw my Fate to my great
Affliction, (viz.) that I was in an Ifland environ'd
every
[61]
every Way with the Sea, no Land to be feen, ex-
cept fome Rocks which lay a great Way off, and
two fmall Iſlands lefs than this, which lay about
three Leagues to the Weſt.
I found alfo that the Ifland I was in was bar-
ren, and, as I faw good Reafon to believe, un-in-
habited, except by wild Beafts, of whom however
I faw none, yet I faw Abundance of Fowls, but
knew not their Kinds, neither when I kill'd them
could I tell what was fit for Food, and what not;
at my coming back, I fhot at a great Bird which
I faw fitting upon a Tree on the Side of a great
Wood, I believe it was the firft Gun that had been
fir'd there fince the Creation of the World; I
had no fooner fir'd, but from all the Farts of the
Wood there arofe an innumerable Number of Fowls
of many Sorts, making a confus'd Screaming, and
crying every one according to his ufual Note; but
not one of them of any Kind that I knew: As for
the Creature I kill'd, I took it to be a Kind of a
Hawk, its Colour and Beak reſembling it, but had
no Talons or Claws more than common, its Fleſh
was Carrion, and fit for nothing.
Contented with this Difcovery, I came back to
my Raft, and fell to Work to bring my Cargoe on
Shore, which took me up the rest of that Day, and
what to do with my ſelf at Night I knew not, nor
indeed where to reft; for I was afraid to lie down
on the Ground, not knowing but fome wild Beaſt
might devour me, tho' as I afterwards found, there
was really no Need for thoſe Fears.
However, as well as I could, I barricado'd my
felf round with the Chefts 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 faw not
which Way to fupply my felf, except that I had
feen
[ 62 ]
ſeen two or three Creatures like Hares run out of
the Wood where I ſhot the Fowl.
I now began to confider, that I might yet get
a great many Things out of the Ship, which would
be uſeful to me, and particularly fome of the Rig-
ging, and Sails, and fuch other Things as might
come to Land, and I refolved to make another
Voyage on Board the Veffel, if poffible; and as I
knew that the firſt Storm that blew muft neceffarily
break her all in Pieces, I reſolv'd to fet all other
Things apart, 'till I got every Thing out of the
Ship that I could get; then I call'd a Council, that
is to fay, in my Thoughts, whether I fhould take
back the Raft, but this appear'd impracticable;
fo I refolv'd to go as before, when the Tide was
down, and I did fo, only that I ſtripp'd before I
went from my Hut, having nothing on but a Che-
quer'd Shirt, and a Pair of Linnen Drawers, and a
Pair of Pumps on my Feet.
I got on Board the Ship, as before, and prepar'd
a fecond Raft, and having had Experience of the
firſt, I neither made this fo unweildy, nor loaded
it ſo hard, but yet I brought away feveral Things
very uſeful to me; as firſt, in the Carpenter's Stores
I found two or three Bags full of Nails and Spikes,
a great Skrew-Jack, a Dozen or two of Hatchets,
and above all, that moſt uſeful Thing call'd a
Grindstone; all theſe I fecur'd together, with fe-
veral Things belonging to the Gunner, particular-
ly two or three Iron Crows, and two Barrels of
Mufquet Bullets, feven Mufquets, and another
fowling Piece, with fome fmall Quantity of Pow-
der more; a large Bag full of fmall Shot, and a
great Roll of Sheet Lead: But this laft was fo hea-
vy, I could not hoiſe it up to get it over the Ship's
Side.
Befides thefe Things, I took all the Mens Cloths
that I could find, and a ſpare Fore-top-fail, a Ham-
mock,
RIENDS.
Manchester Gocondraw
GRUSOE, AND FRIENDS.
se d7 192 I
Pantomime at the Palace

Dee
When on the eve of Robinson's departure
from the Port of Hull upon his momentous
voyage his betrothed, Miss Perkins (delight-
fully played by Miss Yvette Anning), invited
a juvenile chorus to tiptoe through the
tulips with her, we realised once again that
there is a great deal more to learn about
the Crusoe family and friends than ever
Defoe reported. Take Robinson's mother,
for instance. What a woman! Her memories
of her late demented are both bitter and
jocose. It seems that on his reluctant way
to the altar that good man perspired so
vigorously with nervousness that some
doubt arose whether he might not have to
finish the journey in a bucket. Yet in
course of time he so grew to like his con-
jugal state that he would not quit Mrs.
Crusoe's side, nay, 'not even to go to work.
Clearly on the father's side Robinson was
handicapped. But mother herself is no
very helpful parent. Having put to sea
with her eldest son and suffered shipwreck,
she proves herself, on the desert island,
quite ignorant of native questions. When
the risks of life on that romantic spot,
including being eaten alive, are explained
to her she cannot tell a cannibal from a
Blackpool landlady, for both,
as she
obtusely asserts, live upon others. A force-
ful character Mrs. Crusoe, for, as played by
Mr. Shaun Glenville, she is as ready to
simulate with horrid actuality an attack of
sea-sickness when passing Runcorn outward
bound by the Ship Canal as to dance you a
breakdown or romp you through a chorus
which considers what might happen if the
customs of Honolulu were imported to Ire-
land.
Or take the case of Robinson's young brother
Bill. This lad, though alarmingly stout for
his years, retains a cheerful habit of singing
so lustily that we must all join in. Quite
early in Robinson's adventures he invites
us to join with him in a well-punctuated
choral recommendation to "give ourselves
a slap on the back." Undaunted by an
initial chill response yesterday, Bill Crusoe
had but to remark that the audience was
minding its p's and q's with a dignity sug-
gestive not only of Chorlton but of Chorl-
ton-cum-Hardy, and even the ranks of West
Didsbury could scarce forbear to sing. The
Palace will yet rock to that song, as Mr.
Henry Hearty compels it.
And so to the villain, a discredited sailor-
man, Atkins by name, given over in latter
years to piracy, as the skull and crossbones
on his bowler clearly attest. No sooner is
the introductory green light taken off Mr.
Atkins's untrustworthy countenance than
the ruffian explains with zest and to music
how many he has "done in," and offers a
price-list for murders which includes,
though at a high figure, an acceptable rate
for boiling income tax collectors in oil.
Yet he is a man of the world. It is he who
explains to Mrs. Crusoe outside a public-
house in the Port of Hull the magic of the
words bona fide after normal licensed hours.
It is he, too, who, stills her nerves when
cannibals surround her on the island of
Juan Fernandez by pointing out that
natives are never dangerous when there is
an "r" in the month. A discreditable fellow,
Atkins, but lovable. Mr. Syd Walker does
him credit.
To the part of Crusoe Miss Dorothy Ward
brings the dash and the swagger of one
destined to chase glass slippers, scale bean-
stalks, and rub lamps, or, as here, to carry
the skins and musket of desert island life
like a Paris gown. She has at least one
good song in the true pantomime tradition-
by which we mean a tradition that will out-
last jazz. It is entitled "I'm Painting the
Clouds with Sunshine," and Miss Ward
sings it with affection and style.
Finally, lest the children should fear that
the famous tale is belied, let it be clear that
Crusoe sails to a chorus of sea chanteys that
they will love as much as do their elders;
that his ship is wrecked with every circum-
stance of pantomime realism, that the island
as he finds it is a wonderland of living
birds, flowers, and plants-as charming a
ballet as Mr. Wylie had ever given us,-
and that the saving of Man Friday is faith-
fully handled. The first performance was
unusually slick, and it should prove a
hearty pantomime.
A. S. W.
¿
[63]
mock, and fome Bedding; and with this I loaded
my fecond Raft, and brought them all fafe on Shore
to my very great Comfort.
I was under fome Apprehenfions during my Ab-
fence from the Land, that at least my Provifions
might be devour'd on Shore; but when I came
back, I found no Sign of any Viſitor, only there
fat a Creature like a wild Cat upon one of the Cheſts,
which when I came towards it, ran away a little
Diſtance, and then ftood ftill; fhe fat very com-
pos'd, and unconcern'd, and look'd full in my Face,
as if the had a Mind to be acquainted with me,
I preſented my Gun at her, but as fhe did not un-
derſtand it, ſhe was perfectly unconcern'd at it, nor
did fhe offer to ftir away; upon which I tofs'd
her a Bit of Bisket, tho' by the Way I was not
very free of it, for my Store was not great: How-
ever, I fpar'd her a Bit, I fay, and fhe went to it,
fmell'd of it, and ate it, and look'd (as pleas'd)
for more, but I thank'd her, and could ſpare no
more; fo fhe march'd off.
Having got my fecond Cargoe on Shore, tho' 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 fome Poles which I cut for
that Purpoſe, and into this Tent I brought every
Thing that I knew would fpoil, either with Rain
or Sun, and I piled all the empty Chefts and Casks
up in a Circle round the Tent, to fortify it from
any fudden Attempt, either from Man or Beaſt.
When I had done this I block'd up the Door of
the Tent with fome Boards within, and an em-
pty Cheſt ſet up an End without, and fpreading
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 flept
very
t
[64]
very quietly all Night, for I was very weary and
heavy, for the Night before I had flept little,
and had labour'd very hard all Day, as well to
fetch all thoſe Things from the Ship, as to get
them on Shore.
I had the biggeft Maggazin of all Kinds now
that ever were laid up, I believe,
I believe, for one Man,
but I was not fatisfy'd ftill; for while the Ship
fat upright in that Pofture, I thought I ought to
get every Thing out of her that I could; fo every
Day at low Water I went on Board, and brought
away fome Thing or other: But particularly the
third Time I went, I brought away as much of
the Rigging as I could, as alfo all the ſmall Ropes
and Rope-twine I could get, with a Piece of ſpare
Canvafs, which was to mend the Sails upon Occa-
fion, the Barrel of wet Gun-powder: In a Word,
I brought away all the Sails first and laft, 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 uſe-
ful to be Sails, but as meer Canvaſs only.
But that which comforted me more ftill was,
that at laſt of all, after I had made five or fix fuch
Voyages as theſe, and thought I had nothing more
to expect from the Ship that was worth my med-
ling with, I fay, after all this, I found a great Hogf-
head of Bread and three large Runlets of Rum or
Spirits, and a Box of Sugar, and a Barrel of fine
Flower; this was furprizing to me, becauſe I had
given over expecting any more Provifions, except
what was ſpoil'd by the Water: I foon empty'd the
Hogfhead of that Bread, and wrapt it up Parcel
by Parcel in Pieces of the Sails, which I cut out;
and in a Word, I got all this fafe on Shore al-
fo.
The next Day I made another Voyage; and
now having plunder'd the Ship of what was porta-
ble
[65]
ble and fit to hand out, I began with the Cables;
and cutting the great Cable into Pieces, fuch as
I could move, I got two Cables and a Hawfer on
Shore, with all the Iron Work I could get; and
having cut down the Spritfail-yard, and the Miffen-
yard, and every Thing I could to make a large
Raft, I loaded it with all thofe heavy Goods, and
came away: But my good Luck began now to
leave me; for this Raft was fo unweildy, and fo
overloaden, that after I was enter'd the little Cove,
where I had landed the rest of my Goods, not be-
ing able to guide it fo handily as I did the other,
it overfet, and threw me and all my Cargoe into
the Water; as for my felf it was no great Harm,
for I was near the Shore; but as to my Cargoe, it
was great Part of it loft, efpecially 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 afhore, and ſome of the
Iron, tho' with infinite Labour; for I was fain to
dip for it into the Water, a Work which fatigu'd
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 fuppos'd capable to bring, tho' I be-
lieve verily, had the calm Weather held, I fhould
have brought away the whole Ship Piece by Piece:
But preparing the 12th Time to go on Board, I
found the Wind begin to rife; however at low Wa-
ter I went on Board, and tho' I thought I had ru-
mag'd the Cabbin fo effectually, as that nothing
more could be found, yet I difcover'd a Locker
with Drawers in it, in one of which I found two
or three Razors, and one Pair of large Sizzers,
with fome ten or a Dozen of good Knives and
F
Forks;
[66]
Forks, in another I found about Thirty fix Pounds
value in Money, fome European Coin, fome Brafil,
fome Pieces of Eight, fome Gold, fome Silver.
I fmil'd to my felf 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 thofe Knives is worth all
this Heap, I have no Manner of uſe for thee, e'en
remain where thou art, and go to the Bottom as
a Creature whofe Life is not worth faving. How-
ever, 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 over-caft, and the
Wind began to rife, and in a Quarter of an Hour
it blew a freſh Gale from the Shore; it preſently
occur'd to me, that it was in vain to pretend to
make a Raft with the Wind off Shore, and that
it was my Bufinefs to be gone before the Tide of
Flood began, otherwife I might not be able to
reach the Shore at all: Accordingly I let my felf
down into the Water, and fwam crofs 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 rofe
very haftily, 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 fecure. It
blew very hard all that Night, and in the Morning
when I look'd out, behold no more Ship was to be
feen; I was a little furpriz'd, but recover'd my
felf with this fatisfactory Reflection, viz. That I
had loft no time, nor abated no Dilligence to get
every thing out of her that could be uſeful to me,
and that indeed there was little left in her that I
was
[67]
was able to bring away if I had had more
time.
I now gave over any more Thoughts of the Ship,
or of any thing out of her, except what might drive
on Shore from her Wreck, as indeed divers Pieces
of her afterwards did; but thoſe things were of
fmall uſe to me.
My Thoughts were now wholly employ'd about
fecuring my felf againſt either Savages, if any ſhould
appear, or wild Beaſts, if any were in the Ifland;
and I had many Thoughts of the Method how to
do this, and what kind of Dwelling to make, whe-
ther I fhould make me a Cave in the Earth, or a
Tent upon the Earth: And, in fhort, I refolv'd
on both, the Manner and Diſcription of which, it
may not be improper to give an Account of.
up-
I fooon 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 believ'd would
not be wholſome, and more particularly becauſe
there was no freſh Water near it, fo I refolv'd to
find a more healthy and more convenient Spot of
Ground.
I confulted feveral Things in my Situation which
I found would be proper for me, ift. Health, and
fresh Water I just now mention'd, 2dly. Shelter
from the Heat of the Sun, 3dly. Security from ra-
venous Creatures, whether Men or Beafts, 4thly.
a View to the Sea, that if God fent any Ship in
Sight, I might not lofe any Advantage for my De-
liverance, of which I was not willing to baniſh all
my Expectation yet.
In fearch of a Place proper for this, I found a
little Plain on the Side of a rifing Hill, whoſe
Front towards this little Plain, was fteep as
a Houſe-fide, fo that nothing could come down
upon me from the Top; on the Side of this Rock
F 2
there
[68]
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, juft before this hollow
Place, I refolv'd 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 defcended irregularly
every Way down into the Low-grounds by the Sea-
fide. It was on the N. N. W. Side of the Hill, fo
that I was ſhelter'd 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 pitch'd 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 Foot and a Half, and fharpen'd
on the Top: The two Rows did not ftand above
Six Inches from one another.
Then I took the Pieces of Cable which I had cut
in the Ship, and I 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 In-fide, leaning againſt them, about
two Foot and a half high, like a Spurr to a Poſt,
and this Fence was fo ftrong, that neither Man or
Beaſt could get into it or over it: This coft me a
great deal of Time and Labour, eſpecially to cut
the Piles in the Woods, bring them to the Place,
and drive them into the Earth.
The Entrance into this Place I made to be not
by a Door, but by a fhort Ladder to go over
the
[ 69 ]
the Top, which Ladder, when I was in, I lifted
over after me, and fo I was compleatly fenc'd in,
and fortify'd, as I thought, from all the World, and
conſequently ſlept fecure in the Night, which other-
wife I could not have done, tho', as it appear'd af-
terward, there was no need of all this Caution from
the Enemies that I apprehended Danger from.
Into this Fence or Fortrefs, with infinite La-
bour, I carry'd all my Riches, all my Provifions,
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 fmaller Tent within, and one larger
Tent above it, and cover'd the uppermoft with a
large Tarpaulin which I had fav'd among the Sails.
And now I lay no more for a while in the Bed
which I had brought on Shore, but in a Ham-
mock, which was indeed a very good one, and
belong'd to the Mate of the Ship.
Into this Tent I brought all my Provifions, and
every thing that would fpoil by the Wet, and ha-
ving thus enclos'd all my Goods, I made up the
Entrance, which till now I had left open, and fo
pafs'd and re-pafs'd, as I faid, by a fhort 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 thro' my Tent, I
laid 'em up within my Fence in the Nature of a Ter-
ras, that fo it rais'd the Ground within about a
Foot and a Half; and thus I made me a Cave juft
behind my Tent, which ferv'd me like a Cellar to
my Houfe.
It cost me much Labour, and many Days, be-
fore all theſe Things were brought to Perfection, and
therefore I must go back to fome other Things which
took up ſome of my Thoughts. At the ſame time it
happen'd
F 3
[70]
·
happen'd after I had laid my Scheme for the fet-
ting up my Tent and making the Cave, that a
Storm of Rain falling from a thick dark Cloud, a
ſudden Flaſh of Lightning happen'd, and after that
a great Clap of Thunder, as is naturally the Effect
of it; I was not fo much furpris'd with the Light-
ning as I was with a Thought which darted into
my Mind as fwift as the Lightning it felf: O my
Powder! My very Heart funk within me, when I
thought, that at one Blaft all my Powder might be
deſtroy'd, on which, not my Defence only, but the
providing me Food, as I thought, entirely depen-
ded; I was nothing near fo anxious about my own
Danger, tho' had the Powder took fire, I had ne-
ver known who had hurt me.
Such Impreffion did this make upon me, that
after the Storm was over, I laid afide all my
Works, my Building, and Fortifying, and apply'd
my felf to make Bags and Boxes to feparate
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 fo apart
that it ſhould not be poffible to make one part fire
another: I finiſh'd this Work in about a Fort night,
and I think my Powder, which in all was about
2401. weight was divided in not lefs than a Hun-
dred Parcels; as to the Barrel that had been wet,
I did not apprehend any Danger from that, fo I
plac'd it in my new Cave, which in my Fancy I
call'd my Kitchin, and the reſt I hid up and down
in Holes among the Rocks, fo 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 my ſelf, as to ſee if I could kill any
thing fit for Food, and as near as I could to ac-
quaint
[ 71 ]
quaint my ſelf with what the Ifland produc'd. The
firſt time I went out I preſently diſcover'd that
there were Goats in the Ifland, which was a great
Satisfaction to me; but then it was attended with
this Misfortune to me, viz. That they were ſo
fhy, fo fubtile, and fo fwift of Foot, that it was
the difficulteft thing in the World to come at them:
But I was not difcourag'd at this, not doubting
but I might now and then ſhoot one, as it ſoon hap-
pen'd, for after I had found their Haunts a little,
I laid wait in this Manner for them: I obferv'd if
they faw me in the Valleys, tho' 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
Pofition of their Opticks, their Sight was
fo directed downward, that they did not rea-
dily fee Objects that were above them; fo
afterward I took this Method, I always
clim'd the Rocks firft to get above them,
and then had frequently a fair Mark. The firſt
ſhot I made among theſe Creatures, I kill'd a She-
Goat which had a little Kid by her which fhe gave
Suck to, which griev'd me heartily; but when the
Old one fell, the Kid ftood ſtock ftill by her till I
came and took her up, and not only fo, but when I
carry'd the Old one with me upon my Shoulders,
the Kid follow'd me quite to my Encloſure, upon
which I laid down the Dam, and took the Kid in
my Arms, and carry'd it over my Pale, in hopes
to have bred it up tame, but it would not eat,
fo I was forc'd to kill it and eat it my ſelf; theſe
two ſupply'd me with Fleſh a great while, for I
eat ſparingly; and fav'd my Provifions (my Bread
eſpecially) as much as poffibly I could
F 4
Having
[72]
Having now fix'd my Habitation, I found it ab-
folutely neceffary to provide a Place to make a
Fire in, and Fewel to burn; and what I did for
that, as alſo how I enlarg'd my Cave, and what
Conveniencies I made, I fhall give a full Account
of in its Place: But I muſt firſt give fome little
Account of my felf, and of my Thoughts about
Living, which it may well be fuppos'd were not
a few.
I had a diſmal Profpect of my Condition, for as
I was not caft away upon that Ifland without be-
ing driven, as is faid, by a violent Storm quite out
of the Courſe of our intended Voyage, and a great
Way, viz. fome Hundreds of Leagues out of the
ordinary Courſe of the Trade of Mankind, I had
great Reaſon to confider it as a Determination of
Heaven, that in this defolate Place, and in this
defolate Manner I fhould end my Life; the Tears
would run plentifully down my Face when I made
thefe Reflections, and fometimes I would expoftu-
late with my felf, Why Providence fhould thus
compleatly ruine its Creatures, and render them
fo abfolutely miſerable, fo without Help abandon'd,
fo entirely deprefs'd, that it could hardly be ra-
tional to be thankful for fuch a Life.
But fomething always return'd fwift upon me to
check thefe Thoughts, and to reprove me; and
particularly one Day walking with my Gun in my
Hand by the Sea-fide, I was very penfive upon the
Subject of my prefent Condition, when Reafon as
it were expoftulated with me t'other Way, thus:
Well, you are in a defolate Condition 'tis true, but
pray remember, Where are the reft of you? Did
not you come Eleven of you into the Boat, where
are the Ten? Why were not they fav'd and you
loft? Why were you fingled out? Is it better to be
here or there, and then I pointed to the Sea? All
Evils
[73]
Evills are to be confider'd with the Good that is
in them, and with what worſe attends them.
Then it occurr'd to me again, how well I was
furniſh'd for my Subfiftence, and what would have
been my Caſe if it had not happen'd, Which was
an Hundred Thouſand to one, that the Ship floated
from the Place where fhe firft ftruck and was dri-
ven ſo near to the Shore that I had time to get
all theſe Things out of her: What would have
been my Cafe, if I had been to have liv'd in the
Condition in which I at first came on Shore, with-
out Neceffaries of Life, or Neceffaries to fupply
and procure them? Particularly faid I aloud, (tho'
to my felf) what fhould I ha' done without
a Gun, without Ammunition, without any
Tools to make any thing, or to work with,
without Clothes, Bedding, a Tent, or any man-
ner of Covering, and that now I had all thefe to
a Sufficient Quantity, and was in a fair way to
provide my ſelf in ſuch a manner, as to live with-
out my Gun when my Ammunition was fpent; fo
that I had a tollerable View of fubfifting without
any Want as long as I liv'd; for I confider'd from
the beginning how I would provide for the Ac-
cidents that might happen, and for the time that
was to come, even not only after my Ammunition
fhould be ſpent, but even after my Health or Strength
fhould decay.
I confefs I had not entertain'd any Notion of my
Ammunition being deftroy'd at one Blaft, I mean
my Powder being blown up by Lightning, and this
made the Thoughts of it fo furprifing to me when
it lighten'd and thunder'd, as I obferv'd juſt now.
And now being to enter into a melancholy Re-
lation of a Scene of filent Life, fuch perhaps as
was never heard of in the World before, I fhall
take it from its Beginning, and continue it in its
Order.
[74]
"
Order. It was, by my Account, the 30th. of Sept:
when, in the Manner as above faid, I firſt fet Foot
upon this horrid Ifland, when the Sun being, to
us, in its Autumnal Equinox, was almoſt juſt over
my Head, for I reckon'd my felf, by Obfervation,
to be in the Latitude of 9 Degrees 22 Minutes
North of the Line.
After I had been there about Ten or Twelve
Days, it came into my Thoughts that I fhould
loſe my Reckoning of Time for want of Books
and Pen and Ink, and fhould even forget the Sab-
bath Days from the working Days; but to prevent
this I cut it with my Knife upon a large Poſt, in
Captital Letters, and making it into a great Crofs. I
fet it up on the Shore where I first landed, viz. I
came on Shore here on the 30th of Sept. 1659. Upon
the Sides of this fquare Poft I cut every Day a
Notch with my Knife, and every feventh Notch
was as long again as the reft, and every firft Day
of the Month as long again as that long one,
and thus I kept my Kalander, or weekly, month-
ly, and yearly reckoning of Time.
In the next place we are to obferve, that among
the many things which I brought out of the Ship
in the ſeveral Voyages, which, as above mention'd,
I made to it, I got feveral things of leſs Value,
but not all leſs uſeful to me, which I omitted fet-
ting down before; as in particular, Pens, Ink, and
Paper, feveral Parcels in the Captain's, Mate's,
Gunner's, and Carpenter's keeping, three or four
Compaffes, fome Mathematical Inftruments, Dials,
Perfpectives, Charts, and Books of Navigation,
all which I huddel'd together, whether I might
want them or no; alfo I found three very good
Bibles which came to me in my Cargo from Eng-
land, and which I had pack'd up among my things;
fome Portugueze Books alfo, and among them two
or
[ 75
or three Popish Prayer-Books, and ſeveral other
Books, all which I carefully fecur'd. And I muſt
not forget, that we had in the Ship a Dog and
two Cats, of whofe eminent Hiftory I may have
occafion to fay fomething in its place; for I
carry'd both the Cats with me, and as for the
Dog, he jump'd out of the Ship of himſelf and
fwam on Shore to me the Day after I went on
Shore with my firft Cargo, and was a trufty Ser-
vant 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 obferv'd before,
I found Pen, Ink and Paper, and I husbanded them
to the utmoſt, and I fhall fhew, that while my Ink
lafted, 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 devife.
And this put me in mind that I wanted many
things, notwithſtanding all that I had amafs'd to-
gether, and of theſe, this of Ink was one, as alfo
Spade, Pick-Axe, and Shovel to dig or remove
the Earth, Needles, Pins, and Thread; as for
Linnen, I foon learn'd to want that without much
Difficulty.
This want of Tools made every Work I did go
on heavily, and it was near a whole Year before I
had entirely finifh'd my little Pale or furrounded
Habitation: The Piles or Stakes, which were as
heavy as I could well lift, were a long time in cut-
ting and preparing in the Woods, and more by far
in bringing home, fo that I fpent fome times two
Days in cuttting and bringing home one of thoſe
Pofts, 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 my felf of one of the
Iron Crows, which however tho' I found it, yet
it
[76]
it made driving thofe Pofts or Piles very labo-
rious and tedious Work.
But what need I ha' been concern'd at the Te-
dioufnefs of any thing I had to do, ſeeing I had
time enough to do it in, nor had I any other Em-
ployment if that had been over, at leaft, that I
could forefee, except the ranging the Ifland to feek
for Food, which I did more or leſs every Day.
I now began to confider ſeriouſly my Condition,
and the Circumftance I was reduc'd to, and I drew
up the State of my Affairs in Writing, not fo much
to leave them to any that were to come after me,
for I was like to have but few Heirs, as to de-
liver my Thoughts from daily poring upon them,
and afflicting my Mind; and as my Reafon began
now to mafter my Defpondency, I began to com-
fort my ſelf as well as I could, and to fet the good
againſt the Evil, that I might have fomething to
diſtinguiſh my Cafe from worſe, and I ftated it
very impartially, like Debtor and Creditor, the
Comforts I enjoy'd, againſt the Miferies I fuf-
fer'd, Thus,
Evil.
I am cast upon a horri-
ble defolate Island, void of
all hope of Recovery.
I am fingl'd out and ſe-
parated, as it were, from
all the World to be mifera-
ble.
I am divided from Man-
kind, a Solitaire, one ba-
nifh'd from humane Society.
niſh’dfrom
Good.
But I am alive, and
not drown'd as all my Ship's
Company was.
But I am fingl'd out too
from all the Ship's Crew to
be fpar'd from Death; and
be that miraculously fav'd
me from Death, can deli-
ver me from this Condition.
But Iam not ftarv'dand
perishing on a barren Place,
affording no Suftenance.
I have
[77]
I have not Clothes to co-
ver me.
I am without any De-
fence or Means to refift any
Violence of Man or Beaft.
I have no Soul to ſpeak
to, or relieve me.
But I am in a hot Cli-
mate, where iflhad Clothes
I could hardly wear them.
But I am caft on an 1-
fland, where I fee no wild
Beafts to hurt me, as Ifaw
on the Coast of Africa: And
what if I had been Ship-
wreck'd there?
But God wonderfully fent
the Ship in near enough to
the Shore, that I have got-
ten out so many necessary
things as will either ſupply
my Wants, or enable me
to Supply my self even as
long as I live.
Upon the whole, here was an undoubted Tefti-
mony, that there was fcarce any Condition in the
World fo miferable, but there was fomething Nega-
tiv or fomething Pofitiv to be thankful for in it;
and let this ſtand as a Direction from the Experi-
ence of the moft miferable of all Conditions in this
World, that we may always find in it fomething
to comfort our felves from, and to fet in the De-
fcription of Good and Evil, on the Credit Side of
the Accompt.
Having now brought my Mind a little to reliſh
my Condition, and given over looking out to Sea
to fee if I could fpy a Ship, I fay, giving over
theſe things, I began to apply my felf to accommo-
date my way of Living, and to make things as ea-
fy to me as I could.
I have
[ 78 ]
I have already defcrib'd my Habitation, which
was a Tent under the Side of a Rock, furrounded
with a ſtrong Pale of Pofts and Cables, but I might
now rather call it a Wall, for I rais'd a kind of
Wall up againſt it of Turfs, about two Foot thick
on the Out-fide, and after fome time, I think it
was a Year and a Half, I rais'd Rafters from it lean-
ing to the Rock, and thatch'd or cover'd it with
Bows of Trees, and fuch things as I could get to
keep out the Rain, which I found at fome times
of the Year very violent.
I have already obferv'd how I broughr all my
Goods into this Pale, and into the Cave which I
had made behind me: But I muft obferve too,
that at first this was a confus'd Heap of Goods,
which as they lay in no Order, fo they took up
all my Place, I had no room to turn my felf; fo
I fet my ſelf to enlarge my Cave and Works far-
ther into the Earth, for it was a looſe fandy Rock,
which yielded eaſily to the Labour I beftow'd on
it; and fo when I found I was pretty ſafe as to
Beafts of Prey, I work'd fide-ways to the Right
Hand into the Rock, and then turning to the Right
again, work'd quite out and made me a Door to
come out, on the Out-fide of my Pale or Forti-
fication.
This gave me not only Egrefs and Regrefs, as
it were a back Way to my Tent and to my Store-
houſe, but gave me room to flow my Goods.
And now I began to apply my ſelf to make ſuch
neceffary things as I found I moft wanted, as par-
ticularly 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 which fo much Pleaſure without a Table.
So I went to work; and here I muſt needs ob-
ſerve, that as Reaſon is the Subſtance and Origi-
nal
[79]
nal of the Mathematicks, fo by ftating and fquar-
ing every thing by Reaſon, and by making the
moſt rational Judgment of things, every Man may
be in time Maſter of every mechanick Art. I had
never handled a Tool in my Life, and yet in time
by Labour, Application, and Contrivance, I found
at laft 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 fome with no more Tools than an Adze and
a Hatchet, which perhaps were never made that
way before, and that with infinite Labour: For
Example, If I wanted a Board, I had no other Way
but to cut down a Tree, fet 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 dubb it fmooth 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 Labour which it took me up to
make a Plank or Board: But my Time or Labour
was little worth, and fo it was as well employ'd
one way as another.
However, I made me a Table and a Chair, as I
obferv'd above, in the firft Place, and this I did
out of the fhort Pieces of Boards that I brought
on my Raft from the Ship: But when I had
wrought out fome Boards, as above, I made large
Shelves of the Breadth of a Foot and 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 feparate every thing at large in their
Places, that I must come eaſily at them; I knock'd
Pieces into the Wall of the Rock to hang my
Guns
and all things that would hang up.
So
[80]
So that had my Cave been to be feen, it look'd
like a general Magazine of all Neceffary things,
and I had every thing fo ready at my Hand,
that it was a great Pleaſure to me to fee all my
Goods in fuch Order, and efpecially to find my
Stock of all Neceffaries fo great.
And now it was when I began to keep a Jour-
nal of every Days Employment, for indeed at first
I was in too much Hurry, and not only Hurry
as to Labour, but in too much Difcompofure of
Mind, and my Journal would ha' been full of many
dull things: For Example, I must have faid thus.
Sept. the 30th. After I got to Shore and had efcap'd
drowning, instead of being thankful to God for
my Deliverance, having firft vomited with the
great Quantity of falt Water which was gotten
into my Stomach, and recovering my felf a little, I
ran about the Shore, wringing my Hands and beat-
ing my Head and Face, exclaiming at my Mifery,
and crying out, I was undone, undone, till tyr'd
and faint I was forc'd to lye down on the Ground
to repofe, but durft not fleep for fear of being de-
vour'd.
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 feeing a Ship, then fancy at a vaft Di-
ſtance I ſpy'd a Sail, pleaſe my ſelf with the Hopes
of it, and then after looking fteadily till I was al-
moſt blind, lofe it quite, and fit down and weep
like a Child, and thus encreafe my Mifery by my
Folly.
But having gotten over theſe things in fome Mea-
fure, and having fettled my houfhold Stuff and Ha-
bitation, made me a Table and a Chair, and all
as handfome about me as I could, I began to keep
my
[ 81 ]
my Journal, of which I fhall here give you the
Copy (tho' in it will be told all thefe Particulars
over again) as long as it lafted, for having no more
Ink I was forc'd to leave it off.
The JOURNAL.
Eptember 30, 1659. I poor miferable Robinſon
Crusoe, being fhipwreck'd, during a dreadful
Storm, in the offing, came on Shore on this diſmal
unfortunate Iſland, which I call'd the Iſland of Def
pair, all the reft of the Ship's Company being
drown'd, and my ſelf almoſt dead.
All the reft of that Day I fpent in afflicting my
ſelf at the diſmal Circumftances I was brought to,
viz. I had neither Food, Houfe, Clothes, Weapon, or
Place to fly to, and in Defpair of any Relief, faw
nothing but Death before me, either that I fhould
be devour'd by wild Beaſts, murther'd by Savages,
or ftarv'd to Death for Want of Food. At the
Approach of Night, I flept in a Tree for fear of
wild Creatures, but flept foundly tho' it rain'd all
Night.
October 1. In the Morning I faw to my great Sur-
priſe the Ship had floated with the high Tide,
and was driven on Shore again much nearer the
Ifland, which as it was fome Comfort on one hand,
for feeing her fit upright, and not broken to Pieces,
I hop'd, if the Wind abated, I might get on board,
and get fome Food aud Neceffaries out of her for
my Relief; fo on the other hand, it renew'd my
Grief at the Lofs of my Comrades, who I ima-
gin'd if we had all ftaid on board might have
fav'd the Ship, or at leaſt that they would not have
been all drown'd as they were; and that had the
Men been fav'd, we might perhaps have built us a
Boat out of the Ruins of the Ship, to have car-
G
ried
[82]
ried us to fome other Part of the World. I ſpent
great Part of this Day in perplexing my felf on
theſe things; but at length feeing the Ship almoſt
dry, I went upon the Sand as near as I could, and
then ſwam on board; this Day alfo it continu'd
raining, tho' 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 thefe Days, tho' with fome Intervals
of fair Weather: But, it ſeems, this was the rainy
Seafon.
Oct. 20. I overfet my Raft, and all the Goods
I had got upon it, but being in fhoal Water, and
the things being chiefly heavy, I recover'd many
of them when the Tide was out.
Oct. 25. It rain'd all Night and all Day, with
fome Gufts of Wind, during which time the Ship
broke in Pieces, the Wind blowing a little harder
than before, and was no more to be feen, except
the Wreck of her, and that only at low Water.
I ſpent this Day in covering and fecuring the Goods
which I had fav'd, that the Rain might not ſpoil
them.
Oct. 26. I walk'd about the Shore almoſt all
Day to find out a place to fix my Habitation,
greatly concern'd to fecure my felf from an Attack
in the Night, either from wild Beafts or Men.
Towards Night I fix'd upon a proper Place under
a Rock, and mark'd out a Semi-Circle for my En-
campment, which I refolv'd to ſtrengthen with a
Work, Wall, or Fortification made of double Piles,
lin'd within with Cables, and without with Turf.
From the 26th. to the 30th. I work'd very hard
in carrying all my Goods to my new Habitation,
tho'
[83]
tho' fome Part of the time it rain'd exceeding
hard
The 31ft. in the Morning I went out into the
Iſland with my Gun to fee for fome Food, and dif-
cover the Country, when I kill'd a She-Goat, and
her Kid follow'd me home, which I afterwards
kill'd alſo becauſe it would not feed.
November 1. I fet up my Tent under a Rock, and
lay there for the firſt Night, making it as large as
I could with Stakes driven in to fwing my Ham-
mock upon.
Nov. 2. I fet up all my Chefts and Boards, and
the Pieces of Timber which made my Rafts, and
with them form'd a Fence round me, a little with-
in the Place I had mark'd out for my Fortifica-
tion.
Nov. 3. I went out with my Gun and kill'd 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 Diverfion, viz. Every Morning I
walk'd out with my Gun for two or three Hours
if it did not rain, then employ'd my ſelf to work
till about Eleven a-Clock, then eat what I had to
live on, and from Twelve to Two I lay down to
fleep, the Weather being exceffive hot, and then
in the Evening to work again: The working Part
of this day and of the next were wholly employ'd
in making my Table, for I was yet but a very forry
Workman, tho' Time and Neceffity made me a
compleat natural Mechanick foon after, as I believe
it would do any one elſe.
Nov. 5. This Day went abroad with my Gun
and my Dog, and kill'd a wild Cat, her Skin
pretty ſoft, but her Fleſh good for nothing: Every
Creature
G 2
[84]
Creature I kill'd I took off the Skins and preferv'd
them: Coming back by the Sea Shore, I faw many
Sorts of Sea Fowls which I did not underſtand, but
was furpris'd and almoft frighted with two or three
Seals, which, while I was gazing at, not well
knowing what they were, got into the Sea and
eſcap'd me for that time.
Nov. 6. After my Morning Walk I went to work
with my Table again, and finifh'd it, tho' not to
my liking; nor was it long before I learn'd to mend
it.
Nov. 7. Now it began to be fettled 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 pull'd it in Pieces fe-
veral times. Note, I foon neglected my keeping
Sundays, for omitting my Mark for them on my
Poft, I forgot which was which.
Nov. 13. This Day it rain'd, which refreſh'd me
exceedingly, and cool'd the Earth, but it was ac-
company'd with terrible Thunder and Lightning,
which frighted me dreadfully for fear of my Pow-
der; as foon as it was over, I refolv'd to ſeparate
my Stock of Powder into as many little Parcels as
poffible, that it might not be in Danger.
Nov. 14, 15, 16. Theſe three Days I ſpent in
making little fquare Chefts or Boxes, which might
hold about a Pound or two Pound, at most, of
Powder, and fo putting the Powder in, I ftow'd
it in Places as fecure and remote from one another
as poffible. On one of theſe three Days I kill'd
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
Conve-
[85]
Conveniency: Note, Two Things I wanted ex-
ceedingly for this Work, viz. A Pick-axe, a Shovel,
and a Wheel-barrow or Basket, fo I defifted from
my Work, and began to confider how to fupply
that Want and make me fome Tools; as for a
Pick-axe, I made ufe of the Iron Crows, which
were proper enough, tho' heavy; but the next
thing was a Shovel or Spade, this was ſo abfo-
lutely neceffary, 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 fearching the Woods
I found a Tree of that Wood, or like it, which,
in the Brafils they call the Iron Tree, for its ex-
ceeding Hardness, of this, with great Labour and
almoſt ſpoiling my Axe, I cut a Piece, and brought
it home too with Difficulty enough, for it was ex-
ceeding heavy.
The exceffive Hardneſs of the Wood, and having
no other Way, made me a long while upon this
Machine, for I work'd it effectually by little
and little into the Form of a Shovel or Spade,
the Handle exactly fhap'd like ours in England,
only that the broad Part having no Iron fhod up-
on it at Bottom, it would not laft me fo long,
however it ferv'd well enough for the uſes which I
had occafion to put it to; but never was a Shovel,
I believe, made after that Faſhion, or fo long a
making.
I was ftill deficient, for I wanted a Basket or a
Wheel-barrow, a Basket I could not make by any
Means, having no fuch things as Twigs that would
bend to make Wicker Ware, at leaſt none yet found
out; and as to a Wheel-barrow, I fancy'd I could
make all but the Wheel, but that I had no Notion
of, neither did I know how to go about it; befides
I had no poffible Way to make the Iron Gudgeons
G 3
fo
[86]
for the Spindle or Axis of the Wheel to run in, fo
I gave it over, and fo for carrying away the Earth
which I dug out of the Cave, I made me a Thing
like a Hodd, which the Labourers carry Morter
in, when they ferve the Bricklayers.
This was not fo difficult to me as the making
the Shovel; and yet this, and the Shovel, and the
Attempt which I made in vain, to make a Wheel-
Barrow, took me up no leſs than four Days, I mean
always, excepting my Morning Walk with my
Gun, which I feldom fail'd, and very feldom fail'd
alfo bringing Home fomething fit to eat.
Nov. 23 My other Work having now ſtood ſtill,
becauſe of my making thefe Tools; when they
were finifh'd, I went on, and working every Day,
as my Strength and Time allow'd, I ſpent eigh-
teen Days entirely in widening and deepening my
Cave, that it might hold my Goods commodi-
oufly.
Note, During all this Time, I work'd to make
this Room or Cave fpacious enough to accommo-
date me as a Warehoufe or Magazin, a Kitchen,
a Dining-room, and a Cellar; as for my Lodging,
I kept to the Tent, except that fome Times in the
wet Seafon of the Year, it rain'd fo hard, that
I could not keep my felf dry, which cauſed me af-
terwards to cover all my Place within my Pale
with long Poles in the Form of Rafters leaning
against the Rock, and load them with Flaggs and
large Leaves of Trees like a Thatch.
December 10th, 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, fo much,
that in fhort it frighted me, and not without Rea-
fon too; for if I had been under it I had never
wanted a-Grave-Digger: Upon this Difafter I had
a great
[87]
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 Seiling to prop up, fo
that I might be fure no more would come down.
Dec. 11. This Day I went to Work with it accor-
dingly, and got two Shores or Pofts pitch'd upright
to the Top, with two Pieces of Boards a-croſs over
each Poft,this I finiſh'd the next Day; and fetting more
Pofts up with Boards, in about a week more I had
the Roof fecur'd; and the Pofts ftanding in Rows,
ferv'd me for Partitions to part of my Houſe.
Dec. 17.
17. From this Day to the Twentieth I
plac'd Shelves, and knock'd up Nails on the Pofts
to hang every Thing up that could be hung up,
and now I began to be in fome Order within
Doors.
Dec. 20. Now I carry'd every Thing into the
Cave, and began to furnish my Houfe, and fet up
fome Pieces of Boards, like a Dreffer, to order my
Victuals upon, but Boards began to be very ſcarce
with me; alfo I made me another Table.
Dec. 24. Much Rain all Night and all Day, no
ftirring out.
25. Rain all Day.
Dec. 25.
Dec. 26. No Rain, and the Earth much cooler
than before, and pleaſanter.
Dec. 27. Kill'd a young Goat, and lam'd ano-
ther fo as that I catch'd it, and led it Home in a
String; when I had it Home, I bound and fplin-
tered up its Leg which was broke, N B. I
took fuch Care of it, that it liv'd, and the Leg
grew well, and as ſtrong as ever; but by my nur-
fing it fo long it grew tame, and fed upon the lit-
tle Green at my Door, and would not go away:
This was the firft Time that I entertain'd
Thought of breeding up fome tame Creatures,
G4
a
that
2)
[88]
that I might have Food when my Powder and Shot
was all spent.
Dec. 28, 29, 30.
Great Heats and no Breeze;
fo 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.
Jauuary 1. Very hot ftill, but I went abroad ear-
ly and late with my Gun, and lay ftill in the Middle
of the Day; this Evening going farther into the
Valleys which lay towards the Center of the Iſland,
I found there was plenty of Goats, tho' exceeding
fhy and hard to come at, however I refolv'd 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 fet him upon the Goats;
but I was miſtaken, for they all fac'd about upon
the Dog, and he knew his Danger too well, for he
would not come near them.
Jan. 3. I began my Fence or Wall; which be-
ing ftill jealous of my being attack'd by fome Bo-
dy, I refolv'd to make very thick and ftrong.
N. B. This Wall being defcrib'd before, I
purposely omit what was ſaid in the Four-
nal; it is fufficient to obferve, that I was no
lefs Time than from the 3d of January to
the 14th of April, working, finiſhing, and
perfecting this Wall, tho' it was no more than
about 24 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 Center behind it.
All this Time I work'd very hard, the Rains
hindering me many Days, nay fometimes Weeks
together; but I thought I ſhould never be perfect-
ly fecure 'till this Wall was finifh'd; and it is
fcarce
[89]
fcarce credible what inexpreffible Labour every
Thing was done with, eſpecially the bringing Piles
out of the Woods, and driving them into the
Ground, for I made them much bigger than I need
to have done.
When this Wall was finished, and the Out-fide
double fenc'd with a Turff-Wall rais'd up clofe to
it, I perfwaded my felf, that if any People were to
come on Shore there, they would not perceive any
Thing like a Habitation; and it was very well I
did fo, as may be obſerv'd hereafter upon a very
remarkable Occafion.
During this Time, I made my Rounds in the
Woods for Game every Day when the Rain admit-
ted me, and made frequent Difcoveries in thefe
Walks of fomething or other to my Advantage;
particularly I found a Kind of wild Pidgeons, who
built not as Wood Pidgeons in a Tree, but rather
as Houſe Pidgeons, in the Holes of the Rocks;
and taking fome young ones, I endeavoured to
bread them up tame, and did fo; but when they
grew older they flew all away, which perhaps was
at firft for Want of feeding them, for I had no-
thing to give them; however I frequently found
their Nefts, and got their young ones, which were
very good Meat.
And now, in the managing my houfhold Affairs,
I found my felf wanting in many Things, which
I thought at firft it was impoffible for me to make,
as indeed as to fome of them it was; for Inftance,
I could never make a Cask to be hooped, I had a
fmall Runlet or two, as I obferved before, but I cou'd
never arrive to the Capacity of making one by them,
tho' I ſpent many Weeks about it; I could neither
put in the Heads, or joint the Staves fo true to one
another, as to make them hold Water, fo I gave
that alſo over.
In
[90]
In the next Place, I was at a great Lofs for
Candle; fo that as foon as ever it was dark, which
was generally by Seven-a-Clock, I was oblig'd to
go to Bed: I remembred the Lump of Bees-wax
with which I made Candles in my African Ad-
venture, but I had none of that now; the only Re-
medy I had was, that when I had kill'd a Goat, I
fav'd the Tallow, and with a little Difh made of
Clay, which I bak'd in the Sun, to which I added
a Wick of fome Oakum, I made me a Lamp; and
this gave me Light, tho' not a clear ſteady Light
like a candle; in the Middle of all my Labours it
happen'd, that rumaging my Things, I found a
little Bag, which, as I hinted before, had been
fill'd with Corn for the feeding of Poultry, not for
this Voyage, but before, as I fuppofe, when the
Ship came from Lisbon, what little Remainder of
Corn had been in the Bag, was all devour'd with the
Rats, and I faw nothing in the Bag but Husks and
Duſt; and being willing to have the Bag for fome
other Ufe, I think it was to put Powder in, when
I divided it for Fear of the Lightning, or fome fuch
Ufe, 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, juft now
mention'd, that I threw this Stuff away, taking no
Notice of any Thing and not fo much as remem-
bring that I had thrown any Thing there; when
about a Month after, or thereabout, I faw fome
few Stalks of fomething green, fhooting out of the
Ground, which I fancy'd might be fome Plant I
had not ſeen, but I was furpriz'd and perfectly afto-
nifh'd, when, after a little longer Time, I faw a-
bout ten or twelve Ears come out, which were
perfect green Barley of the fame Kind as our Euro-
pean, nay, as our English Barley.
It
[91]
It is impoffible to exprefs the Aftoniſhment and
Confufion of my Thoughts on this Occafion; I
had hitherto acted upon no religious Foundation at
all, indeed I had very few Notions of Religion in
my Head, or had entertain'd any Senfe of any
Thing that had befallen me, otherwife than as a
Chance, or, as we lightly fay, what pleafes God;
without ſo much as enquiring into the End of
Providence in thefe Things, or his Order in go-
verning Events in the World: But after I faw Bar-
ley grow there, in a Climate which I know was
not proper for Corn, and efpecially that I knew
not how it came there, it ftartl'd me ftrangely,
and I began to fuggeft, that God had miraculouſly
caus'd this Grain to grow without any Help of Seed
fown, and that it was fo directed purely for my
Suftenance, on that wild miferable Place.
This touch'd my Heart a little, and brought
Tears out of my Eyes, and I began to blefs my
felf, that fuch a Prodigy of Nature fhould hap-
pen upon my Account; and this was the more
ftrange to me, becauſe I faw near it ftill all along
by the Side of the Rock, fome other ftraggling Stalks,
which prov'd to be Stalks of Ryce, and which I
knew, becauſe I had feen it grow in Africa when
I was afhore there.
I not only thought thefe 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 fee for more of it, but I could not find
any; at laſt it occur'd to my Thoughts, that I had
fhook a Bag of Chickens Meat out in that Place,
and then the Wonder began to ceafe; and I muſt
confefs, my religious Thankfulneſs to God's Pro-
vidence began to abate too upon the Diſcove-
ring that all this was nothing but what was
[92]
common; tho' I ought to have been as thankful
for ſo ſtrange and unforſeen Providence, as if it had
been miraculous; for it was really the Work of
Providence as to me, that fhould order or appoint,
that 10 or 12 Grains of Corn fhould remuin un-
ſpoil'd, (when the Rats had deftroy'd all the reft,)
as if it had been dropt from Heaven; as alſo, that
I ſhould throw it out in that particular Place,
where it being in the Shade of a high Rock, it
ſprang up immediately; whereas, if I had thrown
it anywhere elſe, at that Time, it had been burnt
up and deſtroy'd.
I carefully fav'd the Ears of this Corn you may be
fure in their Seaſon, which was about the End of
June; and laying up every Corn, I refolv'd to fow
them all again, hoping in Time to have fome
Quantity fufficient to ſupply me with Bread; But it
was not till the 4th Year that I could allow my felf
the leaſt Grain of this Corn to eat, and even then
but ſparingly, as I fhall fay afterwards in its Or-
der; for I loſt all that I fow'd the firſt Seaſon, by
not obferving the proper Time; for I fow'd it juft
before the dry Seafon, fo that it never came up
at all, at leaſt, not as it would ha' done: Of which
in its Place.
Befides this Barley, there was, as above, 20 or
30 Stalks of Ryce, which I preferv'd with the fame
Care, and whofe Ufe was of the fame Kind or
to the fame Purpoſe, (viz.) to make me Bread, or
rather Food; for I found Ways to cook it up with-
out baking, tho' I did that alfo after fome Time.
But to return to my Journal,
I work'd exceffive hard thefe three or four
Months to get my Wall done; and the 14th of
April I clofed it up, contriving to
by a Door, but over the Wall by
go into it, not
a Ladder, that
there
[93]
there might be no Sign in the Out-ſide of my Ha-
bitation.
April 16. I finiſh'd the Ladder, fo I went up
with the Ladder to the Top, and then pull'd it up
after me, and let it down in the In-fide: This
was a compleat Encloſure to me; for within I had
Room enough, and nothing could come at me from
without, unleſs it could firft mount my Wall.
The very next Day after this Wall was finifh'd,
I had almoſt had all my Labour overthrown at
once, and my ſelf kill'd, the Cafe was thus, As I
was bufy in the Infide of it, behind my Tent, juſt
in the Entrance into my Cave, I was terribly
frighted with a moft dreadful furprifing Thing in-
deed; for all on a fudden 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 Pofts I had fet up in the Cave crack'd
in a frightful Manner; I was heartily fcar'd, but
thought nothing of what was really the Cauſe, only
thinking that the Top of my Cave was falling in,
as fome of it had done before; and for Fear Ifhou'd be
bury'd in it, I run foreward to my Ladder, and
not thinking my ſelf 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 foon-
er ſtepp'd down upon the firm Ground, but I plain-
ly faw it was a terrible Earthquake, for the Ground
I ftood on fhook three Times at about eight Mi-
nutes Diſtance, with three fuch Shocks, as would
have overturn'd the ſtrongeſt Building that could
be fuppos'd to have ftood on the Earth, and a
great Piece of the Top of a Rock, which ſtood a-
bout half a Mile from me next the Sea, fell down.
with fuch a terrible Noife, as I never heard in all
my Life, I perceiv'd alſo, the very Sea was put
into violent Motion by it; and I believe the
Shocks
[94]
Shocks were ſtronger under the Water than on the
Iſland.
I was ſo amaz'd with the Thing it felf, having
never felt the like, or difcours'd with any one that
had, that I was like one dead or ftupify'd; and
the Motion of the Earth made my Stomach fick
like one that was tofs'd at Sea; but the Noife of
the falling of the Rock awak'd me as it were, and
roufing me from the ftupify'd Condition I was in,
fill'd me with Horror, and I thought of nothing
then but the Hill falling upon my Tent and all my
houfhold Goods, and burying all at once; and
this funk my very Soul within me a fecond Time.
After the third Shock was over, and I felt no
more for fome 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 fat
ftill upon the Ground, greatly caft down and dif
confolate, not knowing what to do: All this
while I had not the leaſt ſerious religious Thought,
nothing but the common, Lord ha' Mercy upon me;
and when it was over, that went away too.
While I fat thus, I found the Air over-caſt,
and grow cloudy, as if it would Rain; foon af-
ter that the Wind rofe by little and little, fo that,
in leſs than half an Hour, it blew a moft dreadful
Hurricane: The Sea was all on a Sudden cover'd
over with Foam and Froth, the Shore was cover'd
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 ftark calm,
and began to rain very hard.
All this while I fat upon the Ground very much
terrify'd and dejected, when on a fudden it came
into my thoughts, that thefe Winds and Rain being
the Confequences of the Earthquake, the Earthquake
it felf
[95]
it felf 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 per-
fwade me, I went in and fat down in my Tent,
but the Rain was fo violent, that my Tent was
ready to be beaten down with it, and I was forc'd
to go into my Cave, tho' very much affraid and
uneafy for fear it fhould fall on my Head.
This violent Rain forc'd me to a new Work,
viz. To cut a Hole thro' my new Fortification
like a Sink to let the Water go out, which would
elfe have drown'd 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 com-
pos'd; and now to fupport my Spirits, which indeed
wanted it very much, I went to my little Store
and took a fmall Sup of Rum, which however I
did then and always very fparingly, knowing I
could have no more when that was gone.
It continu'd raining all that Night, and great
Part of the next Day, fo that I could not ftir a-
broad, but my Mind being more compos'd, I be-
gan to think of what I had beft do, concluding
that if the Iſland was fubject to thefe Earthquakes,
there would be no living for me in a Cave, but I
muſt confider of building me fome little Hut in an
open Place which I might furround with a Wall as
I had done here, and ſo make my ſelf ſecure from
wild Beafts or Men; but concluded, if I ftaid
where I was, I fhould certainly, one time or other,
bebury'd alive.
With thefe Thoughts I refolv'd to remove my
Tent from the Place where it ftood, which was
juft under the hanging Precipice of the Hill, and
which, if it fhould be fhaken again, would certain-
ly fall upon my Tent: And I fpent the two next
Days,
[96]
Days, being the 19th and 20th of April, in con-
triving where and how to remove my Habitation.
The fear of being ſwallow'd up alive, made me
that I never ſlept in quiet, and yet the Apprehen-
fions of lying abroad without any Fence was almoft
equal to it; but ftill when I look'd about and faw
how every thing was put in order, how pleaſantly
conceal'd I was, and how fafe from Danger, it made
me very loath to remove.
In the mean time it occur'd to me that it would
require a vaft deal of time for me to do this, and
that I muſt be contented to run the Venture where
I was, till I had form'd a Camp for my felf, and
had fecur'd it fo as to remove to it: So with this
Reſolution I compos'd my ſelf for a time, and re-
folv'd that I would go to work with all Speed to
build me a Wall with Piles and Cables, &c. in a
Circle as before, and fet my Tent up in it when it
was finiſh'd, but that I would venture to ſtay where
I was till it was finifh'd and fit to remove to.
was the 21st.
This
April 22. The next Morning I began to confider
of Means to put this Refolve in Execution, but I
was at a great lofs about my Tools; I had three
large Axes and abundance of Hatchets, (for we
carried the Hatchets for Traffick with the Indians)
but with much chopping and cutting knotty hard
Wood, they were all full of Notches and dull,
and tho' I had a Grindstone, I could not turn it and
grind my Tools too, this coft me as much Thought
as a Stateſman would have beftow'd upon a grand
Point of Politicks, or a Judge upon the Life and
Death of a Man. At length I contriv'd 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, tho' fince I
have
[97]
have obferv'd it is very common there: befides
that, my Grindstone was very large and heavy.
This Machine coft me a full Weeks Work to bring
it to Perfection.
April 28, 29. Theſe two whole Days I took
up in grinding my Tools, my Machine for turn-
ing my Grindſtone performing very well.
April 30. Having perceiv'd my Bread had been
low a great while, now I took a Survey of it,
and reduc'd my felf to one Bisket-cake a Day,
which made my Heart very heavy.
