ARTES
1837
SCIENTIA
VERITAS
LIBRARY
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
E.PLURIBUS UNUM
TUEBOR
SI QUÆRIS-PENINSULAM-AMŒNAM.
CIRCUMSPICE
GIFT OF
REGENT LLHUBBARD
Hubbard
Imag. Voy.
PR
34-03
.AI
17940
THE
LIFE
AND MOST SURPRISING
ADVENTURES
O F
ROBINSON CRUSOE,
OF YORK, MARINER;
WHO
Lived Eight and Twenty Years in an uninhabited Inland,
on the Coaſt of America, lying near the Mouth of
the great river of Oroonoque: Having been caft
on Shore by Shipwreck, wherein all the
men were drowned but himſelf:
AS ALSO,
A RELATION how he was wonderfully deliv-.
ered by PIRATES.
The whole Three Volumes faithfully abridged.
PRINTED AT BOSTON,
BY I. THOMAS AND E. T. ANDREWS,
FAUST'S Statue No 45 Newbury Street.
M.BCC,XCIV.
Res.
Regent L. L. Futhard
-21-192PREFACE.
IT
Tis very well known what univerſal reception
the life of this man has met with in the world, and there-
fore needs little or no apology for this edition, which
comprizes the three volumes into one faithful abridgment.
In the perufal of which, you will find fo many curious
moral obfervations, fo many divine reflections to comfort
the afflicted mind, and fuch an heavenly prospect of the
wonderful Providence of God, that fcarce any who read
it but what may make fome application of it to themfelves,
and pleafingly be led to a knowledge of the divine blessings.
But here I am fenfible, that as there are fome who com-
plain against the defign in general, as an inconfiftent ro-
mance fo there are others who, I doubt not, will not
fail depreciating the performance of this in particular:
they may reprefent, that the abridging a work is fcanda-
lous and ridiculous; and that thereby is taken away
from it the only ornaments that recommend it to wife men.
If this be true, and they could perfuade the world fo, I
know not what must become of thofe many curious abridg-
ments that are extant among us, far more pleasant than
the tiresome eloquence of larger volumes; nor how welt
the commoi fort of people will be pleafed in being with-
held, by an exceffive price, from a hiſtory ſo inftructive
and entertaining and do affure my readers, whatever
they may allege against this abridgement, there are not
only many errors corrected, but feveral palpable and grofs
contradictions rectified and amended: in a word, there is
not one material circumftance omitted; neither is there
any deprived of its most proper obfervations.
The first volume treats of his Shipwreck, the manner of
his Deliverance upon the Defolate Ifland, and tells of all
that anxiety of mind he endured, till the uncommon acci-
dent of his being releafed, after eight and twenty years
folitude.
In the fecond he appears in his profperous condition,
till the death of his dear wife; when, refuming his form-
er wandering inclinations; it neceffarily leads us to his
future adventures, and remarkable travels by land from
the Eaftern countries, which are as amuſing and inftrust-
ive as his voyage by ſea.
In
iv
PREFACE.
In the last place is fhewn to us a profpect of the angelic
world, the bleffings of peace, retirement, and contentment,
which is the end of life, the glory of happiness, and an
introduction to the divine and bleffed manfions above.
When this book first appeared in the world, how de-
lightful, how ravishing did it seem to every reader?
Here the paffions of the mind were fo beautifully expreff
ed, both in the nature of his adverfity and profperity,
that they melted every heart with a tender fympathy and
compaffion. Robinſon Crufoe was in every body's mouth as
much as in the mouth of Pretty Poll! But fince to this a-
bridgement there are added two parts more, with the nat-
ural confequence of life, it cannot, methinks, but give an
entire fatisfaction, as much as any thing of this kind
can poffibly do; and therefore, I cannot otherwife think
but it will be well worth my reader's perufal; and, I
hope, merit his approbation too.
• Needlefs therefore it is to enlarge any farther on this
performance, but leave it to the ingenuity and candour of
unprejudiced perfons: and whatever may be the fate of
it, I do affure the public, that no pains or labour have
been wanting to render this hiftory delightful, inftruct-
ive, and entertaining.
THE
THE
LIFE AND ADVENTURES
O F
ROBINSON CRUSOE.
IN
I was born Bremen, who,
at
N the year 1632, I was born at York, of a reputable family.
My father was a native of Bremen, who, merchandizing at
Hall for fome time, gained a very plentiful fortune, and mar
ried my mother in York, who received her firſt breath in that
country: And as her maiden name was Robinſon, I was called
Robinfon Kreutznaer; which not being eafily pronounced in
the English tongue, we are commonly known by the name of
Crufoe.
1 was the youngeſt of three brothers; the eldeſt was a
Lieutenant Colonel in Lockhart's regiment, but flain by the
Spaniards: What became of the other I could never learn.
One
*
No charge nor pains were wanting in my education, my
father deligning me for the law; yet nothing would ſerve me,
but I must go to fea, both againſt the will of my father, the
tears of my mother, and the entreaties of friends.
morning my father expoftulated very warmly with me: Says
he, what reaſon have you to leave your native country, where
there must be a more certain profpect of content and happi-
neſs, than to enter into a wandering condition of uneafinefs
and uncertainty? He recommended to me Agar's wifh, neither
to defire adverfity, nor riches; that a middle ftate of life was
the moſt happy, and that the high towering thoughts of
raifing our condition by wandering abroad, were furrounded
with mifery and danger, and often ended with confuſion and
difappointment: I entreat you, nay I command you, faid he,
to defift from theſe intentions: Confider your eldeſt brother,
who laid down his life for his honour, or rather loft it for his
diſobedience to my will. If you will go, added he, my prayers
however ſhall be offered for your pefervation; but a time
may come, when, defolate, oppreft, or forfaken, you may wish
you
A 2
6
you had taken your poor defpifed father's counfel. He pro-
nounced theſe words with fuch a moving and paternal eloquence,
while floods of tears ran down his aged cheeks, that ſeemed
to ftem the torrent of my reſolutions.
But this wore off foon, and a little after I informed my
mother, that I could not fettle to any buſineſs, my refolutions
were fo ftrong to fee the world; and begged the would gain
my father's confent, only to go une voyage, which if it did not
prove profperous I would never attempt a fecond: But my
defire was as vain as my folly in afking: my mother paffion-
ately expreſt her diſlike of this propoſal, telling me, That as
She faw I was bent upon my own deftruction, contrary to their
will and my duty, ſhe would ſay no more, but leave me to myſelf,
to do whatſoever I pleafed.
I was then I think, nineteen years old, when one time be-
ing at Hull, I met a ſchool fellow of mine, going along with
his father, who was mafter of a fhip, to London: And ac-
quainting him with my wandering defires, he affured me of
my free paffage, and a plentiful fhare of what was neceffary.
Thus, without imploring a bleffing, or taking a farewell of
my parents, I took fhipping on the first of September 1651.
When our thip having no footer left the Humber aftern, but
there arofe fuch a violent ftorm, and being extremely
fea fick, I thought that the judgments of God defervedly
followed me for my disobedience to my dear parents. It was
then only I called to mind the good advice of my father;
how eaſy and comfortable was a middle ftate of life; and if
it pleafed God to fet me on dry land once more, I would re-
turn to my parents, implore their forgivnefs, and bid a final
adieu to my wandering inclinations.
Such were my thoughts while the ftorm continued; but
thele good refolutions decreaſed with the danger. More
efpecially, when my companion came to me, clapping me on
the fhoulder: What, Bob! ſaid he, fure you was not frightened
last night with ſcarce a cap full of wind?
And do you, cry'd
I, call fuch a violent form a cap full of wind ? A form, you
fool you, ſaid he, this is nothing; a good ſhip and ſea room always
baffle fuch a fooliſb fquall of wind as that: But you're wa frefb
water failor: come, boy, turn out, fee what fine weather we
have now, and a good bowl of punch will drown all your paſt
forrows In short the punch was made, I was drunk, and in
one night's time drowned both my repentance and my good
reſolutions, entirely forgetting the vows and promiſes I made
in my diſtreſs: And whenever any reflections would return
on me, what by company and drinking, I foon maſtered thoſe
fits, as I deridingly called them. But this only made way for
another
7
another trial, whereby I could not but fee how much I
was beholden to kind providence.
Upon the fixth day, we came to an anchor in Harwich road,
where we lay wind bound with fome Newcastle ſhips; and
there being good anchorage, and our cables found the fea-
men forgot their late toil and danger, and fpent their time
as merrily as if they had been on fhore. But on the eighth
day there arofe fuch a brisk gale of wind, which prevented
our tiding it up the river, and ftill increafing, our ſhip rid
fore caftle in, having fhipped feveral large feas.
It was not long before horror feized the feamen themſelves,
when I heard the mafter exprefs this melancholly ejaculation,
Lord have mercy upon us, we shall be all loft and undone! For
my part, fick unto death, I kept my cabin, till the univerfal
and moſt dreadful apprehenfions among us of our ſpeedy fate,
made me get up upon deck; and there I was dreadfully af-
frighted indeed : The fea went mountains high: I could ſee
nothing but diſtreſs around us: Two fhips had cut their maſts
on board, and another was foundered. Two more, had loft
their anchors, were forced out to the mercy of the ocean;
and to fave our lives, we were forced to cut our fore maft and
main maſt quite away.
In the
Who is there fo ignorant as not to judge of my dreadful
condition? I was but a fresh water failor, and therefore it
feemed more terrible. Our fhip was very good, but too
much loaden, which made the failors often cry out, She will
founder; words I then was ignorant of! All this while the
ſtorm continuing, the maſter and the more fober part of his
men went to prayers, expecting death every moment.
middle of the night one cried out, We had fprung a leak, another,
That there was four feet water in the bold. I was juſt ready to ex-
pire with fear, when immediately all hands were called to the
pump; and the men forced me alfo in that extremity to ſhare with
them in their labour. While thus employed, the mafter efpying
fome light colliers, fired a gun as a fignal of diftrefs; which I,not
underſtanding what it meant, and thinking that either the ſhip
broke, or fome dreadful thing happened, fell into a fwoon;
but in that common condition of woe, no body minded me,
excepting to thrust me afide with their feet, thinking me dead,
and it was a great while before I recovered.
Happy it was for us, when upon the fignal given, they ven-
tured out their boats to fave cur lives. All our pumping had
been in vain, and vain had their attempts been, had they not
come to our ſhip's fide, when our men caft them a rope over
aftern with a buoy to it, which after great labour they got
hold of, and we hawling them to us, got into their boat. So
leaving our fhip, we perceived it fink in lefs than a quarter of
an hour, by which I knew what was foundering at fea. And
ROW
8
now the men inceffantly laboured to recover their own fhip,
but the ſea ran fo high, and the wind blowing hard, they
thought it convenient to hawl within fhore; which with
great difficulty and danger at laft we happily effected, land-
ing at a place called Cromer, not far from Wintertor light
house: From whence we all walked to Yarmouth, where, as
objects of pity, many good people furniſhed us with neceſſa
ries for our fubfiftence either to Hull or London.
'Tis ſtrange, that after all this, like the Prodigal fon, I did
not return to my father; who hearing of the fhip's calamity,
for a long time thought me entombed in the deep. No doubt
but I ſhould have ſhared in his fatted calf, as the ſcripture ex-
preffeth it: But my ill fate ftill pushed me on, in ſpite of the
powerful conviction of reaſon and conſcience.
When I had been at Yarmouth three days, I met my old
companion, who had given me the invitation to go on board
along with his father. His behaviour and ſpeech was altered,
and in a melancholy manner aſked me how I did, telling his
father who I was, and how I had made this voyage for a trial
only to proceed farther abroad: Upon which the old gentle-
man turning to me, gravely faid, young man, you ought never to
go to fea any more, but to take this for a certain fign that you will
never profper in a fea faring condition. Sir, anfwered I, will you
take the fame refolution ? 'Tis a different cafe, faid he, 'tis my
calling, and confequently my duty; but as you have made this
voyage for a trial, you fee what ill fuccefs heaven has fet before
your eyes; and perhaps our miſeries have been on your account, like
Jonah in the hip of Tarthith: But pray what are you, and on
what account did you go to fea? Upon which I very freely de-
clared my whole ſtory; at the end of which he made this ex-
clamation, Ye facred powers! what had I committed, that
fuch a wretch fhould enter into my ship to heap upon me fuch
a deluge of miferies! But foon recollecting his paffions,
Young man, ſaid he, depend upon it, if you do not go back, where-
ever you go, you will meet with difafters ond diſappointments, till
your father's words are fulfilled upon you. And ſo we parted.
I thought at firſt to return home, but fhame oppoſed that
good motion, as thinking I fhould be laughed at by my neigh-
bours and acquaintance. So ftrange is the nature of youth,
who are not aſhamed to fin, but yet afhamed to repent; and
far from being afhamed of thofe actions for which they may
be accounted fools, think it folly in returning to their duty,
which is the principal mark of wifdom. In fhort, I travelled
up to London, refolved upon a voyage; and a voyage I foon
heard of, by my acquaintance with a Captain who took a fan.
cy to me, to go to the coaſt of Guinea. Having ſome money,
and appearing like a gentleman, I went on board, not as a
common failor or føremaſt man; nay, the commander agreed
I fhould
9
I should go that voyage with him without any expenſe; that
I ſhould be his mess mate and companion; and I was very
welcome to carry any thing with me, and make the beſt mer-
chandize I could.
I bleſſed my happy fortune, and humbly thanked my Cap-
tain for his offer; when acquainting my friends in Yorkſhire,
forty pounds were fent me, the greatest part of which I be-
lieve my dear father and mother contributed to; and with
which I bought toys and trifles as the Captain directed me.
My Captain alſo learned me navigation, how to keep an ac-
count of the fhip's courſe, take an obſervation, and led me
into the knowledge of ſeveral uſeful branches of the mathe-
matics. And indeed this voyage made me both a failor and
merchant: For I brought home 5 pounds 9 ounces of gold
duft for my adventure, which produced at my return to Lon-
don, almoſt three hundred pounds. But in this voyage I was
extremely ſick, being thrown into a violent calenture, through
exceffive heat, trading upon the coaft, from the latitude of 15
degrees north, even to the line itſelf.
But alas! my dear friend the Captain foon departed this
life, after his arrival. This was a fenfible grief to me; yet
I refolved to go another voyage with his mate, who had now
got command of the fhip. But this proved unſucceſsful:
for though I did not carry quite 100 of my late acquired
wealth, lo that I had 200 left, which I depofited with the
Captain's widow, who was an honeft gentlewoman, yet my
misfortunes in this voyage were very great upon me; for our
hip failing towards the Canary islands, we were chafed by a
Salee rover; and in fpite of all the fail we could make, by
crowding as much canvaſs as our yards would ſpread, or
mafts carry, the pirate gained upon us, and fo we prepared
ourſelves to fight. They had 18 guns, and we had but 12.
About three in the afternoon there was a deſperate engage-
ment, wherein many were killed and wounded on both fides ;
but finding ourfelves overpowered with numbers, our fhip
diſabled, and ourselves too impotent to have the leaft hopes
of fuccefs, we were forced to furrender, and accordingly were
all carried into the port of Saler. Our men were fent to the
Emperor's court to be fold there; but the pirate Captain tak-
ing notice of me, kept me to be his own flave.
In this condition I thought myſelf the moſt miſerable crea-
ture on earth, and the prophefy of my father came afreſh into
my thoughts. As it happened, my condition was better than
I thought it to be, as will foon appear. Some hopes indeed I
had, that my new patron would go to ſea again, where he
might be taken by a Spanish or Portuguese man of war, and then
I ſhould be fet at liberty. But in this I was miſtaken, for he
never took me with him, but left me to took after his little
garden,
10
garden, and do the drudgery of his houſe; and when he re-
turned from fea, would make me lie in the cabin, and look
after the fhip. I had no one that I could communicate my
thoughts to, which were continually meditating my eſcape;
no Engliſhman, Iriſhman, or Scotchman here, but myſelf; and
for two years I could fee nothing practicable, but only pleaſe
myfelf with the imagination.
After fome length of time, my patron, as I found, grew fo
poor, that he could not fit out his fhip as ufual: And then he
ufed conftantly, once or twice a week, if the weather was fair,
to go out a fiſhing, taking me and a young Morejco boy to row
the boat; and ſo much pleaſed was he with me for my dex-
terity in catching the fiſh, that he would often fend me with a
Moor, who was one of his kinfmen, and the Morefco youth, to
catch a diſh of fish for him.
One morning, as we were at the fport, there aroſe fuch a
thick fog, that we loft fight of the thore; and rowing we knew
not which way, we laboured all the night, and in the morning
found ourſelves in the ocean, two leagues from land; how-
ever, we attained there at length, and we made the greater
hafte, becauſe our ſtomachs were exceedingly fharp and hungry.
But the better to prevent ſuch diſaſters, my patron ordered a
carpenter to build a little ftateroom or cabin in the middle
of the long boat, with a place behind it to fteer and hawl
home the main ſheet, with other conveniences, to keep him
from the weather, as alfo lockers to put in all manner of pro-
vilions; with a handfome fhoulder of mutton fail, gibing
over the cabin.
In this he frequently took us a fishing; and one time invit-
ing two or three perfons of diftinction to go with him, made
provision extraordinary, providing alfo three fuzees, with
powder and ſhot, that they might have ſome ſport at fowling
along the fea coaft. The next morning, the boat being clean,
her ancients and pendents out, and every thing ready, their
minds altering, my patron ordered us to go a fiſhing, for that
his guests would certainly fup with him that night.
And now I began to think of my deliverance indeed: In
order to this, I perfuaded the Moor to get fome provifions on
board, as not daring to meddle with our patron's; who, tak-
ing my advice, we ftored ourselves with rufk biſcuit, and
three jars of water; befides I privately conveyed into the
boat a bottle of brandy, fome twine, thread, a hammer, hatch-
et, and a faw; in particular fome beefwax, which was a great
comfort to me, and ferved to make candles. I then perfuad-
ed Muley (for fo was the Moor called) to procure fome powder
and thot, pretending to kill fea curlews, to which he innocent-
and readily agreed. And in fhort, being provided with all
things.
11
things neceffary, we failed out, refolving for my own part to
make my eſcape, though it might coft me my life.
When we had paffed the caftle, we fell to fiſhing; but
though I knew there was a bite, I diffembled the matter, in
order to put farther out to fea. Accordingly we ran a league
farther; when giving the boy the helm, and pretending to
ſtoop for fomething, I feized Muley by furpriſe, and threw
him overboard. He was an excellent fwimmer, foon aroſe,
and made towards the boat; upon which I took out a fuzee,
and preſented it at him: Muley, faid I, I never yet defigned to do
you any harm, and ſeek nothing now but my redemption. I know
you 'are able enough to swim to bore and farve your life; but
if you are refolved to follow me, to the endangering of mine,
the very moment you proceed I will fboot you through the head.
The harmleſs creature, at theſe words, turned himself from
me, and I make no doubt got fafe to land. Then turning
to the boy Xury, I perceived he trembled at the action; but
I put him out of all fear, telling him, that if he would be true
and faithful to me, I would do well by him: And therefore,
faid I, you muſt ſtroke your face to be faithful, and, as the Turks
have learnt you, fwear by Mahomet, and the beard of your father,
or elfe I will throw you into the fea alfo. So innocent did the
child then look, and with fuch an obliging fmile, confented,
that I readily believed him, and, from that day forward, be-
gan to love him entirely.
Thus we purſued our voyage, and that they ſhould think
me gone to the Strait's mouth, I kept to the fouthward to the
truly Barbarian coaft; but in the duſk of the evening, I
changed my courfe, and fteered directly S. by E. that I might
keep near the ſhore; and having a freſh gale of wind, with a
pleaſant ſmooth ſea, by three o'clock the next day I was 150
miles beyond the Emperor of Morocco's dominions. Yet ftill
having the dreadful apprehenfions of being retaken, I continu-
ed failing for five days fucceffively, till fuch time as the wind
fhifting to the fouthward, made me conclude, that if any vef-
fel was in chaſe of me they would proceed no farther: And after
fo much fatigue and thought, I anchored in the mouth of a
little river, I knew not what, or where; neither did I then
fee any people. What I principally wanted was freſh water;
and I was refolved, about dufk, to fwim afhore. But no
fooner did the gloomy clouds of night begin to fucceed
the declining day, than we heard fuch barking, roar-
ing, and howling of wild creatures, that one might have
thought the very ſtrangeſt monſters of nature, or infernal
fpirits, had their refidence there. Poor Xury, almoſt dead
with fear, entreated me not to go on fhore that night. Sup-
pofing I don't Xury, ſaid I, and in the morning we bould fee men,
who are worse than thofe we fear; what then? Oden we may
give
12
give dem de fboot gun, replied Xury, laughing, and de gun make
dem all run away. The wit, and broken English, which the
boy had learnt from the captives of our nation, pleaſed me en-
tirely, and to add to his cheerfulneſs, I gave him a dram of the
bottle: We could get but little fleep all the night for the ter-
rible howlings they made; and indeed we were both affrighted
very much, when, by the rowling of the water, and other tok-
ens, we juſtly concluded one of thoſe monſters made towards
our boat; I could not fee it till it came within two oars
length, when, taking my fuzee, I let fly at him: Whether I
hit him or no, I cannot tell; but he made towards the fhore,
and the noiſe of my gun encreaſed the ſtupenduous noiſe of
the monſters.
The next morning, I was refolved to go on fhore to get
freſh water, and venture my life among beafts or favages,
ſhould either attack me. Xury faid he would take one of the
jars and bring me fome. I aſked him why he would go, and
not I. The poor boy anſwered, if wild mans come, they eat me,
you go away. A mind fcarcely now to be imitated, fo contra-
ry to felf prefervation, the moft powerful law of nature !
This indeed encreaſed my affection to the child. Well, dear
Xury, faid I, we will both go ashore, both eat wild mans, and
they shall eat neither of us. So giving Xury a piece of ruk
bread to eat, and a dram, we waded afhore, carrying nothing
with us but our arms, and two jars for water. I did not go
put of fight of the boat, as dreading the favages coming down
the river in their canoes. But the boy feeing a low deſcent,
or vale, about a mile in the country, he wandered to it; and
then running back to me with great precipitation, I thought
he was purſued by ſome ſavage or wild beaft, upon which I
approached, reſolving to perifh or protect him from danger.
As he came nearer to me, I faw fomething hanging over his
fhoulders, which was a creature he had fhot, like a hare, but
different in colour, and longer legs; however, we were glad
of it, for it proved wholeſome nouriſhing meat; but what
added to our joy was, my boy affured me there was plenty of
water, and that he fee no wild mans. And greater ftill was
our comfort, when we found freſh water in the creek, where
we were, when the tide was out, without going ſo far up into
the country.
In this place I began to confider that the Canary and the
Cape de Verd iſlands lay not far off; but having no inftrument,
I knew not what latitude, or when to ſtand off to fea for them;
yet my hopes were, I ſhould meet fome of the Engliſh trading.
veffels, who would relieve and take us up.
The place I was in was, no doubt, that wild fort of country,
inhabited only by a few, that lies between the Emperor of
Morocco's dominions and the Negroes: It was filled with wild
bealts,
13
beafts, and the Moors ufe it for hunting chiefly.
From this
place I thought I faw the top of the mountain Teneriffe, in
the Canaries; which made me try twice to attain it, but as
often was I drove back, and ſo forced to purfue my fortune
along the ſhore.
Early one morning we came to an anchor under a little
point of land, but pretty high, and the tide beginning to
flow, we lay ready to go farther in : But Xary, whoſe youth-
ful and penetrating eyes were ſharper than mine, in a foft tone,
defired me to keep far from land, left we should be devoured:
For, look yonder, Meyter, ſaid he, and fee de dreadful monſter faſt
afleep on the fide of the hill. Accordingly, 'ooking where he point
ed, I eſpied a fearful monſter indeed; it was a terrible great
lion that lay on fhore, covered, as it were, by the fhade of a
piece of the hill. Xury, faid 1, you shall go on ſhore and kill him.
But the boy looked amazed: Me kill him, fays he, be eat me
at one mouth; meaning one mouthful. Upon which I bid him
lie ftill, and charging my biggeft gun with two flugs, and a
good charge of powder, I took the beft aim I could to shoot him
through the head, but his leg lying over his noſe, the flug
broke his knee bone. The lion, awaking with the pain, got
up, but ſoon feil down, giving the moſt hideous groan I ever
heard: But taking my fecond piece, I fhot him through the
head, and then he lay ftruggling for life. Upon this Xury
took heart, and defired my leave to go on fhore. Go then,
faid I. Upon which taking a little gun in one hand, he ſwam
to fhore with the other, and coming cloſe to the lion, put a
period to his life, by fhooting him again through the head.
But this was fpending our ammunition in vain, the fleſh not
being good to eat. Xury was like a champion, and comes on
board for a hatchet to cut off the head of his enemy; which
not having ftrength to perform, cut off a foot. But I be-
thought myſelf that his fkin would be of great uſe, which
cost Xury and I a whole day's work; when ſpreading it on the
top of our cabin, the hot beams of the fun fo effectually dried
it, in two days time, that it afterwards ferved me for a bed to
lie upon.
And now we failed fouthwardly, living ſparingly on our pro-
vifions, and went no oftener on thore than we were obliged
for fresh water. My defign was to make the river Gambia
or Senegal, or any where about the Cape de Verd, in hopes to
meet ſome European ſhip. If Providence did not fo favour,
my next courfe was to feek for the iſlands, or lofe my life
among the Negroes. And, in a word, I put my whole ſtreſs
upon this, either that I must meet with fome fbip, or certainly
periſh.*.
But, as we were failing along, we faw people ftand on the
thore to look at us; we could alío perceive they were
B
{
and
black
14
and ſtark naked. I was inclined to go on fhore; but Xury
cried, No, no; however, I approached nearer, and I found
they ran along the fhore by me a good way: They had no wea-
pons in their hands; except one, who held a long ftick, which
Xury told me was a lance, with which they could kill at a
great diſtance. I talked to them by ſigns, and made them
fenfible I wanted ſomething to eat : They beckoned to me to
ftop my boat, while 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 fleſh, and fome corn, which we kindly ac-
cepted; and to prevent any fears of either fide, they brought
the food to the shore, laid it down, then went and flood a
great way off, till we fetched it on board, and then came cloſe
to us again.
*
But while we were returning thanks to them, being all we
could offer, two mighty creatures came from the mountains,
cne as it were purluing the other with great fury, which we
were inclined to believe, becauſe they feldom appear but in
the night; and both thefe paffing fwiftly by the Negroes,
jumped into the fea, wantonly fwimming about, as though
the diverſion of the waters had put a stop to their fierceneſs.
At last, one of them coming nearer my boat than I expected
or defired, I fhot him directly through the head; upon
which he funk immediately, yet rifing again, would have
willingly made to the fhore; but between the wound and the
ftrangling of the water, he died before he could reach it.
It is not poffible for me to exprefs the confternation the
poor Negroes were in at the firing my gun; much leſs can I
meation their ſurpriſe, when they perceived the creature to
be flain by it. I made figns to them to draw near it, and
then gave them a rope to hale it on fhore. It was a beautiful
leopard, which made me defire its fkin; and the Negroes
leeming to covet the carcafe, I very freely gave it to them.
As for the other leopard, it made to fhore, and ran with a
prodigious fwiftnefs out of fight. The Negroes having kindly
furniſhed me with water, and with what roots and grain their
country afforded, I took my leave, and after eleven days fail,
I came in fight of the Cape de Verd, and thofe iflands called
by its name. But the great diftance I was from it, and fearing
contrary winds would prevent my reaching either of them, I
grew melancholy and dejected; when, on a fudden, Xury
cried out, Mafier, Mafter, a ship with a fail; and looked fo
frightened, as if it was his mafler's fhip fent in fearch of us:
But I foon difcovered fhe was a Portugueze fhip, and, as I
thought, bound to the coaſt of Guinea, for Negroes. Upon
which I ftrove for life to get up to them; but vain had it been,
if, through their perfpective glaffes, they had not perceived
me, and hortened their fail to let me come up. Encouraged
ai
15
at this, I let up my patron's ancient, and fired a gun, both as
fignals of diftrefs; upon which they very kindly lay to; fo
that in three hours time I got up with them. They ſpoke
to me in Portuguese, Spanish, and French, but neither of theſe
did I underſtand; till at length a Scotch failor called, and then I
told him I was an Englishman, who had efcaped from the
Moor's of Salle; upon which they took me kindly on board,
with all my effects.
Surely none can exprefs that inconceivable joy my heart
felt at this my happy deliverance; who, from being a mifer-
able and forlorn creature, was not only relieved, but in favour
with the mafter of the fhip, whom in return for my deliver-
ance I offered all I had to him; God forbid, faid he, that I
fhould take any thing from you; every thing shall be delivered to
you when you come to Brafil: If I have faved your life, it is no
more than I ſhould expect to receive myſelf from any other, when in
the fame circumstances I should happen to meet the like deliverance;
and ſhould I take from you what you have, and leave you at Brafil,
why this would only be taking away a life I have given; my
charity teaches me better; thoſe effects you have, will fupport you
there, and provide you a paffage home again.
And indeed he
acted with the strictest juftice in what he did, taking my
things in his poffeffion, and giving me an exact inventory,
even to my earthen jars. He bought my boat of me for the
fhip's ufe, giving me a note of eighty pieces of eight, payable
at Brafil, and if any body offered more he would make it up.
He also gave me fixty pieces for my boy Xary. It was with
great reluctance I was prevailed upon to fell the child's lib-
erty, who had ferved me fo faithfully; but the boy himſelf
was willing, and it was agreed, that after ten years, he ſhould
be made free, upon his renouncing Mahometaniſm and embrac-
ing Chriſtianity.
+
Having a pleaſant voyage to the Brafils, we arrived in the
Bay de Todos los Santos, or All Saints Bay, in about 22 days
after. And here I cannot forget the generous treatment of
the Captain; he would take nothing for my paffage, gave me
20 ducats for the leopard's ſkin, and 30 for the lion's Every
thing he cauſed to be delivered; and what I would fell he
bought. In short, I made about 220 pieces of my cargo, and
with this flock I entered once more, as I may fay, into the
Scene of life.
Being recommended to an honeft planter, I lived with him
till fuch time as I was informed of the manner of their plant-
ing and making fugar; and feeing how well they lived, and
how fuddenly they grew rich, I was filled with air emulation,
at leaft, to fettle among them, refolving to get my money're-
mitted to me, and to purchaſe me a plantation,"
To
16
To be brief, I bought a fettlement next door to an honeft
and kind neighbour, born at Lisbon, of Engliſh parents, whole
plantation joining to mine, we improved it very amicably to-
gether: Both our ſtocks were low, and for two years we
planted only for food: But the third year we planted fome
tobacco, preparing each a large piece of ground for planting
canes the enfuing year; but now wanting afſiſtance, I re-
pented the lofs of my dear boy Xury.
Here having none to affift me, my father's words came a-
gain into my mind; and if only a middle ſtation of life I
fought, why could it not as well be obtained in England as
here? When I pondered of this with regret, the thoughts of
my late deliverance forfook me; I had none to converſe with
but my neighbour ; no work to be done but by my own
hands; and this often made me fay, my condition was like
that of a man caſt upon a deſolate ifland. So unhappy are we
in our reflections, fo forgetful what good things we receive
ourſelves, and ſo unthankful for our deliverance from thoſe
calamities that others endure.
I was in fome meaſure fettled before the Captain who took
me up departed from the Brafils. One day I went to him,
and told him what ſtock. I had in London, deſiring his aſſiſtance
in obtaining its remittance. To which the good gentleman
readily confented, but would only have me fend for half my
money, left it ſhould mifcarry, which, if it did, the remainder
might fupport me: And to taking letters of procuration from
me, bid me trouble myſelf no farther about it.
And indeed wonderful was his kindness towards me; for
he not only procured the money I had drawn for upon my
Captain's widow, but fent me over a fervant, with a cargo
proportionable to my condition. He alſo fent me over tools
of all forts, iron work, and utenfils neceffary for my planta-
tion, and which proved of the greateſt uſe to me in my busi-
nefs.
Wealth now accumulating on me, and uncommon fucceſs
crowning my profperous labours, I might have retted happy
in that middle ſtate of life my father had ſo often recommend-
ed; yet nothing would content me, fuch was my evil genius;
but I muſt leave this happy ſtation, for a fooliſh ambition in
rifing greater than the nature of the thing admitted; and thus,
once more, I caſt myſelf into the deepeſt gult of mifery that ev-
er abandoned creature fell into. For having lived four years
in Brafil, I not only learnt the language, but contracted ac-
quaintance with the most eminent planters, and even the
merchants of St. Salvadore; to whom, by way of diſcourſe,
giving an account of my two voyages to the coaft of Guinea,
and the manner of trading there for mere trifles, by which
we might furniſh our plantations with Negroes, they gave ſuch
attention
17
attention to what I faid, that three of them came one morning
to me, and told me they had a fecret propoſal to make. Af-
ter enjoining me to fecrefy (it being an infringement on the
powers of the Kings of Portugal and Spain) they told me they
had a mind to fit out a fhip to go to Guinea, in order to ſtock
the plantation with Negroes, which, as they could not be pub-
licly fold, they would divide among them; and if I would go
their fupercargo in the fhip, to manage the trading part, I
fhould have an equal fhare of the Negroes, without providing
any ſtock. The thing indeed was fair enough, had I been in
another condition; but I, born to be my own deſtroyer, could
not refift the propofal; but accepted the offer, upon condition
of their looking after my plantation: So, making a formal
will, I bequeathed my effects to my good friend the Captain,
as my univerſal heir; but obliged him to diſpoſe of my effects
as directed, one half of my produce to himſelf, and the other
to be ſhipped for England.
The thip being fitted out, and all things ready, we fet fail
the first of September, 1659, being the fame day eight years I
left my father and mother in Yorkshire. We failed north-
ward upon the coaft, in order to gain Africa, till we made
Cape Auguftine, from whence going further in the ocean, out
of fight of land, we ſteered as though we were bound for the
ifle of Fernand de Noremba, leaving the iſlands on the eaſt;
and then it was we met with a cruel tempeft, which held us
for twelve days fucceflively; fo that the waters carried us
where foever they pleafed. In this perplexity one of our men
died, and one man and the boy were washed overboard.
When the weather cleared up a little, we found ourſelves
eleven degrees north latitude upon the coaft of Guinea. Upon
this the Captain gave reaſons for returning, which I oppoſed,
counſelling him to ftand away for Barbadoes, which, as I fup-
pofed, might be attained in 15 days. So altering our courfe,
we failed north west and by weft, in order to reach the Leew.
ard iſlands; but a fecond ftorm fucceeding, drove us to the
weſtward, ſo that we were juſtly afraid of falling into the hands
of cruel Savages, or the paws of devouring beaſts of prey.
In this great diftrefs, one of our men, early in the morning,
cried out, Land! Land! when no fooner looking out, but
our ſhip ftruck upon a fand, and in a moment the fea broke
over in ſuch a manner, that we expected we fhould all have
periſhed immediately. We knew nothing where we were, or
upon what land we were driven; whether an island or the
main; inhabited or not inhabited; and we could not ſo much
as hope that the fhip would hold many minutes, without break-
ing in pieces, except, the wind, by a miracle, fhould turn a-
bout immediately. While we ſtood looking at one another,
expecting death every moment, the mate laid hold of the boat,
B 2
18
and, with the help of the reft, got her flung over the hip's
fide, and getting all into her, being eleven of us, committed
ourſelves to God's mercy, and the wild fea. And now we
faw that this laft effort would not be a fufficient protection
from death; fo high did the fea run, that it was impoffible the
boat ſhould live. As to making fail, we had none; neither
if we had, could we make uſe of any. So that when we had
rowed, or rather were driven about a league and a half, a rag-
ing wave, like a lofty mountain, came rolling a ftern of us,
and took us with fuch fury, that at once it overfet the boat.
Thus being ſwallowed up in a moment, we had hardly time
to call upon the tremendous name of God; much leſs to im-
plore, in dying ejaculations, his infinite mercy, to receive our
departing fouls.
Men are generally counted infenfible, when ftruggling in
the pangs of death; but while I was overwhelmed with water,
I had the moſt dreadful apprehenfions imaginable; for the
joys of heaven, and torments of hell, feemed to prefent them-
felves before me in thefe dying agonies, and even in the fmall
Ipace of time, as it were, between life and death. I was going,
I thought, I knew not whither, in a difmal gulf unknown,
and as yet unperceived, never to behold my friends, nor the
light of this world any more! Could I even have thought an-
nihilation, or a total diffolution of foul as well as body, the
gloomy thoughts of having no further being, no knowledge of
what we hoped for, but an eternal quietus, without life or
fenſe; even tha', I fay, would have been enough to ſtrike me
with horror and confufion! But ftriving to the laft extremity,
while I thought all my companions were overpowered and en-
tombed in the deep, it was with great difficulty I kept my
breath till the wave fpent itíelf, and retiring back, left me on
the fhore half dead with the water I had taken in, However,
I got on my feet as faft as I could, left another wave fhould
purfue, and carry me back again.; but for all the hafte I made,
I could not avoid it; for the fea came after me like a high
mountain, or furious enemy, fo that my bufinels was to hold
my breath, and by raifing myſelf on the water, preferve it by
fwimming; the next dreadful wave buried me at once twenty
or thirty feet deep, but at the fame time carried me with a
mighty force and fwiftnefs towards the fhore; when railing
myfelf, I held out as well as poffible, till at length the water
having ſpent itself, began to return, at which I ftruck forward,
and feeling ground with my feet, I took to my heels again;
thus being ferved twice more, I was at laft daſhed againſt a
piece of a rock, in fuch a manner as left me fenfeleſs; but re
covering a little before the return of the waves, which, no
doubt, then would have overwhelmed me, I held faſt by the
rock till thoſe ſucceeding waves abated; and then, fetching
"
another
19.
another run, was overtook by a fmall wave, which was foon
conquered; but before any more could overtake me, I reach-
ed the main land, where clambering up the clifts of the fhore,
tired and alniott ſpent, I fat down on the graſs, free from the
dangers of the foaming ocean.
No tongue can exprefs the ecftafies and tranfports that my
foul felt at this happy deliverance; it was like a reprieve to a
dying malefactor, with the halter about his neck, and ready
to be turned off. I was wrapt up in contemplation, and often
lifted up my hands, with the profoundeft humility, to the
Divine Power, for faving my life, when the rest of my com-
panions were all drowned. And now I began to caſt my eyes
around, to behold what place I was in, and what I had rext
to do. I could fee no houfe, nor people: I was wet, yet had
no clothes to ſhift me; hungry and thirſty, yet nothing to eat
or drink; no weapon to deftroy any creature for my fufte.
nance, nor defend myfelf againſt devouring beafts: In short,
I had nothing but a knife, a tobacco pipe, and a box half fill-
ed with tobacco. The darkfome night coming upon me, in-
creaſed my fears of being devoured by wild creatures; my
mind was plunged in defpair; and, having no profpect, as I
thought, of life before me, prepared for another kind of death
than what I had lately escaped. I walked about a furlong,
to fee if I could find any fresh water, which I did to my great
joy, and taking a quid of tobacco to prevent hunger, I got up
into a thick bufhy tree, and feating myfelf fo that I could not
fall, a deep fleep overtook me, and for that night buried my
forrows in a quiet repofe.
H
It was broad day the next morning before I awaked;
when not only I perceived the tempeft was fed, but the fhip
was driven almoſt as far as the rock before mentioned, where
the waves had daſhed me againft, and which was about a mile
from the place where I was. When I came down from my
apartment in the tree, I perceived the fhip's boat two miles
diſtant on my right hand, lying on fhore, as the waves had caft
her. I thought to have got to her, but there being an inlet
of water of about half a mile's breadth between it and me, I
returned again towards the hip, as hoping to find ſomething
for my more immediate fubfiftence. About noon, when the
fea was calm, that I could come within a quarter of a mile of
her, it was to my grief I perceived that, if we had kept on
board, all our lives had been 'faved: Thefe thoughts, and my
folitude, drew tears from my eyes, though all in vain. So
refolving to get to the fhip, I ftript, and leapt into the water;
when fwimming round her, I was afraid I ſhould not get any
thing to lay hold of; but it was my good fortune to elpy a
fmall piece of rope hang down by the fore chains, fo low, that
with great difficulty, by the help of it, I got into the forecaſtle
of
20
of the ſhip Here I found that the fhip was bulged, and had
a great deal of water in her hold; her ſtern was lifted up a-
gainſt a bank, and her head almoft in the water. All her
quarter, and what was there, were free and dry. The pro-
vifions I found in good order, with which I crammed my
pockets; and, lofing no time, ate when I was doing other
things; I alſo found fome rum, of which I took a hearty
dram; and now I wanted for nothing except a boat which in-
deeed was all, to carry away what was needful for me.
Neceffity occafions quicknets of thought. We had ſeveral
ſpare yards, a ſpare topmaft or two, and two or three large
fpars of wood: With thefe I fell to work, and flung as many
of them overboard as I could manage, tying every one of
them with a rope that they might not drive away. This done,
I went down the fhip's fide, and tied four of them faſt togeth-
er at both ends, in form of a raft, and laying two or three
ſhort pieces of plank upon them croisways, I found it would
bear me, but not any confiderable weight. Upon which I
went to work again, cutting a ſpare topmaft into three lengths,
adding them to my raft with a great deal of labour and pains,
I then confidered what I fhould load it with, it being not able
to bear a ponderous burden. And this I foon thought of,
first laying upon it all the planks and boards I could get;
next I lowered down three of the ſeamens' chefts, after I had
filled them with bread, rice, three Dutch cheefes, five pieces
of dried goats' fleſh, and fome European corn, what little the
rats had ſpared; but for the liquors, I found feveral cafes of
bottles belonging to our ſkipper. In which were fome cor-
dial waters, and four or five gallons of arrack, which I flowed
by themfelves. By this time the tide beginning to flow, I
perceived my coat, waiſtcoat, and ſhirt fwim away, which I
had left on the fhore; as for my linen, breeches, and ſtock-
ings, I fwam with them on to the fhip: But I foon found
clothes enough, yet took no more than I wanted for the pre-
fent. My eyes were chiefly on tools to work with; and after
long fearch I found out the carpenter's cheft, which I got ſafe
down on my raft: Then I looked for arms and ammunition,
and, in the great cabin, found two good fowling pieces, two
piftols, ſeveral powder horns filled, a ſmall bag of ſhot, and
two rufty old fwords. I alfo found three barrels of powder,
two of which were good, but the third had taken water; with
two or three broken oars, two faws, an axe, and a hammer,
I put to ſea; and in getting to fhore, I had three encourage-
ments; 1. A ſmooth calm ſea. 2. The tide rifing and fet-
ting in to the fhore. 3. The little wind there was blew tow-
ards land. But after I had failed about a mile, I found the
raſt to drive a little diſtance from the place where I firſt land-
ed; and then I perceived a little opening of the land, with a
Strong
21
ftrong current of the tide running into it, upon which I kept
in the middle of the ſtream: But great was my concern, when
on a ſudden the fore part of my raft ran aground; ſo that had
I not with great difficulty, for near half an hour, kept my
back ftraining against the chefts, to keep my effects in their
places, all I had would have gone into the fea. But after
fome time, the rifing of the water caufed the raft to float a-
gain, when coming up a little river, with land on both ſides,
I landed in a little cove, as near the mouth as poſſible, the
better to diſcover a fail, if any ſuch providentially paffed by
that way.
Not far off, I fpied a hill of a ſtupendous height, furround-
ed with lefler hills about it: And thither I was reſolved to
go and view the country, that I might fee what part was the
beft place to fix my habitation in: Accordingly, arming my-
felf with a piſtol, a fowling piece, powder, and ball, I afcend-
ed the mountain: There I perceived I was in an iſland en-
compaffed by the fea; no diftant lands to be feen, but ſcatter-
ed rocks that lay to the weft; that it ſeemed a barren place,
and, as I thought, inhabited only by wild beaſts. I perceived
abundance of fowls, but was ignorant of what kind, or wheth-
er good for nouriſhment; I shot one of them at my return,
which occafioned a confuſed ſcreaming among the other birds;
and I found it, by its colour and beak, to be a kind of hawk,
but its flesh was perfect carrion.
}
When I came to my raft, I brought my effects on fhore,
which work ſpent that day entirely; and fearing that ſome
cruel beaſts might devour me in the night while I flept, I
made a kind of a hut or barricade with the chefts and boards I
brought from ſhore. That night I flept very comfortably,
and the next morning my thoughts were employed to make a
further attempt on the fhip, and bring away what neceſſaries I
could find, before another form fhould break her to pieces.
Accordingly, I got on board as before, and prepared a fecond
raft, far more nice than the firft; upon which I brought away
the carpenter's ftores, two or three bags full of nails, a great
jack fcrew, a dozen or two of hatchets, and a grindstone. I
alſo took away feveral things that belonged to the gunner, par-
ticularly two or three iran crews, two barrels of mufket bul-
lets, another fowling piece, a fmall quantity of powder, and a
large bag full of ſmall ſhot. Beſides thefe, I took all the mens"
clothes I could find, a ſpare fore top fail, hammock, and fome
bedding; and thus completing my fecond cargo, I made all
the hafte to fhore I could, fearing fome wild beaft might de-
froy what I had there already. But I only found a little
wild cat Gitting on one of the chefts, who not ſeeming to fear
me, or the gun that I prefented to her, I threw her a piece of
biſcuit, which the inftantly ate, and departed.
When
22
When I had gotten theſe effects on fhore, I went to work,
in order to make me a little tent with the fail and fome poles
which I had cut for that purpofe; and having finished it,
what things might be damaged by the weather I brought in,
piling all the empty chefts and cafks in a circle, the better to
fortify it against any fudden attempt of man or beaft. After
this I blocked up the doors with fome boards, and an empty
cheft turned the long way without. I then charged my gun
and piftol; and laying my bed on the ground, flept as com-
fortably, till next morning, as though I had been in a Chriſ-
tian country.
Now, though I had enough to fubfift me a long time, yet,
defpairing of a fudden deliverance, or that both ammunition
and proviſion might be ſpent before fuch a thing happened,
coveted as much as I could: And fo long as the ſhip remained
in that condition, I daily brought away one neceſſary or other;
particularly the rigging, fails, and cordage; ſome twine, a
barrel of wet powder, ſome fugar, a barrel of meal, three caſks
of rum; and what indeed was moſt welcome to me, a whole
hogfhead of bread.
The next time I went, I cut the cables in pieces, carried off
a hauſer whole, with a great deal of iron work, and made a-
nother raft with the mizen and fprit fail yards; but this being
fo unweildly, by the too heavy burden I laid upon it, and not
being able dextroufly to guide it as the former, both my cargo
and I were overturned. For my part, all the damage I fuf-
tained was a wet fkin; and at low water, after much labour
in diving, I got moſt of the cables, and fome pieces of iron.
Thirteen days had I now been in the island, and eleven
times on board, bringing away all that was poflible; though,
I believe, had the weather been calm, I fhould have brought
away the whole fhip, piece by piece. As I was going the
twelfth time, the wind began to rife; however, I ventured at
low water, and rummaging the cabin effectually, in a locker I
found feveral razors, fciffars, and fome dozens of knives and
forks; and in another, thirty fix pounds in pieces of eight,
filver, and gold. Ab! fimple vanity, faid I, whom this world
fo much doats on, where is now thy virtue, thy excellence to me ?
You cannot procure me one thing needful, nor remove me from this
defolate iſland to a place of plenty: One of theſe knives, ſo meanly
efteemed, is to me more preferable than all this heap: E'en there-
fore remain where thou art, to fink in the deep, as ûnregarded, even
as a creature whofe life is not worth preferving. Yet after all
this exclamation, I wrapt it up in a piece of canvas, and began
to think of making another raft; but foon I perceived the
wind began to rife, a freth gale blowing from the thore, and the
fky overcaft with clouds and darkneſs. So thinking a raft
to be in vain, I let myſelf into the water with what things
I had
23
I had about me, and it was with much difficulty I got a-
thore, when foon after it blew a fearful ftorm.
That night I flept very contentedly in my little tent,
furrounded with all my effects; but when I looked out in
the morning, no more fhip was to be feen. This much fur-
prifed me for the prefent, yet when I confidered I had loft no
time, abated no pains, and had got every thing uſeful out of
her, I comforted myſelf in the beſt manner, and entirely fub-
mitted to the will of Providence.
My next thoughts were, how I fhould defend and fecure
myſelf from ſavages and wild beafts, if any fuch were in the
inland. At one time I thought of digging a cave; at another,
I was for erecting a tent; and, in fhort, I refolved to do
both The manner or form of which will not, I hope, be un-
pleafing to defcribe.
When I confidered the ground where I was; that it was
moorish, and had no fresh water near it; my refolutions were
to ſearch for a foil healthy and well watered, where I might
not only be ſheltered from the fun's fcorching heat, but be
more conveniently fituated, as well to be fecured from wild
men and beaſts of prey, as more eaſily to diſcover any diſtant
fail fhould it fo happen.