May 1. In the Morning looking towards the
Sea-fide, the Tide being low, I faw fomething lye
on the Shore bigger than ordinary, and it look'd
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 ſeem'd to lye higher out of the Wa-
ter than it us'd to do; I examin'd the Barrel which
was driven on Shore, and foon found it was a
Barrel of Gunpowder, but it had taken Water,
and the Powder was cak'd as hard as a Stone, how-
ever I roll'd it farther on Shore for the prefent, 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 ftrange-
ly remov'd, The Fore-caftle which lay before bu-
ry'd in Sand, was heav'd up at leaſt Six Foot, and
the Stern which was broke to Pieces and parted
from the rest by the Force of the Sea foon after I
had left rummaging her, was tofs'd, as it were, up,
and caft on one Side, and the Sand was thrown
fo high on that Side next her Stern, that whereas
there was a great Place of Water before, fo that I
could not come within a Quarter of a Mile of the
Wreck without fwimming, I could now walk
H
quite
[98]
quite up to her when the Tide was out; I was fur-
pris'd with this at firft, but foon concluded it muſt be
done by the Earthquake, and as by this Violence the
Ship was more broken open than formerly, fo ma-
ny Things came daily on Shore, which the Sea had
loofen'd, 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 bufied
my felf mightily that Day eſpecially, in fearching
whether I could make any Way into the Ship, but I
found nothing was to be expected of that Kind, for
that all the In-fide of the Ship was choack'd up
with Sand: However, as I had learn'd not to defpair
of any Thing, I refolv'd to pull every Thing to
Pieces that I could of the Ship, concluding, that
every Thing I could get from her would be of
fome Ufe or other to me.
May 3. I began with my Saw, and cut a Piece
of a Beam thro', which I thought held fome of the
upper Part or Quarter-Deck together, and when
I had cut it thro', I clear'd away the Sand as well
as I could from the Side which lay higheft; but
the Tide coming in, I was oblig'd to give over for
that Time.
May 4. I went a fishing, but caught not one Fiſh
that I durft 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 fome
Rope Yarn, but I had no Hooks, yet I frequently
caught Fiſh enough, as much as I car'd to eat;
all which I dry'd in the Sun, and eat them dry.
May 5. Work'd on the Wreck, cut another
Beam afunder, and brought three great Fir Planks
off from the Decks, which I ty'd together, and
made fwim on Shore when the Tide of Flood came
on.
May
[99]
May 6. Work'd on the Wreck, got feveral Iron
Bolts out of her, and other Pieces of Iron Work,
work'd very hard, and came Home very much
tyr'd, 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 feveral Pieces of the Ship feem'd to lie looſe,
and the In-fide of the Hold lay fo open, that I
could fee into it, but almoft full of Water and Sand.
May 8. Went to the Wreck, and carry'd an Iron
Crow to wrench up the Deck, which lay now
quite clear of the Water or Sand; I wrench'd open
two Planks, and brought them on Shore alfo with
the Tide: I left the Iron Crow in the Wreck for
next Day.
May 9. Went to the Wreck, and with the Crow
made Way into the Body of the Wreck, and felt
feveral Casks, and loofen'd 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 Tim-
ber, and Boards, or Plank, and 2 or 300 Weight of
Iron.
May 15. I carry'd 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 blow'd hard in the Night, and
the Wreck appear'd more broken by the Force of
the Water; but I ſtay'd fo long in the Woods to get
Pidgeons for Food, that the Tide prevented me
going to the Wreck that Day.
H 2
May
[100]
May 17. I faw fome Pieces of the Wreck blown on
Shore, at a great Diſtance, near two Miles off me,
but refolv'd to fee 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 work'd on
the Wreck, and with hard Labour I loofen'd fome
Things fo much with the Crow, that the firſt
blowing Tide feveral Casks floated out, and two
of the Seamens Chefts; but the Wind blowing from
the Shore, nothing came to Land that Day, but
Pieces of Timber, and a Hogfhead which had fome
Brazil Pork in it, but the Salt-water and the Sand
had ſpoil'd it.
I continu'd this Work every Day to the 15th of
June, except the Time neceffary 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 ebb'd out, and by this
Time I had gotten Timber, and Plank, and Iron-
Work enough, to have builded a good Boat, if I
had known how; and alfo, I got at feveral Times,
and in ſeveral Pieces, near 100 Weight of the Sheet-
Lead.
June 16. Going down to the Sea-fide, I found
a large Tortoife 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 hap-
pen'd to be on the other Side of the Ifland, 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 threefcore Eggs; and her Fleſh was to
me at that Time the most favoury and pleaſant
that ever I tafted in my Life, having had no Flefh,
but
[101]
but of Goats and Fowls, fince I landed in this hor-
rid Place.
June 18. Rain'd all Day, and I ftay'd within.
I thought at this Time the Rain felt Cold, and I
was fomething chilly, which I knew was not ufual
in that Latitude.
June 19. Very ill, and fhivering, as if the Wea-
ther had been cold.
June 20. No Reft all Night, violent Pains in
my Head, and feaveriſh.
June 21. Very ill, frighted almoſt to Death
with the Apprehenfions of my fad Condition, to
be fick, and no Help: Pray'd to GOD for the
firſt Time fince 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
Apprehenfions of Sickness.
June 23. Very bad again, cold and ſhivering,
and then a violent Head-ach.
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 my self very weak;
however I kill'd a She-Goat, and with much Dif-
ficulty got it Home, and broil'd fome of it, and
eat; I wou'd fain have ftew'd it, and made fome
Broath, but had no Pot.
June 27. The Ague again fo violent, that I
lay a-Bed all Day, and neither eat or drank. I
was ready to perifh for Thirſt, but fo weak, I had
not Strength to ftand up, or to get my felf any
Water to drink: Pray'd to God again, but was
light-headed, and when I was not, I was fo igno-
rant, that I knew not what to fay; only I lay and
H 3
cry'd,
[102]
cry'd, Lord look upon me, Lord pity me, Lord have
Mercy upon me: I fuppofe I did nothing elfe for two
or three Hours, till the Fit wearing off, I fell aſleep,
and did not wake till far in the Night; when I wak'd,
I found my felf much refreſh'd, but weak, and ex-
ceeding thirsty: However, as I had no Water in
my whole Habitation, I was forc'd to lie till Mor-
ning, and went to fleep again: In this fecond Sleep,
I had this terrible Dream.
I thought, that I was fitting on the Ground on
the Out-fide of my Wall, where I fat when the
Storm blew after the Earthquake, and that I faw
a Man defcend 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, fo that I
could but juſt bear to look towards him; his
Countenance was moft inexpreffibly dreadful,
impoffible for Words to defcribe; when he ſtepp'd
upon the Ground with his Feet, I thought the
Earth trembl'd, juſt as it had done before in the
Earthquake, and all the Air look'd, to my Appre-
henfion, as if it had been fill'd with Flaſhes of Fire.
He was no fooner 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 rifing Ground, at fome Diſtance, he
ſpoke to me, or I heard a Voice fo terrible, that
it is impoflible to express the Terror of it; all that
I can fay, 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 terible Viſion, I mean, that even
while it was a Dream, I even dreamed of thoſe
Horrors; nor is it any more poffible to defcribe
the
[103]
the Impreffion that remain'd upon my Mind when I
awak'd and found it was but a Dream.
I had alas! no divine Knowledge; what I had re-
ceived by the good Inſtruction of my Father was then
worn out by an uninterrupted Series, for 8 Years, of
Seafaring Wickedness, and a conftant Converfation
with nothing but fuch as were like my felf, wicked
and prophane to the laſt Degree: I do not remember
that I had in all that Time one Thought that fo
much as tended either to looking upwards toward
God, or inwards towards a Reflection upon my
own Ways: But a certain Stupidity of Soul, with-
out Defire of Good, or Confcience of Evil, had
entirely overwhelm'd me, and I was all that the moſt
hardned, unthinking, wicked Creature among our
common Sailors, can be fuppofed to be, not having
the leaft Senfe, either of the Fear of God in Danger,
or of Thankfulnefs to God in Deliverances.
In the relating what is already paft of my Story,
this will be the more eafily believ'd, when I fhall
add, that thro' all the Variety of Miferies that
had to this Day befallen me, I never had fo much
as one Thought of it being the Hand of God, or
that it was a juft Puniſhment for my Sin; my re-
bellious Behaviour againſt my Father, or my pre-
fent Sins which were great; or fo much as a Pu-
niſhment for the general Courfe of my wicked Life.
When I was on the defperate Expedition on the de-
fart Shores of Africa, I never had fo much as one
Thought of what would become of me; or one
Wish to God to direct me whether I fhould go, or to
keep me from the Danger which apparently fur-
rounded me, as well from voracious Creatures as
cruel Savages: But I was meerly thoughtlefs of a
God, or a Providence; acted like a meer Brute.
from the Principles of Nature, and by the Dictates
of common Senfe only, and indeed hardly that.
H 4
When
[104]
When I was deliver'd and taken up at Sea by the
Portugal Captain, well us'd, and dealt juſtly and
honourably with, as well as charitably, I had not
the leaſt Thankfulneſs on my Thoughts: When
again I was ſhipwreck'd, ruin'd, and in Danger of
drowning on this Ifland, I was as far from Re-
morfe, or looking on it as a Judgment; I only faid
to my felf often, that I was an unfortunate Dog, and
born to be always miſerable.
It is true, when I got on Shore firft here, and
found all my Ship's Crew drown'd, and my
ſelf ſpar'd, I was furpriz'd with a Kind of Extafie,
and fome Tranſports of Soul, which, had the Grace
of God affifted, might have come up to true Thank-
fulneſs; but it ended where it begun, in a meer
common Flight of Joy, or as I may fay, being glad 1
was alive, without the leaſt Reflection upon the
diftinguiſhing Goodneſs of the Hand which had
preferv'd me, and had fingled me out to be pre-
ferv'd, when all the reft were deftroy'd; or an En-
quiry why Providence had been thus merciful to
me; even juſt the fame common Sort of Joy which
Seamen generally have after they are got fafe afhore
from a Shipwreck, which they drown all in the next
Bowl of Punch, and forget almoſt as foon as it is
over, and all the rest of my Life was like it.
Even when I was afterwards, on due Confide-
ration, made fenfible of my Condition, how I was
caſt on this dreadful Place, out of the Reach of hu-
mane Kind, out of all Hope of Relief, or Profpect
of Redemption, as foon as I faw but a Profpect of
living, and that I fhould not ftarve and perifh for
Hunger, all the Senſe of my Affl ction wore off,
and I begun to be very eafy, apply'd my ſelf to the
Works proper for my Prefervation and Supply, and
was far enough from being afflicted at my Con-
dition, as a Judgment from Heaven, or as the
Hand
[105]
Hand of God againſt me; theſe were Thoughts
which very feldom enter'd into my Head.
The growing up of the Corn, as is hinted in
my Journal, had at firft fome little Influence upon
me, and began to affect me with Seriouſneſs, as
long as I thought it had fomething miraculous in
it; but as foon as ever that Part of the Thought
was remov'd, all the Impreffion which was rais'd
from it, wore off alſo, as I have noted already.
Even the Earthquake, tho' nothing could be
more terrible in its Nature, or more immediately
directing to the Invifible Power which alone di-
rects fuch Things, yet no fooner was the firſt Fright
over, but the Impreffion it had made went off alfo.
I had no more Senſe of God or his Judgments,
much leſs of the prefent Affliction of my Circum-
ſtances being from his Hand, than if I had been in
the moſt profperous Condition of Life.
But now when I began to be fick, and a leifure-
ly View of the Miſeries of Death came to place it-
felf before me; when my Spirits began to fink un-
der the Burthen of a ftrong Distemper, and Nature
was exhauſted with the Violence of the Feaver;
Conſcience that had ſlept ſo long, begun to awake,
and I began to reproach my ſelf with my paft Life,
in which I had fo evidently, by uncommon Wicked-
neſs, provok'd the Justice of God to lay me under
uncommon Strokes, and to deal with me in fo vin-
dictive a Manner.
Theſe Reflections opprefs'd me for the ſecond or
third Day of my Distemper, and in the Violence,
as well of the Feaver, as of the dreadful Reproaches
of
my Conſcience, extorted fome Words from me,
like praying to God, tho' I cannot fay they were
either a Prayer attended with Defires or with
Hopes; it was rather the Voice of meer Fright
and Diſtreſs; my. Thoughts were confus'd, the
Convi-
[106]
Convictions great upon my Mind, and the Horror
of dying in fuch a miferable Condition rais'd Va-
pours into my Head with the meer Apprehen-
fions; and in thefe Hurries of my Soul, I know
not what my Tongue might express: but it was ra-
ther Exclamation, fuch as, Lord! what a miſerable
Creature am I? If I fhould be fick, I fhall certain-
ly die for Want of Help, and what will become of
me! Then the Tears burst out of my Eyes, and
I could fay no more for a good while.
In this Interval, the good Advice of my Father
came to my Mind, and prefently his Prediction
which I mention'd at the Beginning of this Story,
viz. That if I did take this foolish Step, God would not
blefs me, and I would have Leifure hereafter to reflect
upon having neglected his Counſel, when there might be
none to aſſiſt in my Recovery. Now, faid I aloud,
My dear Father's Words are come to pafs: 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 Pofture or Sta-
tion of Life, wherein I might have been happy
and eafy; but I would neither fee it my felf, or learn
to know the Bleffing of it from my Parents; I left
them to mourn over my Folly, and now I am left
to mourn under the Confequences of it; I refus'd
their Help and Affiftance who wou'd have lifted me
into the World, and wou'd have made every Thing
eafy to me, and now I have Difficulties to ftrug-
gle with, too great for even Nature itſelf to fup-
port, and no Affiftance, no Help, no Comfort, no
Advice; then I cry'd out, Lord be my Help, for I
am in great Distress.
This was the firſt Prayer, if I may call it fo,
that I had made for many Years: But I return
my Journal.
Fune
[107]
June 28. Having been fomewhat refreſh'd with
the Sleep I had had, and the Fit being entirely
off, I got up; and tho' the Fright and Terror of
my Dream was very great, yet I confider'd, that
the Fit of the Ague wou'd return again the next
Day, and now was my Time to get fomething to
refreſh and ſupport my ſelf when I ſhould be ill;
and the firft Thing I did, I fill'd a large ſquare
Cafe Bottle with Water, and fet it upon my Ta-
ble, in Reach of my Bed? and to take off the chill
or aguifh Difpofition of the Water, I put
about a Quarter of a Pint of Rum into it,
and mix'd them together; then I got me a Piece
of the Goat's Fleſh, and broil'd it on the Coals, but
could eat very little; I walk'd about, but was very
weak, and withal very fad and heavy-hearted in
the Senfe of my miferable Condition; dread-
ing the return of my diftemper 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 ask'd God's Bleffing to, even as
I cou'd remember, in my whole Life.
After I had eaten, I try'd to walk, but found
my felf fo weak, that I cou'd hardly carry the
Gun, (for I never went out without that) fo I
went but a little Way, and fat down upon the
Ground, looking out upon the Sea, which was
juft before me, and very calm and fmooth: As
I fat here, fome fuch Thoughts as these occurred
to me.
What is this Earth and Sea of which I have feen
fo much, whence is it produc'd, and what am I,
and all the other Creatures, wild and tame, humane
and brutal, whence are we?
Sure
[108]
Sure we are all made by fome fecret Power, who
form'd the Earth and Sea, rhe Air and Sky; and
who is that?
Then it follow'd moft naturally, It is God that
has made it all: Well, but then it came on ftrangely,
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,
muft certainly have Power to guide and direct
them.
If fo, nothing can happen in the great Circuit of
his Works, either without his Knowledge or Ap-
pointment.
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 befal
me.
Nothing occurr'd to my Thought to contradict
any of theſe Conclufions; and therefore it refted
upon me with the greater Force, that it muſt needs
be, that God had appointed all this to befal me; that
I was brought to this miferable Circumftance by
his Direction, he having the fole Power, not of me
only, but of every Thing that happen'd in the
World. Immediately it follow'd,
Why has God done this to me? What have I done
to be thus us'd?
My Conſcience prefently check'd me in that En-
quiry, as if I had blafphem'd, and methought it
ſpoke to me like a Voice; WRETCH! doft thou
ask what thou haft done! look back upon a dreadful
mif-fpent Life, and ask thy felf what thou hast not
done? ask, Why is it that thou wert not long ago de-
ftroy'd? Why wert thou not drown'd in Yarmouth
Roads? Kill'd in the Fight when the Ship was taken by
the Sallee man of War? Devour'd by the wild Beafts
on
[109]
on the Coast of Africa? Or, Drown'd HERE,
when all the Crew perish'd but thy felf? Doft thou ask,
What have I done?
I was ftruck dumb with theſe Reflections, as one
aftoniſh'd, and had not a Word to fay, no not to
anſwer to my ſelf, but rife up penſive and fad,
walk'd back to my Retreat, and went up over my
Wall, as if I had been going to Bed, but my
Thoughts were fadly diſturb'd, and I had no In-
clination to Sleep; fo I fat down in my Chair,
and lighted my Lamp, for it began to be dark:
Now as the Apprehenfion of the Return of my Di-
ftemper terrify'd me very much, it occurr'd to my
Thought, that the Brafilians take no Phyfick but
their Tobacco, for almoſt all Diftempcrs; and I
had a Piece of a Roll of Tobacco in one of the
Chefts, which was quite cur'd, and some alfo that
was green and not quite cur'd.
I went, directed by Heaven no doubt; for in
this Cheft I found a Cure, both for Soul and Body,
I open'd the Cheft, and found what I look'd for, viz.
the Tobacco; and as the few Books, I had fav'd,
lay there too, I took out one of the Bibles which
I mention'd before, and which to this Time I had
not found Leiſure, or ſo much as Inclination to
look into; I fay, I took it out, and brought both
that and the Tobacco with me to the Table.
What Ufe to make of the Tobacco, I knew not,
as to my Distemper, or whether it was good for it
or no; but I try'd feveral Experiments with it, as
if I was refolv'd it fhould hit one Way or other:
I first took a Piece of a Leaf, and chew'd it in my
Mouth, which indeed at firft almoft ftupify'd my
Brain, the Tobacco being green and ftrong, and
that I had not been much us'd to it; then I took
fome and ſteeped it an Hour or two in fome Rum,
and refolv'd to take a Dofe of it when I lay down;
and
[ 110 ]
and lastly, I burnt fome 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 diſturb'd with the Tobacco to bear reading,
at leaſt that Time; only having opened the Book ca-
fually, the first Words that occurr'd to me were
thefe, Call on me in the Day of Trouble, aud I will deli-
ver, and thou shalt glorify me.
The Words were very apt to my Cafe, and made
fome Impreffion upon my Thoughts at the Time of
reading them, tho' not ſo much as they did after-
wards; for as for being deliver'd, the Word had no
Sound, as I may fay, to me; the Thing was fo remote,
fo impoffible in my Apprehenfion of Things, that
I began to fay as the Children of Ifrael did, when
they were promis'd Flefh to eat, Can God spread a
Table in the Wilderness; fo I began to fay, Can God
himſelf deliver me from this Place? and as it was
not for many Years that any Hope appear'd, this
prevail'd very often upon my Thoughts: But
however, the Words made a great Impreffion upon
me, and I mufed upon them very often. It grew
now late, and the Tobacco had, as I faid, doz'd
my Head fo much, that I inclin'd to fleep; fo I
left my Lamp burning in the Cave, leaft I fhould
want any Thing in the Night, and went to Bed;
but before I lay down, I did what I never had done
in all my Life, I kneel'd down and pray'd to God
to fulfil the Promife to me, that if I call'd upon him
in the Day of Trouble, he would deliver me; af-
ter my broken and imperfect Prayer was over, I
drunk the Rum in which I had ſteep'd the Tobac-
co, which was fo ftrong and rank of rhe Tabacco,
that indeed I could fcarce get it down; immediately
upon
[111]
upon this I went to Bed, I found prefently it flew
up in my Head violently, but I fell into a found
Sleep, and wak'd no more 'till by the Sun it muſt
neceffarily be near Three a-Clock in the Afternoon
the next Day; nay, to this Hour, I'm partly of the
Opinion, that I ſlept all the next Day and Night,
and 'till almoſt Three that Day after; for other-
wife I knew not how I fhould lofe a Day out of my
Reckoning in the Days of the Week, as it appear'd
fome Years after I had done: for if I had loft it by
croffing and re-croffing the Line, I ſhould have loft
more than one Day: But certainly I loft a Day in
my Accompt, and never knew which Way.
Be ihat however one Way or th' other, when I
awak'd I found my felf exceedingly refresh'd, and
my Spirits lively and chearful; when I got up, I
was ftronger than I was the Day before, and my
Stomach better, for I was hungry; and in fhort, I
had no Fit the next Day, but continu'd much
alter'd 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 kill'd a Sea Fowl or two, fome-
thing like a brand Gooſe, and brought them Home,
but was not very forward to eat them; fo I ate fome
more of the Turtle's Eggs, which were very good:
This Evening I renew'd the Medicine which I had
fuppos'd did me good the Day before, viz. the Tobac-
co ſteep'd in Rum, only I did not take fo much as be-
fore, nor did I chew any of the Leaf, or hold my Head
over the Smoke; however, I was not fo well the
next Day, which was the firſt of July, as I hop'd I
fhou'd have been; for I had a little Spice of the cold
Fit, but it was not much.
July 2. I renew'd the Medicine all the three
Ways, and doz'd my felf with it as at firft; and
doubled the Quantity which I drank.
3. I
[112]
3. I mifs'd the Fit for good and all, tho' I did
not recover my full Strength for fome Weeks after;
while I was thus gathering Strength, my Thoughts
run exceedingly upon this Scripture, I will deliver
thee, and the Impoffibility of my Deliverance lay
much upon my Mind in Barr of my ever expecting
it: But as I was difcouraging my felf with fuch
Thoughts, it occurr'd to my Mind, that I pored
fo much upon my Deliverance from the main Affi-
ction, that I difregarded the Deliverance I had re-
ceiv'd; and I was, as it were, made to ask my
felf fuch Queſtions as thefe, viz. Have I not been
deliver'd, and wonderfully too, from Sickneſs? f
the most diftrefs'd Condition that could be, and
that was fo frightful to me, and what Notice I
had taken of it: Had I done my Part, God had de-
liver'd me, but I had not glorify'd him; that is to fay,
I had not own'd and been thankful for that as a
Deliverance, and how could I expect greater De-
liverance?
This touch'd my Heart very much, and imme-
diately I kneeel'd down and gave God Thanks a-
loud, for my Recovery from my Sickneſs.
July 4. In the Morning I took the Bible, and be-
ginning at the New Teftament, I began ſeriouſly
to read it, and impos'd upon my felf to read a
while every Morning and every Night, not tying.
my felf to the Number of Chapters, but as long as
my Thoughts fhou'd engage me: It was not long
after I fet feriously to this Work, but I found
my Heart more deeply and fincerely affected with
the Wickedneſs of my past Life: The Im-
preffion of my Dream reviv'd, and the Words, Al
thefe Things have not brought thee to Repentance, ran fe-
riouſly in my Thought: I was earnestly begging
of God to give me Repentance, when it happen'd
providentially the very Day that reading the Scri-
pture
[113]
ture, I came to theſe Words, He is exalted a Prince
and a Saviour, to give Repentance, and to give Remiſſi-
on I threw down the Book, and with my Heart
as well as my Hands lifted up to Heaven, in a
Kind of Extafy of Joy, I cry'd out aloud, Jeſus,
thou Son of David, Jefus, thou exalted Prince and Sa-
viour, give me Repentance!
This was the firft Time that I could fay, in the
true Senfe of the Words, that I pray'd in all my Life;
for now I pray'd with a Senfe 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 fay, I began to have Hope
that God would hear me.
Now I began to conftrue the Words mentioned
above, Call on me and I will deliver you, in a diffe-
rent Senfe from what I had ever done before; for
then I had no Notion of any thing being call'd De-
liverance, but my being deliver'd from the Capti-
vity I was in; for tho' I was indeed at large
in the Place, yet the Inland was certainly a
Priſon to me, and that in the worft Senfe in the
World; but now I learn'd to take it in another
Senfe: Now I look'd back upon my paſt Life with
fuch Horrour, and my Sins appear'd fo dreadful,
that my Soul fought nothing of God, but Delive-
rance from the Load of Guilt that bore down all my
Comfort: As for my folitary Life it was nothing;
I did not fo much as pray to be deliver'd from it,
or think of it; It was all of no Confideration in
Compariſon to this: And I add this Part here, to
hint to whoever fhall read it, that whenever they
come to a true Senſe of things, they will find Deli-
verance from Sin a much greater Bleffing, that De-
liverance from Affliction.
But leaving this Part, I return to my Journal.
I
My
[114]
My Condition began now to be, tho' not lefs mi-
ferable 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 no-
thing of; alfo, as my Health and Strength returned,
I beftirr'd my ſelf to furniſh my felf with every thing
that I wanted, and make my Way of living as re-
gular as I could.
From the 4th of July to the 14th, I was chiefly
employ'd 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 imagin'd, how low
I was, and to what Weakneſs I was reduc'd. The
Application which I made Ufe of was perfectly
new, and perhaps what had never cur'd an Ague
before, neither can I recommend it to any one to
practife, by this Experiment; and tho' it did car-
ry off the Fit, yet it rather contributed to weaken-
ing me; for I had frequent Convulfions in my
Nerves and Limbs for fome Time.
I learn'd from it alfo this in particular, that be-
ing abroad in the rainy Seaſon was the moſt pernici-
ous thing to my Health that could be, eſpecially in
thofe Rains which came attended with Storms and
Hurricanes of Wind; for as the Rain which came
in the dry Seaſon was always moft accompany'd
with fuch Storms, fo I found that Rain was much
more dangerous than the Rain which fell in Septem-
ber and October.
I had been now in this unhappy Iſland about 10
Months, all Poffibility of Deliverance from this
Condition, feem'd to be entirely taken from me;
and I firmly believ'd, that no humane Shape had
ever fet Foot upon that Place. Having now fecur'd
my
[115]
my Habitation, as I thought, fully to my Mind, I
had a great Defire to make a more Perfect Difco-
very of the Iſland, and to fee what other Produ-
ctions 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 it felf: I went
up the Creek firft, 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 fome Parrs of it, at leaſt, not enough
to run in any Stream, fo as it could be perceiv'd.
On the Bank of this Brook I found many plea-
fant Savana's, or Meadows; plain, fmooth, and
cover'd with Grafs; and on the rifing Parts of
them next to the higher Grounds, where the Wa-
ter, as it might be fuppofed, never overflow'd,
I found a great deal of Tobacco, green, and growing
to a great and very ftrong Stalk; there were di-
vers other Plants which I had no Notion of, or Un-
derſtanding about, and might perhaps have Ver-
tues of their own, which I could not find out.
I fearched for the Caffava Root, which the In-
dians in all that Climate make their Bread of, but I
could find none. I faw large Plants of Alloes, but
did not then underſtand them. I faw feveral Sugar
Canes, but wild, and for want of Cultivation, im-
perfect. I contented my ſelf with theſe Diſcoveries
for this Time, and came back mufing with my
ſelf what Courſe I might take to know the Vertue
and Goodneſs of any of the Fruits or Plants which
I fhould diſcover; but could bring it to no Con-
clufion; for in fhort, I had made fo little Obfer-
vation while I was in the Brafils, that I knew little
I 2
of
[116]
of the Plants in the Field, at leaft very little that
might ferve me to any Purpofe now in my Di-
ftrefs.
The next Day, the 16th, I went up the fame
Way again, and after going ſomething farther than
I had gone the Day before, I found the Brook, and
the Savana's began to ceaſe, and the Country be-
came more woody than before; in this Part I found
different Fruits, and particularly I found Mellons
upon the Ground in great Abundance, and Grapes
upon the Trees; the Vines had ſpread indeed over
the Trees, and the Clufters of Grapes were juſt
now in their Prime, very ripe and rich: This was a
furpriſing Diſcovery, and I was exceeding glad of
them; but I was warn'd by my Experience to eat
ſparingly of them, remembring, that when I was
afhore in Barbary, the eating of Grapes kill'd feveral
of our English Men who were Slaves there, by
throwing them into Fluxes and Feavers: But I
found an excellent Ufe for thefe Grapes, and that
was to cure or dry them in the Sun, and keep
them as dry'd Grapes or Raifins are kept, which
I thought would be, as indeed they were, as
wholefom 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 fay, I had lain from
Home. In the Night I took my firft Contrivance,
and got up into a Tree, where I flept well, and the
next Morning proceeded upon my Diſcovery, tra-
velling near four Miles, as I might judge by the
Length of the Valley, keeping ftill due North, with
a Ridge of Hills on the South and North-fide of
me.
At the End of this March I came to an Open-
ing, where the Country feem'd to defcend to the
Weſt,
[117]
Weft, and a litrle Spring of freſh Water which if-
fued out of the Side of the Hill by me, run the
other Way, that is due Eaft; and the Country ap-
pear'd fo freſh, fo green, fo flouriſhing, every thing
being in a conftant Verdure, or Flourish of Spring,
that it looked like a planted Garden.
I defcended a little on the Side of that delicious
Vale, furveying it with a fecret Kind of Pleaſure,
(tho' mixt 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 Poffeffion; and if I could convey it
I might have it in Inheritance, as compleatly as
any Lord of a Mannor in England. I faw here
Abundance of Cocoa Trees, Orange and Lem-
mon, and Citron Trees; but all wild, and very
few bearing any Fruit, at least not then: Howe-
ver, the green Limes that I gathered, were not
only pleaſant to eat, but very wholefome; and I
mix'd their Juice afterwards with Water, which
made it very wholeſome, and very cool, and re-
freshing.
I found now I had Bufinefs enough to gather and
carry Home; and I refolv'd to lay up a Store, as
well of Grapes, as Limes and Lemons, to furniſh
my ſelf for the wet Seaſon, which I knew was ap-
proaching.
In Order to this, I gather'd a great Heap of
Grapes in one Place, and a leffer Heap in another
Place, and a great Parcel of Limes and Lemons in
another Place; and taking a few of each with me,
I travell'd homeward, and refolv'd to come again,
and bring a Bag or Sack, or what I could make to
carry the reft Home.
Accordingly, having ſpent three Days in this
Journey, I came Home; fo I must now call my
Tent and my Cave: But, before I got thither, the
Grapes
I
1 3
[118]
Grapes were ſpoil'd, the Richness of the Fruits,
and the Weight of the Juice having broken them,
and bruis'd them, they were good for little or no-
thing; 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 fmall Bags to bring Home
my Harveſt: But I was furpriz'd, when coming
to my Heap of Grapes, which were fo rich and
fine when I gather'd them, I found them all
ſpread about, trod to Pieces, and dragg'd about,
fome here, fome there, and Abundance eaten and
devour'd: By this I concluded, there were fome
wild Creatures thereabouts, which had done this;
but what they were, I knew not.
However, as I found there there was no laying
them up on Heaps, and no carrying them away in
a Sack, but that one Way they would be deftroy'd,
and the other Way they would be crufh'd with
their own Weight. I took another Courfe; for I
gather'd 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 carry'd as many back as
I could well ftand under.
When I came Home from this Journey, I con-
templated with great Pleaſure the Fruitfulneſs of
that Valley, and the Pleaſantneſs of the Scituation,
the Security from Storms on that Side the Water,
and the Wood, and concluded, that I had pitch'd upon
a Place to fix my Abode, which was by far the worſt
Part of the Country. Upon the Whole I began
to confider of removing my Habitation; and
to look out for a place equally fafe, as where I now
was fcituate, if poffible, in that pleaſant fruitful
Part of the Iſland.
This
[119]
This Thought run long in my Head, and I was
exceeding fond of it for fome Time, the Pleaſant-
nefs of the Place tempting me; but when I came
to a nearer View of it, and to confider that I was
now by the Sea-Side, where it was at leaft poffible
that fomething might happen to my Advantage,
and by the íame ill Fate that brought me hither,
might bring fome other unhappy Wretches to the
fame Place; and tho' it was fcarce probable that
any ſuch Thing ſhould ever happen, yet to encloſe
my ſelf among the Hills and Woods, in the Center
of the Ifland, was to anticipate my Bondage, and
to rend fuch an Affair not only Improbable, but
Impoffible; and that therefore I ought not by any
Means to remove.
However, I was fo Enamour'd of this Place,
that I ſpent much of my Time there, for the
whole remaining Part of the Month of July; and
tho' upon fecond Thoughts I refolv'd as above, not
to remove, yet I built me a little kind of a Bower,
and furrounded it at a Diſtance with a ftrong
Fence, being a double Hedge, as high as I could
reach, well ſtak'd, and fill'd between with Bruſh-
wood; and here I lay very fecure, fometimes two
or three Nights together, always going over it
with a Ladder, as before; fo that I fancy'd now
I had my Country-Houfe, and my Sea-Coaft-
Houſe And this Work took me up to the Begin-
ning of Auguſt.
I had but newly finish'd my Fence, and be-
gan to enjoy my Labour, but the Rains came on,
and made me ſtick clofe to my firft Habitation; for
tho' 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.
I 4
About
[120]
About the Beginning of Auguft, as 1 faid, I had
finish'd my Bower, and began to enjoy my felf.
The third of August, I found the Grapes I had
hung up were perfectly dry'd, and indeed, were
excellent good Raifins of the Sun; fo I began to
take them down from the Trees, and it was very
happy that I did fo; for the Rains which follow'd
would have ſpoil'd them, and I had lost the beſt
Part of my Winter Food; for I had above two
hundred large Bunches of them. No fooner had
I taken them all down, and carry'd moſt of them
Home to my Cave, but it began to rain, and
from hence, which was the fourteenth of August,
it rain'd more or lefs, every Day, till the Middle
of October; and fometimes fo violently, that I could
not ftir out of my Cave for ſeveral Days.
In this Seafon I was much furpriz'd with the
Increaſe of my Family; I had been concern'd for
the Lofs of one of my Cats, who run away from
me, or as I thought had been dead, and I heard no
more Tale or Tidings of her, till to my Aftoniſh-
ment ſhe came Home about the End of August,
with three Kittens; this was the more ftrange to
me, becauſe tho' I had kill'd a wild Cat, as I
call'd it, with my Gun; yet I thought it was a
quite differing Kind from our European Cats; yet
the young Cats were the fame Kind of Houſe
breed like the old one; and both my Cats being
Females, I thought it very ftrange: But from thefe
three Cats, I afterwards came to be so pefter'd
with Cats, that I was forc'd to kill them like
Vermine, or wild Beafts, and to drive them from
my Houſe as much as poffible.
From the fourteenth of August to the twenty
fixth, inceffant Rain, fo that I could not ftir, and
was now very careful not to be much wet. In this
Confinement I began to be ftraitned for Food, but
venturing
[121]
venturing out twice, I one Day kill'd a Goat, and
the laft Day, which was the twenty fixth, found
a very large Tortoife, which was a Treat to me,
and my Food was regulated thus; I eat a Bunch
of Raifins for my Breakfaſt, a Piece of the Goat's
Fleſh, or of the Turtle for my Dinner broil'd; for
to my great Misfortune, I had no Veffel to boil or
ftew any Thing; and two or three of the Tur-
tle's Eggs for my Supper.
During this Confinement in my Cover, by the Rain,
I work'd daily two or three Hours at enlarging my
Cave, and by Degrees work'd it on towards one Side,
till I came to the Out-Side of the Hill, and made
a Door or Way out, which came beyond my Fence
or Wall, and fo I came in and out this Way; but I
was not perfectly eafy at lying fo open; for as I
had manag'd my felf before, I was in a perfect En-
clofure, whereas now I thought I lay expos'd, and
open for any Thing 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.
September the thirtieth, I was now come to the
unhappy Anniverſary of my Landing. I caft up the
Notches on my Poft, and found I had been on
Shore three hundred and fixty five Days. I kept
this Day as a Solemn Faſt, ſetting it apart to Reli-
gious Exercife, proftrating my felf on the Ground
with the moſt ferious Humiliation, confeffing my
Sins to God, acknowledging his Righteous Judg-
ments upon me, and praying to him to have Mer-
cy on me, through Jefus Chrift; and having not
tafted the leaft Refreshment for twelve Hours,
even till the going down of the Sun, I then
eat a Bisket Cake, and a Bunch of Grapes, and
went to Bed, finiſhing the Day as I began it.
I had
[122]
I had all this Time obferv'd no Sabbath-Day;
for as at firſt I had no Senfe of Religion upon my
Mind, I had after fome Time omitted to diftin-
guiſh 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
caft up the Days, as above, I found I had been
there a Year; fo I divided it into Weeks, and ſet
apart every feventh Day for a Sabbath; though I
found at the End of my Account I had loft a Day
or two in my Reckoning
A little after this my Ink began to fail me, and
fo I contented my felf to uſe it more fparingly, 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 Seafon, began now
to appear regular to me, and I learn'd to divide
them fo, 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 moft dif
couraging Experiments that I made at all: I have
mention'd that I had fav'd the few Ears of Barley
and Rice, which I had fo furprizingly found fpring
up, as I thought, of themſelves, and believe there
was about thirty Stalks of Rice, and about twenty
of Barley; and now I thought it a proper Time to
fow it after the Rains, the Sun being in its Southern
Pofition 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 fow'd my Grain; but as I was
fowing, it cafually occur'd to my Thoughts, That I
would not fow it all at firft, becauſe I did not know
when was the proper Time for it; fo I fow'd about
two Thirds of the Seed, leaving about a Handful
of each.
It
[123]
It was a great Comfort to me afterwards, that
I did fo, for not one Grain of that I fow'd this
Time came to any Thing; for the dry Months
following, the Earth having had no Rain after
the Seed was fown, it had no Moiſture to affift
its Growth, and never came up at all, till the wet
Seafon had come again, and then it grew as if it
had been but newly fown.
Finding my firſt Seed did not grow, which I
eafily imagin'd was by the Drought, I fought for
a moifter Peice of Ground to make another Trial
in, and I dug up a Piece of Ground near my new
Bower, and fow'd the rest of my Seed in February,
a little before the Vernal Equinox; and this ha-
ving the rainy Months of March and April to wa-
ter it, fprung up very pleaſantly, and yielded a
very good Crop; but having Part of the Seed left
only, and not daring to fow all that I had, I had
but a fmall Quantity at laft, my whole Crop not
amounting to above half a Peck of each kind.
But by this Experiment I was made Maſter of
my Bufinefs, and knew exactly when the proper
Seafon was to fow; 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 ufe to me afterwards: As
foon as the Rains were over, and the Weather be-
gan to fettle, which was about the Month of No-
vember, I made a Vifit up the Country to my Bow-
er, where though I had not been ſome Months, yet
I found all Things juſt as I left them. The Cir-
cle or double Hedge that I had made, was not on-
ly firm and entire; but the Stakes which I had cut
out of fome Trees that grew thereabouts, were all
fhot 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
[124]
call it, that theſe Stakes were cut from. I was
furpriz'd, and yet very well pleas'd, to ſee the
young Trees grow; and I prun'd them, and led them
up to grow as much alike as I could; and it is
fcarce credible how beautiful a Figure they grew
into in three Years; fo that though the Hedge
made a Circle of about twenty five Yards in Dia-
meter, yet the Trees, for fuch I might now call
them, foon cover'd it; and it was a compleat
Shade, fufficient to lodge under all the dry Seafon.
This made me refolve to cut fome more Stakes,
and make me a Hedge like this in a Semicircle
round my Wall; I mean that of my firft Dwelling,
which I did; and placing the Trees or Stakes in a
double Row, at about eight Yards diftance from
my firſt Fence, they grew prefently, and were at
firft a fine Cover to my Habitation, and afterward
ferv'd for a Defence alfo, as I fhall obferve in
its Order.
I found now, That the Seafons of the Year
might generally be divided, not into Summer and
Winter, as in Europe; but into the Rainy Seaſons,
and the Dry Seafons, which were generally thus,
Half February,
March,
Half April,
Half April,
Rainy, the Sun being then on, or
near the Equinox.
May, Dry, the Sun being then to the
June,
July,
Half August,
North of the Line.
Half
[125]
Half August, Rainy, the Sun being then come
September,
Half October,
S
Half October,
back.
November,
December,
Dry, the Sun being then to the
South of the Line.
January,
Half February,
The Rainy Seafon fometimes held longer or
fhorter, as the Winds happen'd to blow; but this
was the general Obfervation I made: After I had
found by Experience, the ill Confequence of being
abroad in the Rain. I took Care to furnish my
felf with Provifions before hand, that I might not
be oblig'd to go out; and I fat within Doors as
much as poffible during the wet Months.
This Time I found much Employment, (and
very fuitable alfo to the Time) for I found great
Occafion of many Things which I had no way to
furniſh my felf with, but by hard Labour and con-
ſtant Application; particularly, I try'd many Ways
to make my felf a Basket, but all the Twigs I
could get for the Purpofe prov'd fo brittle, that
they would do nothing. It prov'd of excellent Ad-
vantage to me now, That when I was a Boy, I
ufed to take great Delight in ftanding at a Basket-
makers, in the Town where my Father liv'd, to
ſee them make their Wicker-ware; and being as
Boys ufually are, very officious to help, and a
great Obferver of the Manner how they work'd
thofe 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
[126]
might poffibly be as tough as the Sallows, and
Willows, and Ofiers in England, and I refolv'd
to try.
Accordingly the next Day, I went to my Coun-
try-Houſe, as I call'd it, and cutting fome of the
finaller Twigs, I found them to my Purpoſe as
much as I could defire; whereupon I came the next
Time prepar'd with a Hatchet to cut down a
Quantity, which I foon found, for there was great
Plenty of them; thefe I fet up to dry within my
Circle or Hedge, and when they were fit for Uſe.
I carry'd them to my Cave, and here during the
next Seaſon, I employ'd my felf in making, as well
as I could, a great many Baskets, both to carry
Earth, or to carry or lay up any Thing as I had
occafion; and tho' I did not finiſh them very hand-
fomly, yet I made them fufficiently ferviceable for
my Purpoſe; and thus afterwards I took Care ne-
ver to be without them; and as my Wicker-ware
decay'd, I made more, eſpecially, I made ſtrong
deep Baskets to place my Corn in, inſtead of Sacks,
when I fhould come to have any Quantity of it.
Having maſter'd this Difficulty, and employ'd a
World of Time about it, I beſtirr'd my ſelf to fee
if poffible how to fupply two Wants: I had no
Veffels to hold any Thing that was Liquid, ex-
cept two Runlets which were almoft full of Rum,
and fome Glafs-Bottles, fome of the common Size,
and others which were Cafe-Bottles-Square, for
the holding of Waters, Spirits, &c. I had not fo
much as a Pot to boil any Thing, except a great
Kettle, which I fav'd out of the Ship, and which
was too big for fuch Ufe as I defired it, viz. To
make Broth, and ſtew a Bit of Meat by it felf.
The Second Thing I would fain have had, was a
Tobacco-Pipe; but it was impoffible to me to
make
[127]
make one, however, I found a Contrivance for that
too at laſt.
I employ'd my felf in Planting my Second Rows.
of Stakes or Piles and in this Wicker working all the
Summer, or dry Seaſon, when another Bufinefs
took me up more Time than it could be imagin'd
I could fpare.
I mention'd before, That I had a great Mind to
fee the whole Iſland, and that I had travell'd up
the Brook, and fo on to where I built my Bower,
and where I had an Opening quite to the Sea on
the other Side of the Ifland; I now refolv'd to
travel quite Croſs to the Sea-Shore on that Side;
fo, taking my Gun, a Hatchet, and my Dog, and
a larger Quantity of Powder and Shot than ufual,
with two Bisket Cakes, and a great Bunch of
Raifins in my Pouch for my Store, I began my
Journey; when I had pafs'd 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
defcry'd 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 lefs than Fifteen or
Twenty Leagues of.
I could not tell what Part of the World this
might be, otherwiſe than that I know it muſt be
Part of America, and as I concluded by all my
Obfervations, 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 acqui-
efced in the Difpofitions of Providence, which I be-
gan now to own, and to believe, order'd every
Thing for the beft; I fay, I quieted my Mind
with this, and left afflicting my felf with Fruitleſs
Wiſhes of being there.
Befides
[ 128 ]
Befides, after fome Paufe upon this Affair, I
confider'd, that if this Land was the Spanish Coaſt,
I fhould certainly, one Time or other, fee fome
Veffel país or repafs one Way or other; but
if not, then it was the Savage Coaft between the.
Spanish Country and Brafils, which are indeed the
worst of Savages; for they are Cannibals, or Men-
eaters, and fail not to murther and devour all the
humane Bodies that fall into their Hands.
With thefe Confiderations I walk'd very leifure-
ly forward, I found that Side of the Iſland where
I now was, much pleaſanter than mine, the open
or Savanna Fields fweet, adorn'd with Flowers and
Grafs, and full of very fine Woods. I faw Abun-
dance of Parrots, and fain I would have caught one,
if poffible to have kept it to be tame, and taught
it to fpeak to me. I did, after ſome Pains taking,
catch a young Parrot, for I knock'd it down with
a Stick, and having recover'd it, I brought it home;
but it was fome Years before I could make him
ſpeak: However, at laſt I taught him to call me
by my Name very familiarly: But the Acci-
dent that follow'd, tho' 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 differ'd greatly
from all the other Kinds I had met with; nor could
I fatisfy my ſelf to eat them, tho' I kill'd feveral :
But I had no Need to be ventrous; for I had no
Want of Food, and of that which was very good
too; efpecially theſe three Sorts, viz. Goats, Pid-
geons, and Turtle or Tortoife; which, added to my
Grapes, Leaden-ball Market could not have fur-
nifh'd a Table better than I, in Proportion to the
Company; and tho' my Cafe was deplorable e-
nough, yet I had great Cauſe for Thankfulneſs,
and
[129]
that I was not driven to any Extremities for Food;
but rather Plenty, even to Dainties.
I never travell❜d in this Journey above two Miles
outright in a Day, or thereabouts; but I took fo
many Turns and Returns, to ſee what diſcoveries I
could make, that I came weary enough to the Place
where I refolv'd to fit down for all Night; and
then I either repos'd my felf in a Tree, or fur-
rounded my
felf with a Row of Stakes fet upright
in the Ground, either from one Tree to another
or fo as no wild Creature could come at me, with-
out waking me.
As foon as I came to the Sea Shore, I was fur-
priz'd to ſee that I had taken up my Lot on the
worſt Side of the Ifland; for here indeed the Shore
was cover'd with innumerable Turtles, whereas on
the other Side I had found but three in a Year and
half. Here was alfo an Infinite Number of Fowls,
of many Kinds, fome which I had ſeen, and fome
which I had not feen of before, and many of them
very good Meat; but fuch as I knew not the
Names of, except thofe call'd Penguins.
I could have fhot as many as I pleas'd, but was
very ſparing of my Powder and Shot; and therefore
had more Mind to kill a fhe 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 faw me much fooner than when
I was on the Hill.
I confefs this Side of the Country was much
pleaſanter than mine, but yet I had not the leaſt
Inclination to remove; for as I was fix'd in my Ha-
bitation, it became natural to me, and I feem'd all
the while I was here, to be as it were upon a Jour-
ney, and from Home: However, I travell'd along
K
the
[130]
the Shore of the Sea, towards the East, I fuppofe
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 fhould be on the other Side of the Ifland,
Eaſt from my Dwelling, and fo round till I came
to my Poft again: Of which in its Place.
I took another Way to come back than that I
went, thinking I could eafily keep all the Ifland fo
much in my View, that I could not mifs finding
my firft Dwelling by viewing the Country; but I
found my felf miftaken; for being come about two
or three Miles, I found my felf defcended into a
very large Valley; but fo furrounded with
Hills, and thoſe Hills cover'd with Wood, that I
could not fee which was my Way by any Direction
but that of the Sun, nor even then, unleſs I knew
very well the Pofition of the Sun at that Time of
the Day.
It happen'd to my farther Misfortune, That the
Weather prov'd hazey for three or four Days,
while I was in this Valley; and not being able to
fee the Sun, I wander'd about very uncomfortably,
and at laſt was oblig'd to find out the Sea Side,
look for my Poſt, and come back the fame Way I
went; and then by eafy Journies I turn'd Homeward,
the Weather being exceeding hot, and my Gun, Am-
munition, Hatchet, and other Things very heavy.
In this Journey my Dog furpriz'd a young Kid,
and feiz'd upon it, and I running in to take hold
of it, caught it, and fav'd it alive from the Dog ;
I had a great Mind to bring it Home if I could;
for I had often been mufing, Whether it might not
be poffible to get a Kid or two, and fo raiſe a
Breed of tame Goats, which might ſupply me when
my Powder and Shot fhould be all ſpent.
I
[131]
I made a Collar to this little Creature, and with
a String which I made of fome Rope-Yarn, which
I always carry'd about me, I led him along, tho'
with fome Difficulty, till I came to my Bower,
and there I enclos'd him, and left him; for I was
very impatient to be at Home, from whence I had
been abfent above a Month.
I cannot expreſs what a Satisfactiou it was to
me, to come into my old Hutch, and lye down in
my Hamock-Bed: This little wandring Journey,
without fettled Place of Abode, had been fo un-
pleaſant to me, that my own Houſe, as I call'd it
to my ſelf, was a perfect Settlement to me, com-
par'd to that; and it rendred every Thing about
me fo comfortable, that I refolv'd I would never
go a great Way from it again, while it fhould be
my Lot to ſtay on the Ifland.
I repos'd my felf here a Week, to reft and regale my
felf 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 meer Domeſtick, and to be mighty well acquain-
ted with me. Then I began to think of the poor
Kid, which I had penn'd in within my little Cir-
cle, and refolv'd to go and fetch it Home, or give
it fome Food; accordingly I went, and found it
where I left it; for indeed it could not get out,
but almoft ftarv'd for want of Food: I went and
cut Bows of Trees, and Branches of fuch Shrubs
as I could find, and threw it over, and having fed
it, I ty'd it as I did before, to lead it away; but
it was fo tame with being hungry, that I had
no need to have ty'd it; for it follow'd me like a
Dog; and as I continually fed it, the Creature be-
came fo loving, fo gentle, and fo fond, that it be-
came from that Time one of my Domeſticks alfo,
and would never leave me afterwards.
K 2
The
[132]
The rainy Seafon of the Autumnal Equinox was
now come, and I kept the 30th. of Sept. in the fame ſo-
lemn Manner as before, being the Anniverſary of my
Landing on the Iſland, having now been there two
Years, and no more Profpect of being deliver'd,
than the firſt Day I came there. I fpent 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 miferable. I
gave humble and hearty Thanks that God had
been pleas'd to diſcover to me, even that it was
poffible 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 Humane So-
ciety by his Prefence, and the Communications of
his Grace to my Soul, fupporting, comforting, and
encouraging me to depend upon his Providence here,
and hope for his Eternal Prefence hereafter.
It was now that I began fenfibly to feel how
much more happy this Life I now led was, with
all its miferable Circumftances, than the wicked,
curfed, abominable Life I led all the paſt Part
of my Days; and now I chang'd both my Sorrows
and my Joys; my very Defires alter'd, my Affecti-
ons changed their Gufts, and my Delights were
perfectly new, from what they were at my firft Co-
ming, or indeed for the two Years paſt.
Before, as I walk'd about, either on my Hunt-
ing, or for viewing the Country; the Anguiſh of
my Soul at my Condition, would break out upon
me on a fudden, and my very Heart would die
within me, to think of the Woods, the Mountains,
the Defarts I was in; and how I was a Prifoner,
lock'd up with the Eternal Bars and Bolts of the
Ocean,
[133]
:
Ocean, in an uninhabited Wilderneſs, without Re-
demption In the midft of the greateſt Compofures
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 fit
down and figh, and look upon the Ground for an
Hour or two together; and this was ftill worſe to
me; for if I could burst out into Tears, or vent
my felf by Words, it would go off, and the Grief
having exhauſted it felf would abate.
But now I began to exercife my felf with new
Thoughts; I daily read the Word of God, and ap-
ply'd all the Comforts of it to my prefent State :
One Morning being vety fad, I open'd the Bible
upon thefe Words, I will never, never leave thee, nor
forfake thee; immediately it occurr'd, That theſe
Words were to me, Why elfe fhould they be direct-
ed in fuch a Manner, juft at the Moment when I
was mourning over my Condition, as one forfaken
of God and Man? Well then, faid I, if God does
not forfake me, of what ill Confequence can it be,
or what matters it, though the World ſhould all
forfake me, feeing on the other Hand, if I had all
the World, and fhould loſe the Favour and Blef-
fing of God, there wou'd be no Compariſon in
the Lofs.
From this Moment I began to conclude in my
Mind, That it was poffible for me to be more
happy in this forfaken 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 fomething fhock'd
my Mind at that Thought, and I durft not ſpeak
the Words: How canft thou be fueh a Hypocrite,
K 3
(faid
[134]
(faid I, even audibly) to pretend to be thankful for
a Condition, which however thou may'ft endea-
vour to be contented with, thou would'ft rather
pray heartily to be deliver'd from; fo I ftopp'd
there: But though I could not fay, I thank'd God
for being there; yet I fincerely gave Thanks to
God for opening my Eyes, by whatever afflicting
Providences, to fee the former Condition of my
Life, and to mourn for my Wickedneſs, and re-
pent. I never open'd the Bible, or ſhut it, but my
very Soul within me, blefs'd God for directing my
Friend in England, without any Order of mine, to
pack it up among my Goods; and for affifting me
afterwards to fave it out of the Wreck of the Ship.
Thus, and in this Difpofition of Mind, I began
my third Year; and tho' I have not given the Rea-
der the Trouble of fo particular Account of my
Works this Year as the firft; yet in General it
may be obferv'd, That I was very feldom idle;
but having regularly divided my Time, according
to the feveral daily Employments that were before
me, fuch as, First, My Duty to God, and the Read-
ing the Scriptures, which I conftantly fet apart
fome 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,
preferving, and cooking what I had kill'd or catch'd
for my Supply; theſe took up great Part of the
Day; alfo it is to be confidered that the middle of the
Day when the Sun was in the Zenith, the Violence
of the Heat was too great to ftir out; fo that a-
bout four Hours in the Evening was all the Time
I could be fuppos'd to work in; with this Excep-
tion, That fometimes I chang'd my Hours of
Hunting and Working, and went to work in the
Morning
[135]
Morning, and Abroad with my Gun in the Af-
ternoon.
To this fhort Time allow'd for Labour, I defire
may be added the exceeding Laborioufnefs of my
Work; the many Hours which for want of
Tools, want of Help, and want of Skill; every
Thing I did, took up out of my Time: For
Example, I was full two and forty Days making
me a Board for a long Shelf, which I wanted in
my Cave; whereas two Sawyers with their Tools,
and a Saw-Pit, would have cut fix of them out of
the fame Tree in half a Day.
My Cafe 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
Bows, and reducing it to a Log, or Piece of Tim-
ber. With inexpreffible hacking and hewing I
reduc'd both the Sides of it into Chips, till it be-
gun to be light enough to move; than I turn'd it,
and made one Side of it fmooth, and flat, as a
Board from End to End; then turning that Side
downward, cut the other Side, till I brought the
Plank to be about three Inches thick, and ſmooth
on both Sides. Any one may judge the Labour of
my Hands in fuch a Piece of Work; but Labour
and Patience carry'd me through that and many
other Things: I only obferve this in Particular,
to fhew, The Reaſon why fo much of my Time
went away with fo little Work, viz. That what
might be a little to be done with Help and Tools,
was a vast Labour, and requir'd a prodigious Time
to do alone, and by hand.
But notwithſtanding this, with Patience and
Labour I went through many Things; and indeed
every Thing that my Circumftances made neceffa-
ry to me to do, as will appear by what follows.
K 4
I was
[136]
I was now, in the Months of November and De-
cember, expecting my Crop of Barley and Rice.
The Ground I had manur'd or dug up for them
was not great; for as I obſerv'd, my Seed of each
was not above the Quantity of half a Peck;
for I had loft one whole Crop by fowing in the
dry Seafon; but now my Crop promis'd very well,
when on a fudden I found I was in Danger of lo-
fing it all again by Enemies of ſeveral Sorts, which
it was ſcarce poffible to keep from it; as Firſt, The
Goats, and wild Creatures which I call'd Hares,
who tafting the Sweetness of the Blade, lay in it
Night and Day, as foon as it came up, and eat it
fo cloſe, that it could get no Time to fhoot up in-
to Stalk.
This I faw 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 requir'd Speed. However, as my Arable Land
was but ſmall, fuited to my Crop, I got it totally
well fenc'd, in about three Weeks Time; and
ſhooting ſome of the Creatures in the Day Time,
I fet 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; fo in a little Time the
Enemies forfook the Place, and the Corn grew ve-
ry ſtrong, and well, and began to ripen apace.
But as the Beaſts ruined me before, while my
Corn was in the Blade; fo the Birds were as likely
to ruin me now, when it was in the Ear; for go-
ing along by the Place to ſee how it throve, I faw
my little Crop furrounded with Fowls of I know
not how many forts, who ſtood as it were watch-
ing till I ſhould be gone: I immediately let fly a-
mong them (for I always had my Gun with me)
I had no fooner fhot but there rofe up a a little
Could
[137]
Cloud of Fowls, which I had not feen at all, from
among the Corn it ſelf.
This touch'd me fenfibly, for I forefaw, that in
a few Days they would devour all my Hopes, that I
fhould be ftarv'd, and never be able to raiſe a Crop
at all, and what to do I could not tell: However
I refolv'd not to loofe my Corn, if poffible, tho' I
fhould watch it Night and Day. In the firſt
Place, I went among it to fee what Damage was
already done, and found they had fpoil'd a good
deal of it, but that as it was yet too Green for
them, the Lofs was not fo great, but that the Re-
mainder was like to be a good Crop if it could
be fav'd.
I ftaid by it to load my Gun, and then coming
away I could eaſily fee the Thieves fitting upon all
the Trees about me, as if they only waited till I
was gone away, and the Event proved it to be fo;
for as I walk'd off as if I was gone, I was no
fooner out of their fight, but they dropt down one
by one into the Corn again. I was fo provok'd
that I could not have Patience to ſtay till more
came on, knowing that every Grain that they eat
now, was, as it might be faid, a Peck-loaf to me
in the Confequence; but coming up to the Hedge,
I fir'd again, and kill'd three of them. This was
what I wiſh'd for; fo I took them up, and ferv'd
them, as we ſerve notorious Thieves in England,
(viz.) Hang'd them in Chains for a Terror to o-
thers; it is impoffible to imagine almoſt, that this
fhould have fuch an Effect, as it had; for the
Fowls wou'd not only not come at the Corn, but in
ſhort they forfook all that Part of the Ifland, and I
could never ſee a Bird near the Place as long as
my Scare-Crows hung there.
This
[138]
This I was very glad of, you may be fure, and a-
bout the latter end of December, which was our ſe-
cond Harvest of the Year, I reap'd my Crop.
I was fadly put to it for a Scythe or a Sicle to
cut it down, and all I could do was to make one as
well as I could out of one of the Broad Swords
or Cutlaffes, which I fav'd among the Arms out of
the Ship. However, as myfirſt Crop was but ſmall
I had no great Difficulty to cut it down; in fhort,
I reap'd it my Way, for I cut nothing off but the
Ears, and carry'd it away in a great Basket which
I had made, and fo rubb'd 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 Bufhels and half of Bar-
ley, that is to ſay, by my Guefs, for I had no Mea-
fure at that time.
However, this was a great Encouragement to
me, and I forefaw that in time, it wou'd pleaſe
God to fupply me with Bread: And yet here I was
perplex'd 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 Defire of having a good Quantity for Store,
and to fecure a conftant Supply, I refolv'd not to
taſte any of this Crop but to preſerve it all for
Seed against the next Seafon, and in the mean
time to employ all my Study and Hours of Work-
ing to accomplish this great Work of Providing
my felf with Corn and Bread.
It might be truly faid, that now I work'd for
my Bread; 'tis a little wonderful, and what I be-
lieve few People have thought much upon, (viz.) the
ftrange multitude of little Things neceffary in the
Pro-
[139]
Providing, Producing, Curing, Dreffing, Making
and Finiſhing this one Article of Bread.
I that was reduced to a meer State of Nature,
found this to my daily Difcouragement, and was
made more and more fenfible of it every Hour,
even after I had got the firft Handful of Seed-
Corn, which, as I have faid, came up unexpected-
ly, and indeed to a furprize.
First, I had no Plow to turn up the Earth, no
Spade or Shovel to dig it. Well, this I conquer'd,
by making a wooden Spade, as I obferv'd before;
but this did my Work in but a wooden manner,
and tho' it coft me a great many Days to make
it, yet for want of Iron it not only wore out the
fooner, but made my Work the harder,, and made
it be perform'd much worſe.
However this I bore with, and was content to
work it out with Patience, and bear with the bad-
nefs of the Performance. When the corn was
fow'd, I had no Harrow, but was forced to go o-
ver it my felf and drag a great heavy Bough of a
Tree over it, to Scratch it, as it may be call'd,
rather than Rake or Harrow it.
When it was growing and grown, I have ob-
ferv'd 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 Drefs it, Yeaft and Salt to make it into
Bread, and an Oven to bake it, and yet all theſe
things I did without, as fhall be obferv'd; and
yet the Corn was an ineftimable Comfort and Ad-
vantage to me too. All this, as I faid, made
every thing laborious and tedious to me, but that
there was no help for; neither was my time fo
much Lofs to me, becauſe as I had divided it, a
certain Part of it was every Day appointed to
thefe
[140]
thefe Works; and as I refolv'd to uſe none of the
Corn for Bread till I had a greater Quantity by
me, I had the next fix Months to apply my felf
wholly by Labour and Invention to furnish my
felf with Utenfils proper for the performing all the
Operations neceflary for the making the Corn
(when I had it) fit for my uſe.
But first, I was to prepare more Land, for I
had now Seed enough to fow above an Acre of
Ground. Before I did this, I had a Weeks-work
at leaſt to make me a Spade, which when it was
done was but a forry one indeed, and very heavy,
and requir'd double Labour to work with it;
however I went thro' that, and fow'd my Seed in
two large flat Pieces of Ground, as near my
Houſe as I could find them to my Mind, and
fenc'd them in with a good Hedge, the Stakes
of which were all cut of that Wood which I had
fet before, and knew it would grow, fo that in
one Year's time I knew I fhould have a Quick or
Living-Hedge, that would want but little Repair.
This Work was not fo little as to take me up lefs
than three Months, becaufe great Part of that
time was of the wet Seafon, when I could not go
abroad.
Within Doors, that is, when it rained, and I
could not go out, I found Employment on the fol-
lowing Occafions; always obferving, that all the
while I was at work I diverted my felf with talk-
ing to my Parrot, and teaching him to Speak,
and I quickly learn'd him to know his own Name,
and at laſt to ſpeak it out pretty loud POLL,
which was the firft Word I ever heard fpoken in
the Iſland by any Mouth but my own.
therefore was not my Work, but an affiftant to my
Work, for now, as I faid, I had a great Employ-
ment upon my Hands, as follows, (viz.) I had
This
long
[ 141 ]
long ſtudy'd by fome Means or other, to make
my felf fome Earthen Veffels, which indeed I
wanted forely, but knew not where to come at
them: However, confidering the Heat of the Cli-
mate, I did not doubt but if I could find out any
fuch Clay, I might botch up fome fuch Pot, as
might, being dry'd in the Sun, be hard enough,
and ftrong enough to bear handling, and to hold
any Thing that was dry, and requir'd to be kept
fo; and as this was neceffary in the preparing
Corn, Meal, &c. which was the Thing I was up-
on, I refolv'd to make fome as large as I could,
and fit only to ſtand like Jarrs 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 Pafte, what odd mifhapen 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 crack'd by the
over violent Heat of the Sun, being fet out too
haftily; and how many fell in pieces with only re-
moving, as well before as after they were dry'd ;
and in a word, how after having labour'd 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 earthern ugly things, I cannot call them Jarrs,
in about two Months Labour.
However, as the Sun bak'd theſe Two, very dry
and hard, I lifted them very gently up, and
fet 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 ftuff'd it
full of the Rice and Barley Straw, and theſe two
Pots being to ſtand always dry, I thought would
hold
[142]
hold my dry Corn, and perhaps the Meal, when
the Corn was bruiſed.
Tho' I mifcarried fo much in my Deſign for
large Pots, yet I made feveral fmaller things with
better Succeſs, fuch as little round Pots, flat
Diſhes, Pitchers and Pipkins, and any things my
Hand turn'd to, and the Heat of the Sun bak'd
them ſtrangely hard.
But all this would not anſwer my End, which
was to get an earthern Pot to hold what was Li-
quid, and bear the Fire, which none of theſe could
do. It happen'd 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 bro-
ken Piece of one of my Earthern-ware Veffels in the
Fire, burnt as hard as a Stone, and red as a Tile. I
was agreeably fuppris'd to fee it, and faid to my
felf, that certainly they might be made to burn
whole if they would burn broken.
I
This fet me to ftudying how to order my
Fire, fo as to make it burn me fome Pots.
had no Notion of a Kiln, fuch as the Potters burn
in, or of glazing them with Lead, tho' I had fome
Lead to do it with; but I plac'd three large Pip-
kins, and two or three Pots in a Pile one upon a-
nother, and plac'd my Fire-wood all round it with
a great Heap of Embers under them, I ply'd the
Fire with freſh Fuel round the out-fide, and upon
the top, till I faw the Pots in the infide red hot
quite thro', and obferv'd that they did not crack
at all; when I faw them clear red, I let them ftand
in that Heat about 5 or 6 Hours, till I found one
of them, tho' 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 Glafs if I had gone on, fo I flack'd my Fire
gradually till the Pots began to abate of the red
Co-
[143]
Colour, and watching them all Night, that I might
not let the Fire abate too faſt, in the Morning I
had three very good, I will not ſay handſome Pip-
kins; and too other Earthen Pots, as hard burnt
as cou'd be defir'd; and one of them perfectly
glaz'd with the Running of the Sand.
After this Experiment, I need not fay that I
wanted no fort of Earthern Ware for my Ufe; 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 learn'd to raiſe Paſt.
No Joy at a Thing of fo mean a Nature was e-
ver equal to mine, when I found I had made an
Earthern Pot that would bear the Fire; and I had
hardly Patience to ftay till they were cold, before
I fet one upon the Fire again, with fome Water in
it, to boil me fome Meat, which it did admirably
well; and with a Piece of a Kid, I made fome
very good Broth, though I wanted Oatmeal, and
feveral other Ingredients, requifite to make it fo
good as I would have had it been.
My next Concern was, to get me a Stone Mor-
tar, to ftamp or beat ſome Corn in; for as to the
Mill, there was no thought at arriving to that Per-
fection of Art, with one Pair of Hands. To fupply
this Want I was at a great Lofs; for of all Trades
in the World I was as perfectly unqualify'd 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 fit for a Mortar, and could find
none at all; except what was in the folid Rock,
and which I had no way to dig or cut out; nor in-
deed were the Rocks in the Ifland of Hardneſs fuf-
ficient, but were all of a fandy crumbling Stone,
which
[144]
which neither would bear the Weight of a heavy
Peſtle, or would break the Corn without filling it
with Sand; fo after a great deal of Time loft in
ſearching for a Stone, I gave it over, and refolv'd
to look out for a great Block of hard Wood, which
I found indeed much eafier; and getting one as big
as I had Strength to ftir, I rounded it, and form'd
it in the Out-fide with my Axe and Hatchet, and
then with the Help of Fire, and infinite Labour,
made a hollow Place in it, as the Indians in Brafil
make their Canoes. After this, I made a great hea-
vy Peſtle or Beater, of the Wood call'd the Iron-
wood, and this I prepar'd and laid by againſt I had
my next Crop of Corn, when I propos'd to my felf,
to grind, or rather pound my Corn into Meal to
make my Bread.
My next Difficulty was to make a Sieve, or
Search, to drefs my Meal, and to part it from the
Bran, and the Husk, without which I did not ſee
it poffible I could have any Bread. This was a
moft difficult Thing, fo much as but to think on;
for to be fure I had nothing like the neceffary
Thing to make it; I mean fine thin Canvas, or
Stuff, to fearch the Meal through. And here I
was at a full Stop for many Months; nor did I real-
ly know what to do; Linnen I had none left, but
what was meer Rags; I had Goats Hair, but nei-
ther knew I how to weave it, or ſpin it; and had I
known how, here was no Tools to work it with;
all the Remedy that I found for this, was, That at
laft I did remember I had among the Seamens
Cloaths which were fav'd out of the Ship, fome
Neckcloths of Callicoe, or Muflin; and with fome
Pieces of thefe, I made three ſmall Sieves, but
proper enough for the Work; and thus I made
hift for fome Years; how I did afterwards, I fhall
fhow in its Place.
The

284. Robinson Crusoe. Edited after the original edi-
tions by J. W. Clark, M.A. 16mo. (63 x 43 in.).
Handsomely bound by Bayntun in three-quarter
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$3.00

[145]
The baking Part was the next Thing to be con-
fider'd, and how I ſhould make Bread when I came
to have Corn; for firſt I had no Yeaft; as to that
Part, as there was no fupplying the Want, fo I
did not concern my felf much about it; But for an
Oven, I was indeed in great Pain, at length I
found out an Experiment for that alfo, which was
this; I made fome Earthern Veffels very broad, but
not deep; that is to fay, about two Foot Diame-
ter, and not above nine Inches deep; theſe I burnt
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 pav'd with
fome fquare Tiles of my own making, and burning
alfo; but I fhould not call them ſquare.
When the Fire-wood was burnt pretty much in-
to Embers, or live Coals, I drew them forward
upon this Hearth, fo as to cover it all over, and
there I let them lye, till the Hearth was very hot,
then ſweeping away all the Embers, I fet down my
Loaf, or Loaves, and whelming down the Earthen
Pot upon them, drew the Embers all round the
Out-fide of the Pot, to keep in, and add to the
Heat; and thus, as well as in the beſt Oven in the
World, I bak'd my Barley Loaves, and became in
little Time a meer Paftry-Cook into the Bargain;
for I made my ſelf ſeveral Cakes of the Rice, and
Puddings; indeed I made no Pies, neither had I
any Thing to put into them, fuppofing I had, ex-
cept the Fleſh either of Fowls or Goats.
It need not be wondred at, if all thefe Things
took me up moft Part of the third Year of my A-
bode here; for it is to be obſerv'd, That in the In-
tervals of theſe Things, I had my new Harveft and
Husbandry to manage; for I reap'd my Corn in its
Seaſon, and carry'd it Home as well as I could, and
laid it up in the Ear, in my large Baskets, till I had
L
Time
[146]
f
Time to rub it out; for I had no Floor to thraſh it
on, or Inftrument to thrafh it with.
And now indeed my Stock of Corn increafing, 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 fo much, that I had of the
Barley about twenty Bufhels, and of the Rice as
much, or more; infomuch, that now I refolv'd to
begin to uſe it freely; for my Bread had been quite
gone a great while; Alfo I refolv'd to ſee what
Quantity would be fufficient for me a whole Year,
and to fow but once a Year.
Upon the whole, I found that the forty Bufhels
of Barley and Rice, was much more than I could
confume in a Year; fo I refolv'd to fow juſt the fame
Quantity every Year, that I fow'd the laft, in
Hopes that fuch a Quantity would fully provide me
with Bread, &c.
All the while thefe Things were doing, you may
be fure my Thoughts run many times upon the
Profpect of Land which I had feen from the other
Side of the Ifland, and I was not without fecret
Wiſhes that I were on Shore there, fancying the ſee-
ing the main Land, and in an inhabited Country,
I might find fome Way or other to convey my-
felf farther, and perhaps at laft find fome Means
of Eſcape.
But all this while I made no Allowance for the
Dangers of fuch a Condition, and how I might fall
into the Hands of Savages, and perhaps fuch as I
might have Reaſon to think far worſe than the Li-
ons and Tigers of Africa. That if I once came in-
to their Power, I fhould run a Hazard more than a
thouſand to one of being kill'd, and perhaps of be-
ing eaten; for I had heard that the People of the
Carribean Coaft were Canibals, or Man-eaters; and
I knew by the Latiude that I could not be far off
from
[147]
from that Shore. That fuppofe they were not Cani-
bals, yet that they might kill me, as many Europeans
who had fallen into their Hands had been ferv'd,
even when they had been ten or twenty together;
much more I that was but one, and could make lit-
tle or no Defence: All theſe Things, I fay, which I
ought to have confider'd well of, and did caft up in
my Thoughts afterwards, yet took up none of my
Apprehenfions at firft; but my Head run mightily
upon the Thought of getting over to the Shore.
Now I wiſh'd for my Boy Xury, and the long
Boat, with the Shoulder of Mutton Sail, with
which I fail'd above a thoufand Miles on the Coaft
of Africk; but this was in vain. Then I thought I
would go and look at our Ship's Boat, which, as I
have faid, was blown up upon the Shore, a great
Way in the Storm, when we were firſt caft away.
She lay almoſt where ſhe did at firſt, but not quite;
and was turn'd 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 launch'd her into the Water, the Boat would
have done well enough, and I might have gone
back into the Brafils with her eafily 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 Ifland: However, I went to the
Woods, and cut Levers and Rollers, and brought
them to the Boat, refolv'd to try what I could do,
ſuggeſting to my felf, That if I could but turn her
down, I might eafily repair the Damage fhe had
receiv'd, and ſhe would be a very good Boat, and
I might go to Sea in her very eafily.
I fpar'd no Pains indeed, in this Piece of fruitless
Toil, and ſpent, I think, three or four Weeks a-
L 2
bout
[148]
bout it; at last finding it impoffible to heave it up
with my little Strength, I fell to digging away the
Sand, to undermine it, and fo to make it fall down,
fetting Pieces of Wood to thrust and guide it right
in the Fall.
But when I had done this, I was unable to ftir it
up again, or to get under it, much leſs to move it
forward, towards the Water; fo I was forc'd to
give it over; and yet, though I gave over the
Hopes of the Boat, my defire to venture over for
the Main increaſed, rather than decreaſed, as the
Means for it ſeem'd impoffible.
This at length put me upon thinking, Whether
it was not poffible to make my ſelf a Canoe, or Peria-
gua, fuch as the Natives of thoſe Climates make, even
without Tools, or, as I might fay, without Hands,
viz. of the Trunk of a great Tree. This I not
only thought poffible, but eafy, and pleaſed my felf
extreamly 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 confi-
dering 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 furmount, than
all the Confequences of Want of Tools could be to
them; for what was it to me, That when I had
chofen a vaſt Tree in the Woods, I might with
much Trouble cut it down, if after I might be a-
ble with my Tools to hew and dub the Out-fide
into the proper Shape of a Boat, and burn or cut
out the In-fide to make it hollow, fo to make a Boat
of it: If after all this, I must leave it juft 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 leaft Reflection upon my Mind of my Circum-
ftance,
[149]
ftance, while I was making this Boat; but I ſhould
have immediately thought how I fhould get it in-
to the Sea; but my Thoughts were fo intent upon
my Voyage over the Sea in it, that I never once
confider'd how I fhould get it off of the Land; and
it was really in its own Nature more eafy for me
to guide it over forty five Miles of Sea, than about
forty five Fathom of Land, where it lay, to ſet
it a float 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 pleas'd my felf with the Defign, with-
out determining whether I was ever able to under-
take it; not but that the Difficulty of launching
my
Boat came often into my Head; but I put a
ſtop to my own Enquiries into it, by this fooliſh
Anfwer which I gave my felf, Let's first make it, I'll
warrant I'll find fome Way or other to get it along, when
'tis done.
This was a moft prepofterous Method; but the
Eagernefs of my Fancy prevail'd, and to work I
went. I fell'd a Cedar Tree: I queſtion much
whether Solomon ever had fuch a One for the Build-
ing of the Temple at Jerufalem. It was five Foot
ten Inches Diameter at the lower Part next the
Stump, and four Foot eleven Inches Diameter at
the End of twenty two Foot, after which it lef-
fen'd for a while, and then parted into Branches :
It was not without infinite Labour that I fell'd
this Tree I was twenty Days hacking and hew-
ing at it at the Bottom. I was fourteen more get-
ting the Branches and Limbs, and the vaſt ſpread-
ing Head of it cut off, which I hack'd and hew'd
through with Axe and Hatchet, and inexpreffible
Labour After this, it coft me a Month to ſhape
it, and dub it to a Proportion, and to fomething
like the Bottom of a Boat, that it might ſwim up-
L 3
right
[150]
right as it ought to do. It coft me near three
Months more to clear the In-fide, and work it out
fo, as to make an exact Boat of it: This I did in-
deed without Fire, by meer Malett and Chiffel, and
by the dint of hard Labour, till I had brought it
to be a very handfome Periagua, and big enough to
have carry'd fix and twenty Men, and confequently
big enough to have carry'd me and all my Cargo.
When I had gone through this Work, I was ex-
tremely delighted with it. The Boat was really
much bigger than I ever faw a Canoe, or Peria-
gua, that was made of one Tree, in my Life. Ma-
ny a weary Stroke it had coft, you may be fure;
and there remain'd nothing but to get it into the
Water; and had I gotten it into the Water, I make
no queſtion but I fhould have began the maddeft
Voyage, and the moſt unlikely to be perform'd,
that ever was undertaken.
But all my Devices to get it into the Water
fail'd me; tho' they coft me infinite Labour too.
It lay about one hundred Yards from the Water,
and not more: But the firft Inconvenience was, it
was up Hill towards the Creek; well, to take a-
way this Difcouragement, I refolv'd to dig into
the Surface of the Earth, and fo make a Declivity:
This I begun, and it coft me a prodigious deal of
Pains; but who grutches Pains, that have their
Deliverance in View: But when this was work'd
through, and this Difficulty manag'd, it was ftill
much at one; for I could no more ftir the Canoe,
than I could the other Boat.
Then I meafur'd the Diſtance of Ground, and
refolv'd to cut a Dock, or Canal, to bring the Wa-
ter up to the Canoe, feeing I could not bring the
Canoe down to the Water: Well, I began this
Work, and when I began to enter into it, and cal-
culate how deep it was to be dug, how broad,
how
[151]
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, fo that at the upper End, it muſt have
been at leaſt twenty Foot Deep; fo at length, tho'
with great Reluctancy, I gave this Attempt o-
ver alfo.
This griev'd me heartily, and now I faw, tho'
too late, the Folly of beginning a Work before we
count the Coft; and before we judge rightly of
our own Strength to go through with it.
In the middle of this Work, I finiſh'd my fourth
Year in this Place, and kept my Anniverſary with
the fame Devotion, and with as much Comfort as
ever before; for by a conftant Study, and ferious.
Application of the Word of God, and by the Af-
fiftance of his Grace, I gain'd a different Know-
ledge from what I had before. I entertain'd diffe-
rent Notions of Things. I look'd now upon the
World as a Thing remote, which I had nothing to
do with, no Expectation from, and indeed no De-
fires about In a Word, I had nothing indeed to
do with it, nor was ever like to have; ſo I thought
it look'd as we may perhaps look upon it hereafter,
viz. as a Place I had liv'd in, but was come out of
it; and well might I fay, as Father Abraham to
Dives, Between me aud thee is a great Gulph fix'd.
In the firft Place, I was remov'd from all the
Wickedness of the World here. I had neither the
Luft of the Flesh, the Luft 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 Mannor; or if I pleas'd, I might call my
felf King,or Emperor over the whole Country which
I had Poffeffion of. There were no Rivals. I had
no Competitor, none to diſpute Sovereignty or
L4
Com-
[152]
Command with me. I might have rais'd Ship
Loadings of Corn; but I had no ufe for it; fo I let
as little grow as I thought enough for my Occafion.
I had Tortoife 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 cur'd into Raifins, to have loaded that Fleet,
when they had been built.
But all I could make ufe of, was, All that was
valuable. I had enough to eat, and to ſupply my
Wants, and, what was all the reft to me? If I
kill'd more Fleſh than I could eat, the Dog muft eat
it, or the Vermin. If I fow'd more Corn than I
could eat, it muſt be ſpoil'd. The Trees that I
cut down, were lying to rot on the Ground. I
could make no more uſe of them than for Fewel:
and that I had no Occafion for, but to dreſs
my Food.
In a Word, The Nature and Experience of
Things dictated to me upon juft Reflection, That
all the good Things of this World, are no farther
good to us, than they are for our Ufe; and that
whatever we may heap up indeed to give others,
we enjoy just as much as we can ufe, and no more.
The moft covetous griping Mifer in the World
would have been cur'd of the Vice of Covetouſneſs,
if he had been in my Cafe; for I poffefs'd infinitely
more than I knew what to do with. I had no room
for Defire, 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 Par-
cel of Money, as well Gold as Silver, about thirty
fix Pounds Sterling :
Alas! There the nafty
forry uſeleſs Stuff lay; I had no manner of Buſineſs
for it; and I often thought with my ſelf, That I
would have given a Handful of it for a Groſs of
Tobacco-
[153]
Tobacco-Pipes, or for a Hand-Mill to grind my
Corn; nay, I would have given it all for Sixpenny-
worth of Turnip and Carrot Seed out of England, or
for a Handful of Peafe and Beans, and a Bottle of
Ink: As it was, I had not the leaſt Advantage by it,
or Benefit from it; but there it lay in a Drawer,
and grew mouldy with the Damp of the Cave, in
the wet Seafon; and if I had had the Drawer full of
Diamonds, it had been the fame Cafe; and they
had been of no manner of Value to me, becauſe of
no Ufe.
I had now brought my State of Life to be much
eaſier in it ſelf than it was at firft, and much eaſier
to my Mind, us well as to my Body. I frequently
fat down to my Meat with Thankfulneſs, and ad-
mir'd the Hand of God's Providence, which had
thus ſpread my Table in the Wilderneſs. I learn'd
to look more upon the bright Side of my Condi-
tion, and lefs upon the dark Side; and to confider
what I enjoy'd, rather than what I wanted; and
this gave me fometimes fuch fecret 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 ſome-
thing that he has not given them: All our Difcon-
tents about what we want, appear'd to me, to
fpring from the Want of Thankfulneſs for what
we have.
Another Reflection was of great Ufe to me, and
doubtless would be fo to any one that fhould fall
into fuch Diftrefs 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 order'd the Ship to be
caft up nearer to the Shore, where I not only could
come
[154]
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 Gun-Powder and Shot
for getting my Food.
I ſpent whole Hours, I may fay whole Days, in
repreſenting to my felf in the moſt lively Colours,
how I muit have acted, if I had got nothing out
of the Ship. How I could not have fo much as
got any Food, except Fish and Turtles; and that
as it was long before I found any of them, I muſt
have perish'd firft. That I fhould have liv'd, if I
had not perish'd, like a meer Savage. That if I
had kill'd a Goat, or a Fowl, by any Contrivance,
I had no way to flea 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 Beaft.
Thefe Reflections made me very fenfible of the
Goodneſs of Providence to me, and very thankful
for my preſent Condition, with all its Hardſhips.
and Misfortunes: And this Part alfo I cannot but
recommend to the Reflection of thofe, who are apt
in their Mifery to fay, Is any Affliction like mine!
Let them confider, How much worſe the Cafes of
fome People are, and their Cafe might have been,
if Providence had thought fit.
I had another Reflection which affifted me alfo
to comfort my Mind with Hopes; and this was,
comparing my prefent Condition with what I had
deferv'd, and had therefore Reaſon to expect from
the Hand of Providence. I had liv'd a dreadful
Life, perfectly deftitute of the Knowledge and Fear
of God. I had been well inftructed by Father and
Mother; neither had they been wanting to me, in
their early Endeavours, to infufe a religious Awe
of God into my Mind, a Senſe of my Duty, and
of
[155]
of me.
of what the Nature and End of my Being, requir'd
But alas! falling early into the Seafaring
Life, which of all the Lives is the most deftitute
of the Fear of God, though his Terrors are al-
ways before them; I fay, falling early into the
Seafaring Life, and into Seafaring Company, all that
little Senfe of Religion which I had entertain'd,
was laugh'd out of me by my Meſs-Mates, by a
harden'd defpifing of Dangers; and the Views of
Death, which grew habitual to me; by my long
Abfence from all Manner of Opportunities to con-
verfe with any thing but what was like my ſelf,
or to hear any thing that was good, or tended to-
wards it.
So void was I of every Thing that was good, or
of the leaft Senfe of what I was, or was to be,
that in the greateſt Deliverances I enjoy'd, fuch
as my Eſcape from Sallee; my being taken up by
the Portugueſe Maſter of the Ship; my being plan-
ted fo well in the Brafils; my receiving the Cargo
from England, and the like; I never had once the
Word Thank God, fo 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 fo much as to
fay, Lord have Mercy upon me; no nor to mention
the Name of God, unless it was to fwear by, and
blafpheme it.
I had terrible Reflections upon my Mind for
many Months, as I have already obferv'd, on the
Account of my wicked and hardned Life paft; and
when I look'd about me and confidered what parti-
cular Providences had attended me fince my com-
ing into this Place, and how God had dealt boun-
tifully with me; had not only puniſhed me leſs than
my Iniquity had deferv'd, but had fo plentifully pro-
vided for me; this gave me great hopes that my
Repen-
[156]
Repentance was accepted, and that God hath yet
Mercy in ſtore for me.
With theſe Reflections I work'd my Mind up,
not only to Refignation to the Will of God in the
prefent Difpofition of my Circumftances; but even
to a fincere Thankfulnes for my Condition, and that
I who was yet a living Man, ought not to com-
plain, feeing I had not the due Puniſhment of my
Sins; that I enjoy'd fo many Mercies which I had
no reafon to have expected in that Place; that I
ought never more to repine at my Condition but to
rejoyce, and to give daily Thanks for that daily
Bread, which nothing but a Croud of Wonders
could have brought. That I ought to confider I
had been fed even by Miracle, even as great as that
of feeding Elijah by Ravens; nay, by a long Se-
ries of Miracles, and that I could hardly have
nam'd a Place in the unhabitable Part of the
World where I could have been caft more to my
Advantage: A Place, where as I had no Society,
which was my Affliction on one Hand, fo I found
no ravenous Beaſt, no furious Wolves or Tygers
to threaten my Life, no venomous Creatures or
poiſonous, which I might feed on to my Hurt, no
Savages to murther and devour me.
In a word, as my Life was a Life of Sorrow, one
way, fo 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 Sence of God's Goodnefs to
me, and Care over me in this Condition, be my
daily Confolation; and after I did make a juft
Improvement of theſe things, I went away and
was no more fad.
I had now been here fo long, that many Things
which I brought on Shore for my Help, were either
quite gone, or very much wafted and near ſpent.
My
[157]
My Ink, as I obferved, had been gone ſome time,
all but a very little, which I eek'd out with Wa-
ter a little and a little, till it was fo pale it ſcarce
left any Appearance of black upon the Paper: As
long as it lafted, I made ufe of it to minuite down
the Days of the Month on which any remarka-
able Thing happen'd to me, and firft by cafting up
Times paft: I remember that there was a ſtrange
Concurrence of Days, in the various Provi-
dences which befel me; and which, if I had been
fuperftitioufly inclin'd to obferve Days as Fatal or
Fortunate, I might have had Reafon to have look'd
upon with a great deal of Curiofity.
Firſt I had obſerved, that the fame Day that I
broke away from my Father and my Friends, and
run away to Hull, in order to go to Sea; the fame
Day afterwards I was taken by the Sally Man of
War, and made a Slave.
The fame Day of the Year that I eſcaped out of
the Wreck of that Ship in Yarmouth Rodes, that
fame Day-Year afterwards I made my eſcape from
Sallee in the Boat.
The fame Day of the Year I was born on (viz.)
the 30th of September, that fame Day, I had my
Life fo miraculoufly faved 26 Year after, when I
was caft on Shore in this Iſland, ſo that my wicked
Life, and my folitary Life begun both on a Day.
The next Thing to my Ink's, being wafted, was
that of my Bread, I mean the Bisket which I
brought out of the Ship, this I had husbanded to
the laft degree, allowing my felf 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 obferved, next to miraculous.
My
[158]
My Cloaths began to decay too mightily: As to
Linnen, I had had none a good while, except fome
chequer'd Shirts which I found in the Chefts of the
other Seamen, and which I carefully preferved, be-
cauſe many times I could bear no other Cloaths
on but a Shirt; and it was a very great help to me
that I had among all the Men's Cloaths of the Ship
almoſt three dozen of Shirts. There were alſo fe-
veral thick Watch Coats of the Seamens, which
were left indeed, but they were too hot to wear;
and tho' it is true, that the Weather was fo violent
hot, that there was no need of Cloaths, yet I could
not go quite naked; no, tho' I had been inclin'd to
it, which I was not, nor could not abide the thoughts
of it, tho' I was all alone.
¿
The Reaſon why I could not go quite naked,
was, I could not bear the heat of the Sun fo
well when quite naked, as with ſome Cloaths on;
nay, the very Heat frequently bliftered my Skin;
whereas with a Shirt on, the Air itſelf made fome
Motion and whiſtling under that Shirt was twofold
cooler than without it, no more could I ever bring
my felf to go out in the heat of Sun, without a
Cap or a Hat; the heat of the Sun beating with
fuch Violence as it does in that Place, would give
me the Head-ach preſently, by darting fo directly
on my Head, without a Cap or Hat on, fo that I could
not bear it, whereas, if I put on my Hat, it would
prefently go away.
Upon thofe Views I began to confider about put-
ting the few Rags I had, which I call'd Cloaths,
into fome Order; I had worn out all the Waft-
coats I had, and my Bufinefs was now to try if I
could not make Jackets out of the great Watch-
Coats which I had by me, and with fuch other
Materials as I had, fo I fet to Work a Taylering,
or rather indeed a Botching, for I made moſt
piteous
[159]
piteous Work of it. However, I made fhift to
make two or three new Waftcoats, which I hoped
wou'd ferve me a great while; as for Breeches or
Drawers, I made but a very forry fhift indeed, till
afterward.
I have mentioned that I faved the Skins of all
the Creatures that I kill'd, I mean four-footed ones,
and I had hung them up ftretch'd out with Sticks.
in the Sun, by which means fome of them were fo
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 out Side to fhoor off the Rain; and
this I perform'd fo well, that after this I made me
a Suit of Cloaths wholly of thefe Skins, that is to
fay, a Waftcoat, 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 Tayler.
However, they were fuch as I made very good
fhift with; and when I was abroad, if it happen'd
to rain, the Hair of my Waftcoat and Cap being
outermoft, 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 Brafils, 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; befides, as
I was oblig'd to be much abroad, it was a moſt
ufeful thing to me, as well for the Rains as the
Heats. I took a world of Pains at it, and was a
great while before I could make any thing likely to
hold; nay, after I thought I had hit the Way, I
fpoil'd 2 or 3 before I made one to my Mind; but
at
[160]
at laft I made one that afwer'd 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 juft over my Head, which wou'd
not do. However, at laft, as I faid, I made
one to anſwer, and covered it with Skins, the Hair
upwards, fo that it caft off the Rains like a Pent-
houfe, and kept off the Sun fo effectually, that I
could walk out in the hotteft of the Weather with
greater Advantage than I could before in the cooleſt,
and when I had no need of it, cou'd cloſe it and
carry it under my Arm.
Thus I liv'd mighty comfortably, my Mind be-
ing entirely compofed by refigning to the Will of
God, and throwing my felf wholly upon the Dif
pofal of his Providence. This made my Life bet-
ter than fociable, for when I began to regret the
want of Converſation, I would ask my felf whether
thus converfing mutually with my own Thoughts,
and, as I hope I may fay, with even God himſelf
by Ejaculations, was not better than the utmoſt
Enjoyment of humane Society in the World.
I cannot fay that after this, for five Years, any
extraordinary thing happened to me, but I liv'd on
in the fame Courfe, in the fame Pofture and Place,
juft as before; the chief things I was employ'd in,
beſides my yearly Labour of planting my Barley and
Rice, and curing my Raifins, of both which I al-
ways kept up juft enough to have fufficient Stock
of one Year's Provifions beforehand. I fay, befides
this yearly Labour, and my daily Labour of going
out with my Gun, I had one Labour to make me a
Canoe, which at laft I finiſhed. So that by dig-
ging a Canal to it of fix Foot wide, and four Foot
deep, I brought it into the Creek, almoſt half a
Mile. As for the firft, which was ſo vaſtly big,
as
[ 161 ]
as I made it without confidering before-hand, as I
ought to do, how I ſhould be able to launch it; fo
never being able to bring it to the Water, or bring
the Water to it, I was oblig'd to let it lye where it
was, as a Memorandum to teach me to be wifer
next Time: Indeed, the next Time, tho' 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 faw
it was practicable at laft, I never gave it over; and
though I was near two Years about it, yet I never
grutch'd my Labour, in Hopes of having a Boat
to go off to Sea at laft.
However, though my little Periagau was fi-
nifh'd; yet the Size of it was not at all anfwerable
to the Defign which I had in View, when I made
the firft; I mean, Of venturing over to the Terra
Firma, where it was above forty Miles broad; ac-
cordingly, the Smallneſs of my Boat affiifted to put
an End to that Defign, 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, croffing as I have al-
ready defcrib'd it, over the Land; fo the Diſcove-
ries I made in that little Journey, made me very ea-
ger to fee other Parts of the Coaft; and now I had
a Boat, I thought of nothing but failing round the
Ifland.
For this Purpoſe, that I might do every Thing
with Difcretion and Confideration, I fitted up a
little Maft to my Boat, and made a Sail to it, out
of fome of the Pieces of the Ship's Sail, which lay
in ftore; and of which I had a great Stock by me.
Having fitted my Maft and Sail, and try'd the
Boat, I found fhe would fail very well: Then I
made little Lockers, or Boxes, at either End of my
Boat, to put Provifions, Neceffaries and Ammuni-
M
tion,
[162]
tion, &c. into, to be kept dry, either from Rain, or
the Sprye of the Sea; and a little long hollow Place I
cut in the In-fide of the Boat, where I could lay
my Gun, making a Flap to hang down over it to
keep it dry.
I fix'd my Umbrella alfo in a Step at the Stern,
like a Maſt, to ftand over my Head, and keep the
Heat of the Sun off of me like an Auning; 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 laft being eager to view
the Circumference of my little Kingdom, I refolv'd
upon my Tour, and accordingly I victuall'd my
Ship for the Voyage, putting in two Dozen of my
Loaves (Cakes I fhould rather call them) of Bar-
ley Bread, an Earthen Pot full of parch'd Rice, a
Food I eat 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
mention'd before, I had fav'd out of the Seamen's
Chefts; theſe I took, one to lye upon, and the o-
ther to cover me in the Night.
It was the fixth of November, in the fixth Year
of my Reign, or my Captivity, which you pleaſe,
That I fet out on this Voyage, and I found it much
longer than I expected; for though the Ifland it felf
was not very large, yet when I came to the East
Side of it, I found a great Ledge of Rocks lye out
above two Leagues into the Sea, fome above Wa-
ter, fome under it; and beyond that, a Shoal of
Sand, lying dry half a League more; fo that I was
oblig'd to go a great Way out to Sea to double the
Point.
When firſt I diſcover'd them, I was going to give
over my Enterprife, and come back again, not
knowing how far it might oblige me to go out to
Sea; and above all, doubting how I fhould get back
again;
་
[163]
again; fo I came to an Anchor; for I had made
me a kind of an Anchor with a Piece of a broken
Graplin, which I got out of the Ship.
Having fecur'd my Boat, I took my Gun, and
went on Shore, climbing up upon a Hill, which
feem'd to over-look that Point, where I faw the
full Extent of it, and refolv'd to venture.
In my viewing the Sea from that Hill where I
ftood, I perceiv'd a ftrong, and indeed, a moft fu-
rious Current, which Run to the East, and even
came clofe to the Point; and I took the more No-
tice of it, becauſe I ſaw there might be fome Dan-
ger; that when I came into it, I might be carry'd
out to Sea by the Strength of it, and not be able
to make the Ifland again; and indeed, had I not
gotten firft up upon this Hill, I believe it would
have been fo; for there was the fame Current on
the other Side the fland, only, that it fet off at
a farther Diſtance; and I faw there was a ſtrong
Eddy under the Shore; fo I had nothing to do but
to get in out of the firft Current, and I fhould pre-
fently be in an Eddy.
I lay here, however, two Days; becauſe the
Wind blowing pretty freſh at E. S. E. and that
being juft contrary to the faid Current, made a
great Breach of the Sea upon the Point; fo 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 ha-
ving abated over Night, the Sea was calm, and I
ventur'd; but I am a warning Piece again, to all
rafh and ignorant Pilots; for no fooner was I come
to the Point, when even I was not my Boat's
Length from the Shore, but I found my ſelf in a
great Depth of Water, and a Current like the Sluice
of a Mill: It carry'd my Boat a long with it
with
M 2
[164]
with fuch Violence, That all I could do, could
not keep her ſo much as on the Edge of it; but I
found it hurry'd 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 fignify'd nothing, and now I
began to give my felf over for loft; for as the Cur-
rent was on both Sides the Iſland, I knew in a few
Leagues Diſtance they muft joyn again, and then
I was irrecoverably gone; nor did I fee any Poffi-
bility of avoiding it; fo that I had no Profpect be-
fore me but of Perifhing; not by the Sea, for that
was calm enough, but of ftarving for Hunger. I
had indeed found a Tortoife on the Shore, as big
almoſt as I could lift, and had tofs'd it into the
Boat; and I had a great Jar of freſh Water, that is
to fay, one of my Earthen Pots; but what was all
this to being driven into the vaſt Ocean, where to
be fure, there was no Shore, no main Land, or I-
fland, for a thoufand Leagues at leaſt.
And now I faw how eaſy it was for the Provi-
dence of God to make the moſt miſerable Condi-
tion Mankind could be in worse. Now I look'd
back upon my defolate folitary Iſland, as the moſt
pleaſant Place in the World, and all the Happineſs
my Heart could wish for, was to be but there a-
gain. I ftretch'd out my Hands to it with eager
Wiſhes. O happy Defart, faid I, I ſhall never fee
thee more. O miferable Creature, faid I, whe-
ther am I going: Then I reproach'd my felf with
my unthankful Temper, and how I had repin'd at
my folitary Condition; and now what would I give
to be on Shore there again. Thus we never fee
the true State of our Condition, till it is illuftrated
to us by its Contraries; nor know how to value
what we enjoy, but by the want of it. It is fcarce
poffible to imagine the Confternation I was now in,
being
[165]
being driven from my beloved Iſland (for fo it ap-
pear'd to me now to be) into the wide Ocean, al-
moft two Leagues, and in the utmoft Defpair of
ever recovering it again. However, I work'd hard,
till indeed my Strength was almoft exhauſted, and
kept my Boat as much to the Northward, that is,
towards the Side of the Current which the Eddy
lay on, as poffibly I could; when about Noon, as
the Sun pafs'd the Meridian, I thought I felt a lit-
tle Breeze of Wind in my Face, fpringing up from
the S. S. E. This chear'd my Heart a little, and
efpecially 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 haizy Weather interven'd,
I had been undone another Way too; for I had no
Compafs on Board, and fhould never have known
how to have fteer'd towards the Ifland, if I had
but once loft Sight of it; but the Weather conti-
nuing clear, I apply'd' my felf to get up my Maft
again, fpread my Sail, ftanding away to the North,
as much as poffible, to get out of the Current.
Juft as I had fet my Maft and Sail, and the Boat
began to ftretch away, I faw even by the Clearneſs
of the Water, fome Alteration of the Current was
near; for where the Current was fo ftrong, the Wa-
ter 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 fome Rocks; thefe Rocks I found caus'd the
Current to part again, and as the main Srrefs of it
ran away more Southerly, leaving the Rocks to the
North-East; fo the other return'd by the Repulfe of
rhe Rocks, and made a ftrong Eddy, which run
back again to the North-West, with a very fharp
Stream.
M 3
They
[166]
They who know what it is to have a Reprieve
brought to them upon the Ladder, or to be refcu-
ed from Thieves juſt a going to murther them, or,
who have been in fuch like Extremities, may gueſs
what my prefent Surpriſe of Joy was, and how glad-
ly I put my Boat into the Stream of this Eddy, and
the Wind alfo frefhning, how gladly I fpread my
Sail to it, running chearfully before the Wind, and
with a ſtrong Tide or Eddy under Eoot.
This Eddy carryed me about a League in my
Way back again directly towards the Ifland, but
about two Leagues more to the Northward than
the Current which carried me away at firft; fo that
when I came near the Ifland, I found my felf open
to the Northern Shore of it, that is to fay, the o-
ther End of the Ifland oppofite to that which I
went out from.
When I had made fomething more than a League
of Way by the help of this Current or Eddy, I fouud
it was ſpent and ferv'd 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 a-
bout a League on the other Side. I fay between theſe
two, in the wake of the Iſland, I found the Water at
leaſt ſtill and running no Way, and having ftill a
Breeze of Wind fair for me, I kept on fteering direct-
ly for the Iſland, tho' not making fuch freſh Way as
I did before.
About four a-Clock in the Evening, being then
within about a League of the Iſland, I found the
Point of the Rocks which occafioned this Diſaſter,
ftretching out as is defcrib'd before to the South-
ward, and cafting off the Current more Southward-
ly, had of Courſe made another Eddy to the North,
and this I found very strong, but not directly fetting
the Way my Courfe lay which was due Weft, but
almoft
[167]
almoſt full North. However having a freſh Gale,
I ftretch'd a-croſs this Eddy flanting North-weft,
and in about an Hour came within about a Mile of
the Shore, where it being ſmooth Water, I foon got
to Land.
When I was on Shore I fell on my Knees and gave
God Thanks for my Deliverance, refolving to lay
afide all Thoughts of my Deliverance by my Boat,
and refreſhing my felf with fuch Things as I had,
I brought my Boat clofe to the Shore in a little
Cove that I had ſpy'd under fome Trees, and lay'd
me down to fleep, being quite ſpent with the La-
bour and Fatigue of the Voyage.
I was now at a great Lofs which Way to get
Home with my Boat, I had run fo much Hazard,
and knew too much the Cafe to think of attempt-
ing 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;
fo I only refolved in the Morning to make my Way
Weftward along the Shore and to fee if there was
no Creek where I might lay up my Frigate in Safe-
ty, fo as to have her again if I wanted her; in about
three Mile or thereabout coafting the Shore, I
came to a very good Inlet or Bay about a Mile over,
which narrowed till it came to a very little Rivulet
or Brook, where I found a very convenient Harbour
for my Boat and where the lay as if ſhe had been in
a little Dock made on Purpoſe for her. Here I
put in, and having ftow'd my Boat very fafe, I went
on Shore to look about me and fee where I was.
I foon found I had but a little paft by the Place
where I had been before, when I travell'd on Foot
to that Shore; fo taking nothing out of my Boat,
but my Gun and my Umbrella, for it was ex-
ceeding hot, I began my March: The Way was
comfortable enough after fuch a Voyage as I had
M 4
been
[ 168 ]
been upon, and I reach'd my old Bower in the
Evening, where I found every thing ftanding as I
left it; for I always kept it in good Order, be-
ing, as I faid 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 Surprize I muſt be in, when
I was wak'd out of my Sleep by a Voice calling mẹ
by my Name feveral times, Robin, Robin, Robin
Crufoe, poor Robin Crusoe, where are you Robin Cru-
Joe? Where are you? Where have you been?
I was fo dead afleep at firft, being fatigu'd with
Rowing, or Paddling, as it is call'd, the firſt
Part of the Day, and with walking the latter Part,
that I did not wake thoroughly, but dozing be-
tween fleeping and waking, thought I dream'd
that fome Body fpoke to me: But as the Voice
continu'd to repeat Robin Crusoe, Robin Crusoe, at
laft I began to wake more perfectly, and was at
firft dreadfully frighted, and ftarted up in the ut-
moft Confternation: But no fooner were my Eyes
open, but I faw my Poll fitting 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 ufed to talk to him, and teach him; and he
had learn'd it fo perfectly, that he would fit upon my
Finger, and lay his Bill cloſe to my Face, and cry,
Poor Robin Crufoe, Where are you? Where have you
been? How come you here? And fuch things as I had
taught him.
However, even though I knew it was the Parrot,
and that indeed it could be no Body elfe, it was
a good while before I could compofe my felf:
Firſt, I was amazed how the Creature got thither,
and then, how he ſhould juſt keep about the Place,
and no where elfe: But as I was well fatisfied it
conld
[169]
could be no Body but honeſt Poll, I got it over ;
and holding out my Hand, and calling him by his
Name Poll, the fociable Creature came to me,
and fat upon my Thumb, as he uſed to do, and
continu'd talking to me, Poor Robin Crufoe, and
how did I come here? and where had I been? juft as
if he had been overjoy'd to fee me again; and fo
I carry'd him Home along with me.
I had now had enough of rambling to Sea for
fome time, and had enough to do for many Days
to fit ftill, 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 Ifland; but I
knew not how it was practicable to get it about
as to the Eaſt Side of the Ifland, which I had
gone round; I knew well enough there was no ven-
turing that Way; my very heart would fhrink, and
my very Blood run chill but to think of it: And
as to the other Side of the Ifland, I did not know
how it might be there; but fuppofing the Current
ran with the fame Force againſt the Shore at the
Eaſt as it pafs'd by it on the other, I might run
the fame Risk of being driven down the Stream,
and carry'd by the Iſland, as I had been before,
of being carry'd away from it; fo with theſe
Thoughts I contented my felf to be without
any Boat, though it had been the Product of fo
many Months Labour to make it, and of fo many
more to get it unto the Sea.
In this Government of mf Temper, I remain'd
near a Year, liv'd a very edate retir'd Life, as
you may well fuppofe; and my Thoughts being
very much compofed as to my Condition, and
fully comforted in refigning my felf to the Dif
pofitions of Providence, I thought I liv'd really
very happily in all things, except that of So-
ciety.
I im-
[170]
I improv'd my felf in this time in all the mecha-
nick Exerciſes which my Neceffities put me upon
applying my ſelf to, and I believe cou'd, upon Occa-
fion, make a very good Carpenter, eſpecially confi-
dering how few Tools I had.
Befides this, I arriv'd at an unexpected Perfecti-
on in my Earthen Ware, and contriv'd well enough
to make them with a Wheel, which I found infi-
nitely eafyer and better; becauſe I made things
round and fhapable, which before were filthy
things indeed to look on. But I think I was never
more vain of my own Performance, or more joyful
for any thing I found out, than for my being able
to make a Tobacco-Pipe. And tho' it was a ve-
ry ugly clumſy thing, when it was done, and only
burnt red like other Earthen Ware, yet as it was
hard and firm, and would draw the Smoke, I was
exceedingly comforted with it, for I had been al-
ways uſed to ſmoke, and there were Pipes in the
Ship, but I forgot them at firſt, not knowing that
there was Tobacco in the Ifland; and afterwards,
when I fearch'd the Ship again, I could not come at
any Pipes at all.
home in.
In my Wicker Ware alſo I improved much, and
made abundance of neceffary Baskets, as well as
my Invention fhew'd me, tho' not very handfome,
yet they were fuch as were very handy and conve-
nient for my laying things up in, or fetching things
For Example, if I kill'd a Goat abroad,
I could hang it up in a Tree, flea 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 reft be-
hind me.
Alfo large deep Baskets were my Recei-
vers for my Corn, which I always rubb'd out as
foon
[171]
foon as it was dry, and cured, and kept it in great
Baskets.
I began now to perceive my Powder abated con-
fiderably, and this was a Want which it was im-
poffible for me to ſupply, and I began feriouſly to
confider what I must do when I fhould have no
more Powder; that is to ſay, how I fhould do to
kill any Goat. had, as is obſerv'd 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
pafs, 'till my Kid grew an old Goat; and I could
never find in my Heart to kill her, till fhe dy'd at
laft of meer Age.
But being now in the eleventh Year of my Refi-
dence, and, as I have faid, my Ammunition grow-
ing low, I fet my felf to ftudy fome Art to trap and
fnare the Goats, to fee whether I could not catch
fome 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 refolv'd to try a Pit-fall, ſo I dug fe-
veral large Pits in the Earth, in Places where I
had obferv'd the Goats uſed to feed, and over theſe
Pits I plac'd Hurdles of my own making too,
with a great Weight upon them; and ſeveral times
I put Ears of Barley, and dry Rice, without fet-
ting the Trap, and I could eafily perceive that the
Goats had gone in and eaten up the Corn, for I
could fee the Mark of their Feet. At length I fet
three Traps in one Night, and going the next
Morning I found them all ftanding, and yet the
Bait eaten and gone: This was very difcouraging.
How-
[172]
1
However, I alter'd my Trap, and, not to trouble you
with Particulars, going one Morning to fee my Trap,
I found in one of them a large old He-Goat, and
in one of the other, three Kids, a Male and two
Females.
As to the old one, I knew not what to do with
him, he was fo fierce I durft not go into the Pit to
him; that is to fay, to go about to bring him away
alive, which was what I wanted. I could have
kill'd him, but that was not my Buſineſs, nor would
it anſwer my End. So I e'en let him out, and he
ran away as if he had been frighted out of
his Wits: But I had forgot then what I learn'd af-
terwards, that Hunger will tame a Lyon. If I
had let him ſtay there three or four Days without
Food, and then have carry'd 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
fagacious tractable Creatures where they are well
ufed.
However, for the prefent I let him go, knowing
no better at that time; then I went to the three
Kids, and taking them one by one, I tyed them
with Strings together, and with fome Difficulty
brought them all home.
It was a good while before they wou'd 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 fupply my felf with Goat-Fleſh
when I had no Powder or Shot left, breeding
fome up tame was my only way, when perhaps
I might have them about my Houfe like a Flock
of Sheep.
But then it preſently occurr'd to me, that I muſt
keep the tame from the wild, or elfe they would al-
ways run wild when they grew up, and the only
Way for this was to have fome encloſed Piece of
Ground,
[173]
Ground, well fenc'd either with Hedge or Pale, to
keep them in fo 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 faw there was an abfolute Necef-
fity 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 fuch Encloſures will think
I had very little Contrivance, when I pitch'd upon
a Place very proper for all theſe, being a plain o-
pen Piece of Meadow-Land, or Savanna, (as our
People call it in the Weſtern Collonies,) which had
two or three little Drills of freſh Water in it, and
at one end was very woody. I fay they will ſmile
at my Forecaſt. when I fhall tell them I began my
encloſing of this Piece of Ground in fuch a man-
ner, that my Hedge or Pale muſt have been at leaſt
two Mile about. Nor was the Madneſs of it fo
great as to the Compafs, for if it was ten Mile a-
bout I was like to have time enough to do it in.
But I did not confider that my Goats would be
as wild in fo much Compafs as if they had had the
whole Iſland, and I fhould have fo much Room
to chace them in, that I fhould never catch
them.
My Hedge was begun and carry'd on, I believe,
about fifty Yards, when this Thought occurr'd
to me, ſo I preſently ſtopt ſhort, and for the firſt
beginning I refolv'd to encloſe a Piece of about 150
Yards in length, and 100 Yards in breadth, which
as it would maintain as many as I fhould
have in any reaſonable time, ſo as my Flock en-
creaſed, I could add more Ground to my En-
cloſure.
This
[174]
This was acting with fome 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
tether'd the three Kids in the beſt part of it, and
us'd them to feed as near me as poffible to make
them familiar; and very often I would go and car-
ry them fome Ears of Barley, or a handful of Rice,
and feed them out of my Hand; fo that after my
Encloſure was finiſhed, and I let them loofe, they
would follow me up and down, bleating after me
for a handful of Corn.
This anſwer'd 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, befides feveral that I took and kill'd for my
Food. And after that I enclofed five feveral Pie-
ces 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 ano-
ther.
But this was not all, for now I not only had
Goats Fleſh to feed on when I pleas'd, but Milk
too, a thing which indeed in my beginning I did
not fo much as think of, and which, when it came
into my Thoughts, was really an agreeable Sur-
prize. For now I fet up my Dairy, and had fome-
times 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; fo I that had never milk'd a Cow, much leſs
a Goat, or feen Butter or Cheeſe made, very rea-
dily and handily, tho' after a great many Effays
and Miſcarriages, made me both Butter and Cheeſe
at laft, and never wanted it afterwards.
How mercifully can our great Creator treat his
Creatures, even in thofe Conditions in which they
feem'd to be overwhelm'd in Deſtruction. How
can
[175]
can he ſweeten the bittereft Providences, and give
us Cauſe to praiſe him for Dungeons and Priſons.
What a Table was here ſpread for me in a Wilder-
neſs, where I faw nothing at firft but to perish for
Hunger.
It would have made a Stoick fmile to have ſeen,
me and my little Family fit down to Dinner; there
was my Majeſty the Prince and Lord of the whole
Ifland; I had the Lives of all my Subjects at my
abfolute Command. I could hang, draw, give
Liberty, and take it away, and no Rebels among
all my Sublects.
Then to ſee how like a King I din'd too all
alone, attended by my Servants, Poll, as if he had
been my Favourite, was the only Perfon permitted
to talk to me. My Dog who was now grown ve-
ry old and crazy, and had found no Species to
multiply his Kind upon, fat 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 ſpe-
cial Favour.
But theſe were not the two Cats which I brought
on Shore at firſt, for they were both of them dead,
and had been interr'd near my Habitation by my
own Hand; but one of them having multiply'd by
I know not what Kind of Creature, theſe were
two which I had preferv'd tame, whereas the
reft run wild in the Woods, and became indeed.
troubleſom to me at laft; for they would often come
into my Houſe, and plunder me too, till at laft I
was obliged to fhoot them, and did kill a great
many; at length they left me with this Atten-
dance, and in this plentiful Manner I lived; nei-
ther could I be faid to want any thing but Socie-
ty, and of that in fome time after this, I was like
to have too much.
I was
[176]
I was fomething impatient, as I have obferv'd,
to have the Uſe of my Boat; though very loath to
run any more Hazards; and therefore fometimes I
fat contriving Ways to get her about the Ifland,
and at other Times I fat my felf down contented e-
nough without her. But I had a strange Uneafinefs
in my Mind to go down to the Point of the Ifland,
where, as I have faid, in my laſt Ramble, I went up
the Hill to fee how the Shore lay, and how the
Current fet, that I might fee what I had to do:
This Inclination encreas'd upon me every Day, and
at length I refolv'd to travel thither by Land, fol-
lowing the Edge of the Shore, I did fo: But had
any one in England been to meet fuch a Man as I
was, it muſt either have frighted them, or rais'd a
great deal of Laughter; and as I frequently ftood
ftill to look at my felf, I could not but fmile at the
Notion of my travelling through Yorkshire with fuch
an Equipage, and in ſuch a Drefs: Be pleas'd to
take a Scetch of my Figure as follows,
I had a great high fhapeleſs Cap, made of a
Goat's Skin, with a Flap hanging down behind, as
well to keep the Sun from me, as to fhoot the Rain
off from running into my Neck; nothing being fo
hurtful in thefe Climates, as the Rain upon the
Fleſh under the Cloaths.