And indeed it was not long before I had my defire; I found
a little plain near a rifing hill, the front towards which being
as fteep as a houſe fide, nothing could defcend on me from
the top. On the fide of this rock was a little hollow place re-
fembling the entrance or door of a cave. Just before this
place, on the circle of the green, I refolved my tent thould
ftand. This plan did not much exceed 100 yards broad, and
about twice as long, like a delightful green before my door,
with a pleafing, though irregular defcent every way to the low
grounds by the fea fide, lying on the N. N. 'W. fide of the
hill, fo that it was fheltered from the exceffive heat of the fu:,
After this I drew a femicircle, containing ten yards in its femi-
diameter, and twenty yards in the whole, driving down two
rows of strong ftakes, not fix inches from each other.
Then,
with the pieces of cable which I had cut on board, I regularly
laid them in the circle between the piles up to their tops,
which were more than five feet out of the earth, and after
drove another row of piles looking within fide againſt
them, between two or three feet high, which made me con-
clude it a little impregnable caftle, from men and beasts :
And, for my better fecurity, I would have no door, but ea
tered in and came out by the help of a ladder, which I alle
made.
Here was my fence and fortrefs, into which I carried all
my riches, ammunition and ſtores. After which, working on
the rock, what with the dirt and ſtones I dug out, I not only
railed
24
raiſed my ground two feet, but made a little cellar to my man-
fion house; and this cost me many days labour and pains. But
one day in particular a fhower of rain falling, thunder and
lightning enfued, which put me in terror, left my powder
fhould take fire, and not only hinder my neceffary fubfiftence
by killing me food, but even blow up me and my habita-
tion: To prevent which, I fell to making boxes and bags,
in order to ſeparate it, having by me near 150 b. weight.
And thus being eſtabliſhed as king of the island, every day
I went out with my gun to fee what I could kill that was fit
to eat. I foon perceived numbers of goats, but very fhy:
Yet having watched narrowly, and ſeeing I could better ſhoot
off the rocks,than when in the low grounds, I one day happened
to fhoot a fhe goat fuckling a young kid; who not thinking
its dam flain, ftood by her unconcerned ; and when I took
the dead creature up, the young one followed me even to the
incloſure. I lifted the kid over the pales, and would willing-
ly have kept it alive; but finding it could not be brought to
eat, I was forced to ſlay it alſo for my own ſubſiſtence.
Thus entered into a ſtrange ſcene of life, as ever any maa
was in, I had moft melancholy apprehenfions concerning my
deplorable condition; and many times the tears would plen-
tifully run down my face, when I confidered how I was de-
barred from all communication with human kind. And
while fome deſponding cogitations would feem to make me
accuſe providence, other good thoughts would interpoſe and
reprove, after this manner: Well, fuppofing you are defo-
late, is it not better to be fo, than totally perifh? Why
were you fingled out to be faved, and the reſt deſtroyed?
Why should you complain, when not only your life is pre-
ferved, but the fhip driven even into your reach, in order
to take what was neceffary out of her for your ſubſiſt.
ence? But to proceed : It was, by the account I kept,
The 30th of September, when I first landed on this iſland
About twelve days after, fearing I fhould lofe my reckon-
ing of time, nay even forget the Sabbath-days, for want of
pen, ink, and paper; I carved it with a knite upon a large
poſt, in great letters, and fetting it up where I landed, viz.
I came on flore Sept. 30, 1659. Every day I cut a notch with
my knife on the fides of this fquare poft, and that on Sabbath
was as long again as the reft; and every first day of the
month as long again as that long one: In this manner
kept my kalendar, weekly, monthly, or yearly reckoning of
time. But had I made a more ſtrict ſearch (as I did after-
wards) I need not have fet up this mark: For among the
parcels belonging to the gunner, carpenter, and Captain's
mate, thofe very things I wanted I found, particularly pens,
ink, and paper; alfo two or three compaffes, foue mathemati
cal
25
cal inftruments, dials, perſpectives, books of navigation, three
Engliſh bibles, and ſeveral other good books, which I careful-
ly put up. But here I cannot but call to mind our having a
dog and two cats on board, whom I made inhabitants with me
in my caftle. But though one might think I had all fuch necef-
faries as were deſirable, yet ſtill I found ſeveral things want-
ing. My ink was daily wafting; I wanting needles, pins, and
thread, to mend or keep my clothes together; particularly a
fpade, pick axe, or fhovel, to remove the earth: It was a year
before I finiſhed my little bulwark; and having fome intervals
of relaxation, after my daily wandering abroad for proviſion,
I drew up this plan alternately, as creditor and debtor, to re-
mind me of the miſeries and bleſſings of my life, under ſo ma-
my various circumſtances.
EVIL.
I am caft upon a defolate i-
Land, having no bopes, no prof
pect of a welcome deliverance.
Thus miferably am I fingled
out from the enjoyment or com-
pany of all mankind.
Like an hermit (rather ſhould
I fay, a lonely anchorite) am I
forced from buman converfation.
My clothes, after fome time,
will be worn out; and then I
fhall have none to cover me.
When my ammunition is waſt-
ed, then shall I remain without
any defence against wild men
and beafts.
I have no creature, no foul to
Speak to; none to beg afſiſtance
from. Some comfort would it
be to refound my woes, where I
am understood; and beg affift-
ance, where I might hope for re-
lief.
|
|
GOO D.
But yet I am preferved, while
my companions have perished in
the raging ocean.
Yet fet apart to be spared from
death! and he who has fo pre-
ferved me can deliver me from
this condition.
However I have food to eat,
and even a happy prospect of
ſubſiſtence whilft life endures.
At prefent I enjoy what is ab-
folutely needful; and the climate
is ſo het, that, bad I ever ſo ma-
ny, I bould hardly wear them.
Yet if it does, I ſee no danger
of any to burt me, as in Africa
And what if I had been caft a-
way on that coaſt?
Is there not God to converſe to,
and is not be able to relieve thee?
Already has be afforded thee ſuf-
tenance, and put it in thy power
to provide for thyself till he fends
thee a deliverance.
And now eafing my mind a little by theſe reflections, I be-
gan to render my life as eafy as poffible. I muſt here add, to
the deſcription I have given of my habitation, that having
raiſed a turf wall against the outfide of it, I thatched it ſo
clofe, as might keep it from the inclemency of the weather.
I alfo improved it within, enlarged my cave, and made a paf-
C
fage
26
fage and door in the rock, which came out beyond the pale of
my fortification. I next proceeded to make a chair and table,
and fo began to ftudy thofe mechanical arts that ſeemed to me
practicable: For when I wanted a plank or board, I hewed
down a tree with my hatchet, making it as thin with my axe as
poffible, and then fmooth enough with my adze to aniwer my
defigns; yet this way could I make no more than one board
out of a tree: But in length of time I got boards enough to
fhelter all my ftores, every thing being regularly placed, and
my guns fecurely hanging against the fide of the rock. All
thes made it a very pleaſant fight to me, being the reſult of
valt labour and diligence; which leaving for a while, and me
to the enjoyment of, I fhall give the reader an account of my
Journal, from the day of my landing, till the fixing and fet-
tling of my habitation, as heretofore fhewn.
JOURNAL.
September 30, 1659. I unhappy Robinson Crusoe, having fuf-
fered fhipwreck, was driven on this defolate ifland, which I
named the Defolate Iſland of Deſpair, the reſt being swallowed
up in the tempetuous ocean. The next day I ſpent in confid-
eration of my unhappy circumſtances, having no prospect, but
of death, either to be ftarved with hunger, or devoured by
beaſts or mercileſs ſavages.
O&ob. 1. That morning, with great comfort, I beheld the
ſhip drove ashore. Some hopes I had, that wher. the florm
was abated, I might be able to get fome food and neceffaries
out of her; which I conceived were not damaged, becauſe the
hip did ftand upright. At this time I lamented the lofs of
my companions, and our misfortune in leaving the veſſel.
When I perceived the hip, as it were, le dry, I waded through
the fands, then fwam aboard, the weather being very rainy,
and with fcarcely any wind.
To the 24th of this month, my time was employed in mak-
ing voyages, every tide getting what I could out of the ſhip.
The weather very wet and uncertain.
Octob. 20. My tait, and all the goods thereon, were over-
fet; yet 1 recovered most of them again at low water.
Oftob. 25. It blew hard, and rained night and day, when
the fhip diffolved in pieces, fo that nothing was feen of her but
the wreck at low water. This day I fecured my goods from
the inclemency of the weather.
Octob. 26. Í wandered to fee where I could find a place con-
venient for my abode. I fixed upon a rock, in the evening,
marked out a half moon, intending to erect a wall, fortified
with piles, lined within with pieces of cables, and covered with
turf.
Nov.
27
Nov. 1. I erected my tent under a rock; and took up my
lodging very contentedly in a hammock that night.
Nov. 2. This day I fenced myfelf in with timber, chefts,
and boards.
Nov. 3. I fhot two wild fowl, refembling ducks, which were
good to eat ; and in the afternoon made me a table.
Ny. 4. I began to live regularly: In the morning, I al-
lowed myſelf two or three hours to walk out with my gun ;
then worked till near 11 o'clock: And after refreſhed myſelf
with what I had to eat. From 12 to 2 I would lie down to
fleep. Extreme fultry weather: In the evening go to work
again.
Nov. 5. Went out with my gun and dog, fhot a wild cat
with a foft ſkin, but her flesh was good for nothing. The
fkins of thoſe I killed I preferved. In my return I perceived
10any wild birds, and was terrified by fome feals, which made
off to fea.
Nov. 6. Completed my table.
No. 7. Fair weather. I worked till the 12th, but omiſted
the 11th, which, according to my calculation, I fuppofed to
be Sunday.
Nov. 13. Rain in abundance, which however much cooled
the earth, when thunder and lightning caufed in me a terrible
furprize. The weather clearing, in feparate parcels I fecured
my powder,
Nov. 14 to 16. I made little boxes for my powder, lodging
them in ſeveral places. I alſo ſhot a large fowl, which prov-
ed excellent meat.
Nov. 17. I began to dig in the rock, yet was obliged to de-
fift for want of a pick axe, fhovel, and wheelbarrow. Iron
crows I cauſed to fupply the place of the firſt, but with all my
art could not make a wheelbarrow.
Nov. 18. It was my fortune to find a tree, refembling what
the Brafilians call an iron tree. I had like to have ſpoiled my
axe with cutting it, being very hard, and exceeding heavy
yet with much labour and induſtry I made a fort of a ſpade
out of it.
Nov. 23. Theſe tools being made, I daily carried on my
bufinefs; eighteen days I allowed for enlarging my cave, that
it might ſerve me not only for a warehoule, but kitchen, par-
lour, and cellar. I commonly lay in the tent, unless the
weather was rainy that I could not lie dry. So wet would it
be at certain ſeaſons, that I was obliged to cover alt within the
pale with long poles in the form of rafters leaning againſt the
rock, and load them with flags and large leaves of trees re-
fembling a thatch.
Dec. 10. No fooner did I think my habitation finiſhed, but
fuddenly a great deal of the top broke in, fo that it was a mer-
sy
28
cy I was not buried in the ruins. This occafioned a great
deal of pains and trouble to me, before I could make it firm
and durable.
Dec. 17. I nailed up ſome ſhelves, and drove nails and ſta-
ples in the wall and poſts, to hang things out of the way.
Dec. 20. Every thing I got into its place, then made a fort
of a dreffer, and another table.
Dec. 24, 25. Rain in abundance.
Dec. 26. Very fair weather.
Dec. 27. I chanced to light on fome goats, fhot one, wound-
ed another. I led it home in a ſtring, bound up its leg, and
cured it in a little time; at length it became fo tame and fa-
miliar, as to feed before the door, and follow me where I
pleaſed. This put me in mind to bring up tame creatures, in
order to fupply me with food after my ammunition was fpent.
Dec. 28, 29, 30. The weather being exceffive hot, with lit-
tle air, obliged me for the moſt part to keep within doors.
Jan. 1. Still fultry. However, obliged by neceffity, I went
out with my gun, and found a great ftore of goats in the val-
lies; they were exceedingly ſhy, nor could my dog hunt them
down.
Jan. 3, to 14. My employment this time was to finish the
wall before deſcribed, and fearch the iſland. I diſcovered a
kind of pigeons like our houfe pigeons, in a neft among the
rocks: I brought them home, nurfed them till they could fly,
and then they left me. After this I fhot fome, which proved
excellent food. Some time I ſpent vainly in contriving to
ɔnake a caſk ; I may well fay it was vain, becauſe I could
neither join the ftaves, or fix the heads, fo as to make it tight.
Then taking fome goat's tallow I had by me,and a little oakum
for the wick, I provided myſelf with a lamp, which ſerved me
inſtead of candles,
But now a very ftrange event happened: For being in the
height of my fearch, what fhould come into my hand, but a
bag, which was ufed to hold corn (as I fuppofed) for the
fowls: So immediately refolving to put gunpowder in it, I
fhook all the huſks and dirt upon one fide of the rock, little
fuſpecting what the confequence would be. The rain had
fallen plentifully a few days before; and about a month after,
to my great amazement, ſomething began to ſprout out very
green and flouriſhing: And when I came to view it more
nicely every day, as it grew, I found about 10 or 12 ears of
green barley appearing in the very fame ſhape and make as
that in England.
I can scarce exprefs the agitations of my mind at this ſight.
Hitherto I had looked upon the actions of this life no other-
wife than only as the events of blind chance and fortune:
But now, the appearance of this barley, to that fort of grain,
Aourißing,
29
flouriſhing in a barren foil, and my ignorance in not conceiv-
ing how it fhould come there, made me conclude, that miracles
were not yet ceaſed: Nay, I even thought that God had ap-
pointed it to grow there without any feed, purely for my fuf
tenance in this miferable and defolate ifland. And indeed
fuch great effect had this upon me, that it often made me melt
into tears, through a grateful fenfe of God's mercies; and the
greater fill was my thankfulneſs, when I perceived, about this
Little field of barley, fome rice ftalks, wonderfully flourishing
in proportion to the crop within.
While I was thus wonderfully pleaſed in mind, I concluded
there muſt be more corn in the island; and therefore made a
diligent fearch narrowly among the rocks, but could not find
any; when, upon a fudden, it came into my mind, how I had
fhaken the hufks of corn out of the bag, and then my admira -
tion ceaſed, with my gratitude to the Divine Being, as thinking
it was but natural, and not to be conceived a miracle; though
even the manner of its preſervation might have made ine own
it as a wonderful event of God's kind Providence.
It was about the latter end of June when the ears of this
corn ripened, which I laid up very carefully, together with
20 or 30 ſtalks of rice, expecting one day I fhould reap the
fruit of my labour; yet four years were expired before I
could allow myfelf to eat any barley bread, and much longer
time before I had any rice. After this, with indefatigable
pains and induſtry for three or four months, at laſt I finiſhed
my cave on the 14th of April, having no way to go into it, but
by a ladder againſt the wall.
April 16. I finiſhed my ladder, and afcended it; after pull-
ed it up, then let it down on the other fide, and defcended in-
to my new habitation, where I had ſpace enough, and ſo for-
tified that nothing could attack me without fcaling the walls.
But what do all human pains and induſtry avai!, if the bleff.
ings of God do not crown our labours? Or, who can ſtand
before the Almighty, when he ſtretcheth forth his arm: For
one time, as I was at the entrance of my cave, there happened
fuch a dreadful earthquake, that not only the roof of the cave
came crumbling about my ears, but the poſts feemed to crack
terribly at the fame time. This made me, in great amaze-
ment, run to my ladder, and get over the wall: When there,
I plainly knew it was an earthquake; the place I flood on fuf-
taining three terrible fhocks in lefs than three minutes. And
when I ſaw the top of a great rock roll into the ſea, then I ex-
pected the iſland would be fwallowed up every moment: And
dreadful it was to fee the fea thrown into the moſt violent agi-
tation and diſorder by this tremendous accident.
For my part, I ftood like a criminal, at the place of execu-
tion, ready to expire. At the moving of the earth, I was, as
C 2
it
30
it were, fea fick; and very much afraid left the rock, under
which was my fence and habitation, thould overwhelm me
and it in a laſting tomb.
When the third dreadful fhock had ſpent itſelf, my fpirits
began to revive; yet ftill I would not venture to afcend the
Jadder, but continued fitting, not knowing what I ſhould do.
So little grace then I had, only to fay, Lord have mercy upon
me! and no fōoner was the earthquake over, but that pathetic
prayer left me.
It was not long after when a horrible tempeft aroſe, at the
fame time attended with a hurricane of wind. The fea feem.
ed mountains high, and the waves relied fo impetuouſly, that
nothing could be perceived but froth and foam. Three hours
did this form continue, and in fo violent a manner, as to tear
the very trees up by the roots, which was fucceeded by abund-
ance of rain. When this was over, I went to my tent, but the
rain coming again upon me in a furious manner, obliged me
to take ſhelter in the cave; and then I was forced to cut a
channel through my fortification to let the water out.
It con-
tinued raining all that night, and fome time the next day :
Yet, no fooner did the weather clear up, but I reſolved to build
me a little hut in fome open place, walled round, to defend me
from wild creatures and favages, as not thinking but at the
next earthquake the mountain would fall upon my habitation
and me, and ſwallow up af in its bowels.
April 19, 20. Thefe days I ſpent in contriving how and in
what manner I fhould fix my place of abode : All this while I
was under the moſt dreadful apprehenfions. When I looked
round my habitation, every thing I found was in its proper
place. I had ſeveral reſolutions whether I fhould move or
not. At length I refolved to ſtay where I was, till I had
found a convenient place where I might pitch my tent.
Apr. 22. When I began to put my refolutions in practice,
I was ftopt for want of tools and inftruments to work with.
Moſt of my axes and hatchets were ufelefs, occafioned by cut-
ting the hard timber that grew on the iſland. It took me up
a full week to make my grindſtone of ufe to me, and at last
I found out a way to turn it about with my foot, by the help
of a wheel and a ſtring.
Apr. 28, 29. Thefe days were ſpent in grinding my tools.
Apr. 30. My bread falling ſhort, I allowed myſelf but one
bifcuit a day.
May 1. As I walked along the ſea ſhore, I found a barrel
of gunpowder, and ſeveral pieces of the wreck, which the fea
had flung up. Having fecured thefe, I made to the ſhip,
whofe ftern was torn off, and wafhed a great diſtance afhore,
Lot the reft lay in the fands. This, I fuppofed, was occaſion-
ed by the earthquake. Now I reſolved to keep my old place
of
31
of abode; and alfo to go to the thip that day, but found it im-
poflible.
May 3.
I went on board, and with my faw fawed off
one of the beans which kept her quarter deck; then I
cleared the fand till flood.
May 4.
I caught fome fish, but they were not wholeſome,
The fanie day I alfo caught a young dolphin.
May 5. This day I alfo repaired to the wreck, and fawed
another piece of timber and when the flood came, I made
a float of three great planks, which was driven afhore by
the tide.
May 6, 7, 8, 9. Thefe days I brought off the iron bolts,
opened the deck with the iron crow, and carried two planks
to land, having made a way into the very middle of the
wreck.
May 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.
All this time I ſpent in bringing
off great quantities of iron and timber.
May 15. Took with me two hatchets, on purpoſe to cut
fome lead off the roll, but all in vain, for it lay too low un-
der water.
May 26. I omitted going to the wreck this day; for em-
ploying myſelf in looking for pigeons, I outſtayed my time.
May 17.
I perceived ſeveral pieces of the wreck blown
afhore, which I found belonged to the head of the fhip.
May 24. To this day I worked on the wreck, and with
great difficulty loofened fome things fo much with the crow,
that at the first flowing tide feveral cafks floated out, and many
of the feamens' chefts; yet that day nothing came to land, but
pieces of timber, and a hogfhead which had fome Brafil pork in
it. I continued working to the 15th of June (except neceffa-
ry times for food and reſt) and had I known how to have built
a boat, I had timber and planks enough I had alſo near one
hundred weight of ſheet lead.
June 16. As I was wandering towards the ſeaſide, I found
a large tortoife or turtle, being the firſt I had ſeen on the iſland ;
though, as I afterwards found, there were many on the other
fide of it.
June 17.
This day I ſpent in cooking it, found in her three
fcore eggs, and her fleſh the moſt ſavoury and pleaſant I ever
tafted in my life.
June 18. I laid within this day, there being a continual
rain; and it was fomething more chilly and cold than uſual.
June 19. Exceeding bad, taken with a trembling and ſhiv-
ering.
June 20. Awake all night, my head rack'd with pain, and
feverish.
June
32
June 21. Sick unto death, and terrified with the difmal
apprehenfions of my condition: Prayed to God frequently,
but very confufedly.
June 22. Something better, but ſtill uneafyn my mind.
June 23. Again relapfed, much as before.
June 24. Mended a ſecond time.
June 25.
A violent ague for ſeven hours, cold and hot fits
fucceeded, with faint fweats.
June 27. Better, but very weak; yet I fcrambled out, ſhot
a fhe goat, brought it home, and broiled fome of it: I would
willingly have ftewed it, and made fome broth, but had no
pot.
June 27. All this day I was afflicted with an ague; thirſty,
yet could not help myſelf to water; Prayed to God in theſe
words: Lord, in pity look upon me, Lord have mercy upon me,
have mercy upon me! After this I fell aſleep, which I found
had much refreſhed me when I awaked. I fell aſleep a
fecond time, and fell into this ftrange and terrible fort of
dream.
Methought I was fitting on the fame fpot of ground,at the
outfide of the wall, where I fat when the ftorm blew after
the earthquake; and that I faw a man defcending from a
great black cloud, and alight upon the ground. He was all
over as bright as a flaſh of fire, that a little before furrounded
him; his countenance inconceivably terrible; the earth, as
as it were, trembled when he ftept upon the ground, and
flaſhes of fire ſeemed to fill all the air. No fooner I thought
him landed upon the earth, but with a long fpear or other
weapon he made towards me; but firft afcending a rifing
ground, his voice added to my amazement, when I thought
I heard him pronounce thefe dreadful words, Unhappy wretch !
Seeing all these things have not brought thee to repentance, thou
fbalt immediately die. In pronouncing this dreadful fentence,
I thought he went to kill me with the fpear that was in his
hand.
Any body may think it impoffible for me to express the
horrors of my mind at this viſion; and even when I awaked,
this very dream made a deep impreffion upon my mind.
The little divine knowledge I had, I received from my father's
inſtructions, and that was worn out by an uninterrupted ſeries
of leafaring impiety, for eight years space, except what fick-
nefs forced from me; I don't remember I had one thought
of lifting up my heart towards God; but rather had a certain
Atupidity of foul, not having the leaft fenfe of fear of the om-
nipotent Being when in diſtreſs, nor of gratitude to him for
his deliverances. Nay, when I was on the defperate expedi-
tion on the deſart African ſhore, I can't remember I had one
thought of what would become of me, and beg his confolation
and
33
and affiſtance in my ſufferings and diftrefs. When the Portu-
gueſe captain took me up,and honourably uſed me; ray, farther,
when I was even delivered from drowning, by eſcaping to this
ifland, I never looked upon it as a judgment, but only faid
I was an unfortunate dog, and that's all. Indeed fome fecret
tranſports of foul I had, which was not through grace, but
only a common flight of joy, that I was yet alive, when my
companions were all drowned and no other joy could I
conceive but what is common with the failors over a bowl of
punch, after they have eſcaped the greateſt dangers.
The likelihood of wanting for neither food nor conveniences
might have called upon me for a thankful acknowledgment to
Providence. Indeed the growth of my corn touched me with
ſome ſenſe, but that foon wore off again; The terrible earth-
quake pointed to me as it were the finger of God, but my
dreadful amazement continued no longer than its duration.
But now, when my fpirits began to fink under the burden of
a ftrong distemper, and I could leifurely view the miferies
of death prefent itſelf before my eyes, then my awakened
confcience began to reproach me with my paft life, in which
I had fo wickedly provoked the juftice of God to pour down
his vengeance upon me.
Such reflexions as theſe oppreſſed me even in the violence
of my diftemper. Some prayers I uttered, which only pro-
ceeded from my fear of death. But when I confidered my.
father's advice and prophecy, I could not forbear weeping:
For he told me, That if I did perfift in my folly I ſhould not only be
deprived of God's bleſſing, but have time enough to reflect upon my
deſpifing his inftructions; and this in a wretched time, when none
could help me.
And now concluding it to be fulfilled, having
no foul in the iſland to adminifter any comfort to me, I pray-
ed, however, earnestly, to the Lord, that he would help me in
this my great calamity: And this, I think, was the firſt time
I prayed in fincerity for many years. But now I muſt return
to my Journal.
June 28. Something refreſhed with fleep, and the fit quite
eff, I got up. My dream ftill occafioned in me a great con-
fternation; and fearing that the ague might return the fuc-
ceeding day, I concluded it a time to get fomething to com-
fort me.
I filled a cafe bottle with water, and fet it within
the reach of my bed; and to make it more mouriſhing, and
lefs chilly, I put ſome rum into it.
The next I did was to
broil me a piece of goat's lefh, of which I ate but little. I
was very weak, however walked about, dreading the return
of my distemper; and at night I fupped on three of the tur-
tle's eggs which I roafted and ate, begging God's bleffing
therewith.
After
34
After I had eaten, I attempted to walk again out of doors
with my gun; but fo weak, that I fat down and looked at.
the fea, which was ſmooth and calm: While I continued here,
theſe thought came into my mind.
In what manner is the production of the earth and ſea, which
I have leen ſo much of? From whence came myſelf, and all
other creatures living, and of what are we made?
Our beings were affuredly created by fome Almighty in-
visible Power, who framed the earth, the fea, and air, and all
theirein. But what is that Power ?
Certainly, it muſt follow, that God has created it all. Yet,
faid I, if God has made all this, he muſt be the ruler of them
ail, and what is relating thereto; for certainly the power that
makes, muf indifputably have a power to guide and direct
them. And if this be fo (as certainly it must) nothing can
happen without his knowledge or appointment. Then furely,
if nothing happens without God's appointment, certainly God
has appointed theſe my fufferings to befal me. And here I
fixed my firm belief, that it was his will that it ſhould be fo;
and then proceeded to enquire, why should God deal with me
in this manner? Or what had I done thus to deſerve his in.
dignation?
Here confcience flew in my face, reprehending me as a blaſ-
phemer; crying with a loud and piercing voice, Unworthy
wretch! dare you afk what you have done? Look upon your paſt
life, and ſee what you bave left undone. Aſk thyſelf, why thou
wert not long ago in the mercilefs hands of death? Why not
drowned in Yarmouth roads, or killed in the fight when the
ſhip was taken by the Sallee man of war! Why not entombed
in the bowels of wild beaſts on the African coaft, or drowned
here, when all thy companions fuffered thipwreck.
Struck dumb with theſe reflections, I roſe up in a penfive
manner, being fo thoughtful that I could not go to fleep: And
fearing the dreadful return of my diftemper, it caufed me to
remember that the Brafilians ufe tobacco for almoſt all difeaf-
es. I then went to my cheft, in order to find ſome, where
heaven no doubt directed me to a cure for both foul and bo-
dy; for there I found one of the bibles which till this time I
had neither leiſure nor inclination to lock into: I took both
the tobacco and that out of the cheft, and laid them on the ta-
ble. Several experiments did I try with the tobacco: Firit I
tock a leaf, and chewed it; but it being very green and
ſtrong, almoſt ſtupified me. Next I ſteeped it in fome rum an
hour or two, refolving when I went to bed to take a doſe of
it; and 'in the third place, I burnt fome over a pan of fire,
holding my noſe over it fo long as I could endure the lealt
heat without fuffocation.
In
35
In the intervals of this operation, though my head was gid-
dy and diſturbed with the tobacco, I took up the bible to read :
No fooner did I open it, but there appeared to me theſe words,
Call on me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver, and thou ſbali
glorify me.
At first this fentence made a very deep impreffion on my
heart; but foon wore off again, when I contidered the word
deliver was foreign to me. And as the children of Ifrael ſaid,
when they were promiſed flesh to eat, Can God spread a table in
the wilderness? In like manner 1 began to fay, Can God him-
felf deliver me from this defolate island? However, the words
would ſtill return to my mind, and after made a great im-
preffion upon me. As it now was very late, and the tobacco
had dozed my head, I was inclined to fleep; but before I
would lie down, I fell on my knees, and implored the prom-
ile that God had made to me in the Holy Scriptures, that if I
called upon him in the day of trouble, he would deliver me. With
much difficulty I after drank the um, wherein I had fleeped
the tobacco; which flying in my head very violently, threw
me into fuch a profound fleep, that it was three o'clock the
next day before I awaked; or rather, I believe, I flept two
days, having certainly loft a day in my own account, and I
could never tell any other way. When I got up,my (pirits
were lively and cheerful; my ftomach much better, being ve-
ry hungry; and, in fhort, no fit returned the next day, which
was the 29th, but much altered for the better.
The 30th, I went abroad with my gun, but not far, and
killed a fea fowl or two, refembling a brand goofe, which yet
I cared not to eat when I brought them home, but dined on
two more of the turtle's eggs. In the evening I renewed my
medicine, except not taking that quantity, neither did I chew
of the leaf, or hold my head over the Imoke, yet the next day
I had a little fpice of the cold fit, which was on the ift of
July.
July 2. I took my medicines as I did the firſt time.
July 3. The fit quite left me, but very weak. In this con-
dition I often thought of thele words, I will deliver thee; and
while at ſome times I would think of the impoflibility of it,
other thoughts would reprehend me, for difregarding the de-
liverances I had received, even in the moſt forlorn and dif-
treffed condition. What regard had I to God's abundant
mercies? Had I done my part? He bad delivered me, but I had
not glorified bim; as much as to ſay, I had not own'd and been
thankful for that as a deliverance, and how could I expect a
greater? So much did this ſenſibly_touch_my_heart, that I
gave God thanks for my recovery from ſickneſs in the moſt
humble proſtration.
Fuly
35
July 4. This morning I began feriously to ponder on what
is written in the New-Teftament, refolving to read a chapter
every morning and night, as long as my thoughts would en-
gage me: But when ſoon after I fet about this work ferionſ-
ly, I found my heart deeply affected with the impiety of my
paft life Thele words that I thought were ſpoken to me in
my dream revived, All theſe things have not brought thee to re-
pentance. After this, I begged of God to affift me with his
holy spirit in returning to my duty, when perufing the fcrip-
tures one day, I came to theſe words, He has exalted a Prince
and a Saviour, to give repentance and to give remiffion: Imme-
diately I laid down the book, and with uplifted hands to hea-
ven, loudly cried, O bleſſed Jefus, than Son of David, Jefus, thou
exalted Prince and Saviour, give me repentance! And now in-
deed I prayed with a true fenfe of my condition, and a more
certain hope founded on the word of God: Now I had a dif-
ferent ſenſe of theſe words, Call on me and I will deliver you;
that is, from the dreadful load of guilt, which opppreffed my
finful foul; and not from a folitary life, which might rather
be called a bleffing (feeing I wanted neither food nor raiment)
than living among the race of human kind, furrounded with
ſo much oppreffion, miſery and affliction : And, in a word, I
came to this conclufion : That a deliverance from fin, was
a much greater bleffing than a deliverance from affliction.
But again I proceed to my journal.
To the 24th of July I walked about with my gun, a little
and a little at a time, having been reduced to the greateſt ex-
tremity of weakness. The application and experiment I uſed
were perfectly new; neither could I recommend it to any
one's practice. For though it carried off the fit, it very much
weakened me; and I had frequently convulfions in my nerves
and limbs for fome time. From hence I learned, that going
abroad in rainy weather, eſpecially when it was attended with
ftorms and hurricanes of wind, was moſt pernicious to health.
In this island I had been about ten months, never all the
while having feen any human kind, and ſo accounted myſelf
as fole monarch; and, as I grew better, having fecured my
habitation to my mind, I reſolved to make a tour round my
kingdom, in order to make new diſcoveries.
The 15th of July I began my journey. I firſt went to the
creek, where I had brought my rafts on fhore; and travelling
farther, found the tide going no higher than two miles up, where
there was a little brook cf running water, on the banks of
which were many pleaſant ſavannas or meadows, plain, ſmooth,
and covered with grafs: On the rifing parts, where I fup-
poſed the water did not reach, I perceived a great deal of to-
bacco growing to a very ſtrong ſtalk: Several other plants I
likewiſe found, the virtues of which I did not underſtand. But
a long
37
a long time I ſearched for the caſſava root, which I knew the
Indians in that climate made their bread of, but all in vain.
There were ſeveral plants of aloes, though at that time I knew
not what they were: Likewife I faw feveral fugar canes, but
imperfect for want of cultivation. With thefe few diſcoveries
I came back that night, and flept contentedly in my little
caſtle.
The next day, being the 16th, going the fame way, and
farther than the day betore, I found the country more adorned
with woods and trees. Here I perceived different fruits,
which lay in very great abundance. The melons in plenty lay
on the ground; and clusters of grapes, ripe and very rich,
fpread over the trees. You may imagine I was glad of this
diſcovery, yet ate very ſparingly, left I fhould throw myfelf
into a flux or fever. As for the grapes, I found them of ex-
cellent uſe; for when I had dried them in the fun, which pre-
ferved them as dried raiſins are kept, they proved very whole-
fome and nouriſhing, and ſerved me in thefe feafons when no
grapes were to be had.
The night drawing on apace, I afcended up a tree, and
ſlept very comfortably, though it was the first time I had
lain out of my habitation. And when the morning came,"I
proceeded with great pleaſure on my way travelling about four
miles, as I imagined by the length of the valley, directing my
courfe northward, there being a ridge of hills on fouth and
north fide of me. At the end of this valley I came to an
opening, where the country feemed to defcend to the weſt :
There I found a little ſpring of freſh water proceeding out of
the fide of a hill, with its chryſtal ſtreams running directly
eaſt. And indeed here my fenfes were charmed with the moſt
lovely object nature could afford; for the country appeared
fo flourishing, green and delightful, that to me it feemed like
a planted garden. I then defcended on the fide of that deli-
cious vale, where 1 found abundance of cocoa, orange, lemon
and citron trees, but very wild and barren at that time :
The juice of which I afterwards uſed to mix in water, which
made it very cool and refreshing. And now, I was refolved
to carry home and lay up a ſtore of grapes, limes, and lemons,
againſt the approaching wet ſeaſon : So laying up in feparate
parcels, and then taking a few of each with me, I returned to
my little cattle, after having ſpent three days in this journey:
But before I got home, the grapes were fo bruifed that they
were utterly ſpoiled, the limes indeed were good, but few
could I bring away.
July 19. Having prepared two bags, I returned thither
again; but to my great furprize found all the grapes fpread
about, trod to pieces, and abundance eaten, which made
me to conclude there were wild creatures thereabouts. To
D
remedy
38
remedy this, I gathered a large quantity of the grapes, and hung
them upon the out branches of the trees, that they might cure
and dry in the fun; and having well loaded myſelf with
limes and lemons, I returned once more to my old place of
refidence.
.
And now it was, that contemplating on the fruitfulneſs of
the valley, the pleaſantnefs of the fituation, the fecurity from
ftorms on that fide the water, and the delightfulneſs of an ad-
jacent wood; I concluded I was fettled in the worst part of
the country, therefore was thinking to remove my habitation.
But when I confidered again, that though it was pleaſant it
was not by the ſea fide, where there was a poffibility, fome
time or other, a ſhip might either be driven to, or fail by that
coaft: and that to encloſe myſelf among hills and woods mut
certainly fruſtrate all hopes of a deliverance; I refolved to
let my caſtle remain where Providence had firft affigned it.
Yet, fo raviſhed was I with this place, that I made me a little
kind of bower, furrounding it at a diftance with a double
hedge, as high as I could reach, well taked and filled with
bulruſhes, and having ſpent a great part of the month of
July, I think it was the first of Auguft before I began to enjoy
my labour.
Aug. 3. Perceiving my grapes to be dry, I took them from
the trees, and they proved excellent good raiſins of the fun;
the most of which I carrried to my cave; and happy for me
I did fo, by which I faved the best part of my winter food.
I
Aug. 14. It began to rain this day; and though I had made
me a tent like the other, yet having no helter of a hill to
keep me from storms, nor a cave behind me to retreat to, I
was obliged to retreat to my old caftle. Still the rain
continued more or leſs every day till the middle of October;
and fometimes fo violently, that I could not flir out of my
cave for ſeveral days. This feafon I found my family to
increaſe; for one of my cats that ran away from me, and
whom I thought had been dead, returned about Auguft, with
three kittens at her heels, like herfelf, which I thought ſtrange,
becauſe both my cats were females, and the wild cats of the
iſland ſeemed to be of a different kind from our European cats;
but from theſe cats proceeded ſuch numbers, that I was forced
to kill and deſtroy them as I would do wild beaſts or vermin.
To the 26th of this month I could not ftir out, it raining in-
ceffantly; when beginning to want food, I was compelled to
verture twice, the first of which I ſhot a goat, and after found
a very large tortoife. The manner of regulating my food
was thus: A bunch of raiſins ferved me for breakfaft; a
piece of goat's flesh or turtle broiled for my dinner; and
two or three turtle's eggs for my fupper. While the rain
laſted, I daily worked two or three hours at enlarging my cave,
and
29
and by degrees worked it on towards one fide till I came to
the out fide of the hill, and made a door or way out, which
came beyond my fence or wall, and ſo I came in and out this
way. But after I had done this, I was troubled to fee my-
felf thus expofed, though I could not perceive any thing to
fear, a goat being the biggest creature I had feen upon this
iland.
*
Sept. 30. Cafting up my notches on my poſt, which amounting
to 365, I concluded this to be the anniverlary of my landing;
and therefore humbly proftrating myſelf on the ground, con-
feffing my fins, acknowledging God's righteous judgments up-
on me, and praying to Jefus Chrift to have mercy on me, I faſted
for twelve hours, till the going down of the fun; and then eating
a biſcuit and a bunch of grapes, laid me onthe bed, and with great
comfort took my night's repofe. Till this time having no fenfe
of religion, I never diftinguiſhed the Sabbath-day ; but now
I made a longer notch than ordinary for the days of reft, and
divided the weeks as well as I could, though I found I had
loft a day or two in my account. Soon after, my ink failing,
I omitted a daily memorandum of indifferent things, and con-
tented myſelf to write down only the moft remarkable events
of my life.
life. The rainy and dry feafons appeared now regular
to me, and experience taught me how to provide for them;
yet, in one thing I am going to relate, my experience very
much failed me. You may call to mind what I have men-
tioned of fome barley and rice which I had faved; about thir
ty talks of the former, and twenty of the latter; and at that
time the fun being in its fouthern pofition going from me,
together with the rains, made me conclude it a very proper fea-
fon to low it. Accordingly, I dug up a piece of ground with
my wooden fpade, and dividing it in two parts, fowed about
two thirds of my feed, preſerving by me about a handful
of each. And happy it was I did fo, for no rain falling, it was
choaked up, and never appeared above the earth till the wet
fealon came again, and then it grew as if it had been newly
fown.
I was refolved ſtill to make another trial; and feeking for
a moifter piece of ground near my bower, there I fowed the
reft of my feed in February, a little before the vernal equi-
nox, which having the rainy months of March and April to
water it, yielded a noble crop, and ſprung up very pleaſant-
ly. Part of the feed I had yet faved, not daring to venture
all; and my crop amounted to above half a peck of each fort.
But by this time I found the proper feafons to fow in; and
that two feed times and two harvefts 1 might expect every
year.
No fooner were the rains over, and the ſtakes, which I had
cut from the trees, ſhooting like willow trees the firſt year af
ter
$40
ter lopping their heads, than I was ignorant of the tree I cut
them from; but they grew fo regularly beautiful, that they
made a moſt lovely appearance, and flouriſhed fo in three years
time, that I refolved to cut fome more, and theſe foon growing,
made a glorious fence, as in order I fhall obſerve.
And now I perceived that the feafons of the year might
generally be divided, not into ſunimer and winter, as in Europe,
but into wet and dry ſeaſons, as in this manner:
Half February,
March,
Half April,
Half April,
May,
June,
July,
Half August,
Half August,
September,
Half October,
}
}
Rainy, fun coming near the equinox.
Dry, fun getting north of the line.
Wet, the fun being then come back.
Half October,
November,
December,
January,
Half February.
Dry, fun running fouth of the line.
As the winds happened to blow, fo the wet ſeaſons would
continue longer or fhorter: But when I found the ill confe-
quences of being abroad in the rain, I took care beforehand to
furnish myself with provifions, and during the wet months lat
within doors as much as poffible: And in this time I contriv-
ed to make many things that I wanted, though it was with
much labour and pains before I could accomplish them. The
firft I tried was to make a baſket; but all the twigs I could
get proved fo brittle, that I could not then perform it. But
now it proved of excellent advantage to me, that when a boy,
I took great delight in ftanding at a basket maker's in the
fame town where my father lived, to view them at work, and
like other boys curious to fee the manner of their working
theſe things, and very officious to affift, I perfectly learned
the method of it, and wanted nothing but the tools. And
then it came into my mind, that the twigs of that tree of which
I made my flakes might be as tough as fallow, willow, and
fiers, growing in England; and fo refolving to make an ex-
periment, I went the next day to my country feat, and found
fome fit for my turn; and cutting down numbers with my
hatchet, I dried them in my pale, and when fit to work with,
carried
41
carried them to my cave, where I employed myself in making
feveral forts of baſkets to put in whatfoever I pleafed : It is
true they were not cleverly made, yet they ferved my turn
upon all occafions.
But ftill I wanted two neceffary things; I had not any caſk
to hold my liquor, except two runlets almoft full of rum, a
few botiles of an ordinary fize, and fome fquare cafe bottles:
Neither had I a pot to boi! any thing in, only a large kettle,
unfit to make broth, or ſtew a bit of meat in. After this,
I wanted a tobacco pipe; for which laft I found an expedient.
I kept myſelf employed in planting my fecond row of flakes,
and worked in this wicker the dry feafon. You may remem-
ber before, that when I travelled up to the brook, I had a mind
to fee the whole ifland; accordingly, taking my dog, gun,
hatchet, two bifcuit cakes, a great bunch of raifins, with a
larger quantity of powder and thot than ufual, I began my
journey. And having paffed the vale where my bower flood,
I came within view of the fea, lying to the weft, when it be-
ing a clear day, I fairly defcried land, but could not fay whe- «
ther it was an island or a continent: It extended from the W.
to the W. S. W. about ten or fifteen leagues, as I concluded.
Neither could I tell what place this might be, only thought it
was part of America, and where I might have been in a mifer-
able condition had I landed. Again, I confidered, that if
this was the Spaniſh coaſt, certainly one time or other I ſhould
fee fome fhip pafs by; and if it was not, then it must be the
favage coaft, between the Spanish country and Brafil, which
abounds with cannibals or man eaters, that devour human
kind.
As I proceeded forward, I found this fide of the ifland much
more pleafant than mine, the fields fragrant, and adorned with
fweet flowers and verdant grafs, together with feveral very
fine woods. There were parrots in plenty, which made me
long for one to be my companion; but it was with great dif-
ficulty that I could knock it down with my flick; and it was
fome years I kept him at home, before I could get him to call
me by my name.
In the low grounds I found various forts of hares and foxes,
as I thought them, but much different from all I had met
with Several of theſe I killed, but never ate them; neither
indeed had I any occaſion; for abounding with goats, pigeons,
turtle, and grapes, I could defy Leadenhall market to furniſh
me a better table. In this journey I did not travel above
two miles in a day, becauſe I took feveral turns and windings,
to ſee what diſcoveries 1 could make; returning weary enough
to the place where I defigned to reft all night, which was eith-
er in a tree, or in a place which I furrounded with ſtakes,
that no wild creature might fuddenly ſurpriſe me. When
D 2
1 came
I came to the fea fhore, I was amazed to fee the fplendour
of it: Its ſtrand was covered with fhells of the most beautiful
fish, and conſtantly abounding with innumerable turtles, and
fowls of many kinds, which I was ignorant of, except thoſe
called Penguins. I might have fhot as many as I pleafed,
but was Iparing of my ammunition, rather chufing to kill a fhe-
goat, which with much difficulty I did, becaufe of the flatness
of the country.
Now though this journey produced the most pleafing fatis-
faction, yet my habitation was fo natural to me, that I did
not repine at my being feated on the worst part of the ifland:
And fo travelling about 12 miles towards the Eaft, I iet a
great pile on the fhore for a mark, concluding that my next
journey fhould be on the other fide of the inland, eat from
my caftle, and fe round till I came to my poit again.
How-
ever I took another way back, thinking I could not mifs by
having a conflant view of the country; but ſcarcely had I trav-
elled three miles, when I defcended into a very large valley,
fo furrounded with hills that were covered with wood, that
I had no guide but by the fun, nor even then, unless I knew
well the poſition of the fun at that time of day. What added
to my misfortune was, the weather proved ſo hazy, for three
or four days, as to oblige me to return to my poft by the
fea fide, and fo backward the fame way I came. My dog fur-
prized a kid in this journey, and would have killed it, had I
not prevented him. I had often been mufing, whether I could
not get a kid or two, and fo raiſe a breed of tame goats to fupply
me after my ammunition was fpent. Upon which, I made a
collar for this little creature, with a ftring made of rope yarn,
which I always carried about with me; and when I came to
my bower, there I incloſed and left him, and after a month's
time in this journey I came home to my old habitation.
Nobody can fuppofe otherwiſe, but that I had a pleafing fat-
isfaction, when I returned to my little caſtle, and repoſed myſelf
in my hammock. After this journey I retted myſelf a week,
and the principal concern I then had, was, to make a cage for
my pretty Poll. And then I began to conſider the poor kid I
had eft at my bower; and immediately I went to fetch it
home. When I came there, I found the young creature al-
moſt ſtarved; when feeding it with branches of fuch fhrubs
as I could find, I tied it as before; but there was no occaſion,.
for it followed me like a dog; and as I conftantly fed it, be-
came fo loving, gentle and fond, that it commenced one of my
domeftics, and would never leave me.
The rainy feaſon of the autumnal equinox being now come,
I kept the 30th of September in the moſt folemn manner, as
ufual, it being the third year of my abode in the iſland. I
fpent the whole day in acknowledging God's mercies; in
giving'
43
giving him thanks for making this folitary life as agreeable,
and lefs fintul, than that of human fociety; and for the com-
munications of his grace to my foul, fupporting, comforting,
and encouraging me to depend upon his providence, and hope
for his eternal prefence in the world to come.
Before I considered how happy I was in this ſtate of life,com-
pared with that accurfed manner of living I tormerly used,
while either I was hunting or viewing the country, the an-
guifh of my foul would break out upon me on a fudden, and
my very heart would fink within me, to think of the woods,
the mountains, the defarts I was in; and how I was a prifoner,
1ked up with the eternal bars and bolts of the ocean, in an
uninhabited wilderness, without hopes and without redemp-
tion. And in this condition, I would often wring my hands
and weep like a child: Even in the middle of my work, this
fit would take me; and then I would immediately fit down
and ſigh, looking on the ground for an hour or two together,
till fuch time as my grief would be vented, by burſting out in-
to melting tears.
As one morning I was fuddenly pondering in my mind, I
opened my Bible, when immediately I fixed my eyes upon
thefe words, I will never leave thee nor forfake thee! Surely,
thought I, theſe words are directed to me; or elſe, why ſhould
they appear juft at a moment when I am bemoaning my for-
lorn condition? And if God does not forfake me, what mat-
ters it, fince he can make me more happy in this ſtate of life
than if I enjoyed the greateſt ſplendour in the world? But
while I was going to return God thanks for my prefent ftate,
fomething feemed to fhock my mind, as if it had thus faid, Un-
worthy wretch! can you pretend to be thankful for a condi..
tion, from which you would pray to be delivered? Here I
ftopt. And though I could not fay, I thanked the Divine
Majefly for being there, yet I gave God thanks for placing to
my view my former wicked courte of life, and granting me a
true knowledge of repentance: And whenever I opened or
fhut the Bible, I bleft kind Providence that directed my goods.
without my order, and for affifting me to fave them from
the power of the raging ocean.
And now beginning my third year, my feveral daily em-
ployments were thefe: First, My duty to heaven, and diligent-
ly reading the Holy Scriptures, which I did twice or thrice
every day. Secondly, Seeking provifion with my gun, which
commonly took me up, when it did not rain, three hours every
morning. Thirdly, The ordering, curing, preferving, and
cooking what I had killed or catched for my fupply, which
took me up a great part of the day: And in the middle of the
day, the fun being in it heighth, it was fo hot that I could not
fis out; fo that I had but four hours to work in: And then
my
44
my want of tools, help, and ſkill, walled a great deal of time;
for I was two and torty days making a board fit for a long
ſhelf; whereas, two fawyers, with their tools and faw pit,
would have cut feveral out of the fame tree in half a day; but
this was the cafe, it was to be a large tree, becauſe iny board
was to be broad; I was three days imcutting it down, and two
more in lopping off the boughs, and reducing it to a piece of
timber; this I hack'd and hew'd off each fide till it became
light to move, then I turned it, made one fide of it ſmooth
and flat as a board, from end to end, then turned it down-
ward, cutting the other fide, till I brought the plank to be a-
bout three inches thick, and imooth on both fides. Any body
may judge my great labour and fatigue in fuch a piece of work ;.
but this I went through with patience, as alio many other
things that my circumstances made necellary for me to do.
But now came my harveſt months, November and December,
in which I had the pleating profpećt of a very good crop : But
fuch was my misfortune, that the goats and hares having once
tafted of the fweetneſs of the blade, kept it fo fhort, that it had
not ſtrength to fhoot up into a ftalk: To prevent which, I en-
clofed it with a hedge, and by day, fhot fome of its devourers;
and my dog, which I had tied to the field gate, keeping bark.
ing all night, frightened the creatures away.