I had a fhort Jacket of Goat-Skin, the Skirts co-
ming down to about the middle of my Thighs;
and a Pair of open-knee'd Breeches of the fame, the
Breeches were made of the Skin of an old He-goat,
whofe Hair hung down fuch a Length on either
Side, that like Pantaloons it reach'd to the middle of
my Legs; Stockings and Shoes I had none, but had
made me a Pair of fome-things, I fcarce know
what to call them, like Buskins to flap over my
Legs, and lace on either Side like Spatter-dafhes;
but
[177]
but of a moſt barbarous Shape, as indeed were all
the rest of my Cloaths.
I had on a broad Belt of Goat's-Skin dry'd,
which I drew together with two Thongs of the
fame, 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 fo broad, and faften'd in the fame 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
carry'd my Basket, on my Shoulder my Gun, and
over my Head a great clumfy ugly Goat-Skin Um-
brella, but which, after all, was the moſt neceffary
Thing I had about me, next to my Gun: As for
my Face, the Colour of it was really not fo Moletta,
like as one might expect from a Man not at all care-
ful of it, and living within nineteen Degrees of the
Equinox. My Beard I had once fuffer'd to grow till
it was about a Quarter of a Yard long; but as I had
both Sciffars and Razors fufficient, I had cut it pret-
ty ſhort, except what grew on my upper Lip, which I
had trimm'd into a large Pair of Mahometan Whif
kers, fuch as I had feen worn by fome Turks, who I
faw at Sallee; for the Moors did not wear fuch, tho'
the Turks did; of theſe Muſchatoes or Whiskers, I
will not fay they were long enough to hang my Hat
upon them; but they were of a Length and Shape
monftrous enough, and fuch as in England would
have paſs'd for frightful.
But all this is by the by; for as to my Figure, I
had fo few to obferve me, that it was of no manner
of Confequence; fo I fay no more to that Part. In
this kind of Figure I went my new Journey, and
was out five or fix Days. I travell'd firft along the
N
Sea
[178]
Sea Shore, directly to the Place where I firft brought
my Boat to an Anchor, to get up upon the Rocks;
and having no Boat now to take care of, I went o-
ver the Land a nearer Way to the fame Height that
I was upon before, when looking forward to the
Point of the Rocks which lay out, and which I was
oblig'd to double with my Boat, as is faid above:
I was ſurpriz'd to ſee the Sea all ſmooth and quiet,
no Ripling, no Motion, no Current, any more there
than in other Places.
•
I was at a ſtrange Loſs to underſtand this, and
refolv'd to ſpend fome Time in the obferving it, to
fee if nothing from the Sets of the Tide had occafi-
on'd it; but I was preſently convinc'd how it was,
viz. That the Tide of Ebb fetting from the West,
and joyning with the Current of Waters from fome
great River on the Shore, muſt be the Occafion of
this Current; and that according as the Wind blew
more forcibly from the West, or from the North,
this Current came nearer, or went farther from the
Shore; for waiting thereabouts till Evening, I went
up to the Rock again, and then the Tide of Ebb
being made, I plainly faw the Current again as be-
fore, only, that it run farther of, being near half a
League from the Shore; whereas in my Cafe, it
fet cloſe upon the Shore, and hurry'd me and my
Canoe along with it, which at another Time it
would not have done.
This Obfervation convinc'd me, That I had no-
thing to do but to obferve the Ebbing and the
Flowing of the Tide, and I might very eafily bring
my Boat about the Iſland again: But when I be-
gan to think of putting it in Practice, I had fuch 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 Refolution which was more fafe,
though
[179]
though more laborious; and this was, That I
would build, or rather make me another Periagau
or Canoe; and fo 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 Ifland; 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 enlarg'd into ſeveral
Apartments, or Caves, one within another. One
of thefe, which was the dryeft, and largeſt, and
had a Door out beyond my Wall or Fortification ;
that is to fay, beyond where my Wall joyn'd to
the Rock, was all fill'd 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 fix Bushels each, where I laid up my Stores
of Provifion, eſpecially my Corn, fome in the Ear
cut off ſhort from the Straw, and the other rubb'd
out with my Hand.
As for my Wall made, as before, with long Stakes
or Piles, thofe Piles grew all like Trees, and were
by this Time grown fo big, and ſpread fo very
much, that there was not the leaft 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 fow'd, and which duly yielded me
their Harveſt in its Seafon; and whenever I had
occafion for more Corn, I had more Land adjoyn-
ing as fit as that.
Befides this, I had my Country Seat, and I had
now a tollerable Plantation there alſo; for firſt, I
had my little Bower, as I call'd it, which I kept
in Repair; that is to fay, I kept the Hedge which
circled it in, conftantly fitted up to its ufual Height,
N 2
the
[180]
the Ladder ſtanding always in the Infide; I kept
the Trees which at firft were no more than my
Stakes, but were now grown very firm and tall; I
kept them always fo 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 ftand-
ing, being a piece of a Sail fpread over Poles fet
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 Crea-
tures I had kill'd, and with other foft Things, and
a Blanket laid on them, fuch as belong'd to our
Sea-Bedding, which I had faved, and a great
Watch-Coat to cover me; and here, whenever I
had Occafion to be abfent from my chief Seat, I
took up my Country Habitation.
Adjoyning to this I had my Encloſures for my
Cattle, that is to fay, my Goats: And as I had ta-
ken an inconceivable deal of Pains to fence and en-
cloſe this Ground, fo I was fo uneafy to fee it kept
entire, left the Goats fhould break thro', that I
never left off till with infinite Labour I had ſtuck
the Out-fide of the Hedge fo full of fmall Stakes,
and fo near to one another, that it was rather a
Pale than a Hedge, and there was fcarce Room to
put a Hand thro' between them, which afterwards
when thofe 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 what-
ever appear'd neceffary for my comfortable Sup-
port; for I confider'd the keeping up a Breed of
tame Creatures thus at my Hand, would be a li-
ving Magazine of Fleſh, Milk, Butter and Cheefe,
for
[181]
for me as long as I liv'd in the Place, if it were to be
forty Years; and that keeping them in my Reach,
depended entirely upon my perfecting my Enclo-
fures to fuch a Degree, that I might be fure of
keeping them together; which by this Method in-
deed I fo effectually fecur'd, that when thefe lit-
tle Stakes began to grow, I had planted them fo
very thick, I was forced to pull fome of them up
again.
In this Place alfo I had my Grapes growing,
which I principally depended on for my Winter
Store of Raifins; and which I never fail'd to pre-
ferve very carefully, as the beſt and moſt agreeable
Dainty of my whole Diet; and indeed they were
not agreeable only, but phyfical, wholefome, nou-
riſhing, and refreſhing to the laſt Degree.
As this was alfo about half Way between my o-
ther Habitation, and the Place where I had laid up
my Boat, I generally ftay'd, and lay here in my
Way thither; for I uſed frequently to vifit my
Boat, and I kept all Things about or belonging to
her in very good Order; fometimes I went out
in her to divert my felf, but no more hazardous
Voyages would I go, nor fcarce ever above a
Stone's Caft or two from the Shore, I was fo ap-
prehenfive of being hurry'd out of my Knowledge
again by the Currents, or Winds, or any other Ac-
cident. But now I come to a new Scene of my Life.
It happen'd one Day about Noon going towards
my Boat, I was exceedingly furpriz'd with the Print
of a Man's naked Foot on the Shore, which was
very plain to be feen in the Sand: I ftood like one
Thunder-ftruck, or as if I had feen an Apparition;
I liften'd, I look'd round me, I could hear nothing,
nor fee any Thing, I went up to a rifing Ground to
look farther, I went up the Shore and down the
Shore, but it was all one, I could fee no other
Impreffion
N 3
[182]
Impreffion but that one, I went to it again to fee
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 leaft
imagine. But after innumerable fluttering Thoughts,
like a Man perfectly confus'd and out of my felf, I
came Home to my Fortification, not feeling, as we
fay, the Ground I went on, but terrify'd to the laft
Degree, looking behind me at every two or three
Steps, miſtaking every Bufh and Tree, and fancy-
ing every Stump at a Diſtance to be a Man; nor is
it poffible to defcribe how many various Shapes af-
frighted Imagination reprefented Things to me in,
how many wild Ideas were found every Moment
in my Fancy, and what ftrange unaccountable
Whimfies came into my Thoughts by the Way.
When I came to my Caſtle, for fo I think I call'd
it ever after this, I fled into it like one purfued;
whether I went over by the Ladder as firſt con-
triv'd, or went in at the Hole in the Rock, which
I call'd a Door, I cannot remember; no, nor could
I remember the next Morning, for never frighted
Hare fled to Cover, or Fox to Earth, with more
Terror of Mind than I to this Retreat.
I flept none that Night; the farther I was from
the Occafion of my Fright, the greater my Ap-
prehenfions were, which is fomething contrary to
the Nature of fuch Things, and eſpecially to the u-
fual Practice of all Creatures in Fear: But I was
fo embarraſs'd with my own frightful Ideas of the
Thing, that I form'd nothing but difmal Imagina-
tions to my felf, even tho' I was now a great way
off of it. Sometimes I fancy'd it must be the De-
vil; and Reaſon joyn'd in with me upon this Sup-
pofition: For how ſhould any other Thing in hu-
man
[183]
man Shape come into the Place? Where was the
Veffel that brought them? What Marks was there
of any other Footsteps? And how was it poffible
a Man fhould come there? But then to think that
Satan fhould take human Shape upon him in fuch a
Place where there could be no manner of Occafion
for it, but to leave the Print of his Foot behind
him, and that even for no Purpoſe too, for he could
not be fure I fhould fee it; this was an Amuſement
the other Way; I confider'd that the Devil might
have found out abundance of other Ways to have
terrify'd me than this of the fingle Print of a Foot.
That as I liv'd quite on the other Side of the Iſland,
he would never have been fo fimple to leave a Mark
in a Place where 'twas Ten Thoufand to one whe-
ther I ſhould ever fee it or not, and in the Sand
too, which the firft Surge of the Sea upon a high
Wind would have defac'd entirely: All this feem'd
inconſiſtent with the Thing it felf, and with all the
Notions we ufually entertain of the Subtilty of the
Devil.
Abundance of fuch Things as thefe affifted to ar-
gue me out of all Apprehenfions of its being the
Devil: And I prefently concluded then, that it muft
be fome more dangerous Creature, (viz.) That it
muſt be ſome of the Savages of the main Land
over-against me, who had wander'd 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 ftay'd in this defo-
late Ifland, as I would have been to have had them.
While thefe Reflections were rowling upon my
Mind, I was very thankful in my Thoughts, that
I was fo happy as not to be thereabouts at that
Time, or that they did not fee my Boat, by which
they would have concluded that fome Inhabitants
N 4
had
[184]
had been in the Place, and perhaps have ſearch'd
farther for me: Then terrible Thoughts rack'd my
Imagination about their having found my Boat,
and that there were People here; and that if fo, I
fhould certainly have them come again in greater
Numbers, and devour me; that if it ſhould happen
ſo that they ſhould not find me, yet they would
find my Encloſure, deftroy all my Corn, carry a-
way all my Flock of tame Goats, and I fhould pe-
rifh at laſt for meer Want.
Thus my Fear baniſh'd all my religious Hope;
all that former Confidence in God which was
founded upon fuch wonderful Experience as I had
had of his Goodneſs, now vaniſhed, as if he that
had fed me by Miracle hitherto, could not preferve
by his Power the Provifion which he had made for
me by his Goodneſs: I reproach'd my felf with my
Eafineſs, that would not fow any more Corn one
Year than would juſt ferve me till the next Seafon,
as if no Accident could intervene to prevent my
enjoying the Crop that was upon the Ground;
and this I thought fo just a Reproof, that I refolv'd
for the future to have two or three Years Corn be-
forehand, fo that whatever might come, I might
not perish for want of Bread.
How ſtrange a Chequer Work of Providence is
the Life of Man! and by what fecret differing
Springs are the Affections hurry'd about as differ-
ing Circumftance prefent! To Day we love what
to Morrow we hate; to Day we feek what to Mor-
row we fhun; to Day we defire what to Morrow
we fear; nay even tremble at the Apprehenfions of ;
this was exemplify'd in me at this Time in the
moſt lively Manner imaginable; for I whofe only
Affliction was, that I feem'd baniſhed from human
Society, that I was alone, circumfcrib'd by the
boundleſs Ocean, cut off from Mankind, and con-
demn'd
[185]
demn'd to what I call'd filent Life; that I was as
one who Heaven thought not worthy to be num-
ber'd among the Living, or to appear among the
reft of his Creatures; that to have feen one of my
own Species, would have feem'd to me a Raiſing
me from Death to Life, and the greateſt Bleffing
that Heaven it felf, next to the fupreme Bleffing of
Salvation, could beſtow; I say, that I fhould now
tremble at the very Apprehenfions of feeing a Man,
and was ready to fink into the Ground at but the
Shadow or filent Appearance of a Man's having fet
his Foot in the Iſland.
Such is the uneven State of human Life: And it
afforded me a great many curious Speculations af-
terwards, when I had a little recover'd my first
Surprize; I confider'd that this was the Station of
Life the infinitely wife and good Providence of
God had determin'd for me, that as I could not
foreſee what the Ends of Divine Wiſdom might be
in all this, fo I was not to difpute his Sovereignty,
who, as I was his Creature, had an undoubted
Right by Creation to govern and difpofe of me ab-
folutely as he thought fit; and who, as I was a
Creature who had offended him, had likewiſe a ju-
dicial Right to condemn me to what Punishment
he thought fit; and that it was my Part to fubmit
to bear his Indignation, becauſe I had finn'd 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, fo he was
able to deliver me; that if he did not think
fit to do it, 'twas my unqueftion'd Duty to
refign my ſelf abfolutely 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.
Thefe
[186]
Thefe Thoughts took me up many Hours, Days;
nay, I may ſay, Weeks and Months; and one par-
ticular Effect of my Cogitations on this Occafion,
I cannot omit, viz. One Morning early, lying in
my Bed, and fill'd with Thought about my Danger
from the Appearance of Savages, I found it dif
compos'd me very much, upon which thofe 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, rifing chearfully out of my Bed, my
Heart was not only comforted, but I was guided
and encourag'd to pray earneſtly to God for Deli-
verance: 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 fall strengthen thy Heart; wait, 1
fay, on the Lord: It is impoffible to expreſs the Com-
fort this gave me. In Anſwer, I thankfully laid
down the Book, and was no more fad, at leaft,
not on that Occafion.
In the middle of theſe Cogitations, Apprehenfi-
ons and Reflections, it came into my Thought one
Day, that all this might be a meer 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 chear'd me up a little too, and I began to per-
fwade my felf it was all a Delufion; that it was no-
thing elſe but my own Foot, and why might not I
come that way from the Boat, as well as I was go-
ing that way to the Boat; again, I confider'd alfo
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
play'd the Part of thoſe Fools, who ftrive to make
ftories of Spectres, and Apparitions; and then are
frighted at them more than any body.
Now
[187]
Now I began to take Courage, and to peep abroad
again; for I had not ftirr'd out of my Caftle for three
Days and Nights; fo that I began to ftarve for
Provifion; for I had little or nothing within Doors,
but fome Barley Cakes and Water. Then I knew
that my Goats wanted to be milk'd too, which u-
fually was my Evening Diverfion; and the poor
Creatures were in great Pain and Inconvenience for
want of it; and indeed, it almoſt ſpoil'd ſome of
them, and almoſt dry'd up their Milk.
Heartning my felf therefore with the Belief that
this was nothing but the Print of one of my own
Feeet, and fo I might be truly faid to ſtart at my
own Shadow, I began to go abroad again, and
went to my Country Houſe, to milk my Flock; but
to fee with what Fear I went forward, how often I
look'd 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 haunt-
ed with an evil Conſcience, or that I had been late-
ly most terribly frighted, and fo indeed I had.
However, as I went down thus two or three
Days, and having feen nothing, I began to be a lit-
tle bolder; and to think there was really nothing in
it, but my own Imagination: But I cou'd not per-
fwade my ſelf fully of this, till I fhould go down to
the Shore again, and fee this Print of a Foot, and
meaſure it by my own, and fee if there was any Si-
militude or Fitnefs, that I might be affur'd it was
my own Foot: But when I came to the Place,
First, It appear'd evidently to me, that when I laid
up my Boat, I could not poffibly be on Shore any
where there about. Secondly, When I came to mea-
fure the Mark with my own Foot, I found my Foot
not fo large by a great deal; both theſe Things fill'd
my Head with new Imaginations, and gave me the
Vapours again, to the higheft Degree; fo that I
fhook
[188]
fhook with cold, like one in an Ague: And I went
Home again, fill'd with the Belief that fome Man
or Men had been on Shore there; or in fhort, that the
lfland was inhabited, and I might be furpriz'd be-
fore I was aware; and what courfe to take for my
Security I knew not.
O what ridiculous Refolution Men take, when
poffefs'd with Fear! It deprives them of the Ufe of
thoſe Means which Reafon offers for their Relief.
The first Thing I propos'd to my felf, 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 Prof-
pect of the fame, or the like Booty: Then to the
fimple Thing of Digging up my two Corn Fields,
that they might not find fuch a Grain there, and
ftill be prompted to frequent the Ifland; then to de-
moliſh my Bower, and Tent, that they might not
fee any Veftiges of Habitation, and be prompted to
look farther, in order to find out the Perfons in-
habiting.
Theſe were the Subject of the firſt Night's Cogi-
tation, after I was come Home again, while the
Apprehenfions which had fo over-run my Mind
were freſh upon me, and my Head was full of Va-
pours, as above: Thus Fear of Danger is ten thou-
fand Times more terrifying than Danger it felf,
when apparent to the Eyes; and we find the Bur-
then 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 Refignation I uſed to practiſe, that I
hop'd to have. I look'd, I thought, like Saul, who
complain'd not only that the Philistines were upon
him;
but that God had forfaken him; for I did not
now take due Ways to cornpofe my Mind, by crying
to God in my Diftrefs, and refting upon his Provi-
dence,
[189]
dence, 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 Sur-
prife, and perhaps carry'd through it with more
Refolution.
This Confufion 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, tyr'd, and my Spirits exhauſted; I ſlept ve-
ry foundly, and wak'd much better compos'd than
I had ever been before; and now I began to think
fedately; and upon the utmoſt Debate with my
felf, I concluded, That this Ifland, which was fo
exceeding pleaſant, fruitful, and no farther from
the main Land than as I had feen, was not fo en-
tirely abandon'd as I might imagine: That altho'
there were no ftated Inhabitants who liv'd on the
Spot; yet that there might fometimes come Boats
off from the Shore, who either with Defign, or
perhaps never, but when they were driven by croſs
Winds, might come to this Place.
•
That I had liv'd here fifteen Years now, and had
not met with the leaft 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 foon as ever they could, feeing they had never
thought fit to fix there upon any Occafion, to
this Time.
That the moſt I cou'd fuggeft any Danger from,
was, from any fuch cafual accidental Landing of
ſtraggling People from the Main, who, as it was
likely if they were driven hither, were here againſt
their Wills; fo they made no ſtay here, but went off
again with all poffible Speed, feldom ftaying one
Night on Shore, leaſt they fhould not have the
Help of the Tides, and Day-light back again; and
that therefore I had nothing to do but to confider
of
[190]
of fome fafe Retreat, in Cafe I ſhould fee any Sa-
vages land upon the Spot.
Now I began forely to repent, that I had dug
my Cave ſo large, as to bring a Door through a-
gain, which Door, as I faid, came out beyond
where my Fortification joyn'd to the Rock; upon
maturely confidering this therefore, I refolv'd to
draw me a fecond Fortification, in the fame Man-
ner of a Semicircle, at a Diſtance from my Wall
juft where I had planted a double Row of Trees,
about twelve Years before, of which I made men-
tion: Theſe Trees having been planted fo thick
before, they wanted but a few Piles to be driven
between them, that they fh ould be thicker, and
ftronger, and my Wall would be foon finifh'd.
So that I had now a double Wall, and my outer
Wall was thickned with Pieces of Timber, old Ca-
bles, and every Thing I could think of, to make it
ftrong; having in it feven little Holes, about as
big as I might put my Arm out at: In the In-fide
of this, I thickned my Wall to above ten Foot
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 feven Holes, I
contriv'd to plant the Mufquets, of which I took
Notice, that I got feven on Shore out of the Ship;
thefe, I fay, I planted like my Cannon, and fitted
them into Frames that held them like a Carriage,
that fo I could fire all the feven Guns in two Mi-
nutes Time: This Wall I was many a weary Month
a finiſhing, and yet never thought my felf fafe till it
was done.
Ι
When this was done, I ftuck all the Ground
without my Wall, for a great way every way, as
full with Stakes or Sticks of the Ofier like Wood,
which I found fo apt to grow, as they could well
ftand; infomuch, that I believe I might fet in near
twenty
[191]
twenty thousand of them, leaving a pretty large
Space between them and my Wall, that I might
have room to fee an Enemy, and they might have
no fhelter 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 fix Years Time I had a Wood before
my Dwelling, growing fo monftrous thick and
ſtrong, that it was indeed perfectly impaffable;
and no Men of what kind foever, would ever ima-
gine that there was any Thing beyond it, much leſs
a Habitation: As for the Way which I propos'd to
my felf to go in and out, for I left no Avenue; it
was by fetting 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; fo when
the two Ladders were taken down, no Man living
could come down to me without mifchieving him-
felf; and if they had come down, they were ftill on
the Out-fide of my outer Wall.
Thus I took all the Meaſures humane Prudence
could fuggeft for my own Prefervation; and it will
be ſeen at length, that they were not altogether
without juft Reafon; though I forefaw nothing at
that Time, more than my meer Fear fuggefted
to me.
While this was doing, I was not altogether Care-
lefs of my other Affairs; for I had a great Concern
upon me, for my little Herd of Goats; they were
not only a prefent Supply to me upon every Occa-
fion, and began to be fufficient to me, without the
Expence 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 Purpofe, after long Confideration, I
could think of but two Ways to preferve them;
one
[192]
one was to find another convenient Place to dig a
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 conceal'd as I could, where I might
keep about half a Dozen young Goats in each
Place: So that if any Difafter happen'd to the
Flock in general, I might be able to raiſe them a-
gain with little Trouble and Time: And this, tho'
it would require a great deal of Time and La-
bour, I thought was the moft rational Deſign.
Accordingly I fpent fome Time to find out the
moſt retir'd Parts of the Iſland; and I pitch'd up-
on 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 obferv'd, I almoſt loft my ſelf once be-
fore, endeavouring to come back that Way from
the Eaſtern Part of the Ifland: Here I found a
clear Piece of Land near three Acres, fo furround-
ed with Woods, that it was almoſt an Encloſure by
Nature, at leaſt it did not want near ſo much La-
bour to make it fo, as the other Pieces of Ground
I had work'd ſo hard at.
I immediately went to Work with this Piece of
Ground, and in lefs than a Month's Time, I had
fo fenc'd it round, that my Flock or Herd, call it
which you pleaſe, who were not fo wild now as at
first they might be ſuppoſed to be, were well e-
nough fecur'd in it. So, without any farther De-
lay, 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 fecure as the other, which, however, I did at
more Leiſure, and it took me up more Time by a
great deal.
All
[ 193 ]
All this Labour I was at the Expence of, purely
from my Apprehenfions on the Account of the Print
of a Man's Foot which I had feen; for as yet I
never faw any human Creature come near the Iſland,
and I had now liv'd two Years under theſe Unea-
fineffes, which indeed made my Life much leſs
comfortable than it was before; as may well be
imagin'd by any who know what it is to live in
the conſtant Snare of the Fear of Man; and this I
muft obferve with Grief too, that the Difcompo-
fure of my Mind had too great impreffions alfo up-
on the religious Part of my Thoughts, for the
Dread and Terror of falling into the Hands of Sa-
vages and Canibals, lay fo upon my Spirits, that
I feldom found my felf in a due Temper for appli-
cation to my Maker, at leaſt not with the fedate
Calmnefs and Refignation of Soul which I was
wont to do; I rather pray'd to God as under
great Affliction and Preffure of Mind, furrounded
with Danger, and in Expectation every Night of
being murther'd and devour'd before Morning;
and I muſt teſtify from my Experience, that a Tem-
per of Peace, Thankfulness, Love and Affection, is
much more the proper Frame for Prayer than that
of Terror and Diſcompofure; 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
fick Bed: For thefe Difcompofures affect the Mind
as the others do the Body; and the Diſcompofure
of the Mind muſt neceffarily be as great a Difabili-
ty 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 fecur'd one Part
of my little living Stock, I went about the whole
Ifland, fearching for another private Place, to make
O
fuch
[194]
fuch another Depofit; when wandring more to the
West Point of the Ifland, than I had ever gone yet,
and looking out to Sea, I thought I ſaw a Boat up-
on the Sea, at a great Diſtance; I had found a Pro-
ſpective Glaſs, or two, in one of the Seamen's
Chefts, which I fav'd out of our Ship; but I had it
not about me, and this was fo remote, that I could
not tell what to make of it; though I look'd 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 defcended from the Hill, I could
fee no more of it, fo I gave it over; only I refolv'd
to go no more out without a Profpective Glafs 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 convinc'd, that the feeing the Print
of a Man's Foot, was not fuch a ſtrange Thing in
the Iſland as I imagin'd; and but that it was a fpe-
cial Providence that I was caft upon the Side of the
Iſland, where the Savages never came: I ſhould ea-
fily have known, that nothing was more frequent
than for the Canoes from the Main, when they hap-
pen'd to be a little too far out at Sea, to fhoot over
to that Side of the Ifland for Harbour; likewife as
they often met, and fought in their Canoes, the Vi-
&tors having taken any Priſoners, would bring them
over to this Shore, where according to their dread-
ful Cuſtoms, being all Canibals, they would kill and
eat them; of which hereafter.
When I was come down the Hill, to the Shore,
as I faid above, being the S. W. Point of the I-
fland, I was perfectly confounded and amaz'd; nor
is it poffible for me to exprefs the Horror of my
Mind, at feeing the Shore fpread with Skulls,
Hands, Feet, and other Bones of humane Bodies;
and particularly I obferv'd a Place where there had
been
[195]
been a Fire made, and a Circle dug in the Earth,
like a Cockpit, where it is fuppos'd the Savage
Wretches had fat down to their inhumane Feaſt-
ings upon the Bodies of their Fellow-Creatures.
I was ſo aſtoniſh'd with the Sight of theſe Things,
that I entertain'd no Notions of any Danger to my
felf from it for a long while; All my Apprehenfions
were bury'd in the Thoughts of fuch a Pitch of in-
human, helliſh Brutality, and the Horror of the De-
generacy of Humane Nature; which though I had
heard of often, yet I never had fo near a View of
before; in fhort, I turn'd away my Face from the
horrid Spectacle; my Stomach grew fick, and I was
juſt at the Point of Fainting, when Nature dif-
charg'd the Diſorder from my Stomach; and ha-
ving vomited with an uncommon Violence, I was
a little reliev'd; but cou'd not bear to ſtay in the
Place a Moment; fo I gat me up the Hill again,
with all the Speed I cou'd, and walk'd on towards
my own Habitation.
When I came a little out of that Part of the I-
fland, I ftood ftill a while as amaz'd; and then re-
covering my felf, I looked up with the utmoſt Affe-
ction of my Soul, and with a Flood of Tears in my
Eyes, gave God Thanks that had caft my firft Lot in
a Part of the World, where I was diftinguifh'd
from fuch dreadful Creatures as thefe; and that
though I had efteem'd my prefent Condition very
miferable, had yet given me fo many Comforts in
, that I had ftill more to give Thanks for than to
complain of; and this above all, that I had even
in this miferable Condition been comforted with
the Knowledge of himſelf, and the Hope of his
Bleffing, which was a Felicity more than fufficient-
ly equivalent to all the Mifery which I had fuffer'd,
or could fuffer.
O 2
In
[ 196]
In this Frame of Thankfulnef, 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 obferv'd, that theſe Wretches never
came to this Iſland in ſearch of what they could
get; perhaps not feeking, not wanting, or not ex-
pecting any Thing here; and having often, no doubt,
been up in the cover'd woody Part of it, without
finding any Thing to their Purpoſe. I knew I had
been here now almoft eighteen Years, and never
faw the leaſt Foot-ſteps of Humane Creature there
before; and I might be here eighteen more, as en-
tirely conceal'd as I was now, if I did not diſcover
my ſelf to them, which I had no manner of Occa-
fion to do, it being my only Bufinefs to keep my
felf entirely conceal'd where I was, unleſs I found
a better fort of Creatures than Canibals to make my
felf known to.
Yet I entertain'd fuch 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 continu'd penfive,
and fad, and kept clofe within my own Circle
for almost two Years after this: When I fay my
own Circle, I mean by it, my three Plantations,
viz. my Caſtle, my Country Seat, which I call'd
my Bower, and my Encloſure in the Woods; nor
did I look after this for any other Ufe than as an
Encloſure for my Goats; for the Averfion which
Nature gave me to thefe hellish Wretches, was
fuch, that I was fearful of ſeeing them, as of feeing
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 cou'd not
think of ever making any more Attempts, to bring.
the other Boat round the Ifland to me, leaft I
ſhould meet with fome of thefe Creatures at Sea,
in
[197]
in which, if I had happen'd 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 diſcover'd by theſe
People, began to wear off my Uneafinefs about
them; and I began to live juſt in the fame compos'd
Manner as before; only with this Difference, that
I uſed more Caution, and kept my Eyes more a-
bout me than I did before, leaſt I fhould happen to
be ſeen by any of them; and particularly, I was
more cautious of firing my Gun, leaft any of them
being on the Ifland, fhould happen to hear of it:
and it was therefore a very good Pravidence to me,
that I had furnifh'd my felf 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; fo that for two years after this,
I believe I never fir'd my Gun once of, though I
never went out without it; and which was more,
as I had fav'd three Piſtols out of the Ship, I al-
ways carry'd them out with me, or at leaft two of
them, fticking them in my Goat-ſkin Belt; alfo I
furbiſh'd up one of the great Cutlaſhes, that I had
out of the Ship, and made me a Belt to put it on
alfo; fo that I was now a moft formidable Fellow
to look at, when I went abroad, if you add to
the former Deſcription of my ſelf, the Particular of
two Piſtols, and a great broad Sword, hanging at
my Side in a Belt, but without a Scabbard.
Things going on thus, as I have faid, for fome
Time; I feem'd, excepting theſe Cautions, to be
reduc'd to my former calm, fedate Way of Living,
all theſe Things tended to fhewing me more and
more how far my Condition was from being mife-
rable, compar'd to fome others; nay, to many o-
ther Particulars of Life, which it might have plea-
O 3
fed
[198]
fed, God to have made my Lot. It put me upon
reflecting, How little repining there would be a-
mong Mankind, at any Condition of Life, if Peo-
ple would rather compare their Condition with
thofe that are worfe, in order to be thankful, than
be always comparing them with thofe which are
better, to affift their Murmurings and Complain-
ings.
As in my preſent Condition there were not really
many Things which I wanted; fo indeed I thought
that the Frights I had been in about thefe Savage
Wretches, and the Concern I had been in for
my
own Preſervation, had taken off the Edge of my In-
vention for my own Conveniences; and I had dropp'd
a good Defign, 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 they try
to brew my ſelf fome Beer: This was really a whim-
fical Thought, and I reprov'd my felf often for the
Simplicity of it; for I prefently faw there would
be the want of feveral Things neceffary to the
making my Beer, that it would be impoffible for
me to fupply; as Firft, Casks to preſerve it in,
which was a Thing, that as I have obferv'd alrea-
dy, I cou'd never compafs; no, though I ſpent not
many Days, but Weeks, nay, Months in attempt-
ing it, but to no purpoſe. In the next Place, I had
no Hops to make it keep, no Yeaft to make it work,
no Copper or Kettle to make it boil; and yet all-
thefe Things, notwithſtanding, I verily believe,
had not theſe Things interven'd, I mean the Frights.
and Terrors I was in about the Savages, I had un-
dertaken it, and perhaps brought it to paſs too; for
I feldom gave any Thing over without accompliſh-
ing it, when I once had it in my Head enough
to begin it.
But
[199]
But my Invention now run quite another Way;
for Night and Day, I could think of nothing but
how I might deftroy fome of theſe Monſters in their
cruel bloody Entertainment, and if poffible, fave
the Victim they ſhould bring hither to deſtroy. It
would take up a larger Volume than this whole
Work is intended to be, to fet down all the Con-
trivances I hatch'd, or rather brooded upon in my
Thought, for the deftroying thefe Creatures, or at
leaft frighting them, fo as to prevent their coming
hither any more; but all was abortive, nothing
could be poffible to take effect, unleſs I was to be
there to do it my felf; and what could one Man
do among them, when perhaps there might be
twenty or thirty of them together, with their
Darts, or their Bows and Arrows, with which
they could ſhoot as true to a Mark, as I could with
my Gun?
Sometimes I contriv'd to dig a Hole under the
Place where they made their Fire, and put in five
or fix Pound of Gun-Powder, which when they
kindled their Fire, would confequently take Fire,
and blow up all that was near it but as in the firſt
Place I fhould be very loth to waft ſo much Powder
upon them, my Store being now within the Quan-
tity of one Barrel; fo neither could I be fure of its
going off, at any certain Time; when it might fur-
priſe them, and at beſt, that it would do little more
than just blow the Fire about their Ears and fright
them, but not fufficient to make them forfake the
Place; fo I laid it afide, and then propos'd, that
I would place my felf in Ambuſh, in fome con-
venient Place, with my three Guns, all double
loaded; and in the middle of their bloody Cere-
mony, let fly at them, when I fhould be fure to kill
or wound perhaps two or three at every ſhoot; and
then falling in upon them with my three Piftols,
04
and
[200]
and my Sword, I made no doubt, but that if there was
twenty I ſhould kill them all: This Fancy pleas'd my
Thoughts for fome Weeks, and I was fo full of it, that
I often dream'd of it; and fometimes that I was juſt
going to let fly at them in my Sleep.
I went fo far with it in my Imagination, that I
employ'd my felf feveral Days to find out proper
Places to put my felf in Ambufcade, as I faid, to
watch for them; and I went frequently to the Place
it felf, which was now grown more familiar to
me; and eſpecially while my Mind was thus fill'd
with Thoughts of Revenge, and of a bloody put-
ting 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 devour-
ing one another, abated my Malice.
Well, at length I found a Place in the Side of
the Hill, where I was fatisfy'd I might fecurely
wait, till I faw any of their Boats coming, and
might then, even before they would be ready to
come on Shore, convey my ſelf unfeen into Thickets
of Trees, in one of which there was a Hollow
large enough to conceal me entirely; and were I
might fit, and obferve all their bloody Doings, and
take my full aim at their Heads, when they were
fo cloſe together, as that it would be next to im-
poffible that I ſhould miss my Shoot, or that I could
fail wounding three or four of them at the firſt
Shoot.
In this Place then I refolv'd to fix my Deſign,
and accordingly I prepar'd two Muskets, and my
ordinary Fowling Piece. The two Muskets I
loaded with a Brace of Slugs each, and four or five
fmaller Bullets, about the Size of Piftol Bullets;
and the Fowling Piece I loaded with near a Hand-
ful of Swan-fhot, of the largeſt Size; I alſo loaded
my Piſtols with about four Bullets each, and in this
Pofture,
[201]
Poſture, well provided with Ammunition for a fe-
cond and third Charge, I prepar'd my ſelf for my
Expedition.
After I had thus laid the Scheme of my Defign,
and in my Imagination put it in Practice, I conti-
nually made my Tour every Morning up to the
Top of the Hill, which was from my Caftle, as I
call'd it, about three Miles, or more, to fee if I
cou'd obferve any Boats upon the Sea, coming near
the Ifland, or ftanding over towards it; but I be-
gan 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 leaft Appear-
ance, not only on, or near the Shore; but not on
the Whole Ocean, fo far as my Eyes or Glaffes
could reach every Way.
As long as I kept up my daily Tour to the Hill,
to look out; fo long alfo I kept up the Vigour of
my Defign, and my Spirits feem'd to be all the
while in a fuitable Form, for fo outragious an Exe-
cution as the killing twenty or thirty naked Savages,
for an Offence which I had not at all entred into a
Difcuffion of in my Thoughts, any farther than my
Paffions were at firſt fir'd by the Horror I conceiv'd
at the unnatural Cuſtom of that People of the Coun-
try, who it ſeems had been fuffer'd by Providence
in his wife Difpofition of the World, to have no o-
ther Guide than that of their own abominable and
vitiated Paffions; and confequently were left, and
perhaps had been fo for fome Ages, to act fuch
horrid Things, and receive fuch dreadful Cu-
ftoms, as nothing but Nature entirely abandon'd
of Heaven, and acted by fome hellish Degeneracy,
could have run them into: But now, when as I
have faid, I began to be weary of the fruitlefs Ex-
curfion, which I had made fo long, and fo far, eve-
ry
[202]
ry Morning in vain, fo my Opinion of the Action
it felf began to alter, and I began with cooler and
calmer Thoughts to confider what it was I was go-
ing 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 fo many Ages to fuffer unpunifh'd, to go on,
and to be as it were, the Executioners of his Judg-
ments 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
fhed promifcuouſly one upon another. I debated
this very often with my felf thus; How do I know
what God himſelf judges in this particular Cafe; it
is certain theſe People either do not commit this as
a Crime; it is not against their own Confciences
reproving, or their Light reproaching them. They
do not know it be an Offence, and then commit
it in Defiance of Divine Juftice, 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 humane Flefh, than we
do to eat Mutton.
When I had confider'd this a little, it follow'd
neceffarily, that I was certainly in the Wrong in
it, that theſe People were not Murtherers in the
Senfe that I had before condemn'd them, in my
Thoughs; any more than thofe Chriftians were
Murtherers, 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 fubmitted.
In the next Place it occurr'd to me, that albeit the
Ufage they thus gave one another, was thus brutifh
and inhuman; yet it was really nothing to me:
Theſe People had done me no Injury. That if they
.1
attempted
:
[203]
attempted me, or I faw it neceffary for my imme-
diate Preſervation to fall upon them, fomething
might be faid for it; but that as I was yet out of
their Power, and they had really no Knowledge
me, and confequently no Defign upon me; and
therefore it could not be juft for me to fall upon
them. That this would juſtify the Conduct of the
Spaniards in all their Barbarities practis'd in Ame-
rica, and where they deftroy'd Millions of theſe
People, who however they were Idolaters and Bar-
barians, and had feveral bloody and barbarous
Rites in their Cuftoms, fuch as facrificing human
Bodies to their Idols, were yet, as to the Spaniards,
very innocent People; and that the rooting them
out of the Country, is fpoken of with the utmoft
Abhorrence and Deteftation, by even the Spaniards
themſelves, at this Time; and by all other Chriſti-
an Nations of Europe, as a meer Butchery, a bloo-
dy and unnatural Piece of Cruelty, unjuſtifiable ei-
ther to God or Man; and ſuch, as for which the ve-
ry Name of a Spaniard is reckon'd to be frightful
and terrible to all People of Humanity, or of Chri-
ſtian Compaffion: 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 Miferable,
which is reckon'd to be a Mark of generous Tem-
per in the Mind.
Theſe Confiderations really put me to a Paufe,
and to a kind of a Full-ftop; and I began by little
and little to be off of my Defign, and to conclude,
I had taken wrong Meaſures in my Refolutions to
attack the Savages; that it was not my Buſineſs to
meddle with them, unleſs they first attack'd me,
and this it was my Bufinefs if poffible to prevent;
but that if I were difcover'd, and attack'd, then I
knew my Duty.
On
[204]
On the other hand, I argu'd with my felf, That
this really was the way not to deliver my ſelf, but
entirely to ruin and deſtroy my ſelf; for unleſs I was
fure to kill every one that not only fhould be on
Shore at that Time, but that ſhould ever come on
Shore afterwards, if but one of them efcap'd, to
tell their Country People what had happen'd, they
would come over again by Thouſands to re-
venge the Death of their Fellows, and I fhould
only bring upon my felf a certain Deftruction,
which at preſent I had no manner of occafi-
on for.
Upon the whole I concluded, That neither in
Principle or in Policy, I ought one way or other to
concern my ſelf in this Affair.
felf in this Affair. That my Buſineſs
was by all poffible Means to conceal my felf from
them, and not to leave the leaft Signal to them to
gueſs by, that there were any living Creatures up-
on the Ifland; I mean of humane Shape.
Religion joyn'd in with this Prudential, and I
was convinc'd now many Ways, that I was per-
fectly out of my Duty, when I was laying all my
bloody Schemes for the Deftruction 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 Nati-
onal, and I ought to leave them to the Juftice of
God, who is the Governour of Nations, and
knows how by National Puniſhments to make a juſt
Retribution for National Offences; and to bring
publick Judgments upon thoſe who offend in a pub-
lick Manner, by fuch Ways as beſt pleaſes him.
This appear'd fo clear to me now, that nothing
was a greater Satisfaction to me, than that I had
not been fuffer'd to do a Thing which I now faw
fo much Reaſon to believe would have been no lefs
a Sin, than that of wilful Murther, if I had com-
mitted
[205]
mitted it; and I gave moſt humbie Thanks on my
Knees to God, that had thus deliver'd me from
Blood-Guiltinefs; befeeching him to grant me the
Protection of his Providence, that I might not fall
into the Hands of the Barbarians; or that I might
not lay my Hands upon them, unleſs I had a more
clear Call from Heaven to do it, in Defence of my
own Life.
In this Difpofition I continu'd, for near a Year
after this; and fo far was I from defiring an Oc-
cafion for falling upon theſe Wretches, that in all
that Time, I never once went up the Hill to fee
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 re-
new any of my Contrivances againſt them, or be
provok'd by any Advantage which might preſent it
ſelf, to fall upon them; only this I did, I went and
remov'd my Boat, which I had on the other Side
the Iſland, and carry'd it down to the East End of
the whole Iſland, where I ran it into a little Cove
which I found under fome 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 carry'd away every Thing that
I had left there belonging to her, though not ne-
ceffary 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
call'd either Anchor or Grapling; however, it was
the best I could make of its kind: All theſe I re-
mov'd, that there might not be the leaft Shadow
of any Diſcovery, or any Appearance of any Boat,
or of any human Habitation upon the Ifland.
Befides this, I kept my ſelf, as I faid, more re-
tir'd than ever, and feldom went from my Cell, o-
ther
[206]
ther than upon my conftant 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 fometimes
haunted this Ifland, never came with any Thoughts
of finding any Thing here; and confequently never
wandred off from the Coaft; and I doubt not, but
they might have been ſeveral Times on Shore, after
my Apprehenfions of them had made me cautious as
well as before; and indeed, I look'd back with
fome Horror upon the Thoughts of what my Con-
dition would have been, if I had chop'd upon them,
and been diſcover'd before that, when naked and
unarm'd, except with one Gun, and that loaden of-
ten only with ſmall Shot, I walk'd every where
peeping, and peeping about the Ifland, to fee what
I could get; what a Surpriſe fhould I have been in,
if when I diſcover'd 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 Poffibility of my eſcaping
them.
The Thoughts of this fometimes funk my very
Soul within me, and diſtreſs'd my Mind fo much,
that I could not foon recover it, to think what I
ſhould have done, and how I not only fhould not
have been able to refift them, but even fhould not
have had Preſence of Mind enough to do what I
might have done; much lefs, what now after fo
much Confideration and Preparation I might be a-
ble to do: Indeed, after ſerious thinking of theſe
Things, I fhould be very Melancholly; and fome-
times it would laſt a great while; but I refolv'd it
at laſt all into Thankfulneís to that Providence,
which had deliver'd me from fo many unfeen Dan-
gers, and had kept me from thofe Mifchiefs which
I could
[207]
my
I could no way have been the Agent in delivering
felf from; becauſe I had not the leaft Notion of
any fuch Thing depending, or the leaſt Suppofition
of it being poffible.
This renew'd a Contemplation, which often had
come to my Thoughts in former Time, when firſt
I began to fee the merciful Difpofitions of Heaven,
in the Dangers we run through in this Life. How
wonderfully we are deliver'd, when we know no-
thing of it. How when we are in (a Quandary, as
we call it) a Doubt or Hefitation, whether to go
this Way, or that Way, a fecret Hint ſhall direct
us this Way, when we intended to go that Way;
nay, when Senſe, our own Inclination, and perhaps
Buſineſs has call'd to go the other Way, yet a ſtrange
Impreffion upon the Mind, from we know not what
Springs, and by we know not what Power, fhall o-
ver-rule us to go this Way; and it ſhall afterwards
appear, that had we gone that Way which we ſhould
have gone, and even to our Imagination ought to
have gone, we fhould have been ruin'd and loft:
Upon theſe, and many like Reflections, I after-
wards made it a certain Rule with me, That when-
ever I found thoſe fecret Hints, or preffings of my
Mind, to doing, or not doing any Thing that pre-
fented; or to going this Way, or that Way, I never
fail'd to obey the fecret Dictate; though I knew no
other Reaſon for it, than that fuch a Preffure, or
fuch a Hint hung upon my Mind: I could give ma-
ny Examples of the Succefs of this Conduct in the
Courſe of my Life; but more eſpecially in the lat-
ter Part of my inhabiting this unhappy Iſland; be-
fides many Occafions which it is very likely I might
have taken Notice of, if I had feen with the fame
Eyes then, that I faw with now: But 'tis never too
late to be wife; and I cannot but adviſe all confi-
dering Men, whofe Lives are attended with fuch ex-
traordinary
[208]
traordinary Incidents as mine, or even though not
fo extraordinary, not to flight fuch fecret Intimati-
ons of Providence, let them come from what invifi-
ble Intelligence they will, that I fhall not difcufs,
and perhaps cannot account for; but certainly they
are a Proof of the Converſe of Spirits, and the fe-
cret Communication between thofe embody'd, and
thofe unembody'd; and fuch a Proof as can never
'be withſtood: Of which I fhall have Occafion to
give fome very remarkable Inftances, in the Re-
mainder of my folitary Refidence in this difmak
Place.
I believe the Reader of this will not think
ftrange, if I confefs that theſe Anxieties, thefe con-
ftant Dangers I liv'd 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 Conveniencies.
I had the
Care of my Safety more now upon my Hands, than
that of my Food. I car'd not to drive a Nail, or
chop a Stick of Wood now, for fear the Noife I
ſhould make ſhould be heard; much lefs would I
fire a Gun, for the fame Reaſon; and above all, I
was intollerably uneafy at making any Fire, leaft
the Smoke which is vifible at a great Diſtance in the
Day ſhould betray me; and for this Reaſon I re-
mov'd that Part of my Buſineſs which requir'd Fire;
fuch 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 Confo-
lation, a meer natural Cave in the Earth, which
went in a vaſt way, and where, I dare fay, no Sa-
vage, had he been at the Mouth of it, would be fo
hardy as to venture in, nor indeed, would any Man
elfe; but one who like me, wanted nothing fo much.
as a fafe Retreat.
The
[209]
The Mouth of this Hollow, was at the Bottom
of a great Rock, where by meer accident, (I would
fay, if I did not fee abundant Reaſon to afcribe all
fuch Things now to Providence) I was cutting
down fome thick Branches of Trees, to make
Charcoal; and before I go on, I muft obferve the
Reaſon of my making this Charcoal; which was
thus:
I was afraid of making a Smoke about my Ha-
bitation, as I faid before; and yet I could not live
there without baking my Bread, cooking my Meat,
&c. fo I contriv'd to burn fome Wood here, as I
had ſeen done in England, under Turf, till it be-
came Chark, or dry Coal; and then putting the
Fire out, I preferv'd the Coal to carry Home; and
perform the other Services which Fire was want-
ing for at Home without Danger of Smoke.
But this is by the by: While I was cutting down
fome Wood here, 1 perceiv'd that behind a very
thick Branch of low Brushwood, or under Wood,
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 fay, fufficient for me to ſtand upright in it,
and perhaps another with me; but I must confefs
to you, I made more haft out than I did in, when
looking farther into the Place, and which was per-
fectly dark, I faw two broad fhining Eyes of fome
Creature, whether Devil or Man I knew not,
which twinkl'd like two Stars, the dim Light from
the Cave's Mouth fhining directly in and making
the Reflection,
However, after fome Pauſe, I recover'd my ſelf,
and began to call my felf a thoufand Fools, and
tell my ſelf, that he that was afraid to ſee the De-
vil, was not fit to live twenty Years in an Iſland all
alone; and that I durft to believe there was no-
P
thing
[210]
thing in this Cave that was more frightful than my
felf; upon this, plucking up my Courage, I took
up a great Firebrand, and in I rufh'd again, with
the Stick flaming in my Hand; I had not gone
three Steps in, but I was almoſt as much frighted
as I was before; for I heard a very loud Sigh, like
that of a Man in fome Pain, and it was follow'd
by a broken Noife, as if of Words half exprefs'd,
and then a deep Sigh again: I ftepp'd back, and
was indeed ftruck with fuch a Surprize, that it put
me into a cold Sweat; and if I had had a Hat on
my Head, I will not anfwer for it, that my Hair
might not have lifted it off. But ftill plucking up
my Spirits as well as I could, and encouraging my
felf a little with confidering that the Power and
Prefence of God was every where, and was able
to protect me; upon this I ftepp'd forward again,
and by the Light of the Firebrand, holding it up
a little over my Head, I faw lying on the Ground
a moſt monftrous frightful old He-goat, juſt ma-
king his Will, as we fay, and gaſping for Life, and
dying indeed of meer old Age.
I ſtirr'd him a little to fee if I could get him out,
and he effay'd to get up, but was not able to raiſe
himſelf; and I thought with my felf, he might e-
ven lie there; for if he had frighted me fo, he
would certainly fright any of the Savages, if any
of them fhould be fo hardy as to come in there,
while he had any Life in him.
I was now recover'd from my Surprize, and be-
gan to look ronnd me, when I found the Cave was
but very fmall, that is to fay, it might be about
twelve Foot over, but in no manner of Shape, ei-
ther round or fquare, no Hands having ever been
employ'd in making it, but thofe of meer Nature:
I obferv'd alſo, that there was a Place at the far-
ther Side of it, that went in farther, but was fo
low,
[211]
low, that it requir'd me to creep upon my Hands
and Knees to go into it, and whither I went I
knew not; fo having no Candle, I gave it over for
fome Time; but refolv'd to come again the next
Day, provided with Candles, and a Tinder-box,
which I had made of the Lock of one of the Muf-
kets, with fome wild-fire in the Pan.
Accordingly the next Day, I came provided
with fix 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 oblig'd to
creep upon all Fours, as I have faid, almoſt ten
Yards; which by the way, I thought was a
Venture bold enough, confidering 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 rofe higher up, I believe near twenty Foot;
but never was fuch a glorious Sight feen in the I-
fland, I dare fay, as it was, to look round the Sides and
Roof of this Vault, or Cave; the Walls reflected 100
thouſand Lights to me from my two Candles;
what it was in Rock, whether Diamonds, or a-
ny other precious Stones, or Gold, which I rather
fuppos'd it to be, I knew not.
The Place I was in, was a moft delightful Cavi-
ty, or Grotto, of its kind, as could be expected,
though perfectly dark; the Floor was dry and
level, and had a fort of fmall lofe Gravel upon
it, fo that there was no naufeous or venemous
Creature to be feen, neither was there any damp,
or wet, on the Sides or Roof: The only Difficul
ty in it was the Entrance, which however as it
was a Place of Security, and fuch a Retreat as I
wanted, I thought that was a Convenience; ſo
that I was really rejoyc'd at the Diſcovery, and re-
folv'd without any Delay, to bring fome of thoſe
Things which I was moft anxious about, to this
P 2
Place;
[212]
Place; particularly, I refolv'd to bring hither my
Magazine of Powder, and all my fpare Arms, viz.
Two Fowling-Pieces, for I had three in all; and
three Muskets, for of them I had eight in all; for
I kept at my Caſtle only five, which flood ready
mounted like Pieces of Cannon, on my out-moſt
Fence; and were ready alfo to take out upon any
Expedition.
Upon this Occafion of removing my Ammu-
nition, I took occafion to open the Barrel of Pow-
der 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 grow-
ing hard, had preferv'd the infide like a Kernel
in a Shell; fo that I had near fixty Pound of very
good Powder in the Center of the Cask, and this
was an agreeable Diſcovery to me at that Time;
fo I carry'd all away thither, never keeping above
two or three Pound of Powder with me in my
Caſtle, for fear of a Surprize of any kind: I alfo
carried thither all the Lead I had left for Bullets.
I fancy'd my felf now like one of the ancient
Giants, which are faid to live in Caves, and Holes,
in the Rocks, where none could come at them;
for I perfwaded my felf while I was here, if five:
hnndred Savages were to hunt me, they could ne-
ver find me out; or if they did, they would not
venture to attack me here.
The old Goat who I found expiring, dy'd 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 co-
ver him with Earth, than to drag him out; fo I
interr'd him there, to prevent the Offence to my
Noſe.
I was
[213]
I was now in my twenty third Year of Refi-
dence in this Ifland, and was fo naturaliz'd to the
Place, and to the Manner of Living, that could I
have but enjoy'd 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 laft Mo-
ment, till I had laid me down and dy'd, like the old
Goat in the Cave. I had alſo arriv'd to fome little
Diverfions 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 fo familiarly,
and talk'd fo articulately and plain, that it was
very pleaſant to me; and he liv'd with me no lefs
than fix and twenty Years: How long he might
live afterwards, I know not; though I know they
have a Notion in the Brafils, that they live a hun-
dred Years; perhaps poor Poll may be alive there
ftill, calling after Poor Robin Crufoe to this Day. I
with no English Man 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 lefs than fix-
teen Years of my Time, and then dy'd, of meer
old Age; as for my Cats, they multiply'd as I have
obferv'd to that Degree, that I was oblig'd to ſhoot
feveral of them at firft, to keep them from devour-
ing me, and all I had; but at length, when the
two old Ones I had brought with me were gone, and
after fome time continually driving them from me,
and letting them have no Provifion with me, they
all ran wild into the Woods, except two or three
Favourites, which I kept tame; and whofe Young
when they had any, I always drown'd; and theſe
were part of my Family: Befides thefe, I always
kept two or three houfhold Kids about me, who I
taught
P 3
[214]
taught to feed out of my Hand; and I had two
more Parrots which talk'd pretty well, and would
all call Robin Crufoe; but none like my firft; nor in-
deed did I take the Pains with any of them that I
had done with him. I had alfo feveral tame Sea-
Fowls, whofe Names I know not, who I caught
upon the Shore, and cut their Wings; and the lit-
tle Stakes which I had planted before my Caftle
Wall being now grown up to a good thick Grove,
thefe Fowls all liv'd among thefe low Trees, and
bred there, which was very agreeable to me; fo
that as I faid above, I began to be very well con-
tented with the Life I led, if it might but have
been fecur'd from the dread of the Savages.
But it was otherwiſe directed; and it may not be
amifs for all People who ſhall meet wirh my Story,
to make this juſt Obſervation from it, viz. How
frequently in the Courfe of our Lives, the Evil-
which in it ſelf we ſeek moft to fhun, 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 rais'd again
from the Affliction we are fallen into. I cou'd give
many Examples of this in the Courſe of my unac-
countable Life; but in nothing was it more parti-
cularly remarkable, than in the Circumftances of
my laft Years of folitary Refidence in this Ifland.
It was now the Month of December, as I faid a-
bove, in my twenty third Year; and this being the
Southern Solftice, for Winter I cannot call it, was
the Particular Time of my Harveſt, and requir'd.
my being pretty much abroad in the Fields, when
going out pretty early in the Morning, even before
it was thorow Day-light, I was furpriz'd with fee-
ing a Light of fome Fire upon the Shore, at a Di-
ſtance from me, of about two Mile towards the
End of the Iſland, where I had obſerv'd ſome Sa-
vages
[215]
vages 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 furpriz'd at the Sight, and
ſtepp'd fhort within my Grove, not daring to go
out, leaſt I might be furpriz'd; and yet I had no
more Peace within, from the Apprehenfions I had,
that if theſe Savages in rambling over the Ifland,
ſhould find my Corn ftanding, or cut, or any of my
Works and Improvements, they would immediate-
ly 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, pull'd up the Ladder after me, and made
all Things without look as wild and natural as
I could.
Then I prepar'd my felf within, putting my ſelf
in a Pofture of Defence; I loaded all my Cannon,
as I call'd them; that is to fay, my Muskets,
which were mounted upon my new Fortification,
and all my Piſtols, and refolv'd to defend my felf to
the laſt Gafp, not forgetting ſeriouſly to commend
my felf to the Divine Protection, and earneſtly to
pray to God to deliver me out of the Hands of the
Barbarians; and in this Pofture I continu'd about
two Hours; but began to be mighty impatient for
Intelligence abroad, for I had no Spies to fend out.
After fitting a while longer, and mufing what I
fhould do in this Cafe, I was not able to bear fit-
ting in Ignorance any longer; fo fetting up my Lad-
der to the Side of the Hill, where there was a flat
Place, as I obferv'd before, and then pulling the
Ladder up after me, I fet it up again, and moun-
ted 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 prefently found
P 4
there
[216]
there was no leſs than nine naked Savages, fitting
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 fuppos'd, to dreſs
fome of their barbarous Diet, of humane Fleſh,
which they had brought with them, whether alive
or dead I could not know.
They had two Canoes with them, which they
had haled up upon the Shore; and as it was then
Tide of Ebb, they ſeem'd to me to wait for the
Return of the Flood, to go away again; it is not
eafy to imagine what Confufion this Sight put me
into, eſpecially feeing them come on my Side the
Ifland, and fo near me too; but when I obferv'd
their coming must be always with the Current of
the Ebb, I began afterwards to be more fedate in
my Mind, being fatisfy'd 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 Obfervation, I went abroad about my Harveſt
Work with the more Compofure.
As I expected, ſo it proved; for as ſoon as the
Tide made to the Westward, I faw them all take
Boat, and row (or paddle as we call it) all away:
I fhould have obferv'd, that for an Hour and more
before they went off, they went to dancing, and I
could eaſily diſcern their Poftures, and Geſtures,
by my Glaffes I could not perceive by my niceft
Obfervation, but that they were ftark naked, and
had not the leaſt covering npon them; but whether
they were Men or Women, that I could not di-
ftinguiſh.
As foon as I faw them fhipp'd, and gone, I took
two Guns upon my Shoulders, and two Piftols at
my Girdle, and my great Sword by my Side, with-
out a Scabbard, and with all the Speed I was able
to make, I went away to the Hill, where I had dif
cover'd
[217]
cover'd the first Appearance of all; and as foon
as I gat thither, which was not less than two
Hours; for I could not go apace, being fo loaden,
with Arms as I was. I perceiv'd there had been
three Canoes more of Savages on that Place; and
looking out farther, I faw they were all at Sea to-
gether, making over for the Main.
This was a dreadful Sight to me, eſpecially when
going down to the Shore, I could fee the marks of
Horror, which the diſmal Work they had been a-
bout had left behind it, viz. The Blood, the Bones,
and part of the Fleſh of humane Bodies, eaten and
devour'd by thofe Wretches, with Merriment and
Sport: I was fo fill'd 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 foever.
It ſeem'd evident to me, that the Vifits which
they thus make to this Ifland, are not very fre-
quent; for it was above fifteen Months before any
more of them came on Shore there again; that is
to fay, I neither faw them, or any Footſteps, or
Signals of them, in all that Time; for as to the
rainy Seafons, then they are fure not to come a-
broad, at leaſt not fo far; yet all this while I liv'd
uncomfortably, by reafon of the conftant Apprehen-
fions I was in of their coming upon me by Surprize;
from whence I obferve, that the Expectation of E-
vil is more bitter than the Suffering, efpecially if
there is no room to ſhake off that Expectation, or
thoſe Apprehenſions.
During all this Time, I was in the murthering
Humour; and took up most of my Hours, which
fhould have been better employ'd, in contriving
how to circumvent, and fall upon them, the very
next Time I ſhould fee them; efpecially if they
fhould be divided, as they were the laft Time, in-
to
[218]
to two Parties; nor did I confider at all, that if I
kill'd one Party, fuppofe Ten, or a Dozen, I was
ftill the next Day, or Week, or Month, to kill a-
another, and ſo another, even ad infinitum, till I
fhould be at length no lefs a Murtherer than they
were in being Man-eaters; and perhaps much
more fo.
I ſpent my Days now in great Perplexity, and
Anxiety of Mind, expecting that I fhould one Day
or other fall into the Hands of theſe mercilefs Crea-
tures; and if I did at any Time venture abroad, it
was not without looking round me with the grea-
teſt 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 durft not upon any account fire my Gun, efpeci-
ally near that Side of the Ifland where they uſually
came, leaſt I fhould alarm the Savages; and if
they had fled from me now, I was fure 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 faw any more of the Savages, and
then I found them again, as I fhall foon obferve. It
is true, they might have been there once, or twice;
but either they made no ftay, or at leaft 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 fif-
teen or fixteen Months Interval, was very great; I
flept unquiet, dream'd always frightful Dreams,
and often ſtarted out of my Sleep in the Night: In
the Day great Troubles overwhelm'd my Mind,
and in the Night I dream'd often of killing the
Savages,
[219]
Savages, and of the Reaſons why I might juftify
the doing of it; but to wave all this for a while;
it was in the middle of May, on the fixteenth Day
I think, as well as my poor wooden Calendar
would reckon; for I markt all upon the Poft ftill;
I fay, it was the fixteenth 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 Occafion of it; but as I was reading in
the Bible, and taken up with very ferious Thoughts
about my preſent Condition, I was furpriz'd with a
Noife of a Gun as I thought fir'd at Sea.
This was to be fure a Surprize of a quite diffe-
rent 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 haſt
imaginable, and in a trice clapt my Ladder to the
middle Place of the Rock, and pull'd if after me,
and mounting it the fecond Time, got to the Top
of the Hill, the very Moment, that a Flafh of Fire
bid me liften for a fecond Gun, which accordingly,
in about half a Minute I heard; and by the found,
knew that it was from that Part of the Sea where I
was driven down the Current in my Boat.
I immediately confider'd that this must be fome
Ship in Diſtreſs, and that they had fome Comrade,
or fome other Ship in Company, and fir'd thefe Guns
for Signals of Diftrefs, and to obtain Help: I had
this Prefence of Mind at that Minute, as to think
that though I could not help them, it may be
they might help me; fo I brought together all the
dry Wood I could get at hand, and making a good
handſome Pile, I fet it on Fire upon the Hill; the
Wood was dry, and blaz'd freely; and though the
Wind blew very hard, yet it burnt fairly out; that
I was certain, if there was any fuch Thing as a
Ship,
[220]
Ship, they muſt needs fee it, and no doubt they
did; for as foon as ever my Fire blaz'd up, I heard
another Gun, and after that feveral others, all from
the fame Quarter; I ply'd my Fire all Night long,
till Day broke; and when it was broad Day, and
the Air clear'd up, I faw fomething at a great Di-
ftance at Sea, full East of the Ifland, whether a
Sail, or a Hull, I could not diſtinguiſh, no not with
my Glaffes, the Diſtance was fo great, and the
Weather ſtill ſomething haizy alfo; at leaft it was
fo out at Sea.
I look'd frequently at it all that Day, and foon
perceiv'd that it did not move; fo I prefently con-
cluded, that it was a Ship at an Anchor, and being
eager, you may be fure, to be fatisfy'd, I took my
Gun in my Hand, and run toward the South Side of
the Iſland, to the Rocks where I had formerly been
carry'd away with the Current, and getting up
there, the Weather by this Time being perfectly
clear, I could plainly fee to my great Sorrow, the
Wreck of a Ship caft away in the Night, upon
thoſe concealed Rocks which I found, when I was
out in my Boat; and which Rocks, as they check'd
the Violence of the Stream, and made a kind of
Counter-ftream, or Eddy, were the Occafion of my
recovering from the moſt deſperate hopeleſs Con-
dition that ever I had been in, in all my Life.
Thus what is one Man's Safety, is another Man's
Deftruction; 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 feen the Ifland, as I muſt
neceffarily fuppofe they did not, they muft, as I
thought, have endeavour'd to have fav'd themſelves
on Shore by the Help of their Boat; but their firing
of Guns for Help, efpecially when they faw, as I
imagin'd,
[: 221]
imagin'd, my Fire, fill'd me with many Thoughts:
First, I imagin'd that upon feeing my Light, they
might have put themfelves into their Boat, and
have endeavour'd to make the Shore; but that the
Sea going very high, they might have been caſt a-
way; other Times I imagin'd, that they might
have loft their Boat before, as might be the Cafe
many Ways; as particularly by the Breaking of the
Sea upon their Ship, which many Times obliges
Men to ftave, or take in Pieces their Boat; and
fometimes to throw it over-board with their own
Hands: Other Times I imagin'd, they had fome
other Ship, or Ships in Company, who upon the
Signals of Diftrefs they had made, had taken them
up, and carry'd them off: Other whiles I fancy'd,
they were all gone off to Sea in their Boat, and be-
ing hurry'd away by the Current that I had been
formerly in, were carry'd out into the great Ocean,
where there was nothing but Mifery and Perifhing;
and that perhaps they might by this Time think
of ftarving, and of being in a Condition to eat
one another.
As all theſe were but Conjectures at beft; fo in
the Condition I was in, I could do no more than
look on upon the Mifery of the poor Men, and
pity them, which had ftill this good Effect on
my Side that it gave me more and more Cauſe
to give Thanks to God who had fo happily and
comfortably provided for me in my defolate Con-
dition; and that of two Ships Companies who were
now caft away upon this part of the World, not
one Life ſhould be fpar'd but mine: I learn'd here
again to obferve, that it is very rare that the Pro-
vidence of God cafts us into any Condition of Life
fo low, or any Mifery fo great, but we may fee
fomething or other to be thankful for; and may
fee others in worſe Circumſtances than our own.
Such
[222]
Such certainly was the Cafe of theſe Men, of
whom I could not fo much as fee room to fup-
poſe any of them were fav'd; nothing could make
it rational, fo much as to wifh, or expect that they
did not all perish there; except the Poffibility only
of their being taken up by another Ship in Com-
pany, and this was but meer Poffibility indeed; for
I faw not the leaft Signal or Appearance of any
fuch Thing.
I cannot explain by any poffible Energy of Words
what a ftrange longing or hankering of Defires I
felt in my Soul upon this Sight; breaking out fome-
times thus; O that there had been but one or
two; nay, or but one Soul fav'd out of this Ship,
to have eſcap'd to me, that I might but have had
one Companion, one Fellow-Creature to have fpo-
ken to me, and to have convers'd with! In all the
Time of my folitary Life, I never felt ſo earneſt,
ſo ſtrong a Defire after the Society of my Fellow-
Creatures, or fo deep a Regret at the want of it.
There are ſome fecret moving Springs in the Af-
fections, which when they are fet a going by fome
Object in view; or be it fome Object, though not in
view, yet rendred preſent to the Mind by the
Power of Imagination, that Motion carries out the
Soul by its Impetuofity to fuch violent eager embra-
cings of the Object, that the Abfence of it is in-
ſupportable.
Such were thefe earneſt Wiſhings, That but one
Man had been fav'd! O that it had been but One! I
believe I repeated the Words, O that it had been but
One! A thouſand Times; and the Defires were fo
mov'd by it, that when I fpoke the Words, my
Hands would clinch together, and my Fingers preſs
the Palms of my Hands, that if I had had
any foft
Thing in my Hand, it would have cruſht it invo-
luntarily; and my Teeth in my Head wou'd ftrike.
together
[223]
together, and fet againſt one another fo ftrong, that
for fome time I cou'd not part them again.
Let the Naturalifts explain theſe Things, and
the Reafon and Manner of them; all I can fay to
them, is, to defcribe the Fact, which was even
furpriſing to me when I found it; though I knew
not from what it fhould proceed; it was doubtless
the effect of ardent Wishes, and of ftrong Ideas
form'd in my Mind, realizing the Comfort, which
the Converſation of one of my Fellow-Chriftians
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 fa-
ved out of that Ship or no; and had only the Affli-
ction fome Days after, to fee the Corps of a' drown-
ded Boy come on Shore, at the End of the Iſland
which was next the Shipwreck: He had on no
Cloaths, but a Seaman's Waftcoat, a pair of open
knee'd Linnen Drawers, and a blew Linnen Shirt;
but nothing to direct me fo 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 laft was to me of ten times more value than
the firft.
It was now calm, and I had a great mind to
venture out in my Boat, to this Wreck; not doubt-
ing but I might find fomething on board, that
might be uſeful to me; but that did not altogether
prefs me fo much, as the Poffibility that there
might be yet fome living Creature on board, whofe
Life I might not only fave, but might by faving
that Life, comfort my own to the laft Degree;
and this Thought clung fo to my Heart, that I
could not be quiet, Night or Day, but I muſt
venture out in my Boat on board this Wreck; and
committing the reft to God's Providence, I thought
the
[224]
the Impreffion was fo ftrong upon my Mind, that
it could not be refifted, that it must come from
fome inviſible Direction, and that I fhould be want-
ing to my felf if I did not go.
Under the Power of this Impreffion, I haften'd
back to my Caſtle, prepar'd every Thing for my
Voyage, took a Quantity of Bread, a great Pot for
freſh Water, a Compaſs to fteer by, a Bottle of
Rum; for I had ftill a great deal of that left; a Bas-
ket full of Raifins: And thus loading my felf with
every Thing neceffary; I went down to my Boat,
got the Water out of her, and got her afloat, load-
ed all my Cargo in her, and then went Home a-
gain for more; my fecond Cargo was a great Bag
full of Rice, the Umbrella to fet up over my Head
for Shade; another large Pot full of freſh Water,
and about two Dozen of my fmall Loaves, or
Barley Cakes, more than before, with a Bottle of
Goat's-Milk, and a Cheeſe; all which, with great
Labour and Sweat, I brought to my Boat; and
praying to God to direct my Voyage, I put out,
and Rowing or Padling the Canoe along the
Shore, I came at laſt to the utmoſt Point of the I-
fland on that Side, (viz.) N.E. And now I was
to laun h out into the Ocean, and either to venture,
or not to venture. I look'd on the rapid Currents
which ran conftantly on both Sides of the Ifland,
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 forefaw that if I was driven into either of
thofe Currents, I fhould be carry'd a vaft Way out
to Sea, and perhaps out of my Reach, or Sight of
the Iſland again; and that then, as my Boat was but
fmall, if any little Gale of Wind fhould rife, I
fhould be inevitably loft.
-1
Thefe
[225]
Thefe Thoughts fo opprefs'd my Mind, that I
began to give over my Enterprize, and having ha-
led my Boat into a little Creek on the Shore, I
ftept out, and fat me down upon a little rifing
bit of Ground, very penſive and anxious, between
Fear and Defire about my Voyage; when as I was
mufing, I could perceive that the Tide was turn'd,
and the Flood come on, upon which my going
was for fo many Hours impracticable; upon this pre-
fently it occurr'd to me, that I fhould go up to the
higheſt Piece of Ground I could find, and obferve,
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
fame Rapidneſs of the Currents: This Thought
was no fooner in my Head, but I caft my Eye up-
on a little Hill, which fufficiently over-look'd 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 my ſelf in my Return; here I
found, that as the Current of the Ebb fet out clofe
by the South Point of the Iſland; fo the Current
of the Flood fet 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.
Encourag'd with this Obfervation, I refolv'd the
Next Morning to ſet out with the firſt of the Tide;
and repofing my ſelf for the Night in the Canoe, under
the great Watch-coat, I mention'd, I launched out:
I made firſt a little out to Sea full North, till I be-
gan to feel the Benefit of the Current, which fet
Eaſtward, and which carry'd me at a great rate,
and yet did not fo hurry me as the Southern Side
Current had done before, and fo as to take from
me all Government of the Boat; but having a
ftrong
Q
[226]
ftrong Steerage with my Paddle, I went at a great
rate, directly for the Wreck, and in lefs than two
Hours I came up to it.
It was a diſmal Sight to look at: The Ship,
which by its building was Spaniſh, ftuck faft,
jaum'd in between two Rocks; all the Stern and
Quarter of her was beaten to pieces, with the Sea;
and as her Forecaſtle, which ftuck in the Rocks,
had run on with great Violence, her Mainmast
and Foremaſt were brought by the Board; that is to
fay, broken fhort aff; but her Boltſprit was found
and the Head and Bow appear'd firm; when I
came cloſe to her, a Dog appear'd upon her, who
ſeeing me coming, yelp'd, and cry'd; and as foon
as I call'd him, jump'd into the Sea, to come to
me, and I took him into the Boat; but found him
almoſt dead for Hunger and Thirft: I gave him a
Cake of my Bread, and he eat it like a ravenous
Wolf, that had been ſtarving a Fortnight in the
Snow: I then gave the poor Creature fome freſh
Water, with which, if I would have let him, he
would have burft himſelf.
After this I went on board; but the first Sight
I met with, was two Men drown'd, 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 ftruck, it being in a
Storm, the Sea broke ſo high, and fo continually
over her, that the Men were not able to bear it,
and were ftrangled with the conftant ruſhing in of
the Water, as much as if they had been under Wa-
ter.
Beſides the Dog, there was nothing left in
the Ship that had life; nor any Goods that I
could see, but what were fpoil'd by the Water.
There were fome Casks of Liquor, whether Wine
or Brandy, I knew not, which lay lower in the
Hold; and which, the Water being ebb'd out, I
could
[227]
could fee; but they were too big to meddle with:
I ſaw ſeveral Chefts, which I believ❜d belong'd to
fome 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 fix'd, and the
Forepart broken off, I am perfwaded I might have
made a good Voyage; for by what I found in theſe
two Chefts, I had room to fuppofe, the Ship had
a great deal of Wealth on board; and if I may
gueſs by the courſe ſhe ſteer'd, ſhe muſt have been
bound from the Buenos Ayres, or the Rio de la Plata,
in the South Part of America, beyond the Brafils,
to the Havana, in the Gulph of Mexico, and fo per-
haps to Spain: She had no doubt a great Treaſure
in her; but of no uſe at that time to any body;
and what became of the reſt of her People, I then
knew not.
I found befides theſe Cheſts, a little Cask full of
Liquor, of about twenty Gallons, which I got into
my Boat, with much Difficulty; there were feveral
Muskets in a Cabin, and a great Powder-horn, with
about 4 Pounds of Powder in it; as for the Muskets
I had no occafion for them; fo I left them, but
took the Powder-horn: I took a Fire Shovel and
Tongs, which I wanted extremely; as alfo two
little Brafs Kettles, a Copper Pot to make Choco-
late, and a Gridiron; and with this Cargo, and
the Dog, I came away, the Tide beginning to
make home again; and the fame Evening, about
an Hour within Night, I reach'd the Iſland again,
weary and fatigu'd to the laſt Degree.
I repos'd that Night in the Boat, and in the Morn-
ing I refolved to harbour what I had gotten in my new
Cave, not to carry it home to my Caſtle. After re-
freſhing my ſelf, 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 fuch
Q 2
as
[228]
as we had at the Brafils; and in a Word, not at all
good; but when I came to open the Cheſts, I
found feveral Things, of great ufe to me: For
Example, I found in one, a fine Cafe of Bottles, of
an extraordinary kind, and fill'd with Cordial Wa-
ters, fine, and very good; the Bottles held about.
three Pints each, and were tipp'd with Silver: I
found two Pots of very good Succades, or Sweet-
meats, ſo faſtned alfo on top, that the Salt Water
had not hurt them; and two more of the fame,.
which the Water had fpoil'd: I found fome very
good Shirts, which were very welcome to me; and
about a dozen and half of Linnen white Handker-
chiefs, and colour'd Neckcloths; the former were
alfo very welcome, being exceeding refreshing to
wipe my Face in a hot Day; befides this, when I
came to the Till in the Cheft, I found there three
great Bags of Pieces of Eight, which held about
eleven hundred Pieces in all; and in one of them,
wrapt up in a Paper, fix Doubloons of Gold, and
fome ſmall Bars or Wedges of Gold; I fuppofe they
might all weigh near a Pound.
The other Cheft I found had fome Cloaths in it,
but of little Value; but by the Circumſtances it
muſt have belong'd to the Gunner's Mate; though
there was no Powder in it; but about two Pound of
fine glaz'd Powder, in three fmall Flasks, kept, I
ſuppoſe, for charging their Fowling-Pieces on oc-
cafion Upon the whole, I got very little by this.
Voyage, that was of any ufe to me; for as to the
Money, I had no manner of occafion 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 great-
ly 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.
[229]
two drown'd Men, who I faw 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 Eafe, or Service; be-
ing rather what we call Pumps, than Shoes: I
found in this Seaman's Cheft, about fifty Pieces of
Eight in Ryals, but no Gold; I fuppofe this be-
long'd to a poorer Man than the other, which
feem'd to belong to fome Officer.
Well, however, I lugg'd 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 faid, that the other Part of this
Ship had not come to my Share; for I am fatisfy'd
I might have loaded my Canoe feveral Times o-
ver with Money, which if I had ever efcap'd to
England, would have lain here fafe enough, till
I might have come again and fetch'd it.
Having now brought all my Things on Shore,
and fecur'd them, I went back to my Boat, and
row'd, or paddled her along the Shore, to her old
Harbour, where I laid her up, and made the beſt
of my way to my old Habitation, where I found
every thing fafe and quiet; fo I began to repofe
my felf, live after my old fashion, and take
care of my Family Affairs; and for a while, I
liv'd eafy enough; only that I was more vigilant
than I uf'd to be, look'd out oftner, and did not
go abroad fo much; and if at any time I did ftir
with any Freedom, it was always to the East
Part of the Ifland, where I was pretty well fa-
tisfy'd the Savages never came, and where I could
go without fo many Precautions, and fuch a Load
of Arms and Ammunition, as I always carry'd with
me, if I went the other way.
I liv'd in this Condition near two Years more;
but my unlucky Head, that was always to let me
Q3
know
[230]
know it was born to make my Body miferable,
was all this two Years fill'd with Projects and
Defigns, how, if it were poffible, I might get away
from this Ifland; for fometimes I was for ma-
king 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, fometimes another; and I be-
lieve verily, if I had had the Boat that I went from
Sallee in, I fhould have ventur'd to Sea, bound
any where, I knew not whither.
I have been in all my Circumftances a Memento
to thoſe who are touched with the general Plague
of Mankind, whence, for ought I know, one half
of their Miferies flow; I mean, that of not being
fatisfy'd with the Station wherein God and Na-
ture has plac'd them; for not to look back upon
my primitive Condition, and the excellent Advice
of my Father, the Oppofition to which, was,
as I may call it, my ORIGINAL SIN; my ſubſequent
Miſtakes of the fame kind had been the Means
of my coming into this miferable Condition; for
had that Providence, which fo happily had feated
me at the Brafils, as a Planter, blefs'd me with
confin'd Defires, 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 I-
Лand, one of the moſt confiderable Planters in the
Brafils, nay, I am perfwaded, that by the Improve-
ments I had made, in that little Time I liv'd there,
and the Encreaſe I ſhould probably have made, if I
had ſtay'd, I might have been worth an hundred
thouſand Moydors; and what Bufinefs had I to
leave a fettled Fortune, a well ſtock'd Plantation,
improving and encreaſing, to turn Supra-Cargo to
Guinea, to fetch Negroes; when Patience and
Time would have fo encreas'd our Stock at
Home,
[231]
Home, that we could have bought them at our own
Door, from thoſe whoſe Buſineſs it was to fetch
them; and though it had coft us fomething more,
yet the Difference of that Price was by no Means
worth faving, at fo great a Hazard.
But as this is ordinarily the Fate of young
Heads, fo Reflection upon the Folly of it, is as
ordinarily the Exerciſe of more Years, or of the
dear bought Experience of Time; and fo it was
with me now; and yet fo deep had the Miſtake
taken root in my Temper, that I could not fatisfy
my felf in my Station, but was continually poring
upon the Means, and Poffibility of my Eſcape from
this Place; and that I may with the greater Plea-
fure to the Reader, bring on the remaining Part of
my Story, it may not be improper, to give fome
Account of my firft Conceptions on the Subject of
this fooliſh Scheme, for my Eſcape; and how, and
upon what Foundation I acted.
I am now to be ſuppos'd retir'd into my Caſtle,
after my late Voyage to the Wreck, my Frigate laid
up, and fecur'd under Water, as ufual, and my Con-
dition reftor'd 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 ufe for it, than the
Indians of Peru had, before the Spaniards came
there.
It was one of the Nights in the rainy Seafon in
March, the four and twentieth Year of my firſt ſet-
ting Foot in this Iſland of Solitarinefs; I was lying
in my bed, or Hammock, awake, very well in
Health, had no Pain, no Diftemper, no Úneafinefs
of Body; no, nor any Uneafinefs of Mind, more
than ordinary; but could by no means cloſe my
Eyes; that is, fo as to fleep; no, not a Wink all
Night long, otherwife than as follows:
Q 4
It
[232]
It is as impoffible, as needlefs, to fet down the
innumerable Crowd of Thoughts that whirl'd
through that great thorow-fare of the Brain, the
Memory, in this Night's Time: I run over the
whole Hiſtory of my Life in Miniature, or by A-
bridgement, as I may call it, to my coming to this
Ifland, and alfo of the Part of my Life, fince I
came to this Ifland. In my Reflections upon the
State of my Cafe, fince I came on Shore on this I-
fland, I was comparing the happy Pofture of my
Affairs, in the first Years of my Habitation here,
compar'd to the Life of Anxiety, Fear and Care,
which I had liv'd ever fince I had feen the Print of
a Foot in the Sand; not that I did not believe the
Savages had frequented the Ifland even all the while,
and might have been feveral Hundreds of them at
Times on Shore there; but I had never known it,
and was incapable of any Apprenfions about it;
my Satisfaction was perfect, though my Danger
was the fame; and I was as happy in not knowing
my Danger, as if I had never really been expos'd to
it: This furnith'd 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, fuch nar-
row bounds to his Sight and Knowledge of Things,
and though he walks in the midft of fo many thou-
fand Dangers, the Sight of which, if diſcover'd to
him, would diftract his Mind, and fink his Spirits;
he is kept ferene, and calm, by having the Events
of Things hid from his Eyes, and knowing nothing
the Dangers which furround him.
After theſe Thoughts had for ſome Time enter-
tain'd me, I came to reflect ſeriouſly upon the real
Danger I had been in, for fo many Years, in this
very Ifland; and how I had walk'd about in the
greateſt Security, and with all poffible Tranquilli-
ty;
[233]
ty; even when perhaps nothing but a Brow of a
Hill, a great Tree, or the cafual 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 feiz'd
on me with the fame 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 Pidgeon, or a
Curlieu I would unjustly flander my felf, if I
fhould fay I was not fincerely thankful to my great
Preferver, to whofe fingular Protection I acknow-
ledg'd, with great Humility, that all theſe unknown
Deliverances were due; and without which, I
muſt inevitably have fallen into their merciless
Hands.
When thefe Thoughts were over, my Head was for
ſome time taken up in confidering the Nature of
thefe wretched Creatures; I mean, the Savages;
and how it came to pafs in the World, that the
wife Governour of all Things fhould give up any of
his Creatures to fuch Inhumanity; nay, to fome-
thing fo much below, even Brutality it felf, as to
devour its own kind; but as this ended in fome
(at that Time fruitless) Speculations, it occurr'd
to me to enquire, what Part of the World theſe
Wretches liv'd in; how far off the Coaſt was from
whence they came; what they ventur'd over ſo far
from home for; what kind of Boats they had;
and why I might not order my ſelf, and my Bufi-
nefs fo, that I might be as able to go over thi-
ther, as they were to come to me.
I never fo much as troubl'd myſelf, to confider
what I ſhould do with my felf, when I came thi-
ther; what would become of me, if I fell into the
Hands of the Savages; or how I fhould eſcape from
them, if they attempted me; no, nor fo much as
how it was poffible for me to reach the Coaſt, and
not
[234]
not to be attempted by fome or other of them, with-
out any Poffibility of delivering my ſelf; and if I
ſhould not fall into their Hands, what I fhould do
for Proviſion, or whither I fhould bend my Courfe;
none of theſe Thoughts, I fay, fo much as came
in my way; but my mind was wholly bent upon
the Notion of my paffing over in my Boat, to the
Main Land I look'd back upon my preſent Con-
dition, as the moſt miſerable that could poffibly be,
that I was not able to throw my felf into any thing
but Death, that could be call'd worse; that if I
reached the Shore of the Main, I might perhaps
meet with Relief, or I might coaft along, as I did
on the Shore of Africk, till I came to fome in-
habited Country, and where I might find fome Re-
lief; and after all perhaps, I might fall in with
fome 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 thefe Miferies at
once. Pray note, all this was the fruit of a di-
ſturb'd Mind, an impatient Temper, made as it
were defperate 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 fo near the obtaining what I fo earneſtly
long'd for, viz. Some-body to fpeak to, and to
learn fome Knowledge from of the Place where I
was, and of the probable Means of my Deliverance;
I fay, I was agitated wholly by theſe Thoughts:
All my Calm of Mind in my Refignation to Provi-
dence, and waiting the Iffue of the Difpofitions of
Heaven, feem'd to be fufpended; and I had, as it
were, no Power to turn my Thoughts to any thing,
but to the Project of a Voyage to the Main, which
came upon me with fuch Force, and fuch an Im-
petuofity of Defire, that it was not to be re-
fifted.
When
[235]
When this had agitated my Thoughts for two
Hours, or more, with fuch Violence, that it ſet
my very Blood into a Ferment, and my Pulle beat
as high as if I had been in a Feaver, meerly with
the extraordinary Fervour of my Mind about it;
Nature, as if I had been fatigued and exhauſted
with the very Thought of it, threw me into a
found Sleep; one would have thought, I fhould
have dream'd of it: But I did not, nor of any
Thing relating to it; but I dream'd, that as I was
going out in the Morning as ufual from my Caftle,
I faw upon the Shore, two Canoes, and eleven Sava-
ges coming to Land, and that they brought with
them another Savage, who they were going to kill,
in Order to eat him; when on a fudden, the Sa-
vage that they were going to kill, jumpt 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 o-
ther fought him that Way, ſhow'd my ſelf to him,
and ſmiling upon him, encourag'd him; that he
kneel'd down to me, feeming to pray me to affift
him; upon which I fhew'd my Ladder, made him
go up, and carry'd him into my Cave, and he be-
came my Servant; and that as foon as I had got-
ten this Man, I faid to my felf, now I may cer-
tainly venture to the main Land; for this Fellow
will ferve me as a Pilot, and will tell me what to
do, and whether to go for Provisions; and whe-
ther not to go for fear of being devoured, what Pla-
ces to venture into, and what to eſcape: I wak'd
with this Thought, and was under fuch inexpref-
fible Impreffions of Joy, at the Proſpect of my Eſcape
in my Dream, that the Diſappointments which I felt
upon coming to my felf, and finding it was no
more than a Dream, were equally extravagant the
other
[236]
other Way, and threw me into a very great Deje-
ction of Spirit.
Upon this however, I made this Conclufion,
that my only Way to go about an Attempt for an
Efcape, was, if poffible, to get a Savage into my
Poffeffion; and if poffible, it fhould be one of their
Priſoners, who they had condemn'd to be eaten,
and fhould bring thither to kill; but theſe
Thoughts ftill were attended with this Difficulty,
that it was impoffible to effect this, without at-
tacking a whole Caravan of them, and killing them
all; and this was not only a very defperate At-
tempt, and might mifcarry; but on the other
Hand, I had greaty fcrupled the Lawfulneſs of it to
me; and my Heart trembled at the thoughts of
fhedding fo much Blood, tho' it was for my Deli-
verance. I need not repeat the Arguments which
occurr'd to me against this, they being the fame
mention'd before; but tho' I had other Reaſons to
offer now (viz.) that thofe Men were Enemies to
my Life, and would devour me, if they could;
that it was Self-prefervation in the highest Degree,
to deliver my ſelf from this Death of a Life, and
was acting in my own Defence, as much as if they
were actually affaulting me, and the like. I fay,
tho' thefe Things argued for it, yet the Thoughts
of fhedding Humane Blood for my Deliverance,
were very Terrible to me, and fuch as I could
by no means reconcile my felf to, a great
while
However at laft, after many fecret Diſputes
with my ſelf, and after great Perplexities about
it, for all theſe Arguments one Way and another
ftruggl'd in my Head a long Time, the eager
prevailing Defire of Deliverance at length maſter'd
all the reft; and I refolved, if poffible, to get one
of thoſe Savages into my Hands, coft what it
would.
[237]
would. My next Thing then was to contrive how
to do it, and this indeed was very difficult to re-
folve on But as I could pitch upon no probable
Means for it, fo I refolv'd to put my felf
upon the
Watch, to ſee them when they came on Shore, and
leave the reſt to the Event, taking fuch Meaſures
as the Opportunity fhould prefent, let be what
would be.
With theſe Reſolutions in my Thoughts, I fet my
felf upon the Scout, as often as poffible, and in-
deed fo often till I was heartily tir'd 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 appear'd.
This was very difcouraging, and began to trou-
ble me much, tho' I cannot fay that it did in this
Cafe, as it had done fome time before that, (viz.)
wear off the Edge of my Defire to the Thing. But
the longer it feem'd to be delay'd, the more eager I
was for it; in a Word, I was not at firft fo care-
ful to fhun the fight of theſe Savages, and avoid
being ſeen by them, as I was now eager to be upon
them.
Befides, I fancied my felf 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 a-
ble at any time to do me any Hurt. It was a great
while, that I pleas'd my felf with this Affair, but
nothing ſtill preſented; all my Fancies and Schemes
came to nothing, for no Savages came near me for
a great while.
About a Year and half after I had entertain'd
theſe Notions, and by long mufing, had as it were
refolved them all into nothing, for want of an Oc-
cafion to put them in Execution, I was furpriz'd
one
Y
[238]
one Morning early, with feeing no leſs than five
Canoes all on Shore together on my fide the Iſland;
and the People who belong'd to them all landed,
and out of my fight: The Number of them broke
all my Meaſures, for feeing fo many, and knowing
that they always came four or fix, or fometimes
more in a Boat, I could not tell what to think of
it, or how to take my Meaſures, to attack Twen-
ty or Thirty Men fingle handed; fo I lay ftill in
my Caſtle, perplex'd and diſcomforted: However
I put my felf into all the fame Poftures for an At-
tack that I had formerly provided, and was juſt
ready for Action, if any Thing had preſented; ha-
ving waited a good while, liſtening to hear if they
made any Noife; at length being very impatient,
I fet my Guns at the Foot of my Ladder, and
clamber'd up to the Top of the Hill, by my two
Stages as ufual; ſtanding fo however that my
Head did not appear above the Hill, fo that
they could not perceive me by any Means; here I
obferv'd by the help of my Perfpective Glafs, that
they were no lefs than Thirty in Number, that
they had a Fire kindled, that they had had Meat
drefs'd. How they had cook'd 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 miferable Wretches dragg'd
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
knock'd down, I fuppofe 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.
"
[239]
him. In that very Moment this poor Wretch fee-
ing himſelf a little at Liberty, Nature infpir'd him
with Hopes of Life, and he ſtarted away from them,
and ran with incredible Swiftnefs along the Sands
directly towards me, I mean towards that part of
the Coaft, where my Habitation was.
I was dreadfully frighted, (that I must acknow-
ledge) when I perceived him to run my Way; and
efpecially, when as I thought I faw him purfued
by the whole Body, and now I expected that part
of my Dream was coming to pafs, and that he
would certainly take fhelter in my Grove; but I
could not depend by any means upon my Dream
for the reft 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 follow'd him, and ftill more was I
encourag'd, when I found that he outftrip'd them
exceedingly in running, and gain'd Ground of
them, fo that if he could but hold it for half an
Hour, I faw eaſily he would fairly get away from
them all.
There was between them and my Caſtle, the
Creek which I mention'd often at the first part of
my Story, when I landed my Cargoes out of the
Ship; and this I faw plainly, he muft neceffarily
fwim over, or the poor Wretch would be taken
there: But when the Savage efcaping came thi-
ther, he made nothing of it, tho' the Tide was
then up, but plunging in, fwam thro' in about
Thirty Strokes or thereabouts, landed and ran on
with exceeding Strength and Swiftnefs; when the
Three Perfons came to the Creek, I found that
Two of them could Swim, but the Third cou'd not,
and that ſtanding on the other Side, he look'd at
the other, but went no further; and foon after went
foftly
[240]
foftly back again, which as it happen'd, was ve-
ry well for him in the main.
I obferv'd, that the two who fwam, were yet
more than twice as long fwimming 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 Affiftant;
and that I was call'd plainly by Providence to fave
this poor Creature's Life; I immediately run down
the Ladders with all poffible Expedition, fetches
my two Guns, for they were both but at the Foot
of the Ladders, as I obferv'd above; and getting.
up again, with the fame hafte, to the Top of the
Hill, I crofs'd toward the Sea; and having a very
fhort Cut, and all down Hill, clapp'd my felf in
the way, between the Purfuers, and the Purſu'd;
hallowing aloud to him that fled, who looking
back, was at firft perhaps as much frighted at me,
as at them; but I beckon'd with my Hand to him,
to come back; and in the mean time, I flowly ad-
vanc'd towards the two that follow'd; then rufhing
at once upon the foremoſt, I knock'd him down with
the Stock of my Piece; I was loath to fire, becauſe I
would not have the reít hear; though at that
diſtance, it would not have been eafily heard,
and being out of Sight of the Smoke too, they
wou'd not have eaſily known what to make of it:
Having knock'd this Fellow down, the other who
purfu'd with him ſtopp'd, as if he had been fright-
ed; and I advanc'd a-pace towards him; but as I
came nearer, I perceiv'd preſently, he had a Bow
and Arrow, and was fitting it to fhoot at me; fo I
was then neceffitated to fhoot at him firft, which I
did, and kill'd him at the firſt Shoot; the poor Savage
who fled, but had ſtopp'd; though he faw both
his Enemies fallen, and kill'd, as he thought; yet
was
[241]
was fo frighted with the Fire, and Noife of my
Piece; that he ftood Stock ftill, and neither came
forward or went backward, tho' he feem'd rather
enclin'd to fly ftill, than to come on; I hollow'd
again to him, and made Signs to come forward,
which he eaſily understood, and came a little way,
then ſtopp'd again, and then a little further, and
ftopp'd again, and I cou'd then perceive that he
ſtood trembling, as if he had been taken Prifoner,
and had just been to be kill'd, as his two Enemies
were; I beckon'd 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 fteps in token
of acknowledgement for my faving his Life: I fmil'd
at him, and look'd pleaſantly, and beckon'd to him
to come ſtill nearer; at length he came cloſe to me,
and then he kneel'd down again, kiff'd the Ground,
and laid his Head upon the Ground, and ta-
king me by the Foot, fet 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 encourag'd him all I could. But there
was more work to do yet, for I perceived the Sa-
vage who I knock'd down, was not kill'd, but
ſtunn'd with the blow, and began to come to him-
felf; fo I pointed to him, and ſhowing him the Sa-
vage, that he was not dead; upon this he ſpoke
fome Words to me, and though I could not under-
ſtand them, yet I thought they were pleaſant to hear,
for they were the firſt found of a Man's Voice, that
I had heard, my own excepted, for above Twenty
Five Years. But there was no time for fuch Refle-
ctions now, the Savage who was knock'd down
recover'd himſelf fo far, as to fit up upon the
Ground, and I perceived that my Savage began to
be afraid; but when I faw that, I prefented my o-
R
ther
[242]
ther Piece at the Man, as if I would fhoot him,
upon this my Savage, for fo I call him now, made a
Motion to me to lend him my Sword, which hung
naked in a Belt by my fide; so I did, he no foon-
er had it, but he runs to his Enemy, and at one
blow cut off his Head as cleaverly, no Executioner
in Germany, could have done it fooner or better;
which I thought very ftrange, for one who I had
Reaſon to believe never faw a Sword in his Life be-
fore, except their own Wooden Swords; however
it ſeems, as I learn'd afterwards, they make their
Wooden Swords fo fharp, fo heavy, and the Wood
is fo 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 comes laughing to me
in Sign of Triumph, and brought me the Sword
again, and with abundance of Geſtures which I
did not underſtand, laid it down with the Head
of the Savage, that he had kill'd juſt beforc me.
But that which aftonifh'd him moft, was to
know how I had kill'd the other Indian ſo far off,
fo pointing to him, he made Signs to me to let
him go to him, ſo I bad him go, as well as I could,
when he came to him, he food like one amaz'd,
looking at him, turn'd him firſt on one fide, then
on t'other, look'd 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 follow'd, but he had bled inwardly, for
he was quite dead; He took up his Bow, and Ar-
rows, and came back, ſo I turn'd to go away, and
beckon'd to him to follow me, making Signs to him,
that more might come after them.
Upon this he Sign'd to me, that he ſhould bury
them with Sand, that they might not be ſeen by
the reft if they follow'd; and ſo I made Signs again to
him to do fo; he fell to Work, and in an inftant he
had
[243]
had ſcrap'd a Hole in the Sand, with his Hands,
big enough to bury the firſt in, and then dragg'd
him into it, and cover'd him, and did ſo alſo by
the other; I believe he had bury'd them both in a
Quarter of an Hour; then calling him away, I car-
ry'd him not to my Caftle, but quite away to my
Cave, on the farther Part of the Ifland; fo I did
not let my Dream come to pafs in that Part. viz.
That he came into my Grove for ſhelter.
Here I gave him Bread, and a Bunch of Raifins
to eat, and a Draught of Water, which I found he
was indeed in great Diftrefs for, by his Running;
and having refreſh'd him, I made Signs for him to
go lie down and ſleep; pointing to a Place where
had laid a great Parcel of Rice Straw, and a
Blanket upon it, which I uſed to fleep upon my felf
fometimes; fo the poor Creature laid down, and
went to fleep.
He was a comely handſome Fellow, perfectly well
made; with ſtraight ftrong Limbs, not too large; tall
and well fhap'd, and as I reckon, about twenty fix
Years of Age. He had a very good Countenance,
not a fierce and furly Afpect; but feem'd to have
fomething very manly in his Face, and yet he had
all the Sweetneſs and Softnefs of an European in his
Countenance too, eſpecially when he fmil'd. His
Hair was long and black, not curl'd like Wool; his
Forehead very high, and large, and a great Vivacity
and ſparkling Sharpneſs in his Eyes. The Colour of
his Skin was not quite black, but very tawny; and
yet not of an ugly yellow naufeous tawny, as the
Brafilians, and Virginians, and other Natives of A-
merica are; but of a bright kind of a dun olive Co-
lour, that had in it fomething very agreeable; tho'
not very eaſy to defcribe. His Face was round,
and plump; his Noſe ſmall, not flat like the Ne-
groes, a very good Mouth, thin Lips, and his
R 2
fine
[244]
fine Teeth well fet, and white as Ivory. After he
had ſlumber'd, rather than flept, about half an
Hour, he wak'd again, and comes out of the Cave
to me; for I had been milking my Goats, which I
had in the Encloſure juft by: When he efpy'd me,
he came running to me, laying himſelf down
again upon the Ground, with all the poffible Signs
of an humble thankful Difpofition, making a many
antick Geſtures to fhow it: At laft he lays his
Head flat upon the Ground, cloſe to my Foot, and
fets my other Foot upon his Head, as he had done
before; and after this, made all the Signs to me of
Subjection, Servitude, and Submiffion imaginable,
to let me know, how he would ferve me as long as
he liv'd; I underſtood him in many Things, and let
him know, I was very well pleas'd 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 fav'd
his Life; I call'd him fo for the Memory of the
Time; I likewife taught him to fay Mafter, and
then let him know, that was to be my Name; I
likewiſe taught him to fay, YES, and No, and to
know the Meaning of them; I gave him fome
Milk, in an earthen Pot, and let him fee me:
Drink it before him, and fop my Bread in it; and
gave him a Cake of Bread, to do the like, which
he quickly comply'd with, and made Signs that it
was very good for him.
I
I kept there with him all that Night; but as:
foon as it was Day, I beckon'd to him to come
with me, and let him know, I would give him ſome
Cloaths, at which he ſeem'd very glad, for he was:
ſtark naked: As we went by the Place where he
had bury'd the two Men, he pointed exactly to the
Place, and fhew'd me the Marks that he had
made to find them again, making Signs to me,.
that
[245]
that we ſhould dig them up again, and eat them;
at this I appear'd very angry, exprefs'd my Ab-
horrence of it, made as if I would vomit at the
Thoughts of it, and beckon'd with my Hand to
him to come away, which he did immediately,
with great Submiffion. I then led him up to the
Top of the Hill, to fee if his Enemies were gone;
and pulling out my Glafs, I look'd, and faw plain-
ly the Place where they had been, but no appea-
rance of them, or of their Canoes; fo that it was
plain they were gone, and had left their two
Comrades behind them, without any fearch after
them.
But I was not content with this Diſcovery; but
having now more Courage, and confequently more
Curiofity, I takes 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 ufe
very dextrouſly, making him carry one Gun for me,
and I two for my felf, and away we march'd to
the Place, where theſe Creatures had been; for I
had a Mind now to get fome fuller Intelligence of
them: When I came to the Place, my very Blood
ran chill in my Veins, and my Heart funk within me,
at the Horror of the Spectacle: Indeed it was a
dreadful Sight, at leaft it was fo to me; though
Friday made nothing of it: The Place was cover'd
with humane Bones, the Ground dy'd with their
Blood, great Pieces of Fleſh left here and there,
half eaten, mangl'd and fcorch'd; and in fhort, all
the Tokens of the triumphant Feaft they had been
making there, after a Victory over their Enemies :
I faw 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 Prifoners
to feaſt upon; that three of them were eaten up,
"
R 3
and
[246]
and that he, pointing to himſelf, was the fourth:
That there had been a great Battle between them,
and their next King, whofe Subjects it ſeems he had
been one of; and that they had taken a great Num-
ber of Priſoners, all which were carry'd to feveral-
Places by thofe that had taken them in the Fight,
in order to feaft upon them, as was done here by
theſe Wretches upon thofe they brought hither.
I caus'd Friday to gather all the Skulls, Bones,
Fleſh, and whatever remain'd, and lay them toge-
ther on a Heap, and make a great Fire upon it,
and burn them all to Afhes: I found Friday had ftill
a hankering Stomach after ſome of the Flefh, and
was ftill a Cannibal in his Nature; but I difco-
ver'd fo much Abhorrence at the very Thoughts.
of it, and at the leaft Appearance of it, that he
durft not diſcover it; for I had by fome Means let
him know, that I would kill him if he offer'd 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 Linnen Draw-
ers, 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
tollerable good Taylor; and I gave him a Cap,
which I had made of a Hare-skin, very convenient,
and faſhionable enough; and thus he was cloath'd
for the prefent, tollerably well; and was mighty
well pleas'd to fee himſelf almoft as well cloath'd.
as his Mafter It is true, he went awkwardly in
theſe Things at firft; wearing the Drawers was
very awkard to him, and the Sleeves of the Waft-
coat gall'd his Shoulders, and the infide of his
Arms; but a little eafing them where he complain'd
:
they
[247]
they hurt him, and uſing himfelf 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 confider where I ſhould lodge
him, and that I might do well for him, and yet be
perfectly eaſy my ſelf; I made a little Tent for him
in the vacant Place between my two Fortifications,
in the infide of the laft, and in the outfide of the firſt ;
and as there was a Door, or Entrance there into my
Cave, I made a formal fram'd Door Cafe, and a
Door to it of Boards, and fet it up in the Paffage,
a little within the Entrance; and caufing the Door
to open on the infide, I barr'd it up in the Night,
taking in my Ladders too; fo that Friday could no
way come at me in the infide of my innermoft wall,
without making ſo much Noife in getting over, that
it muſt needs waken me; for my firft Wall had now
a compleat Roof over it of long Poles, covering all
my Tent, and leaning up to the fide of the Hill,
which was again laid crofs with fmaller Sticks in-
ftead of Laths, and then thatch'd over a great
Thickneſs, with the Rice Straw, which was ftrong
like Reeds; and at the Hole or Place which was
left to go in or out by the Ladder, I had plac'd a
kind of Trap-door, which if it had been attemp-
ted on the outſide, would not have open'd at all,
but would have fallen down, and made a great
Noife; and as to Weapons, I took them all in to
my Side every Night.
But I needed none of all this Precaution; for ne-
ver Man had a more faithful, loving, fincere Ser-
vant, than Friday was to me; without Paffions,
Sullennefs or Defigns, perfectly oblig'd and en-
gag'd; his very Affections were ty'd to me, like
thofe of a Child to a Father; and I dare fay, he
would have facrific'd his Life for the faving mine
upon any occafion whatſoever; the many
the many Teftimo-
R 4
nies
[248]
nies he gave me of this, put it out of doubt, and
foon convinc'd me, that I needed to uſe no Precau-
tions as to my Safety on his Account.
This frequently gave me occafion to obſerve,
and that with wonder, that however it had pleaf'd
God, in his Providence, and in the Government of
the Works of his Hands, to take from fo 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 beſtow'd upon.
them the fame Powers, the fame Reaſon, the fame
Affections, the fame Sentiments of Kindneſs and
Obligation, the fame Paffions and Refentments
of Wrongs; the fame Senfe 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 Occafions of
exerting these, they are as ready, nay, more ready
to apply them to the right Ufes for which they
were beftow'd, than we are: and this made me very
melancholly fometimes, in reflecting as the feveral
Occafions preſented, how mean a Uſe we make of
all thefe, even though we have theſe Powers en-
lighten'd by the great Lamp of Inftruction, the Spi-
rit of God, and by the Knowledge of his Word,
added to our Underſtanding; and why it has pleas'd
God to hide the like faving Knowledge from fo ma-
ny 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 fometimes was led too far to
invade the Soverainty of Providence, and as it were
arraign the Juſtice of ſo arbitrary a Difpofition of
Things, that ſhould hide that Light from fome, and
reveal it to others, and yet expect a like Duty
from both But I fhut it up, and check'd my
Thoughts with this Conclufion, (ft.) That we
did
[249]
did not know by what Light and Law thefe fhould
be Condemn'd; but that as God was neceffarily,
and by the Nature of his Being, infinitely Holy
and Juft, fo it could not be; but that if theſe
Creatures were all fentenc'd to Abfence from him-
felf, it was on account of finning againſt that Light
which, as the Scripture fays, was a Law to them-
felves, and by fuch Rules as their Conſciences would
acknowledge to be juft, tho' the Foundation was not
diſcover'd to us: And (2d.) that ftill as we are all
the Clay in the Hand of the Potter, no Veffel
could fay to him, Why haft thou form'd me thus?
But to return to my New Companion; I was
greatly delighted with him, and made it my Bufi-
nefs to teach him every Thing, that was proper to
make him uſeful, handy, and helpful; but efpeci-
ally to make him fpeak, and underſtand me when
I fpake, and he was the apteft Schollar that ever
was, and particularly was fo merry, fo conftantly
diligent, and fo pleas'd, when he cou'd but un-
derſtand 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 fay to
my felf, that could I but have been fafe from more
Savages, I cared not, if I was never to remove from
the place while I lived.
After I had been two or three Days return'd 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 Flefh; fo 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 drefs it. But as I was going, I faw
a She Goat lying down in the Shade, and two
young Kids fitting by her, I catch'd hold of Fri-
day, hold fays I, ftand ftill; and made Signs to him
not
[250]
not to ſtir, immediately I prefented my Piece, fhot
and kill'd one of the Kids. The poor Cteature
who had at a Diftance indeed feen me kill the
Savage his Enemy, but did not know, or could
imagine how it was done, was fenfibly fur-
priz'd, trembled, and fhook, and look'd ſo a-
maz'd, that I thought he would have funk down.
He did not fee the Kid I fhot at, or perceive I
had kill'd it, but ripp'd up his Waftcoat to feel if
he was not wounded, and as I found, prefently
thought I was refolv'd to kill him; for he came
and kneel'd down to me, and embraceing my
Knees, faid a great many Things I did not under-
ftand; but I could eafily fee that the meaning was
to pray me not to kill him.
I foon found a way to convince him that I would
do him no harm, and taking him up by the Hand
laugh'd at him, and pointed to the Kid which I
had kill'd, beckoned to him to run and fetch it,
which he did; and while he was wondering and
looking to ſee how the Creature was kill'd, I load-
ed my Gun again, and by and by I faw a great
Fowl like a Hawk fit upon a Tree within Shot;
fo to let Friday underſtand a little what I would do,
I call'd him to me again, pointed at the Fowl which
was indeed a Parrot, tho' I thought it had been a
Hawk, I fay pointing to the Parrot, and to my Gun,
and to the Ground under the Parrot, to let him fee
I would make it fall, I made him underſtand that
I would fhoot and kill that Bird; according I fir'd
and bad him look, and immediately he faw the
Parrot fall, he ftood like one frighted again, not-
withstanding all I had faid to him; and I found he
was the more amaz'd becauſe he did not fee me
put any Thing into the Gun; but thought that
there must be fome wonderful Fund of Death and
Destruction in that Thing, able to kill Man, Beaſt,
Bird,
[ 251 ]
Bird, or any Thing near, or far off; and the Afto-
niſhment this created in him was fuch, as could
not wear off for a long Time; and I believe, if I
would have let him, he would have worſhipp'd
me and my Gun: As for the Gun it felf, he would
not fo much as touch it for feveral Days after; but
would fpeak to it, and talk to it, as if it had an-
fwer'd him, when he was by himſelf; which, as I
afterwards learn'd of him, was to defire 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 fhot, which he did, but ftay'd fome Time;
for the Parrot not being quite dead, was flutter'd
away a good way off from the Place where fhe fell;
however, he found her, took her up, and brought
her to me; and as I had perceiv'd his Ignorance a-
bout the Gun before, I took this Advantage to
charge the Gun again, and not let him fee me do
it, that I might be ready for any other Mark that
might prefent; but nothing more offer'd at that
Time; fo I brought home the Kid, and the fame
Evening I took the Skin off, and cut it out as well
as I could; and having a Pot for that purpoſe, I
boil'd, or ſtew'd fome of the Flefh, and made
fome very good Broth; and after I had begun to
eat fome, I gave fome to my Man, who feem'd ve-
ry glad of it, and lik'd it very well; but that
which was ftrangeft to him, was, to fee 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 ſeem'd to naufeate it, and would
fpit and ſputter at it, waſhing his Mouth with freſh
Water after it; on the other hand, I took fome
Meat in my Mouth without Salt, and I pretended
to fpit and ſputter for want of Salt, as faft as he
had done at the Salt; but it would not do, he
would
[252]
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 boil'd Meat and
Broth, I was refolv'd to feaft him the next Day
with roafting a Piece of the Kid; this I did by
hanging it before the Fire, in a String, as I had
feen many People do in England, fetting two Poles
up, one on each fide the Fire, and one crofs on the
Top, and tying the String to the Crofs-ftick, letting
the Meat turn continually: This Friday admir'd ve-
ry much; but when he came to taſte the Fleſh, he
took fo many ways to tell me how well he lik'd it,
that I could not but underftand him; and at laſt
he told me he would never eat Man's Flefh any
more, which I was very glad to hear.
The next Day I fet him to work to beating fome
Corn out, and fifting it in the manner I us'd to do,
as I obferv'd before, and he foon underſtood how to
do it as well as I, eſpecially after he had feen what
the Meaning of it was, and that it was to make
Bread of; for after that I let him fee 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 my felf.
I begun now to confider, 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 us'd to do; fo I mark'd out a larger
Piece of Land, and began the Fence in the fame
Manner as before, in which Friday not only work'd
very willingly, and very hard; but did it very
chearfully, and I told him what it was for; that it
was for Corn to make more Bread, becaufe he was
now with me, and that I might have enough for
him, and my ſelf too: He appear'd very ſenſible of
that Part, and let me know, that he thought I had
much
[253]
much more Labour upon me on his Account, than I
had for my felf; and that he would work the harder
for me, if I would tell him what to do.
This was the pleaſanteſt Year of all the Life I led
in this Place; Friday began to talk pretty well, and
underſtand the Names of almoſt every Thing I had
occafion to call for, and of every Place I had to fend
him to, and talk'd a great deal to me; fo that in
ſhort I began now to have fome Ufe for my Tongue
again, which indeed I had very little occafion for
before; that is to fay, about Speech; befides the
Pleaſure of talking to him, I had a fingular Satisfa-
ction in the Fellow himfelf; his fimple unfeign'd
Honeſty, appear'd to me more and more every Day,
and I began really to love the Creature; and on his
Side, I believe he lov'd me more than it was poffible
for him ever to love any Thing before.
I had a Mind once to try if he had any hankering
Inclination to his own Country again, and having
learn'd him English fo well that he could anſwer me
almoſt any Queſtions, I ask'd him whether the Na-
tion that he belong'd to never conquer'd in Battle,
at which he fmil'd; and faid; yes, yes, we always
fight the better; that is, he meant always get the
better in Fight; and fo we began the following
Difcourfe: You always fight the better faid I, How
came you to be taken Prifoner then, Friday?
Friday, My Nation beat much, for all that.
Mafter, How beat; if your Nation beat them,
how came you to be taken?
Friday, They more many than my Nation in the
Place where me was; they take one, two, three,
and me; my Nation over beat them in the yonder
Place, where me no was; there my Nation take
one, two, great Thouſand.
Mafter, But why did not your Side recover you
from the Hands of your Enemies then?
Friday
[254]
Friday, They run one, two, three, and me, and
make go in the Canoe; my Nation have no Canoe
that time.
Mafter, Well, Friday, and What does your Na-
tion do with the Men they take, do they carry them
away, and eat them, as theſe did?
Friday, Yes, my Nation eat Man's too, eat
all up.
Mafter, Where do they carry them?
Friday, Go to other Place where they think.
Mafter, Do they come hither?