No fooner did I get rid of thefe, but other enemies appear-
ed; whole flocks of feveral forts of birds, who only waited till
my back was turned to ruin me. So much did this provoke
me, that I let Ay, and killed three of the malefactors; and af-
terwards, ferving them as they do notorious thieves in England,
hung them up in chains as a terror to others. And indeed fo
good an effect had this, that they not only forfook the corn,
but all that part of the ifland, fo long as thefe criminals hung
there.
My corn having ripened apace, the latter end of December,
which was my fecond harvest of the year, I reaped it with a
ſcythe made of one of my broad fwords. I had no great fa-
tigue in cutting down my firſt crop, it was fo flender; the ears
of which I carried home in a baſket, rubbing it out with my
hands instead of thraſhing it; and when my harveſt was over,
1 found my half peck of feed had produced near two bufhels
of rice, and two bufhels and a half of barley. And now I
plainly forefaw that, by God's goodneſs, 1 fhould be furniſhed
with bread; but yet I was concerned, becauſe I knew not how
to grind or make meal of my corn; nor bread, neither knew
how to bake it. Upon thefe confiderations, I would not taſte
any of the crop, but preferve it againſt the next ſeaſon, and in
the mean while uſe my beſt endeavours to provide myſelf with
materials to make bread.
But
45
But where were my labours to end? The want of a plough
to turn up the earth, or fhovel to dig it, I conquered, by mak-
ing me a wooden ſpade after a wooden manner: The want of
a harrow, I ſupplied myſelf, by dragging over the corn a great
bough of a tree: When it was growing or fully ripe, I was
forced to fence it, mow it, carry it home, thrash it, part it
from the chaff, and fave it: And after all this, I wanted a
anill to grind it, fieves to dreſs it, yeaſt and falt to make it in-
to bread, and an oven to bake it. This ſet my brains on
work to find ſome expedient for every one of thefe neceffaries
against the next harveſt.
And now, having more feed, my firſt care was to prepare
me more land. I pitched upon two large flat pieces of ground
near my castle, for that purpofe, in which I fowed my feed,
and fenced it with a good hedge, which took me up three
months, by which time it was the wet leafon. While the rain
kept me within doors, I found feveral occafions to employ
myfelf; and while at work ufed to divert myſelf with talking
to my parrot, learning him to know and ſpeak his own name,
POLL, the fift welcome word I ever heard, ſpoke on the i-
fland. I had been a long time contriving how to make earthen
veffels, which I wanted extremely; and when I confidered the
heat of the climate, I did not doubt but, if I could find any
proper clay, I might botch up a pot, frong enough, when dri-
ed in the fun, to bear handling, and to hold any thing that
was dry; as corn, meal, and other things.
To be ſhort, the clay I found; but it would occaſion the
moſt ſerious perfon to ſmile to fee what aukward ways I took,
and what ugly miſhapen things I made; how many either fell
out or crack'd by the violent heat of fun, and fell in pieces
when they were removed: So that I think it was two months
time before I could perfect any thing; and after this great fa-
tigue, made two clumly things in imitation of earthen jars.
Thefe, however, I very gently placed in wicker baſkets, made
on purpoſe for them, and between the pot and the baſkets,
Atuffed it full of rice and barley ftraw; and thefe I prefumed
would hold my dried corn, and perhaps the meal when the
corn was bruiſed. But as for ſmaller things, I made them
with better fuccefs, which the fun baked very hard, fuch as
little round pots, flat difbes, pitchers, and pipkins.
Yet ftill I wanted one thing abfolutely neceffary, and that
was an earthen pot, not only to hold any liquid thing, but tỏ
bear the fire, which none of theſe could do. It once happen-
ed, that as I was putting out my fire, I found therein a broken
piece of one of my veſſels, burnt hard as a rock, and red as a
tile. This made me contrive how to order my fire, fo as to
make it burn fome pots; and having no notion of a kiln, or
of glazing them with lead, I fixed three large pipkins, and two
or
46
or three pots, in a pile one upon another. The fire I plied
round the outſide and on the top with dry wood, till. I faw the
pots in the infide red hot, and found that they did not crack
at all; and when I perceived them perfectly red, I let one of
them ftand in the nie about five or fix hours, till the clay
melted by the extremity of the heat, and would have run to
glaſs, had I fuffered it; upon which, I flacked my fire by de-
grees, till the redneſs abated; and watching them till the
morning, I found I had three very good pipkins, and two
earthen pots, as well burnt and fit for my turn as I could de-
fire.
I
No joy can be greater than mine at this difcovery: For af
ter this, I may fay, I wanted for no fort of earthen ware.
filled one of my pipkins with water to boil me fome meat,
which it did admirably well, and with a piece of kid 1 made
me fome good broth, as well as my circumstances would af-
ford me at that time.
The next concern I had, was, to make me a ſtone mortar. to
beat fome corn in, inftead of a mill to grind it. Here indeed
I was at a great lofs, as not being fit for a ſtone cutter; and
many days I fpent to find out a great ftone big enough to cur
hollow and make fit for a mortar, and ftrong enough to bear
the weight of a pefle, as would break the corn without filling it
with fand : But all the ftones of the island being of a mould-
ering nature rendered my fearch fruitless; and then I refoly-
ed to look at a great block of hard wood; which having foon
found, I formed with my axe and hammer, and then with in-
finite labour made a hollow place in it, just as the Indians of
Brafil make their canoes. When I had finished this, I made a
great peſtle of iron wood, which I had formerly laid up againſt
my fucceeding harveſt.
My next buſineſs was to make me a ſieve, to fift my meal,
and part it from the bran and the hulk. Having no fine thin
canvas to fearch the meal through, I could not tell what to
do; what linen I had was reduced to rags: I had goats' hair
enough, but neither tools to work it, nor did I know how to
Ipin it: At length, I remembered I had. fome neckcloths of
callico, or muſlin, of the failors, which I had brought out of
the thip, and with thefe I made three fmall fieves, proper e-
nough for the work.
And now I come to confider the baking part in courſe.
The want of an oven I fupplied by making fome earthen pans
very broad but not deep. When I had a mind to bake, I
made a great fire upon my hearth, the tiles of which I had
made myſelf, and when the wood was burnt into live coals, I
ſpread them all over it, till it became very hot; then fweeping
them away, I fet down my loaves, and whelming down the
earthen pots upon them, drew the afhes and coals all around
the
47
the outside of the pots to continue the heat: And in this man-
mer I uled to b-ke my barley loaves, as well as if I had been a
complete paſtry cook, making myfelt of the rice feveral cakes
and puddings.
It is no wonder that all theſe things took me up the beſt
part of a year, fince what intermediate time I had, was beftow-
ed in managing my new harvelt and in ſbandry; for in the
proper teaton I reaped my corn, carried it home, and laid it up
in the ear in my large baskets, till I had time to rub, inſtead of
thrashing it. And now indeed my corn increaſed ſo much,
that it produced me about twenty bushels of barley, and as
much of rice, that I not only began to uſe it freely, but was
thinking how to enlarge my barns, and was refolved to fow ſo
much at a time as would be fufficient for me a whole year.
rắn continually
All this while the profpect of land, which I had ſeen from
the other fide of the iſland, ran in my mind. I ftill meditated
a deliverance from this place, though the fear of greater mif-
fortunes might have deterred me from it: For after I had at-
tained that place, I run the hazard of being killed and eaten
by the devouring cannibals; and if they were not fo, yet I
might be flain, as other Europeans had been, fell into their
hands. Notwithtanding all this, my thoug
upon my acquiring that thore: And now I wanted my boy
Xury, and the long boat, with the ſhoulder of mutton fail.
Then I went the fhip's boat that had been caft a great way on
the shore in the late ftorm. She was but a little removed;
but her bottom was turned up by the impetuofity and fury of the
waves and wind. With all the strength I had, I tried whatever
I could do, with levers and rollers I had cut from the wood, to
turn her, and repair the damages fhe had fuftained. This
work took me up three or four weeks, when finding my little
ftrength all in vain, I fell to undermining it, by digging away
the fand, and to make it fall down, fetting pieces of wood to
thruft and guide it in the fall. But after this was done, una-
ble was I to ftir it up again, or to get under it, much leſs to
move it forward towards the water, and fo I was forced to
give it over.
Not contented with this diſappointment, I began to think
whether it were hot poflible for me to make a canoe or peri.
agua, fuch as the Indians make of the trunk of a tree; but
here I lay under particular inconveniences; want of tools to
make it, and want of hands to move it to the water when it was
made. However, to work I went upon it, ſtopping all the
enquiries I could make, with this very fimple anfwer I made
to myself, let's firft make it, I'll warrant I'll find fome way of
other to get it along when it is done.
1 firſt cut down a cedar tree, which was five feet ten inches
diameter at the lower part next the ftump, and four feet eleven
inches
48
inches diameter at the end of twenty two feet, after which it
leffened for a ſpace, and then parted into branches. Twenty
days was I hacking and hewing this tree at the bottom, four-
teen more in cutting off the branches and limbs, and a whole
month in ſhaping it like the bottom of a boat; as for the in-
fide, I was three weeks with a mallet and chiffel, clearing it in
fuch a manner as that it was big enough to carry twenty fix
men, much bigger than any canoe I faw in my life, and
confequently fufficient to tranfport me and all my effects to
that withed for thore I fo ardently defired.
Nothing remained now, but indeed the greateft difficulty,
to get
it into the water, it lying about 100 yards from it. To
remedy the first inconvenience, which was a rifing hill between
this boat and the creek, with wonderful pains and labour
dug into the furface of the earth, and made a declivity. But
when this was done, all the ſtrength I had was as infufficient
to move it, as it was when I attempted to move the boat.
Then I proceeded to meaſure the diſtance of ground, reſolving
to make a canal, in order to bring the water to the canoe,
fince I could not bring the canoe to the water.
But as this
feemed to be impracticable to myfelf alone, under the ſpace
of eleven or twelve years, it brought me into fome fort of
confideration, that I concluded it impoffible to be done, and
To this attempt was in vain alfo. And now I faw, and not be-
fore, what ftupidity it is to begin a work before we reckon its
cofts, or judge right of our own abilities to go through with
its performance.
It was in the heighth of this work, my fourth year expired,
fince I was caft on this iſland; and then I did not forget my
anniverſary, but kept it with the fame ardent devotion I had
done before. But now my hopes being fruftrated, I looked
upon this world as a thing I had nothing to do with; and ve-
ry well might I fay, as father Abraham unto Dives, Between
me and thee there is a gulf fixed. And indeed from the world I
was feparated, from its wickedneſs too, having neither the luft
of the flesh, the luft of the eye, or the pride of life: I had
nothing to covet; being lord, king, or emperor over the
whole country I had in poffeffion, without difpute, and with-
out control. I had loadings of corn, plenty of turtles, tim-
ber in abundance, and grapes above meaſure; but after I was
ſerved, what was all the reſt to me? The money I had by me
lay as defpicable drofs, which I would freely have given for a
grofs of tobacco pipes, or a hand mill to grind my corm: In a
word, the nature and experience of theſe things dictated to me
this juſt reflection, that the good things of this world are no
farther good to us than they are for our ufe; and that what-
ever we may heap up to give others, we can but enjoy as much
as we uſe, and no more,
Thefe
49
Theſe thoughts rendered my mind more eafy than ufual.
Every time I fat down to eat, I did it with thankfulneſs; ad-
miring the providential hand of God, that in this wilderness
had spread this table to me. And now I confidered what I
enjoyed, rather than what I wanted; compared my prefent
condition with what I at first expected it should be; how I
ſhould have done, if I had got nothing out of the ſhip; that I
muſt have periſhed before I had caught fiſh or turtles; or liv-
ed, had I found them, like a mere favage, by eating them raw,
and pulling them in pieces with my claws, like a beaft. Í
next compared my ſtation to that which I deferved; how un-
dutiful I had been to my parents, how deftitute of the fear of
God;
how void of every thing that was good; and how un-
grateful for thoſe abundant mercies I had received from heav
en; being fed, as it were, by a miracle, even as great Elijah's
being fed by ravens; and caſt on a place where there was no
venomous creature to poiſon or devour me: In ſhort, making
God's tender mercies matter of great confolation, I relinquish-
ed all fadneſs, and gave way to contentment.
As long as my ink continued, which, with water, I made laſt
as long as I could, I uſed to minute down the days of the
month on which any remarkable thing happened. And,
First, I observed, That the fame day I forfook my parents
and friends, and ran away to Hull, in order to go to fea, the fame
day afterward, in the next year, I was taken and made a ſlave
hy the Saliee rover.
The very day I eſcaped out of the wreck of the fhip in Yar-
mouth roads, a year after, on the fame day, I made my efcape
from Sallee, in my patron's fiſhing boat.
The 30th of September, being the day of the year I was born
on, on that day twenty fix years after, I was miraculouſly fav-
ed, and caſt on fhore on this Mand.
The next thing that wafted, after my ink, was the bifcuit
which I had brought out of the fhip: And though I allowed
myſelf but one cake a day, for above a twelvemonth, yet I was
quite out of bread for near a year before I got any corn of my
own.
In the next place, my clothes began to decay, and my lines
had been gone long before; however, I had preferved about
three dozen of the failors' check fhirts, which proved a
great refreshment to me, when the violent beams of the fun
would not fuffer me to bear any of the leamens' heavy watch
coats, which made me turn taylor, and, after a miferable, botch-
ing manner, convert them into jackets. To preferve my
head, I made me a cap of goat kin, with the hair outwards, to
keep out the rain; which indeed ſerved me fo well, that I af
terwards made me a vaiſtcoat and open knee'd breeches of the
Lame: And then I contrived a fort of an umbreila, covering
E
it
50
it with ſkins, which not only kept out the heat of the fun, but
the rain alſo. Thus being eaſy and ſettled in my mind, my
chiefeft happineſs was to converſe with God, in moſt heavenly
and comfortable ejaculations.
me.
For five years after this I cannot fay any extraordinary
thing occurred to me. My chief employment was to cure my
raifins, and plant my barley and rice, of both which I had a
year's provifion beforehand. But though I was diſappointed
in my first canoe, I made it, at intermediate times, my bulinefs
to make a ſecond, of much inferior fize; and it was two years
before I finiſhed it. But as I perceived it would no ways an-
iwer my defign of failing to the other fhore, my thoughts were
confined to take a tour round the iſland, to fee what further
diſcoveries I could make. To this intent, after having moved
her to the water, and tried how fhe would fail, I fitted up a
Jittle maſt to her, and made a fail of the ſhip's fail that lay by
I then made lockers or boxes at the end of it, to put in
neceffarý provifions and ammunition, which would preferve
them dry either from rain, or the ſpray of the fea; and in the
infide of the boat I cut a long hollow place to lay my gun,
and to keep it dry, made a flag to hang over it; my umbrella I
fixed in a ſtep in the ftern like a maff, to keep the heat of the
fun off me: And now, refolving to fee the circumference of
my little kingdom, I victualled my thip for the voyage, put-
ting in two dozen of my barley bread loaves, an earthen pot
full of parched rice, a little bottle of rum, half a goat, powder
and fhot, and two watch coats. It was the 6th of November, in
the 6th year of my reign, or captivity, that I fet out in this
voyage, which was much longer than I expected, being oblig-
ed to put further out, by reaſon of the rocks that lay a great
way in the fea: And indeed fo much did theſe rocks ſurpriſe
me, that I was for putting back, fearing, that if I ventured
further it would be out of my power to return.
In this con-
*
fufion I came to an anchor juft off there, to which I waded
with my gun on my fhoulder, and then, climbing up an hill,
which overlooked that point, I faw the full extent of it, and
refolved to run all hazard.
In this profpect from the hill, I perceived a violent current
running to the eaſt, coming very close to the point; which I
the more carefully obferved, thinking it dangerous, and that,
when I came to it, I might be drove into the fea by its force,
and not able to return to the iſland; and certainly it muſt
have been fo, had I not made this obſervation; for on the
other fide was the like current, with this difference, that it fet
off at a greater diſtance; when I perceived there was a ſtrong
eddy under the land, to that my chiefeft buſineſs was to work
out of the firſt current, and conveniently get into an eddy.
Two days I ſaid here, the wind blowing very briſkly E. S. E.
which,
51
which, being contrary to the current, leaves a great breach on
the fea upon the point; fo it was not fit for me to keep too
near the ſhore, upon account of the breach; nor to ftand at
too great diſtance, for fear of the ftreams. That night the
wind abating, it grew fo calm that I ventured out; but furely
I was to be a memento to all raſh and ignorant pilots: For I
was no fooner come to the point, and not above the boat's
length from the ſhore, but I was got into a deep water, with a
current like a mill, which drove my boat along fo violently,
that it was impoſſible for me to keep her fo much as to the
edge of it; but it forced me more and more out from the eddy
to the left of me, and all I could do with my paddles was uſe-
lefs, there being no wind to help me.
Alas! now I began to think myſelf quite loft; fince, as the
current ran on both fides of the iſland, I was very certain they
muſt join again, and then I had no hopes but of perifhing for
want, in the fea, after what provifions I had was ſpent, or be-
fore, if a ſtorm fhould happen to ariſe.
Who can conceive the prefent anguiſh of my mind at this
calamity? With longing eyes did I look upon my little king-
don, and thought the ifland the pleafanteft place in the uni-
verfe. Happy, thrice happy defart, faid I, fhall I never fee
thee more? Wretched creature! whither am I going? Why
did I murmur at my loneſome condition, when now I would
give the whole world to be there again? While I was thus
contemplating, I found myſelf to be driven about two leagues
into the fea; however, I laboured till my ftrength was ſpent,
to keep my boat as far north as poffibly I could, to that ſide of
the current where the eddy lay on. About noon, I perceiv-
ed a little breeze of wind fpring up from the S. S. E. which
overjoyed my heart the more, when, in about half an hour, it
blew a gentle fine gale. Had any thick weather fprung up, I
had been loft another way; for having no compafs on board,
I fhould never have found the way to fteer towards the island,
if once it had diſappeared; but it proving the contrary, I fet
up my maſt again, fpread my fail and ſtood away northward,
as much as I could, to get rid of the current: And no fooner
did the boat begin to ftretch away, but I perceived by the
clearness of the water, a change of the current was near; for
where it was clear, the current abated. To the east, I foon
faw, about half a mile, a breach of the fea upon fome rocks,
which cauſed it again to feparate; and as the main force drove
away more fouthwardly, leaving the rocks to the north eaſt, ſo
the other came back by the repulfe of the rocks, making a
ſharp eddy, which returned back again to the north weſt with
a very ſwift ſtream.
They who have experienced what it is to be reprieved upon
the ladder, or to be faved from thieves juft going to take away
their
52
⚫heir lives, or elfe fuch who have been in the like calamities,
may guefs my prefent exceſs of joy; how heartily I run my
boat into the fream of this eddy, and how joyfully I pread
my fail to the refreſhing wind, ftanding cheerfully before it
with a ſmart tide under foot. By the affiftance of this eddy, I
was carried above a league home again, when being in the
wake of the iſland, betwixt the two currents, I found the wa-
ter to be at a fort of a ſtand. About four o'clock in the af-
ternoon I reached within a league of the island, and perceived
the points of the rock, which caufed this difafter, ſtretching
out as I obferved before, to the fouthward, which, throwing
off the current more fouthwardly, had occafioned another ed-
dy to the north. But having a fair briſk gale, I ſtretched a-
crols this eddy, and in an hour came within a mile of the
shore, where I foon landed to my unſpeakable comfort: And
after an humble proftration, thanking God for my deliverance,
with a refolution to leave all thoughts of eſcaping afide, I
brought my boat fafe into a little cove, and laid me down to
sake a welcome repofe. When I awoke, I was confidering
how I might get my beat home; and coafting along the thore,
I came to a good bay, which ran up to a rivulet or brook,
where finding a ſafe harbour, I ftowed her as fafe as if fhe had
been in a dry dock made on purpoſe for her.
And now I perceived myſelf not far from the place where
Before I had travelled on foot; when taking nothing with me
except my gun and umbrella, I began my journey, and in the
evening came to my bower, where I again laid me down to
reft. But it was not long before I was awakened, in great fur
prife, by a ftrange voice that called me feveral times, Robin,
Robin, Robin Crufoe, Poor Robin! Where are you, Robin Crafoe?
Where are you? Where have you been?
So faſt was I afleep at firſt, that I did not awake thoroughly;
but half afleep and half awake, I thought I dreamt that fome-
body spoke to me. But as the voice repeated Robinson Crufge
feveral times, being terribly affrighted, I ſtarted up in the ut-
neft confufion; when no fooner were my eyes fully open, but
I bekeld my pretty Poll fitting on the top of the hedge, and
foon knew that it was he that called me; for juſt in fuch be-
wailing language I uſed to talk and teach him, which he fo ex-
ly learned, that he would fit upon my finger, and lay his
hill cloſe to my face, and cry, Poor Robinſon Crufoe, where are
you? Where have you been? How came you here? And fuch
like prattle as I had conftantly taught him. But as I knew it.
to be the parrot, it was a great while before I could adjuſt my-
Telf; firſt, I was amazed, how the creature got thither, and
that he ſhould fix about that place, and no where elfe. When
I was affured it could be no other than my honeft Poll, my
wonder ceaſed; ſo teaching out my hand, and calling familiar..
by',
53
ly, Poll, the creature came to me, and perched upon my
thumb, as he was wont, conftantly prating to me, with Poor
Robinſon Crufoe, and How did I come here? and Where had I
been? As if the bird was overjoyed to fee me; aud fo I took
him home along with me.
Now though I was pretty well cured of my rambling to fea
again, yet I could with my boat, which had coft me fo much
trouble and pains, on this fide the iſland once more, which in-
deed was impracticable. And fo i led a very retired life, living
wear a twelvemonth, in a very contented manner, wanting for
nothing except converfation. As to mechanic labours, which
my neceffities obliged me to, I fancied I could, upon occaſion,
make a tolerable carpenter, were the tools I had to work
withal but good. Befides, as I improved in my earthen ware,
I contrived to make them with a wheel, which I found much
eaſier and better; making my work fhapeable, which before
was rude and ugly. But I think I was never fo elevated with
my own performance, or project, as for being able to make a
tobacco pipe; which though it proved an aukward, clumſy
thing, yet it was very found, and carried the ſmoke perfectly
well, to my great fatisfaction.
Alfo I improved my wicker ware, making me abundarice of
neceffary baſkets, which though not very handſome, were very
handy and convenient to fetch things home in, as alfo for hold-
ing my ſtores, barley, rice, and other proviſions.
My powder beginning to fail, made me examine after what
manner I ſhould kill the goats or birds to live on, after it was
all gone. Upon which I contrived many ways to enfnare the
goats, and fee if I could catch them alive, particularly a fhe
goat with young. At laſt I had my defire; for making pit→
falle and traps, bated with barley and rice, I found one morn-
ing in one of them an old he goat, and in the other three kids,
one male, the other two females.
way.
So boillerous was the old one, that I could not bring him a-
But I forgot the proverb, That hunger will tame a lion ?
For had I kept him three or four days without victuals, and
then given him fome water with a little corn, he would have
been as tame as a young kid. The other creatures I hound
with ftrings together. But I had great difficulty before I
could bring them to my habitation. It was fome time before,
they would feed, when throwing them fome corn, it fo much
tempted them, that they began to be tame; from hence I con-
cluded that if I deſigned to furnish myſelf with goats" fleſh,
when my ammunition was ſpent, the tamely breeding them up
like a flock of fheep about my fettlement, was the only meth-
od I could take. I concluded alſo, I muſt ſeparate the wild
from the tame, or elſe they would always run wild as they
grew up; and the beſt way for this was to have fome encloſed
E 2
piece
54
piece of ground, well fenced, either with hedge or pale, to
keep them fo effectually, that thofe within might not break
out, or those without break in. Such an undertaking was
very great for one pair of hands; but as there was an abfolute
neceffity for doing it, my firſt care was, to find a convenient
piece of ground where there was likely to be herbage for then
to eat, water to drink, and cover to keep them from the fun.
But here I began madly, pitching upon a piece of meadow
land fo large, that had I encloſed it with infinite pains, this
hedge or pale must have been at least two miles about. In-
deed had it been ten miles I had time enough to do it in; but
then I did not confider that my goats would be as wild in to
much compaſs, as if they had had the whole iſland, and conſe-
quently as difficult for me to catch them. And this thought
came into my head, after I had carried on, I believe, about
fifty yards; when I refolved to enclofe a piece of ground 150
yards in length and 100 in breadth, fufficient enough for as
many as would maintain me, till fuch time as my lock en-
creaſed, and then I could add more ground. Upon which, I
vigorously profecuted my work, and it took me about three
months in hedging the firſt piece; in which time I tethered
the three kids in the beſt part of it, feeding them as near me as
poffible to make them familiar: and indeed very often would
I carry fome ears of barley, or a handful of rice, and feed
them out of my hand; by which means they grew fo tame,
that when my encloſure was finiſhed, and I had let them looſe,
they would run after me for an handful of corn. This indeed
anfwered my end; and in a year and a half's time I had a
flock of about twelve goats, kids and all; and in two years
after, they amounted to three and forty, befides what I had
taken and killed for my fuftenance. After this, I encloſed
five feveral pieces of ground to feed them in, with pens to
drive them into, that I might take them as I had occafan.
But ſtill I had additional bleſſings, not only in having plen-
ty of goats' fleſh, but milk too, which in my beginning I did
not fo much as think of: And indeed, though I had never
milked a cow, much leſs a goat, or feen butter or cheele made,
yet, after ſome eſſays and miſcarriages, I made me both, and
never afterwards wanted.
How mercifully can the Omnipotent Power comfort his crea-
tures, even in the midſt of their greateſt calamities: How can
he fweeten the bittereft Providences, and give us reafon to
magnify him in dungeons and priſons ! what a bounteous ta-
ble was here fpread in a wilderness for me, when I expected
nothing at firſt but to periſh with hunger.
Certainly, a ftoic would have ſmiled to have feen me at din-
ner; there was my royal Majefty, an abfolute prince and rul-
er of my kingdom, attended by my dutiful fubjects, whom,
if
55
if I pleaſed, I could either hang, draw, quarter, give liberty,
or take it away. When I dined, I feemed a King, eating
alone, none daring prefume to do fo till 1 had done. Poll, as
if he had been my principal court favourite, was the only per-
fon permitted to talk with me. My old but faithful dog,
now grown exceeding crazy, and had found no fpecies to
multiply his kind upon, continually fat at my right hand;
while my two cats fat on each fide of the table, expecting a
bit from my hand, as a principal mark of my royal favour.
Yet theſe were not the cats I had brought from the fhip; they
had been dead long before, and interred near my habitation
by mine own hand: But one of them, as 1 fuppofe, generat-
ing with a wild cat, theſe were the couple I had made tame;
whereas the rest run into the woods, and grew fo impudent as
to return and plunder me of my flores, till fuch time as I fhot
a great many, and the reft left me with this attendance. And
in this very plentiful manner did I live, wanting for nothing
but converſation. One thing more indeed concerned me,
the want of my boat. I knew not which way to get her round
the island. I refolved one time to go along the fhore by land
to her, but had any one in England met fuch a figure, it
would either affright them, or make them burft into laughter :
Nay, myfelf could not but ſmile at my habit, which I think,
in this place, it is very proper to deſcribe.
The cap I had upon my head was great, high, and fhapeleſs,
made of a goat fkin, with a fap or penthoufe banging down
behind, not only to keep the fun from me, but to fhoot the
rain off from running into my neck, nothing being more per-
nicious than the rain falling upon the flesh in theſe parts. I
had a fhort jacket of goat fkin, whofe hair hung down fuch
a length on either ſide, that it reached down the calves of my
legs. As for fhoes and ftockings I had none, but made a re-
ſemblance of ſomething, I know not what to call them; they
were made like buſkins, and laced on the fides like fpatter-
daſhes, barbarouſly ſhaped, like the reft of my habit. I had
on me a broad belt of goat ſkin dried, girt round with a cou-
ple of thongs inftead of buckles; on each of which, to fup-
ply the deficiency of ſword and dagger, hung my hatchet and
faw. I had another belt, not ſo broad, yet faſtened in the
fame manner, which hung over my fhoulder; and at the end
of it, under my left arm, hung two pouches, made alfo of goat
ſkin, to hold my powder and hot. My basket I carried on my
back, and my gun on my ſhoulder, and over my head a great
clumſy ugly goat ſkin umbrella, which, however, next my gun
was the moſt neceffary thing about me. As for my face, the
colour was not fo fwarthy as the mulattoes, as might be ex-
pected from fuch a perſon as I, who took fo little care of it in a
şlimate within nine or ten degrees from the equator. At one
time
56
time my beard grew fo long, that it hung down above a quar-
ter of a yard; but as I had both razors and fciffars in itore,
I cut it all off, and fuffered none to grow except a large pair of
Mahometan whifkers, the like of which I had feen worn by
fame Turks at Sallee, not long enough to hang a hat upon, but
of fuch a monftrous fize, as would have amazed any in Eng-
land to have leen.
But all this was of no confequence here, there being none
to oblerve my behavicur or habit. And fo without fear, and
without control,I proceeded on my journey, the profecution of
which took me up five or fix days. I first travelled along the
ſea ſhore, directly to the place where I first brought my boat to
an anchor, to get upon the rocks. But now, having no boat
to take care of, I went over the land a nearer way, to the
fame heighth that I was upon before; when looking forward
to the point of the rock which lay out, and which I was forc-
ed to double with my boat, I was amazed to fee the ſea ſo
fmooth and quiet, there being no ripling, motion, or current,
any more than in other places: Which made me indeed pon-
der fome time to imagine the reafon of it, when at laſt I was
convinced how it was, which was this; the ebb ſetting from
the weit, and joining with the currents of waters from fome
great rivers on the ſhore, must be the occaſion of theſe rapid
ftreams; and that confequently as the winds blew more weſt-
wardly, or more foutherly, fo the current came the nearer, or
went the further from fhore. To fatisfy my curioſity, I wait-
ed there till evening, when the tide of ebb being made from
the rock, I plainly perceived the current again as before, with
this difference, that it ran farther off, near half a league from
the fhore; whereas in my condition, it fet quite upon it, fu-
riouſly hurrying me and my canoe along with it, which at a-
nother time it would not have done. And now I was con-
vinced, that, by obſerving the ebbing and flowing of the tide, F
might easily bring my boat round the island again : But when
I began to think of putting it in practice, the remembrance of
the late danger I was in, ftruck me with fuch horrour, that I
changed my refolution, which was more fafe, though more la-
borious; and this was to make another canoe, and ſo have
one for one fide of the iſland, and one for the other.
Here I think it very proper to inform my readers, that I
had two plantations in the iſland; the firſt was my little for-
tification, fort, or caftle, with many large and ſpacious im-
provements: For by this time I had enlarged the cave behind
me with feveral little caves, one within another, to hold my
baſkets, corn and ftraw. The piles with which I made my
wall were grown fo lofty and great, as obſcured my habita-
tion: And near this commodious and pleaſant ſettlement lay
my two well cultivated and improved corn fields, which-kind-
Ly
57
ly yielded me their fruit in the proper feafon. My fecond
plantation was that near my country feat, or little bower,
where my grapes flouriſhed, and where, having planted many
takes, I made encloſures for my goats, fo ftrongly fortified
by labour and time, that it was much stronger than a wall,
and confequently impoffible for them to break through. As
for my
bower itſelf, I kept it conſtantly in repair, and cut the
trees in fuch a manner as made them grow thick and wild,
and form the moſt delightful ſhade. In the centre of this
flood my tent, thus erected: I had driven four piles in the
ground, fpreading over them a piece of the fhip's fail; beneath
which I made me a fort of a couch with the fkins of the crea-
tures I had flain, and other things; and having laid thereon
one of the failors' blankets, which I had faved from the wreck
of the ſhip, and covering myſelf with a great watch coat, I
took up this place for my country retreat.
Very frequently from this fettlement did I ufe to vifit my
boat, and kept her in very good order. And fometimes I
would venture in her a caft or two from thore, but no farther,
left either a ſtrong current, a fudden ſtormy wind, or fome un-
lucky accident, fhould hurry me from the inland as before.
But now I entreat your attention, while I proceed to inform
you of a new but moſt furprifing fcene of life, wherein I was
acting again in a ſtranger manner.
You may ſuppoſe that after I had been here fo long, noth-
ing could have been more amazing than to have ſeen a human
creature. But one day it happened, that, going to my boat, I
faw the print of a man's naked foot on the fhore, very evident
on the find, as the toes, heel, and every part of it. Had I feen
an apparition, in the moſt frightful manner, I could not have
been more confounded: My willing ears gave the fricteſt at
tention. I caft my eyes around, but neither could fatisfy the
one or the other. When I proceeded alternately to every part
of the fhore, ftill it was all as one; neither could I fee any
other mark, though the fand about it was as fufceptib'e to take
impreffion as that which was fo plainly ftampt. Thus, ftruck
with confufion and horrour, I returned to my habitation, fright-
ened at every buſh and tree, as taking them for men; and,
being poffeffed with the wildest ideas, got over I cannot tell
how. But that night my eyes never clofed, though farther
from danger, when even then, I formed nothing but the moſt
difmal imaginations, thinking it must be the mark of the De-
vil's foot which I had feen: For otherwife how could any
mortal body come to this ifland? And if fo, where was the
hip that tranfported them? And what figns of any other
footfteps? Though theſe ſeemed very ſtrong reaſons for fuch a
fuppofition, yet, (thought I) why fhould the Devil make the
print of his foot to no purpofe, as I can fee, when he might
have
$8
have taken other ways to have terrified me? Why fhould he
leave his mark on the other fide of the iſland, and that too on
the fand, where the furging waves of the ocean might foon
have eraſed the impreffion. Surely this action is not confiſt.
ent with the ſubtilty of SATAN, faid I to myfelf, but rather
muſt be ſome dangerous creature, ſome wild ſavage of the
main land over againſt me, that, venturing too far in the ocean,
was driven here either by the violent currents or contrary
winds; and ſo, not caring to ſtay on this defolate iſland, was
gone back to ſea again.
Happy was 1 in my thoughts that no favage had ſeen me in
that place, yet much terrified, left, having found my boat,
they ſhould return in numbers and deftroy me, or at leaſt car-
ry away all my corn, and destroy my flock of tame goats: In
a word, all my religious hopes vaniſhed, as though I thought
God could not protect me by his power, who had fo wonder-
fully preferved me fo long.
What various chains of Providence there are in the life of
man! How changeable are cur affections, according to differ-
ent circumftances? We love to day what we hate to morrow;
we fhun one hour what we feek the next; and this was evi-
dent in me in the most perfpicuous manner; for I, who be-
fore had fo much lamented my condition, in being banished
from all human kind, was now almoſt ready to expire, when I
conſidered that a man had fet his foot on this deſolate iſland.
But when I considered my ſtation of life, decreed by the infi-
nitely wife and good Providence of God; that I ought not to
difpute my Creator's fovereignty, who had an undoubted right
to govern and difpofe of his creatures as he thinks convenient;
and that his juftice and mercy could either punish or deliver
me: I fay, when I confidered all this, I comfortably found it
my duty to truft fincerely in him, pray ardently to him, and
humbly refign myfelf to his divine will.
One morning, lying on my bed, thefe words of the facred
writings came again into my mind, Call upon me in the day of
trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou ſhalt glorify me. Upon
this fentence, rifing more cheerfully from my bed, I offered
up my prayers in the most heavenly manner: And when I
had done, taking up my Bible to read, thefe words appeared
firft in my fight: Wait on the Lord, and be of good cheer, and be
fball firengthen thy heart; wait, I fay, on the Lord. Such divine
comfort did this give me, as to remove all cauſe of ſadneſs
upon that occafion.
Thus, after a world of apprehenfions and fears, for three
days and nights, at laft I ventured out of my caſtle, and
milked my goats, one of which was almoft ſpoiled for want
of it. I next, though in great fear, vifited my bower, and
milked my flocks there a fo; when growing balder, I went
down
59
down to the ſhore again, and meaſuring the print of the foot
to mine, to fee whether, perhaps, I myſelf had not occafioned
that mark, I found it much fuperior in largeneſs; and ſo I re-
turned home poffeffed with the notion, that either fome men
had been afhore, or that the iſland muſt be inhabited; and
therefore, that I might be ſurpriſed before I was aware,
Struck with a fecond and more terrible fear, feveral thoughts
of fecurity came into my mind: And that night I was firft
propofing to cut down my enclofures, and turn my tame cattle
wild into the woods, that the enemy might not find them, and
frequent the iſland in hopes of the fame. Secondly, I was for
digging up my corn fields, for the very fame reaton: And,
Laftly, I concluded to demolith my bower, left feeing fuch
a place of human contrivance, they might come farther and
attack me is my little caftle.
Such notions did the fear of danger fuggeft unto me; and
I looked, I thought, like the unfortunate King Saul, when
not only oppreffed by the Philißines, but alſo forlaken by God
himself: And it is ftrange, that a little before having entire-
ly refigned myself to the will of God, I fhould now have fo
little confidence in him, fearing thofe more who might kill
this fading body, than him who could deftroy my immortal
foul.
Sleep was an utter ftranger to my eyes that night; yet na-
ture, ſpent and tired, submitted to a filent repofe the next
morning: And then, joining reafon with my fear, I confider-
ed, that this delightful and pleaſant iſland might not be en-
tirely forlaken, as I might think; or that the inhabitants
from the other fhure might fail either with defign or neceflity
by cross winds; and if the latter circumftance, they departed
upon the first opportunity. But ftill my fear occafioned me
to think of a place for retreat, upon an attack. I now re-
pented that I had made the door that came out beyond my
fortification; but refolving to make me a fecond, I drove be.
tween that double row of trees, which I planted about twelve
years before, ſeveral piles, thickening it with pieces of timber
and old cables, and ftrengthening the foot of it with earth
which I dug out of my cave. I alfo made me feven holes,
wherein I planted my muskets like cannon, fitting them inte
frames refembling carriages. This being finished with inde-
fatigable induſtry, for a great way round I planted ſticks of
ofier like wood, about twenty thousand of them, leaving a
large space between them and my wall, that I might have
room to fee an enemy, and that they might not be ſheltered
by the young trees, if they offered to approach the outer wall.
And indeed farce two years had paffed over my head, when
there appeared a lovely ſhady grove, and in fix years it became
a thick wood perfectly impaflable. For my fafety, I left no
avenue
60
avenue to go in or out; infead of which I fet two ladders;
one to a part of the rock which was low, and then broke in,
leaving room to place another ladder upon that; fo that when
I took thoſe down, it was impoſſible for any man to deſcend
without hurting himſelf; and if they had, they would ſtill be
at the outſide of my outer wall. But while I took all theſe
meaſures of human prudence for my own preſervation, I was not
altogether unmindful of other affairs: To preferve my flocks
of tame goats, that the enemy ſhould not take all at once, I
Looked out for the molt retired part of the iſland, which was
the place where I had loft myſelf before mentioned, and there
finding a clear piece of land, containing three acres, furround-
ed with thick woods, I worked so hard, that in lefs than a
month's time I fenced it fo well round, that my flocks were
very well ſecured in it, putting therein two he goats and two
the ones. As this labour was occafioned purely by my fear-
ful apprehenfions, on account of feeing the print of a man's
foot; not contented with what I had done, I fearched for a-
nother place toward the weſt point of the iſland, where I might
alfo retain another flock. Then methought I perceived a
boat at a great diftance in the fea; but could not poffibly tell
what it was, for want of my perfpective glafs. I confidered
then it was no ſtrange thing to fee the print of a man's foot;
and concluding them cannibals, bleſſed God for my being caſt
on the other fide of the iſland, where none of the favages, as I
thought, ever came. But when I came down the hill to the
fhere, which was the S. W. point of the iſland, I was not only
amazed, but perfectly confirmed in my opinion: For the place
was fpread with ſkulls, hands, feet, and bones of human bodies;
and then I perceived a ſpace like a circle, in the midſt of which
had been a fire; about this fire I conjectured theſe wretches
fat, and unnaturally ſacrificed and devoured their fellow crea-
tures.
The horror and lothſomeneſs of this dreadful ſpectacle both
confounded my fenfes, and made me difcharge the violent dif-
order from my ftomach. So that when I had vomited in a
very exceffive manner, I returned towards my habitation; and
in my way thither thedding floods of tears, and falling down
on my bended knees, gave God thanks for making my nature
contrary to theſe wretches, and delivering me fo long out of
their hands.
Now, though reafon and my long refidence there had affured
me, that theſe ſavages never came up to the thick woody parts
of the country; and that I had no occafion to difcover myſelf,
who was fo perfectly concealed from them; yet fuch an ab-
horrence did I ftill retain, that, for two years after, I confined
mylelf only to my three plantations; I mean my caſtle, coun-
try feat, and enclofure in the woods. And when, in this foli-
tary
61
tary life, my dreadful apprehenſions began to wear away, yet
my eyes were more vigilant for fear of being furprized, and I
was cautious of firing my gun, left being heard by thofe crea-
tures, they ſhould proceed to attack me; but reſolving man-
fully to lofe my life if they did, I went armed with three pif-
tols ſtuck in my girdle, which, added to the deſcription I have
given of myſelf before, made me look with a very formidable
appearance.
And thus my circumstances for fome time remained very
calm and undisturbed. When I compared my condition to
others, I fouud it far from being miferable: And indeed
would all perſons compare their circumstances, not with thoſe
above them, but with thoſe innumerable unhappy objects be-
neath them, I am fure we should not hear thofe daily mur-
murings and complainings that are in the world. For my
part, I did not want many things: Indeed the terror which
the favages had put me in fpoilt fome inventions for my own
conveniences; one of which was really very ridiculous, ex-
cept I could accompliſh it, and happy it was they hindered me
from putting it in practice. My defign was to brew me fome
beer, when I had neither cafks fufficient, nor could make any,
to preſerve it in; neither had I hops to make it keep, yeaſt to
make it work, nor a copper or kattle to make it boil. Per-
haps indeed, after fome years, I might bring this to bear, as I
had done other things: But now my inventions were placed
another way; and one was, how I might destroy fome of theſe
cannibals, when proceeding to their bloody entertainments;
and fo faving a victim from being facrificed, he might after
become my fervant.
fervant. Many were my contrivances for this
purpoſe, and as many more objections occured after I hatched
them: For when I contrived to dig a hole under the place
where they made their fire, and put therein five or fix pounds
of gunpowder, which would confequently blow up all thoſe
that were near it; why then I was loth to ſpend ſo much up-
on them, left it should not do that certain execution I could
defire; and but only affright, and not kill them. Having laid
this deſign aſide, I propofed to myfelf to lay privately in am-
buth, in fome convenient place, with my three guns double
loaded, and let fly at them in the midst of their dreadful cere-
mony; and having killed two or three of them at every ſhot,
fall upon the rest fuddenly with my three piftols, and not let
one mother's fon eſcape. And fo much did this imagination
pleaſe my fancy, that I uſed to dream of it in the night time.
To put my defign in execution, I was not long feeking for a
place very convenient for my purpofe, where, unfeen, I might
behold every action of the favages. Here I placed my two
mufkets, each of which was loaded with a brace of flugs, and
four or five imaller bullets, about the fize of piſtol bullets
F
the
62
the fowling piece was charged with near a handful of the larg-
eft iwan fhot; and in every piftol were about four bullets.
And thus all things being prepared, no fuoner would the wel-
come light ſpread over the element, but, like a giant refreshed
with wine, as the Scripture has it, would I ilue forth from
my cattle, and, from a lofty hill, three miles diftant, view if I
could fee any invaders approach unlawfully to my kingdom.
But having waited in vain two or three months, it not only
grew very tirefome to me, but brought me into fome confider-
ation, and made me examine myſelf, what right I had to kill
thefe creatures in this manner ?
If (argued I to myfelf) this unnatural cuftom of theirs be a
fin offenfive to heaven, it belongs to the Divine Being, who a-
lone has the vindictive power in his hands, to fhower down
vengeance upon them: And perhaps he does fo, in making
them become one another's executioners. Or if not, if God
thinks theſe doings juft, according to the knowledge which
they conceive, what authority have I. pretend to all the de-
crees of Providence, which has permitted theſe actions for fo
many ages, perhaps from almoſt the beginning of the creation?
They never offended me, what right had I then to concern
myſelf in their fhedding one another's blood? And, as I have
fince known, they value no more to kill and devour a captive
taken war, than we do to kill an ex, or eat mutton. From
hence it followed, that theſe people were no more murderers
than Chriſtians, who many times put whole troops to the
ſword, after throwing down their arms. Again I confidered,
that if I fell upon them, I ſhould be as much in the wrong as
the Spaniards, who had committed the greateſt barbarities up-
on theſe people, who had never offended them in their whole
lives; as if the kingdom of Spain was eminent for a race of
men without common compaflion to the miferable, which is
reckoned to be a principal ſign of the moſt generous temper.
In a word, I concluded never to attack them, whoſe numbers
might overpower me; or that ſome eſcaping, might bring
thouſands to my certain deftruction; nor fo much as to fhew
myfelf, which might oblige me even to a receflary duty of de-
fence. And indeed religion took their part ſo much, as to con-
vince me, how contrary it was to my duty to be guilty of fhed-
ding human blood, innocent as to my particular, whatever
they are to one another; and that I had nothing to do with it,
but leave it to the God of all power and dominion, as I faid
before to do therein what ſeemed convenient to his heavenly
wiſdom. And therefore, on my knees, I thanked the Almigh-
ty for delivering me from blood guiltinefs, and begged his pro-
tection that I might never fail into their hands.
Thus, giving over an attempt which I had rafhly begun, I
never afcended the hill on that occaſion afterwards; only I re-
moved
68
14
moved my boat which lay on the other fide of the island, and
every thing, ſuch as they were, that belonged to her, towards
the eaſt, into a little cove, that there might not be the leaſt
fhadow of diſcovery of any boat near, or habitation upon the
inland. And then my caſtle became my cell, keeping very re-
tired in it, except to milk my fhe goats, and order my little
flock in the wood, which was quite out of danger; for fure it
is, theſe favages never came here with expectations to find any
thing, and confequently never wandered from the coaft; and
as they might have feveral times been on fhore, as well before
as after my dreadful apprehenſions, I looked back with horrour
to think in what a ftate I might have been, had I ſuddenly
met them flenderly armed, with one gun only loaded with fmall
fhot: And how great would have been my amazement, if, in-
ftead of feeing the print of one man's foot, I had perceived
fifteen or twenty favages, who, having once fet their eyes up-
on me, by the ſwiftneſs of their feet, there was no poſſibility of
my eſcaping? Theſe thoughts would fink my very toul within
me, fo that I would fall into a deep melancholy, till fuch time
as the confideration of my gratitude to the Divine Being moved
it from my heart. And then I fell into a contemplation of
the fecret fprings of Providence : How wonderfully we are
delivered, when we are infenfible of it; and when intricated in
uncertain mazes or labyrinths of doubt or heſitation, what ſe-
cret hint ſhall direct us in the right way, when we intended to
go out of it; nay, perhaps, contrary to our bufinels, fenfe or
inclination. Upon which, I fixed within me this as a certain
rule, Never to difobey thofe fecret impreffions of my mind, to the act-
ing or not acting any thing that offered, for which I yet could af-
fign no reafon: But let it be how it will, the advantage of this
conduct very eminently appeared in the latter part of my a-
bode on this iſland; I am a ſtranger in determining whence
thefe fecret intimations of Providence derive; yet, methinks,
they are not only fome proofs of the converfe of ſpirits, but
allo of the fecret communications they are fuppofed to have
with thofe that have not paffed through the gloomy vale of
death.
As in thefe many anxieties of mind, the care of my pre-
ſervation put a period to all inventions and contrivances, either
for future accommodations or conveniences; fo I never cared
to drive a nai!, chop a ftick, fire a gun, or make a fire, leſt
either the noife fhould be heard or the fmoke difcover me :
And, upon this acccount, I used to burn my earthen ware pri-
vately in a cave which I found in the wood, and which I made
convenient for that purpoſe: But the principal cauſe that firſt
brought me here, was to make charcoal, fo that I might bake
and dress my bread and meat, without any danger. While I
was cutting down fome wood for this purpofe, I perceived a
cavity
64
cavity behind a very thick branch of under wood. Curious
to look into it, I attained its mouth, and perceived it fufficient
for me to ftand upright in it. But when I had entered and
took a further view, two rolling fhining eyes, like Aaming
fars, feemed to dart themſelves at me, fo that I made all the
haſte out that I could, as not knowing whether it was the
Devil or a monſter that had taken upħis reſidence in that place.