Friday, Yes, yes, they come hither; come other
elfe Place.
Mafter, Have you been here with them?
Friday, Yes, I been here; [points to the N.W. Side
of the Iland] which it feems was their Side.
By this I underſtood, that my Man Friday had
formerly been among the Savages, who us'd to
come on Shore on the farther Part of the I-
fland, on the fame Man eating Occafions that he
was now brought for; and fometime after, when
I took the Courage to carry him to that Side, be-
ing the fame I formerly mention'd, he prefently
knew the Place, and told me, he was there once
when they eat up twenty Men, two Women, and
one Child; he could not tell Twenty in Engliſh;
but he numbred them by laying fo many Stones on
a Row, and pointing to me to tell them over.
I have told this Paffage, becauſe it introduces
what follows; that after I had had this Difcourfe
with him, I ask'd him how far it was from our I-
fland to the Shore, and whether the Canoes were
not often loft; he told me, there was no Danger,
no Canoes ever loft; but that after a little way out
to the Sea, there was a Current, and Wind, always
one way in the Morning, the other in the Af
ternoon.
This
[255]
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 occafion'd by the
great Draft and Reflux of the mighty River Oroo-
nooko; in the Mouth, or the Gulph of which Ri-
ver, as I found afterwards, our Iſland lay; and this
Land which I perceiv'd to the W. and N. W. was
the great Iſland Trinidad, on the North Point of the
Mouth of the River: I ask'd Friday a thouſand
Queſtions about the Country, the Inhabitants, the
Sea, the Coaſt, and what Nation were near; he
told me all he knew with the greateſt Openneſs i-
maginable; I ask'd him the Names of the ſeveral
Nations of his Sort of People; but could get no o-
ther Name than Caribs; from whence I eafily un-
derſtood, that theſe were the Caribbees, which our
Maps place on the Part of America, which reaches
from the Mouth of the River Oroonooko 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, their dwelt white bearded Men,
like me; and pointed to my great Whiskers, which
I mention'd before; and that they had kill'd much
Mans, that was his Word; by all which I underſtood,
he meant the Spaniards, whofe Cruelties in America
had been ſpread over the whole Countries, and
was remember'd by all the Nations from Father
to Son.
I enquir'd if he could tell me how I might come
from this Ifland, 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
laft with great Difficulty, I found he meant it muſt
be in a large great Boat, as big as two Canoes.
A
This
[256]
This Part of Friday's Difcourfe began to reliſh
with me very well, and from this Time I entertain'd
fome Hopes, that one Time or other, I might find
an Opportunity to make myEſcape from this Place;
and that this poor Savage might be a Means to
help me to do it.
During the long Time that Friday has now been
with me, and that he began to fpeak to me, and
underſtand me, I was not wanting to lay a Foun-
dation of Religious Knowledge in his Mind; par-
ticularly I ask'd him one Time who made him?
The poor Creature did not understand me at all,
but thought I had ask'd him who was his Father; but
I took it by another handle, and ask'd him who
made the Sea, the Ground we walk'd on, and the
Hills, and Woods; he told me it was one old Be-
namuckee, that liv'd beyond all: He could defcribe
nothing of this great Perfon, but that he was very
old; much older he faid than the Sea, or the Land:
than the Moon, or the Stars: I ask'd him then, if
this old Perfon had made all Things. why did not
all Things worſhip him; he look'd very grave
and with a perfect Look of Innocence, faid, All
Things do fay O to him: I ask'd him if the People
who die in his Country went away any where; he
faid, yes, they all went to Benamuckee: then I
ask'd him whether theſe they eat up went thither
he too, faid 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 liv'd up there,
pointing up towards Heaven: That he governs
the World by the fame Power and Providence by
which he had made it: That he was omnipotent,
could do every Thing for us, give every Thing to
us, take every Thing from us; and thus by De-
grees I open'd his Eyes. He liftned with great At-
tention,
[257]
tention, and receiv'd with Pleaſure the Notion of
Jefus Chrift being fent 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 be-
yond the Sun, he muſt needs be a greater God than
their Benamuckee, who liv'd 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 ask'd him if ever he went thither, to ſpeak to
him; he ſaid no, they never went that were young
Men; none went thither but the old Men, who he
call'd their Oowocakee, that is, as I made him explain
it to me, their Religious, or Clergy, and that they
went to fay O,(so he call'd faying Prayers) and then
came back, and told them what Benamuckee faid:
By this I obferv'd, That there is Prieftcraft, even a-
mongſt the moſt blinded ignorant Pagans in the
World; and the Policy of making a fecret Religi-
on, in order to preſerve the Veneration of the Peo-
ple to the Clergy, is not only to be found in the Ro-
man, but perhaps among all Religions in the World,
even among the most brutifh and barbarous Sa-
vages.
I endeavour'd to clear up this Fraud, to my
Man Friday, and told him, that the Pretence of
their old Men going up the Mountains, to fay O
to their God Benamuckee, was a Cheat, and their
bringing Word from thence what he ſaid, was
much more fo; that if they met with any Anſwer,
or fpake with any one there, it must be with an
evil Spirit: And then I entred into a long Dif
courfe with him about the Devil, the Original of
him, his Rebellion againſt God, his Enmity to
Man, the Reaſon of it, his fetting himſelf up in
the dark Parts of the World to be Worſhip'd in-
ſtead of God, and as God; and the many Strata-
S
gems
[258]
gems he made ufe of to delude Mankind to his
Ruine; how he had a fecret accefs to our Paffions,
and to our affections, to adapt his Snares fo to our
Inclinations, as to caufe us even to be our own
Tempters, and to run upon our Deſtruction by our
own Choice.
I found it was not fo eafie to imprint right No-
tions in his Mind about the Devil, as it was about
the Being of a God. Nature affifted all my Argu-
ments to Evidence to him, even the Neceffity of a
great firft Cauſe and over-ruling governing Power;
a fecret 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 Ori-
ginal, his Being, his Nature, and above all of his
Inclination to do Evil, and to draw us in to do
fo too; and the poor Creature puzzl'd me once in
fuch a manner, by a Queſtion meerly natural and
innocent, that I ſcarce knew what to fay to him.
I had been talking a great deal to him of the Pow-
er of God, his Omnipotence, his dreadful Nature
to Sin, his being a confuming Fire to the Workers.
of Iniquity; how, as he had made us all, he
could deftroy us and all the World in a Moment;
and he liften'd with great Seriouſneſs to me all the
while.
After this, I had been telling him how the De-
vil was God's Enemy in the Hearts of Men, and
uſed all his Malice and Skill to defeat the good
Defigns of Providence, and to ruine the Kingdom
of Chriſt in the World; and the like. Well, fays
Friday, but you fay, God is fo ftrong, fo great,
is he not much ſtrong, much might as the Devil?
Yes, yes, fays 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
[ 259]
and enable us to refift his Temptations and
quench his fiery Darts. But, fays he again, if
God much strong, much might as the Devil, why God no
kill the Devil, fo make him no more do wicked?
I was ſtrangely furpriz'd at his Queftion, and
after all, tho' I was now an old Man, yet I was
but a young Doctor, and ill enough quallified for
a Cafft, or a Solver of Difficulties: And at firſt
I could not tell what to fay, fo I pretended not to
hear him, and ask'd him what he faid? But he
was too earneſt for an Anſwer to forget his Quefti-
on; fo that he repeated it in the very fame broken
Words, as above. By this time I had recovered
my ſelf a little, and I faid, God will at last puniſh
him feverely; he is referv'd for the Judgment, and is
to be caft into the Bottomlefs-Pit, to dwell with exer-
lafting Fire: This did not fatisfie Friday, but he
returns upon me, repeating my Words, RESERVE,
AT LAST, me no understand; but, IVby not kill the
Devil now, not kill great ago? You may as well ask
me, faid I, Why God does not kill you and I,
when we do wicked Things here that offend him?
We are preferv'd to repent and be pardon'd; He
mufes a while at this; well, well, fays he, mighty
affectionately, that well; fo you, I, Devil, all wick-
ed, all preſerve, repent, God pardon all. Here I was
run down again by him to the laſt Degree, and it
was a Teftimony to me, how the meer Notions of
Nature, though they will guide reaſonable Crea-
tures to the Knowledge of a God, and of a Wor-
ſhip or Homage due to the fupreme Being, of God
as the Confequence of our Nature; yet nothing but
divine Revelation can from the Knowledge of Je-
fus Chrift, and of a Redemption purchas'd for us, ofa
Mediator of the new Covenant, and of an Interceffor,
at the Foo t-ftool of God's Throne; I fay, nothing
but a Rev elation from Heaven, can form thefe in
S 2
the
[260]
the Soul, and that therefore the Goſpel of our
Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift; I mean, the Word
of God, and the Spirit of God promis'd for the
Guide and Sanctifier of his People, are the abfolute-
ly neceffary Inftructors of the Souls of Men, in the
faving Knowledge of God, and the Means of Sal-
vation.
I therefore diverted the preſent Difcourfe be-
tween me and my Man, rifing up haftily, as upon.
fome fudden Occafion of going out; then fending:
him for ſomething a good way off, I ſeriouſly pray'd
to God that he would enable me to inftruct faving-
ly this poor Savage, affifting by his Spirit the
Heart of the poor ignorant Creature, to receive
the Light of the Knowledge of God in Chriſt, re-
conciling him to himſelf, and would guide me to
fpeak fo to him from the Word of God, as his:
Confcience might be convinc'd, his Eyes open'd,.
and his Soul fav'd. When he came again to me, I
entred into a long Difcourfe with him upon the
Subject of the Redemption of Man by the Saviour
of the World, and of the Doctrine of the Gospel
preach'd from Heaven, viz. of Repentance towards:
God, and Faith in our Bleffed Lord Jesus. I then
explain'd to him, as well as I could, why our
Bleffed 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 loft Sheep-
of the Houſe of Ifrael, and the like.
I had, God knows, more Sincerity than Know-
ledge, in all the Methods I took for this poor
Creature's Inftruction, and must acknowledge what
I believe all that act upon the fame Principle will
find, That in laying Things open to him, I really
inform'd and inſtructed myſelf in many Things, that
either I did not know, or had not fully confider'd
before;
[ 261 ]
before; but which occurr'd naturally to my Mind,
upon my fearching into them, for the Information
of this poor Savage: and I had more Affection in
my Enquiry after Things upon this Occafion, than
ever I felt before; fo 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 fet lighter upon me, my Habitation
grew comfortable to me beyond Meaſure; and
when I reflected that in this folitary Life which I
had been confin'd to, I had not only been moved my
felf to look up to Heaven, and to feek to the Hand
that had brought me there; but was now to be
made an Inftrument under Providence to ſave the
Life, and for ought I knew, the Soul of a poor Sa-
vage, and bring him to the true Knowledge of
Religion, and of the Chriftian Doctrine, that he
might know Chriſt Jeſus, to know whom is Life eter-
nal. I fay, when I reflected upon all theſe Things,
a fecret Joy run through every Part of my Soul, and
I frequently rejoyc'd that ever I was brought to
this Place, which I had fo often thought the moſt
dreadful of all Afflictions that could poffibly have
befallen me.
In this thankful Frame I continu'd all the Re-
mainder of my Time, and the Converſation which
employ'd the Hours between Friday and I, was
fuch, as made the three Years which we liv'd there
together perfectly and compleatly happy, if any fuch
Thing as compleat Happineſs can be form'd in a fublu-
nary State. The Savage was now a good Chrifti-
an, a much better than I; though I have reaſon to
hope, and bleſs God for it, that we were equally
penitent, and comforted reftor'd Penitents; we
had here the Word of God to read, and no farther
off from his Spirit to inftruct, than if we had been
in England.
S 3
I always
[262]
I always apply'd my felf in Reading the Scrip-
ture, to let him know, as well as I could, the
Meaning of what I read; and he again, by his fe-
rious Enquiries, and Queftionings, made me, as I
faid before, a much better Scholar in the Scripture
Knowledge, than I ſhould ever have been by my
own private meer Reading. Another thing I can-
not refrain from obferving here alfo from Experi-
ence, in this retir'd Part of my Life, viz. How in-
finite, and inexpreffible a Bleffing it is, that the
Knowledge of God, and of the Doctrine of Salva-
tion by Christ Jefus, is fo plainly laid down in the
Word of God; fo eafy to be receiv'd and under-
ſtood: 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 fincere Repentance for my Sins, and lay-
ing hold of a Saviour for Life and Salvation, to a
ſtated Reformation in Practice, and Obedience to
all God's Commands, and this without
any Teach-
er or Inftructer; I mean, humane; fo the fame
plain Inftruction fufficiently ferv'd to the enlight-
ning this Savage Creature, and bringing him to
be fuch a Chriftian, as I have known few equal to
him in my Life.
As to all the Difputes, Wranglings, Strife and
Contention, which has happen'd in the World about
Religion, whether Niceties in Doctrines, or Schemes
of Church Government, they were all perfectly ufe-
lefs to us; as for ought I can yet fee, they have
been to all the rest of the World: We had the ſure
Guide to Heaven, viz. The Word of God; and we
had, bleſſed be God, comfortable Views of the Spi-
rit of God teaching and inftructing us by his Word,
leading us into all Truth, and making us both wil-
ling and obedient to the Inftruction of his Word,
and I cannot fee the leaft Ufe that the greateſt
Knowledge:
[263]
Knowledge of the difputed Points in Religion
which have made fuch Confufions in the World
would have been to us, if we could have ob-
tain'd it; but I must go on with the Hiftorical Part
of Things, and take every Part in its order.
After Friday and I became more intimately ac-
quainted, 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 Sto-
ry, or at leaſt ſo much of it as related to my coming
into the Place, how I had liv'd there, and how long.
I let him into the Myſtery, for fuch it was to him,
of Gunpowder, and Bullet, and taught him how to
fhoot: I gave him a Knife, which he was wonder-
fully delighted with, and I made him a Belt, with a
Frog hanging to it, fuch as in England we wear
Hangers in; and in the Frog, inftead of a Hanger,
gave him a Hatchet, which was not only as good
a Weapon in fome Cafes, but much more uſeful
on other Occafions.
I
up-
I deſcrib'd to him the Country of Europe, and
particularly England, which I came from; how we
liv'd, how we worshipp'd God, how we behav'd
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 fhew'd
him as near as I could, the Place where the lay; but
ſhe was all beaten in Pieces before, and gone
I fhew'd him the Ruins of our Boat, which we
loft when we eſcap'd, and which I could not ftir
with my whole Strength then; but was now fallen
almoſt all to Pieces: Upon feeing this Boat, Friday
ftood mufing a great while, and faid nothing; I
ask'd him what it was he ſtudy'd upon, at laſt ſays
he, me fee fuch Boat like come to Place at my Nation.
I did not underſtand him a good while; but at
laft, when I had examin'd farther into it, I under-
$ 4
ftood
[264]
ftood by him, that a Boat, fuch as that had been,
came on Shore upon the Country where he liv'd;
that is, as he explain'd it, was driven thither by
Strefs of Weather: I prefently imagin'd, that fome
European Ship must have been caft away upon their
Coaſt, and the Boat might get looſe, and drive a
Shore; but was fo dull, that I never once thought
of Men making eſcape from a Wreck thither, much
leſs whence they might come; fo I only enquir'd af-
ter a Deſcription of the Boat.
Friday defcrib'd the Boat to me well enough; but
brought me better to underſtand him, when he ad-
ded with fome Warmth, we fave the white Mans from
drown: Then I preſently ask'd him, if there was a-
ny white Mans, as he call'd them, in the Boat; yes,
he faid, the Boat full white Mans: I ask'd him how
many; he told upon his Fingers feventeen: I ask'd
him then what become of them; he told me, they
live, they dwell at my Nation.
This Put new Thoughts into my Head; for I
preſently imagin'd, that theſe might be the Men
belonging to the Ship, that was caft away in Sight
of my Iland, as I now call it; and who after the
Ship was ftruck on the Rock, and they faw her in-
evitably loſt, had fav'd themſelves in their Boat,
and were landed upon that wild Shore among the
Savages.
Upon this, I enquir'd of him more critically,
What was become of them? He affur'd me they li-
ved ſtill there; that they had been there about four
Years; that the Savages let them alone, and gave
them Victuals to live. I ask'd him, How it came
to paſs they did not kill them and eat them? He
faid, No, they make Brother with them; that is, as I
underſtood him, a Truce: And then he added, They
no eat Mans but when makes the War fight; that is to
fay,
[265]
fay, they never eat any Men but fuch as come to
fight with them, and are taken in Battle.
It was after this fome confiderable Time, that
being upon the Top of the Hill, at the East Side
of the Iſland, from whence as I have faid, I had
in a clear Day diſcover'd the Main, or Continent
of America; Friday, the Weather being very ferene,
looks very earneſtly towards the Main Land, and
in a kind of Surprife, falls a jumping and dancing,
and calls out to me, for I was at fome Diſtance
from him: I ask'd him, What was the Matter?
Ojoy! Says he, Oglad! There fee my Country, there
my Nation!
I obferv'd an extraordinary Senfe of Pleaſure ap-
pear'd in his Face, and his Eyes fparkled, and his
Countenance difcover'd a ftrange Eagernefs, as if
he had a Mind to be in his own Country again;
and this Obfervation of mine, put a great many
Thoughts into me, which made me at firſt not fo
eafy 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 per-
haps with a hundred or two of them, and make a
Feaſt upon me, at which he might be as merry as
he us'd to be with thofe of his Enemies, when
they were taken in War.
But I wrong'd the poor honeft Creature very
much, for which I was very ſorry afterwards.
However as my Jealoufy encreaſed, and held me
fome Weeks, I was a little more circumfpect, and
not fo familiar and kind to him as before; in
which I was certainly in the Wrong too, the ho-
neft grateful Creature having no thought about it,
but what confifted with the beſt Principles, both
as
[266]
as a religious Chriſtian, and as a grateful Friend,
as appeared afterwards to my full Satisfaction.
While my Jealoufy of him lafted, you may be fure
I was every Day pumping him to fee if he would
diſcover any of the new Thoughts, which I fuſ-
pected were in him; but I found every thing he
faid was fo Honeft, and fo Innocent, that I could
find nothing to nourish my Sufpicion; and in
fpight of all my Uneafinefs he made me at laſt en-
tirely his own again, nor did he in the leaft per-
ceive that I was Uneafie, and therefore I could not
fufpect him of Deceit.
One Day walking up the fame Hill, but the
Weather being haizy at Sea, fo that we could not
ſee the Continent, I call'd to him, and faid, Fri-
day, do not you wiſh your felf in your own Coun-
try, your own Nation? Yes, he faid, he be much O
glad to be at his own Nation. What would you do
there faid I, would you turn Wild again, eat Mens
Fleſh again, and be a Savage as you were before.
He lookt full of Concern, and fhaking his Head
faid, No no, Friday tell them to live Good, tell them
to pray God, tell them to eat Corn bread, Cattle-flefb,
Milk, no eat Man again: Why then faid I to him,
They will kill yon. He look'd grave at that, and
then faid, No, they no kill me, they willing love learn:
He meant by this, they would be willing to learn.
He added, they learn'd much of the Bearded-Mans
that come in the Boat. Then I as'd him if he
would go
back to them? He fmil'd at that, and
told me he could not fwim fo far. I told him I
would make a Canoe for him. He told me, be
would go, if I would go with him. I go! fays I, why
they will Eat me if I come there? No, no, fays
he, me make they no Eat you; me make they much Love
you: He meant he would tell them how I had
kill'd his Enemies, and fav'd his Life, and fo he
would
[267]
would make them love me; then he told me as
well as he could, how kind they were to feventeen
White-men, or Bearded-men, as he call'd them,
who came on Shore there in Diftrefs.
From this time I confefs I had a Mind to
venture over, and fee if I could poffible joyn with
thefe Bearded-men, who I made no doubt were
Spaniards or Portuguese; not doubting but if I could
we might find fome Method to Efcape from
thence, being upon the Continent, and a good
Company together; better than I could from an
Ifland 40 Miles off the Shore, and alone without
Help. So after fome Days I took Friday to work
again, by way of Difcourfe, and told him I would
give him a Boat to go back to his own Nation;
and accordingly I carry'd him to my Frigate
which lay on the other Side of the Ifland, and ha-
ving clear'd it of Water, for I always kept it funk
in the Water; I brought it out, fhewed it him,
and we both went into it.
I found he was a moft dextrous Fellow at ma-
naging it, would make it go almoſt as ſwift and
faſt again as I could; fo when he was in, I faid to
him, Well now, Friday, fhall we go to your Nati-
on? He look'd very dull at my faying fo, which it
feems was, because he thought the Boat too fmall
to go fo 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 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
fplit and dry'd it, that it was in a manner rotten.
Friday told me fuch a Boat would do very well, and
would carry much enough Vittle, Drink, Bread, that
was his Way of Talking.
Upon
[268]
Upon the whole, I was by this Time fo fix'd
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 fhould go home in it.
He anſwer'd not one Word, but look'd very grave
and fad I ask'd him what was the matter with
him? He ask'd me again thus; Why, you angry mad
with Friday, what me done? I ask'd him what he
meant; I told him I was not angry with him at all.
No angry! No angry! fays he, repeating the Words
feveral Times, Why fend Friday home away to my
Nation? Why, (fays I) Friday, did you not ſay you
wifh'd you were there? Yes, yes, fays he, wifh be both
there, no wish Friday there, no Mafter there. In a
Word, he would not think of going there without
me; I go there! Friday, (fays I) what shall I do
there? He turn'd very quick upon me at this: You do
great deal much good, fays he, you teach wild Mans be
good fober tame Mans; you tell them know God, pray
God, and live new Life. Alas! Friday, (fays I)
thou knoweft not what thou fayeft, I am but an ignorant
Man my self. Yes, yes, fays he, you teachee me Good,
you teachee them Good. No, no, Friday, (fays I) you
fball go without me, leave me here to live by my felf, as I
did before. He look'd confus'd again at that Word,
and running to one of the Hatchets which he uſed
to wear, he takes it up haftily, comes and gives it
me, What must I do with this? fays I to him. You
take, kill Friday; (fays he.) What must I kill you
for? faid I again. He returns very quick, What you
fend Friday away for? take, kill Friday, no fend Fri-
day away. This he spoke fo carneftly, that I faw
Tears ftand in his Eyes: In a Word, I fo plainly
difcover'd the utmoft Affection in him to me, and
a firm Refolution in him, that I told him then, and
often after, that I would never fend him away
from me, if he was willing to ftay with me.
Upon
[269]
}
Upon the whole, as I found by all his Difcourfe
a fettled Affection to me, and that nothing ſhould
part him from me, fo I found all the Foundation
of his Defire 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 my ſelf, ſo I had not the leaſt Thought
or Intention, or Defire of undertaking it. But ftill
I found a ftrong Inclination to my attempting an
Eſcape as above, founded on the Suppofition ga-
ther'd from the Difcourfe, (viz.) That there were
feventeen bearded Men there; and therefore, with-
out 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 Periagua's and Canoes,
but even of good large Veffels. But the main Thing
I look'd at, was to get one fo near the Water that
we might launch it when it was made, to
to avoid
the Miftake I committed at firſt.
At laft, Friday pitch'd upon a Tree, for I found
he knew much better than I what kind of Wood was
fitteft 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 Fuftic, or between that
and the Nicaragua Wood, for it was much of the
fame Colour and Smell. Friday was for burning the
Hollow or Cavity of this Tree out to make it for
a Boat. But I fhew'd him how rather to cut it out
with Tools, which, after I had fhew'd him how
to uſe, he did very handily, and in about a Month's
hard Labour, we finiſhed it, and made it very
handſome, eſpecially when with our Axes, which I
fhew'd him how to handle, we cut and hew'd the
out-fide into the true Shape of a Boat; after this,
however, it coft us near a Fortnight's Time to get
her,
[270]
her along as it were Inch by Inch upon great Rowl-
ers into the Water. But when he was in, fhe
would have carry'd twenty Men with great
Eafe.
When ſhe was in the Water, and tho' fhe was fo
big it amazed me to fee with what Dexterity and
how ſwift my Man Friday would manage her, turn
her, and paddle her along; fo I ask'd him if he
would, and if we might venture over in her; Yes, he
faid, he venture over in her very well, tho' great blow
Wind. However, I had a farther Deſign that he
knew nothing of, and that was to make a Maft and
Sail and to fit her with an Anchor and Cable: As to
a Maft, that was eafy enough to get; fo I pitch'd
upon a ftrait young Cedar-Tree, which I found
near the Place, and which there was great Plenty
of in the Iſland, and I fet Friday to Work to cut it
down, and gave him Directions how to fhape and
order it. But as to the Sail, that was my particu-
lar Care; I knew I had old Sails, or rather Pieces of
old Sails enough; but as I had had them now fix and
twenty Years by me, and had not been very careful
to preſerve them, not imagining that I fhould ever
have this kind of Ufe for them, I did not doubt but
they were all rotten, and indeed moft of them were
fo; however, I found two Pieces which appear'd
pretty good, and with theſe I went to Work, and
with a great deal of Pains, and awkward tedious
ftitching (you may be fure) for Want of Needles,
I at length made a three Corner'd ugly Thing, like
what we call in England, a Shoulder of Mutton
Sail, to go with a Boom at bottom, and a little
fhort Sprit at the Top, fuch as uſually our Ship's
Long-Boats fail with, and fuch as I beſt knew how to
manage; becauſe it was fuch a one as I had to the
Boat, in which I made my Eſcape from Barbary, as
related in the firft Part of my Story.
I was
[271]
I was near two Months performing this laft
Work, viz. rigging and fitting my Maft and Sails;
for I finiſh'd them very compleat, making a ſmall
Stay, and a Sail, or Forefail to it, to affift, if we ſhould
turn to Windward; and which was more than all,
I fix'd a Rudder to the Stern of her, to fteer with;
and though I was but a bungling Shipwright, yet
as I knew the Uſefulneſs, and even Neceffity of
fuch a Thing, I apply'd my felf with ſo much Pains
to do it, that at laſt I brought it to paſs; though
confidering the many dull Contrivances I had
for it that fail'd, I think it coft me almoſt as much
Labour as making the Boat.
After all this was done too, I had my Man Fri-
day to teach as to what belong'd to the Navigation of
my Boat; for though he knew very well how to
paddle a Canoe, he knew nothing what belong'd to'
a Sail, and a Rudder; and was the most amaz'd,
when he ſaw me work the Boat too and again in the
Sea by the Rudder, and how the Sail gyb'd, and
fill'd this way, or that way, as the Courſe we fail'd
chang'd; I ſay, when he ſaw this, he ſtood like one,
aftoniſh'd, and amaz'd: However, with a little
Ufe, 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 feldom or never any Fogs in
thofe Parts, there was the lefs occafion for a Com-
paſs, ſeeing the Stars were always to be feen by
Night, and the Shore by Day, except in the rainy
Seaſons, and then no body car'd to ftir abroad, ei-
ther by Land or Sea.
I was now entred on the feven 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 Ha-
bitation
[272]
bitation being quite of another kind than in all the
reft of the Time. I kept the Anniverſary of my
Landing here with the fame Thankfulneſs to God
for his Mercies, as at firft; and if I had fuch Cauſe
of Acknowledgment at firft, I had much more fo
now, having fuch additional Teftimonies of the
Care of Providence over me, and the great Hopes
I had of being effectually, and ſpeedily deliver'd;
for I had an invincible Impreffion upon my
Thoughts, that my Deliverance was at hand, and
that I fhould not be another Year in this Place:
However, I went on with my Husbandry, digging,
planting, fencing, as ufual; I gather'd and cur'd my
Grapes, and did every neceffary Thing as before.
The rainy Seafon was in the mean Time upon
me, when I kept more within Doors than at other
Times; fo I had ftow'd our new Veffel as fecure as
we could, bringing her up into the Creek, where as
I faid, in the Beginning I landed my Rafts from
the Ship, and haling 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 juft deep e-
nough to give her Water enough to fleet in; and
then when the Tide was out, we made a ftrong
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, fo thick, that he was as well
thatch'd as a Houſe; and thus we waited for the
Month of November and December, in which I de-
fign'd to make my Adventure.
When the fettled Seafon began to come in, as
the thought of my Defign return'd 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 Provifions, being the Stores for our
Voyage; and intended in a Week or a Fortnight's
Time,
[273]
Time, to open the Dock, and launch out our Boat.
I was bufy one Morning upon fome Thing of this
kind, when I call'd to Friday, and bid him go to the
Sea Shore, and fee if he could find a Turtle, or
Tortoife, 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 fet his Feet on; and before I had time to
ſpeak to him, he cries out to me, O Maſter! O Ma-
fter! O Sorrow! O bad! What's the Matter, Friday,
fays I; O yonder, there, fays he, one, two, three Canoe!
one, two, three! By his way of ſpeaking, I conclu-
ded there were fix; but on enquiry, I found it was
but three: Well, Friday, fays I, do not be frighted;
fo I heartned him up as well as I could: However,
I faw the poor Fellow was moft terribly fcar'd; 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 fo, 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, fays I, Friday, we muſt reſolve to fight them;
Can you fight, Friday? Me shoot, fays he, but there
come many great Number. No matter for that, faid
I again, our Guns will fright them that we do not
kill; fo I ask'd him, Whether if I refolv'd to defend
him, he would defend me, and ftand by me, and do
juft as I bid him? He faid, Me die, when you bid die,
Mafter; fo I went and fetch'd a good Dram of
Rum, and gave him; for I had been fo good a Hus-
band of my Rum, that I had a great deal left:
When he had drank it, I made him take the two
Fowling-Pieces, which we always carry'd, and load
them with large Swan-Shot, as big as fmall Piftol
T
Bullets;
[274]
Bullets; then I took four Muskets, and loaded them
with two Slugs, and five fmall Bullets each; and
my two Piſtols I loaded with a Brace of Bullets
each; I hung my great Sword as ufual, naked by
my Side, and gave Friday his Hatchet.
When I had thus prepar'd my ſelf, I took my Per-
fpective-Glafs, 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 Sava-
ges, three Priſoners, and three Canoes; and that their
whole Buſineſs ſeem'd to be the triumphant Ban-
quet upon theſe three humane Bodies, (a barbarous
Feaft indeed) but nothing elſe more than as I had
obferv'd was ufual with them.
I obferv'd alſo, that they were landed not where
they had done, when Friday made his Eſcape; but
nearer to my Creek, where the Shore was low, and
where a thick Wood came clofe almoft down to the
Sea: This, with the Abhorrence of the inhumane
Errand thefe Wretches came about, fill'd me with
fuch Indignation, that I came down again to Friday,
and told him, I was refolv'd to go down to them,
and kill them all; and ask'd him, If he would ſtand
by me? He was now gotten over his Fright, and
his Spirits being a little rais'd, with the Dram I had
given him, he was very chearful, and told me, as
before, he would die, when I bid die.
In this Fit of Fury, I took firft and divided the
Arms which I had charg'd, as before, between us;
I gave Friday one Piſtol to ſtick in his Girdle, and
three Guns upon his Shoulder; and I took one Pi-
ftol, and the other three my felf; and in this Po-
fture we march'd out: I took a fmall Bottle of Rum
in my Pocket, and gave Friday a large Bag, with
more Powder and Bullet; and as to Orders, I
charg'd him to keep cloſe behind me, and not to
ftir, or ſhoot, or do any Thing, till I bid him; and
in
[275]
in the mean Time, not to ſpeak a Word: In this
Poſture I fetch'd a Compaſs to my Right-Hand, of
near a Mile, as well to get over the Creek, as to get
into the Wood; fo that I might come within fhoot
of them, before I ſhould be diſcover'd, 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 Refolu-
tion; I do not mean, that I entertain'd any Fear of
their Number; for as they were naked, unarm'd
Wretches, 'tis certain I was fuperior to them; nay,
though I had been alone; but it occurr'd to my
Thoughts, What Call? What Occafion? much
lefs, What Neceffity 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 whofe barbarous Cuftoms 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 fuch Stupidity, and
to fuch inhumane Courfes; but did not call me to
take upon me to be a Judge of their Actions, much
lefs an Executioner of his Juftice; that whenever
he thought fit, he would take the Caufe into his
own Hands, and by national Vengeance puniſh
them as a People, for national Crimes; but that
in the mean time, it was none of my Bufinefs; that
it was true, Friday might juftify it, becauſe he was
a declar'd Enemy, and in a State of War with thoſe
very particular People; and it was lawful for him
to attack them; but I could not ſay the ſame with
refpect to me: Thefe Things were fo warmly
prefs'd upon my Thoughts, all the way as I went,
that I refolv'd I would only go and place my ſelf
near them, that I might obferve their barbarous
Feaſt, and that I would act then as God fhould di-
rect but that unleſs fomething offer'd that was
T 2
more
[276]
more a Call to me than yet I knew of, I would not
meddle with them.
With this Refolution I enter'd the Wood, and
with all poffible Warynefs and Silence, Friday fol-
lowing cloſe at my Heels, I march'd 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 call'd foftly to
Friday, and fhewing him a great Tree, which was
juſt at the Corner of the Wood, I bad him go to
the Tree, and bring me Word if he could fee there
plainly what they were doing; he did fo, and came
immediately back to me, and told me they might
be plainly view'd there; that they were all about
their Fire, eating the Flesh of one of their Priſo-
ners; and that another lay bound upon the Sand,
a little from them, which he ſaid they would kill
next, and which fir'd all the very Soul within me;.
he told me it was not one of their Nation; but one
of the bearded Men, who he had told me of, that
came to their Country in the Boat: I was fill'd
with Horror at the very naming the white-bearded
Man, and going to the Tree, I faw plainly by my
Glaſs, a white Man who lay upon the Beach of
the Sea, with his Hands and his Feet ty'd, with
Flags, or Things like Rufhes; and that he was an:
European, and had Cloaths on.
There was another Tree, and a little Thicket
beyond it, about fifty Yards nearer to them than the
Place where I was, which by going a little way
about, I faw I might come at undiſcover'd, and
that then I ſhould be within half Shot of them; fo
I with-held my Paffion, though I was indeed en-
rag'd to the higheſt Degree, and going back about
twenty Paces, I got behind fome Bushes, which held
all the way, till I came to the other Tree; and then
I came to a little rifing Ground, which gave me a
full.
[277]
'full View of them, at the Diſtance of about eigh-
ty Yards.
I had now not a Moment to loofe; for nineteen
of the dreadful Wretches fat upon the Ground, all
clofe huddled together, and had juft fent the other
two to butcher the poor Chriftian, and bring him
perhaps Limb by Limb to their Fire, and they
were ſtoop'd down to untie the Bands, at his Feet;
I turn'd to Friday, now Friday, faid I, do as I bad
thee; Friday faid he would; then Friday, fays I,
do exactly as you fee me do, fail in nothing; fo I
fet 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 faid, yes, then
fire at them, faid I; and the fame Moment I
fir'd alfo.
•
Friday took his Aim fo much better than I, that
on the Side that he fhot, he kill'd two of them,
and wounded three more; and on my Side, I kill'd
one, and wounded two: There were, you may be
fure, in a dreadful Confternation; and all of them,
who were not hurt, jump'd 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 obferve what I did; fo as foon as the firſt
Shot was made, I threw down the Piece, and took
up the Fowling-Piece, and Friday did the like; he
fee me cock, and prefent, he did the fame again;
Are you ready? Friday, faid I; yes, fays he; let
fly then, fays I, in the Name of God, and with
that I fir'd again among the amaz'd Wretches, and
fo did Friday; and as our Pieces were now loaden
with what I call'd Swan-Shot, or fmall Piftol Bul-
T3
lets
[278]
lers, we found only two drop; but fo many were
wounded, that they run about yelling, and skream-
ing, like mad Creatures, all bloody, and miferably
wounded, moſt of them; whereof three more fell
quickly after, though not quite dead.
Now Friday, fays I, laying down the difcharg'd
Pieces, and taking up the Musket, which was yet
loaden; follow me, fays I, which he did, with a
great deal of Courage; upon which I rufh'd out of
the Wood, and fhew'd my felf, and Friday cloſe at
my Foot; as foon as I perceiv'd they faw me, I
fhouted as loud as I could, and bad Friday do fo
too; and running as faft 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 faid, lying upon the Beach, or Shore,
between the Place where they fat, and the Sea;
the two Butchers who were juft going to work
with him, had left him, at the Suprize of our firſt
Fire, and fled in a terrible Fright, to the Sea Side,
and had jump'd into a Canoe, and three more of the
reft made the fame way; I turn'd to Friday, and bid
him ſtep forwards, and fire at them; he under-
ſtood me immediately, and running about forty
Yards, to be near them, he fhot at them, and I
thought he had kill'd them all; for I fee them all
fall of a Heap into the Boat; though I faw two of
them up again quickly: However, he kill'd two
of them, and wounded the third; fo that he lay
down in the Bottom of the Boat, as if he had
been dead.
While my Man Friday fir'd at them, I pull'd out
my Knife, and cut the Flags that bound the poor
Victim, and loofing his Hands, and Feets, I lifted
him up, and ask'd him in the Portuguese Tongue,
What he was? He anfwer'd in Latin, Chriftianus;
but was fo weak, and faint, that he courfe fcarce
ftand,
"
[279]
ftand, or ſpeak; I took my Bottle out of my Poc-
ket, and gave it him, making Signs that he ſhould
drink, which he did; and I gave him a Piece of
Bread, which he eat; then I ask'd him, What
Countryman he was? And he faid, Efpagniole; and
being a little recover'd, let me know by all the
Signs he could poffibly make, how much he was
in my Debt for his Deliverance; Seignior, faid 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 Piftol, and Sword,
and lay about you; he took them very thankfully,
and no fooner had he the Arms in his Hands, but
as if they had put new Vigour into him, he flew
upon his Murtherers, like a Fury, and had cut two
of them in Pieces, in an inftant; for the Truth is,
as the whole was a Surprize to them; fo the poor
Creatures were fo much frighted with the Noife of
our Pieces, that they fell down for meer Amaze-
ment, and Fear; and had no more Power to at-
tempt their own Eſcape, than their Fleſh had to
refift our Shot; and that was the Cafe of thoſe Five
that Friday fhot at in the Boat; for as three of
them fell with the Hurt they receiv'd; fo the o-
ther two fell with the Fright.
I kept my Piece in my Hand ftill, without firing,
being willing to keep my Charge ready; becauſe I
had given the Spaniard my Piſtol, and Sword; fo I
call'd to Friday, and bad him run up to the Tree,
from whence we firft fir'd, and fetch the Arms
which lay there, that had been diſcharg'd, which
he did with great Swiftnefs; and then giving him
my Musket, I fat down my felf to load all the reft
again, and bad them come to me when they want-
ed: While I was loading theſe Pieces, there hap-
pen'd a fierce Engagement between the Spaniard,
and one of the Savages, who made at him with one of
I 4
their
:
[ 280]
their great wooden Swords, the fame Weapon that
was to have kill'd him before, if I had not prevent-
ed it: The Spaniard, who was as bold, and as brave
as could be imagin'd, though weak, had fought
this Indian a good while, and had cut him two
great Wounds on his Head; but the Savage being
a ftout lufty Fellow, clofing in with him, had
thrown him down (being faint) and was wringing
my Sword out of his Hand, when the Spaniard, tho'
undermoft wifely quitting the Sword, drew the Piftol
from his Girdle, fhot the Savage through the Body,
and kill'd him upon the Spot; before I, who was
running to help him, could come near him.
Friday being now left to his Liberty, purfu'd the
flying Wretches with no Weapon in his Hand, but
his Hatchet; and with that he diſpatch'd thofe
three, who, as I faid before, were wounded at firſt
and fallen, and all the reft 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
purfu'd two of the Savages, and wounded them
both; but as he was not able to run, they both got
from him into the Wood, where Friday purſu'd
them, and kill'd one of them; but the other was too
nimble for him, and though he was wounded, yet
had plunged himſelf into the Sea, and fwam with
all his might off to thofe two who were left in the
Canoe, which three in the Canoe, with one wound-
ed, who we know not whether he dy'd or no, were
all that eſcap'd our Hands of one and twenty: The
Account of the Reft is as follows;
3 Kill'd at our firſt Shot from the Tree.
2 Kill'd at the next Shot.
2 Kill'd by Friday in the Boat.
2 Kill'd by Ditto, of thoſe at firſt wounded.
1 Kill'd by Ditto, in the Wood.
3 Kill'd
[281]
3 Kill'd by the Spaniard.
4 Kill'd, being found dropp'd here and there of
their Wounds, or kill'd by Friday in his Chaſe
of them.
4 Eſcap'd in the Boat, whereof one wounded if
not dead.
21 In all.
any
Thofe that were in the Canoe, work'd hard to
get out of Gun-Shot; and though Friday made two
or three Shot at them, I did not find that he hit
of them: Friday would fain have had me took
one of their Canoes, and purfu'd them; and indeed
I was very anxious about their Eſcape, leaft carry-
ing the News home to their People, they ſhould
come back perhaps with two or three hundred of
their Canoes, and devour us by meer Multitude; fo
I confented to purſue them by Sea, and running to
one of their Canoes, I jump'd in, and bad Friday
follow me; but when I was in the Canoe, I was
furpriz'd to find another poor Creature lye there a-
live, bound Hand and Foot, as the Spaniard was,
for the Slaughter, and almoft 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 ty'd fo hard, Neck and Heels, and had been ty'd
fo 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 ftand, or fpeak,
but groan'd moft piteoufly, believing it ſeems ſtill
that he was only unbound in order to be kill'd.
When Friday came to him, I bad him ſpeak to
him, and tell him of his Deliverance, and pulling
out my Bottle, made him give the poor Wretch a
Dram,
[282]
Dram, which, with the News of his being deli-
ver'd, reviv'd him, and he fat up in the Boat; but
when Friday came to hear him ſpeak, and look in
his Face, it would have mov'd any one to Tears,
to have feen how Friday kifs'd him, embrac'd him,
hugg'd him, cry'd, laugh'd, hollow'd, jump'd a-
bout, danc'd, fung, then cry'd again, wrung his
Hands, beat his own Face, and Head, and then
fung, and jump'd 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 Mat-
ter; but when he came a little to himſelf, he told
me, that it was his Father.
It is not eaſy for me to exprefs how it mov'd
me to ſee what Extafy and filial Affection had
work'd in this poor Savage, at the Sight of his Fa-
ther, and of his being deliver'd from Death; nor
indeed can I defcribe half the Extravagancies 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 fit down by
him, open his Breaſt, and hold his Father's Head
clofe to his Bofom, half an Hour together, to nou-
rifh it; then he took his Arms and Ankles, which
were numb'd and ſtiff with the Binding, and chaffed
and rubbed them with his Hands; and I perceiv-
ing what the Cafe was, gave him fome 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 fo hard within
two Hours after, and before they could be gotten
a Quarter of their Way, and continued blowing fo
hard all Night, and that from the North-west,
which was against them, that I could not ſuppoſe
their
[283]
their Boat could live, or that they ever reach'd to
their own Coaſt.
But to return to Friday, he was fo bufy about
his Father, that I could not find in my Heart to
take him off for fome time: But after I thought
he could leave him a little, I call'd him to me,
and he came jumping and laughing, and pleas'd to
the highest Extream; then I ask'd him, If he had
given his Father any Bread? He fhook his Head,
and faid, None: Ugly Dog eat all up felf; fo I gave him
a Cake of Bread out of a little Pouch I carry'd on
Purpoſe; I alſo gave him a Dram for himſelf, but
he would not tafte it, but carry'd it to his Fa-
ther: I had in my Pocket alfo two or three Bunch-
es of my Raifins, fo I gave him a Handful of them
for his Father. He had no fooner given his Fa-
ther theſe Raifins, but I ſaw him come out of the
Boat, and run away, as if he had been bewitch'd,
he run at fuch a Rate; for he was the fwifteft Fel-
low of his Foot that ever I faw; I fay, he run at
fuch a Rate, that he was out of Sight, as it were,
in an inftant; and though I call'd, and hollow'd
too, after him, it was all one, away he went, and
in a Quarter of an Hour, I faw him come back a-
gain, though not fo faft as he went; and as he
came nearer, I found his Pace was flacker, becaufe
he had fomething in his Hand.
When he came up to me, I found he had been
quite Home for an Earthen Jugg or Pot to bring
his Father fome freſh Water, and that he had got
two more Cakes, or Loaves of Bread: The Bread
he gave me, but the Water he carry'd to his Father:
However, as I was very thirſty too, I took a lit-
tle Sup of it. This Water reviv'd his Father more
than all the Rum or Spirits I had given him; for
he was juſt fainting with Thirft.
When
[ 284]
When his Father had drank, I call'd to him to
know if there was any Water left; he ſaid, yes;
and I bad him give it to the poor Spaniard,
who was in as much Want of it as his Father;
and I fent one of the Cakes, that Friday brought,
to the Spaniard too, who was indeed very weak, and
was repofing himſelf upon a green Place under the
Shade of a Tree; and whofe Limbs were alſo very
ftiff, and very much fwell'd with the rude Bandage
he had been ty'd with. When I faw that upon Fri-
day's coming to him with the Water, he fat up and
drank, and took the Bread, and began to eat, I
went to him, and gave him a Handful of Raiſins;
he look'd up in my Face with all the Tokens of
Gratitude and Thankfulneſs, that could appear
in any Countenance; but was fo weak, notwith-
ſtanding he had fo exerted himſef in the Fight, that
he could not ſtand up upon his Feet; he try'd to
do it two or three times, but was really not able,
his Ankles were fo fwell'd and fo painful to him;
fo I bad him fit ftill, and caufed Friday to rub his
Ankles, and bathe them with Rum, as he had done
his Father's.
I obferv'd the poor affectionate Creature every
two Minutes, or perhaps lefs, all the while he
was here, turn'd his Head about, to fee if his Fa-
ther was in the fame Place, and Pofture, as he left
him fitting; and at laft he found he was not to
be feen; at which he ſtarted up, and without
ſpeaking a Word, flew with that Swiftnefs to him,
that one could fcarce 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; fo 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
[285]
I would take Care of him: But Friday, a lufty
ftrong Fellow, took the Sqaniard quite up upon
his Back, and carry'd him away to the Boat, and
fet him down foftly upon the Side or Gunnel of the
Canoe, with his Feet in the infide of it, and then
lifted him quite in, and fet him cloſe to his Fa-
ther, and preſently ſtepping out again, launched
the Boat off, and paddled it along the Shore fa-
fter than I could walk, tho' the Wind blew pret-
ty hard too; fo he brought them both fafe into our
Creek; and leaving them in the Boat, runs away
to fetch the other Canoe. As he pass'd me, I
ſpoke to him, and ask'd him, whither he went,
he told me, Go fetch more Boat; fo away he went
like the Wind; for fure never Man or Horfe run.
like him, and he had the other Canoe in the Creek,
almoſt as ſoon as I got to it by Land; fo he waft-
ed 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; fo that poor Friday
knew not what to do.
To remedy this, I went to Work in my Thought,.
and calling to Friday to bid them fit down on the
Bank while he came to me, I foon made a Kind
of Hand-Barrow to lay them on, and Friday and I
carry'd them up both together upon it between us:
But when we got them to the outfide of our Wall
or Fortification, we were at a worfe Lofs than be-
fore; for it was impoffible to get them over; and
I was refolv'd not to break it down: So I fet to
Work again; and Friday and I, in about 2 Hours
time, made a very handfom Tent, cover'd 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 fuch things as I had (viz.) of good Rice-
Straw,
[286]
Straw, with Blankets laid upon it to lye on,
and another to cover them on each Bed.
•
My Iſland was now peopled, and I thought my
ſelf very rich in Subjects; and it was a merry Re-
flection which I frequently made, How like a King
I look'd. First of all, the whole Country was my
own meer Property; fo that I had an undoubted
Right of Dominion. 2dly, My People were per-
fectly fubjected: I was abfolute Lord and Law-
giver; they all owed their Lives to me, and were
ready to lay down their Lives, if there had been Oc-
cafion 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 Proteftant, his
Father was a Pagan and a Cannibal,and the Spaniard
was a Papift: However, I allow'd Liberty of Con-
ſcience throughout my Dominions: But this is by
the Way.
As foon as I had fecur'd my two weak reſcued
Priſoners, and given them Shelter, and a Place to
reſt them upon, I began to think of making fome
Provifion for them: And the first thing I did, I
order'd Friday to take a yearling Goat, betwixt
a Kid and a Goat, out of my particular Flock, to
be kill'd, when I cut off the hinder Quarter, and
chopping it into ſmall Pieces, I fet Friday to Work
to boiling and ftewing, and made them a very
good Diſh, I affure you, of Fleſh and Broth, ha-
ving put fome Barley and Rice alfo into the
Broth; and as I cook'd it without Doors, for
I made no Fire within my inner Wall, fo I carry'd
it all into the new Tent; and having fet a Table
there for them, I fat down and eat my own Din-
ner alſo with them, and, as well as I could, chear'd
them and encourag'd them; Friday being my Inter-
preter, eſpecially to his Father, and indeed to the
Spa-
[287]
Spaniard too; for the Spaniard ſpoke the Language
of the Savages pretty well.
After we had dined, or rather fupped, I order'd
Friday to take one of the Canoes, and go and
fetch our Mufkets and other Fire-Arms, which
for Want of time we had left upon the Place of
Battle, and the next Day I order'd him to go and
bury the dead Bodies of the Savages, which lay
open to the Sun, and would preſently be offenfive;
and I alſo ordered him to bury the horrid Remains
of their barbarous Feaft, which I knew were pret-
ty much, and which I could not think of doing my
felf; nay, I could not bear to fee them, if I went
that Way: All which he punctually performed,
and defaced the very Appearance of the Savages
being there; fo 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 Converfation
with my two new Subjects; and firft I fet Friday to
enquire 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 refift: His firft Opinion was, that the Savages
in the Boat never could live out the Storm which
blew that Night they went off, but must of Necef-
fity be drowned or driven South to thofe other Shores
where they were as fure to be devoured as they
were to be drowned if they were caft away; but as
to what they would do if they came fafe on Shore,
he faid he knew not; but it was his Opinion that
they were fo dreadfully frighted with the Manner
of their being attack'd, the Noife and the Fire,
that he believed they would tell their People,
they were all kill'd by Thunder and Lightning, not
by the Hand of Man, and that the two which ap-
pear'd, (viz.) Friday and me, were two Heavenly
Spi-
[ 288]
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 fo in their Lan-
guage to one another, for it was impoffible to
them to conceive that a Man could dart Fire, and
ſpeak Thunder, and kill at a Diftance 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 o-
ver to the Iſland afterwards; they were fo terrified
with the Accounts given by thofe four Men, (for
it feems they did efcape the Sea) that they believ'd
whoever went to that enchanted Ifland would be
deſtroy'd with Fire from the Gods.
This however I knew not, and therefore was un-
der continual Apprehenfions 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 ven-
tur'd upon a hundred of them fairly in the open
Field at any Time.
In a little Time, however, no more Canoes ap-
pearing, the Fear of their Coming wore off, and
I began to take my former Thoughts of a Voyage
to the Main into Confideration, being likewife af
fur'd by Friday's Father, that I might depend upon
good Ufage from their Nation on his Account, if I
would go.
But my Thoughts were a little fufpended, when
I had a ferious Diſcourſe with the Spaniard, and
when I underſtood that there were fixteen more of
his Countrymen and Portugueſe, which is near that
Number, who having been caft away, and made
their Eſcape to that Side, liv'd there at Peace in-
deed with the Savages, but were very fore put to
it for Neceffaries, and indeed for Life: I ask'd him
all the Particulars of their Voyage, and found they
were a Spanish Ship bound from the Rio de la Plata
to
·[289]
to the Havana, being directed to leave their Load-
ing there, which was chiefly Hides and Silver, and
to bring back what European Goods they could
meet with there; that they had five Portugueſe Sea-
men on Board, who they took out of another
Wreck; that five of their own Men were drowned
when the firſt ſhip was loft, and that theſe eſcaped
thro' infinite Dangers and Hazards, and arriv'd al-
moſt ſtarv'd on the Cannibal Coaft, where they ex-
pected to have been devour'd every Moment.
He told me, they had fome Arms with them,
but they were perfectly uſeleſs, for that they had
neither Powder or Ball, the Waſhing of the Sea ha-
ving ſpoil'd all their Powder but a little, which
they uſed at their firft Landing to provide themſelves
fome Food.
I ask'd him what he thought would become of
them there, and if they had form'd no Deſign of
making any Eſcape? He faid, They had many
Confultations about it, but that having neither
Veffel, or Tools to build one, or Provifions of any
kind, their Councils always ended in Tears and
Defpair.
I ask'd him how he thought they would receive a
Propofal from me, which might tend towards an Ef
cape? And whether, if they were all here, it might
not be done? I told him with Freedom, I fear'd
moftly their Treachery and ill Ufage 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 fquare their Dealings by the O-
bligations they had receiv'd, fo much as they did
by the Advantages they expected. I told him it
would be very hard, that I fhould be the Inftrument
of their Deliverance, and that they fhould after-
wards make me their Priſoner in New Spain, where
an English Man was certain to be made a Sacri-
U
fice.
[290]
fice, what Neceffity, or what Accident foever,
brought him thither: And that I had rather be de-
liver'd up to the Savages, and be devour'd alive,
than fall into the mercileſs Claws of the Prieſts, and
be carry'd into the Inquifition. I added, That o-
therwiſe I was perfwaded, if they were all here,
we might, with fo many Hands, build a Bark
large enough to carry us all away, either to the
Brafils South-ward, or to the Iflands or Spanish
Coaſt North-ward: 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 Cafe worſe than it was before.
He anfwer'd with a great deal of Candor and
Ingenuity, That their Condition was fo mifera-
ble, and they were fo fenfible of it, that he be-
lieved they would abhor the thought of ufing any
Man unkindly that ſhould contribute to their De-
liverance; and that, if I pleafed, he would go to
them with the old Man, and diſcourſe with them
about it, and return again, and bring me their An-
fwer: That he would make Conditions with them
upon their folemn Oath, That they ſhould be ab-
folutely under my Leading, as their Commander
and Captain; and that they ſhould ſwear upon the
Holy Sacraments and the Gofpel, to be true to me,
and to go to fuch Chriftian Country, as that I
fhould agree to, and no other; and to be directed
wholly and abfolutely to my Orders, 'till they
were landed fafely in fuch Country, as I intend-
ed; and that he would bring a Contract from them
under their Hands for that Purpoſe.
Then he told me, he would firft fwear to me
himſelf, That he would never ftir from me as long
as he liv'd, 'till I gave him Orders; and that he
would take my Side to the laſt Drop of his Blood,
if
[291]
if there fhould happen the leaſt Breach of Faith a-
mong his Country-men.
He told me, they were all of them very civil
honeſt Men, and they were under the greateſt Di-
ſtreſs imaginable, having neither Weapons or
Cloaths, 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 fure, if I would undertake their Relief,
they would live and die by me.
Upon thefe Affurances, I refolv'd to venture to
relieve them, if poffible, and to fend the old Savage
and this Spaniard over to them to treat: But when
we had gotten all things in a Readineſs to go, the
Spaniard himſelf ſtarted an Objection, which had
fo much Prudence in it on one hand, and fo much
Sincerity on the other hand, that I could not but
be very well fatisfy'd in it; and by his Advice,
put off the Deliverance of his Comerades, for at
leaſt half a Year. The Cafe was thus:
He had been with us now about a Month; du-
ring which time, I had let him fee in what Man-
ner I had provided, with the Affiftance of Provi-
dence, for my ſupport; and he ſaw evidently what
Stock of Corn and Rice I had laid up; which as
it was more than fufficient for my felf, fo it was
not fufficient, at leaſt without good Husbandry,
for my Family; now it was encreas'd to Num-
ber four: But much lefs would it be fufficient, if
his Country-men, who were, as he faid, fourteen
ftill alive, ſhould come over. And leaft of all
ſhould it be fufficient to victual our Veffel, if we
fhould build one, for a Voyage to any of the Chri-
ſtian Colonies of America. So he told me, he thought
it would be more adviſable, to let him and the
two other, dig and cultivate fome more Land, as
much as I chuld fpare Seed to fow; and that we
U 2
fhould
[292]
fhould wait another Harveſt, that we might have
a Supply of Corn for his Country-men when they
fhould come; for Want might be a Temptation to
them to diſagree, or not to think themſelves deli-
vered, otherwife than out of one Difficulty into
another. You know, ſays he, the Children of If-
rael, though they rejoyc'd at firft for their being
deliver'd out of Egypt, yet rebell'd even againſt God
himſelf that deliver'd them, when they came to
want Bread in the Wilderneſs.
His Caution was fo feaſonable, and his Advice
fo good, that I could not but be very well pleaſed
with his Propofal, as well as I was fatisfy'd with
his Fidelity. So we fell to digging all four of us,
as well as the Wooden Tools we were furniſh'd
with permitted; and in about a Month's time, by
the End of which it was Seed time, we had got-
ten as much Land cur'd and trim'd up, as we ſow-
ed 22 Bushels of Barley on, and 16 Jarrs of Rice,
which was in fhort all the Seed we had to fpare;
nor indeed did we leave our felves Barley fuffici-
ent for our own Food, for the fix Months that we
had to expect our Crop, that is to fay, reckoning
from the time we fet our Seed afide for fowing;
for it is not to be fuppofed it is fix Months in
the Ground in the Country.
Having now Society enough, and our Number
being fufficient to put us out of Fear of the Sava-
ges, if they had come, unleſs their Number had
been very great, we went freely all over the Iſland,
where-ever we found Occafion; and as here we had
our Eſcape or Deliverance upon our Thoughts, it
was impoffible, at least for me, to have the
Means of it out of mine; to this Purpofe,
I mark'd out feveral Trees which I thought fit for
our Work, and I fet Friday and his Father to cut-
ting them down; and then I caufed the Spaniard,
to
[293]
to whom I imparted my Thought on that Affair, to
overſee and direct their Work. I fhewed them
with what indefatigable Pains I had hewed a large
Tree into fingle Planks, and I caufed them to do
the like, till they had made about a Dozen large
Planks of good Oak, near 2 Foot broad, 35 Foot
long, and from 2 Inches to 4 Inches thick: What
prodigious Labour it took up, any one may ima-
gine.
At the fame time I contrived to encreaſe my lit-
tle Flock of tame Goats as much as I could; and
to this Purpoſe, I made Friday and the Spaniard
go out one Day, and my felf with Friday the next
Day; for we took our Turns: And by this Means
we got above 20 young Kids to breed up with the
reft; for when-ever we fhot the Dam, we faved
the Kids, and added them to our Flock: But a-
bove all, the Seafon for curing the Grapes com-
ing on, I cauſed fuch a prodigious Quantity to be
hung up in the Sun, that I believe, had we been
at Alicant, where the Raifins of the Sun are cur'd,
we could have fill'd 60 or 80 Barrels; and thefe
with our Bread was a great Part of our Food, and
very good living too, I affure you; for it is an ex-
ceeding nouriſhing Food.
It was now Harveſt, and our Crop in good Or-
der; it was not the moſt plentiful Encreaſe I had
feen in the Iſland, but however it was enough to
anfwer our End; for from our 22 Bufhels of Bar-
ley, we brought in and thraſhed out above 220
Bufhels; and the like in Proportion of the Rice,
which was Store enough for our Food to the next
Harveſt, tho' all the 16 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 carry'd us to any Part of the World, that
is to fay, of America.
U 3
When
[294]
When we had thus hous'd and fecur'd our Ma-
gazine 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 dexte-
rous at this Part, and often blam'd me that I did not
make fome things, for Defence, of this Kind of
Work; but I faw 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 fee 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 firft fwear in the
Prefence of himſelf and of the old Savage, That
he would no way injure, fight with, or attack the
Perfon he ſhould find in the Ifland, who was fo
kind to fend for them in order to their Delive-
rance; but that they would ftand by and defend
him againſt all fuch Attempts, and where-ever
they went, would be entirely under and fubjected
to his Commands; and that this fhould be put in
Writing, and figned with their Hands: How we
were to have this done, when I knew they had nei-
ther Pen or Ink; that indeed was a Queſtion which
we never aſked.
Under theſe Inftructions, 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
Prifoners to be devour'd 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 ur-
gent Occafion.
This was a chearful Work, being the firſt Mea-
fures uſed by me in view of my Deliverance for
· now
[295]
now 27 Years and fome Days. I gave them Provi-
fions of Bread, and of dry'd Grapes, fufficient for
themſelves for many Days, and fufficient for all
their Country-men for about eight Days time;
and wiſhing them a good Voyage, I fee 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 loft it, I could never recover
it again; nor had I kept even the Number of Years
ſo punctually, as to be fure that I was right, tho'
as it prov'd, when I afterwards examin'd my Ac-
count, 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 in-
terveen'd, of which the like has not perhaps been
heard of in Hiftory: I was faft afleep in my Hutch
one Morning, when my Man Friday came running
in to me, and call'd aloud, Mafter, Mafter, they
are come, they are come.
I jump'd up, and regardleſs of Danger, I went
out, as foon as I could get my Cloaths on, thro'
my little Grove, which by the Way was by this
time grown to be a very thick Wood; I fay, re-
gardleſs of Danger, I went without my Arms,
which was not my Cuſtom to do: But I was fur-
priz'd, when turning my Eyes to the Sea, I pre-
ſently faw a Boat at about a league and half's Di-
ftance, ftanding in for the Shore, with a Shoulder
of Mutton Sail, as they call it; and the Wind blow-
ing pretty fair to bring them in; alſo I obſerv'd
preſently, that they did not come from that Side
which the Shore lay on, but from the Souther-
U 4
moft
[296]
=
moft End of the Ifland: Upon this I call'd Friday
in, and bid him lie clofe, for theſe were not the
People we look'd for, and that we might not know
yet whether they were Friends or Enemies.
In the next Place, I went in to fetch my Perfpe-
ctive Glafs, to fee what I could make of them;
and having taken the Ladder out, I climb'd up to
the Top of the Hill, as I uſed to do when I was
apprehenfive of any thing, and to take my View
the plainer without being diſcover'd.
I had ſcarce fet my Foot on the Hill, when my
Eye plainly difcover'd a Ship lying at an Anchor,
at about two Leagues and an half's Diſtance from
me South-fouth-eaft, but not above a League and
an half from the Shore. By my Obfervation it ap-
pear'd plainly to be an Engliſh Ship, and the Boat
appear'd to be an English Long-Boat.
I cannot exprefs the Confufion I was in, tho' the
Joy of feeing a Ship, and one who I had Reaſon to
believe was Mann'd by my own Country-men, and
confequently Friends, was fuch as I cannot de-
fcribe; but yet I had fome fecret Doubts hung a-
bout me, I cannot tell from whence they came,
bidding me keep upon my Guard. In the firft
Place, it occurr'd to me to confider what Buſineſs
an English Ship could have in that part of the
World, fince it was not the Way to or from any
Part of the World, where the Engliſh had any Traf-
fick;
and I knew there had been no Storms to
drive them in there, as in Diftrefs; and that if
they were English really, it was moft probable
that they were here upon no good Defign; and
that I had better continue as I was, than fall into
the Hands of Thieves and Murtherers.
Let no Man deſpiſe the ſecret Hints and Noti-
ces of Danger, which ſometimes are given him,
when he may think there is no Poffibility of its be-
ing
[297]
ing real.
That fuch Hints and Notices are gi-
ven us, I believe few that have made any Obferva-
tions of things, can deny; that they are certain Dif
coveries of an invifible 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 fome friendly
Agent, whether fupreme, or inferior, and fubor-
dinate, is not the Queſtion; and that they are gi-
ven for our Good?
The prefent Queſtion abundantly confirms me in
the Juftice of this Reaſoning; for had I not been
made cautious by this fecret Admonition, come
at from whence it will, I had been undone in-
evitably, and in a far worfe Condition than be-
fore, as you will fee preſently.
I had not kept my felf long in this Pofture, but
I faw the Boat draw near the Shore, as if they
look'd for a Creek to thruft in at for the Conveni-
ence of Lahding; however, as they did not come
quite far enough, they did not fee the little Inlet
where I formerly landed my Rafts; but run their
Boat on Shore upon the Beach, at about half a
Mile from me, which was very happy for me; for
otherwiſe they would have landed juft as I may fay
at my Door, and would foon have beaten me out of
my Caſtle, and perhaps have plunder'd me of all
I had.
When they were on Shore, I was fully fatisfy'd
that they were Engliſh Men; at leaſt, moſt of them;
one or two I thought were Dutch; but it did not
prove fo: There were in all eleven Men, whereof
three of them I found were unarm'd, and as I
thought, bound; and when the first four or five of
them were jump'd on Shore, they took thofe three
out of the Boat as Prifoneers: One of the three I
could perceive ufing the moft paffionate Geſtures of
Entreaty,
[298]
Entreaty, Affliction and Defpair, even to a kind
of Extravagance; the other two I could perceive
lifted up their Hands fometimes, and appear'd con-
cern'd indeed, but not to fuch a Degree as the
firft.
I was perfectly confounded at the Sight, and
knew not what the meaning of it ſhould be. Fri-
day call'd out to me in English, as well as he could,
O Mafter! You fee English Mans eat Prifoner as well
as Savage Mans. Why, fays I, Friday, Do you
think they are a going to eat them then! Yes, fays Fri-
day, They will eat them: No, no, fays I, Friday, I
am afraid they will murther them indeed, but you may
be fure they will not eat them.
All this while I had no thought of what the
Matter really was; but ftood trembling with the
Horror of the Sight, expecting every Moment when
the three Priſoners fhould be kill'd; nay, once I faw
one of the Villains lift up his Arm with a great Cut-
laſh, as the Seamen call it, or Sword, to ſtrike one
of the poor Men; and I expected to fee him fall e-
very Moment, at which all the Blood in my Body
feem'd to run chill in my Veins.
I wiſh'd heartily now for my Spaniard, and the
Savage that was gone with him; or that I had a-
ny way to have come undiſcover'd within ſhot of
them, that I might have refcu'd the three Men;
for I faw no Fire Arms they had among them; but
it fell out to my Mind another way.
After I had obferv'd the outrageous Ufage of the
three Men, by the infolent Seamen, I obferv'd the
Fellows run fcattering about the Land, as if they
wanted to fee the Country: I obferv'd that the
three other Men had Liberty to go alfo where they
pleas'd; but they fat down all three upon the
Ground, very penfive, and look'd like Men in
Deſpair.
This
[299]
This put me in Mind of the firſt Time when I
came on Shore, and began to look about me; How
I gave my ſelf over for loft: How wildly I look'd
round me: What dreadful Apprehenfions I had:
And how I lodg'd in the Tree all Night for fear
of being devour'd by wild Beafts.
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 fince been ſo long nouriſh'd and ſup-
ported; ſo theſe three poor defolate Men knew no-
thing how certain of Deliverance and Supply they
were, how near it was to them, and how effectu-
ally and really they were in a Condition of Safety,
at the fame Time that they thought themſelves
loft, and their Caſe deſperate.
So little do we fee before us in the World, and
fo much reafon have we to depend chearfully upon
the great Maker of the World, that he does not
leave his Creatures fo abfolutely deftitute, but that
in the worſt Circumftances they have always fome-
thing to be thankful for, and fometimes 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 Deftru-
ction.
It was just at the Top of High-Water when theſe
People came on Shore, and while partly they ſtood
parlying with the prifoners they brought, and part-
Îy while they rambled about to fee what kind of a
Place they were in; they had carelefly ftaid till the
Tide was ſpent, and the Water was ebb'd confide-
rably away, leaving their Boat a-ground.
They had left two Men in the Boat, who as I
found afterwards, having drank a little too much
Brandy, fell a-ſleep; however, one of them waking
fooner than the other, and finding the Boat too faft
a-ground
[300]
a-ground for him to ftir it, hollow'd for the reft who
were ftraggling about, upon which they all foon
came to the Boat; but it was paft all their Strength
to launch her, the Boat being very heavy, and the
Shore on that Side being a foft oufy Sand, almoft
like a Quick-Sand.
In this Condition, like true Seamen who are per-
haps the leaſt of all Mankind given to fore-thought,
they gave it over, and away they ftroll'd about the
Country again; and I heard one of them fay aloud to
another, calling them off from the Boat, Why let her
alone, Jack, can't ye, fhe will float next Tide; by which
I was fully confirm'd in the main Enquiry, of what
Countrymen they were.
All this while I kept my felf 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 forti-
fy'd 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 theit Motions, and to hear their Difcourfe, if
they had any.
In the mean Time, I fitted my felf up for a Bat-
tle, as before; though with more Caution, knowing
I had to do with another kind of Enemy than I had
at firft: I order'd Friday alfo, who I had made an
excellent Marks-Man with his Gun, to load him-
felf with Arms: I took my felf 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 mention'd, a
naked Sword by my Side, two Piſtols in my Belt,
and a Gun upon each Shoulder.
It was my Deſign, as I faid above, not to have
made any Attempt till it was Dark: But about
Two a Clock, being the Heat of the Day, I found
that
[301]
that in fhort they were all gone ſtraggling into the
Woods, and as I thought were laid down to Sleep.
The three poor diftreffed Men, too Anxious for
their Condition to get any Sleep, were however
fet down under the Shelter of a great Tree, at a-
bout a quarter of a Mile from me, and as I
thought out of fight of any of the reft.
Upon this I refolv'd to diſcover my ſelf to
them, and learn fomething of their Condition:
Immediately I march'd in the Figure as above, my
Man Friday at a good Diſtance behind me, as for-
midable for his Arms as I, but not making quite fo
ftaring a Spectre-like Figure as I did.
I came as near them undiſcover'd as I could,
and then before any of them faw me, I call'd a-
loud to them in Spanish, What are ye Gentlemen?
They ſtarted up at the Noife, but were ten
times more confounded when they faw me, and
the uncouth Figure that I made. They made no
Anfwer at all, but I thought I perceiv'd them juft
going to fly from me, when I fpoke to them in
English, Gentlemen, ſaid I, do not be furpriz'd at
me; perhaps you may have a Friend near you
when you did not expect it. He must be fent di-
rectly from Heaven then, ſaid one of them very
gravely to me, and pulling off his Hat at the fame time
to me, for our Condition is paſt the Help of Man.
All Help is from Heaven, Sir, faid I. But can
you put a Stranger in the way how to help you,
for you ſeem to me to be in fome great Diftrefs?
I faw you when you landed, and when you feem'd
to make Applications to the Brutes that came with
you, I faw one of them lift up his Sword to kill
you.
The poor Man with Tears running down his
Face, and trembling, looking like one aftonifh'd,
return'd, Am I talking to God, or Man! Is it a real
Man
[302]
Man, or an Angel! Be in no fear about that, Sir,
faid I, if God had fent an Angel to relieve you, he
would have come better Cloath'd, and Arm'd after
another manner than you fee me in; pray lay afide
your Fears, I am a Man, an Engliſh-man, and dif-
pos'd to affiſt you, you fee; I have one Servant
only; we have Arms and Ammunition; tell us
freely, Can we ſerve you?
What is your
Cafe?
Our Cafe, faid he, Sir, is too long to tell you,
while our murtherers are fo near; but in fhort,
Sir, I was Commander of that Ship, my Men
have Mutinied against me; they have been hard-
ly prevail'd on not to Murther me, and at laſt
have fet me on Shore in this defolate Place, with
theſe two Men with me; one my Mate, the o-
ther a Paffenger, where we expected to Periſh, be-
lieving the Place to be uninhabited, and know not
yet what to think of it.
Where are thofe Brutes, your Enemies, faid I,
do you know where they are gone? There they lye,
Sir, faid he, pointing to a Thicket of Trees; my
Heart trembles, for fear they have feen us, and
heard you speak, if they have, they will certainly Mur-
ther us all.
Have they any Fire-Arms, ſaid I, He anſwered
they had only two Pieces, and one which they
left in the Boat. Well then, ſaid I, leave the reſt
to me; I fee they are all aſleep, it is an eafie
thing to kill them all; but ſhall we rather take
them Prifoners? He told me there were two def-
perate Villains among them, that it was fcarce
fafe to fhew any Mercy to; but if they were fe-
cur'd, he believ'd all the reft would return to
their Duty. I ask'd him, which they were? He
told me he could not at that diſtance defcribe
them; but he would obey my Orders in any thing
I would
[303]
I would direct. Well, fays I, let us retreat out of
their View or Hearing, leaſt they awake, and we
will refolve further; fo they willingly went back
with me, till the Woods cover'd us from them.
Look you, Sir, faid I, if I venture upon your
Deliverance, are you willing to make two Condi-
tions with me; he anticipated my Propoſals, by
telling me, that both he and the Ship, if reco-
ver'd, ſhould be wholly Directed and Commanded
by me in every thing; and if the Ship was not
recover'd, he would live and dye with me in what
Part of the World foever I would fend him; and
the two other Men faid the fame.
Well, ſays I, my Conditions are but two. 1. That
while you ſtay on this Ifland with me, you will not
pretend to any Authority here; and if I put Arms
into your Hands, you will upon all Occafions give
them up to me, and do no Prejudice to me or
mine, upon this Iſland, and in the mean time be
govern'd by my Orders.
2. That if the Ship is, or may be recover'd,
you will carry me and my Man to England Paf
fage free.
He gave me all the affurances that the Invention
and Faith of Man could deviſe, that he would com-
ply with theſe moſt reaſonable Demands, and be-
fides would owe his Life to me, and acknowledge
it upon all Occafions as long as he liv'd.
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 fhew'd all the
Teftimony of his Gratitude that he was able;
but offer'd to be wholly guided by me. I told him
I thought it was hard venturing any thing; but
the beſt Method I could think of was to fire upon
them at once, as they lay; and if any was not
kill'd at the firft Volley, and offer'd to fubmit,
we
[304]
we might fave them, and fo put it wholly upon
God's Providence to direct the Shot.
He faid very modeftly, that he was loath to
kill them, if he could help it, but that thofe two
were incorrigible Villains, and had been the Au-
thors of all the Mutiny in the Ship, and if they
eſcaped, we ſhould be undone ftill; for they would
go on Board, and bring the whole Ship's Com-
pany, and deſtroy us all. Well then, fays I, Ne-
ceffity legitimates my Advice; for it is the only
Way to fave our Lives. However, ſeeing him ſtill
cautious of ſhedding Blood, I told him they ſhould
go themſelves, and manage as they found conve-
nient.
In the Middle of this Difcourfe, we heard fome
of them awake, and foon after, we faw two of
them on their Feet, I ask'd him, if either of them
were of the Men who he had faid were the Heads of
the Mutiny? He faid, No: Well then, faid I,
you may let them eſcape, and Providence feems to
have wakned them on Purpoſe to fave themſelves.
Now, fays I, if the reſt eſcape you, it is your
Fault.
Animated with this, he took the Musket, I
had given him, in his Hand, and a Piftol
in his Belt, and his two Comerades with
him, with each Man a a Piece in his Hand,
The two Men who were with him, going firſt,
made fome Noiſe, at which one of the Seamen who
was awake, turn'd about, and ſeeing them coming,
cry'd out to the reft; but it was too late then; for
the Moment he cry'd out, they fir'd; I mean the two
Men, the Captain wifely referving his own Piece:
They had fo well aim'd their Shot at the Men they
knew, that one of them was kill'd on the Spot, and
the other very much wounded; but not being dead,
he ſtarted up upon his Feet, and call'd eagerly for
help,
[305]
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 Villany, and with that
Word knock'd him down with the Stock of his Mus-
ket, ſo that he never ſpoke more: There were three
more in the Company, and one of them was alfo
flightly wounded: By this Time I was come, and
when they faw their Danger, and that it was in vain
to refift, they begg'd for Mercy: The Captain told
them, he would fpare their Lives, if they would
give him any Affurance of their Abhorrence of the
Treachery they had been guilty of, and would
fwear 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
Proteftations of their Sincerity that could be defir'd,
and he was willing to believe them, and ſpare their
Lives, which I was not against, only that I oblig'd
him to keep them bound Hand and Foot while they
were upon the Iſland.
While this was doing, I fent Friday with the
Captain's Mate to the Boat, with orders to fecure
her, and bring away the Oars, and Sail, which
they did; and by and by, three ftraggling Men
that were (happily for them) parted from the reft,
came back upon hearing the Guns fir'd, and feeing
their Captain, who before was their Prifoner, now
their Conqueror, they ſubmitted to be bound alſo;
and fo our Victory was compleat.
It now remain'd, that the Captain and I fhould
enquire into one another's Circumftances: I began
firft, and told him my whole Hiftory, which he
heard with an Attention even to Amazement; and
particularly, at the wonderful Manner of my being
furniſh'd with Provifitions and Ammunition; and
indeed, as my Story is a whole Collection of Won-
ders, it affected him deeply; but when he reflected
X
from
[306]
from thence upon himſelf, and how I feem'd to
have been preferv'd there, on purpoſe to fave his
Life, the Tears ran down his Face, and he could
not ſpeak a Word more.
After this Communication was at an End, I car-
ry'd him and his two Men into my Apartment,
leading them in, juft where I came out, viz. At the
Top of the Houfe, where I refresh'd them with
fuch Proviſions as I had, and fhew'd them all the
Contrivances I had made, during my long, long,
inhabiting that Place.
All I fhew'd them, all I faid to them, was per-
fectly amazing; but above all, the Captain admir'd
my Fortification, and how perfectly I had conceal'd
my Retreat with a Grove of Trees, which having
been now planted near twenty Years, and the Trees
growing much fafter than in England, was become
a little Wood, and fo thick, that it was unpaffable
in any Part of it, but at that one. Side, where I
had referv'd my little winding Paffage into it: I
told him, this was my Caftle, and my Refidence;
but that I had a Seat in the Country, as moft Prin-
ces have, whither I could retreat upon Occafion,
and I would fhew him that too another Time;
but at preſent, our Bufinefs was to confider how
to recover the Ship: He agreed with me as to that;
but told me, he was perfectly at a Lofs what Mea-
fures to take; for that there were ſtill fix and twenty
Hands on board, who having entred into a curfed
Confpiracy, by which they had all forfeited their
Lives to the Law, would be harden'd in it now by
Deſperation; and would carry it on, knowing that
if they were reduc'd, they fhould be brought to the
Gallows, as foon as they came to England, or to
any of the English Colonies; and that therefore
there would be no attacking them, with fo fmall a
Number as we were.
I mus'd
[307]
I mus'd for fome Time upon what he had faid,
and found it was a very rational Conclufion; and
that therefore fomething was to be refolv'd on ve-
ry speedily, as well to draw the Men on board in-
to fome Snare for their Surprize, as to prevent their
Landing upon us, and deftroying us; upon this it
preſently occurr'd to me, that in a little while the
Ship's Crew wondring what was become of their
Comrades, and of the Boat, would certainly come
on Shore in their other Boat, to fee for them, and
that then perhaps they might come arm'd, and be
too strong for us; this he allow'd was rational.
Upon this, I told him the firſt Thing we had to
do, was to ftave the Boat, which lay upon the
Beach, fo that they might not carry her off; and
taking every Thing out of her, leave her fo far uſeleſs
as not to be fit to fwim; accordingly we went on
board, took the Arms which were left on board,
out of her, and whatever elfe we found there,
which was a Bottle of Brandy, and another of
Rum, a few Bisket Cakes, a Horn of Powder, and
a great Lump of Sugar, in a Piece of Canvas; the
Sugar was five or fix Pounds, all which was ve-
ry welcome to me,
me, eſpecially the Brandy, and
Sugar, of which I had had none left for many
Years.
When we had carry'd all thefe Things on Shore
(the Oars, Maft, Sail, and Rudder of the Boat,
were carry'd away before, as above) we knock'd a
great Hole in her Bottom, that if they had come
ſtrong enough to maſter us, yet they could not car-
ry 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 Iflands, and call upon our
X 2
Friends
[308]
Friends, the Spaniards, in my Way, for I had them
ftill in my Thoughts.
While we were thus preparing our Defigns, and
had first, by main Strength heav'd the Boat up up-
on the Beach, fo 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 ſtopp'd, and were fat down mufing what
we ſhould do; we heard the Ship fire a Gun, and
faw her make a Waft with her Antient, as a Signal
for the Boat to come on board; but no Boat ftirr'd;
and they fir'd feveral Times, making other Signals
for the Boat.
At laft, when all their Signals and Firing prov'd
fruitless, and they found the Boat did not ftir, we
faw them by the Help of my Glaffes, hoiſt another
Boat out, and row towards the Shore; and we
found as they approach'd that there was no lefs
than ten Men in her, and that they had Fire-Arms
with them.
As the Ship lay almoſt two Leagues from the
Shore, we had a full View of them as they came,
and a plain Sight of the Men even of their Fa-
ces, becauſe the Tide having fet them a little to
the East of the other Boat, they row'd up under
Shore, to come to the fame Place, where the o-
ther had landed, and where the Boat lay.
By this Means, I fay, we had a full View of
them, and the Captain knew the Perfons and Cha-
racters of all the Men in the Boat, of whom he ſaid,
that there were three very honeft Fellows, who he
was fure were led into this Confpiracy by the reft,
being over-power'd and frighted.
But that as for the Boatſwain, who it ſeems was
the chief Officer among them, and all the reft, they
were as outragious as any of the Ship's Crew, and
were no doubt made defperate in their new Enter-
prize,
[309]
prize, and terribly apprehenfive he was, that they
would be too powerful for us.
I fmil'd at him, and told him, that Men in our
Circumſtances were paft the Operation of Fear:
That ſeeing almoſt every Condition that could be,
was better than that which we were fuppos'd to be
in, we ought to expect that the Confequence, whe-
ther Death or Life, would be fure to be a Deli-
verance: I afk'd him, What he thought of the Cir-
cumftances of my Life? And, Whether a Delive-
rance were not worth venturing for? And where,
Sir, faid I, is your Belief of my being preferv'd here
on purpofe to fave your Life, which elevated you a
little while ago? For my Part, faid I, there feems
to be but one Thing amifs in all the Proſpect of it;
What's that? Says he; why,faid I, 'Tis, that as you
fay, there are three or four honeft Fellows among
them, which ſhould be ſpar'd; had they been all of
the wicked Part of the Crew, I ſhould have thought
God's Providence had fingled them out to deliver
them into your Hands; for depend upon it, every
Man of them that comes a-fhore are our own, and
fhall die, or live, as they behave to us.
As I spoke this with a rais'd Voice and chearful
Countenance, I found it greatly encourag'd him; ſo
we fet vigorously to our Bufinefs: We had upon the
first Appearance of the Boat's coming from the Ship,
confider'd of feparating our Prifoners, and had in-
deed fecur'd them effectually.
Two of them, of whom the Captain was leſs af-
fur'd than ordinary, I fent with Friday, and one of
the three (deliver'd Men) to my Cave, where they
were remote enough, and out of Danger of being
heard or difcover'd, or of finding their way out of
the Woods, if they could have deliver'd themſelves:
Here they left them bound, but gave them Provifi-
ons, and promis'd them if they continu'd there qui-
X 3
etly,
[310]
etly, 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 promis'd
faithfully to bear their Confinement with Patience,
and were very thankful that they had fuch good U-
fage, as to have Provifions, and a Light left them;
for Friday gave them Candles (fuch as we made our
felves) for their Comfort; and they did not know
but that he ftood Sentinel over them at the En-
trance.
The other Priſoners had better Ufage; two of
them were kept pinion'd indeed, becauſe the Cap-
tain was not free to trust them; but the other two
were taken into my Service upon their Captain's Re-
commendation, and upon their folemnly engaging
to live and die with us; fo with them and the three
honeft Men, we were feven Men, well arm'd; and
I made no doubt we fhou'd be able to deal well e-
nough with the Ten that were a coming, confi-
dering that the Captain had faid, there were three
or four honeft Men among them alſo.
As foon as they got to the Place where their o-
ther Boat lay, they run their Boat in to the Beach.
and came all on Shore, haling the Boat up after
them, which I was glad to fee; for I was afraid
they would rather have left the Boat at an Anchor
fome Diſtance from the Shore with fome Hands
in her, to guard her; and fo we ſhould not be able
to feize the Boat.
Being on Shore, the firft Thing they did, they
ran all to their other Boat, and it was eafy to fee
that they were under a great Surprize, to find her
ftripp'd as above, of all that was in her, and a
great hole in her Bottom.
After they had mus'd a while upon this, they
fet up two or three great Shouts, hollowing with
all their might, to try if they could make their
Companions
[311]
Companions hear; but all was to no purpofe: Then
they came all cloſe in a Ring, and fir'd a Volley of
their ſmall Arms, which indeed we heard, and the
Ecchos made the Woods ring; but it was all one,
thofe in the Cave we were fure could not hear, and
thoſe in our keeping, though they heard it well e-
nough, yet durft give no Anſwer to them.
They were ſo aſtoniſh'd at the Surprize of this,
that as they told us afterwards, they refolv'd to go
all on board again to their Ship, and let them
know, that the Men were all murther'd, and the
Long-Boat ftav'd; accordingly they immediately
launch'd their Boat again, and gat all of them
on board.
The Captain was terribly amaz'd, and even con-
founded at this, believing they would go on board
the Ship again, and fet Sail, giving their Comrades
for loft, and fo he ſhould ſtill lofe the Ship, which
he was in Hopes we fhould have recover'd; but
he was quickly as much frighted the other way.
They had not been long put off with the Boat,
but we perceiv'd them all coming on Shore again;
but with this new Meaſure in their Conduct, which
it feems they confulted together upon, viz. To
leave three Men in the Boat, and the reft to go on
Shore, and go up into the Country to look for their
Fellows.
This was a great Difappointment to us; for
now we were at a Lofs what to do; for our feizing
thoſe ſeven Men on Shore would be no Advantage
to us, if we let the Boat efcape; becauſe they
would then row away to the Ship, and then the reft
of them would be fure to weigh and fet Sail, and fo
our recovering the Ship would be loft.
However, we had no Remedy, but to wait and
fee what the Iffue of Things might prefent; the
ſeven Men came on Shore, and the three who re-
X 4
main'd
[312]
main'd in the Boat, put her off to a good Diſtance
from the Shore, and came to an Anchor to wait for
them; fo that it was impoffible 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 fee them
plainly, though they could not perceive us: We
could have been very glad they would have come
nearer to us, fo that we might have fir'd 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 fee a great way into the
Valleys and Woods, which lay towards the North-
East Part, and where the Iſland lay loweft, they
fhouted, and hollow'd, till they were weary; and
not caring it ſeems to venture far from the Shore,
nor far from one another, they fat down together
under a Tree, to confider of it: Had they thought
fit to have gone to fleep there, as the other Party
of them had done, they had done the Jobb for us;
but they were too full of Apprehenfions of Danger,
to venture to go to fleep, though they could not
tell what the Danger was they had to fear neither.
The Captain made a very juft Propofal to me,
upon this Confultation of theirs, viz. That per-
haps they would all fire a Volley again, to endea-
vour to make their Fellows hear and that we
ſhould all Sally upon them, juſt at the Juncture
when their Pieces were all difcharg'd, and they
would certainly yield, and we ſhould have them
without Blood-fhed: I lik'd the Propofal, provided
it was done while we were near enough to come
up to them, before they could load their Pieces
again.
But
[313]
But this Event did not happen, and we lay ſtill
a long Time, very irrefolute what Courfe 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 fo might uſe fome 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 uneafy, when
after long Confultations, we faw them itart all up,
and march down toward the Sea: It ſeems they
had fuch dreadful Apprehenfions upon them, of
the Danger of the Place, that they refolv'd to go
on board the Ship again, give their Companions o-
ver for loft, and fo go on with their intended Voy-
age with the Ship.
As foon as I perceiv'd them go towards the Shore,
I imagin'd 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 fink at the Apprehenfions
of it, but I preſently thought of a Stratagem to
fetch them back again, and which anſwer'd my
End to a Tittle.
I order'd Friday, and the Captain's Mate, to go
over the little Creek Westward, towards the Place
were the Savages came on Shore, when Friday was
refcu'd; and as ſoon as they came to a little rifing
Ground, at about half a Mile Diſtance, I bad them
hollow, as loud as they could, and wait till they
found the Seamen heard them; that as foon as ever
they heard the Seamen anſwer them, they ſhould
return it again, and then keeping out of Sight, take
a round, always anfwering when the other hollow'd,
to draw them as far into the Ifland, and among the
Woods,
:
[314]
Woods, as poffible, and then wheel about again to
me, by fuch ways as I directed them.
They were just going into the Boat, when Friday
and the Mate hollow'd, and they prefently heard
them, and anſwering, run along the Shore Weft-
ward, towards the Voice they heard, where they
were preſently ſtopp'd by the Creek, where the
Water being up, they could not get over, and
call'd for the Boat to come up, and fet them over,
as indeed I expected.
When they had ſet themſelves over, I obferv'd,
that the Boat being gone up a good way into the
Creek, and as it were, in a Harbour within the
Land, they took one of the three Men out of her to
go along with them, and left only two in the Boat,
having faftned her to the Stump of a little Tree on
the Shore.
This was what I wifh'd for, and immediately leav-
ing Friday and the Captain's Mate to their Buſineſs,
I took the rest with me, and croffing the Creek out
of their Sight, we furpriz'd 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 fleeping and waking, and going to ftart up,
the Captain who was foremost, ran in upon him,
and knock'd him down, and then call'd out to him
in the Boat, to yield, or he was a dead Man.
There needed very few Arguments to perfwade
a fingle Man to yield, when he faw five Men upon
him, and his Comrade knock'd down; befides, this
was it ſeems one of the three who were not fo hearty
in the Mutiny as the reft of the Crew, and therefore
was eaſily perfwaded, not only to yield, but after-
wards to joyn very fincere with us.
In the mean time, Friday and the Captain's Mate
fo well manag'd their Bufinefs with the reft, that
they drew them by hollowing and anfwering, from
one
[315]
one Hill to another, and from one Wood to ano-
ther, till they not only heartily tyr'd them, but left
them, where they were very fure they could not
reach back to the Boat, before it was dark; and
indeed they were heartily tyr'd themfelves alfo
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, fo as to
make fure work with them.
It was feveral 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 thofe behind to
come along, and could alfo hear them anfwer and
complain, how lame and tyr'd they were, and not
able to come any fafter, which was very welcome
News to us.
At length they came up to the Boat; but 'tis
impoffible to exprefs their Confufion, when they
found the Boat faft a-Ground in the Creek, the
Tide ebb'd out, and their two Men gone: We
could hear them call to one another in a moft la-
mentable Manner, telling one another, they were
gotten into an inchanted Ifland; that either there
were Inhabitants in it, and they fhould all be mur-
ther'd, or elſe there were Devils and Spirits in it,
and they ſhould be all carry'd away, and devour'd.
They hallow'd again, and call'd their two Come-
rades by their Names, a great many times, but
no Anſwer. After fome time, we could fee
them, by the little Light there was, run about
wringing their Hands like Men in Defpair; and
that fometimes they would go and fit down in the
Boat to reft themfelves, then come afhore again,
and walk about again, and fo over the fame thing
again.
My
[316]
My Men would fain have me given them Leave
to fall upon them at once in the Dark; but I was
willing to take them at fome Advantage, ſo to
fpare 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 other were ve-
ry well armed. I refolved to wait to fee if they
did not ſeparate; and therefore to make ſure of
them, I drew my Ambuſcade nearer, and order'd
Friday and the Captain, to creep upon their Hands
and Feet as clofe to the Ground as they could,
that they might not be diſcover'd, and get as near
them as they could poffibly, before they offered to
fire.
They had not been long in that Poſture, but that
the Boatfwain, who was the principal Ringleader
of the Mutiny, and had now fhewn himfelf the
moſt dejected and difpirited of all the reft, came
walking towards them with two more of their
Crew; the Captain was fo eager, as having this
principal Rogue fo much in his Power, that he
could hardly have Patience to let him come fo
near, as to be fure 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 kill'd upon the Spot, the
next Man was ſhot into the Body, and fell juft by
him, tho' he did not die 'till an Hour or two after;
and the third run for it.
At the Noife of the Fire, I immediately ad-
vanc'd with my whole Army, which was now 8
Men, viz. my ſelf Generaliſſimo, Friday my Lieu-
tenant-General, the Captain and his two Men, and
the three Priſoners of War, who we had trufted
with Arms.
We
[317]
We came upon them indeed in the Dark, fo 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 fo might perhaps re-
duce them to Terms, which fell out just as we de-
fir'd for indeed it was eafy to think, as their
Condition then was, they would be very willing.
to capitulate; fo he calls out as loud as he could,
to one of them, Tom Smith, Tom Smith; Tom Smith
anſwered immediately, Who's that, Robinfon? for
it ſeems he knew his Voice: T'other anfwered, Ay,
ay; for God's Sake, Tom Smith, throw down your
Arms, and yield, or, you are all dead Men this Mo-
ment.
Who must we yield to? where are they? (fays Smith
again;) Here they are, fays he, here's our Captain,
and fifty Men with him, have been hunting you
this two Hours; the Boatfwain is kill'd, Will Frye
is wounded, and I am a Prifoner; and if you do not
yield, you are all loft.
Will they give us Quarter then, (fays Tom
Smith) and we will yield? I'll go and aſk, if you pro-
mife to yield, fays Robinſon; fo he aſk'd the Captain,
and the Captain then calls himſelf out, You Smith,
you know my Voice, if you lay down your Arms
immediately, and fubmit, you fhall have your Lives.
all but Will. Atkins.
Upon this, Will Atkins cry'd 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 mutiny'd, and ufed him barbaroufly, in tying.
his Hands, and giving him injurious Language.
However, the Captain told him he must lay down
his Arms at Difcretion, and truft to the Gover-
nour's
[318]
nour's Mercy, by which he meant me; for they
all call'd me Governour.
In a Word, they all laid down their Arms, and
begg'd their Lives; and I fent the Man that had
parley'd with them, and two more, who bound
them all; and then my great Army of 50 Men,
which particularly with thofe three, were all but
eight, came up and feiz'd upon them all, and upon
their Boat, only that I kept my felf and one more
out of Sight, for Reafons of State.
Our next Work was to repair the Boat, and
think of feizing the Ship; and as for the Captain,
now he had Leiſure to parley with them: He expo-
ftulated with them upon the Villany of their Pra-
ctices with him, and at length upon the farther
Wickedness of their Defign, and how certainly
it muſt bring them to Mifery and Diſtreſs in the
End, and perhaps to the Gallows.
They all appear'd very penitent, and begg'd 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 fet him on
Shore in a barren uninhabitated Ifland, but it had
pleaſed God ſo to direct them, that the Iſland
was inhabited, and that the Governour was an
English Man; that he might hang them all there, if
he pleaſed; but as he had given them all Quarter,
he fuppofed he would fend them to England to be
dealt with there, as Juftice requir'd, except At-
kins, who he was commanded by the Governour to
adviſe to prepare for Death; for that he would be
hang'd in the Morning.
Though this was all a Fiction of his own, yet
it had its defired Effect; Atkins fell upon his Knees
to beg the Captain to interceed with the Gover-
nour for his Life; and all the reft beg'd of him
for
[319]
for God's Sake, that they might not be ſent to
England.
It now occurr'd to me, that the time of our De-
liverance was come, and that it would be a moft
eaſy thing to bring thefe Fellows in, to be hearty
in getting Poffeffion of the Ship; fo I retir'd in
the Dark from them, that they might not ſee what
Kind of a Governour they had, and call'd the
Captain to me; when I call'd, as at a good Di-
ſtance, one of the Men was order'd to ſpeak again,
and fay to the Captain, Captain, the Commander calls
for you; and prefently the Captain reply'd, Tell
his Excellency, I am just a coming: This more per-
fectly amuſed them; and they all believed that
the Commander was juſt by with his fifty Men.
Upon the Captain's coming to me, I told him
my Project for feizing the Ship, which he lik'd of
wonderfully well, and refolv'd to put it in Execu-
tion the next Morning.
But in order to execute it with more Art, and
fecure of Succefs, I told him, we muft divide the
Priſoners, and that he ſhould go and take Atkins and
two more of the worst of them, and fend them
pinion'd to the Cave where the others lay: This
was committed to Friday and the two Men who
came on Shore with the Captain.
They convey'd them to the Cave, as to a Pri-
fon; and it was indeed a diſmal Place, efpecially
to Men in their Condition.
as I
The other I order'd to my Bower,
call'd it, of which I have given a full Defcrip-
tion; and as it was fenc'd in, and they pinion'd,
the Place was fecure enough, confidering they were
upon their Behaviour.
To theſe in the Morning I fent 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
[320]
might be truſted or no, to go on Board and furprize
the Ship. He talk'd to them of the Injury done
him, of the Condition they were brought to; and
that though the Governour had given them
Quarter for their Lives, as to the preſent Action,
yet that if they were fent to England, they would
all be hang'd in Chains, to be fure; but that if
they would join in ſo juſt an Attempt, as to reco-
ver the Ship, he would have the Governour's En-
gagement for their Pardon.
Any one may guefs how readily fuch a Propo-
fal 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 laft Drop,
and that they fhould 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 liv'd.
Well, fays the Captain, I must go and tell the
Governour what you fay, and fee what I can do
to bring him to confent to it: So he brought me
an Acconnt of the Temper he found them in;
and that he verily believ'd they would be faith-
ful.
However, that we might be very fecure, I told
him he ſhould go back again, and choofe out five
of them, and tell them, they might fee that he did
not want Men, that he would take out five of
them to be his Affiftants, and that the Governour
would keep the other two, and the three that were
fent Priſoners to the Caftle, (my Cave) as Hoftages,
for the Fidelity of thofe five; and that if they
prov'd unfaithful in the Execution, the five Hoftages
fhould be hang'd in Chains alive upon the Shore.
This look'd fevere, and convinc'd them that the
Governour was in Earneft; however they had no
Way
ว
[321]
Way left them, but to accept it; and it was now
the Buſineſs of the Priſoners, as much as of the
Captain, to perfwade the other five to do their
Duty
Our Strength was now thus ordered for the Ex-
pedition: 1. The Captain, his Mate, and Paſſen-
ger. 2. Then the two Prifoners of the firft Gang,
to whom having their Characters from the Cap-
tain, I had given their Liberty, and trufted them
with Arms. 3. The other two who I had kept
till now, in my Apartment, pinion'd; but upon
the Captain's Motion, had now releas'd.
4. The
fingle Man taken in the Boat. 5. Thefe five re-
leas'd at laft: So that they were thirteen in all,
befides five we kept Priſoners in the Cave, and the
two Hoftages.
I ask'd the Captain, if he was willing to ven-
ture 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 ftir, having feven Men left behind;
and it was Employment enough for us to keep
them affunder, and ſupply them with Victuals.
As to the five in the Cave, I refolv'd to keep
them faſt, but Friday went in twice a Day to them,
to ſupply them with Neceffaries; and I made the
other two carry Provifions to a certain Diſtance,
where Friday was to take it.
When I fhew'd my felf to the two Hoftages, it
was with the Captain, who told them, I was the
Perfon the Governour had order'd to look after
them, and that it was the Governour's Pleaſure
they ſhould not ftir any where, but by my Dire-
ction; that if they did, they ſhould be fetch'd in-
to the Caſtle, and be lay'd in Irons; fo that as we
never fuffered them to fee me as Governour, fo I
now appear'd as another Perfon, and fpoke of the
Y
Gover-
[322]
Governour, the Garrison, the Caftle, and the like,
upon all Occafions.
The Captain now had no Difficulty before him,
but to furniſh his two Boats, ftop the Breach of
one, and Man them.
He made his Paffenger
Captain of one, with four other Men; and him-
felf, and his Mate, and fix more, went in the o-
ther: And they contriv'd their Bufinefs very well;
for they came up to the Ship about Midnight: As
foon as they came within Call of the Ship, he made
Robinſon hale 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 entring
firſt with their Arms, immediately knock'd down
the ſecond Mate and Carpenter, with the But-end
of their Muskets, being very faithfully feconded-
by their Men, they fecur'd all the reft that were
upon the Main and Quarter Decks, and began to
faften the Hatches to keep them down who were
below, when the other Boat and their Men entring
at the fore Chains, fecur'd the Fore-Caftle of the
Ship, and the Scuttle which went down into the
Cook Room, making three Men they found there,
Priſoners,
When this was done, and all ſafe upon Deck, the
Captain order'd the Mate with three Men to break
into the Round-Houfe where the new Rebel Cap-
tain lay, and having taken the Alarm, was gotten
up, and with two Men and a Boy had gotten Fire
Arms in their Hands, and when the Mate with a
Crow ſplit open the Door, the new Captain and
his Men fir'd boldly among them, and wounded
the Mate with a Musket Ball, which broke his
Arm, and wounded two more of the Men but:
kill'd no Body.
The
[323]
The Mate calling for Help, ruſh'd however in-
to the Round-Houfe, wounded as he was, and
with his Piſtol fhot the new Captain thro' the
Head, the Bullet entring at his Mouth, and came
out again behind one of his Ears; fo that he never
fpoke a Word; upon which the reft yielded, and
the Ship was taken effectually, without any more
Lives loft.
As foon as the Ship was thus fecur'd, the Cap-
tain order'd ſeven Guns to be fir'd, which was the
Signal agreed upon with me, to give me Notice
of his Succefs, which you may be fure I was very
glad to hear, having fat 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 flept very found, 'till I was fomething fur-
priz'd with the Noiſe of a Gun; and preſently
ſtarting up, I heard a Man call me by the Name of
Governour, Governour, 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 embrac'd me in his Arms, My dear Friend and
Deliverer, fays he,there's your Ship, for ſhe is all yours,
and ſo are we and all that belong to her. I caft my Eyes
to the Ship, and there fhe rode within little more
than half a Mile of the Shore; for they had weigh-
ed her Anchor as foon 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 fo landed juft at my Door.
I was at firft ready to fink down with the Sur-
prize. For I faw my Deliverance indeed vifibly
put into my hands, all things eafy, and a large
Ship juft ready to carry me away whither I plea-
Y 2
fel
[324]
fed to go.
At first, for fome time, I was not able
to anſwer him one Word; but as he had taken me
in his Arms, I held faft by him, or I ſhould have
fallen to the Ground.
He perceived the Surprize, and immediately
pulls a Bottle out of his Pocket, and gave me a
Dram of Cordial, which he had brought on Pur-
pofe for me; after I had drank it, I fat down up-
on the Ground; and though it brought me to my
felf, yet it was a good while before I could fpeak
a Word to him.
All this while the poor Man was in as great an
Extaſy as I, only not under any Surprize, as I was;
and he faid a thouſand kind tender things to me, to
compoſe me and bring me to my ſelf; but fuch was
the Flood of Joy in my Breaft, that it put all my
Spirits into Confufion, at laft it broke out into
Tears, and in a little while after, I recovered my
Speech.
Then I took my Turn, and embrac'd him as
my Deliverer; and we rejoyc'd together. I told
him, I look upon him as a Man fent from Heaven
to deliver me, and that the whole Tranfaction
feemed to be a Chain of Wonders; that fuch things.
as theſe were the Teftimonies we had of a fecret
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
fend Help to the Miferable whenever he pleaſed.
I forgot not to lift up my Heart in Thankful-
neſs to Heaven, and what Heart could forbear to
bleſs him, who had not only in a miraculous Man-
ner provided for once in fuch a Wilderneſs, and
in fuch a defolate Condition, but from whom every
Deliverance muſt always be acknowledged to pro-
ceed.
When
[325]
When we had talk'd a while, the Captain told
me, he had brought me fome little Refreſhment,
fuch as the Ship afforded, and fuch as the Wretches
that had been ſo long his Maſter had not plunder'd
him of: Upon this he call'd aloud to the Boat, and
bid his Men bring the things afhore that were for
the Governour; and indeed it was a Prefent, as if
I had been one not that was to be carry'd away
along with them, but as if I had been to dwell
upon the Iſland ftill, and they were to go without
me.
Firſt he had brought me a Cafe of Bottles full
of excellent Cordial Waters, fix large Bottles of
Madera Wine; the Bottles held two Quarts a-piece ; ·
two Pound of excellent good Tobacco, twelve
good Pieces of the Ship's Beef, and fix Pieces of
Pork, with a Bag of Peaſe, and about a hundred
Weight of Bisket.
He brought me alfo a Box of Sugar, a Box of
Flower, a Bag full of Lemons, and two Bottles
of Lime-Juice, and Abundance of other things:
But befides theſe, and what was a thouſand times
more uſeful to me, he brought me fix clean new
Shirts, fix very good Neckcloaths, two Pair of
Gloves, one Pair of Shoes, a Hat, and one Pair
of Stockings, and a very good Suit of Cloaths of
his own, which had been worn but very little : In
a Word, he cloathed me from Head to Foot.
It was a very kind and agreeable Preſent, as any
one may imagine to one in my Circumftances: But
never was any thing in the World of that Kind fo
unpleaſant, awkard, and uneafy, as it was to me to
wear fuch Cloaths at their firft putting on.
After theſe Ceremonies paſt, and after all his
good things were brought into my little Apart-
ment, we began to confult what was to be done
with the Prisoners we had; for it was worth con-
Y 3
fidering,
[326]
fidering, whether we might venture to take them a-
way with us or no, efpecially two of them, who
we knew to be incorrigible and refractory to the
laſt Degree; and the Captain faid, he knew they
were fuch 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 Ju-
ftice at the firft English Colony he could come at;
and I found that the Captain himfelf was very an-
xious about it.
Upon this, I told him, that if he defir'd it, I
durft undertake to bring the two Men he ſpoke of,
to make it their own Requeft that he fhould leave
them upon the Iſland: I should be very glad of that,
fays the Captain, with all my Heart.
Well, fays I, I will fend for them up, and talk
with them for you; ſo I caufed Friday and the two
Hoftages, for they were now diſcharg'd, their Com-
rades having perform'd their Promife; I fay, I cau-
fed them to go to the Cave, and bring up the five
Men pinion'd, as they were, to the Bower, and
keep them there'till I came.
After fome time, I came thither drefs'd in my
new Habit, and now I was call'd Governour 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 villanous Behavi-
our to the Captain, and how they had run away
with the Ship, and were preparing to commit
farther Robberies, but that Providence had en-
fnar'd 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 feiz'd, that the lay now in the Road; and
they might fee by and by, that their new Captain
had
[327]
had receiv'd the Reward of his Villany; for that
they might fee him hanging at the Yard-Arm.
That as to them, I wanted to know what they
had to fay, why I fhould not execute them as Pi-
rates taken in the Fact, as by my Commiffion they
could not doubt I had Authority to do.
One of them anfwer'd in the Name of the reft,
That they had nothing to ſay but this, That when
they were taken, the Captain promis'd them their
Lives, and they humbly implor'd my Mercy; But
I told them, I knew not what Mercy to fhew them;
for as for my felf, I had refolv'd 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 try'd for
Mutiny, and running away with the Ship; the
Confequence of which, they must needs know,
would be the Gallows; fo that I could not tell
which was beſt for them, unleſs they had a Mind
to take their Fate in the Iſland; if they defir'd, that
I did not care, as I had Liberty to leave it, I had
fome Inclination to give them their Lives, if they
thought they could ſhift on Shore.
They feem'd very thankful for it, faid they would
much rather venture to ſtay there, than to be car-
ry'd to England to be hang'd; fo I left it on that
Iffue.
However, the Captain
feem'd to make
fome Difficulty of it, as if he durft not leave them
there: Upon this I feem'd a little angry with the
Captain, and told him, That they were my Priſo-
ners, not his; and that feeing I had offered them
fo much Favour, I would be as good as my Word;
and that if he did not think fit to confent to it, I
would fet them at Liberty, as I found them; and
Y A
4
if
[328]
if he did not like it, he might take them again if
he could catch them.
Upon this they appear'd very thankful, and I ac-
cordingly fet them at Liberty, and bad them re-
tire into the Woods to the Place whence they
came, and I would leave them fome Fire Arms,
fome Ammunition, and fome Directions how they
fhould live very well, if they thought fit.
Upon this I prepar'd to go on Board the Ship,
but told the Captain, that I would ftay that Night
to prepare my things, and defir'd him to go on
Board in the mean time, and keep all right in the
Ship, and fend the Boat on Shore the next Day
for me; ordering him in the mean time to caufe
the new Captain who was kill'd, to be hang'd at
the Yard-Arm that theſe Men might fee him.
When the Captain was gone, I fent for the Men
up to me to my Apartment, and entred feriouſly
into Difcourfe with them of their Circumftances,
I told them, I thought they had made a right
Choice; that if the Captain carry'd them away,
they would certainly be hang'd. I fhewed them
the new Captain, hanging at the Yard-Arm of the
Ship, and told them they had nothingleſs to expect.
When they had all declar'd 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 Hiftory of the Place, and of
my coming to it; fhew'd them my Fortifications,
the Way I made my Bread, planted my Corn, cu-
red my Grapes; and in a Word, all that was ne-
ceffary to make them eafy: I told them the Story
alfo of the fixteen Spaniards that were to be expe-
cted; for whom I left a Letter, and made them
promiſe to treat them in common with themſelves.
I left
[329]
I left them my Fire Arms, 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
manag'd 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 Gun-Powder
more, and fome Garden-Seeds, which I told them
I would have been very glade of; alfo I gave them
the Bag of Peaſe which the Captain had brought
me to eat, and bad them be fure to fow and en-
creaſe them.
Having done all this, I left them the next Day,
and went on Board the Ship: We prepared imme-
diately to fail, 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
moft lamentable Complaint of the other three, beg-
ged to be taken into the Ship, for God's Sake, for
they ſhould be murthered, and begg'd the Captain
to take them on Board, tho' he hang'd them imme-
diately.
Upon this the Captain pretended to have no
Power without me; But after fome Difficulty,
and after their folemn Promiſes of Amendment,
they were taken, and were fome time after foundly
whipp'd and pickl'd; after which, they prov'd very
honest and quiet Fellows.
Some time after this, the Boat was order'd on
Shore, the Tide being up, with the things promi-
fed to the Men, to which the Captain at my In-
terceffion cauſed their Chefts and Cloaths to be ad-
ed, which they took, and were very thankful for;
I alfo encourag'd them, by telling them, that if
it
[330]
it lay in my Way to fend any Veffel to take them
in, I would not forget them.
When I took leave of this Iſland, I carry'd on
board for Reliques, the great Goat's-Skin-Cap I
had made, my Umbrella, and my Parrot; alfo I
forgot not to take the Money I formerly mention'd,
which had lain by me fo long uſeleſs, that it was
grown rufty, or tarnish'd, and could hardly pafs
for Silver, till it had been a little rubb'd, and
handled; as alfo the Money I found in the Wreck
of the Spanish Ship.
And thus I left the Ifland, the Nineteenth 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 19 Days; being
deliver'd from this fecond Captivity, the fame Day
of the Month, that I firſt made my Eſcape in the
Barco-Longo, from among the Moors of Sallee.
In this Veffel, after a long Voyage, I arriv'd in
England, the Eleventh of June, in the Year 1687,
having been thirty and five Years abfent.
When I came to England, I was as perfect a
Stranger to all the World, as if I had never been
known there. My Benefactor and faithful Stew-
ard, who I had left in Truft with my Money, was
alive; but had had great Misfortunes in the World 1;.
was become a Widow the fecond Time, and very low
in the World: I made her eafy as to what fhe ow'd
me, affuring her, I would give her no Trouble; but
onthe contrary, in Gratitude to her former Care
and Faithfulneſs to me, I reliev'd her as my little
Stock would afford, which at that Time would
indeed allow me to do but little for her; but I affur'd
her, I would never forget her former Kindneſs to me;
nor did I forget her, when I had fufficient to help
her, as fhall be obferv'd in its Place.
I went
[331]
I went down afterwards into Yorkshire; but my
Father was dead, and my Mother, and all the Fa-
mily extinct, except that I found two Sifters, and
two of the Children of one of my Brothers; and
as I had been long ago given over for dead, there
had been no Provifion made for me; fo that in a
Word, I found nothing to relieve, or affift me; and
that little Money I had, would not do much for
me, as to fettling in the World.
I met with one Piece of Gratitude indeed, which
I did not expect; and this was, That the Maſter
of the Ship, who I had fo happily deliver'd, and
by the fame Means fav'd the Ship and Cargo, ha-
ving giving a very handſome Account to the
Owners, of the Manner how I had fav'd the Lives
of the Men, and the Ship, they invited me to meet
them, and ſome other Merchants concern'd, and al-
together made me a very handfome Compliment
upon the Subject, and a Prefent of almoft two
hundred Pounds Sterling.
But after making feveral Reflections upon the
Circumſtances of my Life, and how little way this
would go towards fettling me in the World, I re-
folv'd to go to Lisbon, and fee if I might not come
by fome Information of the State of my Plantation
in the Brafils, and of what was become of my
Partner, who I had reaſon to ſuppoſe had fome
Years now given me over for dead.
With this View I took Shipping for Lisbon,
where I arriv'd in April following; my Man Fri-
day accompanying me very honeftly in all thefe
Ramblings, and proving a moſt faithful Servant up-
on all Occafions.
When I came to Lisbon, I found out by Enquiry,
and to my particular Satisfaction, my old Friend
the Captain of the Ship, who firft took me up at
Sea, off of the Shore of Africk: He was now
grown
[332]
grown old, and had left off the Sea, having put
his Son, who was far from a young Man, into his
Ship; and who ſtill uſed the Brafil Trade. The
old Man did not know me, and indeed, I hardly
knew him; but I foon brought him to my Remem-
brance, and as foon brought my felf to his Remem-
brance, when I told him who I was.
After fome paffionate Expreffions of the old Ac-
quaintance, I enquir'd, you may be fure, after my
Plantation and my Partner: The old Man told me
he had not been in the Brafils for about nine Years;
but that he could affure me, that when he came
away, my Partner was living, but the Truſtees,
who I had join'd with him to take Cognizance of
my Part, were both dead; that however, he be-
liev'd that I would have a very good Account of
the Improvement of the Plantation; for that upon
the general Belief of my being caft away, and
drown'd, my Truſtees had given in the Account of
the Produce of my Part of the Plantation, to the
Procurator Fifcal, who had appropriated it, in
Cafe I never came to claim it; one Third to the
King, and two Thirds to the Monaſtery of St. Au-
guftine, to be expended for the Benefit of the Poor,
and for the Converfion of the Indians to the Catho-
lick Faith; but that if I appear'd, or any one for
me, to claim the Inheritance, it ſhould be reftor'd;
only that the Improvement, or Annual Production,
being diftributed to charitable Ufes, could not be
reftor'd; but he affur'd me, that the Steward of
the King's Revenue (from Lands) and the Provie-
dore, or Steward of the Monaftery, had taken great
Care all along, that the Incumbent, that is to fay
my Partner, gave every Year a faithful Account o
the Produce, of which they receiv'd duly myf
Moiety.