But when I recovered from my furprize, I called myſelf a
thouſand lools, for being afraid to fee the Devil one moment,
who had now lived almoſt twenty years in the moſt retired ſol-
itude: And therefore, refuming all the courage I had, I took
up a flaming firebrand, and in I rushed again; when not hav-
ing proceeded above three ſteps, I was more affrighted than
before; for then I heard a very loud figh, like that of a hu-
man creature in the greateſt agony, fueceeded with a broken
noiſe, reſembling words half expreſſed, and then a broken figh
again. Stepping back, Lord! (thought I to myself) where am
I got? Into what enchanted place have I plunged myſelf,
fuch as are reported to contain miferable captives, till death
puts an end to their forrow? And indeed fuch a great amaze-
ment was I in, that it ſtruck me with a cold fweat; and had
my hat been on my head, I believe my hair would have moved
it off. But again, encouraging myſelf with the hopes of God's
protection, I proceeded forward, and, by the light of my fire-
brand, perceived it to be a monstrous he goat, lying on the
ground, gafping for life, and dying of mere old age. When
at first I ftirred him, thinking to drive him out, the poor an-
cient creature ftrove to get upon his fees, but was not able;
fo I e'en let him lie ftill, to affright the favages, fhould they
venture into this cave. In the mean time, I looked round
me, and found the place but fmall and fhapelefs: At the furth-
er fide of it I perceived a ført of an entrance, yet ſo low as
muſt oblige me to creep on my hands and knees to it; when,
having no candle, I fufpended my enterprize till the next day,
and then I came provided with fix large ones of my own mak-
ing.
When upon my hands and feet I had crept through the
Rraight, I found the roof rofe higher up, I think, about twen-
ty feet: But furely mortal never faw fuch a glorious fight in
this iſland before! The roof and walls of this cave reflected
a hundred thouſand lights to me from my two candles, as
though they were indented with fhining gold, precious ſtones,
or fparkling diamonds. And indeed it was the most delight-
ful cavity or grotto, of its kind, as could be defired, though
entirely dark: The floor was dry and level, and had a kind of
gravel upon it; no naufeous venomous creature to be ſeen
there, neither any damp or wet about it: I could find no fault
but in the entrance, which I thought might be very neceſſary
for
65
for my defence, and therefore was refolved to make this place
my most principa! magazine. I brought hither two fowling
pieces and three muſkets, leaving only five pieces at my caſtle,
planted in the nature of cannon. In a barrel of gunpowder,
which I took out of the ſea, I brought away about Exty pounds
of good powder, which was not damaged; and thefe, with a
great quantity of lead for bullets, I removed from my castle to
This retreat, now fortified both by art and mature.
Surely it is no wonder, if at this time I thought myſelf like
one of the giants of old, who were faid to live in oaves and
holes among the rocks, inacceffible to any but themſelves, or,
at leaſt, moſt dangerous to attempt. So that now it feems I
defpiled both the cunning and strength of the favages, either
to find me out or to hurt me.
I
But I must not forget the old goat, who caufed my late dread-
ful amazement: The poor creature gave up the ghoft the day
after my difcovery; and it being difficult to drag him out,
dug his grave, and honourably entombed him in the fame
place where he departed, with as much ceremony as any Wel
goat has been interred about the high mountain Peumenmoure.
I think I was now in the twenty third year of my reign,
and much easier were my thoughts than formerly, contriving
feveral pretty amuſements and diverſions, to pass away the
time in a pleaſant manner. By this time my pretty Poll had
learnt to fpeak Engliſh, and pronounce his words very articu-
lately and plain; fo that for many hours we ufed to chat to-
gether after a very familiar manner, and he lived with me no
lefs than twenty fix years: My dog, who was nineteen years
old, fixteen years of which he lived with me, died of mere old
age: As for my cats, they multiplied fo faft, that I was forced
to kill or drive them into the woods, except two or three, which
became my particular favourites. Befides thefe, I continually
kept two or three houſehold kids about me which I did learn
to feed out of my hand, and two more parrots which would
talk indifferently, and call Robinſon Crusoe, but not ſo excellent
as the firft, as not taking that pains with them. Several fea
fowis I had allo, which having wounded, I cut their wings,
and growing fame, they uſed to breed among the low trees
about my castle walls; all which were very agreeable to me.
But what unforeseen events fuddenly destroy the enjoyments
of this uncertain ftate of life, when we leaft expect them! It
was now the month of December, in the Southern folftice, and
particular time of my harvel, which required my attendance
in the fields; when going out pretty early one morning, be-
fore it was day light, there appeared to me, from the fea thore,
a flaming light, about two miles from me, at the east end of
the ifland, where I had obferved fome favages had been, as
before,
Fa
66
before, but not on the other fide; but, to my great affliction,
it was on my fide of the iſland.
Struck with a terrible furprife, and my ufual apprehenfions,
that the favages would perceive my improvements, I returned
directly to my caſtle, pulled up the ladder after me, making all
things look as wild and natural as poffibly I could. In the
next place I put myſelf in a poſture of defence, by loading my
muſkets and piſtols, and committing myſelf to God's protec-
tion, refolving to defend myſelf till my lateſt breath. After
two hours ſpace, impatient for intelligence, I fet my ladder up
to the fide of the hill where there was a flat place; and then
pulling the ladder after me, afcended the top, where, laying
myſelf on my belly, with my perſpective glaſs, I perceived no
lefs than nine naked favages, fitting round a ſmall fire, eating
as I fuppofed, human flesh, with their two canoes haled upon
fhore, waiting for the flood to carry them off again. You can-
not eaſily expreſs the confternation I was in at this fight, eſpe-
cially feeing them near me; but when I perceived their com
ing muſt be always with the current of the ebb, I became more
eafy in my thoughts, being very fully convinced, that I might
go abroad with fecurity all the time of flood, if they were not
before landed. And indeed this proved juſt as I imagined;
for no fooner did they all take boat, and paddle away, but the
tide made northwest. Before they went off, they danced,
making ridiculous poftures and geftures, for above an hour,
all ſtark naked, but whether men, or women, or both, I could
not perceive. When I faw them gone I took two guns upon
my ſhoulders, and placing a couple of piſtols in my belt, with
my great fword hanging by my fide, I went to the hill, where
at firſt I made a diſcovery of theſe cannibals, and then faw
there had been three canoes more of the favages on fhore as
that place, which, with the reft, were making over to the
main land.
But nothing could be more horrid to me, when going to
the place of facrifice, the blood, the bones, and other mangled
parts of human bodies, appeared in my fight; and fo, fired
with indignation, I was fully reſolved to be revenged of the
firſt that came there, though I loſt my life in the execution. It
then appeared to me, that the vifits, which they made to this
inland, were not very frequent, it being fifteen months before
they came again; all this time I was very uneaſy, by reaſon of
the difmal apprehenſions I had of their furprifing me unawares;
nor dared I offer to fire a gun on that fide of the iſland where
they uſed to appear, leſt taking the alarm, the favages might
return with many hundred canoes, and then God knows in
what manner I ſhould have made my end: And thus I was a
year or more, before I ever ſaw any of theſe devouring canni-
bals again.
Bus
бу
But to wave this diſcourſe for a while, the following acci-
dent demands your attention, which for a while eluded the
force of my thoughts in revenging myſelf on thoſe heathens.
It was the 16th of May (according to my wooden calendar)
that the wind blew exceedingly hard, accompanied with abund-
ance of lightning and thunder all that day, and fucceeded by a
very ftormy night. What occafioned this I could not imagine;
but as the ſeeming anger of the heavens made me have re-
courie to the Bible, whilft I was ſeriouſly pondering upon it, I
was fuddenly alarmed with the noiſe on a gun, which I conjec-
tured was fired upon the ocean. Such an unuſual furprize,
made me ftart up in a minute, when, with my ladder, afcend-
ing the mountain as before, that very moment a flaſh of fire
prefaged the report of another gun, which I preſently heard,
and found it was from that part of the fea where the curent
drove me away. I could not then think otherwiſe, but that
this must be a ſhip in diſtreſs, and that theſe were the melan-
choly fignals for a fpeedy deliverance. Indeed, great was my
forrow, upon this occafion, but altogether vain and fruitless.
However, I brought together all the dry wood that was at
hand, and making a handfome pile fet it on fire on the hill.
Certain it was, that they plainly perceived it, by their firing
another gun, as foon as it began to blaze, and after that fever-
al more from the fame quarter. All the night long did I keep
up this fire; and when the air cleared up, I perceived ſome-
thing a great way at fea directly eaft, but could not diſtinguiſh
what it was, even with my glafs, by reaſon the weather was fo
very foggy out at fea. However, keeping my eyes directly
fixt upon it, and perceiving it not to ftir, I prefently concluded
it muſt be a ſhip at anchor; and to very haſty I was to be fatis-
fied, that, taking my gun, I went to the fouth eaſt part of the
island, to the fame rocks where I had been formerly drove away
by the current; in which time the weather being perfectly
cleared up, to my great forrow, I perceived the wreck of a fhip
caft away upon thoſe hidden rocks, which I found when I was
out with my boat; and which, by making a kind of an eddy,
were the occaſion of my preſervation.
Thus, what is one man's fafety is another's ruin: For un-
doubtedly this fhip had been driven on them in the night, the
wind blowing ftrong at E. N. E. Now, had they perceived
the iſland, as I could not imagine they did, certainly, inſtead of
firing their guns for help, they might rather have ventured in
their boat, and faved themſelves that way. Then I thought,
that perhaps they had done fo, upon feeing my fire, and were
call away in the attempt; for I perceived no boat in the fhip.
Again, I imagined, that perhaps they had another veffel in
company, which, upon fignal, faved their lives, and took the
boat up: Or laftly," that "the boat might be driven into the
main
68
main ocean, where theſe poor creatures might be in the mog
miferable condition. But as all theſe conjectures were very
uncertain, I could do no more than commiterate their diftrels,
and thank God for delivering me, in particular, when fo many
perished in the raging ocean.
When I confidered feriously every thing concerning this
wreck, I could perceive no room to fuppofe any of them fav-
ed: I cannot explain, by any poffible force of words, what
longings my foul felt upon this fight, often breaking out in
this manner: Oh! that there had been but two or three, nay
even one períon faved, that we might have lived together,
converfed with and comforted one another And 40 much
were my deſires moved, that when I repeated thefe words,
Ob! that there had been but one! my hands would fo clench
together, and my fingers prets the palms of my hands fo cloſe,
that had any foit thing been between, they would have crush-
ed it involuntarily, while my teeth would flrike together, and
fet against each other ſo ſtrong, that required fome time for
me to part them.
Till the laſt year of my being on this ifland, I never knew
if any had been faved out of this fhip or not; and had only
the affliction fome time after, to see the corpte of a drowned
boy come on fhore, at the end of the island, which was next
the fhipwreck: There was nothing on him but a feaman's
waiſtcoat, a pair of open knee'd linen drawers and a blue
linen ſhirt; but no particular mark to guess what nation he
was of. In his pocket were two pieces of eight and a tobacco
pipe, the last of which I preferred much more than I did
the first. And now the calmness of the fea tempted me to
venture out in my boat to this wreck, not ouly to get fome.
thing neceffary out of the fhip, but perhaps fome living crea-
ture might be on board, whoſe life I might preferve. This
had fuch an influence upon my mind, that immediately I went
home, and prepared every thing neceffary for the voyage, car-
rying on board my boat, provifions of all forts, with a good
quantity of rum, freſh water and a compafs. So putting off, I
paddled the canoe along the fhore, till I came at last to the
N. E. part of the iſland, from whence I was to launch int● the
●cean; but here the currents ran fo violently, and appeared
ſo terrible, that my heart began to fail me; foreſeeing that if
I was driven into any of theſe currents, I might be carried not
only out of the reach or fight of the ifland, but even inevita-·
bly loft in the boiling furges of the ocean.
So appreffed was I at theſe troubles, that I gave over my
enterprize, failing to a little creek on the ſhore, where ſtep-
ping out, I fat me down on a rifing hill, very penſive and
thoughtful. I then perceived, that the tide was turned, and
the food came on, which made it unpracticable for me to go
out
69
out for fo many hours. To be more certain, how the fets of
the tides or currents lay when the flood came in, I afcesded a
higher piece of ground, which overlooked the fea both ways,
and here I found, that as the current of the ebb fet out cloſe
by the fouth point of the iſland, fo the current of the flood ſet
in cloſe by the shore of the north fide; and all that I had to
do, was, to keep to the north of the iſland in my return.
That night I repofed myſelf in my canoe, covered with my
watch coat inftead of a blanket, the heavens being my tefter.
I fet out with the firſt of the tide full north, till I felt the be-
nefit of the current, which carried me at a great rate eastward,
yet not with ſuch impetuofity as before, as to take from nie all
government of my cance; fo that in two hours time I came up
to the wreck, which appeared to me in a moſt melancholy man-
ner. It feemed to be a Spanish veffel by its building, ſtuck laſt
between two rocks; hei ftern and quarters beaten to pieces
with the fea; her main maft and fore maft were brought off by
the board; as much as to fay, broken fhort off. As I ap-
proached nearer, I perceived a dog on board, who perceiving
me coming, yelped and cried, and no fooner did I call him,
but the poor creature jumped into the fea, out of which I took
him almoſt famished with hunger and thirft: So that when I
gave him a cake of bread, no ravenous wolf could devour it
more greedily; and he drank to that degree of fresh water,
that he would have burſt himſelf had 1 fuffered him,
The first fight 1 met with in the ſhip, were two men drown-
ed in the cook room or forecaſtle, encloſed in one another's
arms: Hence I very probably fuppofed, that when the veffel
ftruck in the form, fo high and inceffantly did the waters
break in, and over her, that the men, not being able to bear
it, were firangled by the conſtant ruſhing in of the waves.
There were feveral cafes of liquor, whether wine or brandy, I
could not be poſitive, which lay in the lower hold, as were
plainly perceptible by the ebbing out of the water, yet were
too large for me to pretend to meddle with: Likewife I per-
ceived ſeveral cheſts, which I thought might belong to the ſea-
men; two of them I got into my boat, without examining
then what were in them. Now had the ftern of the ſhip been
fixed, and the fore part broken off, certain I am I ſhould have
made a very profperous voyage; fince by what I after found
in theſe two chefts, I could not otherwife conclude, but that
the fhip muſt have abundance of wealth on board: nay, if I
mu guefs by the courſe ſhe ſteered, the must have been bound
from Buenos Ayres, or Rio de la Plata, in the fouthern
part of America, beyond the Brafils, to the Havanah, in the
gulph of Mexico, and fo perhaps to Spain. What became of
the ref of her failors, I could not certainly tell; and all her
riches fignified nothing at that time to any body.
Searching
70
Searching farther, I found a calk, containing about twenty
gallons, full of liquor, which with fome labour I got into my
boat: In a cabin were ſeveral muſkets, which I let remain
there, but took away with me a great powder horn, and about
four pounds of powder in it; I took alfo a fire fhovel and
tongs, two braſs kettles, a copper pot to make chocolate, and
a gridiron, all which were extremely neceffary to me, eſpeci-
ally the fire shovel and tongs. And fo with this cargo, accom-
panied with my dog, I came away, the tide ferving for that
purpoſe; and that fame evening, about an hour within
night, I attained the iſland, after the greateſt toil and fatigue
imaginable,
That night I repofed my wearied limbs in the boat, reſolving
the next morning to harbour what I had gotten in my new
found fubterraneous grotto, and not carry my cargo home to
my ancient cattle. When I had refreſhed myſelf, and got all
my effects on thore, I proceeded to examine the particulars :
And fo tapping the calk, I found the liquor to be a kind of
rum, but not like what we had at the Brafils, nor indeed near
fo good. At the opening of the cheft, feveral things appeared
very uſeful to me For inftance, I found in one a very fine
cafe of bottles, containing the finest and bell forts of cordial
waters: Each bottle held about three pints, curiouſly tipt with
filver. I found alfo two pots full of the choiceft fweet-meats,
and two more which the water had utterly spoiled. There
were likewife feveral good shirts, exceedingly welcome to me,
and about a dozen and a half of linen white handkerchiefs and
coloured neckloths, the former of which were abfolutely ne-
ceffary for wiping my face in a hot day; and in the till, I found
three bags of pieces of eight, about eleven hundred in all; in
all of which, decently wrapt up in a piece of paper, were fix
doubloons of gold, and fome fmall bars and wedges of the
fame metal, which I believe might weigh near a pound. In
the other chest, which I gueffed to belong to the gunner's rate,
by the mean circumftances that attended it, I only found tome
clothes of very little value, except about two pounds of finè
glazed powder, in three flaſks, kept, as I believe, for charging
their fowling-pieces on any occafion. So that on the whole,
had no great advantage by this voyage: The money was in-
deed as mere dirt to me, uſeleſs and unprofitable, all which I
would have freely parted with for two or three English pair of
fhoes and ſtockings; things that for many years I had not
worn; except lately thofe which I had taken off the feet of
thofe unfortunate men I found drowned in the wreck, yet not
fo good as Engliſh ſhoes, either for eaſe or ſervice: And hav-
ing found in the feamen's cleft about fifty pieces of eight m
rials, but no gold, I fuppofe what I took from the first be-
longed to an officer, to whom this feemed to have a much
inferior
*I
inferior perſon its owner. Weil, the money, as deſpicable as
it feemed, 1 likewife lugged to my cave, laying it up fecurely
as I did the rest of my cargo. After I had done all this, I
returned back to my boat, rowing or paddling her along till
I came to my old harbour, where I carefully laid her up, and
fo made the best of my way to my caſtle. When I arrived
there, every thing feemed fafe and quiet; fo that now my
only buſineſs, was to repofe myfelf after my wonted manner,
and take care of my domeftic affairs. But though I might
have lived very ealy, as wanting for nothing abſolutely need-
ful, yet ftill I was more vigilant than uinal on account of
the favages, never going much abroad; or if I did, it was to
the East part of the ifland, where I was well affured that the
favages never came, and where I might not be troubled to
carry that heavy load of weapons for my detence, as I was
obliged to do if I went the other way.
Two years did I live in this anxious condition, in all which
time, contrary to my former refolutions, my heart was filled
with nothing but projects and deſigns how I might eſcape from
this ifland: And fo much were my wandering thoughts bent
on a rambling difpofition, that had 1 the fame boat I went
from Sallee in, I fhould have ventured once more to the uncer-
tainty of the raging ocean.
But certainly I was an unhappy inftance of that part of
mankind, who make themſelves wretched by their diffatisfac-
tion with the ſtation which God has placed them in : For not
to take a review of my primitive condition, and my father's
excellent advice, the contrary to which was, as I may fay, my
original fin, my following miſtakes, of the fame nature, had
been the means of my prefent unhappy ſtation. What buf-
nefs had I to leave a fettled fortune, and well stocked plan-
tation, improving and increafing, where by this time I might
have been worth a hundred thouſand moidores, to turn fuper.
cargo to Guinea, to fetch Negroes, when time and patience
would have ſo much enlarged our ſtock at home, as to be
able to employ thole, whofe more immediate buſineſs it was to
fetch them home, even to our doors?
But as this is very commonly the fate of young heads, fo as
a ſerious reflection upon the folly of it, ordinarily attends the
exerciſe of future years, when the dear bought experience of
time is ſo much repented of. Thus it was with me, at that
feafon; but notwithttanding what I had, or might fuffer up-
on thefe occafions, the thoughts of my deliverance ran fo
ftrongly in my mind, as feemed to check all the dictates of my
poor reason and philofophy. And now to uſher my kind rea-
der, with greater pleaſure to the remaining part of my rela-
tions, I flatter myſelf it will not be taken amifs to give him
an
72
an account of my firft conceptions on the manner of escaping,
and upon what foundation I laid out my fooliſh ſchemes.
I muit now ſuppoſe myſelf retired to my cattle, after my
late voyage to the fhip, my frigate laid up and fecured, as
ufual, and my condition in the fame manner as before, except
being richer; though I had as little occafion for riches as the
Indians of Peru had for gold, before the cruel Spaniards came
among them.
them. One night in March, being the rainy feafon, in
the four and twentieth year of this my folitude, I was lying
on my bed awake, very well in health, without diſtemper, pain,
or uncommon uneaſineſs, either of body or mind; yet for all
this, I could not compoſe myſelf to fleep the night long. All
this tedious while, it is impoſſible to expreſs what innumerable
thoughts came into my head: I traced quite over the whole
hiftory of my life in miniature, from my umoft remem
brance of things, till I came to this iſland; and then procced-
ed to examine every action and paffage that had occurred,
fince I had taken poffeflion of my kingdom. In my reflections
apon the latter I was comparing my happy pofture of affairs in
the beginning of my reign, to this life of anxiety, fear and con-
eern, fince I discovered the print of a foot in the fand; that
while I continued free without notions, I was capable of form-
ing any dreadful apprehenfions; though I ought rather to be
thankful for the knowledge of my danger, fince then it was
the greateſt happineſs to have ſufficient time to provide for my
reflection: How ftupendous is the goodnels of providence,
which fets fuch narrow bounds to the fight and knowledge of
human nature, that while men walk in the midſt of ſo many
dangers that furround them, till perhaps they are diffipated
and vanished quite away.
And when I came more particularly to confider of the real
danger I had for fo many years eſcaped; how I had walked a-
bout in the greateft fecurity and tranquillity at a time, perhaps
when even nothing but the brow of a hill, a great tree, or the
Common approach of night, had only interpofed between me
and the destructive hands of the cannibals, who would devour
me with as good an appetite as I would a pigeon or curlew.
Surely all this, I fay, could not but make me fincerely thank-
ful to my great preferver, whoſe fingular protection I acknowl-
edged with the greatest humility, and without which I muſt in-
evitably have fallen into the cruel hands of thefe devourers.
Thus having diſcuſſed theſe thoughts in the cleareſt manner
according to my weak underſtanding, I next proceeded to con-
fider the wretched nature of theſe deſtroying favages, by feem-
ing, though with great reverence, to inquire why God fhould
give up any of his creatures to fuch inhumanity, even to bru--
tality itſelf, to devour its own kind? But as this was rather
matter of abſtruſe ſpeculation, it better became me to enquire
hất
73
what part of the world theſe wretches lived in; how far off the
coaft was from whence they came; why they ventured over
fo far from home; what kind of boats conveyed them hither;
and why I could not order myſelf, and my buſineſs fo, that I
might be as able to attain their country, as they were to come
to my kingdom.
Never had I the leaſt thoughts how I fhould manage myſelf
when I fhould go thither; what would become of me if I fell
into the hands of the favages; or how I fhould escape from
them if they made an attempt upon me. And fuppofing I
ſhould fall into their power, what could I do for proviſion, or
which way fhould I bend my courfe? Now though theſe things
did exprefs the greateſt horrour and confuſion imaginable, yet
ftill I looked upon my prefent condition the moft miferable
that poffibly could be, and that nothing could be worie except
death. For (thought 1) could I but attain the fhore of the
main, I might perhaps meet with ſome relief, or coaft it along,
as I did with my boy Xury, on the African ſhore, till I came to
fome inhabited country, where I might meet with fome relief,
or fall in with fome chriftian fhip that might take me in; and
if I failed, why then I could but meet with death, which would
put an end to all my miferies. But yet I muſt here note, that
all this was the fruit of a diftempered mind; an impatient tem-
per, made defperate, as it were, by long continuance of the
troubles and the difappointments I had met with in the wreck,
where I hoped to have found fome living perſon to ſpeak to, by
whom I might have known in what place I was, and of the
probable means of my deliverance. Thus, while my thoughts
were agitated, my refignation to the will of heaven was entire-
ly fufpended; fo that I had no power to fix my mind to any
thing but the project of a voyage to the main. And indeed
fo much was I inflamed upon this account, that it ſet my blood
into a ferment, and my pulfe beat high as though I had been
in a fever; till nature being, as it were, fatigued and exhauſt-
ed with the very thoughts of it, made me lubmit myſelf to a
filent repole.
Certainly it is very strange, that I did not dream of what I
was to intent upon; but instead of which, my mind roved on
a quite different thing, altogether foreign to it. I dreamt,
that as I was iffuing from my castle one morning, as cuftoma-
ry, I perceived upon the fhore two canoes, and even lavages
coming to land, who had brought with them another Indian,
whom they deſigned to make a facrifice of, in order to devour :
But just as they were going to give the fatal blow, methought
the poor defigned victim jumpt away, and ran directly into a
little thick grove before my fortification, to abfcond from his
enemies; when, perceiving that the others did not follow him
that way, I appeared to him; that he humbly kneel'd down
G
before
74
before me, feeming to pray for my affistance; upon which I
fhewed him my ladder, made him aſcend, carried him to my
cave, and he became my fervant; and when I had gotten this
man, I faid to myself, now furely I may have fome hopes to
attain the main land; for this fellow will ferve me as a pilot,
tell me what to do, and where I must go for provifions; what
places to fhun, what to venture to, and what to elcape. But
when I awak'd, and found all theſe inexpreffible impreffions of
joy entirely vaniſhed, I fell into the greateſt dejection of ſpirits
imaginable.
Yet, after all, I made this conclufion, that i,y only way of el-
caping was to get a favage; and after I had ventur'd my life to
deliver him from the bloody jaws of his devourers, the natural
fenſe he might have of fuch a preſervation, might inſpire him
with a lafting gratitude and moſt fincere affection. But then
this objection reaſonably interpos'd: How can I effect this
(thought I) without attack a whole caravan of them, and
kill them all? Why fhould I proceed on fuch a defperate at-
tempt, which my ſcruples had before ſuggeſted to me were un-
lawful, and made my heart tremble at the thoughts of fo much
blood, though it were a means to procure my deliverance! And
though I might, according to my reafon, fuppofe that theſe men
were the real enemies to my life, and would devour me, were
it in their power, fo that it was felf prefervation in the higheſt
degree, to free myſelf from this dread of death, by acting in
my own defence, as if they were actually affaulting me :
Though all theſe things, I fay, feemed to me to be of the great-
eft weight; yet, as I juſt ſaid before, the dreadful thoughts of
Shedding human blood, ftruck fuch a terrour to my foul, that
it was a long time before I could reconcile myſelf to it.
But how far will the ardency of defire prompt us on? For
notwithſtanding the many diſputes and perplexities I had with
myſelf about it; right or wrong, I was refolved to get one of
theſe favages into my hands, let it coft what it would, or lofe
my life in the attempt. Thus inſpired with a firm reſolution,
all my wits were at work, in the next place, to find out what
methods I ſhould take to anſwer my deſign; and this indeed
was very difficult to refolve on. Since then I could not pitch
upon any probable means for it, I refolved continually to be
in a vigilant pofture, to perceive when the favages came on
fhore, and fo leave the reft to the event, let the opportunities
offer as they would.
Such was my fixed refolution, and accordingly I fet myſelf
upon the ſcout as often as I could, till fuch time as I was
heartily tired of it. I waited for above a year and a half, the
greateft part of which time I went out to the west end, and
fouth west corner of the iſland, almoft every day, to fee for ca-
moes, but none appeared. This was a very great difcouragement,
at
75
at which I was very much concerned; yet never did this wear
off the edge of my deſire to the thing; but the longer it feem-
ed to be delayed, the more eager I was for it: In a word, I
was never at firft fo careful to hun the loathed fight of theſe
favages, as I was now eager to be upon them. Befides, I
thought myſelf fufficiently able to manage one, two or three
favages if I had them, fo as to make them my entire flaves, to
do whatſoever I should direct them, and prevent their being
able at any time of doing me a mifchief. Many a time did I
ufe to pleaſe myfelf with this affair, with long and ardent ex-
pectations, but nothing yet prefented; all my deep projected
chemes and numerous fancies vaniſhed away, as though, while
I retained thoſe thoughts, the decree of providence was ſuch,
that no ſavages were to come near me.
It was about a year and a half, that as I was moſt ſeriouſly
mufing of fundry ways how I fhould attain my end, one morn-
ing early I was very much furprifed by feeing no less than
five canoes all on fhore together, on my fide the ifland, and the
creatures that belonged to them all landed, and out of my
fight. Such a number of them difconcerted all my meaſures;
for feeing fo many boats, each of which would contain fix,
and fometimes more, I could not tell what to think of it, or
how to order my meaſures, to attack twenty or thirty men fin-
gle handed: Upon which, much diſcomforted and perplexed, I
Tay ſtill in my caftle; however I put myself in the fame poture
for an attack, that I had formerly provided againft, and was
ready to enter upon an engagement, fhould they attempt it.
But when I had waited a long while, till fuch time as my im-
patient temper would let me bear it no longer, I fet my guns
at the foot of my ladder, and as ufual afcended up to the top
of the hill at two ftages; however, ftanding that my head did
not appear above the hill fo that by any means they could not
perceive me; and here I obferved, by the affiſtance of my per-
fpective glass, no lefs than thirty in number around a fire,
feafting upon what meat they had dreffed: How they cooked
it, or what it was, I could not then perfectly tell; but they
were all dancing and capering about the flames, uſing many
frightful and barbarous geſtures.
But while with a curious eye I was beholding theſe wretches,
my fpirits funk within me, when I perceived them drag two
miferable creatures from the boats to act afreſh the dreadful
tragedy, as I fuppofed they had done before. It was not long
before one of them fell upon the ground, knocked down, as I
ſuppoſed, with a club, or wooden ſv rd; for that was their
manner, while two or three others went immediately to work,
cutting him open for their cookery, and then fell to devour
him as they had done the former, while the laſt unhappy cap-
tive, was left by himfelf till fuch time as they were ready for
him.
76
him. The poor creature looked round him with a wishful
eye, trembling at the thoughts of death, yet feeing himſelf a
little at liberty, nature that very moment as it were infpired
him with hopes of life, that he ftarted away from them, and
ran with incredible ſwiftneſs along the fands directly to that
part of the coaft where my ancient and venerable caftle ftood.
You may imagine I was dreadfully affrighted upon this oc-
cafion, when as I thought, they purſued him in a whole body,
all runing towards my palace. And now indeed I expected that
part of my dream was going to be fulfilled, and that he would
certainly fly to my grove for protection; but for the rest of
my dream I could depend nothing on it, that the favages would
purſue him thither and find him there. However my Spirits
beginning to recover, I ſtill kept upon my guard, when I plain-
ly perceived there were but three men out of the number, that
purſued him; and I was infinitely pleafed with what ſwiftneſs
the poor creature ran from his purfuers, gaining much ground
of them, that I plainly perceived, could he thus hold it for
half an hour, there was not the leaft doubt but he would fave
his life from the power of his enemies.
Between them and my caftle there was a creek, that very
fame where I failed into with all my effects from the wreck of
the ſhip, on the steep banks of which I very much feared the
poor victim would be taken, if he could not fwim for his ef-
cape: But I was foon out of pain for him when he made noth-
ing of it though at full tide; but with an intrepid courage,
Ipurred on by the fenfe of danger, he plunged into the flood,
fwimming over in about thirty ftrokes, and then landing, ran
with the fame wonderful ftrength and fwiftnefs as before.
When the three purfuers came to the creek, one of them,
whom I perceived could not fwim, happily tor his part, re-
turned back to his company; while the others with as equal
courage, but much lefs fwiftnefs, attained the other fide, as
though they were refolved never to give over their purſuit.
And now, or never, I thought was the time for me to procure
a fervant, companion or affiftant; and that I was decreed by
providence to be the inftrument that ſhould fave this poor
creature's life. I immediately deſcended my two ladders with
the greatest expedition, took up my two guns, which I faid
before were at the bottom of them; and getting up again,
with the fame hafte towards the hill, I made nearer the ſea:
In a word, taking a fhort cut down the hill, I interpoſed be-
tween the purfuers and the purfued, hallooing aloud to the
latter, who venturing to look back, was no doubt at firft as
much terrified at me as them. I beckoned to him with my
hand to return back, in the mean time flowly advancing tow-
ards the purſuers; when fuddenly ruſhing on the foremoſt,
knocked him down with the ſtock of my piece, and laid him
Ant
77
fat on the ground. I was very unwilling to fire left the reſt
ſhould hear, though at that diſtance I queſtion whether they
could or not'; and being out of fight of the ſmoke, they could
not easily have known what to make of it. The other favage
leeing his fellow fall, flopt as if he had been amazed, when ad-
vancing towards him, I could perceive him take his bow from
his back, and fixing an arrow to it, was preparing to ſhoot at
me, and without diſpute might have lodged the arrow in my
breaſt, had I given him leave; but in this abfolutely neceſſary
cauſe of felf prefervation, I immediately fired at him, and fhot
him dead, juſt as his hand was going to draw the fatal ſtring.
All this while the favage who had fled before, ſtood ſtill, had
the fa.isfaction to fee his enemies fall, or killed as he thought,
who defigned to take away his life: So affrighted was he with
the fire and noife of my piece, that he ftood as it were, like
Lot's wife, fixt and immoveable, without fenfe, and without
motion. This made me halloo to him again, making the plain-
eft figns I could to him to draw nearer: I perceived he un-
derstood theſe tokens, by his approaching to me a little way,
when, as if afraid I ſhould kill him too, he ftopt again. Sev-
eral times did he advance, and as often ſtopt in this manner,
till coming more to my view, I perceived him trembling, as if
he was to undergo the fame fate. Upon which I looked upon hina
with a fmiling countenance, and ſtill beckoning to him,at length
he came cloſe to me, kneeled down, kiffed the ground, laid
his head upon it, and taking me by my foot, ſet the ſame up-
on his head: And this, as I underſtood afterwards, was a tok-
en of ſwearing to be my flave forever. I took him up, and
making very much of him, encouraged him in the beſt manner
I could. But here my work was not yet finished; for I per-
ceived the favage whom I knocked down, was not killed, bus
ftunned with the blow, and began to come to himſelf. Upon
which I pointed to my new fervant, and fhewing him that his
enemy was not yet expired, he spoke fome words to me, but
what I could not underſtand; yet being the firſt ſound of a
man's voice I had heard for above theſe twenty five years, they
were very pleaſing to me. But there was no time for reflec-
tion now, the wounded favage recovering himſelf fo far as to
fit upon the ground, which made my poor prifoner as much
afraid as before: To put him out of which fear 1 preſented
my other gun at the man, with an intent to fhoot him; but
my favage, for ſo I muſt now call him, prevented my firing,
by making a motion to me to lend him my fword, which hung
raked in a belt by my fide. No fooner did I grant his requeſt,
but away he runs to his enemy, and at one blow cut off his
head, as dexterously as the most accomplished executioner in
Germany could have done: For it ſeems theſe creatures make
ule of wooden ſwords, made of hard wood, which will bear an
G 2
W
edge,
78
edge, enough to cut off heads and arms at one blow. When this
valorous exploit was done, he came to me laughing, and as a
token of triumph, delivered me my fword again with abund-
ance of furprizing geftures, laying it along with the bleeding
and ghastly head of the Indian at my feet.
The greatest aftoniſhment that my new fervant conceived,
was the manner of killing the favage at fuch a diſtance without
a bow and arrow: And fuch was his longing defire to know
it, that he first pointed to the dead creature, and then made
gns to me to grant him leave to go to him. Upon which I
bid him go, and as well as I could made him fenfible I granted
his requeſt. But when he came there, how wonderfully was
he ftricken with amazement! first he turned him on one fide,
then on the other, wondering he could perceive no quantity of
blood, he bleeding inwardly: And after fufficiently admiring
the wound the bullet had inade in his breaſt, he took up his
bow and arrows, and came back again; upon which I turned
to go away, making many figns to him to follow, leaſt the reſt,
miffing their companions, might come in purfuit of him. And
this I found he understood very well, by his making me un-
derſtand that his defign was to bury them, that it might not be
feen if it happened; and which by figns again, I made him ſen-
fible I very much approved of. Immediately he fell to work,
and never was grave digger more dexterous in the world than
he was; for in an inftant, as I might fay, he ſcraped a large
hole in the fand with his hands, fufficient to bury the firſt in,
there he dragged him, and without any ceremony covered him
over. In like manner he ferved the other: So that I am fure
no undertaker could be more expert in his bufinefs, for all this
was done in leſs than a quarter of an hour. I then called him
away, and inftead of carrying him directly to my castle at firſt,
I conveyed him to my cave on the further part of the iſland:
And ſo my dream was not fulfilled in that particular, that my
grove fhould prove an aſylum or fanctuary to him.
Weary and faint, hungry and thirſty, undoubtedly muſt this
poor creature be, fupported chiefly by that vivacity of fpirit,
and uncommon tranfports of joy, that his deliverance occa-
fioned. Here I gave him bread, and a bunch of raiſins to eat,
and water to drink, of which feeding very cheerfully, to his
exceeding refreſhment, I made him a convenient bed with a
parcel of rice ſtraw, and a blanket upon it, fa bed which I ul-
ed myfelf fometimes) and then pointing to him made figns for
him to lie down to fleep, upon which the poor creature went
to take a welcome repofe.
1
Indeed he was a very comely handsome young fellow, ex-
tremely well made, with ſtrait long limbs, not too large; tall,
and well ſhaped, and, as I could reckon, about twenty fix
years of age, His countenance had nothing in it fierce and
furly,
79
furly, but rather a fort of majefty in his face; and yet, el-
pecially when he fmiled, he had a l the fweetnefs and foftneſs
of an European. His hair was not curled like wool, as many
of the blacks are, but long and black, with the moſt beautiful,
yet careleſs treffes fpreading over his thoulders. He had a ve-
ry high and large forehead, with a great vivacity and íparkling
fharpneſs in his eyes. His ſkin was not ſo tawny as the Vir-
ginians, Brafilians, or other Americans, but rather of a bright
dun olive colour, that had fomething agreeable in it, though
not very eaſy to give a defcription of. His face was round
and plump, with a ſmall nofe, very different from the flatneſs
of the negroes, a pretty ſmall mouth, thin lips, fine teeth, ve-
ry well fet, and white as the driven fnow. In a word, fuch
handfome features, and exact fymmetry in every part, made
me confider that I had faved the life of an Indian prince, no
lefs graceful and accompliſhed, than the great Oroonoko, whoſe
memorable behaviour, and unhappy contingencies of life, has
charmed the world both to admiration of his perfon and com-
pallion to his fufferings.
But let him be either prince or peafant all my happineſs cen-
tered in this, that I had now got a good fervant, or companion,
to whom, as he deferved, I was refolved to prove a kind maf-
ter, and laſting friend. He had not, I think, ſlept above an
hour, but he awakened again, and while I was milking my
goats hard by, out he ran from the cave, towards me in my
enclofure, and laying himſelf down on the ground in the low-
eft proftration, made all the antic geftures imaginable, to ex-
prefs his thankfulneſs to me for being his deliverer. I confefs,
though the manner of his behaviour ſeemed to be ludicrous e-
nough to occaſion laughter; yet I was very much moved at
his affection, fo that my heart melted within me, fearing he
might die away in exceſs of joy, like reprieved malefactors;
and then I was incapable either to let him blood, or adminiſ-
ter phyfic. And I with many chriſtians would take example
by this heathen, to have a lafting remembrance of thoſe great
benefits and deliverances they have received, by the kind me-
diation and powerful interpofition of their benefactors and de-
liverers: And I should be glad alío, if I had no occafion to
blame many, who inftead of thankfully acknowledging theſe
kind of favours and benefits, rather abule and contemn thoſe
good perfons who have been the principal inftruments to fave
them from deftruction.
But leaving theſe very juft reflections, I must return to the
object that occafioned them. For my man, to conclude the
laft ceremony of obedience, laid down his head again on the
ground, clofe to my foot, and fet my other foot upon his head,
as he had done before, making all the ſigns of ſubjection, ſer-
vitude and fubmiffion imaginable, to let me understand he
would
80
2
would ferve me as long as his life endured. As I understood
him in many things, I made him fenfible I was very well pleaſ-
ed with him; and in a little time I began to ſpeak to him, and
learn him how to talk to me again. In the first place I made him
to underſtand his name to be Friday, becauſe it was upon that
day I faved his life. Then I taught him to fay Mafter, which
I made him fenfible was to be my name. Iikewife learned
him to fay yes and no, and to know what they meant.
I gave
him fome milk in an earthen pot, making him view me while
I drank it before him, and foped my bread in it; and I gave
him a cake of bread, caufing him to do the like, to which he
readily conſented, making ſigns of the greateſt fatisfaction im-
aginable.
All that night did I keep him there, but no fooner did the
morning light appear, when I ordered him to arife and come
along with me, with certain tokens that I would give him
fome clothes like mine; at which he feemed very glad, as be-
ing ſtark naked, not ſo much as any thing to cover what ought
to be concealed. As we paffed by the place where the two
men had been interred, my man pointed directly to their
graves, fhewing me the marks that he had made to find them
again; giving me to underſtand by figns, that he ſhould dig
them up and devour them: Upon which I appeared extreme-
ly diſpleaſed, expreffed my utmoft abhorrence, made as if I
would vomit at the apprehe ions of it, beckoning him with
my hand to come away, which he did with the greateſt rever-
ence and fubmiflion. After this I conducted him to the top
of the hill, to view if the reſt of the favages were yet remain-
ing there; but when I looked through my perſpective glaſs, I
could fee no appearance of them, nor of their canoes, fo that
it was very evident they never minded their deceaſed com-
panions whom he had flain, which if they had, they would
furely have ſearched for, or left one boat behind for them to
follow, after they returned to their purſuit.
*
But ftill my curiofity and defire of ſatisfaction animating my
fpirit with fresh courage, I took my man Friday with me, put-
ting a ſword into his hand, with the bow and arrows at his
back, which I perceived he could uſe very dexteroufly, cauſing
him to carry one gun for me, and I two for myfelf; and
thus equipped againſt all attacks, away we marched directly
to the place of their bloody entertainment. But when I came
there, I was stricken with the ufual horrour at fo dreadful a
fpectacle; whilft Friday indeed was no way concerned about it;
being, no doubt, in his turn, like one of theſe devourers. Here
lay feveral human bones, there feveral pieces of mangled fleſh,
half eaten, mangled and ſcorched; whilft ftreams of blood
ran promifcuoufly as water from a fountain. As I was muſ-
ing at this dreadful fight, Friday took all the pains he could, by
particular
81'
particular figns, to make me underſtand, that they had brought
over four prifoners to feaft upon, three of which they had
eaten. and that as he was the fourth, pointing to himſelf:
That there had been a bloody battle between them and his
great king, in the just defence of whom he was taken priſoner,
with many others; all which were carried to ſeveral places to
be devoured by thele conquerors, and that it was his fortune
to be brought hither by thefe wretches, for the fame purpoſe.
After I was made ſenſible of theſe things, I canfed Friday to
gather thoſe horrid remains, and lay them together upon a
heap, which I ordered to be fet on fire and fo burnt them to
afhes: Aad ftill I found my man retained the nature of a can-
nibal, having a hankering itomach after fome of the fleſh :
But fuch an extreme abhorrence did I expreis at the laſt ap-
pearance of it, that he durft no otherwile than conceal; for I
made him very fenfible that if he offered any fuch thing I
would certainly fhoot him.
All this being done, I carried my man with me to my castle;
and then I gave him a pair of linen drawers, which I had tak-
en out of the poor gunner's cheft before mentioned; and
which with a little alteration fitted him very well: In the'
next place I made him a jerkin of goat's ſkin, fuch as my ſkill
was able to manage, though I thought myself then a tolerable
good taylor. I gave him alfo a cap, which I made of a hare's
ſkin, very convenient and fashionable. Thus being clothed
tolerably well, my man was no lefs proud of his habit, than
I was in ſeeing him in it. Indeed he went very aukwardly
in theſe things at firſt, the drawers being too heavy on his
thighs, not uſed to wear any weight, and the fleeves of the
waiſtcoat galled his ſhoulders, and the infide of his arms; but
a little eafing them, where he complained they hurt him, and'
ufing himſelf to them, at length he took to them very well.
My next concern was where I fhould lodge him ; and that
I might do very well by him, and yet be perfectly eaſy myſelf,
I erected a tent for him in the vacant place between my two
fortifications, in the inside of the left, and outſide of the firft:
And as there was an entrance or door in my cave, I made a
formal framed door cafe, and a door to open on the infide.
I barred it up in the night time, taking in my ladders too;
fo that was my man to prove treacherous, there would be no
way to come at me in the infide of my innermoft wall, without
making fo much noiſe in getting over, that it muſt needs waken
me; for my firft wall had now a complete roof over it of long
poles, fpreading over my tent, and leaning up to the tide of
the mountain, which was again laid acrofs with fmaller ſticks
inſtead of laths, thatched over a great thickneſs with the rice
ftraw, which was as ftrong as reeds; and at the hole of the
place, left on purpoſe to go in or out by the ladder, I had
placed
8a
placed a kind of trap dcor, which if it had been attempted on
the outfide, would not have opened at all, but have fallen
đown and made a great noiſe; and as to my weapons, every
night I took them all to my bed fide.
:
But there was no occafion for this precaution; for lurely
never mafter had more fincere,faithful and loving fervant than
Friday proved to me; without paffion, fullennels or defign,
perfectly obliging and engaging His affections were as much
tied to me, as thofe of a child to his parents; and I might
venture to ſay, he would have facrificed his life for the faving
of mine, upon any occaſion what foever. And indeed the ma-
ny teftimonies he gave me of this, very fufficiently convinced
me, that I had no occafion to ufe thefe precautions. And here
I could not but reflect, with great wonder, that however it
has pleaſed the Almighty in his Providence, and in the gov.
ernment of the creation, to take from fo great a part of the
world of his creatures, the nobleft ufes to which their facul-
ties, and the powers of their fouls are adapted; yet that he
has bestowed upon them the lame reafon, affections, fenti-
ments of kindneſs and obligation, paffions of refentment, fin-
cerity, fidelity, and all the capacities of doing and receiving
good, that he has given us; and that when he is gracionfly
pleafed to offer them occafions of exerting thele, they are as
ready, nay, more ready to apply them to the proper ufes for
which they were beſtowed, than we are fometimes. Thefe
thoughts would make me very melancholy, eſpecially when
confidered how mean a ufe we make of all thefe, even though
we have theſe powers enlightened by the holy ſpirit of God,
and by the knowledge of his word, as an addition to our un-.
derſtanding; and why it has pleafed the heavenly wildom to
conceal the like faving knowledge from fo many millions of
fouls, who would certainly make a much better ufe of it, than
mankind generally do at this time. And theſe reflection's
would fometimes lead me fo far, as to invade the fovereignty
of Providence, and, as it were arraign the juftice of ſuch arbi
trary diſpoſition of things, that fhould obfcure that light fróm
fome, and reveal it to others, and yet expect a like duty from
all. But I cloſed it up, checking my thoughts with this con-
clusion: Firſt, that we were ignorant of that right and Jaw by
which theſe fhould be condenined; but that, as the Almighty
was neceffarily, and by the nature of his effence, infinitely juit
and holy; fo it could not be otherwife, but that if theſe crea-
tures were all defined to abſence from himſelf, it was on ac-
count of finning againſt that light which, as the feripture fays,
was a law to themfelves, and by fuch rules as their confcience
would acknowledge to be juſt, though the firſt foundation was
not difcovered to us; and, fecondly, that fiill as we are the
clay
83
clay in the band of the potter, no veſſel could thus ſay to him,
Why halt thou faſhioned me after this manner.
I had not been above two or three days returned to my caf-
tle, but my chief defign was, how I fhould bring Friday off
from his horrid way of feeding; and to take from him that in-
human reliſh he, by nature, had been accustomed to, I thought
it my duty to let him taſte other Beth, which might the rather
tempt him to the ſame abhorrence I to often expreſſed againſt
their accurſed way of living. Upon which, one morning, I
took him out with me, with an intention to kill a kid out of
the fock, and bring it home and drefs it: But as I was going,
I perceived a the goat lying down in the fhade, and two young
kids fitting by her. Immediately I catched hold of my man
Friday and bidding him ſtand ſtill, and not ſtir, I preſented my
piece, and ſhot one of the kids. My poor fervant, who had at
a diftance perceived me kill his adverfary, and yet did not know
by what means, or how it was done, ftood trembling and fur-
prized, and looked ſo amazed, that I thought he would have
funk into the earth. He did not fee the kid I aimed at, or be-
held I had killed it,hut ript up his waiſtcoat to fee it he was not
wounded, thinking my refolution was to kill him; ſo coming
to me, he fell on his knees, earneftly pronouncing many things
which I did not underftand, the meaning of which at length I
perceived was, that I would not take away his life.
Indeed I was much concerned to fee him in that condition
where nature is upon the feveret trial, when the immediate
hand of death is ready to put for ever a period to this mortal
Tife: And indeed to much compaſſion had I for this creature,
that it was with difficulty I refrained from tears. But, howev-
er, as another fort of countenance was neceffary, to convince
him that I would do him no harm, I, ſmiling, took him by
the hand, then laughed at him, and pointing to the kid which
I had flain, made gns to him to fetch it, which accordingly
he did. He was no lefs curious in viewing how the creature
was killed, than he had been before in beholding the Indian
while he was admiring it, I charged my gun again, and pre-
ſently perceived a great fowl like a hawk, perching upon a
tree within fhot; and therefore, to let Friday underſtand
what I was going to do, I called him to me again, pointing at
the fowl, which I found to be a parrot. I made him under-
ftand that I would ſhoot and kill that bird; accordingly I fired,
and bad him look, when immediately he faw the parrot fall
down. Again he flood like one aniazed, notwithſtanding alt
I had faid to him ; and the more confounded he was, becauſe
he did not perceive me put any thing into my gun. Undoubt
edly, a thing ſo utterly strange, carrying death along with it,
far or near, either to man or beaft, muſt certainly create
the greateſt aſtoniſhment to one who had never heard of fuch
a thing
84
a thing in his whole life: And really his amazement con-
tinued ſo long, that, had I allowed it, he would have prof-
trated himſelf before me and my gun, with the greatest wor
ſhip and and adoration. As for the gum in particular, be would
not ſo much as fuffer his fingers to touch it for ſeveral days
after; but would come and communicate his thoughts to it,
and talk to it, as if the fenfetefs piece had underflood and an-
fwered him: All this I could perceive him do, when he thought
my back was turned; the chief intent of which was, to de-
fire it not to kill him, as I afterwards came to underſtand.