I ask'd.
[333]
I ask'd him if he knew to what height of Im-
provement he had brought the Plantation? And,
Whether he thought it might be worth looking af-
ter? Or, Whether on my going thither, I fhould
meet with no Obſtruction to my Poffeffing my juft
Right in the Moiety?
He told me, he could not tell exactly, to what
Degree the Plantation was improv'd; but this he
knew, that my Partner was grown exceeding Rich
upon the enjoying but one half of it; and that to
the beſt of his Remembrance, he had heard, that
the King's Third of my Part, which was it feems
granted away to ſome other Monaftery, or Religi-
ous Houſe, amounted to above two hundred Moi-
dores a Year; that as to my being reftor'd to a
quiet Poffeffion of it, there was no queftion to be
made of that, my Partner being alive to witneſs
my Title, and my Name being alfo enrolled in the
Regiſter of the Country; alfo he told me, That
the Survivors of my two Truſtees, were very fair
honeft People, and very Wealthy; and he believ'd
I would not only have their Affiftance for putting
me in Poffeffion, but would find a very confiderable
Sum of Money in their Hands, for my Account;
being the Produce of the Farm while their Fathers
held the Truſt, and before it was given up as a-
bove, which as he remember'd, was for about
twelve Years.
I fhew'd my ſelf a little concern'd, and uneafy
at this Account, and enquir'd of the old Captain,
How it came to pafs, that the Truſtees fhould thus
diſpoſe my Effects, when he knew that I had made
my Will, and had made him, the Portugueſe Cap-
tain, my univerfal Heir, &c.
He told me, that was true; but that as there
was no Proof of my being dead, he could not act
as Executor, until fome certain Account ſhould
come
[334]
come of my Death, and that befides, he was
not willing to intermeddle with a thing fo remote;
that it was true he had regiftred my Will,
and put in his Claim; and could he have given
any Account of my being dead or alive, he would
have acted by Procuration, and taken Poffeffion of
the Ingenio, fo they call'd the Sugar-Houfe,and had
given his Son, who was now at the Brafils, Or-
der to do it.
But, fays the old Man, I have one Piece of
News to tell you, which perhaps may not be fo
acceptable to you as the reft, and that is, That
believing you were loft, and all the World believ-
ing fo alfo, your Partner and Truſtees did of-
fer to accompt to me in your Name, for fix or
eight of the firſt Years of Profits, which I receiv'd;
but there being at the time, fays he, great Dif-
burfments for encreafing the Works, building an
Ingenio, and buying Slaves, it did not amount to
near fo much as afterwards it produced: However,
fays the old Man, I fhall give you a true Account
of what I have received in all, and how I have
difpofed of it.
After a few Days farther Conference with this
ancient Friend, he brought me an Account of the fix
firſt Years Income of my Plantation, fign'd by my
Partner and the Merchants Truſtees, being al-
ways deliver'd in Goods, viz. Tobacco in Roll,
and Sugar in Chefts, befides Rum, Moloffus, &c.
which is the Confequence of a Sugar Work; and
I found by this Account, that every Year the In-
come confiderably encreaſed; but as above, the
Disburſement being large, the Sum at firft was
fmall However, the old Man let me fee, that he
was Debtor to me 470 Moidores of Gold, befides
60 Chefts of Sugar, and 15 double Rolls of To-
bacco which were loft in his Ship; he having been
Ship-
[335]
Ship-wreck'd coming Home to Lisbon about II
Years after my leaving the Place.
The good Man then began to complain of his
Misfortunes, and how he had been obliged to
make Uſe of my Money to recover his Loffes, and
buy him a Share in a new Ship: However, my
old Friend, fays he, you fhall not want a Supply
in your Neceffity; and as foon as my Son returns,
you fhall be fully fatisfy'd.
Upon this, he pulls out an old Pouch, and
gives me 160 Portugal Moidores in Gold; and
giving me the Writing of his Title to the Ship,
which his Son was gone to the Brafils in, of which
he was a Quarter Part Owner, and his Son ano-
ther, he puts them both into my Hands for Secu-
rity of the reft.
I was too much mov'd with the Honefty and
Kindneſs of the poor Man, to be able to bear
this; and remembring what he had done for me,
how he had taken me up at Sea, and how
generouſly he had uſed me on all Occafions, and
particularly, how fincere a Friend he was now to
me, I could hardly refrain Weeping at what he
faid to me: Therefore, first I asked him, if his
Circumſtances admitted him to fpare fo much
Money at that time, and if it would not ftrait-
en him? He told me, he could not fay but it
might ſtraiten him a little; but however it was
my Money, and I might want it more than he.
Every thing the good Man faid was full of Af-
fection, and I could hardly refrain from Tears
while he ſpoke: In fhort, I took 100 of the Moi-
dores, and call'd for a Pen and Ink to give him a
Receipt for them; then I returned him the reft, and
told him,If ever I had Poffeffion of the Plantation, I
would return the other to him alfo,as indeed I af-
terwards did; and that as to the Bill of Sale of
his
[336]
his Part in his Son's Ship, I would not take it by
any Means; but that if I wanted the Money, I
found he was honeft enough to pay me; and if I
did not, but came to receive what he gave me rea-
fon to expect, I would never have a Penny more
from him.
When this was paſs'd, the old Man began to ask
me, If he ſhould put me into a Method to make my
Claim to my Plantation? I told him, I thought to
go over to it my felf: He faid, I might do fo if I
pleas'd; but that if I did not, there were Ways e-
nough to fecure my Right, and immediately to ap-
propriate the Profits to my Ufe; and as there were
Ships in the River of Lisbon, juft ready to go away
to Brafil, he made me enter my Name in a Publick
Regiſter, with his Affidavit, affirming upon Oath
that I was alive, and that I was the fame Perfon
who took up the Land for the Planting the faid
Plantation at firft.
This being regularly atteſted by a Notary, and
a Procuration affix'd, he directed me to ſend it
with a Letter of his Writing, to a Merchant of
his Acquaintance at the Place, and then propos'd
my ſtaying with him till an Account came of
the Return.
Never any Thing was more honourable, than
the Proceedings upon this Procuration; for in leſs
than ſeven Months, I receiv'd a large Packet from
the Survivors of my Truſtees the Merchants, for
whoſe Account I went to Sea, in which were the
following particular Letters and Papers enclos'd.
First, There was the Account Current of the
Produce of my Farm, or Plantation, from the Year
when their Fathers had ballanc'd with my old Por-
tugal Captain, being for fix Years; the Ballance
appear'd to be 1174 Moidores in my Favour.
Secondly,
[ 337 ]
Secondly, There was the Account of four Years
more while they kept the Effects in their Hands,
before the Government claim'd the Adminiftration,
as being the Effects of a Perfon not to be found,
which they call'd Civil Death; and the Ballance of
this, the Value of the Plantation encreaſing, a-
mounted to
Cruifadoes, which made
3241 Moidores.
Thirdly, There was the Prior of the Auguftin's
Account, who had receiv'd the Profits for above
fourteen Years; but not being to account for what
was difpos'd to the Hofpital, very honeftly de-
clar'd he had 872 Moidores not diftributed, which
he acknowledged to my Account, as to the King's
Part, that refunded nothing.
There was a Letter of my Partner's, congratula-
ting me very affectionately upon my being alive,
giving me an Account how the Eftate was im-
prov'd, and what it produced a Year, with a Par-
ticular of the Number of Squares or Acres that it
contained; how planted, how many Slaves there
were upon it, and making two and twenty Croffes
for Bleffings, told me he had faid fo many Ave
Marias to thank the Bleffed Virgin that I was
alive; inviting me very paffionately to come over
and take Poffeffion of my own; and in the mean
time to give him Orders to whom he fhould deli-
ver my Effects, if I did not come my felf; con-
cluding with a hearty Tender of his Friendſhip,
and that of his Family, and fent me, as a Preſent,
feven fine Leopard's Skins, which he had it ſeems
received from Africa, by fome other Ship which he
had ſent thither, and who it ſeems had made a bet-
ter Voyage than I: He fent me alfo five Chefts of
excellent Sweet-meats, and an hundred Pieces of
Gold uncoin'd, not quite fo large as Moidores.
Z
By
[ 338 ]
By the fame Fleet, my two Merchant Trustees
ſhipp'd me 1200 Chefts of Sugar, 800 Rolls of To-
bacco, and the reft of the whole Accompt in Gold.
I might well fay, now indeed, That the latter
End of Yob was better than the Beginning. It
is impoffible to exprefs here the Flutterings of my
very Heart, when I look'd over theſe Letters, and
eſpecially when I found all my Wealth about me;
for as the Brafil Ships come all in Fleets, the
fame Ships which brought my Letters, brought
my Goods; and the Effects were fafe in the Ri-
ver before the Letters came to my Hand. In a
Word, I turned pale, and grew fick; and had
not the old Man run and fetch'd me a Cordial, I
believe the fudden Surprize of Joy had overfet
Nature, and I had dy'd upon the Spot.
after
Nay after that, I continu'd very ill, and was ſo
fome Hours, 'till a Phyfician being fent for, and
ſomething of the real Caufe of my Illneſs being
known, he order'd me to be let Blood;
which, I had Relief, and grew well: But I verily
believe, if it had not been eas'd by a Vent given
in that Manner, to the Spirits, I fhould have
dy'd.
I was now Mafter, all on a Sudden, of above
5000 l. Sterling in Money, and had an Eſtate, as
I might well call it, in the Brafils, of above a
thouſand Pounds a Year, as fure as an Eſtate of
Lands in England: And in a Word, I was in a
Condition which I fcarce knew how to underſtand,
or how to compofe my felf, for the Enjoyment
ofit.
The firſt thing I did, was to recompenfe my o-
riginal Benefactor, my good old Captain, who
had been firſt charitable to me in my Diſtreſs,
kind to me in my Beginning, and honeft to me at
the End I fhew'd him all that was fent me, I
told
[ 339]
told him, that next to the Providence of Heaven,
which diſpoſes all things, it was owing to him;
and that it now lay on me to reward him, which
I would do a hundred fold: So I firft return'd to
him the hundred Moidores I had receiv'd of him,
then I fent for a Notary, and caufed him to draw
up a general Releaſe or Diſcharge for the 470
Moidores, which he had acknowledg'd he ow'd
me in the fulleſt and firmeſt Manner Poffible; af-
ter which, I caufed a Procuration to be drawn,
impowering him to be my Receiver of the annual
Profits of my Plantation, and appointing my Part-
ner to accompt to him, and make the Returns by
the ufual Fleets to him in my Name; and a Claufe
in the End, being a Grant of 100 Moidores a
Year to him, during his Life, out of the Effects,
and 50 Moidores a Year to his Son after him, for
his Life: And thus I requited my old Man.
I was now to confider which Way to fteer my
Courſe next, and what to do with the Eftate that
Providence had thus put into my Hands; and in-
deed I had more Care upon my Head now, than
I had in my filent State of Life in the Iſland,
where I wanted nothing but what I had, and
had nothing but what I wanted: Whereas I had
now a great Charge upon me, and my Buſineſs
was how to fecure it. I had ne'er a Cave now to
hide my Money in, or a Place where it might lye
without Lock or Key, 'till it grew mouldy and
tarniſh'd before any Body would meddle with it:
On the contrary, I knew not where to put it, or
who to truſt with it. My old Patron, the Cap-
tain, indeed was honeſt, and that was the only Re-
fuge I had.
In the next Place, my Intereft in the Brafils
feem'd to fummon me thither, but now I could
not tell, how to think of going thither, 'till I had
Z 2
fettled
[ 340]
Hands behind me.
Friend the Widow,
fettled my Affairs, and left my Effects in fome fafe
At first I thought of my old
who I knew was honeſt, and
would be juſt to me; but then ſhe was in Years,
and but poor, and for ought I knew, might be in
Debt; fo that in a Word, I had no Way but to
go back to England my felf, and take my Effects
with me.
It was fome Months however before I refolved
upon this; and therefore, as I had rewarded the
old Captain fully, and to his Satisfaction, who had
been my former Benefactor, fo I began to think of
my poor Widow, whofe Husband had been my
firſt Benefactor, and fhe, while it was in her Power,
my faithful Steward and Inftructor. So the firſt
thing I did, I got a Merchant in Lisbon to write
to his Correfpondent in London, not only to pay a
Bill, but to go find her out, and carry her in Mo-
ney, an hundred Pounds from me, and to talk
with her, and comfort her in her Poverty, by tel-
ling her ſhe ſhould, if I liv'd, have a further Sup-
ply: At the fame time I fent my two Sifters in
the Country, each of them an Hundred Pounds,
they being, though not in Want, yet not in very
good Circumftances; one having been marry'd,
and left a Widow; and the other having a Hus-
band not fo, kind to her as he ſhould be.
But among all my Relations, or Acquaintances, I
could not yet pitch upon one, to whom I durft com-
mit the Grofs of my Stock, that I might go away
to the Brafils, and leave things fafe behind me; and
this greatly perplex'd me.
I had once a Mind to have gone to the Brafils,
and have ſettled my felf there; for I was, as it
were, naturaliz'd to the Place; but I had fome lit-
tle Scruple in my Mind about Religion, which in-
fenfibly drew me back, of which I fhall fay
more
[ 341 ]
more preſently. However, it was not Religion
that kept me from going there for the prefent;
and as I had made no Scruple of being openly of
the Religion of the Country, all the while I was
among them, fo neither did I yet; only that now
and then having of late thought more of it, (than
formerly) when I began to think of living and dying
among them, I began to regret my having profeſs d
my felf a Papiſt, and thought it might not be the
beft Religion to die with.
But,as I have ſaid,this was not the main thing that
kept me from going to the Brafils, but that real-
ly I did not know with whom to leave my Effects
behind me; ſo I refolv'd at laft to go to England
with it, where, ifI arrived, I concluded I fhould
make fome Acquaintance, or find ſome Relations
that would be faithful to me; and according I pre-
par'd to go for England with all my Wealth.
In order to prepare things for my going Home, I
first, the Brafil Fleet being just going away, refolved
to give Anſwers fuitable to the juft and faithful Ac-
count of things I had from thence; and firft to the
Prior of St. Augustine I wrote a Letter full of Thanks
for their juft Dealings, and the Offer of the 872
Moidores, which was indifpofed of, which I de-
fir'd might be given 500 to the Monaftery, and
372 to the Poor, as the Prior ſhould direct, defi-
ring the good Padres Prayers for me, and the like.
wrote next a Letter of Thanks to my two
Truſtees, with all the Acknowledgment that fo
much Juftice and Honefty call'd for; as for fen-
ding them any Prefent, they were far above having
any Occafion of it.
Lastly, I wrote to my Partner, acknowledging
his Induſtry in the Improving the Plantation, and
his Integrity in encreafing the Stock of the Works,
giving him Inftructions for his future Govern-
Z 3
ment
[342]
ment of my Part, acccording to the Powers I had
left with my old Patron, to whom I defir'd him to
fend whatever became due to me, 'till he fhould
hear from me more particularly; affuring him that
it was my Intention, not only to come to him,
but to fettle my ſelf there for the Remainder of my
Life: To this I added a very handfom Prefent of fome
Italian Silks for his Wife, and two Daughters, for
fuch the Captain's Son inform'd me he had; with
two Pieces of fine English broad Cloath, the beſt
I could get in Lisbon, five Pieces of black Bays,
and fome Flanders Lace of a good Value.
Having thus fettled my Affairs, fold my Car-
goe, and turn'd all my Effects into good Bills of
Exchange, my next Difficulty was, which Way to
go to England: I had been accuſtomed enough to
the Sea, and yet I had a ſtrange Averfion to going
to England by Sea at that time; and though I could
give no Reafon for it, yet the Difficulty encreas'd
upon me fo much, that though I had once fhipp'd
my Baggage, in order to go, yet I alter'd my Mind,
and that not once, but two or three times.
It is true, I had been very unfortunate by Sea, and
this might be fome of the Reaſon : But let no
Man flight the ſtrong Impulſes of his own Thoughts
in Cafes of fuch Moment: Two of the Ships
which I had fingl'd out to go in, I mean, more
particularly fingl'd out than any other, that is to
fay, fo as in one of them to put my things on
Board, and in the other to have agreed with the
Captain; I fay, two of theſe Ships mifcarry'd, viz.
One was taken by the Algerine, and the other was
caft away on the Start near Torbay, and all the
People drown'd except three; fo that in either of
thofe Veffels I had been made miferable; and im
which moft, it was hard to fay.
Ha-
[343]
Having been thus harafs'd in my Thoughts, my
old Pilate, to whom I communicated every thing,
prefs'd me earnestly not to go by Sea, but either
to go by Land to the Groyne, and croſs over the
Bay of Biscay to Rochell, from whence it was but
an eafy and fafe Journey by Land to Paris, and ſo
to Calais and Dover; or to go up to Madrid, and
fo all the Way by Land thro' France.
In a Word, I was fo prepoffefs'd againſt my going
by Sea at all, except from Calais to Dover, that
I refolv'd to travel all the Way by Land; which
as I was not in Hafte, and did not value the
Charge, was by much the pleaſanter Way; and to
make it more fo, my old Captain brought an En-
glish Gentleman, the Son of a Merchant in Lisbon,
who was willing to travel with me: After which,
we pick'd up two more English Merchants alfo, and
two young Portugueſe Gentlemen, the laft going to
Paris only; fo that we were in all fix of us, and
five Servants; the two Merchants and the two
Portugnefe, contenting themfelves with one Ser-
vant, between two, to fave the Charge; and as for
me, I got an English Sailor to travel with me as
a Servant, befides my Man Friday, who was too
much a Stranger to be capable of fupplying the
Place of a Servant on the Road.
In this Manner I fet out from Lisbon; and our
Company being all very well mounted and armed,
we made a little Troop, whereof they did me the
Honour to call me Captain, as well becaufe
I was the oldeſt Man, as becauſe I had two Ser-
vants, and indeed was the Original of the whole
Journey.
As I have troubled you with none of my Sea-
Journals, fo I fhall trouble you now with none of
my Land-Journal: But fome Adventures that hap-
24
pen'd
[344]
pen'd to us in this tedious and difficult Journey, I
muft not omit.
When we came to Madrid, we being all of us
Strangers to Spain, were willing to ſtay ſome time
to ſee the Court of Spain, and to fee what was
worth obferving; but it being the latter Part of
the Summer, we haften'd away, and fet out from
Madrid about the Middle of October: But when we
came to the Edge of Navarre, we were alarm'd at
feveral Towns on the Way, with an Account, that
fo much Snow was fallen on the French Side of the
Mountains, that feveral Travellers were obliged
to come back to Pampeluna, after having attem-
pted, at an extream Hazard, to paſs on.
When we came to Pampeluna it felf, we found it
fo indeed; and to me that had been always uſed
to a hot Climate, and indeed to Countries where
we could ſcarce bear any Cloaths on, the Cold
was infufferable; nor indeed was it more painful
than it was ſurpriſing, to come but ten Days be-
fore out of the old Caftile where the Weather was
not only warm but very hot, and immediately to
feel a Wind from the Pyrenean Mountains, fo ve-
ry keen, ſo ſeverely cold, as to be intollerable,
and to endanger benumbing and periſhing of our
Fingers and Toes.
Poor Friday was really frighted when he faw
the Mountains all cover'd with Snow, and felt
cold Weather, which he had never feen or felt
before in his Life.
To mend the Matter, when we came to Pam-
peluna, it continued fnowing with fo much Vio-
lence, and fo long, that the People faid, Winter
was come before its time, and the Roads which
were difficult before, were now quite impaffable:
For in a Word, the Snow lay in fome Places too
thick for us to travel; and being not hard frozen, as
is
[345]
is the Cafe in Northern Countries: There was no
going without being in Danger of being bury'd
alive every Step. We ftay'd no lefs than twenty
Days at Pampeluna; when feeing the Winter com-
ing on, and no Likelihood of its being better; for
it was the fevereſt Winter all over Europe that had
been known in the Memory of Man. I propos'd
that we ſhould all go away ro Fonterabia, and there
take Shipping for Bourdeaux, which was a very
little Voyage.
But while we were confidering this, there came
in four French Gentlemen, who having been ſtopp'd
on the French Side of the Paffes, as we were on
the Spanish, had found out a Guide, who traver-
fing the Country near the Head of Languedoc, had
brought them over the Mountains by fuch Ways,
that they were not much incommoded with the
Snow; and where they met with Snow in any
Quantity, they ſaid it was frozen hard enough to
bear them and their Horſes.
We fent for this Guide, who told us, he would
undertake to carry us the fame Way with no Ha-
zard from the Snow, provided we were armed
fufficiently to protect our felves from wild Beaſts;
for he faid, upon thefe great Snows, it was fre-
quent for fome Wolves to fhow themſelves at the
Foot of the Mountains, being made ravenous for
Want of Food, the Ground being covered
with Snow: We told him, we were well
enough prepar'd for fuch Creatures as they were,
if he would enfure us from a Kind of two-legged
Wolves, which we were told, we were in moſt
Danger from, efpecially on the French Side of the
Mountains.
He fatisfy'd us there was no Danger of that kind
in the Way that we were to go; fo we readily a-
greed to follow him, as did alfo twelve other Gen-
tlemen,
[346 T
༣
tlemen, with their Servants, fome French, fome Spa-
nish; who, as I faid, had attempted to go, and
were oblig'd to come back again.
Accordingly, we all fetout from Pampeluna, with
our Guide, on the fifteenth of November; and in-
deed, I was furpriz'd, when inftead of going for-
ward, he came directly back with us, on the fame
Road that we came from Madrid, above twenty
Miles; when being pafs'd two Rivers, and come
into the plain Country, we found our felves in a
warm Climate again, where the Country was plea-
fant, and no Snow to be feen; but on a fudden,
turning to his left, he approach'd the Mountains
another Way; and though it is true, the Hills and
Precipices look'd dreadful, yet he made fo many
Tours, fuch Meanders, and led us by fuch wind-
ing Ways, that we were infenfibly pafs'd the
Height of the Mountains, without being much
imcumbred with the Snow; and all on a fudden,
he fhew'd us the pleaſant fruitful Provinces of Lan-
guedoc and Gascoign, all green and flouriſhing; tho'
indeed it was at a great Diſtance, and we had fome
rough Way to paſs yet.
We were a little uneafy however, when we found
it fnow'd one whole Day, and a Night, fo faſt,
that we could not travel; but he bid us be eaſy,
we ſhould foon be paft it all: We found indeed,
that we began to defcend every Day, and to come
more North than before; and fo depending upon
our Guide, we went on.
It was about two Hours before Night, when
our Guide being ſomething before us, and not juſt
in Sight, out ruſhed three monftrous Wolves, and
after them a Bear, out of a hollow Way, adjoyn-
ing to a thick Wood; two of the Wolves flew up-
on the Guide, and had he been half a Mile before
us, he had been devour'd indeed, before we could
have
[347]
have help'd him: One of them faftned upon his
Horſe, and the other attack'd the Man with that
Violence, that he had not Time, or not Prefence
of Mind enough to draw his Piſtol, but hollow'd
and cry'd out to us moft luftily; my Man Friday
being next me, I bid him ride up, and fee what
was the Matter; as foon as Friday came in Sight
of the Man, he hollow'd as loud as t'other, O Ma-
fter! O Mafter! But like a bold Fellow, rode di-
rectly up to the poor Man, and with his Piftol
fhot the Wolf that attack'd him into the Head.
It was happy for the poor Man, that it was
my Man Friday; for he having been us'd to that
kind of Creature in his Country, had no Fear upon
him; but went cloſe up to him, and fhot him as
above; whereas any of us, would have fir'd at a
farther Diſtance, and have perhaps either miſs'd
the Wolf, or endanger'd fhooting the Man.
But it was enough to have terrify'd a bolder
Man than I, and indeed it alarm'd all our Com-
pany, when with the Noife of Friday's Piftol, we
heard on both Sides the difmalleft Howling of
Wolves, and the Noiſe redoubled by the Eccho of
the Mountains, that it was to us as if there had
been a prodigious Multitude of them; and perhaps
indeed there was not fuch a Few, as that we had no
cauſe of Apprehenfions.
However, as Friday had kill'd this Wolf, the o-
ther that had faftned upon the Horfe, left him im-
mediately, and fled; having happily faftned upon
his Head, where the Boffes of the Bridle had ſtuck
in his Teeth; fo that he had not done him much
Hurt: The Man indeed was moſt Hurt; for the
raging Creature had bit him twice, once on the
Arm, and the other Time a little above his Knee;
and he was just as it were tumbling down by the
Diſorder
[348]
Diſorder of his Horfe, when Friday came up and
fhot the Wolf.
It is eaſy to fuppofe, that at the Noife of Fri-
day's Piftol, we all mended our Pace, and rid up as
faft as the Way (which was very difficult) would
give us leave, to fee what was the Matter; as foon
as we came clear of the Trees, which blinded us
before, we faw clearly what had been the Cafe,
and how Friday had difengag'd the poor Guide;
though we did not preſently difcern what kind of
Creature it was he had kill'd.
But never was a Fight manag'd fo hardily, and
in fuch a furprizing Manner, as that which follow'd
between Friday and the Bear, which gave us all
(though at firſt we were furpriz'd and afraid for
him) the greateſt Diverfion imaginable: As the
Bear is a heavy, clumfey Creature, and does not
gallop as the Wolf does, who is fwift, and light;
fo he has two particular Qualities, which generally
are the Rule of his Actions; Firft, As to Men, who
are not his proper Prey; I fay, not his proper Prey ;
becauſe tho' I cannot fay what exceffive Hunger might
do, which was now their Caſe, the Ground being all
cover'd with Snow; but as to Men, he does not u-
fually attempt them, unleſs they first attack him:
On the contrary, if you meet him in the Woods, if
you don't meddle with him, he won't meddle with
you; but then you muſt take Care to be very Civil
to him, and give him the Road; for he is a very
nice Gentleman, he won't go a Step out of his Way
for a Prince; nay, if you are really afraid, your
beſt way is to look another Way, and keep going
on; for fometimes if you ftop, and ftand ftill, and
lock ſteadily at him, he takes it for an Affront; but
if
you throw or toſs any Thing at him, and it hits
him, though it were but a bit of a Stick, as big as
your Finger, he takes it for an Affront, and fets all
his
[349]
1
his other Buſineſs afide to purfue his Revenge; for
he will have Satisfaction in Point of Honour; that
is his firſt Quality: The next is, That if he be once
affronted, he will never leave you, Night or Day,
till he has his Revenge; but follows at a good
round rate, till he overtakes you.
My Man Friday had deliver'd our Guide, and when
we came up to him, he was helping him off from
his Horfe; for the Man was both hurt and frighted,
and indeed, the laft more than the firft; when on the
fudden, we ſpy'd the Bear come out of the Wood, and
a vaſt monſtrous One it was, the biggeſt by far that
ever I faw: We were all a little furpriz'd, when we faw
him; but when Friday faw him, it was eaſy to fee
Joy and Courage in the Fellow's Countenance; O!
O! O! Says Friday, three Times, pointing to him;
O Mafter! You give me te Leave! Me hakee te Hand
with him: Me make you good laugh.
I was furpriz'd to fee the Fellow fo pleas'd; You
Fool you, fays I, he will eat you up? Eatee me up!
Eatee me up! Says Friday, twice over again; Me
eatee him up: Me make you good laugh: You all ſtay
here, me show you good laugh; fo down he fits, and
gets his Boots off in a Moment, and put on a Pair
of Pumps (as we call the flat Shoes they wear) and
which he had in his Pocket, gives my other Servant
his Horfe, and with his Gun away he flew fwift like.
the Wind.
The Bear was walking foftly on, and offer'd to
meddle with no Body, till Friday coming pretty
near, calls to him, as if the Bear could underſtand
him; Hark ye, hark ye, fays Friday, me fpeakee wit
you: We follow'd at a Distance; for now being
come down on the Gascoign fide of the Moun-
tains, we were entred a vast great Foreft, where
the Country was plain, and pretty open, though
many Trees in it ſcatter'd here and three.
Friday
[350]
Friday, who had as we fay, the Heels of the Bear,
came up with him quickly, and takes up a great
Stone, and throws at him, and hit him juft on the
Head; but did him no more harm, than if he had
thrown it againſt a Wall; but it anſwer'd Friday's
End; for the Rogue was fo void of Fear, that he
did it purely to make the Bear follow him, and
ſhow us fome Laugh as he call'd it.
As foon as the Bear felt the Stone, and faw him,
he turns about, and comes after him, taking Devi-
liſh long Strides, and fhuffling along at a ſtrange
Rate, ſo as would have put a Horſe to a midling Gal-
lop; away runs Friday, and takes his Courfe, as if
he run towards us for Help; fo we all refolv'd to
fire at once upon the Bear, and deliver my Man;
though I was angry at him heartily, for bringing
the Bear back upon us, when he was going about
his own Buſineſs another Way; and efpecially I
was angry that he had turn'd the Bear upon us, and
then run away; and I call'd out, You Dog, faid I, is
this your making us laugh? Come away, and take your
Horfe, that we may fhoot the Creature; he hears me,
and crys out, No shoot, no shoot, ftand still, you get
much Laugh. And as the nimble Creature run two
Foot for the Beaft's one, he turn'd on a ſudden, on
one fide of us, and feeing a great Oak-Tree, fit for
his Purpoſe, he beckon'd to us to follow, and dou-
bling his Pace, he gets nimbly up the Tree, laying
his Gun down upon the Ground, at about five or
fix Yards from the Bottom of the Tree.
The Bear foon came to the Tree, and we fol-
low'd at a Diſtance; the first Thing he did, he
ſtopp'd at the Gun, fmelt to it, but let it lye, and
up he ſcrambles into the Tree, climbing like a Cat,
though fo monftroufly heavy: I was amaz'd at the
Folly, as I thought it, of my Man, and could not
for my Life fee any Thing to laugh at yet, till fee-
ing
[351]
ing the Bear get up the Tree, we all rod nearer
to him.
When we came to the Tree, there was Friday
got out to the ſmall End of a large Limb of the
Tree, and the Bear got about half way to him;
as foon as the Bear got out to that part where the
Limb of the Tree was weaker, Ha, favs he to us,
now you fee me teachee the Bear dance; fo he falls a
jumping and ſhaking the Bough, at which the Bear
began to totter, but ſtood ftill, and begun to look
behind him, to fee how he ſhould get back; then
indeed we did laugh heartily: But Friday had not
done with him by a great deal; when he fees him
ftand ftill, he calls out to him again, as if he had
fuppos'd the Bear could fpeak English; What you
no come farther, pray you come farther; fo he left jump-
ing and fhaking the Trees; and the Bear, juft as if
he had underſtood what he ſaid, did come a little
further, then he fell a jumping again, and the
Bear ſtopp'd again.
We thought now was a good time to knock him
on the Head, and I call'd to Friday to ftand ſtill,
and we would fhoot the Bear; but he cry'd out
earneſtly, Opray! O pray! No shoot, me ſhoot, by and
then; he would have faid, By and by: However, to
fhorten the Story, Friday danc'd fo much, and
the Bear ſtood fo ticklish, that we had laughing
enough indeed, but ftill could not imagine what
the Fellow would do; for firſt we thought he de-
pended upon fhaking the Bear off; and we found;
the Bear was too cunning for that too; for he
would not go out far enough to be thrown down,
but clings faft with his great broad Claws and
Feet, fo that we could not imagine what would
be the End of it, and where the Jeft would be at
laft
But
[352]
But Friday put us out of doubt quickly; for
feeing the Bear cling faft to the Bough, and that
he would not be perfwaded to come any farther;
Well, well, fays Friday, you no come farther, me go,
me go; you no come to me, me go come to you, and upon
this, he goes out to the ſmalleſt End of the Bough,
where it would bend with his Weight, and gently
lets himſelf down by it, fliding down the Bough,
till he came near enough to jump down on his Feet,
and away he run to his Gun, takes it up, and
ftands ftill.
Well, faid I to him Friday, What will you do
now? Why don't you fhoot him? No fhoot, fays.
Friday, no yet, me ſhoot now, me no kill; me stay, give
you one more laugh; and indeed fo he did, as you
will fee preſently; for when the Bear fee his Ene-
my gone, he comes back from the Bough where he
ftood; but did it mighty leifurely, looking behind
him every Step, and coming backward till he got
into the Body of the Tree;
then with the fame
hinder End foremoft, he came down the Tree,
grafping it with his Claws, and moving one Foot
at a Time, very leifurely; at this Juncture, and juft
before he could fet his hind Feet upon the Ground,
Friday ſtept up cloſe to him, clapt the Muzzle of
his Piece into his Ear, and fhot him dead as a
Stone.
Then the Rogue turn'd about, to fee if we did
not laugh, and when he faw we were pleas'd by
our Looks, he falls a laughing himſelf very loud;,
fo we kill Bear in my Country, fays Friday; fo you
kill them, fays I, Why you have no Guns: No,
fays he, no Gun, but ſhoot, great much long Arrow.
This was indeed a good Diverfion to us; but
we were ſtill in a wild Place, and our Guide very
much hurt, and what to do we hardly knew; the
Howling of Wolves run much in my Head; and in-
deed,
[353]
ส
deed, except the Noife I once heard on the Shore
of Africa, of which I have faid fomething already.
I never heard any thing that filled me with fo much
Horrour.
Theſe things, and the Approach of Night, cal-
led us off, or elfe, as Friday would have had us,
we ſhould certainly have taken the Skin of this
monſtrous Creature off, which was worth faving;
but we had three Leagues to go, and our Guide
haften'd us, fo we left him, and went forward on
our Journey.
The Ground was ftill cover'd with Snow, tho'
not fo deep and dangerous as on the Mountains,
and the ravenous Creatures, as we heard after-
wards, were come down into the Foreſt and plain
Country, prefs'd by Hunger to feek for Food; and
had done a great deal of Miſchief in the Villages,
where they furpriz'd the Country People, kill'd a
great many of their Sheep and Horfes, and fome
People too.
We had one dangerous Place to paſs, which
our Guide told us, if there were any more Wolves
in the Country, we fhould find them there; and
this was in a ſmall Plain, furrounded with Woods
on every Side, and a long narrow Defile or Lane,
which we were to paſs to get through the Wood,
and then we ſhould come to the Village where we
were to lodge.
It was within half an Hour of Sun-fet when we
entred the firft Wood; and a little after Sun-fet,
when we came into the Plain, we met with no-
thing in the firft Wood, except, that in a little
Plain within the Wood, which was not above two
Furlongs over, we faw five great Wolves croſs the
Road, full Speed one after another, as if they had
been in Chafe of fome Prey, and had it in View,
they
A a
[354]
they took no Notice of us, and were gone, and
out of our Sight in a few Moments.
Upon this our Guide, who by the Way was a
wretched faint-hearted Fellow, bid us keep in a
ready Pofture; for he believed there were more
Wolves a coming.
The
We kept our Arms ready, and our Eyes about us,
but we ſaw no more Wolves, 'till we came thro'
that Wood, which was near half a League, and en-
tred the Plain; as foon as we came into the Plain,
we had Occafion enough to look about us:
firſt Object we met with, was a dead Horfe;
that is to fay, a poor Horfe which the Wolves
had kill'd, and at leaſt a Dozen of them at Work ;
we could not fay eating of him, but picking of
his Bones rather; for they had eaten up all the
Flesh before.
We did not think fit to diſturb them at their
Feaſt, neither did they take much Notice of
us: Friday would have let fly at them, but I
would not fuffer him by any Means; for I found
we were like to have more Buſineſs upon our
Hands than we were aware of. We were not
gone half over the Plain, but we began to hear the
Wolves howl in the Wood on our Left, in a fright-
ful Manner, and preſently after we ſaw about a
hundred coming on directly towards us, all in a
Body, and moſt of them in a Line, as regularly as
an Army drawn up by experienc'd Officers. I
ſcarce knew in what Manner to receive them;
but found to draw our felves in a clofe Line was
the only Way: fo we form'd in a Moment: But
that we might not have too much Interval, I or-
der'd, that only every other Man fhould fire, and
that the others who had not fir'd fhonld ftand rea-
dy to give them a fecond Volley immediately, if
they continued to advance upon us, and that then
thofe
[355]
thoſe who had fir'd at firft, fhould not pretend to
load their Fufees again, but ftand ready with every
one a Piſtol; for we were all arm'd with a Fufee,
and a Pair of Piſtols each Man; fo we were by
this Method able to fire fix Volleys, half of us at
a Time; however, at preſent we had no Neceffi-
ty; for upon firing the firft Volley, the Enemy
made a full Stop, being terrify'd as well with the
Noife, as with the Fire; four of them being fhot
into the Head, dropp'd, ſeveral others were wound-
ed, and went bleeding off, as we could fee by the
Snow I found they ſtopp'd, but did not immedi-
ately retreat; whereupon remembring that I had
been told, that the fierceft Creatures were terri-
fy'd at the Voice of a Man, I caus'd all our Com-
pany to hollow as loud as we could; and I found
the Notion not altogether miſtaken; for upon our
Shout, they began to retire, and turn about; then
I order'd a fecond Volley to be fir'd, in their Rear,
which put them to the Gallop, and away they
went to the Woods.
This gave us leiſure to charge our Pieces again,
and that we might loofe no Time, we kept going;
but we had but little more than loaded our Fufees,
and
put ourſelves into a Readineſs, when we heard
a terrible Noife in the fame Wood, on our Left,
only that it was farther onward the fame Way we
were to go.
The Night was coming on, and the Light be-
gan to be duſky, which made it worfe on our Side;
but the Noiſe encreafing, we could eaſily perceive
that it was the Howling and Yelling of thofe hel-
lifh Creatures; and on a fudden, we perceiv'd 2 or
3 Troops of Wolves, one on our Left, one behind us,
and one on our Front; fo that we feem'd to be
furrounded with 'em; however, as they did not
fall
upon us, we kept our Way forward, as faft as
A a 2
we
[356]
we could make our Horfes go, which the Way be-
ing very rough, was only a good large Trot; and
in this Manner we came in View of the Entrance
of a Wood, through which we were to pafs, at the
farther Side of the Plain; but we were greatly fur-
priz'd, when coming nearer the Lane, or Pafs, we
faw a confus'd Number of Wolves ftanding juft at
the Entrance.
On a fudden, at another opening of the Wood,
we heard the Noife of a Gun; and looking that
Way, out rufh'd a Horſe, with a Saddle, and a
Bridle on him, flying like the Wind, and fixteen
or ſeventeen Wolves after him, full Speed; indeed,
the Horſe had the Heels of them; but as we fup-
pos'd that he could not hold it at that rate, we
doubted not but they would get up with him at laſt,
and no question but they did.
But here we had a moſt horrible Sight; for ri-
ding up to the Entrance where the Horſe came out,
we found the Carcafs of another Horfe, and of two
Men, devour'd by the ravenous Creatures, and one
of the Men was no doubt the fame who we heard
fir'd the Gun; for there lay a Gun juft by him, fir'd
off; but as to the Man, his Head, and the upper
Part of his Body was eaten up.
This fill'd us with Horror, and we knew not
what Courſe to take, but the Creatures refolv'd us
foon; for they gather'd about us prefently, in hopes
of Prey; and I verily believe there were three hun-
dred of them: It happen'd very much to our Ad-
vantage, that at the Entrance into the Wood, but
a little Way from it, there lay fome large Timber
Trees, which had been cut down the Summer be-
fore, and I fuppofe lay there for Carriage; I drew
my little Troop in among thoſe Trees, and placing
our felves in a Line, behind one long Tree, I ad-
vis'd them all to light, and keeping that Tree be-
fore
[357]
fore us, for a Breaft Work, to ftand in a Trian-
gle, or three Fronts, enclofing our Horfes in the
Center.
We did fo, and it was well we did; for never
was a more furious Charge than the Creatures
made upon us in the Place; they came on us with
a growling kind of a Noife (and mounted the Piece
of Timber, which as I faid, was our Breaft Work)
as if they were only rufhing upon their Prey; and
this Fury of theirs, it feems, was principally occa-
fion'd by their ſeeing our Horfes behind us, which
was the Prey they aim'd at: I order'd our Men to
fire as before, every other Man; and they took
their Aim fo fure, that indeed they kill'd ſeveral of
the Wolves at the firft Volley; but there was a
Neceffity to keep a continual Firing; for they
came on like Devils, thoſe behind pushing on
thofe before.
When we had fir'd our fecond Volley of our Fu-
fees, we thought they ſtopp'd a little, and I hop'd
they would have gone off; but it was but a Mo-
ment; for others came forward again; fo we fir'd
two Volleys of our Piſtols, and I believe in theſe
four Firings, we had kill'd feventeen or eighteen of
them, and lam'd twice as many; yet they came on
again.
I was loath to ſpend our laſt Shot too haſtily; ſo
I call'd my Servant, not my Man Friday; for he was
better employ'd; for with the greateſt Dexterity
imaginable, he had charg'd my Fufee, and his
own, while we were engag'd; but as I faid, I call'd
my other Man, and giving him a Horn of Powder,
I bad him lay a Train, all along the Piece of Tim-
ber, and let it be a large Train; he did ſo, and had
but juſt Time to get away, when the Wolves came
up to it, and fome were got up upon it; when
I fnapping an uncharg'd Piftol, clofe to the Pow-
A a 3
der
[ 358 ]
[:
der, fet it on fire; thofe that were upon the Tim-
ber were ſcorcht with it, and fix or feven of them
fell, or rather jump'd in among us, with the Force
and Fright of the Fire, we diſpatch'd theſe in
an Inftant, and the reft were fo frighted with
the Light, which the Night, for it was now very
near Dark, made more terrible, that they drew
back a little.
Upon which I order'd our laft Piftol to be fir'd
off in one Volley, and after that we gave a Shout;
upon this, the Wolves turn'd Tail, and we fally'd
immediately upon near twenty lame Ones, who
we found ſtruggling on the Ground, and fell a cut-
ting them with our Swords, which anfwer'd our
Expectation; for the Crying and Howling they
made, was better understood by their Fellows,
fo that they all fled and left us.
We had, firft and laft, kill'd about three Score
of them; and had it been Day-Light, we had
kill'd many more: The Field of Battle being thus
clear'd, we made forward again; for we had ftill
near a League to go. We heard the ravenous Crea-
tures houl and yell in the Woods as we went, fe-
veral Times; and fometimes we fancy'd we faw
fome of them, but the Snow dazling our Eyes,
we were not certain; fo in about an Hour more,
we came to the Town, where we were to lodge,
which we found in a terrible Fright, and all in
Arms; for it ſeems, that the Night before, the
Wolves and fome Bears had broke into the Village
in the Night, and put them in a terrible Fright,
and they were oblig'd to keep Guard Night and
Day, but eſpecially in the Night, to preferve their
Cattle, and indeed their People.
The next Morning our Guide was fo ill, and his
Limbs fwell'd with the rankling of his two Wounds,
that he could go no farther; fo we were oblig'd to
take
[359]
take a new Guide there, and go to Tholoufe, where
we found a warm Climate, a fruitful pleaſant Coun-
try, and no Snow, no Wolves, or any Thing like
them; but when we told our Story at Tholouſe, they
told us it was nothing but what was ordinary in the
great Foreſt at the Foot of the Mountains, efpeci-
ally when the Snow lay on the Ground: But they
enquir'd much what kind of a Guide we had got-
ten, that would venture to bring us that Way in
ſuch a ſevere Seafon : and told us, it was very much
we were not all devour'd. When we told them how
we plac'd our felves, and the Horfes in the Middle,
they blam'd us exceedingly, and told us it was fifty
to one but we had been all deftroy'd; for it was the
Sight of the Horfes which made the Wolves fo fu-
rious, feeing their Prey; and that at other Times
they are really afraid of a Gun; but the being ex-
ceffive Hungry, and raging on that Account, the
Eagerness to come at the Horfes had made them
fenflefs of Danger; and that if we had not by the
continu'd Fire, and at laft by the Stratagem of the
Train of Powder, maſter'd them, it had been great
Odds but that we had been torn to Pieces; where-
as had we been content to have fat ftill on Horſe-
back, and fir'd as Horſemen, they would not have
taken the Horſes for ſo much their own, when Men
were on their Backs, as otherwife; and withal
they told us, that at laſt, if we had ftood altoge-
ther, and left our Horfes, they would have been fo
eager to have devour'd them, that we might have
come off fafe, efpecially having our Fire Arms in
our Hands, and being fo many in Number.
For my Part, I was never fo fenfible of Danger
in my Life; for feeing above three hundred Devils
come roaring and open mouth'd to devour us, and
having nothing to fhelter us, or retreat to, I gave
my felf over for loft; and as it was, I believe, I
A a 4
fhall
[360]
ſhall never care to croſs thofe Mountains again; I
think I would much rather go a thouſand Leagues
by Sea, though I were fure to meet with a Storm
once a Week.
I have nothing uncommon to take Notice of, in
my Paffage through France; nothing but what o-
ther Travellers have given an Account of, with
much more Advantage than I can. I travell'd from
Bourdeaux to Paris, and without any confiderable
Stay, came to Callais, and landed fafe at Dover, the
fourteenth of January, after having had a feverely
cold Seafon to travel in.
I was now come to the Center of my Travels,
and had in a little Time all my new diſcover'd E-
ſtate ſafe about me, the Bills of Exchange which I
brought with me having been very currently paid.
My principal Guide, and Privy Councellor, was
my good antient Widow, who in Gratitude for the
Money I had ſent her, thought no Pains too much,
or Care too great, to employ for me; and I truſted
her fo entirely with every Thing, that I was per-
fectly eaſy as to the Security of my Effects; and in-
deed, I was very happy from my Beginning, and
now to the End, in the unfpotted Integrity of this
good Gentlewoman.
And now I began to think of leaving my Effects
with this Woman, and fetting out for Lisbon, and
fo to the Brafils; but now another Scruple came in
my Way, and that was Religion; for as I had en-
tertain'd fome Doubts about the Roman Religion,
even while I was abroad, eſpecially in my State of
Solitude; fo I knew there was no going to the Bra-
fils for me, much leſs going to ſettle there, unleſs I
refolv❜d to embrace the Roman Catholick Religion,
without any Referve; unleſs on the other hand, I
refolv'd to be a Sacrifice to my Principles, be a
Martyr for Religion, and die in the Inquifition; fo
I re-
[361]
I refolv'd to ſtay at Home, and if I could find
Means for it, to difpofe of my Plantation.
To this Purpoſe I wrote to my old Friend at
Lisbon, who in Return gave me Notice, that he
could eaſily diſpoſe of it there: But that if I
thought fit to give him Leave to offer it in my
Name to the two Merchants, the Survivors of my
Truſtees, who liv'd in the Brafils, who muft fully
underſtand the Value of it, who liv'd juft upon the
Spot, and who I knew were very rich; fo that he
believ'd they would be fond of buying it; he did
not doubt, but I ſhould make 4 or 5000 Pieces of
Eight, the more of it,
Accordingly I agreed, gave him Order to offer it
to them, and he did fo; and in about 8 Months
more, the Ship being then return'd, he fent me
Account, that they had accepted the Offer, and
had remitted 33000 Pieces of Eight, to a Cor-
reſpondent of theirs at Lisbon, to pay for it.
In Return, I fign'd the Inftrument of Sale in the
Form which they fent from Lisbon, and fent it to
my old Man, who fent me Bills of Exchange for
328000 Pieces of Eight to me, for the Eſtate; re-
ferving the Payment of 100 Moidores a Year to
him, the old Man, during his Life, and 50 Moi-
dores afterwards to his Son for his Life, which I
had promiſed them, which the Plantation was to
make good as a Rent-Charge. And thus I have
given the first Part of a Life of Fortune and Ad-
venture, a Life of Providences Checquer-Work,
and of a Variety which the World will feldom be
able to fhow the like of: Beginning fooliſhly, but
clofing much more happily than any Part of it ever
gave me Leave fo much as to hope for.
Any one would think, that in this State of com-
plicated good Fortune, I was paft running any
more Hazards; and fo indeed I had been, if other
Cir-
[362]
Circumftances had concurr'd, but I was inur'd to
a wandring Life, had no Family, not many Rela-
tions, nor however rich had I contracted much Ac-
quaintance; and though I had fold my Eſtate in
the Brafils, yet I could not keep the Country out
of my Head, and had a great Mind to be upon
the Wing again, efpecially I could not refift the
ftrong Inclination I had to fee my Ifland, and to
know if the poor Spaniards were in Being there,
and how the Rogues I left there had uſed them.
two
My true Friend, the Widow, earneſtly difwad-
ed me from it, and fo far prevail'd with me, that
for almoſt ſeven Years fhe prevented my running
Abroad; during which time, I took my
Nephews, the Children of one of my Sifters in-
to my Care: The eldeft having fomething of
his own, I bred up as a Gentleman, and gave
him a Settlement of fome Addition to his Eſtate,
after my Deceafe; the other I put out to a Cap-
tain of a Ship; and after five Years, finding
him a fenfible bold enterprifing young Fellow,
put him into a good Ship, and fent him to Sea:
And this young Fellow afterwards drew me in, as
old as I was, to farther Adventures my felf.
In the mean time, I in Part fettled my felf here;
for firſt of all I marry'd, and that not either to my
Diſadvantage or Diffatisfaction, and had three
Children, two Sons and one Daughter: But my
Wife dying, and my Nephew coming Home with
good Succefs from a Voyage to Spain, my Inclina-
tion to go Abroad, and his Importunity prevailed
and engag'd me to go in his Ship, as a private Trader
to the East Indies: This was in the Year 1694.
In this Voyage I vifited my new Collony in the
Ifland, faw my Succeffors the Spaniards, had the
whole Story of their Lives, and of the Villains I
left there; how at firft they infulted the poor Spa-
niards,
[363]
niards, how they afterwards agreed, difagreed, u-
nited, feparated, and how at laft the Spaniards
were oblig'd to uſe Violence with them, how they
were fubjected to the Spaniards. how honeftly the
Spaniards uſed them; a Hiftory, if it were entred
into, as full of Variety and wonderful Accidents,
as my own Part, particularly alfo as to their Battles
with the Carribeans, who landed feveral times.
upon the Iſland, and as to the Improvement they
made upon the Ifland it felf, and how five of
them made an Attempt upon the main Land,
and brought away eleven Men and five Women
Priſoners, by which, at my coming, I found about
twenty young Children on the Ifland.
Here I ftay'd about 20 Days, left them Sup-
plies of all neceffary things, and particularly of
Arms, Powder, Shot, Cloaths, Tools, and two
Workmen, which I brought from England with
me, viz. a Carpenter and a Smith.
Befides this, I fhar'd the Ifland into Parts with
'em, referv'd to my felf the Property of the whole,
but gave them fuch Parts refpectively as they a-
greed on; and having ſettled all things with them,
and engaged them not to leave the Place, I left
them there.
From thence I touch'd at the Brafils, from whence
I fent a Bark, which I bought there, with more
People to the Iſland, and in it, beſides other Sup-
plies, I fent ſeven Women, being fuch as I found
proper for Service, or for Wives to fuch as would
take them: As to the Englifb Men, I promis'd them
to fend them fome Women from England, with a
good Cargoe of Neceffaries, if they would apply
themſelves to Planting, which I afterwards per-
form'd. And the Fellows prov'd very honeft
and diligent after they were mafter'd, and had
their Properties fet apart for them. I fent them
al-
[364]
alfo from the Brafils five Cows, three of them be-
ing big with Calf, fome Sheep, and fome Hogs,
which, when I came again, were confiderably en-
creas'd.
But all theſe things, with an Account how 300
Caribbees came and invaded them, and ruin'd their
Plantations, and how they fought with that whole
Number twice, and were at firft defeated, and
three of them kill'd; but at laſt a Storm deſtroying
their Enemies Cannoes, they famifh'd or deftroy'd
almoſt all the reft, and renew'd and recover'd
the Poffeffion of their Plantation, and ftill liv'd
upon the Iſland.
All theſe things, with fome very furprizing In-
cidents in fome new Adventures of my own, for
ten Years more, I may perhaps give a farther Ac-
connt of hereafter,
FINIS
PA
ERRAT A.
Age 7. Line 11. for 1601, read 1651. Ibid. 1. 26. f.
which r. to which. p. 9. the laſt 1. but one, f. Wretch,
r. hardned Wretch. ib. f. the hardned Danger r. the Danger. p. 274.
1. 13. dele elſe. p. 277. 1. 9. f. bad r. bid. p. 288. 1. 31. dele
which is near that Number. p. 290. 1. 30. f. to my r. by my.
p. 320. 1. 27. f. five of them r. thofe five. ib. 1. 29. f. five of
them r. thofe five. p. 321. 1. 11. f. Apartment r. Bower. 1. 12.
dele the fingle Man taken in the Boat 5. ib. 1. 14. f. thirteen
r. twelve. ib. 1. f. and the two r. for. p. 322. 1. 7. f. fix r. five.
p. 329. 1. 29. f. taken r. taken on Board. p. 331.1. 14. f. giving
r. given. p. 334. 1. 17. f. the time r. that time. p. 360. f. Bour-
deaux r. Thouloufe. p. 362. 1. 15. f. Sifters r. Brothers.

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58. Memoirs of the Affairs of Scotland.
59. Revolutions of Sweden. By the Abbot Vertot.
60. Kerfey's Dictionarium Anglo Britannicum.
61. Wingate's Arithmetick, with a Supplement. By G.
Shelley.
62. Love's whole Art of Surveying and Meaſuring of
Land.
63. Swift's Mifcellanies, in Profe and Verfe.
64. A Treatife of both Globes. To which is added, A
Geographical Deſcription of our Earth, 12mo.
65. Lex Mercatoria, or, The Laws relating to Com-
merce.
66. Martin's Defcription of the Weſtern Islands of Scot-
land.
67. Wits Common Wealth, for the Uſe of Schools.
68. Afhmore's Order of the Garter abridg'd, with Cuts.
69. The Prefent State of France, in 2 Vol. in 12mo.
70. Epiftolæ Abetardi & Hetoiffæ, 80.
71. Georgii Buchanani Epiftolæ, 80.
72. Gulielmi Nicholfii Hiftoriæ Sacræ, 12mo.
73. Analyſis Æquationum Auctore J. Raptifon, M. A.
F.R.S.
74.
Demonftratio de Deo, ab eadem Auctore.
75. De Chrifto Imitendo, Auctore Thoma Kemprifio,
cum Figuris Æneis.
76. Philip's
Books Printed, &c.
76. Philip's World of Words, or Univerfal English Dicti-
onary.
77.
The fame in Octavo, Abridged and Impro-
ved. By J. Kerſey.
78. Dr. Salmon's English Herbal, or Hiſtory of Plants, a-
dorned with Figures of the moft confiderable Species, re-
prefenting to the Life the true Forms of thoſe ſeveral Plants,
inan Alphabetical Order.
79. Mr. Bayle's large Hiftorical and Critical Dictionary,
in 4 vol.
80. Bishop Hopkins's Works, collected into one Volume.
81. The Works of the Reverend and Learned Dr. Ifaac
Barrow, Publiſhed by Archbiſhop Tillotson.
82. A Report from the Committee of Secrecy, appoin-
ted by Order of the Houfe of Commons, to examine feve-
ral Books and Papers laid before the Houfe, relating to the
late Negotiations of Peace and Commerce, &c. Reported
on the 9th of June, 1715. By the Right Honourable Robert
Walpole, Efq; Chairman of the ſaid Committee. Publiſhed
by Order of the Houfe of Commons. With an Appendix
of Original Papers.
83. Sacred Geography, contained in 6 Maps. 1. Shew-
ing the Situation of Paradiſe, and the Country inhabited
by the Patriarchs. 2. The peopling of the World by the
Sons of Noah, and the Ifraelites journying in the Wilder-
neſs. 3. A Plan of the City of Jerufalem, with a View of
Solomon's Temple, and all the facred Utenfils therein. 4.
The Holy Land divided into the twelve Tribes of Ifrael,
in which is exactly traced our Saviour's Travels. 5. The
Land of Canaan. 6. The Travels of St. Paul, and the reſt
of the Apoſtles. The whole very uſeful for the better
underſtanding the Holy Bible.
84. Vitruvius Britannicus, or the British Architect, con-
taining the Plans, Elevations and Sections of the Regular
Buildings, both publick and private, in Great Britain, with
Variety of New Defigns, in two Hundred large Folio
Plates, engraven by the beft Hands. In two Volumes. All
delineated from the Buildings, or from the original Draw-
ings of the Architects, who have moft generously promo-
ted this uſeful Work. By Mr. Campbel.
85. Piet as Loudinenfis: Or, The Prefent Ecclefiaftical
State of London. By James Paterſon, A. M.
86. The Peerage of England: Or, an Hiftorical and Ge-
nealogical Account of the preſent Nobility.
87. An Enquiry into the Nature and Place of Hell. By
Tobias Swinden.
་

THBRO
ARTES
1837
SCIENTIA
VERITAS
LIBRARY
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
EAT PLUMIDUS UNUM
TUEBOR
SI QUÆRIS PENINSULAM-AMŒNAM.
CIRCUMSPICE
GIFT OF
REGENT LLHUBBARD