I never ftrove to prevent his admiration nor hinder him
from thoſe comical geftures he uſed on fuch occafions: But
'when his aftonishment was a little over, I made tokens to him
to run and fetch the parrot that I had ſhot, which he accord-
ingly did, ftaying fome time longer than ufual, by reaſon the
bird, not being quite dead, had fluttered fome way farther from
the place where he fell. In the mean time as he was looking
for her, I took the advantage of charging my gun again, that
I might be ready for another mark that might offer itself; but
nothing more occurred at that time. So I brought home the
kid, and the fame evening took off the ſkin, and divided the
carcaſe as well as I could. Part of this flesh I ftewed, or
boiled, in a pot I had for this occaſion. And then ſpreading
my table, I fat down, giving my man fome to eat too, who
was wonderfully pleaſed, and feemed to like it very well, but
what was moft furpriſing to him, was to ſee me eat falt with
it: Upon which he made me to underſtand, that the falt was
very bad for me; when putting a little into his mouth, he
feemed to nauſeate it in fuch a manner as to ſpit and fputter
at it, and then wathed his mouth with freſh water: But to
ſhew him how contrary his opinion was to mine, I put fome
meat in my mouth without ſalt, and feigned to ſpit and ſputter
as much for want of it, as he had done at it: Yet all this prov-
ed of no fignification to Friday: And it was a long while be-
fore he could endure falt in his meat or broth, and even then,
but a very final quantity.
Thus having fed him fufficiently with boiled meat and broth
that time, the next day I was refolved to feaft him with a
roafted piece of the kid. And having no ſpit to fuften it, nor
jack to turn it, I make use of that common artifice, which
many of the people of England have; that is, to fet two poles
upon each fide of the fire, and one cross on the top, hanging
the meat thereon with a ſtring, and ſo turning round continu-
ally, roaſt it, as we read bloody tyrants have cruelly roaſted
martyrs. This practice cauſed great admiration in my man
Friday, which is another guefs way, to what the barbarous fav-
ages were accuftomed. But when he came to taste the ſweetneſs
and tenderneſs of the flesh, he expreffed his entire fatisfaction
ia
85
in above a thouſand different ways. And, as I could not but
underſtand his meaning, you may be fure I was wonderfully
pleaſed; eſpecially when he made it alfo very plain to me,
that he would never whilft he lived, eat, man's flesh more.
Well, now it was high time I fhould fet my fervant to work;
and fo the next day I put him to beat out fome corn, and fift
it in the fame manner as I had done before. And really the
fellow was very quick and handy in the execution of any thing
1 ordered him to go about. I made him underſtand that it
was to make bread for us to eat, and after let him fee me make
and bake it: In fhort, he did every thing as I ordered him,
in a little time, as well as I could do it myſelf.
When I confidered, that I had two mouths to feed inttead of
one, I was neceffarily obliged to think, that, in confequence
thereof, I must provide more ground for my harveſt, and plant
a larger quantity of corn than I commonly uſed to do; upon
which I marked out a bigger piece of land, fencing it in the
fame manner as I had done before; in the execution of which
I must give Friday this good word, that no man could work
more hard or willingly than he did: And when I made him
fenfible that it was for bread to ſerve him as well as me, he
then very paffionately made me underſtand, that he thought I
had much more labour on me on his account alone, than I had
for myſelf; and that no pains or diligence (hould be wanting
in him, if I would but direct him in thoſe works wherein he
might fucceed.
I must certainly own, that this was the most pleaſant year I
ever had in the iſland: For, after ſome time, Friday began to
talk pretty well, and underſtand the names of thoſe things
which I was wont to call for, and the places where I uſed to
fend him. So that my long filent tongue, which had been
uſeleſs ſo many years, except in an exclamatory manner, either
for deliverance or bleffings, now began to be occupied, in teach-
ing and talking to my man Friday; for indeed I had fuch a
fingular fatisfaction in the fellow himſelf, fo innocent did his
fimpie and unfeigned honesty appear more and more to me e-
very day, that I really began entirely to love the creature:
And, for his part, I believe there was no love loſt, and that
his nature had been more charmed with my exceeding kind-
nefs, and his affections more placed upon me, than upon any
other object whatfoever among the Barbarians. But ftill I had
a great mind to try if he had any hankering inclination to re-
turn to his own country again: And by this time, having
learned him Engliſh ſo well that he could give me tolerable an
fwers to any questions which I demanded, I aſked him wheth
er that nation, to which he belonged, never conquered in bat-
tle? This queſtion made Friday ſmile, and to which he anſwer
ed, yes, yes, we always fight the better; as much as to ſay, they
H
always
86
always got the better in fight. Upon which we proceeded on
the following difcourfe. You fay, faid I, that you always fight
the better; why then, Friday, how came you to be taken pri-
foner ?
Friday. But for all that my nation beat much.
Mafter. How, fay you, beat 1 if your nation beat them, how
came you to be taken ?
Friday. They more many mans than my nation in the place
where me was; they take one, two, three, and me: My na-
tion much over bear them in the yonder place, where me no
was; there my nation mans beat one, two, three great tou-
fand.
Maſter. Then why did not your men recover you from the
bands of your enemies?
Friday. They run, one, two, or three, and me; they make
all go in the canop; my nation have no canoo that time.
Mafter. It's very well, Friday: But what does your nation
do with the prifoners they take? What do they carry them a-
way, and eat them, as theſe have done?
Friday. Yes, yes, my nation eat mans too, eat up all.
Mafter. To what place do they carry them to be devoured?
Friday. Go to other nations where they think.
Mafter. Do they bring them hither?
Friday. Yes, come over hither, come over other place.
Mafter. And have you been with them here, Friday?
Friday. Yes, me been here: (pointing to the north west of
the iſland, being the fide where they uſed to land.)
Thus having got what account I could from my man, I
plainly underſtood, that he had been as bad as any of the rest
of the cannibals, having been formerly among the ſavages, who
uſed to come on fhore on the fartheft part of the iſland, upon
the fame bloody occafions as he was brought here for: And
fome time after I carried him to that place where he pointed;
and no fooner did he come there, but he preſently knew the
ground, fignifying to me, that he was once there, when they
ate up twenty men, two women, and a young child. But as he
could not explain the number in English, he did it by ſo many
ſtones in a row, making a fign to me to count them.
This paffage I have the rather mentioned, becauſe it led to
things more important and uſeful for me to know: For after
I had this fatisfactory difcourfe with him, my next queſtion
was, how far it was from the iſland to the fhore, and whether
the canoes were not often loft in the ocean? to which he an-
fwered, there was no danger, no canoes ever loft; but that af-
ter a little way out to the fea, there was a strong current, and
a wind always one way in the afternoon. This I thought at
firſt to be no more than the ſets of the tide, of going out, or
coming in; but I afterwards underſtood it was occafioned by
the
87
the great draught and reflux of the mighty river Oroonoko, in the
mouth or gulph of which imagined my kingdom lay; and
that the land which I perceived to the W. and N. W. muſt be
the great ifland Trinidad, on the north of the river. A thou-
fand questions (if that would fatisfy me) did I aſk Friday about
the nature of the country, the fea, the coafts, the inhabitants,
and what nations were neareſt them: To which queſtions, the
poor fellow declared all he knew,with the greateft openneis and
utmoft fincerity. When I demanded of him the particular
names of the various nations of his fort of people, he could
only answer me in general that they were called Caribbee.
Hence it was I confidered, that theſe muſt be the Caribbees, fa
much taken notice of by our maps to be on that part of Amc,
rica, which reaches from the mouth of the river Oroonoko to
Guiana, and fo on to St. Martha. Then Friday proceeded tą
tell me, that up a great way beyond the moon, as much as to
lay, beyond the fetting of the moon, which must be W. from
their country, there dwelt white bearded men, fuch as I was,
pointing to my whiſkers, and that they had killed much mass.
I was not ignorant with what barbarity the Spaniards treated
theſe creatures; fo that I prefently concluded it muit be them,
whofe cruelties had fpread throughout America, to be remem-
bered even to fucceeding generations.
Well, you may be fure, this knowledge, which the imper-
fect information of my man had let me to, was very comforta-
ble to me, and made me fo curious as to afk him, how I might
depart from this iſland, and get among thoſe white men ? he
told me, yes, yes, I might go in two canoes.
In two canoes,
thought I, what does my man mean? furely he means one for
himſelf and another for me; and if not, how muit two canoes
hold me, without being joined, and then put one part of my
body in one, and the other part in the other; and indeed it
was a long while before I underſtood his meaning, which was,
that it must be a large boat as big as two canoes, able to bear
with the waves, and not ſo liable to be overfet as a ſmall one
nuft have beep
7
I believe there is no ftate of life but what may be happy, if
people would but endeavour for their part to make it fo. He
is not the Happieſt man that has the moſt riches, but he that is
content with what he hath. Before I had my fervant I thought
myfelf miferable till I had him; and now I enjoyed the happy
benefits of him, I retained the fame thoughts for want of a de-
liverance from a place of retirement, eafe and plenty, where
providence had fufficiently bleffed me: In a word, from this
time I entertained fome hopes, that one time or other I might
And an opportunity to make my escape from this iſland, and
that this poor favage might be a great furtherance thereto.
AM
88
But
All the time fince my man became fo intelligent as to un-
derſtand and ſpeak to me, I ſpared no pains or diligence to in-
ſtruct him, according to my poor fhare of knowledge, in the
principles of religion, and the adoration that he ought to pay
to the true God. One time, as I very well remember, I aſked
him who made him at firft, the innocent creature did not
underſtand what I meant, but rather thought I aſked him, who
was his father? upon which I took another way to make him
fenfible, by demanding of him an anſwer to this queftion:
Friday, (ſaid I) who is it that made the ſea, this ground where-
on we walk, and all thefe hills and woods which we behold ;
and here indeed I did not mifs of my intention; for he told
me it was one old Benamuckee, (the God whom 1 fuppofed
thefe favages adored) who lived a great way beyond all.
as for his attributes, poor Friday was an utter ftranger to them.
He could defcribe nothing of this great perfon; and all that
he could fay was, that he was very old, much older than the
fea and land, the moon, or the ftars. Friday, (ſaid I again) if
this great and old perfon has made all things in the world, how
comes it to pafs, that all things, as me in particular, do not a-
dore and worship him? upon this looking very grave, with a
perfect fweet look of innocence, he replied, mafter, all things
Jay O to bim, by which it may reaſonably be fuppofed he meant
adoration. And where, faid I, do the people of your country
go when they die? he anſwered, they all go to Benamuckee.
What, and thofe people that are eaten up, do they go there?
Said he, Benamuckee love them dearly; we pray to Benamuc-
kee in de Canoo, and Benamuckee would love me, when dey eat
a me all up.
Such difcourfes as there had I with my man, and fuch as made
me fenfible, that the true God is worshipped, though under im-
perfect fimilitudes. And that the falfe adoration which the
heathens give to their imaginary deity, is as great an argument
of the divine effence, as the moft learned atheiſts, falfely fo called,
can bring againſt it: For God will be glorified in his works,
let the denomination be what it will; and I cannot be of that
opinion which fome conceive, that God fhould decree men to
be damned for want of a right notion of faith, in a place where
the power of the Almighty has not permitted it to be preach-
ed; and. therefore cannot but conclude, that fince obedience is
the beſt facrifice, thele poor creatures, acting by that light and
knowledge which they are poffeffed of, may undoubtedly ob-
tain a happy falvation, though not that enjoyinent with Chrift
as his faints, confeflors and martyrs.
But leaving theſe determinations aſide, more fit for the ableſt
divines than me to difcufs, I began to inftruct my fervant in
the faving knowledge of the true Deity; in which, the direc-
tions of God's holy ſpirit affifted me. I lifted up my hands to
heaven,
89
+
.
heaven, and pointing thereto, told him, that the great Maker
of heaven and earth lived there: That as his infinite power
fashioned this world out of a confuſed chaos, and made it in
that beautitul frame which we behold, to he governs and pre-
ferves it, by his undoubted knowledge, fovereign greatnels, and
peculiar providence: That he was omnipotent, could do every
thing for us, give every thing to us, and take every thing away
from us: That he was a rewarder and punisher of good and evil
actions: That there was nothing but what he knew, no thoughts
fo fecret but he could bring to light: And thus by degrees I
opened his eyes, and delcribed to him the manner of the creation
of the worid, the fituation of paradife, the tranfgreffions of our
firit parents, the wickedness of God's peculiar people, and the
univerfal fins and abominations of the whole earth. When
theſe things were implanted in his mind, I told him that as
God's juſtice was equal to his mercy, he reſolved to deſtroy
this world, till his fon, Jefus Chrift, interpofed in our behalf,
and to procure our redemption, obtained leave of his heavenly
Father to come down from heaven into the world, where he
took human nature upon him, inftructed us in our way to eter-
nal life, and died as a facrifice for our fins: That he was now
afcended into heaven, mediating for our pardon, delivering
our petitions, and obtaining all thofe benefits which we aſked
in his name, by humble and hearty prayers, which were heard
in. the throne of heaven. As very frequently I uſed to incul-
cate things into his mind, Friday one day told me that if our
great God could hear us beyond the fun, he muſt then ſurely
be a greater God than their Benamuckee, who lived but a little
way, and yet could not hear them, till they afcended the great
mountains, where he dwells, to ſpeak to him. What, faid I,
Friday, did you go thither to ſpeak to him too? he answered,
no, they never went that were young men; none buț old men,
called their Oo-wokakee, meaning the Indian priefts, who went
to ſay O, (fo he called faying their prayers) and they returned
back, and told them what Benamuckee laid. From hence I
could not but obferve how happy we Chriftians are, who have
God's immediate revelation for our certain guide; and that:
our faith is neither mifled, nor our reafon impoſed upon, by:
any ſet of men reſembling theſe Indian impoftors.
But to clear up this palpable cheat, to my man Friday, I told
him, that the pretence of their ancient men going up to the
mountains to fay O to their god Benamuckee, was an impoftor:
And that their bringing back an answer was all a fham, if not
worfe; for if there was any fuch thing ſpoken to them fome--
times, it muſt proceed from an infernal ſpirit. And here I
thought it necellary to enter into a long difcourfe with him,
which I did after this manner;
H.2
Friday
90
Friday, (laid I) you must know, that before this world was
made, there was one Almighty Power, exiftent before the be
ginning, by whofe power all things were made, and whoſe
majefty fhall have no end. To be glorified and adored by be-
ings of a heavenly nature, he created angels and archangels,
that is, glorious fpirits refembling himſelf, to encompaſs round
his throne, eternally finging forth his praife in the moſt hea-
venly founds and divine harmony. And among this heavenly
choir, Lucifer bore a great ſway, as being then one of the par-
ticular favourites of thefe celeftial abodes: But he, contrary
to that duty he owed his heavenly fovereign, with unbounded
ingratitude to his divine creator, not only envied him that ad-
oration which was his due, but thought to uſurp that throne,
which he had neither power to keep, nor title to pretend to.
le raiſed a diffention and civil war in heaven, and had a num-
ber of angels to take his part. Unbounded folly; ftupendous
pride; thus to hope for victory, and aſpire above his powerful
Creator! the Deity, not fearful of fuch an enemy, yet juftly
provoked at this rebellion, commiſſions his archangel St. Mi-
chael to lead forth the heavenly hoft, and give him battle; the
advantage of which was quickly perceived, by Satan's being
overthrown; and the prince of the air, (for fo the Devil was
called) with all his fallen angels, driven headlong into a dif-
mal place, which is called hell.
The recital of this truth made my man give the greateſt at
tention, and he expreffed a great fatisfaction, by his geftures,
that God had fent the devil into the deep hole. And then I
defired him to give great heed to what I had further lo ſay.
No fooner (proceeded 1) was God freed from, and the heav-
ens clear of this arch traitor, but the Father fpeaks to the Son
and Holy Spirit, who belonged to his effence, yet equal to him
in power and glory, Let us make man (ſaid he) in our own im-
age, after onr own likeneſs, Gen. 1. 26. to have duminion over
the creatures in the world which we have created. And theſe,
he intended thould glorify him in heaven, according to their
obedience in this ftate of probation on earth, which was as it
were to be the fchool to train them up for thofe heavenly.
manfions. Now Satan, feeing himself foiled, yet that God
had not taken the power from him, as prince of the air, which
power heaven defigned he ſhould retain, whereby his creatures
might be tried. In revenge of the d fgrace he had received, he
rempts Adam's wife, Eve, to taſte of the tree of knowledge of
good and evil, which God had forbidden. He appears to her
in the fhape of a ferpent, being then a moſt beautiful creature,
and tells her, that it was no better than an impofition which
God had put upon her and her huſband, not to eat of that fair
fruit which he had created; that the taste thereof would make
them immortal, like God himſelf; and confequently as great
*
L
and
91
and powerful as he. Upon which, fhe not only ate thereof
herſelf, but made her huſband eat alfo, which brought them
both under the heavenly difpleaſure.
Here Friday expreffed a great concern: Ah! poor mans!
(cried he) naughty Womans! naughty Devil! make God not love
de mans, make man like Devil himself.
Friday, faid I, God ftill loves mankind; and though the
Devil tempted human nature fo far, he would not fuffer him
to have abſolute power over them. I have told you before of
his tender love to his people, till they, like Lucifer, diſobeyed
his commands and rebelled againſt him; and that even then,
how Jefus Chrift his only fon came to fave finners. But ftill
every man that lives in the world, is under temptation and tri-
al. The Devil has yet a power, as prince of the air, to fuggeft
evil cogitations in our minds, and prompt us on to wicked ac-
tions, that he might glory in our deftruction. Whatever evil
thoughts we have, proceeded from him. So that God, in this
our diftreis, expects that we ſhould apply ourſelves to him by
fervent prayer for our fpeedy redrefs: He is not like Bena-
muckee, to let none come near him but Oo-wokakee; but ſuffers.
the people as well as priests, to offer themfelves at his feet,
thereby to be delivered from the power and temptation of the
Devil.
But though at firft, my man Friday expreffed fome concern
at the wickedneſs of Lucifer, I found it not ſo eaſy to imprint
the right notions of him in his mind, as it was about the di-
vine eflence of God: For there nature affifted me in all my
arguments to fhew to him plainly the neceffit of a great firſt
cauſe, and overruling governing power, a fecret directing pro-
vidence, and of the equity and reaſonableneſs of paying adora-
tion to our Creator: Whereas there appeared nothing of all
this in the notion of an evil fpirit, of his firſt beginning, his
nature, and above all, of his inclination to evil actions, and
his power to tempt us on to the like. And indeed this un-
learned Indian, by the mere force of nature, puzzled me with
one particular queflion, contrary to whatever I had expected
from him.
I had, it ſeems, one day, been talking to him of the omnip-
øtent power of God, and his infinite abhorrence of fin, info-
much that the fcriptures filed him a confuming fire to all finful
workers of iniquity; and that it was in his power, whenever
he pleaſed, to destroy all the world in a moment, the greater
part of which are continually offending him.
When, with a ſerious attention, he had liftered a great while
to what I ſaid, after I had been telling him, how the Devil was
God's enemy in the hearts of men, and uſed all his malice
and ſkill to defeat the good defigns of Providence, and to del-
thoy the kingdom of Christ in the world, and fo forth: Very
wella.
92
well, mafter (faid Friday), you fay, God is fo ftrong, fo great,
is he not much ronger, much mightier than the haughty
Devil? to be fure, Friday, laid I, God is more wife, and
ftronger than the ferpent: He is above the. Devi, which make
us pray to him, that he would tread down Satan under our
feet, enable us to reſiſt his violent temptations, and quench
his fiery darts. Why then answered Friday, qu'ckiv, if God, as
you fay, has much strong, much might as the Devil, why God no
kill Devil, make no more tempt no more do wicked.
You may be certain I was ftrangely surprised at this queſtion
of my man's, and though an old man, I was but a young
doctor, and confequently very ill qualified for a cafuift or a
refolver of intricate doubts in religion. And as it is requir
ed ſome time for me to ſtudy for an anſwer, I pretended not
to hear him, nor to afk him what he faid: But too earneít
was he for an anſwer, to forget his queſtion, which he repeat-
ed in the very fame broken words as above. When I had.
recovered myſelf a little, Friday (laid I) God will at last puniſh
him feverely, being reſerved for judgment, and is to be caft into the
bottomless pit to remain in fire everlafting. But all this did not
fatisfy Friday, for returning upon me, he repeated my words,
referve at laſt, me no underſtand; but why not kill Devil now,
not kill Devil, great, great while ago? Friday, faid, you may as
well aſk me way God does not kill you and I, when by our
wicked actions, we fo much offend his divine majefty? he
gives us time to repent of our fins, that thereby we my obtain
pardon. At theſe words, obtain pardon, Friday mufed a great
while, and at 1, looking me fted faftly in the face: Well, well,
faid he, that's very well; fo you, I, Devil, all wicked mans, all
preferve, repent, God pardon all.
Indeed here I was run down to the laſt extremity, when it
became very evident to me, how mere natural notions will
guide reaſonable creatures to the knowledge of a deity, and
to the homage due to the fupreme being of God; but how-
ever, nothing but divine revelation can form the knowledge of
Jefus Chrift, and a redemption purchaſed for us, of a mediator.
of the new covenant, and of an interceffor at the footstool of
God's throne ; and therefore the Goſpel of our Lord and Sa-
viour Jefus Chrift, that is, the word and fpirit of God, promif-
ed for the guide and fanctifier of people, are the moſt neceffa-
ry instructors of the fouls of men in the faving knowledge.
of the Almighty, and the means to attain eternal happineſs.
+
And now I found it neceſſary to put an end to the diſcourſe
between my man and me, for which purpole I roſe up hastily,
and made as if I had fome occafion to go out, fending Friday,
for fomething that was a good way off. I then fell on my
knees, and beſeeched God that he would infpire me fo far, as-
to guide this poor favage in the knowledge of Chrift, to anlwer.
his..
93
his queſtions more clearly, that his confcience might be con-
vinced, his eyes opened and his foul faved. When he return-
ed again, I entered into a very long diſcourſe with him, upon
the ſubject of the world's redemption by the Saviour of the
world, and the doctrine of repentance preached from heaven,
together with an holy faith in our bleffed redeemer Jefus Chrift:
And then I proceeded to explain to him, according to my
weak capacity, the reafon why our Saviour took not on him
the nature of Angels, but rather the feed of Abraham ; and
how upon that account the fallen Angels had no benefit by the
redemption; and lastly, that he came only to the lot fheep of
the houſe of Ifrael, and the like. God knows, I had more fin-
cerity than knowledge in all the ways I took for this poor
Indian's inftruction; and I must acknowledge, that I believe
every body that acts upon the fame principle will find, that in
laying heavenly truths open before him, in many things, I in
formed and inftructed myſelf, that either 1 did not know, or
had not perfectly confidered of before? But as I fearched into
them for the information of this poor favage, fo they natural-
ly occurred to my mind; and my enquiry after many things
was more affectionate than ever I felt in my lite: fo that how-
ever this poor creature might be improved by my inftruc-
tion, certain it is, that upon this account I had great reafon
to blefs kind providence for fending him to me.
His company
allayed my grief, and made my habitation more comfortable :
And when I reflected that this folitary life, to which I had
been fo long confined, had not only moved me to look towards
Heaven, but made me the inftrument, under providence to
fave the life, and, for aught I knew, the foul of a poor favage,
by bringing him to the knowledge of Jefus Chrift; this caufed
a fecret joy to ſpread through every part of my foul, and I
frequently rejoiced that ever I was brought to this place,
which I once thought to be the moſt miſerable part of the
world.
All the remainder of my time did I continue in this thank-
ful frame of mind, and for three years did my man and I live
in the greateſt enjoyment and happiness, by our converfation
one with another, as much as I could expect or defire. And
indeed I believe the favage is as good a chriftian as I;
though I hope we were equally penitent; and fuch penitents.
that were comforted and restored by God's holy fpirit: for
now we had the word of the Lord to inftruct us in the right
way, and we were no farther off the alliftance of the Holy
Ghaft, than if we had been on the English fhore.
By the conftant applications I made of the fcriptures, as I
read them to my man Friday, I earnestly endeavoured to make
him underſtand every part of it, as much as lay in my power.
He alſo on the other hand, by his very ferious questions and
enquiries,
94
enquiries, made me a much better proficitat in feripture
knowledge than I ſhould have been by my own private read-
ing and ſtudy. I must not omit another thing proceeding from
the experience I had in my retirement; it was, that infinite
and inexpreffible bleffing, the knowledge of God through
Chrift Jefus, which was fo plain and eafy to be understood, as
immediately to dire& me to carry on the great work of fincere
repentance for my fins, and laying hold of a Saviour for eternal
Life, to a practical ſtated reformation, and obedience to all
God's inftitutions, without the afiiſtance of a reverend and or-
thodox divine; and eſpecially by this ſame inſtruction, ſo to
enlighten this favage creature, as to make him fit a good
chriftian as very few could exceed him, and there was only
this great thing wanting, that I had no authority to adminifter
the holy facrament, that heavenly participation of Chrift's body
and blood; yet however we refted ourtelves content that God
would accept our desires, and, according to our faith, have
mercy on us.
But what we wanted one way, was made up in another, and
that was univer peace in our little church. We had no
difputes or wranglings about the nature of equality of the holy,
bleſſed, and undivided Trinity; no niceties in doctrine, or
ſchemes of church government; no four and morofe diffenters
to impole more fublimated notions upon us, nor pedantic
fophifters, to confound us with unintelligible myfteries: but
inftead of all this, we enjoyed the most certain guide to hea-
ven; that is, the Word of God, beſides which we had the
comfortable views of His Spirit leading us unto the truth, and
making us both willing and obedient to the instruction of his
word. And as the knowledge and practice of which are the
principal means of falvation, I cannot fee what it can avail any
Chriſtian church or man in the world, to amuſe themſelves
with every indifferent fpeculation and opinion, except thoſe
who have a mind to diſplay their particular vanity and affec-
tation.
You may well fuppofe that, by theſe common diſcourſes we
had together, my man and I became moft intimately acquaint-
ed, and that there was but very little that I could fay, but
Friday underfood, fpeaking very fluently, though indeed it
was but broken Englife. And really I now took a particular
pleaſure in relating all my adventures, eſpecially thofe that
occured fince my being caft on this iſland. I made him un-
derſtand the wonderful myſtery, as he conceived of gunpow-
der and bullet, and taught him how to ſhoot : I alío prefented
him a knife, which pleafed him exceedingly; making him a
belt with a frog hanging thereto, like thofe in which we wear
hangers in England; and inftead of a hanger to put in that
frog, I gave him a hatchet which was not only as good, but a
more
95
more excellent weapon upon any other occafion. In a word,
ny man thus accoutred, looked upon himfelf as great as
Don Quixote, when that celebrated champion went to combat
the wind mill.
After all this, I gave him a very particular deſcription of
the territories of Europe, and in a particular manner of Old
England, the place of my nativity. I laid before him the man-
ner of our worshipping God, our behaviour to one another,
and how we traded in ſhips to every part of the universe. Í
then told him my misfortunes in being fhipwrecked, ſhowing
him, as near as I could, the place where the thip lay, which
had been gone long before. I brought him to the ruins of
our boats, which, before, my whole ftrength could not move,
but now was almoft rotten and fallen to pieces. I obferved
my man Friday to view this boat with an uncommon curioſity,
which when he had done, he ſtood pondering a great while and
faid nothing. At laft, faid I, Friday what makes you pon-
der ſo much? he replyed, O Maſter, me fee like boat come to
place at my nation.
I was lome time indeed before I underſtood what my man
meant ; but examining farther into it, I plainly found fuch
another boat reſembling that, had come to the country where
he dwelt; as much as to fay, by his farther explanation, that
the boat was driven there through violent forms and ftrefs
of weather. It preſently came into my mind, that fome Eu-
ropean fhip having been caft away, the poor diftreffed creatures
were forced to have recourfe to the boat to fave their lives
and being all, as I thought, drowned, I never concerned mylelf
to aſk any thing about them, but my only enquiry was about
the boat, and what defcription my man could give of it.
Indeed Friday anfwered my demands very well, mak-
ing every thing very plain to my understanding; but eſpe.
cially I was fatisfied when he told me, with a great warmth
and are ur, O Mafter, me fave white man from drown: Upon
which I immediately aſked him, if there were any white mans,
as he called them, in the boat? yes yes, faid he, the boat full,
every full, white mans. How many, Friday? faid I.
Here-
upon he numbered his fingers and counted feventeen. And
when I aſked him what became of them all, and whether they
lived or not he replied, yes Mafter, they all live, they be live
'mong my nation. This plainer information put new thoughts
into my head, that theſe must be thoſe very men, which before
I concluded had been fwallowed up in the ocean after they had
left their ſhip, that had ftruck upon the rocks of my kingdom;
and after elcaping the fury of the deep, landed upon the wild
fhore, and committed themſelves to the fury of thoſe devour-
ing Indians.
The
96
The manner of their cruelties to one another, which confe-
quently, as I thought, muſt be acted with greater barbarity to
ftrangers, created a great admiration within me, and made me
ſtill more curious to aſk Friday concerning them: He told me,
he was fure they lived ftill there, having refided among them
above four years, and the favages gave them victuals to live
upon. But pray, Friday, faid I, whence proceeded all this
good nature and generosity? How came it to país that they
did not kill and eat them to pleaſe their devouring appetites,
and occaſion ſo ſplendid an entertainment among them? No no,
faid Friday, they not kill 'em they make brother with 'em; by
which I understood there was a truce between them. And
then I had a more favourable opinion of the Indians, upon
Friday's uttering theſe words; my nation, t'other nation, no eat
mans, but when mans make war fight; as though he had ſaid,
that neither thoſe of his kingdom, nor any other nation that he
knew of, ever eat their fellow creatures, but fuch whom their
law of arms allowed to be devoured; and they were thoſe
miferable captives, whofe great misfortune it ſhould be to be
made prifoners of war.
'
Some confiderable time after, upon a very pleaſant day, in
moſt ſerene weather, my man and I ftood upon the top of a hill,
on the eaſt fide of the iſland, whence I had once before beheld
the continent of America. I could not tell immediately what
was the matter, for fuddenly Friday fell a jumping and danc-
ing as if he had been mad; and upon my demanding the rea-
fon of his behaviour, O joy! faid he, O glad! Thers fee my
country, there my nation, there live white mans all gether. And
indeed fuch a rapturous fenfe of pleaſure appeared in his
countenance, that his eyes had an uncommon Iparkling and
brightneſs, and fuch a ſtrange eagerness, as if he had a longing
deſire to be in his own country again; and this new obferva.
tion which I had, made me not fo well fatisfied with my man
Friday as before: for, by this appearance, 1 made no difpute,
but that if he could get back thither again, he would not only
be uamindful of what religion I had taught him, but likewife
of the great obligation that he owed me for his wonderful
deliverance: nay that he would not only inform his country-
men of me, but accompany hundreds of them to my kingdom,
and make me a miſerable facrifice like thoſe unhappy wretches
taken in battle.
Indeed I was very much to blame to have theſe cruel and
unjuſt fufpicions, and muſt freely own I wronged the poor
creature very much, who was quite of a contrary temper, and
had he had that difcerning acuteness which many Europeans have,
he would have perceived my coldneſs and indifference, and al-
fo have been very much concerned upon this account: For as
I was now more circumfpect, I had much leſſened my kind-
pefs
97
neſs and familiarity with him: And while this jealouſy contin-
ued, I uſed that artful way (now too much in faſhion to oc-
caſion ſtrife and diſſention) of pumping him daily, thereby to
difcover whether he was deceitful in his thoughts and inclina-
tions: But certainly he had nothing in him but what was con-
fiftent with the best principles, both as a religious chriftian and
grateful friend; and indeed I found every thing he ſaid was fo
ingenuous and innocent, that I had no room fer fufpicion, and,
in ſpite of all uneaſineſs, he not only made me entirely his own
again, but alfo caufed me much to lament that I ever conceiv.
ed one ill thought of him.
As we were walking up the fame hill another day, when the
weather being fo hazy at fea that I could not perceive the con-
tinent, Friday, ſaid I, don't you wish yourſelf to be in your own
country, your own nation, among your old friends and ac-
quaintance? Yes, faid he, me much O glad to be at my own na-
tion. And what would you do there, Friday? faid I, would
you turn wild again, eat man's fleſh, and be a ſavage as you
was formerly? No ne, (anſwered he, full of concern, and thak-
ing his head) Friday now tell them to live good, tell them 10 pray
God, tell them to eat corn bread, cattle fleſh, milk, no eat man a-
gain. But furely replied I, if you fhould offer to do all this,
they will kill you, and to manifeſt their contempt of ſuch in-
ſtruction, may eat you up when they have done. He then put
on a grave, yet innocent and ſmooth countenance, ſaying, no,
they no kill me, they willing love learn; that is, that they would
be very willing to learn; adding withal, that they had learn much
of the bearded mans that come in the boat. Will you go back a-
gain Friday? faid I. He fmiled at that, and told me that he
could not twim fo far. But, faid I, I will make a canoe tor
you. Yes Maſter, ſaid he, me go if you go; me no go if you ftay.
I go, Friday! laid I, why would you have them eat me up,
and devour your kind mafter? No no, faid he, me make they ne
eat mafier, me make they much love you; that is, he would tell
them how I had flain his enemies, and thereby faved his life,
for which realon he would make them love me: And then he
related to me, as well as he was able, how exceeding kind thoſe
of his nation were to the white, or bearded men as he called
them, who in their great calamity, were driven into their coun-
try.
It was from this time, indeed, I had ſtrong inclinations to
venture over, and ute my utmost efforts, if poffible, to join
theſe white bearded men, who undoubtedly were Spaniards or
Portugueſe: For (thought I) it muſt be certainly a better and
ſafer way to elcape when there is a good company, than for me
alone, from an iſland forty miles off the ſhore, and without a-
ny afliftance. Some days after, Friday and I being at work as
vfual, at the fame time diverting ourselves with various dif
I
couries,
98
འ
courfes, I told him I had a boat which I would beſtow upon
him, whenever he pleaſed to return to his own nation: And to
convince him of the truth of what I faid, I took him with me
to the other fide of the island where my frigate lay, and then
taking it from under the water (for I always kept it funk for
fear of a diſcovery) we both went into it, to fee how it would
manage fuch an expedition.
Really never could any be more dexterous in rowing than
my faithful fervant, making the boat go as faft again as I
could. Well now, Friday, (faid I) fhall we go to your ſe
much admired nation ? But inſtead of meeting with that cheer-
fulneſs I expected, he looked very dull and melancholy at my
faying fo; which indeed at firſt furprized me, till he made me
fenfible that his concern was about the boat's being too ſmall
to go ſo far a voyage. Upon which I let him underſtand I
had a much bigger; and accordingly the next day, went to
the place where the first boat lay which I had made, when all
the ftrength I had, or art could ufe, failed me in my attempt
to get into the water; bnt now, it having lain in the fun two
and twenty years, and no care being taken of it all that while,
it became in a manner rotten. My man told me, that fuch a
boat would do very well for the purpoſe; fufficient to carry
enough vittle, drink, bread, for that was his manner of talking.
In short, my mind being ſtrongly fixed upon my design of go-
ing over with him to the continent, I very plainly told him
that we would both go, and make a boat full as big, and more
proportionable than that, where he might fafely return to his
own nation.
Thefe words I obferved made Friday look fo very penſive,
that I thought he would have fallen at my feet. It was fome-
time before he would ſpeak a word, which made me aſk him
what was the matter with him? He replied, in a very loft and
moving tone, what has poor Friday done? Why are you angry
mad with poor fervant? What me done, O what me done? Fri-
day, faid I, you never yet have offended me, what makes you
think I am angry with you, when I am not angry at all? You
no angry, no angry ſaid he ſeveral times, if you be no angry, why
den fend Friday over great water to my own nation? Why fure
ly, Friday, anſwered 1, did not you with to be there, when
from a mountain you beheld the place where you was born;
and is it not to fatisfy your deûres that I am willing to give
you leave to return thither? Yes yes, faid Friday, me wiſh be
there fure 'nough, but me den wife mafter there 100; no with Fri-
day there, no mafter there. In fhort, he could not endure the
thoughts of going there without me. I go there, Friday! faid
1, what fhall I do there -He answered, very quickly, O maj-
ter, you do great deal much good, you teach all de wild mans to be
good tame mans, jou learn them to be ſuber, live good life, to know
God,
99
God, and pray God. Alas! poor Friday, ſaid I, what can I do
against their Priests of Benamuckee, or indeed, what good can I
make your nation fenſible of, when I myſelf am but a poor ig-
norant man? No no, maſter, faid he, you be no ignorant, you
teachee me good, you teachee them good. You fhall go without
me Friday, faid I, for I don't care to accompany you thither :
I would rather live in this folitude, than to venture among
fuch inhuman favages. Go your way, fince you defire it, and
leave me alone by myſelf, as I was before I faved your life.
Never was any creature more thunder ftruck than Friday
was at theſe words, Go me away, leave mafter away! faid he,
after a long filence. No no, Friday die, Friday not live maſter
gone! as though he had ſaid, I neither can nor will live if my
mafter fends me from him. And here I cannot but take no-
tice of the ſtrong ties of friendſhip, which many times ſurpaſs
thofe of confanguinity: For often we find a great diſagreement
among kindred; and when there is any feeming regard for
each other, 'tis very feldom true, and ſcarce ever lafting, if
powerful intereſt does not bear the ſway; and that alone is
often the occafion of the greateſt hatred in the world; which
is to defire the death of parents and relations, for the ſake of
enjoying their fortunes : But here was no ſuch thing between
my fervant and me; inſtead of which, there was nothing but
gratitude, and the fincereft love: He found me not only his
deliverer, but his preferver and comforter: Not a ſevere and
cruel tyrant, but a kind, loving, and affable friend. He want
ed for no manner of fuftenance; and when he was ill, or out of
order, I was his phyfician, not only for his body, but his foul;
and therefore it was no wonder that fuch an innocent creature,
long fince divested of his former natural cruelty, ſhould have
an uncommon concern at fo cruel a feparation from me, which
pierced him to the very foul, and made him deſire even to die
rather than live without me.
After I had told Friday, in a very careleſs manner, that he
should be at his liberty as foon as the boat was made, the lan-
guage of his eyes expreffed all imaginable confufion, when im-
mediately running to one of his hatchets which he uſed to wear
as a moſt defenfive weapon, he gives it into my hand, with a
heart fo full that he could fcarce 1peak. Friday, faid I, what
is it you mean? What muft I do with this? Only kill Friday,
faid he, Friday no care live long. But what muft I kill you for,
replied I again. Ab! dear Mafter, what make you Friday fave
from eat a me up, ſo keep long Friday, make Friday love God,
and not love Benamuckée; and now Friday fend away, never
fee Friday more! As though the poor creature had faid, Alas!
my deareſt, kindeſt Maſter, how comes it to paſs that after
having ventured your precious life to fave me from the jaws of
devouring cannibals, like myself; after fuch a tender regard
to
100
to provide for me fuch comfortable nourishment, and continu--
ing fo long a kind maſter, and muft fincere friend; and after
making me forfake the falfe notion of an Indian deity, and
worship the true God, in fprit and in truth: after all this I
fay, how comes it now, that you are willing to fend me away
to my former courfe of living, by which means undoubtedly
we fhall be dead to each other; but greater must be my mis.
fortune, that I fhall never behold the best friend I have in this
world any more! And this certainly, though he could not ex-
prefs himfelt fo fully, must be his fentiments; for the tears
ran down his cheeks in fuch a plentiful manner, that I had
much ado to refrain from weeping alfo, when I beheld the poor
creature's affection: So that I was forced to comfort him in
the best manner, which I did by telling him, if he was content
to abide with me, I ſhould be ever willing to keep him.
After Friday's grief was fomething abated, more fully to
convince me of his affection, he ſaid O maſter, me not care be in
my nation, leave you here; me defire my nation learn good, that all ;
ineaning that his defire was for the converfion of that barbar-
ous people. But as I had no apoſtolic miſſion, nor any con-
cern about their falvation; fo I had neither the leaſt inten-
tion or defire of undertaking it; and the ſtrength of my incli-
nation, in order to escape, proceeded chiefly from my late dif-
courſe with Friday about thoſe ſeventeen white bearded men,
that had been driven upon the barbarian coaſt, whom I deſign-
ed to join with, as a furer means to further our eſcape. To
which intent my man and I went to ſearch for a proper tree to
fell, whereof we might make a large periagua, or canoe, to
undertake the voyage: And indeed we needed not be long in
finding one fit for our purpoſe, there being wood enough in
the ifland to have built a fleet of large veffels; but the thing
we principally wanted was, to get one ſo near the water, that
we might launch it after it was finiſhed, and not commit fo
horrid a miſtake as I had done once, many years before.
Well, after a great fearch for what was beſt and moſt con-
venient, Friday at laft, whofe judgment in fuch affairs was
much fuperior to mine, pitched upon a kind of wood the moit
fitting for it. To this day I cannot tell the name of the tree I
cut it from, nor defcribe it any other way, than only by laying,
that it is very like what we call fuftic, or betwixt that and the
Nicaragua wood, being much of the fame colour and fmell.
But though my man exceeded me in the knowledge of the
moſt proper tree, yet I fhowed him a much better and cleaner
way to make a canoe than ever he knew before: For he was
for burning the hollow or cavity of the tree, in order to make
this boat; but I then told him how we might do it with tools,
learning him at the fame time how to use them, which indeed
he did very dexterously; fo that in a month's labour, we fin-
iſhed
101
ifhed it, making it very handſome, by cutting the outſide into
the true ſhape of a boat. After this it took us full a fortnight
before we could get her into the water, which we did as it
were, inch by inch, upon great rollers: But when the was in,
fhe would have carried twenty men with all the eaſe imagin-
able.
As I was very well pleafed, you may be fure, at the launch-
ing of this man of war of mine, I was no lefs amazed to behold
with what dexterity my man would manage her, turn her, and
paddle her along. Well, Friday faid I, what do you think of
it now? Do you think this will carry us over? Yes Mafter,
faid he, me venture over well, though great blow wind. But
my deſign was yet farther, which he was infenfible of, and that
was to make a maſt and fail, and to provide her with an an-
chor and cable. As for a maſt, that was no difficult thing at
all to procure; fo I fixed upon a ftrait young cedar tree, which
I found near the place, there abounding great plenty of it in
the ifland; and fetting Friday to cut it down, I gave him par-
cular directions how to shape and order it; but as to the fail,
that belonged to me only. I very well knew I had fome oid
enes, or pieces of fails, enough, which had lain fix and twenty
years by me; but not being careful to preſerve them, as think-
I fhould have no occaſion to uſe them any more; when I
came to look over them, I found them almoſt all rottén, ex-
cept two; and with thefe I went to work, and after a great
deal of pains, and aukward tedious tching, for want of nee-
les, I finished at length a three corner'd ugly thing, like
what we call in England a ſhoulder of mutton fail, to go with
a boom at bottom, and a little fmall fprit at the top, like thoſe
which our long boats ufe, and which I very well knew how to
manage; eſpecially fince it was like that which I had in my
patron's fishing boat, when, with my boy Xury, I made my
elcape from the Barbary ſhore.
It was near two months, I think, before I completed this
work, that is, the rigging and fitting my maſt and ſails; and
Indeed they were nicely done, having made a ſmall ſtay, and a
fail or forefail to it, to affiſt, if we ſhould turn to the weſtward;
and, which was ſtill more, I fixed a rudder to the ftern of her,
to ſteer with; and though I was but a very indifferent ſhip-
wright, yet, as I was fenfible of the great ufefulneſs and abſo-
te neceflity of a thing like this, I applied myſelf to it with
fach conftant application, that at laft I accompliſhed my deſign:
But what with the many dull contrivances I had about it, and
the failure of many things, it coſt me as much pains' in order-
ing, as in making the boat. Belides, when all this was done, I
had my man Friday to teach what belonged to its navigation :
For though he very well underſtood how to paddle a canoe a-
lung, yet he was an utter ftranger to a fail and a rudder, and
I
was
102
was amazed when he faw me work the boat to and again in
the fea by the fame, and how the fail gibbed and filled, this
way, or that way, as the courſe we failed changed. After
ſome time, and a little uſe, I made all theſe things very familiar
to him, ſo that he became an expert failor, except in relation to
the compafs; and that I could make him underſtand but very
little of. But as it happened there was feldom occafion for it,
there being but little cloudy weather, and ſcarce ever any fog
in thoſe parts; the ſtars were always visible in the night, and
the ſhore perfpicuous by day, except in the rainy ſeaſon, which
confined every one around them to their habitations.
Thus entered in the feven and twentieth year of my reign,
or captivity, which you pleaſe, (the last three of which bleffed
with the company of my man Friday, ought not to be reckon-
ed) I kept the anniverfary of my landing here, with the fame
thankfulneſs to God, for his tender mercies, as I did before;
and certainly, as I had a great cauſe for a thankful acknowl.
edgement for my deliverance at first, I had much greater now,
for fuch fingular and additional teftimonies of the care of Prov
idence over me, in all my diftreffes, both of body and mind,
and the great hopes I had of being effectually and ſpeedily de-
livered; for I had a ftrong impreffion upon my mind, that I
should not be another year in this iſland: But however, I ftill
continued on with my huſbandry; digging, planting and fence-
ing as ufual: Gathering and curing my grapes, and doing all
other things that were ne eary for me.
And now the rainy feafon beginning to come upon me, o-
bliged me to keep the longer within doors; but before this I
brought my new veffel into the creek, where I had landed my
rafts from the ſhip, and hauling her up to the ſhore, I ordered
my man Friday to dig a dock fufficient to hold her in, and deep
enough to give her water, wherein the might float; and then
when the tide was out, we made a ftrong dam across the end
of it, to keep up the water; by which means the lay dry, as to
the tide from the fea; and to keep the rain from her, we
thatched her over, as it were, with boughs of trees, like a
houſe; and ſo waited for the months of November and Decem-
ber, in which I deſigned to venture over the ocean.
No fooner did the ſeaſonable weather begin to draw near, but
fo much was I elevated by this new defigned adventure, that I
daily prepared for the voyage. The first thing I thought of
was, to lay by a certain quantity of proviſions, as a fufficient
ftore for fuch an expedition, intending in a week or fortnight's
time to open the dock and launch out the boat for that pur-
pofe. But one morning, as I was very bufy upon ſomething
neceffary for this occafion, I called Friday to me, and bid him
go to the fea fhore, and fee if he could find a turtle or tortoiſe,
a thing which we commonly had once a week, as much upon
account
103
account of the eggs, as for fake of the the flesh. He had not,
long been gone, but he came running back, as though he
was purfued for life, and, as it were, flew over my outward
wall or fence, like one that felt not the ground, or ſteps he fet
his feet on; and before I had time to enquire the reafon of
his precipitation, he cries out, O Mafler! O dear Mafter! 0
forrow, forrow! bad! O bad! Why, what's the matter, Fri-
day? faid I. O yonder, yonder, faid he, there be one, two three
canoes! two, three! furely (thought 1) there must be fix by my
man's way of reckoning; but on a ftricter enquiry, I found
there was but three. Well, Friday, faid I, don't be terrified,
I warrant you we will not only defend ourſelves againſt them,
but kill the moft of thoſe cruel favages. But though I com-
forted him in the beſt manner I could, the poor creature trem-
bled fo, that I fcarce knew what to do with him: O Maßler,
fays he,they come look Friday, cat pieces Friday eat a me up. Why,
Friday, faid I, they will eat me up as well as you, and my
danger is as great as yours: But lince it is fo, we muft refolve
to fight for our lives: What fay you ? can you fight, Friday?
Yes, faid he very faintly, me boot, me kill what I can, but there
come great many number. That's no matter, faid I again, our
guns will terrify thofe that we do not kill: I am very willing
to ftand by you till the last drop of my blood; now tell me, if
you will do the like by me, and obey my orders in whatfcever I
command? Friday then anſwered, O Maſter, me loſe life for you,
me die when you bid die. Thus concluding all queſtions con-
cerning his fidelity, immediately I fetched a good dram of rum,
(of which I had been a very good huſband) and gave it him
to comfort his heart. After he had drank it, I ordered him
to take the two fowling pieces, which we always carried, and
load them with large fwan fhot as big as fmall piftol bullets;
then I took four muskets, and loaded them with two flugs, and
five ſmall bullets each, charging my two piftols each with
a brace. I hung my great fword, as customary, naked to my
fide, and gave Friday his hatchet, as a moft certain weapon of
defence.
Thus prepared, I thought, as well as any Knight errant
that ever handled a ſword and fpear, I took my perſpective
glafs, and went up the fide of the hill, to fee what I could dif
cover; and I perceived very foon, by my glaſs, that there was
one and twenty favages, three prifoners, and three canoes; and
that their chief concern feemed to be the triumphant ban-
quet upon the three poor human bodies, a thing which by t
time I had obſerved was very common with them.
hence I alſo remarked, that they did not land at that place
from whence Friday made his eſcape, but nearer to the creek
where the fhore was low, and where a thick wood came very
cloſe to the fea. And then it was my foul was filled with indig-
nation
From
104
nation and abhorrence of fuch inhuman wretches, that put a
period to all my former thoughts in their vindication; neither
would I give myſelf time to conſider their right of conqueâ, as
I had done before. But defcending from the mountain, I
came down to Friday, and told him, I was refolved to go fpee-
dily to them and kil! them all; afking him again, in the fame
breath, if he would ftand by me? When by this time being
recovered from his fright, and his fpirits much cheered with
the dram I had given him, he was very pleaſant, yet ferioufly
telling me, as he did before, when I bid die, he would die.”
And now it was, that having fixed my reſolution in ſo ſtrong
a manner, that nothing could diveft my breaft from its uncom-
mon fury, I immediately divided the arms already charged be
tween us. To my man Friday I gave a piftol to ſtick in his
girdle, with three guns upon his fhoulder, a weight too great
I confefs to bear; but what muſt a poor king do, who had but
one foldier in the world? But to thew I made him bear no
more than what I would lay on myſelf, I ftuck the other piftol
in my girdle, and the three guns upon my ſhoulders, nay fome-
thing more, but that was like Æſop's burthen, a ſmall bottle of
rum, which foon was lightened to our exceeding refreſhment.
Thus we marched out, under a ponderous load of armour, yet,
like two invincible champions, with a quantity of powder and
bullets to ftand our battle, when the pieces were difcharged.
And now my orders being to be obeyed, I charged Friday to
keep clofe behind me, and not to ftir, or fhoot, or attempt any
thing till I commanded him, and, in the interim, not to ſpeak
fo much as one word. It was in this order I fetched a compals
to my right hand, of near a mile, as well to get over the creek
as to attain the wood; and by this I thought to come withia
ſhot of them before I could be difcerned; as I found by my
glafs, was no difficult thing to accompliſh.
But how fickle and wavering is the mind of man, even in our,
greateſt fury, and ſtrongeſt inclination; for while I was taking
this march, my refolutions began to abate, not through fear of
their numbers, who were a parcel of naked unarmed wretch-
es; but theſe reflections occured to my thoughts, as what
power was I commiffioned with, or what occafion or neceffity
had I to go and imbrue my hands in human blood, and mur-
der people who had neither done, nor intended to do me any
wrong? They were innocent in particular as to me; and their
barbarous cuſtom was not only their misfortune, but a fign
that God had left them in the moſt immenſe ftupidity; but yet
did not appoint me to be a judge of their actions, much lefs
an executioner of his righteous judgments; that on the con-
trary, whenever he thought fit, he would take vengeance on
'them himſelf, and puniſh them in a national way, according to
their national crimes; but this was nothing at all to me, who
had
105
had no concerns with them. Indeed my man Friday might
juſtify himſelf, becauſe they were his declared enemies, of that
very fame nation that went to facrifice him before; and in-
deed it was lawful for him to attack them, which I could not
fay was fo in reſpect to me. So warmly did theſe things prefs
upon my thoughts all the way I went, that I only refolved to
place myſelf fo, as to behold their bloody entertainment, with-
out falling upon them, except fomething, more than ordinary,
by God's special direction, fhould obiige me thereto.
Thus fixed in my reſolution, I entered into the thick wood (my
man Friday following me cloſe behind) when, with all poffible
wariness and filence, I marched till I came to the fkirt of it,
on that ſide which was the neareſt to them; for only that one
end of the wood interpofed between me and them. Upon
which I called very foftly to Friday, and fhewed him a great
tiee, that was juſt at the corner of the wood, I ordered him to
repair thither, and bring me word, if he could plainly perceive
their actions: Accordingly, he did as I commanded him, and
came back with this melancholy ftory, that they were all about
their fire, eating the flesh of one of their prifoners; and that
another lay bound upon the fand, a little diſtant from them,
which they defigned to be their next facrifice; and this, he
told me, was not one of their nation, but one of thofe very
bearded men, who was driven by a ftorm into their country,
and whom he had ſo often talked to me about. You may be
fure, that upon hearing this, my foul was ready to fink within
me; when afcending up into a tree, I faw plainly by my
glafs, a white man, who lay upon the beach of the fea, with
his hands and feet tied with flags, or things reſembling ruſhes,
being covered with clothes, and feemed to be a European.
From the tree where I took this proſpect, I perceived another
tree, and a thicket beyond it, about fifty yards nearer to them,
than where I was, which, by taking a small circle round, I
might come at undiſcovered, and then I ſhould be within half
a fhot of these devourers. And this confideration alone, to be
more perfectly revenged upon them made me withhold my
paffion, though I was enraged to the highest degree imagina-
ble, when going back about twenty paces, I got behind fome
bufhes, which held all the way till I came to the other tree;
and then I afcended a little rifing ground, not above eighteen
yards diſtance from us, and there I had a full view of thefe
creatures, and I could perceive all their actions.
Such a fight did then appear, as obliged me not to lofe a
moment's time.
There were no less than nineteen of theſe
dreadful wretches feated upon the ground, clofe huddled to-
gether, expreffing all the delight imaginable at fo barbarous an
entertainment; and they had just fent the other two to
murder this poor unhappy chriftian, and bring him perhaps
limb
106
limb by limb to their fire; for they were juſt then going to
untie the bands from his teet, in order for death, as fetters are
knocked off from the feet of malefactors before they go to
the place of execution. Hereupon immediately turning to my
man, now, Friday, faid I, mind what I fay, fail in nothing, but
do exactly as you ſee me do. All which he promifing he
would perform, I fet down one of my mufkets and the fowling
piece upon the ground, and Friday did the fame by his; and
with the other muſket I took my aim at the favages, bidding
him do the like; are you ready? faid I, Yes, Maſter, ſaid he.
Why then fire at them, ſaid I; and that very moment I gave
fire likewile.
For my part, I killed one and wounded two; but my man
Friday taking his aim much better than I, killed two and
wounded three more. You may be fure they were in a dread-
ful confternation, at fuch an unexpected difafter; and thofe
who yet had eſcaped our penetrating fhot, immediately jumped
upon their feet, but were in fuch confufion, that they knew
not which way to run or look, not knowing from whence their
deſtruction came. We then threw down our pieces and took
up others, giving a fecond dreadful volley; but as they were
loaded only with fwan fhot, or ſmall piftol bullets, we perceiv-
ed only two of them fall; but ſo many were wounded, that
they ran yelling and ſcreaming about like mad creatures. Now,
Friday, faid I, lay down your piece, and take up the musket,
and follow me. He did ſo with great courage, when fhewing
ourfelves to the favages, we gave a great ſhout, and made di-
rectly to the poor victim, who would have been facrificed,
had not our firſt fire obliged their butchers with three others,
to jump into a canoe. By my order, Friday fired at them, at
which fhot I thought he killed them all, by reason of their
falling to the bottom of the boat; however he killed two, and
mortally wounded a third. In the mean time I cut the Bags
that tied the hands and feet of the poor creature, and lifting
him up aſked him in the Portugueze tongue, What he was? He
anſwered me, in Latin, Chriftianus; but fo very weak and faint,
that he could fcarce ftand or fpeak. Immediately I gave him
a dram and a piece of bread to cherish him, and aſked him
what countryman he was? He faid Efpaniola, and then uttered
all the thankfulneſs imaginable for his deliverance. Seignior
(faid I, with as much Spanish as I was maller of) let us taik
afterwards, but fight row; here, take this fword and piftol,
and do what you can. And indeed he did ſo with fuch cour-
age and intrepidity, that he cut two of them to pieces in an
inftant, (the favages not having the power to fly for their
lives.) I ordered Friday to run for thofe pieces we had left at
the tree, which he brought to me with great ſwiftneſs, and then
I gave him my mufket, while I loaded the reſt. But now
ܟܫܬ،
107
there happened a fierce encounter between the Spaniard and
one of the favages, who had made at him with one of their
wooden fwords; and though the former was as brave as
could be expected, having twice wounded his enemy in the
head; yet being faint, the Indian had thrown him upon the
ground, and was wrefting my fword out of his hand, which the
Spaniard very wifely quitting, drew out his pitol, and ſhot
him through the body, before I could come near him, who
was running to his affiftance. As to Friday, he purfued the
fying wretches with his hatchet, diſpatching three, but the reſt
were too nimble for him. The Spaniard taking one the fowl.
ing pieces, wounded two, who running into the wood, Friday
purſued and killed one; but the other, notwithſtanding his
wounds, plunged himſelf into the fea and fwam to thofe two
who were lett in the canoe, which with one wounded, were all
that eſcaped out of one and twenty. The account is as
follows:
Killed at the first flot from
the tree
At the fecond Shot
By Friday in the boat
Killed, being fallen of their
4
the boat,
A
whereof one wounded,
}
3
rvounds.
2
Efcaped in
2
2
if not flain
}
3
Ditto, of thoſe firſt wounded
Ditto, in the wood
By the Spaniard
Total 21
The favages in the canse worked very hard to get out of
our reach, and Friday was as eager in purſuing them; and
indeed I was no leſs anxious about their eſcape, left, after the
news had been carried to their people, they ſhould return in
multitudes, and deſtroy us. So being refolved to purſue them,
I jumped into one of their canoes, and bid Friday to follow
me; but no fooner was I in, when to my furprize, I found
another poor creature bound hand and foot for the flaughter,
just as the Spaniard had been, with very little life in him.
Immediately 1 unbound him, and would have helped him up,
but he could neither ftand nor fpeak, but groaned piteouſly,
thinking he was only unbound in order to be flain. Hereupon
I bid Friday ſpeak to him, and tell him of his deliverance;
when pulling out my bottle, I made the poor wretch drink a
dram; which, with the joyful news he had received, fo re-
vived his heart, that he fat up in the boat. As foon as Fri-
day began to hear him ſpeak, and looked more fully in his
face, it would have moved any one to tears to perceive his un-
common tranſports of joy; for he kiſſed him, embraced him,
hugged him, cried, laughed, ballooed, jumped about, danced,
fung, then cried again, wrung his hands, beat his face and
head, then fung and jumped about again, like a distracted
creature i
108
creature; fo that it was a great while before I could make him
ipeak to me, or tell me what was the matter with him ; but
when he came to the liberty of his ſpeech, at laſt he told me,
it was his father.
Here indeed I was infinitely moved to fee the dutiful and
tender affertion this poor favage had to his aged parent. He
would fit down by him in the boat, open his breaft, and hold
his father's head clofe to his bufom half an hour together to
nouriſh it; then he took his arms and ankles, which were
fliff and numbed with binding, and chafed and rubbed them
with his hands; by which means, perceiving what the cafe
was, I gave him ſome rum, which proved of great benefit to
him.
While we were bufy in this action, the favages had gotten
almost out of fight; and happy it was we did not purſue them;
for there arote from the north weft, which continued all night
long, luch a violent ſtorm, that I could not ſuppoſe otherwife,
but that they were all drowned. Atter this, 1 called Friday
to me, and aſked him, if he had given his father any bread ?
He fhook his head, and faid, None, not one bit, me eat a up all;
fo I gave him a cake of bread out of a little pouch I carried
for this end. I likewife gave him a dram for himſelf, and two
or three bunches of raifins for his father. Both thele he car-
ried to him, for he would make him drink the dram to comfort
him. Away he then runs out of the boat as if he was bewitch-
ed, with fuch an extraordinarary fwiftnefs, that he was out of
fight as it were in an inſtant; but at his return I perceived
hix flacken his pace, becauſe he had ſomething in his hand :
And this I found to be, as he approached nearer, an earthen
jug to bring his father fome water in, with two more cakes of
bread, which he delivered into my hands. Being very
thirſty myſelf, I drank fome of the water, of which when his
father had drank ſufficiently, it more revived his fpirits than
all the rum I had given him.
+
I then called Friday to me, and ordered him to carry the
Spaniard one of the cakes and fome water, who was repofing
himſelf upon a green place under the fhade of a tree, but fo
weak that though he exerted himſelf, he could not ſtand upon
his teet. Upon which I ordered Friday to rub and bathe his
ankles with rum, as he did his father's. But every minute
he was employed in this, he would caſt a wifhful eye towards
the boat, where he left his father fitting; when ſuddenly,
not being to be feen, he flew like lightning to him; and find-
ing he only laid himfelf down to eafe his limbs, he returned
back to me prelently; and then I fpoke to the Spaniard
to let Friday help him, and lead him to the boat, in order to
be conveyed to my dwelling, where I would take care of him:
Upon which Friday made nothing to take him upon his back
and
109
and ſo carried him to the canoe, letting him close by his father;
and preſently ſtepping out again, launched the boat off, and
paddled it along the fhore fafter than I could walk, though
the wind blew very hard too; and having brought them ſafe
to the creek, away he runs to fetch the other canoe, which he
brought to the creek almoſt as foon as I got to it by land
when wafting me over, he took our new gueſts out of the boat :
But fo weak were they, that I was forced to make a kind of
hand barrow; and when I came to my caftle, not being willing
to make an entrance into my wall, we made them a handſome
tent, covered with old fails and boughs of trees, making two
good beds of rice ftraw, with blankets to lie upon and cover
them. Thus, like an abſolute king, over ſubjects who owed
their lives unto me, I thought myſelf very remarkable, eſpe
cially confidering I had three religions in my kingdom, my
man Friday being a Proteftant, his father a Pagan, and the
Spaniard a Papift; but I gave liberty of confcience to them all.
To get proviſions for my poor weak ſubjects, I ordered Fri-
day to kill me a yearling goat, which when he had done, I
cut off the hind quarters, and chopping it into ſmall pieces,
boiled and ftewed it, putting barley and rice into the broth.
This I carried into their tent, fet a table, dined with them
myſelf, and encouraged them. Friday was my interpreter to
his father, and indeed to the Spaniard too, who ſpoke the lan-
guage of the favages pretty well. After dinner i ordered Fri-
day to fetch home all our arms from the field of battle, and the
next day to bury the dead bodies, which he'did accordingly.
And now I made Friday enquire of his father, whether he
thought thoſe ſavages had efcaped the late ftorm in their ca-
noe; and if fo, whether they would not return with a power
too great for us to refift? He anſwered, that he thought it im-
poffible they fhould outlive the florm, or if they were driven
fouthwardly, they would come to a land where they would as
certainly be devoured, as if they were drowned in the fea.
And fuppofe they had attained their own country, the ftrange-
nels of their bloody and fatal attack, would make them tell
their people, that the reft of them were killed by thunder and
lightning, not by the hand of man, but by two heavenly ſpirits
(meaning Friday and me) who were fent from above to deſtroy
them: And this, he faid, he knew, becaule he heard them fay
the fame to one another. And indeed he was in the right
on't; for I have heard fince, that theſe four men gave out,
that whoever went to that inchanted ifland, would be deſtroy-
ed by fire from the gods.
No canoes appearing fome time after, as I expected, my ap-
prehenfions ceaſed; inſtead of which my former thoughts of a
voyage took place, eſpecially when Friday's father affured me I
hould have good ufage in his country. As to the Spaniard,
K
he
110
he told me, that fixteen more of his countrymen and Portu-
gnefe, who had been fhipwrecked, made their efcape thither;
that though they were in union with the favages, yet they were
very miferable for want of provifions and other neceffaries.
When I aſked him about the particulars of his voyage, he an-
fwered, that their fhip was bound trom Rio de la Plata to the
Havanna, that when the fhip was lufi, only five men perished
in the ocean; the reft, having faved themſelves in the boat,
were now landed on the main continent. And what do they
intend to do there? faid I. He replied, they had concerted
meaſures to eſcape by building them a veffel, but they had
neither tools nor provifions; fo that all their defigns came to
nothing. Suppofing, faid I, I ſhould make them a propofal,
and invite them here, would they not carry me prifoner to
New Spain? He answered, no, for he knew them to be fuch
honest men as would fcorn to act ſuch inhuman baſenets to
their deliverer: That, if I plealed, he and the old favage
would go over to them, talk with them about it, and bring me
an answer; that they ſhould all fwear fidelity to me as their
leader, upon, the holy facraments; and that for his part he
would not only do the fame, but ſtand by me to the laſt drop
of his blood, fhould there be occafion.
Theſe folemn affurances made nie refolve to grant them re-
lief, and to fend theſe two over for that purpoſe: But when
every thing was ready, the Spaniard raiſed an objection which
carried a great deal of weight in it. You know, Sir, faid he,
that being fome time with you, I cannot but be ſenſible of your flock
of rice and corn, ſufficient, perhaps, for us at preſent, but not for
them, fhould they come over prefently; much less to victual a vefjel
for an intended voyage. Want might be as great an occafion for
them to difagree and rebel, as the children of Iſrael did againſt God
himſelf, when they wanted bread in the wilderness: And there-
fore my advice is to wait another harvest, and, in the mean time,
cultivate and improve fome more land, whereby we may have
plenty of provifions, in order to execute our defign.
This advice of the Spaniard I approved of extremely, and
fo fatisfied was I of his fidelity, that I eſteemed him ever after.
And thus we all four went to work upon fome more land, and
againít feed time we had got as much cured and trimmed up,
as was fufficient to fow twenty two bushels of barley on, and
fixteen jars of rice, which was in fhort all the feed we had to
fpare. As we were four in number, and by this time all in
good health, we feared not an hundred Indians, ſhould they
venture to attack us: And while the corn was growing, I
pitched upon fome trees fit to build us a large veffel in cafe
the Spaniards came over; which being marked, I ordered Fri-
day and his father to cut them down, appointing the Spaniard,
who was now my Privy Counsellor, to overfee and direct the
work.
111
work. I likewife increafed my flocks of goats, by fhooting
the wild dams, and bringing home their kids to my encloſure :
Nor did I neglect the grape feafon, but cured them as ufual,
though I had ſuch a quantity now, as would have filled eighty
barrels with raifins. And thus all of us being employed, they
in working, and I in providing for them, til! harvest came,
God Almighty bleffed the increaſe of it fo much, that fron
twenty two barrels of barley, we threſhed out two hundred
and twenty, and the like quantity of rice, fufficient to victual
any fhip, to carry me and all the Spaniards to any part of A-
merica.
Thus the principal objection being anſwered by a fufficient
flock of provition, I fent my two ambaffadors over to the main,
with a regal authority, to adminifter the oaths of allegiance
and fidelity, and have an inftrument figned under their hands,
though I never afked whether they had pen, ink, or paper;
when giving each of them a mufket, eight charges of powder
and ball, and provifion enough for eight days, they failed away
with a fair gale, on a day when the moon was at full.
Scarce a fortnight had paffed over my head, but impatient
for their return, I laid me down to fleep one morning, when
a ftrange accident happened, which was ushered in by my
man's coming running to me, and calling aloud, Mafter, Maf-
ter, they are come, they are come. Upon which, not dreaming of
any danger, out I jumps from my bed, puts on my clothes,
and hurries through my little grove, when looking towards the
fea, I perceived a boat about a league and a half diftant, ſtand-
ing in for the fhore, with the wind fair. I beheld they did not
come from the fide where the land lay on, but from the fouth-
ermot end of the inland: So thefe being none of the people
we wanted, I ordered Friday to lie ftill, till fuch time as I de-
fcended from the mountain, which, with my ladder, I now af-
cended, in order to diſcover more fully what they were: And
now, with the help of my perſpective glaſs, I plainly perceiv-
ed an Engliſh ſhip, which I concluded it to be, by the faſhion of
its long boat, and which filled me with fuch uncommon tranf-
ports of joy, that I cannot tell how to defcribe; and yet fome
fecret doubts hung about me, proceeding from I know not
what caufe, as though I had reafon to be upon my guard. And
indeed I would have no man contemn the fecret hints and in-
timations of danger, which very often are given, when he may
imagine there is no poffibility of its being real: For had I not
been warned by this filent admonition, I had been in a worſe
ftation than before, and perhaps inevitably ruined.
It was not long before I perceived the boat to approach the
hore, as though they looked for a place where they might
conveniently land; and at laſt they ran their boat on ſhore
upon the beach, about half a mile distance, which proved fo
much
112
much the happier for me; fince had they come into the creek,
they had landed juſt at my door, and might not only have forc-
ed me out of my caffle, but plundered me of all I had in the
world. Now I was fully convinced they were all Engliſhmen,
three of which were unarmed and bound; when immedi-
ately the first four or five leaped on ſhore, and took thoſe three
out of the boat as prifoners.. One of whom I could perceive
uſed the moſt paſſionate geftures of entreaty, affliction, and
deſpair, while the others, in a leſſer degree, ſhewed abundance
of concern.
Not knowing the meaning of this, I was very much aſton-
iſhed, and I beckoned to Friday, (who was below) to aſcend the
mountain, and likewife view this fight. O Maßler, fays he to
me, you fee Engliſh mans eat priſoners, as well as favage mans.
And do you think they will eat them, Friday? faid I. Yes,
faid Friday, they eat all up. No no, faid I, Friday, I am much
more concerned leaft they murder them; but as for eating
them up, that I am fure they never will.
And now I not only lamented my misfortune in not having
the Spaniard and favage with me, but alſo that I could not
come within fhot of them unperceived, (they having no fire
arms among them) and ſave theſe three men, whom I thought
they were going to kill with their fwords. But fome comfort
it was to me, that I perceived they were fet at liberty to go
where they pleaſed, the rafcally feamen fcattering about as
though they had a mind to ſee the place: And ſo long did
they negligently ramble, that the tide had ebbed ſo low, as to
leave the boat aground. Nor were the two men that were in
her more circumſpect, for having drank a little too much li-
quor, they fell faft afleep; but one of them waking before the
other, and perceiving the boat too faſt aground for his ſtrength
to remove it, he halloo'd out to the reft, who made all poffible
expedition to him: But, as Providence ordered it, all their
force was ineffectual to launch her, when I could hear them
ſpeak one to another, Why let her alone, Jack, can't ye, ſhe'll float
next tide; by which words I was fully confirmed that they
were my own countrymen. All this while 1 lay very quiet,
as being fully fenfible, it could be no leſs than ten hours be-
fore the boat would be afloat, and then it would be fo dark,
as that they could not eaſily perceive me, by which means I
fhould be at more liberty to hear their talk, and obſerve all
their motions: Not but that I prepared for my defence be-
fore; yet as I had now another fort of enemies to combat
with, I acted with more caution. I took two fuzees on my
fhoulders, and gave Friday three muskets; befides my formi-
dable goat ſkin coat, and monstrous cap, made me look as
fierce and terrible as Hercules of old, efpecially when two pil-
tols
113
tols were fluck in my belt, and my naked fword hanging by
my fide.
It was my defign at firft not to make any attempt till it was
dark; but it being now two o'clock, in the very heat of the
day, the failors were all ftraggling into the woods, and un-
doubtedly were lain down to fleep. The three poor diſtreſſed
creatures, too anxious to get any repofe, were however feated
under the fhade of a great tree, about a quarter of a mile from
me: Upon which, without any more ado, I approached to-
wards them, with my man following behind me, and before I
was perceived, I called aloud to them in Spaniſh, What are ye
Gentlemen ?
At thele words they ſtarted up in great confuſion, and, be-
holding the ftrange figure I made, they returned no anſwer, but
feemed as if they would fly from me. Gentlemen, (ſaid Í, in
Engliſh) don't be afraid : Perhaps you have a friend nearer you
than you expect. He must be from Heaven, ſaid one of them
gravely, and pulling off his bat, for we are paſt all help in this
world. All help is from Heaven, faid I; but Sir, as I have
perceived every action between you and thoſe brutes, fince your
landing, only inform me how to affift you, and I will do it to the
utmost of my power.
Am I talking with God or man (ſaid he, in melting tears)
Are you of human kind, or an Angel! Sir, faid I, my poor habit
may tell you I am a man, and ar Engliſhman, willing to aſſiſt
you, having but this fervant only: Here are arms and ammuni-
tion: Tell freely your condition, can we ferve you? The ſtory,
faid he, is too long to relate, ſince our butchers are ſo near.
Bat, Sir, I was maſter of that ſhip, my men have mutinied,
and it is a favour they have put my mate, this paſſenger, and
me, on fhore, without murdering us, though we expect noth-
ing but to periſh here. Are your enemies gone? faid I. No
replied he, (pointing to a thicket) there they lie, while my
heart trembles, left having feen and heard us, they ſhould
murder us all. Have they fire arms? faid I. They have but
two pieces, faid he, one of which is left in the boat: He told
me there were two enormous villains among them, that were
the authors of this mutiny, who if they were killed or ſeized,
might induce the rest to return to their obedience. Well,
well, faid I, let us retire farther under the covering of the
woods, and there it was I made thefe conditions with him :
I. That while they flayed in the iſland, they ſhould not pre-
tend to any authority; but be entirely conformable to my
orders, and return me the arms, which I fhould put into their
hands..
IL That if the ſhip was recovered, they ſhould afford Fri-
day and I our paffage gratis to England.
K 2
When
114
When he had given me all the fatisfaction I could defire, I
gave each of them a gun, with powder and ball fufficient, ad-
vifing them to fire upon them as they lay. The captain mod-
eftly faid, that he was forry to kill them, though on the other
hand, to let theſe villians eſcape, who were the authors of this
miſery, might be the ruin of us all, fhould they bring the fhip's
company upon us. Well, faid I, do as you think fit: And ſo
he accordingly fired, killing one of the Captain's chiefelt ene-
mies, and wounding the other, who eagerly called for affittance;
but the captain, (who had referved his piece) coming up to
him, Sirrab, ſaid he, 'tis too late to call for aſſiſtance, you ſhould
rather cry to God to pardon your villany; to knocked him down
with the ſtock of his gun: Three others were alſo flightly
wounded, who, at my approach, cried out for mercy. This
the captain granted, upon condition that they would fwear to
be true to him in recovering the fhip, which they folemnly
did; however, I obliged the captain to keep them bound. Af-
ter which I ſent Friday and the captain's mate to ſecure the
boat, and bring away the oars and fail; when at their return,
three men coming back, and ſeeing their late diſtreſſed captain,
now their conqueror, fubmitted to be bound alfo. And then
it was, that having more liberty, I related the adventures of
my whole life, which he heard with a ſerious and wonderful
attention. After this, I carried- him and his two men into my
little fortified caſtle, ſhewed them all my conveniences, and re-
Freſhed them with fuch provifions as I could afford. When
this was over, we began to conſider about regaining the ſhip.
He ſaid, that there were 26 hands on board, whe knowing
their lives were forfeited by the law, for conípiracy and mu-
tiny, would grow ſo very hardened, that it would be danger-
ous for our ſmall company to attack them. This was a rea-
fonable inference indeed; but ſomething we did reſolve on,
and immediately put in execution; for we heaved the boat up-
on the beach ſo high, that ſhe could not ſhoot off at high wa-
ter mark, and broke a hole in her, not eaſily to be flopped;
and fo all the fignals they gave for the boat to come on board
were in vain. This obliged them to ſend another boat aſhore,
with ten men armed, whoſe faces the captain plainly deſcribed,
the boatſwain being the chief officer; but he faid there were
three honeſt lads among them, who were forced into the con-
fpiracy. Hereupon I gave him freſh courage (for I had per-
ceived he was in concern) in the mean while ſecuring our pri-
foners, part in my caſtle, over whom Friday ftood centinel;
but two others we took into our ſervice, and then thought
ourſelves ſtrong enough to adventure a battle. When the
failors landed, and beheld their boat in that condition, they
not only halloo'd, but fired for their companions to hear, yet
they received no anſwer. This ftruck them with horrour and
amazement,
115-
amazement, thinking their companions were murdered; then
they made as if they would return to the thip; I could per-
ceive the captain's countenance change at this, till of a fadden
three men were ordered to look after the boat, while the other
feven leaped on thore, in order to ſearch for their companions :
And indeed they came to the brow of the hill, near my ancient
caſtle, from whence they could fee a great way into the woods,
and there shouting and hallooing till tired and weary, at lengthi
feated themſelves under a ſpreading tree. My opinion was,
that nothing could be done till night, when I might uſe fome
artifice to get them out of the boat: But of a fudden they all
ſtarted up, and made to the fea fide: Hereupon I ordered Fri-
day and the captain's mate to go over the creek, and hailoo as
loud as they could, and fo, decoying them into the woods,
come round to me again. And this indeed had its effect; for
they followed the noiſe, till coming weftward to the creek, they
called for their boat to carry them over, taking one of the
men out of her, and leaving two to look after her, having fast-
ened her to the ftump of a little tree on fhore. Hereupon im-
mediately the captain and our party, paſſing the creek out of
their fight, we furprized them both, by the captain's knock-
ing down one, and ordering the other to furrender on pain of
death, and who, being the moſt honeſt of them all, fincerely
joined with us. By this time it was pretty late, when return
ing to their boat, which they found aground in the creek, the
tide out, and the men gone; they ran about, wringing their
hands, crying it was an inchanted ifland, and that they fhould
be all murdered by ſpirits or devils. My men would willing-
ly have fallen upon them, but I would not agree to hazard any
of our party. But to be more certain, Friday and the captain
crawled upon their hands and feet, as near as poffible; and
when the boatswain approached in fight, ſo eager was the cap-
tain, that he fired and killed him on the fpot; Friday wounded
the next man, and the third ran away. Hereupon, I advanc-
ed with my whole army, and, it being dark, I ordered the
man we had furprized with the boat, to call them by their
names, and to parley with them. Accordingly he called out
aloud, Tom Smith! Tom Smith! He answered, Who's that?
Robinſon! The other anfwered, For God's fake, Tom, furren -
der immediately, or you are all dead men. Who muſt we furren-
der to fays Smith. To our captain and fifty men here, who have
taken me priſoner, wounded Will Frye, and killed the boatſwain.
Shall we have quarters then? faid he. Hereupon the captain
calls out, You, Smith, you know my voice; furrender immediate-
ly, and you ſhall all barve your lives granted, except Will Atkins.
Hereupon Atkins cried out, What have I done, captain, more than
the reft, who have been as bad as me? But that was a lie, for he
was the perfon that laid hold of him, and bound him. How.
ever,
116
ever, he was ordered to fubmit to the Governeur's mercy, for
fuch was I called. And fo, laying down their arms, we bound
them all, and ſeized on their boat.
}
After this the captain expoftulated with them, telling them,
that the Governour was an Engliſhman, who might execute them
there; but he thought they would be fent to England, except
Will Atkins, who was ordered to prepare for death next morn-
ing. Hereupon Atkins implored the captain to intercede for
his life, and the reft that they might not be fent to England.
Thus anfwered our project for feizing the ſhip. For lending
A:kins, and two of the worft, faft bound, to the cave, and the
reft being committed to my bower, I fent the captain, to tam-
per with them,in the Governour's name, offering them pardon,
if they would affift him in recovering the fhip. Upon which
they all promiſed to ſtand by him till their laft drop of blood;
and whoever acted treacherously should be hanged in chains
upon the beach. They were all releaſed on theſe affurances';
and then the captain repaired the other boat, making his paf.
fenger captain, with four men well armed; while his mate,
himſelf, and five men more went in the other. By midnight
they came within call of the fhip, when the captain ordered
Robinſon to hail her, and tell them that, with great difficulty,
they had found the men at laft. But while they were difcourf-
ing, the captain, his mate, and the reft entered, and knocked
down the ſecond mate and carpenter, fecured thofe that were
upon deck, by putting them under hatches, while the other
boat's crew entered and fecured the forecaſtle; then broke in-
to the round houſe, where the mate, after fome refiſtance, ſhot
the pirate captain through the head; upon which all the reft
yielded themſelves prifoners. And thus the ſhip being recov
ered, the joyful fignal was fired, which I heard with the great-
eſt joy imaginable: Nor was it long before he brought the
ſhip to an anchor at the creek's mouth, when coming to me
unawares, There, fays he, my dearest friend and deliverer, there is
your ſhip, and we are your fervants; a comfort fo unfpeakable,
as made me fwoon in his arms, while, with gratitude to heav-
en, we were tenderly embracing each other.
Nothing now remained, but to conſult what we ſhould do
with the prifoners, two of which he thought not fafe to take on
board. Hereupon, concerting with the captain, I dreſſed my-
felf in one of his fuits, and fending for them, told them, that I
was going to leave the island with all my people, if they would
tarry there, their lives fhould be fpared; if not, they ſhould
be hanged at the first port we came to. They agreed to ftay.
Hereupon I told them my whole ftory, charging them to be
kind to the Spaniards that were expected, gave them all my
arms, and informing them of every thing neceffary for their
fubfiltence, I and my man Friday went on board. But the
next
I [m
next morning two of the men came íwimming to the fhip's
fide, defiring the captain to take them on board, though he
hanged them afterwards, complaining mightily how barbar-
onfly the others uſed them. Upon which I prevailed with the
captain to take them in, and being feverely whipped and pic-
kled, they proved more honeſt for the future. And ſo I bade
farewel to this ifland, carrying along with me my money, par-
rot, umbrella, and goat fkin cap, fetting fail Dec. 12, 1686, af-
ter twenty eight years, two months, and nineteen days refi-
dence, that fame day and month that I escaped from Sallee,
landing in England, June 11, 1687, after thirty five years ab-
fence from my own country, which rendered me altogether an
utter ſtranger.
Here I found my firft captain's widow alive, who had buri-
ed a ſecond huſband, but in very mean circumſtances, and
whom I made mighty eafy upon my account. Soon after I
went down to Yorkshire, where all my family were expired, ex-
cept two fifters, and as many of one of my brother's children.
I found no provifion had been made for me, they concluding
I had been long fince dead; fo that I was but in a very flen-
der fituation. Indeed the captain did me a great kindneïs, by
his report to the owners, how I had delivered their ſhip on
the defolate iſland, upon which they made me a preſent of
£200 fterling. I next went to Liſbon, taking my man Friday
with me, and arriving there in April, I met the Portugueſe cap-
tain, who took me on board on the African coaſt; but being
ancient, he had left off the fea, and refigned all his buſineſs to
his fon, who followed the Brafil trade. So altered both of us
were, that we did not know each other at firſt, till I diſcovered
myſelf more fully to him. After a few embraces, I began to
enquire after my concerns, and then the old gentleman told me,
that it was nine years fince he had been at Brasil, where my
partner was then living, but my trustees were both dead; that
it was his belief, I ſhould have a good account of the product
of my plantation; that the imagination of my being loſt, had
obliged my truſtees to give an eſtimate of my fhare to the Pro-
curator Fifcal, who, in cafe of my not returning, had given
one third to the King, and the reft to the Monaftry of St. Au-
gufline; but if I put in my claim, or any one for me, it would
be returned, except the yearly product, which was given to
the poor. I then defired him to tell me, what improvement
he thought had been made of my plantation, and whether he
imagined it was worth my while to look after it? He anſwer-
ed, he did not know how much it was improved, but this he
was certain of, that my partner was grown vaitly rich upon
his half of it; and that he had been informed, that the King
had 200 moidores per annum, for his third part. He added,
that the furvivors of my trustees were perfons of an ingenuous
character;
118
character; that my partner could witneſs my title, my name
being registered in the country, by which means indifputably I
fhould recover conſiderable fums of money. But, anfwered I,
how could my truſtees diſpoſe of my effects, when I made you
only my heir? This, he faid, was true, but there being no af-
fidavit made of my death, he could not act as an executor.
However, he had ordered his fon, (then at Brafil) to act by
procuration upon my account, and had taken poffeffion of my
fugar houſe, having accounted himſelf for eight years with my
partners and trufees for the profits, of which he would give
me a good account.
+
And indeed this he,performed very faithfully in a few days,
making himſelf indebted to me 470 moidores of gold, over
and above what had been loſt at ſea, after I had left the place.
And then he recounted to me what misfortunes he had gone
through, which forced my money out of his hands, to buy part
in a new hip: But (fays he) you ſhall not want, take this, and
when my fon returns, every farthing shall be paid you. Upon
which he put into my hand a purle of 150 moidores in gold, as
likewife the inftrument containing the title to the ship in which
his ſon was, and which he offered as fecurity for the remain-
der.
But really when I faw fo much goodneſs, generoſity,
tenderneſs, and real honeſty, I had not the heart to accept it,
for fear he ſhould ſtraiten himſelf on my account. 'Tis true,
faid he, it may do fo; but the money is yours, not mine, and you
may have the greateft occafion for it. However I returned fitty
of them, promifing to give him the other hundred, when I
got my effects in my hands, faying I defigned to go myſelf
for that purpoſe. But he told me, he could fave me that
trouble; and ſo cauſed me to enter my name with a public
notary, as likewiſe my affidavit, with a procuration fixed to
it; and this he adviſed me to fend in a letter to one of his ac-
quaintance, a merchant at Brafil; and indeed nothing could
be more faithfully and honourably obſerved; for in feven
months time I had a very faithful account of all my effects,
what fums of money were raiſed, what expended, and what
remained for my ufe: In a word, I found myſelf worth 4000l.
fterling, and 100l per annum. Nor was this all, for my part-
ner congratulated me upon my being alive, telling me how
much my plantation was improved, what negroes were at
work, and how many Ave Marias he had faid to the Virgin
Mary for my preſervation, defiring me to accept kindly fome
preſents he had fent me, which I found fhewed the greateſt
generofity.
}
No fooner did the ſhip arrive, but I rewarded my faithful
captain, by returning him the hundred moidores; and not
only forgiving him all he owed me, I allowed him yearly a
hundred more, and fifty to his fon, during their lives. And
now.
119
now being reſolved to go to England, I returned letters of
thanks to the Prior of St. Augufline, and in particular to my
old partner, with very fuitable prefents. By the captain's ad-
vice, I was perfuaded to go by land to Calais, and there take
pallage for England: When as it happened, I got a young
English gentleman, a merchant's fon at Lisbon, to accompany
me, together with two English and two Portuguese gentlemen, fo
that with a Portugueſe ſervant, an Engliſh failur, and my man
Friday, there were nine in number.
Thus armed and equipt, we fet out, and came to Madrid,
when the ſummer decaying, we haſted to Navarre, where we
were informed that there was fcarcely any paffing, by reaſon
of the prodigious quantity of fnow; fo that we were obliged
to abide near twenty days at Pampeluna, and at last to take
a guide to conduct us fafe towards Thouloufe. And now twelve
other gentlemen joining with us, together with their fervants,
we had a very jolly company. Away our guide led us by
the frightful mountains, and through fo many intricate mazes
and windings, that we infenfibly paſt them, which as we trav、
eiled along uſhered us to the profpect of the fruitful and
charming provinces of Languedoc and Gascony.
But now came on two adventures, both tragical and comi-
cal. 1st, Our guide was encountered by three wolves and a
bear, who let upon him and his horſe, and wounded him in
three places: Upon which my man riding up to his affillance,
thot one of them dead, on which the others ran into the
woods. But the pleaſanteft adventure was, to fee my man
attack the bear. This creature, if let alone, will never med-
die with you: And this my man Friday very well knew, and
fo begging leave of me in broken English, he told us, He
would make good laugh. Why, you filly fool, faid 1, he'll eat
you up at a mouthful. Eatee me up! replied ne, me catee him,
and make much good laugh. Upon which, pulling off his boots,
he claps on his pumps, and running after the monftrous beaſt,
calls out, that he wanted to fpeak with him; and then
throwing ftones on purpoſe to incenſe him,the beatt turns about
in a fury, and, with prodigious ſtrides fhuffles after him. But
though he could not keep pace with Friday, who made up to
us as it were for help, yet, being angry, Yu dog, faid I, imme-
diately take borſe, and let us shoot the creature. But he cried,
Dear Mafter, no boot, me make you much laugh. And ſo he turn-
ed about, making figns to follow, while the bear ran after him,
till coming to a great oak, he afcended in a minute, leaving
his gun at the bottom of it. Nor did the bear make any
difficulty of it, but, notwithſtanding his bulk, afcended like a
cat. You muſt think I was not a little amazed at the folly of
my man, not perceiving any thing to occafion our laughter,
till we rode up nearer, and beheld the beat mounted on the
oak,
120
-----
oak, on the beginning of the fame branch to which Friday clung
at the father end, where the bear dared not come, Hereupon
Friday cried out, Now, Maſter me make much laugh, me make
de bear dance. Upon which he fell a fhaking the bough, which
made the creature look behind him to fee how he could re-
treat. Then, as if the bear had underſtood his ſtammer-
ing English, Why you not come farther, Mr. Bear? faid he.
Pray, Mr. Bear, come farther; And then indeed we all burst
into laughter, eſpecially when we perceived Friday drop like a
fquirrel upon the ground, leaving the beaſt to make the best of
his way down the tree. And now thinking it the moſt con-
venient time to kill him, Friday cried out, "O dear, Maſter, no
fboot; me ſhoot by and by; when taking up the gun, Me not
fboot yet, faid he, me make once more much laugh. And accord.
ingly he was as good as his word, for the creature deſcending
backwards from the tree very leifarely, before he could lay
one foot on the ground, Friday fhot him through the ear ſtone-
dead, and looking to fee if we were pleaſed, burft out into a
hearty laugh, faying, So we kill bear in my country; not with
gun, but much long arrow. Thus ended our diverfion, to our
great fatisfaction, eſpecially in a place where the terrible
howlings ftruck us with continual terror. But the fnow now
growing very deep, particularly on the mountains, the raven-
ous creatures were obliged to feek for ſuſtenance in the villag-
es, where coming by furpriſe on the country people, they
killed ſeveral of them, beſides a great number of their ſheep
and horfes.
Our guide told us, we had yet one more dangerous place to
paſs by; and if there were any more wolves in the country, there
we ſhould find them. This was a ſmall plain, encompaſſed with
woods, to get through a long lane, to the village where we
were to lodge. When we entered the wood the fun was with-
in half an hour of ſetting; and a little after it was fet, we
came into the plain, which was not above two furlongs over,
and then we ſaw five great wolves cross the road, without tak-
ing potice of us, and ſo ſwift as though they were purfuing
after their prey. Hereupon our guide, believing there were
more coming, defired us to be upon our guard. According-
ly our eyes were very circumfpect, till about a league farther
we faw a dead horſe, and near a dozen of wolves devouring its
carcals. My man Friday fain would have fired at them, but I
would not permit him: Nor had we gene half over the plain,
but we heard dreadful howlings in a wood on our left, when
preſently we ſaw an hundred come up againſt us, as though
they had been an experienced army. This obliged us to
form ourſelves in the beſt manner; and then I ordered that
every other man ſhould fire, that thofe who did not might be
ready to give a ſecond volley, ſhould they advance upon us;
ú
and
124
and en every man to make uſe of his piſtols. But there
was no neceflity for this; for the enemy being terrified,
ſtopped at the noife of the fire; four of them were shot dead,
and ſeveral others being wounded, went away, bleeding, as we
could very plainly diſcover by the fnow. And now remem-
bering what had been often told me, that fuch was the majesty
of a man's voice,as to ſtrike terror even in the fierceft creatures,
I ordered all my companions to holloo as loud as poffible:
And in this notion I was not altogether miſtaken; for they
immediately turned about upon the firſt halloo, and began to
retire Upon which, ordering a ſecond volley in their rear,
they galloped into the woods with great precipitation.
Thus we had fome ſmall time to load our pieces again, and
then made all the hafte we could on our way: But we had
not rode far before we were obliged to put ourſelves in a poſ-
ture of defence as before, being alarmed with a very dread-
ful noife in the fame wood on our left hand, the ſame way as
we were to paſs, only that it was at fome diftance from us.
By this time the darkſome clouds began to ſpread over the
elements, and the light growing very dufky, made it ſo much
the more to our difadvantage: But the noile ſtill increaſing
more, we were fully affured, that it was the howling and yell-
ing of thoſe ravenous creatures: when preſently three troops
of wolves, appeared to our fight on our front, as though all
theſe companions had a defign to furround us, and devour us
in ſpite of fate. But as they did not fall upon us immediate-
ly, we proceeded on our journey in the fwifteſt manner that
the roads would permit our horfes, which was only a large
trot. It was in this manner we travelled, till fuch time as
we diſcovered another wood, and had the proſpect of its en-
trance, through which we were to paſs at the fartheft fide of
the plain. But ſurely none can expreſs the terror we were in,
when approaching the lane, we perceived a confuſed number
of the fiercett wolves ſtanding, and as it were, guarding its en-
trance. Nor were we long in this amazement, before another
occafion of horrour preſented itſelf: For fuddenly we heard the
report of a gun at another opening into the wood; and looking
that way, out ran a horſe, bridled and faddled, flying with the
greatest fwiftnefs, and no lefs than fixteen or feventeen wolves
purſuing him, in order to devour the poor creatore: And un-
questionably they did fo, after they had run him down, hot be-
ing capable to hold out that ſwiftneſs with which he at firft el-
caped them.
+
When we rode up to that entrance from whence the horſe
came forth, there lay the earcaffes of two men and another
horfe, mangled and torn by thefe devouring wolves: And und
doubtedly one of theſe men was the perſon who fired the gun,
which we had heard, for the piece lay by him; but alas! moſt
L
of
122
of the upper part of his body and his head was entendim
the bowels of theſe ravenous creatures.
*
What courſe to take, whether to proceed or retreat, we could
not tell; but it was not long before the wolves themſelves
made us come to a reſolution: For fuch numbers furrounded
us, every one of whom expected their prey, that were our bo-
dies to be divided among them, there would not be half a
mouthful a piece. But happy, very happy, it was for us, that
but a little way from the entrance, there lay fome very large
timber trees, which I fuppofed had been cut down and lay
there for carriage, among which I drew my little troop, plac-
ing ourſelves in a line behind one long tree, which ferved us
for a breaſt work; when, defiring them to alight, we ſtood in
a triangle, or three fronts, encloſing our horfes in the centre,
the only place where we could preferve them.
Never certainly was a more furious charge than what the
wolves made upon us in this place; and the fight of the horſes,
which was the principal prey they aimed at, provoked their
hunger, and added to their natural fiercenefs. They came on
us with a moft dreadful noiſe, that made the woods' ring again,
and beginning to mount our pieces of timber, I ordered every
other man to fire as before directed; and indeed fo well did
they take their aim, that they killed feveral of the wolves at
the first volley; but ftill we were obliged to keep a continual
firing, by reaſon they came on like devils, pufhing one another
with the greateſt fury. But our fecond volley ſomething a-
bated their courage; when ſtopping a little, we hoped they
would have made the beſt of their way, however it did not
prove fo, for others made a new attempt upon us : And though
in four firings we killed feventeen or eighteen of them, lam-
ing twice as many; yet they came on feveral times fucceffively,
as though they valued not their lives for the fake of their
prey.
Unwilling was I to ſpend our laſt ſhot too fuddenly: And
therefore called my other ſervant, and giving him a horn of
powder, bid him lay a large train quite along the timber, which
he did, while Friday was charging my tuzee and his own, with
the greateſt dexterity. By this time the wolves coming up the
timber, 1 fet fire to the train, by fnapping a difcharged piftol
cloſe on the powder. This lo fcorched and terrified them,
that fome fell down, and others jumped in among us with the
ftrength and terror of the flame, but theſe we immediately dif
patched, when all the reſt, frightened with the light, which the
darkſome night cauſed to appear more dreadful, began at
length to retire: Upon which, ordering our last piſtols to be
fired at once, giving at the fame time a great fhout, the wolves
were obliged to have recourfe to their fwiftneſs by turning
tail; and then we fallied out upon twenty lame ones, cutting
them
128
them in pieces with our fwords, which obliged them to how!
lamentably, to the terror of their fellow devourers, who re-
Gigned to us the field, as victorious conquerors. And, indeed,
I question whether Alexander, King of Macedon, in any of his
conquefts, had more occafion for triumph than we had; for
he was backed by numerous captains and foldiers of the great-
eft courage, conſtancy, and refolution; whereas our little ar-
my was obliged to combat a legion of devils, as it were, worſe
than cannibals, who, had they flain us, would have facrificed
us the fame moment, to fatisfy their voracious appetites.
Thus ended our bloody battle with the beaſts, having killed
threescore of them, and faved our lives from their fury. Wê
ſtill had a league to go farther, when, as we went, our ears
were ſaluted with their moſt unwelcome howlings, expecting
every moment another attack. But, in an hour's time, we
arrived ſafe at the town where we were to lodge; and here we
found the place ftrictly guarded, and all in terrible confufion,
as well they might, by reafon of the bears and wolves break-
ing into the village, in order to prey upon their cattle and
people. The next morning we were obliged to take a new
guide, by reaſon the other fell very bad of his wounds which
he had received, as before mentioned. After we had reached
Thouloufe, we came into a warm, pleaſant, and fruitful country,
not infeſted with wolves, nor any fort of ravenous creatures :
And when we told our flory there, they much blamed our
guide, for conducting us through the foreft at the foot of the
mountains, and in ſuch a ſevere ſeaſon, when the fnow obliged
them to feek for ſhelter in the woods. When we informed
them in what manner we placed ourſelves, and the horſes in
the centre, then they exceedingly reprehended us, and told us,
it was an hundred to one but we had all been deſtroyed; for
that it was the fight of the horſes, their ſo much deſired prey,
made the wolves more ragingly furious than they would have
been; which was evident, by their being at other times really
afraid of a gun; but then, being exceedingly hungry and fu-
rious upon that account, their eagerness to come at the horſes
made them infenfible of their danger; and that if we had not
by a continual fire, and at laſt, by the cunning ftratagem of the
train of powder, got the power over them, it had been great
odds if their number had not overpowered us: Befides, it was
a great mercy we alighted from our horfes, and fought them
with that courage and conduct, which, had we failed to do,
every man of us, with our beafts, had been devoured. And
indeed this was nothing but the truth; for, never in my life
was I fo fenfible of danger, as when 300 devils came roaring
upon us; to fhun whofe unwelcome company, if I was fure to
meet a ftorm every week, I would rather go a thouſand leagues
by lea.
I think
124
I think I have nothing uncommon in my paffage through
France to take notice of, fince other travellers of greater learn-
ing and ingenuity, have given a more ample account, than my
pen is able to fet forth. From Thoulouſe I travelled to Paris,
from thence to Calais, where I took fhipping, and landed at
Dover the 14th of January, in a very cold ſeaſon.
Thus come to the centre of my travels, I foon diſcovered
my new found eſtate, and all the bills of exchange I had
brought were currently paid. The good ancient widow, my
only Privy Counsellor, thought no pains or care too great to
procure my advantage; nor had I ever occafion to blame her
fidelity, which drew from me an ample reward. I was for
leaving my effects in her hands, intending to fet out for Liſbon,
and ſo to the Brafils; but as in the defolate Iſland I had fome
doubts about the Romish religion, fo I knew there was little
encouragement to fettle there, without I would apoftatize from
the orthodox faith, or live in continual fear of the inquifition.
Upon this account I refolved to fell my plantation, and to this
intent I wrote to my old friend at Liſbon, who returned me an
anſwer, to my great fatisfaction, which was, that he could
readily fell it there: However, if I thought it convenient to
give him liberty to offer it in my name to the two merchants,
The furvivors of my trustees, refiding at the Brafils, who confe-
quently underſtood its intrinſic value, having lived juſt upon
the ſpot, and who I was fenfible were very rich, and therefore
might be the more willing to purchaſe it; he did not in the
leaſt doubt, but I fhould make 4 or 5000 pieces of eight more
of it, than I ſhould do if I difpofed of it any other manner
whatfoever.
+
You may be fure. I could not but agree with this kind and
ingenuous propofal; and immediately I fent him an order to
offer it unto them, which he accordingly did: So that about
eight months after, the ſhip being in that time returned, he
gave me a fatisfactory account that they not only willingly ac-
cepted the offer, but that they had alfo remitted thirty three
thousand pieces of eight, to a correſpondent of their own at
Lifeon, in order to pay for its purchaſe.
Hereupon, in return, I figned the inftrument of fale,'accord-
ing to form, which they had fent from Lisbon, and returned it
again to my old friend, he having fent me, for my estate, bills
of three hundred twenty eight thouſand pieces of eight, referv-
ing the payment of one hundred moidores per annum, which I
had allowed him during life, as alſo fifty to his fon during life,
according to my faithful promife, which the plantation was to
make good as rent charge.
糕
​And thus having led my reader to the knowledge of the firſt
part of my life, fo remarkable for the many, peculiar provi-
dences that attended it, floating in an ocean of uncertainty and
difappointment,
125
difappointment, of adverfity and profperity, beginning foolih
ly, and yet ending happily; methinks, now I am come to a
fafe and pleaſant haven, 'tis time to caft out my anchor, and,
laying up my veſſel, bid (for a while) adieu to foriegn adven-
tures. I had now other concerns to look after, the care of
my brother's two fons, which, with the good widow's perfua-
ſions, obliged me to continue at home feven years. One of
thefe children I bred up a gentleman, and the other an expe-
rienced failor, remarkable for his courage and bravery. Bew
fides this I married a virtuous young gentlewoman, of a very
good family, by whom I had two fons and one daughter. But
my dear and tender wife leaving this earthly ftage (as you will
hear in the fecond part of my life, which rending my foul as it
were afunder) my native country became as it were tire ſome to
me: And my nephew happening to come from ſea, tempted me
to venture another voyage to the East Indies, which I did in the
year 1664, at which time I viſited my iſland, and informed my-
felf of every thing that happened fince my departure.
One might reaſonably imagine, that what I had fuffered,
together with an advanced age, and the fear of lofing not only
what I had gottes, but my life alſo, might have choaked up all
the feeds of youthful ambition and curiofity, and put a laſting
period to my andering inclinations. But, as nothing but
death can fully allay the active part of my life, no less remark-
able for the many various contingencies of it: You will there
perceive how I vifited my little kingdom, faw my fucceffors the
Spaniards, had an account of the ufage they met with from the
Engliſhmen, agreeing and difagreeing, uniting and fepararing,
till at last they were ſubjected to the Spaniards, who yet uled
them very honourably; together with the wonderful and fuc-
ceisful battles over the Indians, who invaded, and thought to
have conquered the Iſland, but were repelled by their invinci-
ble courage and bravery, having taken eleven men and five
women prifoners; by which, at my return, I found about
twenty young children on my little kingdon. Here I ſtayed
twenty days, left them ſupplies of all neceſſary things, as alſo
a carpenter and fmith, and ſhared the iſland into parts, referv-
ing the whole property to myſelf. Nor will you be infentible,
by the account of thefe things, of feveral new adventures Í
have been engaged in, the battles I have fought, the deliver-
ances I have made thereon. And while, in the furprizing re-
lation of ſuch remarkable occurrences, I thall defcribe many
of God's kindest providences to me in particular; no lefs con-
Ipicuous in the fame goodneſs, power and majeſty of our great
Creator, Дhewn, one way or other, over the face of the earth.
L &
THE
THE
1
FARTHER ADVENTURES
O F
ROBINSON CRUSOE.
Wherein are contained ſeveral ſtrange and ſurpriſing Accounts of his
Travels, and most remarkable Tranfactions, both by Sea and
Land.
WHE
HEN we confider the puiffant force of nature, and what
mighty influence it has many times over the temper of
the mind; it will be no fuch great wonder to think that my
powerful reafon fhould be overcome by a much stronger in-
clination. My late acquired kingdom ran continually in my
thoughts all the day, and I dreamt of it in the night; nay, I
made it the continual fubject of my talk, even to impertinence,
when I was awake. I had fuch vapours in my head, that I
actually fuppofed myſelf at my caftle: That I not only per-
ceived Friday's father, the old Spaniard, and the wicked failors;
but that I talked and difcouried with them about their man-
ner of living: That I heard thofe things related to me, which
I found afterwards to be but too true; and that I executed my
judgments with the greatest feverity upon the offenders. And
indeed this anticipating all the pleafing joys of my life, fcarce-
ly afforded me one pleaſant hour; my dear and tender wife
could fiot but take notice of it, which drew theſe affec-
tionate ſpeeches from her: My dear, faid fhe, I am really per-
fuaded that fome fecret impulfe from heaven occafions in you a de-
termination to fee the ifand again: Nor am I lefs fenfible, but your
being engaged to me and tbefe dear children, is the only bindrance
of your departure. I know, my dear, if I was in the grave, you
would not long continue at bome: Prevent not your happiness upon
my account, whofe only comfort centres in you. All that I can ob-
ject is, that fuch an bazardous undertaking is no way confiftent
with a perfon of your years; but if you are refolved to go, (added
the weeping) only permit me to bear you company, and that is all
that I defire.
Such
127.
Such endearing tenderneſs, graced with the mot innocent,
and yet most powerful charms, brought me infenfibly into my
right underſtanding: And when I conſidered all the tranfac-
tions of my life, and particularly my new engagement; that I
had now one child born, and my wife big of another; and that
I had no occafion to feek for more riches, who already was
bleffed with fufficiency; with much ftruggling, I altered my
reſolutions at laſt, refolving to apply myfelf to fome buſineſs
or other, which might put a period to fuch wandering incli-
nations. Hereupon I bought a little farm in the county of
Bedford, with a refolution to move thither: Upon this there
was a pretty convenient house, furrounded with land, very
capable of improvement, which fuited my temper, as to plant-
ing, managing and cultivating. Nor was I long before I en.
tered upon my new fettlement, having bought ploughs, har-
rows, cart, waggon, horles, cows, and fheep; fo that I now led
the life of a country gentleman, and was as happy in my retire-
ment as the greatest monarch in the world. And what made
me think my happineſs the greater was, that I was in that mid-
dle ſtate of life which my father had fo often recommended,
much reſembling the felicity of a rural retirement, which is
elegantly defcribed by the poet in theſe lines:
Free from all vices, free from care,
Age has no pain, and youth no fnare.
But in the midst of this my chiefeft happiness, I was fudden-
ly plunged in the greatest forrow that I could poflibly endure:
For, when I leaft expected it, my dear and tender wife was
forced to fubmit to the irrefiftable power of death, leaving
this tranſitory life for a better. It is impoffible for me to ex
prefs the beauties of her mind, or the loveliness of her perſon;
neither can I too much lament her lofs, which my latest breath
fhall record. Her influence was greater over me than the
powers of my own reafon, the importunities of friends, the
inftructions of a father, or the melting tears of a tender and
difconfolate mother: In a word fhe was the ſtandard of all
my affairs, the centre of my enterprizes, and the principal
engine to direct me in the courfe to happineſs.
But now,
fince the cruel hand of death had cloſed my deareft's eyes,
in my thoughts, I feemed a ftranger to the world; my Privy
Counsellor being gone, I was like a fhip without a pilot, and
that I could only run before the wind. And when I looked
around me in this bufy world, one part labouring for bread,
and the other fquandering away their eftates; this put me in
mind how I had lived in my little kingdom, where reaſon and
religion dictated to me, that there was fomething that certain-
ly was the reafon and end of lite, which was far fuperior to
what could be hoped for on this fide the grave. My country
delights were now as inupid and dull as mufic or fenfe to thoſe
who
128
who have neither taſte or ingenuity. In short, refolving to
leave off houſe keeping, I left my farm, and in a few months
returned to Londen.
But neither could that great city, fo famous for its variety
of entertainments, afford me any agreeable delight. A ftate
of idleness I found to be the very dregs of life, and moſt hurt-
ful to body and foul. It was now the beginning of the year
1693, at which time my nephew (who I before obferved had
been brought up to the fea, advanced to be captain of a thip)
was returned from a fhort voyage to Bilboa, the first he had
made in that ſtation. He comes to me one morning, telling
me, that ſome merchants of his acquaintance had propoſed to
him to go a voyage for them to the Eaſt Indies and China, in
the manner of private traders: And now, Uncle, ſaid he, if
you'll accompany me thither, I'll engage to land you upon your old
island, there to behold the ftate of your little kingdom.
It was just before he came in, my thoughts were fixed to
get a patent for its poffeffion, and then to fill it with inhabi-
tants. After I had pauſed a little while, and looked ſtedfaftly
on him, What devil, or ſpirit, ſaid I, fent you here with this un-
kuck; errand? He ſtartled at first, but recovering himſelf, when
he perceived. I was not offended: Sir, replied he, what I have
propoſed cannot, I hope, be flyled unlucky, fince certainly you
must be defirous to fee your little territory, where you reigned
with more content than any of your brother kings in the uni-
verfe. Nephew, faid I, if you will leave me there, and call
for me as you come back, I care not if I give my confent: But
he anſwered, that the merchants would not allow their veſſel,
laden with an infinite value, to return there again, which was
a month's fail out of the way: Befides, Sir, laid he, ſuppoſe I
fhould milcarry, was your requeft granted, why then you
would be in the fame ftate as before. This indeed carried a
great deal of reafon in it, but we found out a remedy, and that
was, to carry a framed floop on board, ready to be fet up in the
iſland, by the aſſiſtance of fome carpenters which we ſhould carry
with us, that would be fitted in a few days to go to fea. I was
not dong forming my reſolution, which overſwayed my good
friend the widow's perfuafions, and the natural affection I
fhould bear to my young children. I made my will, and ſet-
ted my eſtate in ſuch a manner, that I was perfectly eaſy that
the poor infants would have justice done them. The good
widow not only undertook to make provifion for my voyage,
but alſo took the charge of my domeſtic affairs, and to provide
for my children's education; and indeed no mother could take-
more care, or understood that office better, which Llived to re-
ward, and to return her my hearty thanks for.
The beginning of January 1694-5, my nephew being rea-
dy to fail, I and Friday went on board in the Downs on the
8th.j
129
8th; having, beſides that ſloop already mentioned, a very con-
fiderable cargo for my new colony. First, I had fome fervants,
whom I propoſed to leave there as inhabitants, or to work
while I flayed there, as they ſhould appear willing: There
were two carpenters, a fmith, and a very ingenious fellow who
was jack of all trades; for he was not only a cooper by trade,
but was alfo dexterous at making wheels and hand mills to
grind corn, likewiſe a good turner and a good pot maker. I
alfo carried a taylor, who conſented to ſtay in my plantation,
and proved a moſt neceffary fellow in the iſland. As to my
cargo, it confifted of a fufficient quantity of linen, and Englifb
ftuffs, for clothing the Spaniards that I expected to find there;
as likewife gloves, hats, shoes, stockings; together with beds,
bedding, and houfhold ftuff, efpecially kitchen utensils, with
pote, kettles, pewter, braſs, &c. alfo nails, tools of all forts,
ftaples, hooks, hinges, and all other things neceſſary; all which,
I think, coft me about 300. Nor was this all, for I carried
an hundred ſpare arms, mufkets, and fuzees, besides fome pif-
tols, a conſiderable quantity of ſeveral ſorts of ſhot, two braſs
cannon, befides fwords, cutlaffes, and the iron part for fome
pikes and halberts; and I made my nephew take with us two
Imall quarter deck guns more than he had occafion for in his
ſhip, to leave behind, if there was a neceffity: So that we
might build a fort there, and man it againſt all oppoſers what-
foever.
Well, we put out to fea; and though I can't ſay this voyage
was fo unprofperous as my others had been, yet contrary winds
drove us fo far northward, that we were obliged to put in at
Galway in Ireland, where we lay wind bound two and twenty
days. Here indeed our provifions were very cheap, and we
added to our ship's ftores, by taking in ſeveral live hogs, two
cows and calves, which I then refolved to put on fhore in my
ifland, if our neceffities did not call for them. On the 5th of
February we failed from Ireland, with a very fair gale, which
lafted for fome days; and, I think it was about the 20th of the
fame month, late in the evening, when the mate informed us,
that he law a flafh of fire, and heard a gun fired; and while
he was fpeaking, a boy came in, and told us the boatswain
heard another. Upon which, we all ran to the quarter deck,
from whence, in a few minutes we perceived a terrible fire at a
diſtance. We had immediate recourſe to our reckonings, in
which we were all of opinion that there could be no land that
way, it appearing to be at N. N. W. Hereupon we concluded
that fome fhip had taken fire at ſea, and that it could not be
far off, by the report of the guns which we had heard. We
made up directly to it, and in half an hour's time, wind being
fair, we could plainly perceive a great fhip on fire in the mid-
dle of the fea. Touched with this unhappy d:fafter, and con-
fidering
130
fidering my former circumstances, when the Portuguefe captain
took me up, I immediately ordered five guns to be fired, that
the poor creatures (not feeing us, it being dark, as we could
perceive their flame) might be ſenſible there was a deliverance
at hand, and confequently might endeavour to fave themfelves
in their boat. Nor was it long before the ship blew up in the
air, and the fire extinguiſhed in the ocean. But fuppofing them
all to be in their boats, we hung out all our lanthorns, and
kept firing till eight o'clock in the morning; when, with our
perfpective glaffes, we beheld two boats, full of people, mak-
ing towards us, though the tide was against them, Then
fpreading out our ancient, and hanging out a waft as a fignal
for them to come on board, in half an hour's time we came
up to them, and took them all in, there being no leſs than 64
men, women and children. It was a French merchant ship of
300 tons, homeward bound from Quebeck in the river of Cana-
da. The matter informed me, how by the negligence of the
fleetfman, the fteerage was fet on fire; that at his outcry for
help, the fire was, as they thought, totally extinguished; but
that ſome ſparks getting between the timber and between the
ceiling, it proceeded into the hold, where there was no relift-
ing it, that then they got into their boats, as creatures in the
laft extremity, with what provifion they had, together with
oars, fails, and a compaſs, intending to go back to Newfound-
land, the wind blowing at S. E. and by E. though there were
feveral chances against them, as ftorms to overfet and founder
them, rains and cold to benumb and perish their limbs, and
contrary winds to keep them out and ſtarve them: But, faid
he, in this our great diftrefs, we heard the welcome report of
your guns, when, with unspeakable joy, taking down our maſts
and fails, we were refolved to be by till morning; but per-
ceiving your light, we fet our oars at work to keep our boat
a head, the fooner to attain your ſhip, the happy inftrument of
our deliverance.
X
Indeed no one can exprefs the joy of thefe poor creatures on
this occafion: Fear and grief are easily fet forth: Sighs and
fears, with a few motions of the hands and head, make up the
fum of its variety: But an exceſs or ſurpriſe of joy carries in
it a thouſand extravagances; especially, I think, amongst the
French, whole temper is allowed to be more volatile, paffion-
ate, ſprightly and fluid, than in other kingdoms. Some were
either weeping, tearing themſelves in the greateſt agonies of
førrow, and running flark raving mad about the hip; while
the reſt were ſtamping with their feet, wringing their hands,
inging, laughing, fwooning away, vomiting, fainting and
a few returning hearty thanks to the Almighty, and croſſing
themfelves. I think, if I am not miſtaken, our furgeon was
obliged to let thirty of them blood. But among the paffengers
there
134
there were two prieſts, the one an old, and the other a young
man; but what amazed me more, the oldeft was the worst:
For, no fooner did he perceive himfelt freed from danger, but
he dropped down as it were without life, and to every one's
appearance, quite dead; but the furgeon, chafing and rubbing
his arm, he opened a vein, which at firft dropped, and then
flowing more freely, the old man began to open his eyes, and
in a quarter of an hour was well again But foon revolving
his happy change, the joy of which whirled his fpirits about
faster than the veffels could convey them, his blood became fo
feverish, as made him more fit for bed am than any other
place; but the furgeon giving him a fleepy dofe, he was per-
fectly compofed next morning.
Remarkable indeed was the behaviour of the young prieſt.
At his entrance on board the fhip, he fell on his face in the
moft humble proftration to the Almighty. I thought indeed
he had fallen into a iwoon, and fo ran to help him up; but he
modeftly told me, he was returning his thanks to the Almigh-
ty, defiring me to leave him a few monents, and that, next
to his Creator, he would return me thanks alfo. And indeed
he did to about three minutes after, with great ferioufnels
and affection, though the tears flood in his eyes, which con-
firmed the gratitude of his foul. Nor did he lets fhew his piety
and wildom, in applying himſelf to his country people, and
labouring to compofe them by the most powertul reatons, ar-
guments, and perfuafions. And when indeed theſe people
had taken their night's repofe, in fuch convenient lodgings as
our ſhip would allow, we found nothing but the best of man-
ners, and the moſt civil acknowledgments, for which the
French are eminently remarkable. The next day the captain
and one of the priefis, defired to fpeak with me and my nephew
the commander. They told us they had faved fome money
and valuable things out of the ruined veſſel, which was at our
fervice, only that they defired to be fet on fhore fome where in
our way. At the firft, my nephew was for accepting the
money; but I, (who knew how hard my cafe could have been,
had the Portuguese captain ferved me fo) perfuaded him to the
contrary; and therefore told them, that as we had done noth-
ing but what we were obliged to do by reafon and humanity,
and what we ourſelves might expect from others in fuch calam-
ity; fo we took them tip to fave them, not to plunder them or
leave them naked upon the land, to perish for want of fub.
fiftence, and therefore would not accept their money: But as
to landing them, that was a great difficulty; for being bound
to the Eaft-Indies, it was impoffible wilfully to change our
voyage upon this particular account, nor my nephew (who
was under charter party to purſue it by way of Brâfil) anſwer
it to the freighters.” All that we could do was, to put our-
felves
132
t
felves in the way of meeting fome fhips homeward bound from
the West-Indies, that if poffible they might get a paſſage to France
or England. Indeed they were very thankful for our firit
kindneſs; but were under great concern, eſpecially their paſ-
fengers, at their being carried to the East Indies. They beg-
ged therefore I would keep on the banks of Newfoundland,
where probably they might meet with fome fhip or floop to
carry them to Canada, whence they came. As this was
but a reaſonable requeft, I was inclined to grant it, fince it
was no breach of charter party; and that the laws of God
and nature obliged us to do what good we could to our fellow
creatures; and befides, the danger we ourſelves fhould be in
for want of provifions: So we confented to carry them to
Newfoundland, if wind and weather would permit; if not,
that we should carry them to Martinico in the West Indies. But,
as it happened, in a week's time, we made the banks of New-
foundland, where the French people hired a bark to carry them
to France. But the young priest being defirous to go to the
Eaft Indies, I readily agreed to it, becauſe I liked his conver-
fation; and two or three of the French failors alfo entered
themſelves on board our hip.
Now directing our courfe for the West Indies, fteering S. and
S. by E. about twenty days with little wind, another adven-
ture happened to exerciſe our humanity. In the latitude
of 27 degrees 5 m. north, the 19th of March 1694-5, we per.
ceived a fail, (our courfe S. E. and by S.) which bore up to
us, and then the appeared to be a large velfel, having loft her
main topmaſl, fore maſt, and bow fprit, when firing a gun, as
a fignal of citrefs, wind N. N. W. we foon came to fpeak with
her. She was a fhip of Brifiol, bound home from Barbadoes,
out of which road ſhe had been forced by a hurricane to the
weftward, in which they loft their matts: They told us, their
expectations were to fee the Bahama Iflands, but were driven
away by a frong wind at N. N. W. and having no fails, to
work the fhip with, but the main courſe and a kind of ſquare
fail upon a jury fore maft, because they could come near the
land, were endeavouring to ftand for the Canaries. Nay,
"what was worſe, beſides all their fatigue, they were almoſt
flarved for want of provifion, having ate nothing for eleven
days; all that they had a board was fugar, a caſk of fresh wa-
ter, and leven cafks of rum In this hip were three paffen-
gers; a youth, his mother, and a maid fervant, who were in a
moſt deplorable condition for want of food. If I had not gone
on board their ſhip, this knowledge of their mifery had been
concealed from me, and they would have inevitably periſhed,
though indeed their ſecond hate (who was captain, by reafon
the true captain was not on board when the hurricane happen-
ed) had before informed me, that there were fuch perſons on
board,
133
board, whom he ſuppoſed to be dead, being afraid to enquire
after them, becauſe he had nothing to give them for relief.
Hereupon we refolved to let them have what we could fpare,
ordering the mate to bring fome of his men on board us,
which he accordingly did, yet both he and they looked like ſkele-
tons; and when meat was fet before them, I ordered them
to eat ſparingly. But, however, they foon fell lick, which
obliged the furgeon to mix fomething in their broth, that was
to be to them both food and phyfic. When they were fed,
we ordered our mate to carry them a fack uf bread, and four
or five pieces of beef to boil; but the furgeon charged them
to fee it boiled, and to keep a guard in the cook room, to pre.
vent the men eating it raw, and confequently kill themſelves
with what was defigned for their relief. But particularly I
detired the mate to fee what condition the poor pallengers were
in, and the furgeon gave him a pitcher of the fame broth
which he had prepared for the men': And being curious to fee
this ſcene of mifery myfelf, I took the captain, (as we called
the mate of the fhip) in our own boat, and failed after them.
Here was a fad light indeed! Scarce was the victuals half
boiled in the pot, but they were ready to break open the cook
room door.
To ftay their ftomachs, the mate gave them bit-
cuits, which were dipt in, and føfteurd with the liquor of the
meat, which they call Breavis; telling them it was for their own
fafety, that he was obliged to give them but a little at a time;
and to feeding them gradually, their bellies were comfortably
filled, and the men did very well again. But when they came
to the poor gentlewoman in the cabin, who for feveral days
continued without food, giving what ſhe had to her ſon, they
found her as it were in the arms of death. She was fitting
upon the floor of the deck, with her back up againſt the ɓdes;
between two chairs, which were lafhed faft, and her head
fhrunk between her thoulders, like a lenfelefs corps. Nothing
was wanting in my niate to revive and encourage her, opening
her lips, and putting fome broth into her mouth with a spoon.
But not having ſtrength to ſpeak, fhe lifted up her head with
much difficulty, intimating that it was now too late; at the
fame time pointing to the youth, her fon, as though the deſired
him to do what he could to fave him; and, in a little time at-
ter, he died.
تونگا
+
The youth indeed was not fo far gone; yet lay fretched
out in a cabin bed like one that had fcarce any life: In his
mouth was a piece of an old glove, the reſt of which he had
At firſt he vomited up what the mate had given hini';
but at length began fenfibly to revive, though in the greatet
concern for the death of his tender mother.
ate up.
As to the poor inaid the lay by her miftrefs like one in the
atelt pangs of death: Her limbs were diftorted, one of her
hands
M
134
hands were clafped round the frame of a chair, which the grafp-
ed fo hard, that it was with fome difficulty we ſeparated her
from it; her other arm lay over her head, and her feet lay
both together, ſet faſt againſt the frame of the cabin table; not
only being ſtarved with hunger, but overcome with grief for
the lofs of her miftrefs, whom the loved molt tenderly. It
was a great while before the furgeon could bring her to life,
and a much longer time before she came to her fenfes.
After we had failed with them fome days, we fent them five
barrels of beef, one of pork, two hogfheads of bifcuit, with
peafe, flour, and other things, taking three cafks of fugar,
fome rum, and fome pieces of eight for fatisfaction, we left
them, but took the youth and maid with us, with all their
goods. The lad was about 17 years old, very handſome,
modeft, fenfible, and well bred, but mightily concerned for the
lofs of his honoured mother, having lost his father at Barbadocs
but a few months before. He befeeched the furgeon to in-
tercede with me to take him out of the fhip; for that the fail.
ors, not ſparing a ſmall ſuſtenance, had murdered his mother.
But hunger has no bounds, no right, and confequently is in-
capable of any compaſſion. When the furgeon told him that
our voyage might put him in bad circumstances, and farther
from his friends, he anfwered, he did not care fo he was but
delivered from that terrible crew: That as the captai', (mean-
ing me) had faved him from death, fo he was fure that he
would do him no harm; and as for the maid, when the was
reſtored to her fenfes, fhe would be no leís thankful, let us
carry them where we would. And indeed the furgeon fo re-
prefented their cafe to me, that I confented, and took them on
Board, with all their goods, except 11 hogfheads of lugar; but
the youth having a bill of lading, I made the commander fign
a writing, to oblige him to deliver a letter and the deceaſed
widow's goods to Mr. Rogers, a merchant at Briſtol: But I be-
lieve the ſhip was loft at fea, for we could never hear what be-
came of her afterwards. We were now in the latitude of 19
deg. 32 min. having as yet a tolerable good voyage. But,
paffing by feveral little incidents relative to wind and weather,
I fhall relate what is more remarkable concerning my little
kingdom, to which I was then drawing near. I had great diffi-
culty in attaining it; for as I came to, and went from it be-
fore, on the fouth and eaſt of the iſland, as coming from the
Brafils; fo now approaching between the main and the iſland,
not having any chart of the coaft, nor land mark, it obliged us
to go on fhore on ſeveral iſlands, on the mouth of the great
river Oroonoko, but to no purpose. Then I perceived, that
what I thought was a continent before, was no fuch thing, but
a long iſland, or rather a ridge of land. On one of thee if-
lands, I found fome Spaniards, but they belonged to the iſland
of
135
of Trinidad, who came hither in a floop to make falt, and find
fome pearl muſcles, if they could. But at length I came fair
on the fouth fide of my ifland, and then I preſently knew the
countenance of my little kingdom; ſo we brought the fhip ſafe
to an anchor, with her broadfide to the little creek, where
flood my ancient and venerable caſtle.
No fooner did I fee the place, but calling for Friday, I afk-
ed him where he was? But when he looked a little, he clap-
ped his hands, crying, O joy, O there, O yes, O there! pointing
to our old abode, and then fell a dancing and capering as if he
was mad; and I had much ado to keep him from jumping in-
to the ſea, to ſwim afhore. Friday, faid I, what do you think,
fhall we ſee your father? At the mentioning his father's name,
the poor affectionate creature fell a weeping: No no, (lays he)
me fee bim no more, never fee poor father more! be long ago die,
die long ago; be much old man. You don't know that, Friday,
faid I, but ſhall we tee any body elſe? He looks about, and
pointing to the hill above my houfe, he cries out, We fee! we
fee! there much men, and there! which though I could not per-
ceive them with my perſpective glafs, was true, by what the
men themſelves told me the next day.
When the Eng/b ancient was fpread, and three guns fired
as a fignal of friendthip, we perceived a ſmoke rife from the
creek; upon which I ordered the boat out, taking Friday with
me, and, hanging out a white flag of truce, I went on fhore, ac-
companied alfo by the young Friar, to whom I had related the
hiſtory of the first part of my life. Beſides, we had fixteen
men well armed, in cafe we had met with any oppofition.
After we had rowed directly into the creek, the firft man I
fixed my eyes upon was the Spaniard, whofe life I had faved,
and whofe face 1 perfectly well knew. I ordered them all to
ftay in the boat for a while; but Friday, verceiving his father
at a diſtance, would have jumped into the fea had they not let
him go. No fooner was he on shore, but he flew like a fwift
arrow out of a bow, to embrace his ancient father. Certainly
it would melt a man of the firmelt refolution, into the ſofteft
tears, to fee with what uncommon tranfports of joy he faluted
him. He first kiffed him, then ftroked his face, took him in
his arms, laid him under a fhady tree, fat down by him, then
looked as earneftly at him as one would do at a picture, for a
quarter of an hour together. After this he would lie upon the
ground, ftroke his legs, and kifs them, then get up and ftare
at him as though he was bewitched: But the next day one
could not forbear laughter, to fee his behaviour; for he
would walk feveral hours with his father along the fhore, lead-
ing him by the hand as though he was a lady, while every now
and then he would run to the boat to get fomething for him
as a lump of fugar, dram, biſcuit, or fomething or other that
was
136
was good. His frolicks ran in another channel in the after-
noon; for, when he fet old Friday on the ground, he would
dance round him, making comical poſtures and gettures; and
all this while would be telling him one ſtory or other of his
travels and adventures.
for
It was on the 10th of April, Anno 1695, that I fet my foot
upon the and a fecond time. When my faithful Spaniard,
accompanied by one more, approached the boat. He little
knew who I was, till I discovered myself to him: Signior, ſaid
I, in Portugueſe, don't you know me? He (poke never a word;
but, giving his mufket to his attendant, extended his arms, and
faying fomething in Spanish that I did not then underſtand, he
came forward and embraced me; faying, he was inexcuſable,
not to know his deliverer, who, like an angel fent from heav-
en, had faved his life. He then beckoned to the man to call
out his companions: afking me if I would walk to my own
habitation, and take poffeffion, where I should find fome mean
improvements; but indeed they were extraordinary ones;
they had planted fo many trees, fo cloſe together, that the place
was like a labyrinth, which none could find out except them-
felves, who knew its intricate windings. I asked him the mean-
ing of all these fortifications; he told me, he would give me a
Jarge account of what had paſt ſince my departure to this time,
and how he had fubdued fome English who thought to be their
murderers, hoping I would not be difplealed, fince neceflity
compelled them to it. As I knew they were wicked villains,
I told him, that I was not only far from finding fault with it,
but was rather heartily glad they had fubdued them.
But
while we were talking, the man whom he had :ſent returned,
accompanied by eleven more; but in fuch habits, that it was
impoffible to tell what nations they were of. He firft turned
to me, pointing to them: Thefe, Sør, faid he, are fome of the
gentlemen who owe their lives to your goodneſs; and then
turning to them, and pointing to me, he made them fenfible
who I was: And then indeed they faluted me one by one, not
as ordinary men, but as though they had been ambaſſadors of
noblemen, and I a triumphant conquerer: For their beha-
viour not only agreed with a manlike, majeſtic gravity, but, at
the fame time, was fo obliging and courteous, as made them
admirable to the laft degree.
►
Before I relate the hiftory of the tranfactions of my king-
dom, as I had it from the Spaniard's own mouth, I muſt here
infert what I omitted in my former relation. The matter is
this: Juft before we weighed anchor to fet fail, there happen-
ed a quarrel on board the ſhip, which had like to have occa-
Goned a fecond mutiny, till fuch time as the courageous cap-
taim, taking two of the most refractory prifoners, he laid them
in irons, threatening them, as they were concerned in the form.
er
137
er diſorders, to have them hanged in England for running away
with the fhip. This frightened ſome of the reſt, as thinking
the captain would ferve them in the fame manner, though he
feemed to give them good words for the prefent. But the
mate, having intelligence of this, made me acquainted with
their fears; fo that to make them more eafy, and ourſelves
more fafe from their confpiracies, I was obliged to go down,
and pafs my Honour's word for it, that, upon their good beha-
viour, all that was paft should be pardoned; in tellimony of
which I ordered the two men's irons to be taken off, and
themselves forgiven. But as this had brought us to an anchor
that night, in which there was a calm, the two men that had
been in irons, ftcle each of them a mufket, and fome other
weapons, and taking the fhip's pinnace, not yet hawled up, ran
way to their brother rogues. The next morning we fent the
long boat, with men to purfue them, but all in vain. The
nate, in revenge, would have demoliſhed my little cattle, burnt
its furniture, and deftroyed their plantations; but having no
orders for it, he did not put it in execution. And thus there
were five Engliſtmen in the iſland, which cauſed great differ-
ences, as my faithful Spaniard gave me a perfect account of in
the following manner :
You cannot, Sir, but remember the embally you ſent me 2-4
bout, and what a diſappointment we met with, by your ab
fence, at our return. There is but little variety in the rela
tion of our voyage, being bleft with calm weather and a
mooth fea. Great indeed was the joy of my countrymen, on
fecing me alive, having acted as the principal man on board,
the captain of the ſhipwrecked veſſel dying before; nor was
their furpriſe lefs, who knowing I was taken prisoner by the
avages of another nation, thought me long fince entombed in
their monftrous bowels. But, when I fhewed them the arms,
ammunition, and provifion I had brought for them, they look.
ed upon me as a fecond Joſeph advanced in Pharaoh's court,
and immediately prepared to come along with me. Indeed,
they were obliged to trefpafs upon their friendly ſavages, by
borrowing two of their canoes, under a pretext for fishing
and they came away the next morning, but without any pro-
vifions of their own, except a few roots, which ferved them in-
tead of bread. After three week's abſence, we arrived at our
babitation. Here we met with three Engliſh failors, who, I
confefs, gave us provifions, and that letter of directions you
had left for us, which informed us, how to bring up tame
goats, plant corn, cure grapes, make pots; and, in ſhort, eve
ery thing that was neceffary for our ufe; as I in particular,
knew your method befl, I took Friday's father to affift me,
and fo we managed all the affairs. Nor were the reft of the Spani
ards wanting in their kind offices, dreffing food for the Engliſh -
M.2
men,
138
men, who did nothing but ramble and divert themſelves in the
woods, either fhooting parrots, or catching tortoifes
But we
had not been long afhore, before we were informed of two
more Englißomen, unnaturally turned out of their common place
of refidence, by the three others above mentioned: This made
my Spaniards and me (whom they looked upon as their Gov-
ernour, in your abſence) endeavour to perfuade them to take
them in, that we might be as one family; but all our entrea-
ties were in vain; ſo that the poor fellows, finding nothing to
be done without induſtry, pitched their tents on the north fide
of the iſland, a little inclining to the weft, for fear of favages.
Here they built two huts, one to lodge, and the other to lay
their ftores in; for my good natured Spaniards giving theur
fome feed, they dug and planted as I had done, and began to
live prettily. But while they were going on thus comfortably,
the three unnatural brutes, their countrymen, in a mere bul-
lying humour, inſulted them, by faying the Governour (mean-
ing you) had given them poffeffion of the iſland, and, damn
them, they ſhould build no houſes upon their ground, without
paying rent. The two honeft men (for ſo let me now diſtin-
guish them) thought their three countrymen only jeſted, and
one of them invited them in, to ſee their fine habitations; while
the other facetiouſly told them, that ſince they built tenements,
with great improvements, they fhould, according to the cuttom
of landlords, give them a longer leafe; at the fame time de-
firing them to fetch a fcrivener to draw the writings. One of
the wretches, ſwearing he ſhould pay for the jeft, fnatches up
a fire brand, and clapping it to the outſide of their hut, very
fairly let it on fire, which ſoon would have been confumed,
had not the honeſt man thruſt him away, and trod it out with
his feet. Hereupon the fellow returns with a pole, with which
he would have ended his days, had not the poor man avoided
the blow; when fetching his muſket, he knocked the villain
down that began the quarrel. The other two, coming to allift
their fellow, obliged the other honeft man to take his muſket
alfo, and both, prefeating their pieces, bid the villains ſtand
off; and if they did not lay down their arms, death ſhould de-
cide the diſpute one way or other. This brought them to a
parley, in which they agreed to take their wounded man, and
be gone; but they were in the wrong that they did not dif-
arm them when they had the power, and then make their com-
plaint to me and my Spaniards for juftice, which might have
prevented their farther deſigns againſt them. And indeed to
many trefpaffes did they commit after, by treading down their
corn, ſhooting their young kids and goats, and plaguing them
night and day, that they refolved to come to my caſtle, chal-
lenge all the three, and decide their rights by one plain battle,
while the Spaniards ſtood by to ſee fair play. One day it hap-
pened,
139.
pened, that two of my Spaniards (one of whom underſtood
Engliſh) being in the woods, were met by one of the honeft.
men, who complained how barbarous their countrymen had
been, in deſtroying their corn, killing their milch goat and
three kids, which deprived them of their fubfiftence; that if
we did not grant them relief, they muſt be inevitably ſtarved ;
and fo they parted: But when my Spaniards came home at
night, and fupper being on the table, one of them began to
reprehend the Engliſhmen, but in a very mannerly way; which
they reſenting, replied, What buſineſs had their countrymen
there without leave? and that it was none of their ground.
Why, faid my Spaniard calmly, Ingleſe they must not farge:
But they replied, Let them ftarve and be damned, they should
neither plant nor build; and damn them, they ſhould be their
fervants, and work for them; for the iſland was theirs, and
they would burn all the huts they fhould find on the land: By
this rule (ſaid my Spaniard fmiling) we ſhall be your fervants.
too? Aye, by God, and fo you fhall, replied the impudent raf-
cal. Upon which, Will. Aikins ſtarting up, cries, come, Jack,
lets have t'other brush with them; who dare build in our do-
minions? Thus, leaving us fomething heated with a juft paf-
fion, away they trooped, every man having a gun, piſtol, and
fword, muttering fome threatening words, that we could then
but imperfectly underſtand. That night they defigned to
murder their two companions, and flept till midnight in the
bower, thinking to fall upon them in their fleep: Nor were
the honeft men lefs thoughtful concerning them; for at this
juncture they were coming to find them out, but in a much
fairer way. As foon as the villains came to the huts, and
found nobody there, they concluded, that I and my Spaniards
had given them notice, and therefore fwore to be revenged on
115.
Then they demoliſhed the poor men's habitation, not by
fire, as they attempted before, but pulled down their houſes
limb from limb, not leaving a flick nor ftone on the ground
where they ſtood; broke their houſhold ſtuff in pieces, tore up
their trees, ſpoiled their encloſure; and, in fhort, quite ruined
them of every thing they had. Had theſe people met together,
no doubt but there would have been a bloody battle; but Pro-
vidence ordered it for the better: For juſt as the three were
got thither, the two were at our caſtle; and when they left us,
the three came back again, ſcoffingly, telling us what they had
done; when one, taking hold of the Spaniard's hat, twirls it
round, ſaying, And you, Seignior Jack Spaniard, ſhall have the
fame fauce, if you don't mend your manners My Spaniard, a
grave, but a courageous man, knocked him down with one.
blow of his fift; at which, another villain fired his piftol, and
narrowly miſſed his body, but wounded him a little in the ear.
The Spaniard, enraged hereat, takes up the fellow's muſket
whom
140
whom he had knocked down, and would have fhot him, if I
and the reft had not come out, and taken their arms from every
one of them.
Thele Englifemen, perceiving they had made all of us their
enemies, began to cool but notwithſtanding their better
words, the Spaniards would not return theai their arms
again; telling them they would do no manner of harm, if they
would live peaceably; but if they offered any injury to the
plantation or caftie, they would fhoot them as they would do
ravenous beasts This made them fo mad, that they went
away raging like the furies of hell. They were no foonér gone,
but in came the two honeft men, fired with the jufteft rage, if
fuch can be, having been ruined as aforefaid; and indeed it
was very hard, that nineteen of us fhould be bullied by three
villains, continually offending with impunity.
It was a great while, Sir, before we could perfuade the two
Engliſhmen from purſuing, and undoubtedly killing them with
their fire arms; but we promiſed them juſtice ſhould be done
them, and in the mean time they fhould refide with us in our
own habitation. In about five days after, thefe three vagrants,
almott ftarved with hunger, drew near our grove; and per-
ceiving me, the Governour, and two others, walking by the
fide of the creek, they very fubmiffively defired to be received
into the family again. We told them of their great incivility
to us, and of their unnatural barbarity to their countrymen;
but yet we would ſee what the reft agreed to, and would bring
them word in half an hour. After fome debate, we called
them in, where their two countrymen laid a heavy charge
against them, for not only ruining, but deligning to murder
them, which they could not deny. But here I was forced to
interpoſe as a mediator; by obliging the two Englishmen not
to hurt them, being naked and unarmed; and that the other
three 'fhould make them reftitution, by building their two
huts, and fencing their ground in the fame manner as it was
before. Well, being in a miferable condition, they fubmit-
ted to this at prefent, and lived fome time regularly enough,
except to the working part, which they did not care for; but
the Spaniards would have difpenfed with that, had they con-
tinued eafy and quiet. Their arms being given to them again,
they fearce had them a week, till they became as troubleſome
as ever; but an accident happening foon after, obliged us
lay afide private refentments, and look to our common pre-
fervation.
One night, Sir, I went to bed perfectly well in health, ard
yet by no means could I compofe myſelf to fleep: Upon which,
Being very uneafy; I got up, and looked out, but it being
dark, could perceive nothing but the trees around our caftle:
I went to bed again, but it was all one, Fcould not fleep when
one
141
one of my Spaniards hearing me walk about, aſked me, who is
that up? 1 anfwered, 'tis I; when I told him the occafion;
Sir, faid he, fuch things are not to be flighted; for certainly
there is fome mischief plotting near us. Where are the Eng-
liſhmen? faid 1.
He answered, in their huts: for they lay
teparate from us, Sir, fince the laſt mutiny. Well, faid I,
fome kind fpirit gives this information for our advantage.
Come let us look abroad, and fomething may offer to juſtify
our pains. Upon which I and fome of my Spaniards went up
to the mountain, not by the ladder, but through the grove ;
and then we were firuck into a panic fear by feeing a light, as
though it were a fire, at a very little diſtance, and hearing the
voices of ſeveral men. Hereupon we retreated immediately,
and raiſing the reſt of our forces, made them fenfible of the im-
pending danger: But, with all my authority, I could not
make them ſtay where they were, ſo earneſt were they to ſee
how things went; though indeed the darkneſs of the night
gave them opportunity enough to view them (by the light
of the fire) undiſcovered. As they were different parties, and
Araggling over the fhore, we were much afraid that they
thould find out our habitation, and deſtroy our flocks of goats:
To prevent which, we fent one Engliſhman aard two Spaniards
to drive the goats into the valley where the cave lay; or, if
there was occafion, into the cave itfelf. As to our own parts,
reſuming our native courage and prudent conduct, had they
not been divided, we durft venture to attack an hundred of
them. But before it was yet light, we reſolved to fend que
Friday's father as a ſpy; who, immediately ftripping himſelf
naked, gets among them undiſcovered, and in two hours time,
brings word, that they were two parties, of two different · na-
tions, who, having lately a bloody battle with one another,
happened to land by mere chance on the fame ifland, to de-
vour their miſerable priſoners; that they were entirely igno
rant of any perſon's inhabiting here; but rather, being filled
with rage and fury against one another, he believed that as
foon as daylight appeared, there would be a terrible engage-
inent. Old Friday had ſcarce ended his relation, but we heard
an uncommon' noiſe, and perceived that there was an horrid
engagement between the two armies.
Such was the curioſity of our party, efpecially the English-
men, that they would not lie clofe, though Old Friday told
them their fafety depended upon it; and that if we had pa-
tience, we fhonld behold the favages kill one another.
ever they ufed fome caution, by going farther into the woods,
and placing themſelves in a convenient place to behold the
battle.
How-
Never could be a more bloody engagement, nor men of
more invincible fpirits and prudent conduct, according to
their
142
their way and manner of fighting. It lafled near two hours,
till that party which was neareſt our caſtle began to decline,
and at laſt to fly from their conquerors. We were undoubt.
edly, Sir, put into a great confternation on this account, left
they thould run into our grove, and, confequently, bring us
into the like danger. Hereupon we refolved to kill the fift
that came, to prevent diſcovery ; and that too with our ſwords
and the but end of our muſkets, for fear the report of our guns
fhould be heard.
And fo indeed it happened as we thought; for three of the
vanquiſhed army croffing the creek, ran directly to the place,
as to a thick wood for ſhelter; nor was it long before our fcout
gave us notice of it; as alſo that the victors did not think it
fit to purſue them. Upon this, I would not ſuffer them to be
flain, but had them furpriſed and taken by our party; and
afterwards they proved very good fervants to us, being fout
young creatures, and able to do a great deal of work. The
remainder of the conquered lavages fled to their canoes, and
put out into the ocean; while the conquerors, joining togeth-
er, ſhouted by way of triumph; and about three in the after-
noon, they alſo embarked for their own nation. Thus we
were freed at once, from the favages and our fears, not per-
ceiving any of theſe creatures for fome confiderable time
after. We found two and thirty men dead in the field of
battle; fome were flain with long arrows, which we found
ficking in their bodies; and the reft were killed with
farge unwieldy wooden words, which denoted their vaft
ftrength; and of which we found ſeventeen, besides bows and
arrows: But we could not find one wounded creature among
them alive; for they either kill their enemies quite, or carry
thoſe wounded away with them.
This terrible fight tamed the Engliſhmen for ſome time;
confidering how unfortunate they might have been, had they
fallen into their hands, who would not only kill them as ene-
mies, but alſo for food, as we do cattle: And, indeed, fu
much did this nauſeate their ſtomachs, that it not only made
them very lick, but more tractable to the common neceffary
bufineſs of the whole fociety, planting, fowing, and reaping,
with the greateſt ſigns of amity and friendſhip; So that now,
being all good friends, we began to conſider of circumftances
in general; and the first thing we thought of was, Whether,
as we perceived the favages baunted that fide of the island, and
there being more retired parts of it, and yet as well fuited to
our manner of living, and equally to our advantage, we ought
not much rather to move our place of refidence, and plant it
in a much fafer place, both for the fecurity of our corn and
cattle ?
After
143
After a long debate on this head, it was refolved, or rather
voted, nemine contradicente, not to remove our ancient castle ;
and that for this very good reaſon, that fome time or other
we expected to hear from our fupreme Governor (meaning
you, Sir) whofe meffengers, not finding us there, might think
the place demoliſhed, and all his ſubjects deſtroyed by the
lavages.
As to the next concern relating to our corn and cattle, we
confented to have them removed to the valley where the cave
was, the land there being propereft, and fufficient for both.
But yet when we conſidered further, we altered one part of
our reſolution, which was to remove part of our cattle thither,
and there plant only part of our corn; fo that in cafe one
part was deſtroyed, the other might be preſerved. We took
another refolution, which really had a great deal of prudence
in it, and that was, in not truſting the three favages which we
had taken priſoners, with any knowledge of the plantation we
had made in that valley, or of what number of cattle, much
lefs the cave, wherein we conveyed feveral arms, and two bar-
rels of powder you left for us, at your departure from this
ifland. But though we could not change our habitation, we
refolved to make it more fortified and more feciet. To this
end, Sir, as you had planted trees at fome diftance before the
entrance of your palace, fo we, imitating your example, plant-
ed and filled up the whole ſpace of ground, even to the banks
of the creek, nay, into the very ouze where the tide flowed,
not leaving a place for landing And among thofe you had
planted, we alſo intermingled fo many thort ones, all of
which growing wonderfully faſt and thick, ſcarce a little dog
could find the way through them. Nor was this fufficient,
as we thought, for we did the fame to all the ground to the
right and left of us, even to the top of the hill, without fo
much as a paffage for ourſelves, except by the ladder; which
being taken down, nothing but what had wings, or witchcraft,
could pretend to come near us.
And indeed this was excel-
lently weil contrived, especially to ferve that occafion, for
which we afterwards found it neceffary.
:
Thus we lived two years in a happy retirement, not having
ene vifit from the favages all that time.
Indeed one morn-
ing we had an alarm, which put us into fonie amзzement; for
a few of my Spaniards being out very early, perceived no leſs
than twenty canoes as it were, coming on fhore: upon which,
returning home with great precipitation, they gave us the alarm,
which obliged us to keep at home all that day, and the next,
going out only in the night time to make our obſervations:
But, as good luck would have it, they were upon another de-
fign, and did not land that time upon the iſland.
But
144
But now there happened another quarrel between the three
wicked Englishmen, and fome of my Spaniards. The occafion
was this: One of them being enraged at one of the favages,
whom we had taken priſoner, for not being able to compre-
hend fomething which he was fhewing him, he fnatches up
a hatchet in a great fury, not to correct, but to kill him; but
miffing his head, he gave him ſuch a barbarous cut in his
fhoulder, that had like to have ſtruck off his arm; at which
one of my good natured Spaniards, interpoling between the
Engliſhmar and the poor favage, befeeched the former not
to murder the poor creature: But this kindneſs had like to
lave coft the Spaniard's life; for the Engliſhman ſtruck at him in
the fame manner, which he nimbly and fuddenly avoiding,
returned fuddenly upon him with his fhovel, (being all at
work about their corn land) and very fairly knocked the
brutiſh creature down. Hereupon another Englishman, coming
to his te low's affiſtance, laid the good Spaniard on the earth;
when immediately two others, coming to his relief, were at-
tacked by the third Englishman, armed with an old cutlafs,
who wounded them both. But this uproar foon reached our
ears, who ruih ng out upon them, took the three Engliſhmen
priloners: And then, our next queftion was, what thould
be done to fuch mutinous and impudent fellows, fo furious,
defperate and idle, that they were mifchievous to the highest
degree, and conſequently not ſafe for the ſociety to let them
live among them.
Now, Sir, as I was Governour in your abſence, ſo I alſo
took the authority of a Judge, and leaving them brought before
me, I told them, That if they had been of my country, I
would hang every mother's ſon of them; but fince it was an
Engliſhman (meaning you, kind Sir,) to whom we were indebt-
ed for our preſervation and deliverance, I would, in gratitude,
ufe them with all poffible mildness; but, at the fame time,
leave them to the judgment of the two other Engliſhmen, who,
I hoped, forgetting their refentments, would deal impartially
by them.
Hereupon one of their countrymen ſtood up: Sir, faid he,
leave it not to us, for you may be fenfible we hive reaſon to ſen-
tence them to the gallows : Befides, Sir, this fellow, Will. Atkins,
and the two others, propoſed to us, that we might murder you all
in your fleep, which we would not conſent to; but knowing their
inability, and your vigilance, we did not think fit to âiſcover it
before.
How, Seignior, ſaid I, do you hear what is alleged againſ
you? What can you fay to juſtify fo horrid an action as to
murder us in cold blood? So far, Sir, was the wretch from
denying it, that he ſwore, Damn him but he would do it ſtill.
But what have we done to you, Seignior Atkins, faid 1, or
what
145
what will you gain by killing us? What ſhall we do to pre-
vent you? Muft we kill you, or you kill us? Why will you
Seignior Atkins (faid I, fmiling) put us to fuch an unhappy di-
lemma, fuch a fatal neceffity? But fo great a rage did my ſcof-
fing, and yet ſevere jeft put him into, that he was going to fly
at me, and undoubtedly had attempted to kill me, if poffeffed
of weapons, and had not been prevented by three Spaniards.
This unparalleled and villainous carriage made us feriously
confider what was to be done. The two Engliſhmen and the
Spaniard, who had faved the poor Indian's lite, mightily pe-
titioned me to hang one of them, for an example to the others,
which ſhould be him that had twice attempted to commit murder
with his hatchet, it being at that time thought impoffible the poor
flave ſhould recover. But they could never gain my confent
to put him to death, for the reaſons abovementioned, fince it was
an Englishman (even yourſelf) was my deliverer: And, as
merciful counfels are molt prevailing, when earnestly preffed,
fo I got them to be of the fame opinion, as to clemency. But
to prevent them doing us any future mifchief, we all agreed
that they fhould have no weapons, as fwords, guns, pov der
or fhot, but be expelled from the fociety, to live how they
pleafed by themſelves: That neither the two Engliſhmen, nor
the reft of the Spaniards, fhould have converfation with them
upon any account whatſoever: That they ſhould be kept from
coming within certain limits of our caftle; and if they dared
to offer us any violence, either by ſpoiling, burning, killing or
deſtroying any of the corn, plantains, buildings, fences, or cat-
tle, belonging to the fociety, we would floot them as freely as
we would do beatts of prey, in whatſoever places we ſhould
perceive them.
This fentence feemed very juft to all but themſelves; when,
like a merciful Judge, I called out to the two honeſt Engliſh-
men, ſaying, you must confider they ought not to be ftarved
neither; and fince it will be fome time before they can raile
corn or cattle of their own, let us give them fome corn to laſt
them eight months, and for feed to fow, by which time they
will raiſe fome for themfelves. Let us alfo bestow upon them
fix milch goats, four he ones, and fix kids, as well for their
prefent fupport, as a farther increaſe: together with tools ne-
ceffary for their work; as hatchets, an axe, ſaw, and other
things convenient to build them huts: All which were agreed
to; but before they took them in poffeffion, I obliged them fol-
emnly to fwear, never to attempt any thing against us or their
Countrymen for the future. Thus difmiffing them from our
fociety, they went away, fullen and refractory, as though neith-
er willing to go nor ftay: However, feeing no remedy, they
took what provifion was given them, pretending to chufe a
convenient place, where they might live by themfelves.
N
About
146
About five days after, they came to thoſe limits appointed,
in order for more victuals, and fent me word by one of my
Spaniards, whom they called to, where they had pitched their
tents, and marked themſelves out an habitation and planta-
tion, at the N. E. and moſt remote part of the iſland. And in-
deed there they built themſelves two very handſome cottages,
reſembling our little caftle, being under the ſide of a moun-
tain, with ſome trees already growing on three fides of it; ſo
that planting a few more, it would have been obfcured from
fight, unleſs particularly fought for. When theſe huts were
finiſhed, we gave them fome dry goats' ſkins for bedding and
covering; and, on their giving us fuller fureties of their good
behaviour for the future, we gave them ſome peas, barley, and
rice for ſowing, and whatever tools we could ſpare.
Six months did they live in this feparate condition, in which
they got their firſt harveſt in, the quantity of which was but
fmall, becauſe they had planted but little land: For indeed,
all their plantations being to form, made it the more difficult,
eſpecially it being a thing out of their element. And when
they were obliged to make their boards and pots, &c. they
could make little or nothing of it. But the rainy feafon com-
ing on, put them into a greater perplexity, for want of a cave
to keep their corn dry, and prevent it from ſpoiling: And fo
much did this humble them, that they begged of my Spaniards
to help them, to which the good natured men readily conſent-
ed, and in four days fpace worked a great hole in the fide of
the hill for them, large enough for their purpofe, to ſecure
their corn and other things from the rain, though not com-
parable to our's, which had ſeveral additional apartments.
But a new whim poffeffed theſe rogues about three quarters
of a year afterwards, which had like to have ruined us, and
themſelves too: For it feems, being tired and weary of this
fort of living, which made them work themſelves, without
hopes of changing their condition, nothing would ferve them,
but they would make a voyage to the continent, and try if
they could not feize upon fome of the favages, and bring them
over, as flaves to do their drudgery, while they lived at eaſe
and pleaſure.
Indeed the project was not fo prepofterous, if they had not
gone farther; but they neither did, or propoſed any thing, but
what had mifchief in the defign, or the event, One morning
theſe three fellows came down to the limited ſtation, and hum-
bly defired to be admitted to talk with us, which we readily
granted. They told us, in fhort, that being tired of their
manner of living, the labour of their hands, in fuch employ
ments, not being fufficient to procure the neceffaries of life,
they only defired one of the canoes we came over in, with
fome arms and ammunition, for their defence, and they would
feek
147
feek their fortunes abroad, and never trouble us any more.
To be fure, we were glad enough to get rid of ſuch wretched
plagues; but yet honeſty made us ingenuouſly repreſent to
them, by what we ourſelves had fuffered, the certain deftruc-
tion they were running into, either of being ſtarved to death
or murdered by the favages. To this they very audaciouſly
replied, that they neither could or would work; and conſe-
quently, that they might as well be ſtarved abroad as at home:
And as to their falling into the hands of the favages; why, if
they were murdered, that was nothing to us, there was an end
of them; they had neither wives nor children to cry after
them: Nay, fo intent were they upon their voyage, that if the
Spaniards would not give them arms, fo they had but the ca-
noe, they would go without.
But though we could not well fpare our fire arms, rather
than they fhould go like naked men, we let them have two
muſkets, a piſtol, a cutlaſs, and three hatchets, which were
thought very fufficient: We gave them alfo goats' fiefh, a
great bafket full of dried grapes, a pot of fresh butter, a young
five kid, and a large canoe fufficient to carry twenty men.
And thus, with a maft made of a long pole, and a fail of fix
large goat fkins dried, having a fair breeze, and a flood tide
with them, they failed merrily away, the Spaniards calling af-
ter them, Bon Veyaoja, no man ever expecting to ſee them a-
gain.
When they were gone, the Spaniards and Engliſhmen would
often ſay one to another, O how peaceably do we now live fince
thoſe turbulent fellows have left us! Nothing could be farther
from their thoughts than to behold their faces any more; and
yet ſcarce two and twenty days had paffed over their heads, but
one of the Engliſhmen, being abroad a planting, perceived at a
diſtance, three men well armed, approaching towards him.
Away he flies with ſpeed to our caſtle, and tells me and the
reft, that we were all undone, for that ftrangers were landed
on the inland, and who they were he could not tell, but added,
that they were not favages, but men habited, bearing arms,
Why then, faid I, we have the lefs occafion to be concerned,
fince, if they are not Indians, they must be friends; and I am
fure there is no Chriſtian people upon earth, but what will do
us good rather than harm. But while we were confidering of
the event, up came the three Englishmen, whofe voices we
quickly knew, and ſo all our admiration of that nature ceaſed
at once. And our wonder was fucceeded by another fort of
enquiry, which was, What could be the occafion of their re-
turning to quickly to the island, when we little expected, and
much lefs defired their company? But, as this was better to
be related by themſelves, I ordered them to be brought in,
and they gave me the following relation of their voyage,
After
148
After two days fail, or fomething lefs, they reached land,
where they found the people coming to give them another fort
of reception, than what they expected or deſired; for being
armed with bows and arrows, they durft not venture on ſhore,
but ſteered northward fix or ſeven hours, till they attained to
an opening, by which they plainly perceived, that the land that
appeared from this place, was not the main, but an iſland
that at their entrance into the opening of the ſea, they diſcover-
·ed another iſland, on the right hand north, and ſeveral more
lying to the weftward; but being refolved to go on fhore fome-
where or other, they put over to one of the weſtern iſlands.
Here they found the natives very courteous to them, giving
them ſeveral roots and dried fiſh; nay, even the women too,
were as willing to fupply them with what they could procure
them to eat, bringing it a great way to them upon their heads.
Among thoſe hofpitable Indians they continued fome days, en-
quiring, by figns and tokens, what nations lay around them;
and were informed, that there were feveral fierce and terrible
people lived every way, accuſtomed to eat mankind; but, for
themſelves, they never uſed fuch diet, except thoſe who were
taken in battle, and of them they made a folemn feaſt.
The Englishmen enquired, how long it was fince they had a
feaft of that kind; they answered about two moons ago, point-
ing to the moon, and then to two fingers; that at this time their
king had two hundred prifoners, which were fattening up for
the flaughter. Mighty defirous were the Engliſhmen for ſeeing
the prifoners, which the others miſtaking, thought that they
wanted ſome of them for their own food: Upon which they
beckoned to them, pointing to the rifing, and then to the fet-
ting of the fun; that when it appeared in the eaſt the next
morning, they would bring them fome: And indeed they were
as good as their words, for by that time they brought eleven
men and five women, juſt as fo many cows and oxen are
brought to fea port towns, to victual a fhip. But as brutish as
thefe Englishmen were, their ftomachs turned at the fight. What
to do in this cafe they could not tell: To refuſe the prifoners,
would have been the higheſt affront offered to the favage gen-
Try; and to difpofe of them, they knew not in what manner,
However, they refolved to accept them; and fo gave them in
return, one of their hatchets, an old key, a knife, and fix or
feven of their bullets; things which though wholly ignorant
of, they feemed entirely contented with; and dragging the
poor wretches into the boat, with their hands bound behind
them, delivered them to the Englishmen. But this obliged
them to put off as foon as they had theſe prefents, left the do-
nors might have expected two or three of them to be killed,
and to be invited to dinner the next day and fo taking leave,
with all poffible refpect and thanks, though neither of them
underflood
149
underſtood what they could fay, they failed away back to the
firſt iſland, and there fet eight of the men prifoners at liberty.
In their voyage, they endeavoured to comfort, and have fome
comunication with the poor captives; but it was impoſſible to
make them fenfible of any thing; and nothing they could fay,
or give, or do for them, could make them otherwife perfuad-
ed, but that they were unbound only to be devoured. If they
gave them any food, they thought it was only to fatten them
for the flaughter; or looked at any one more particularly, the
poor creature thought itſelf to be the firft facrifice: And even
when they brought them to our iſland, and began to uſe them
with the greateſt humanity and kindneſs; yet they expected
every day their new matters would devour them.
And thus, Sir, did theſe three ftrange wanderers conclude
the unaccountable relation of their voyage, which was both a-
mazing and entertaining. Hereupon l'aſked them where their
new family was? They told me, they had put them into one
of their huts, and they came to beg fome victuals for them.
This, indeed, made us long to ſee them; and to, taking Fri-
day's father with us, leaving only two at our castle, we came
down to behold theſe poor creatures.
When we arrived at the hut (being bound again by the
Engliſhmen, for fear of eſcaping) there they all fat, ſtark naked,
expecting their fatal tragedy: There were three luſty comely
inen, well thaped, with ſtrait and fair limbs, between thirty
and five and thirty years old; and five women, two of whom
might be from thirty to forty, two more not above four and
twenty; and the laſt, a comely tall maiden of about feventeen.
Indeed all the women were very agreeable, both in their pro-
portion and features, except being tawny, which their modeſt
behaviour and other graces made amends for, when they af-
terwards came to be clothed.
Their naked appearance, together with their miſerable cir-
cumftances, was no very comfortable fight to my Spaniards,
who, for their parts, I may venture, Sir, without flattery, to
day, are men of the beſt behaviour, calmeſt tempers, and ſweet-
eft natures, that can poffibly be: For they immediately or-
dered Friday's father to fee if he knew any of them, or if he
underſtood what they could fay. No fooner did the old Indian
appear, but he looked at them with great ſeriouſneſs; yet, not
being of his nation, they were utter ſtrangers to him, and none
could underſtand his fpeech, or figns, but one woman. This
was enough to anſwer the defign, which was, to affure them
they would not be killed, being fallen into the hands of Chrif-
tians, who abhorred ſuch barbarity. When they were fully
fatisfied of this, they expreffed their joy by fuch ſtrange gel-
tures, and uncommon tones, as are not poffible for me to de
ſcribe. But the woman, their interpreter, was ordered next to
enquire,
N 2
150
enquire, whether they were content to be ſervants, and would
work for the men who had brought them thither to ſave their
lives? Hereupon (being by this time unbound) they fell a ca-
pering and dancing, one taking this thing upon her ſhoulders,
and t'other that, intimating that they were willing to do any
thing for them. But now, Sir, having women among us, and
dreading that it might occaſion fome ftrife, if not blood, I aſked
the three men what they would do, and how they intended to
uſe theſe creatures, whether as fervants or women? One of
them very pertly and readily anfwered, they would uſe them
as both. Gentlemen, faid I, as you are your own mafters, I
am not going to reftrain you from that; but methinks, for a-
voiding diffenfions among you, I would only defire you to en-
gage, That none of you will take more than one for a woman
or a wife; and that having taken this one, none elſe ſhould
prefume to touch her; for though we have not a prieftly au-
thority to marry you, yet it is but reaſonable, that whoever
thus takes a woman, fhould be obliged to mantain her; fince
nobody elſe has any thing to do with her: And this indeed
appeared ſo juſt to all preſent, that it was unanimouſly agreed
to.
Then the Engliſhmen aſked my Spaniards, whether they
deſigned to take any of them? But they all answered no, fome
declaring, they had already wives in Spain, and others, that
they cared not to join with infidels. On the reverſe, the En-
glishmen took each of them a temporary wife, and ſet up a new
method of living. As to Friday's father, the Spaniards, and
the three favage fervants we had taken in the late battle, they
all lived with me in our ancient caſtle; and indeed we fuppli❤
ed the main part of the iſland with food, as neceffity required.
But the moſt remarkable part of the ſtory is, how theſe Eng-
lifbmen, who had been fo much at variance, ſhould agree about
the choice of theſe women; yet they took a good way enough
to prevent quarrelling among themfelves. They fet the five
women in one of their huts, and going themſelves to the oth-
er, drew lots which ſhould have the first choice. Now he that
had the first went to the hut, and fetched out her he choſe ;
and it is remarkable, that he that choſe firſt, took her that was
accounted the moſt homely, and eldeſt of the number, which
made the rest of the Englishmen exceeding merry, and the Spa-
niards themſelves could not but fmile at it: But, as it happen-
ed, the fellow had the beſt thought, in chufing one fit for ap-
plication and buſineſs; and indeed the proved the beſt wife of
all the parcel.
But, when the poor creatures perceived themfelves placed in
a row, and ſeparated one by one, they were again feized with
an unſpeakable terror, as thinking they were now going to be
flain in earneſt: And when the Englishman came to take the
firft, the reſt ſet up a lamentable cry, clapt their arms around
her
151
her neck, and hanging about her, took their Haft farewel, as
they thought, in fuch trembling agonies, and affectionate em-
braces, as would have ſoftened the hardeſt heart in the world,
and made the drieft eyes melt into watery tears: Nor could
they be perfuaded, but that they were going to die, till fuch
time as Friday's father made them ſenſible, that the Engliſhmen
had choſen them for their wives; and fo ended all their ter-
ror and concern upon this occafion.
Well, after this, the Englishmen went to work, and, being
affifted by my good natured favages, in a few hours they e-
rected every one of them a new hut or tent, for their ſeparate
lodging, fince thoſe they had already were filled with tools,
houſehold stuff and provifion. They all continued on the north
fhore of the iſland, but ſeparate as before; the three wicked
ones pitched farther off, and the two honeft men nearer hand
to our caſtle: So that the inland feemed to be peopled in three
places, three towns beginning to be built for that purpofe.
And here I cannot but remark, what is very common, that
the two honeft men had the worst wives (I mean as to induſtry,
cleanliness and ingenuity) while the three reprobates enjoyed
women of the contrary perfections.
But another obfervation I made is in favour of the two hon-
eft men, to ſhew what difparity there is between a diligent ap-
plication to buſineſs, on the one hand, and a ſlothful, negligent,
and idle temper, on the other. Both of them had an equal
parcel of ground laid out, and corn to fow fufficient for them;
but both did not make the fame improvements, either in their
cultivation or in their planting. The two honeſt men had a
multitude of young trees planted about their habitations, ſo
that when you approached near them, nothing appeared but a
wood, very pleaſing and delightfu!. Every thing they did
profpered and flouriſhed; their grapes, planted in order, feem-
ed as though managed in a vineyard, and were infinitely pre-
ferable to any of the others. Nor were they wanting to find
out a place of retreat; but dug a cave in the moſt retired part
of a thick wood to ſecure their wives and children, with their
provifion and chiefeft goods, furrounded with innumerable
ſtakes, and had the moſt ſubtle entrance, in caſe any miſchief
fhould happen, either by their fellow countrymen, or the de-
vouring favages.
As to the reprobates (though I must own they were much
more civilized than before) inftead of a delightful wood fur-
rounding their dwellings, we found the words of King Solomon.
too truly verified: I went by the vineyard of the flothful, and it
was overgrown with thorns. In many places their crop was
obfcured by weeds; the hedges, having feveral gaps in them,
the wild goats had got in and eaten up the corn; and here and
there was a dead buſh, to ſtop in thofe gaps for the prefent,
which
152
which was no more than ſhutting the ſtable door after the feed
was flolen away. But for their wives, they (as I obſerved be-
fore) were more diligent, and cleanly enough, eſpecially in
their victuals, being inftructed by one of the honeft men, who
was a cook's mate on board a fhip: And very well it was fo,
for, cooking himſelf, his companion and their families lived as
well as the idle hufbands, who did nothing but loiter about,
fetch turtles eggs, catch fish and birds, and any thing but work,
and they lived accordingly; while the diligent lived very hand-
fomely and plentifully, in the moſt comfortable manner.
And now, Sir, I am come to lay before your eyes a fcene,
quite different from any thing that ever happened to us be-
fore; and, perhaps, ever befel you in all the time of your
refidence on this ifland: I fhall inform you of its original in
the following manner.
One morning, Sir, very early, there came five or fix canoes
of Indians on thore, indifputably upon their old cuſtom of de-
vouring their prifoners. All that we could do upon fuch an
occafion, was to lie concealed; and they not having any no.
tice of the inhabitants, would depart quietly, after perform.
ing their bloody execution. Whoever diſcovered theſe ſava-
ges firſt was to give notice to all the three plantations, to keep
within doors; and then proper fcout was to be placed, to
give us intelligence of their departure. But notwithstanding
theſe wife meatures, an unhappy diſaſter expoſed us to the knowl-
edge of the favages, which had like to have caufed the defola-
tion of the whole iſland: For after the favages were gone off
in their canoes, fome of my Spaniards and I, looking abroad,
and enflamed with a curioſity to fee what they had been doing
here, to our great amazement, we heheld three favages faft
afleep on the ground, who either being gorged, could not
awake when the others went; or, having wandered too far in-
to the woods, did not come back in time.
What to do with them at firſt we could not tell: As for
flaves we had enough of them already; and as to killing them,
neither chriſtianity, nor humanity, would ſuffer us to ſhed in-,
nocent blood, who never did us wrong, and therefore had
no juft quarrel againft them, to justify our taking their lives
away. We perceived they had no boat left them to tranſ-
port them to their own nation; and that, by letting them,
wander about, they might difcover us, and inform the first fav-
ages that ſhould happen to land on this bloody occaſion;
which information might entirely ruin us; and therefore I
counfelled my Spaniards to fecure them, and let them about
fome work or other till we could better diſpoſe of them.
Hereupon we all went back, and making them awake, took,
them prifoners. It is impoffible to exprefs the horrour they
were in, eſpecially when bound, as thinking they were going
10
153
to be murdered and eaten ; but we foon eafed them of their
fear as to that point. We first took them to the bower, where
was the chief of our country work; as keeping goats, plant-
ing corn, &c. and then carried them to the two Englishmen's
habitation, to help them in their buſineſs: But happy it was
for us all, we did not carry them to our castle, as will appear
by the fequel. The Englishmen indeed found them work to
do; but, whether they did not guard them ftrictly, or that
they thought they could not better themſelves, I cannot tell ;
but certainly one of them ran away into the woods, and they
could not hear of him for a long time after.
Undoubtedly there was reafon enough to fuppofe he got home
in fome of the canoes, the favages returning in about four
week's time, and going off in the ſpace of two days. You
may be certain, Sir, this thought could not but terrify us ex-
ceedingly; and made us juftly conclude, that this favage
would inform his countrymen of our abode in the iſland, how
few and weak we were in compariſon to their numbers; ex-
pecting it would not be long before the Englishmen would be
attacked in their habitations; but the lavages had not feen
their places of ſafety in the wood, nor our saftle, which it was
a great happinels they did not know.
{
Nor were we mistaken in our thoughts upon this occafion :
for about eight months after this, fix canoes of favages, with
about ten men in each canoe, came failing by the north fide.
of the island, which they were never accustomed to do before,
and landed about an hour after fun rife, near a mile from
the dwelling of the two Engliſhmen, who, it ſeems, had the
good fortune to diſcover them about a league off; fo it was
about an hour before they could attain the fhore, and it re-
quired fome longer time before they could come at them.
And being now confirmed in this opinion, that they were cer-
tainly betrayed, they immediately bound the two flaves which
were left, caufing two of the three men, whom they had
brought with the women, and who proved very faithful, to
lead them with their wives, and other conveniencies, into their
retired cave in the wood, and there to bind the two fellows
hand and foot till they had further orders. Then they opened
their fences where they kept their milch goats, and drove
them all out, giving the goats liberty to wander in the woods,
to amuſe the favages that they were wild ones; but the flave
had given a truer information, which made them come to their
very inclofures. The two frighted men ſept the other flave of
the three, who had been with them by accident, to alarm the
Spaniards, and defire their affiftance; in the mean time they
took their arms and ammunition, and made to the cave where
they had fent their wives, and fecuring their flaves, feated
themſelves in a private place, from whence they might behold
all
154
all the actions of the favages. Nor had they gone far, and
afcending a rifing ground, but they could fee a little army of
Indians approach to their beautiful dwelling; and, in a few
moments more, perceived the fame, and their furniture, to
their unſpeakable grief, burning in a confuming flame: And
when this was done, they fpread here and there, fearching
every bush and place for the people, of whom it was evident
they had information. Upon which the two Engliſhmen not
thinking themſelves fecure where they ſtood, retreated about
half a mile farther into the country, rightly concluding that
the farther the favages ftrolled, there would be the lefs num-
ber together: Upon which they took their next ſtand where
the trunk of an old tree ſtood, very hollow and large, where
they reſolved to fee what would offer. But they had not
food long there, before two favages came running directly
towards them, as though having knowledge of their being
there, they refolved to attack them. A little farther were
three more, and five more behind them again, all running
the fame way. It cannot be imagined what perplexity the
poor men were in at this fight, thinking that, if affiſtance did
not ſpeedily come, their cave would be difcovered in the
wood, and confequently all therein loft. So they refolved to
refift them there; and, when overpowered, would afcend to
the top of the trees, where they would defend themſelves as
long as their ammunition lafted, and fell their lives as dear as
poſſible to thoſe devouring favages. Thus fixed upon their
refolution, they next confidered whether they fhould fire at
the first two, or wait for the three, and ſo take the middle par-
ty, by which the two firft and the five laſt would be ſeparated.
In this regulation the two favages alfo confirmed them, by
turning a little to the other part of the wood; but the three,
and the five after them, came directly towards the tree. Here-
upon they refolved to take them in a direct line as they ap-
proached nearer, becauſe the firſt ſhot might perhaps hit them
all three; and upon this occafion, the man who was to fire
charged his piece with three or four bullets. And thus,
while they were waiting, the favages came on one of them
was the run-away, who had caufed all their miſchief, fo they
refolved he ſhould not eſcape, if they both fired at once.
however, though they did not fire together, they were ready
charged; when the firft that let fly was too good a markfman
to miís his aim ; for he killed the foremoſt outright; the ſec-
ond, who was the run away Indian fell on the ground, being
fhot through the body, but not dead; and the third was a
little wounded on the fhoulder, who fitting down on the
ground, fell a fcreaming in a moft fearful manner. The
noife of the guns, which not only made the moſt refounding
echoes, from one fide to another, but raifed the birds of all
forts
But
155
forts, Auttering with the most confufed noife, fo much terrified
the five favages behind, that they ftood still at firft like to ma-
ny inanimate images. But when every thing was in its first pro-
found filence, they came to the place where their companions
lay in a miſerable condition: And here, not being ſenſible that
they were liable to the fame fate, they ſtood over the wounded
man, undoubtedly enquiring the cauſe of his fad calamity;
and, as 'tis reaſonable to fuppofe, he told them that it came
by lightning and thunder from the gods, having never ſeen
or heard of a gun before, in the whole courle of their lives.
By this time the Engliſhmen having loaded their pieces, fired
both together a fecond time, when, feeing them all fall im.
mediately upon the ground, they thought they had killed eve-
1y creature of them. This made them come up boldly before
they had charged their guns, which indeed was a wrong ſtep ;
for, when they came to the place, they found four alive, two of
them a very little wounded and one, not at all, which obliged
them to fall upon them with their muſkets: They firit knock-
ed the run away favage on the head, and another that was but
a little wounded in the arm, and then put the other languiſh-
ing wretches out of their pain; while he that was not hurt,
with bended knees, and lift up hands, made piteous moans and
figns to them to fpare his life: Nor were they indeed unmer-
ciful to the poor wretch, but pointed to him to fit down at
the root of a tree hard by, and then one of the Engliſhmen, with
a piece of rope twine he had in his pocket by Here chance,
tying his two feet faſt together, and his two hands behind him,
there they left him, making all the hafte they could after the
other two, fearing they ſhould find out their cave; but though
they could not overtake them, yet they had the fatisfaction to
perceive them, at a diſtance croſs over a valley towards the
fea, a quite contrary way to their retreat: Upon which they
very contentedly returned to the tree, to look after their
priſoner; but when they came there he was gone, leaving the
pieces of rope-yarn wherewith he was bound, behind him.
Well, now they were as much concerned as ever, not know-
ing how near their enemies might be, or in what numbers:
Immediately they repaired to their cave, to fee if all were well
there, and found every thing ſafe, except the women who were
frighted upon their husbands' account, whom they now loved
emirely. They had not been long here, before feven of my
Spaniards came to affift them; while the other ten, their ſerv
ants, and Friday's father, were gone to defend their bower,
corn and cattle, in cafe the favages fhould have rambled fo
far. There accompanied the feven Spaniards one of the
three favages, that had formerly been taken prisoner; and,
with them alfo, that very Indian whom the Engliſhmen had a
little befors, left under the tree; for it feems they paſſed by
that
156
that way where the laughter was made, ſo carried along with
them that poor wretch that was left bound.
But to many
priſoners now becoming a burthen to us, and fearing the
dreadful confequence of their efcaping, moft of the Spaniards
and English urged the abſølute neceflity there was for killing
them, for our common preſervation: But, Sir, the authority I
bore as Governour overfwayed that piece of cruelty; and then
I ordered them to be ſent priſoners to the old cave in the val.
ley, bound hands and feet, with two Spaniards to guard them.
So much encouraged were the Engliſhmen, at the approach
of the Spaniards, and fo great was their fury againſt the ſavag-
es, for deftroying their habitations, that they had not patience
to flay any longer; but taking five Spaniards along with them,
armed with four muskets, a pistol, and a quarter ſtaff, away
they went in purſuit of their enemies. As they paffed by the
place where the favages were flain, it was very eaſy to be per-
ceived that more of them had been there, having attempted
to carry off their dead bodies, but found it impracticable.
From a rifing ground our party had the mortification to fee
the Imoke that proceeded from the ruins; when, coming far-
ther in fight of the fhore, they plainly perceived that the fav-
ages had embarked in their canoes, and were putting out to
fea. This they were very forry for, there being no coming
at them, to give them a parting falutation: But, however,
they were glad enough to get rid of fuch unwelcome gueſts.
Thus the two honeſt, but unfortunate Engliſhmen, being
ruined a fecond time, and their improvements quite deftroyed,
most of my good natured Spaniards helped them to re-build,
and we all helped them with needful fupplies: Nay, what is
more remarkable, their three mifchievous countrymen, when
they heard it (which was after all theſe diſaſters were over,
they living remote eaſtward) fympathized with them in a very
friendly manner, and worked for them feveral days; ſo that
in a little time their habitation was rebuilt, their neceffities
fupplied, and themſelves reftored to their former tran-
quillity.
The favages had nothing to boaſt of in this adventure,
feveral canoes being driven athore, followed by two drowned
creatures, having undoubtedly met with a ftorm at fea, that
very night they departed. Nor can it be fuppofed otherwife,
but thoſe, whoſe better fortune it was to attain their native
flore, would enflame their nation to another ruinous attempt,
with a greater force to carry all before them. And indeed fo
it happened; for about ſeven months after, our iſland “was
invaded with a moft formidable navy; no less than eight and
twenty canoes full of favages, armed with wooden Iwards,
monftrous clubs, bows and arrows, and ſuch like inſtruments
of war, landed that evening at the eaſtmoft ſide of the iſland,
You
157
Yon may well imagine, Sir, what confternation our men
were in upon this account, and how ſpeedy they were to exe-
cute their reſolution, having only that night's time allowed
them. They knew that fince they could not withſtand their
enemies, concealment was the only way to procure their fafe-
ty: And therefore they took down the huts that were built
for the two Engliſhmen, and drove their flock of goats together
with their own at the bower, to the old cave in the valley;
they left as little appearance of inhabitants as poffible, and then
poſted themſelves with all their force, at the plantation of the
two men. As they expected, fo it happened; for early the
next morning the Indians, leaving their canoes at the eaſt end
of the iſland, came running along the ſhore, about two hun-
dred and fifty in number, as near as can be gueffed. Our
army was but little indeed; and, what was our greater mif-
fortune, we had not arms fufficient for them: The account,
as to the men, Sir, is as follows:
17 Spaniards.
5 Englishmen.
1 Old Friday.
3 The three favages, tak-
en with the women,
who proved faithful
Jervants.
3 Other faves living
with the Spaniards. J
To arm
theſe, they had
11 Muſkets.
5 Piftols.
3 Fowling Pieces.
2 Swords.
5
3 Old Halberts.
Mufkets, or forwling piec
es, taken from the fail-
ars, whom you reduc.
ed.
As to our ſlaves, we gave three of them halberts, and the
other three long ftaves, with great iron fpikes at the end of
them, with hatchets by their fides: We also had hatchets toe,
fticking in our girdles, befides the fire arms: Nay, two of the
women, inſpired with Amazonian fortitude, could not be dif
fuaded from fighting along with their deareft huſbands, and if
they died, to die with them. Seeing their refolution, we gave
them hatchets likewife; but what pleaſed them best, were the
bows and arrows (which they dexterously knew the ufe of)
that the Indians had left behind them, after their memorable
battle, one againſt another.
This was my little army, but of great intrepidity, over
which I was chief general and commander; and knowing
Will. Atkins, though exceedingly wicked, yet a man of invinci-
ble courage, I gave him the power of commanding under me:
He and fix men, with their muſkets loaded with fix ar teven
bullets a piece, were planted juſt behind a ſmall thicket of
buſhes, as an advanced guard, having orders to let the firft
país by; and then, when we fired into the middle of them,
make a nimble retreat round part of the wood, and fo come
in
158
in the rear of the Spaniards, who were ſhaded by a thicket of
trees. Though the favages came on with the fierceness of li-
ons, yet they wanted the ſubtilty of foxes, being out of all man-
ner of order, and ſtraggling in heaps every way: And when
Will. Atkins, after fifty of the favages had paffed by, had order-
ed three of his men to give fire, fo great was their confterna-
tion, to ſee ſo many men killed and wounded, and hear fuch a
dreadful noiſe, aud yet not know whence it came, that they
were frightened to the highest degree; and when the fecond
volley was given, they concluded no lefs but their companions
were flain by thunder and lightning from heaven. And in this
notion they would have continued, had Will. Atkins and his
men retired as ſoon as they fired, according to order, or had
the reſt been near them, to pour in their ſhot continually, there
might have been a complete victory obtained; but ſtaying to
load their pieces again, difcovered the whole matter. They
were perceived by fome of the fcattering favages at a diſtance,
who let fly their arrows among them, wounded Atkins himſelf,
and killed his fellow Englishman, and one of the Indians taken
with the women. Nor did our party fail to anſwer them while
they retreated, killing above twenty favages: And here I can-
not but take notice of our poor dying flave; though ftopt
from his retreat by a fatal arrow, yet with his ſtaff and hatch-
et, he deſperately and gallantly affailed the purſuers, and kill-
ed five of the favages, before his life fubmitted to a multiplici-
ty of wounds. Nor is the cruelty or malice of the Indians to
be leſs remarked, in breaking the arms, legs, and heads, of the
two dead bodies, with their clubs and wooden fwords, after a
moit wretched manner. Hereupon our party was obliged to
interpofe between the favages and Atkins, who had retreated
to a rifing ground in the wood; but after three vollies we were
obliged to retreat alſo; for they were ſo very numerous and
deſperate, that they came to the very teeth of us, ſhot their ar-
rows like a cloud, and their wounded men, enraged with cru-
el pain, fought like madmen. They did not think fit to fol-
low us, but drawing themſelves up in a circle, they gave two
triumphant fhouts, in token of victory; though they had the
grief to ſee ſeveral of their wounded bleed to death before
them.
After I had, Sir, drawn up our little army together upon a
rifing ground, Atkins, wounded as he was, would have had us
attack the whole body of the favages at once: But, well pleaf-
ed with the gallantry of the man, we replied, You perceived,
Seignior Atkins, how their wounded men fought; let them alone
till morning, when, being faint, ſtiff and fore, we all have the
fewer to combat with. To which Will. Atkins, ſmilingly repli-
ed, That's very true, Seigniors, and ſo fball I 100; and that's the
reafon I would fight them now I am warm. We all anſwered,
Seignior
159
Seignior Atkins, for your part, you have behaved yourſelf very
gallantly; and if you are not able to approach the enemy in
the morning, we will fight for you; till then we think it con-
venient to wait.
By the brightness of the moon that night, we perceived the
favages in great diſorder, about their dead and wounded men.
This made us change our reſolution, by falling upon them in
the night, if we could give them one volley undiſcovered. And
this we had a fair opportunity to do, by one of the two Eng-
libmen's leading us round between the woods and the fea fide
weftward, and turning fhort fouth, came privately to a place
where the thickest of them were, unheard, and unperceived.
Eight of us fired among them, and did dreadful execution;
and, in half a minute after, eight more of us let fly, killing
and wounding abundance of them; and then, dividing our-
felves into three bodies, eight perfons in each body, we march-
ed from among the trees to the very teeth of the enemy, fend-
ing forth the greateſt ſhouts and acclamations. The favages,
hearing a different noile from three quarters at once, ſtood in
the utmost confufion; but coming in fight of us, let fly a vol-
ley of arrows, which wounded poor old Friday, yet happily įt
did not prove mortal. But rufhing in fuddenly among them,
we fired three feveral ways, and then fell to work with our
fwords, ftaves, hatchets, and the but end of our muſkets, with
fuch fury as could not be reſiſted; fo that fetting forth the
moft diſmal ſcreaming and howling, they had recourſe to their
feet, to fave their lives by a ſpeedy flight. Nor must we for-
get the valour of the two women, for they expoſed themſelves
to the greatest dangers, killed many with their arrows, and
valiantly deſtroyed feveral more with their hatchets.
Indeed we were fo much tired in fighting theſe two battles,
that we did not then trouble ourſelves to purfue them to their
canoes, in which we thought they would preſently put to the
ocean: But there happened a dreadful ſtorm at fea, which
continued all that night, and not only prevented their voyage,
but daſhed ſeveral of their boats to pieces againſt the beach; and
drove the reſt ſo high upon the ſhore, as required infinite pains
to get them off again. After our men had taken ſome refreſh -
ment, and a little repofe, they reſolved to go towards the place
of their landing early in the morning, and fee whether they
were gone off, or in what poſture they remained. This ne-
ceſſarily led them to the place of battle, where feveral of the
favages were expiring; a fight no way pleafing to generous
minds, to delight in their mifery, though obliged to conquer
them by the law of arms. But our own Indian flaves put them
out of their pain, by diſpatching them with their hatchets.
At length, coming in view of the remainder of their army, we
found them leaning upon their knees, which were bended to
wards
160
wards their mouths, and the head between the two hands.
Hereupon, coming within mufket ſhot of them, I ordered two
pieces to be fired without ball, in order to alarm them, that
we might plainly know whether they had the courage to fight
another battle, or were utterly diſpirited from ſuch an attempt,
that we might manage them accordingly. And indeed the pro-
ject took very well; for no fooner did the favages hear the
firit gun, and perceive the flash of the fecond, but they fud-
denly ſtarted upon their feet, in the greateſt confternation; and
when we approached towards them, they ran howling and
fcreaming away up the hill into the country.
We could father, at firſt, have wifhed that the weather had
permitted them to have gone off to the fea; but, when we
confidered that their eſcape might occaſion the approach of
multitudes to our utter ruin and deſolation, we were very well
pleaſed the contrary happened: And Will. Atkins, who, though
wounded, would not part from us all this while, advifed us
not to let flip this advantage, but clapping between them and
their boats, deprive them of the capacity of ever returning to
plague the iſland. I know, faid he, there is but one objection you
can make; which is, that theſe creatures, living like beafts in the
rwood, muy makė excurfions, rifle the plantations, and deftroy the
same goats: But then confider, we had better have to do with an
bundred men, whom we can kill, or make Alaves of at leifure, than
with a hundred nations, whom it is impoffible we should fave our-
felves from, much lefs fubdue. This advice, and thefe arguments
being approved of, we fet fire to their boats; and, though they
were fo wet that they would not burn entirely, yet we made
them incapable of fwimming in the feas. As foon as the In-
dians perceived what we were doing, many of them ran out of
the woods in fight of us, and kneeling down, piteouſly cried
out Oa, Oa, Waramakoa, intimating, I fuppofe, that if we would
but ſpare their canoes, they would never trouble us again.
But all their complajuts, and fubmiffions, and entreaties
were in vain; for, ſelf preſervation obliging us to the contra-
ry, we deftroyed every one of them that had eſcaped the fury
of the ocean. When the Indians perceived this, they raiſed a
lamentable cry, and ran into the woods, and from thence rang-
ed about the whole iſland. Here we ſhould have confidered
indeed, that making theſe creatures thus defperate, we ought,
at the fame time, to have fet a fufficient guard upon the plan-
tations. The favages had before found out the bower, de-
ftroyed the fences, trod the corn down under foot, and torn up
the vines and grapes. But though we were able, upon all oc-
cafions, to fight thefe creatures; yet they were too fwift for us,
nor durft we go out fingle, for fear of their numbers: But our
only comfort was, they had no weapons, nor any materials to
make
161
make them; and their extremity appeared in a little time-
after.
+
As to our own parts, the only refuge we had left, was our
fock of cattle in the valley by the cave, with fome little corn
that grew there, and the plantation of Will. Atkins and his com-
panions, one of whom being killed by an arrow, they were now
reduced to two. And it is remarkable, that this was the fel-
low that cut the poor Indian with his hatchet, and had a deſign
to murder me and my countrymen, the Spaniards. Such was
our mean condition, that we concluded to drive the favages up
to the farther part of the iſland, fouth weſt, at prefent, where
no Indians landed, killing as many of them as we could, till we
had reduced their number, and then give the remainder fome-
corn to plant, teaching them how to live by their daily labour.
Accordingly we purfued them with our guns, at the hearing
of which, they were fo terrified, that they would fall upon the
ground. Every day we killed and wounded fome of them, and
many we found ftarved to death, fo that our hearts began to
relent at the fight of fuch miferable objects. At laſt, with
great difficulty, taking one of them alive, and ufing him with
kindneſs and tenderneſs, we brought hinr to old Friday, who
talked to him, and told him how good we would be to them
all, giving them corn and land to plant and live in, and pre-
fent nouriſhment, provided they would keep within fuch
bounds as ſhould be alloted them, and not do prejudice to oth-
ers: And therefore, faid he, go your way, and inform your coun-
trymen of it; which if they will not agree to, every one of them
hall be flain.
269
The poor creatures, thoroughly humbled, and being reduced
to about thirty feven, joyfully accepted the offer, and earnestly
begged for fome food: Hereupon we fent twelve Spaniards,
and two Engliſhmen, well armed, together with old Friday, and
three Indian flaves, who marched to the place where they were;
the flaves were loaded with a large quantity of bread, and rice
cakes, leading three live goats. Being ordered to fit down ON
the fide of the hill, the poor Indians ate the vićtuals very thank-
fully, and have proved faithful to the laft, never trefpaffing
beyond their bounds; where at this day they quietly and hap-
pily remain, and where we now and then vifit them. They
are confined to a neck of land, about a mile and a half broad,
and three or four in length, on the fouth east corner of the
fland, the fea being before, and lefty mountains behind them,
quite from the appearance of canoes, and whofe countrymen.
never make enquiry after them. We gave them twelve hatch-
ets, and three or four knives; have taught them both to build.
their huts, make wooden fpades, plant corn, make bread,
breed tame goats and milk them, as likewife to make wicker
work, in which I must ingenuously confefs they infinitely out
did:
162
did us, making themſelves feveral pretty neceffaries and fan-
cies, as baſkets, fieves, bird cages, and cupboards, as alfo
ftools, beds, and couches, no leſs uſeful than delightful: And
now they live the most innocent and inoffenfive creatures that
ever were fubdued in the world, wanting nothing but wives to
make them a nation.
Thus, kind Sir, have I given you, according to my ability,
an impartial account of the various tranfactions that have hap
pened in the iſland fince your departure to this day; which,
bleffing us with your prefence, feems as if it would make us
forget our late fufferings, though our loffes are not fully re-
trieved; and yet we have no reaſon to complain againſt the
kind Providence of Heaven. When you inspect your little
kingdom, you will find it fomething improved in general, your
flocks increaſed, and your fubjects augmented: So that from
a defolate iſland, as this was before your wonderful deliver-
ance upon it, here is a vifible profpect of its becoming a po-
pulous, and well governed little kingdom, to your iminorta!
fame and glory.
The End of the Spaniſh Governour's Relation.
The Continuation of the Life of Robinſon Crusoe, both of thoſe
Paffages that happened during the Time of bis Continuance on the
Illand, and after his Departure, till he arrived again in his
Native Country.
THERE is no doubt to ſuppoſe, but that the preceding re-
lation of my faithful Spaniard was very agreeable, and no lefs
furprising to me, the young prieft, and to all that heard it:
Nor were theſe people lefs pleafed with thofe abfolutely ne-
ceffary utenfils that I brought them, as kinives, fciffars, fpades,
fhovels, and pick axes, with which they made a mighty im-
provement to their habitations. So much were they affected
to wicker work, prompted by the ingenuity of the Indians who
affifted them, that when I'viewed the Engliſhmens' colonies,
they leemed at a diſtance, as though they had lived like bees
in a hive: For Will. Atkins, who was now become a very in-
duftrious and fober man, had made himſelf a tent of baſket
work round the outfide; the walls were worked in cloſe as a
baſket, in pannels, or ſtrong ſquares of 32 in number, ſtand-
ing about 7 feet high; in the middle was another, not above
22 paces round, but much ſtronger built, being in form eight
fquare, and in the eight corners ftood eight strong poſts, round
the top of which he laid ftrong pieces, pinned with wooden pins,
from which he raiſed a pyramid from the roof, mighty pretty,
1 affure
153
I affure you, and joined very well together with iron fpikes
which he made himself; for he had made him a forge with a
pair of wooden bellows, and charcoal for his work, forming an
anvil out of one of the iron crows to work upon; and in this
manner would he make himself hooks, ftaples, fpikes, bolts,
and hinges. After he had covered the roof of the innermott
tent, he made it fo firm between the rafters and the baſket
work, thatching that over again with rice ftraw, and over that
a large leaf of a tree, that his houfe was as dry as if it had been
tiled or flated. The outer circuit was covered, as a leanto,
quite round this inner apartment, laying long rafters from the
32 angles, to the top pofts of the inner houſe, about 20 feet
diftant, fo that there was a ſpace like a walk within the outer
wicker wall, and without the inner, near 20 feet in breadth.
The inner place he partitioned off with the fame wicker work,
dividing it into fix fair apartments, every one of which had a
door, firſt into the entry of the main tent, and another into the
fpace and walk that was round it, not only convenient for re-
treat, but for family neceffaries. Thoſe fix ſpaces were not
taken up in the circumference. What other apartments the
outward circle had, were thus ordered; When you were in at
the door of the outer circle, there was a paffage directly to the
door of the inner houfe; on either fide was a wicker partition
and a door, by which you went first into a large room 22 feet
wide, and about 30 long, and through that into another of a
fmaller length; fo that in the outward circle were ten hand-
fome rooms, fix of which were only to be come at through the
apartments of the inner tent, ferving as retiring rooms, to the
reſpective chambers of the inner circle, and four large ware-
houſes which went in through one another, two on either hand
of the paffage that led through the outward door to the inner
tent. În fhört, nothing could be built more ingeniouſly, kept
more neat, or have better conveniences: And here lived three
families, Will. Atkins, his companion, their wives and children,
and the widow of the deceaſed. As to religion, the men fel-
dom taught their wives the knowledge of God, any more than
the failors' cuftom of fwearing by his name. The greatest im-
provement their wives had, was, they taught them to ſpeak
English fo as to be understood. None of their children were
then above fix years old. They were all fruitful enough; and,
I think, the cook's mate's wife was big of her fixth child.
So much as to the Englishmen. When I enquired of the
Spaniards, about their circunftances among the favages, they
old me, that they were a poor miferable handful of people,
that, having no means put into their hands, were abandoned
to deſpair, and thought of nothing but ftarving. One of them
confeffed, that they were in the wrong to think fo, and for re-
fufing the affiftance that reaſon offered for their fupport, as
$
well
164
well as future deliverance: that grief was a moft infignificant
paffion, regarding things paft remedy, and having no hopes of
the good things to come, which was an addition to affliction:
AH which verified this noted proverb,
In trouble to be troubled.
Is to have trouble doubled.
Nor did his remark end here; for, making obſervations upon
my improvements, and of my condition at firft, infinitely
worfe than their's; he told me that Englishmen had, in their
diftrefs, greater prefence of mind, than thote of any other
country that he had met with; and that they, and the Portu
gueſe, were the worft men in the world to ftruggle under mis-
fortune. When they landed among the favages, they found
but little provifion, unless they would turn cannibals; there
being but a few roots and herbs with little fubftance in them,
and of which the natives gave them but very fparingly. Ma-
ny were the ways they took to civilize and teach the fav-
ages, but in vain; nor would they own them to be their in-
structors, whofe lives were owing to their bounty. Their
extremities were very great, being many days entirely without
food; the favages there being more indolent, and lefs devour-
ing, than thoſe who had better fupplies. Whenever war hap-
pened, they affifted thefe people, being compelled thereto, and
by which, my faithful Spaniard being taken, had like to have
been devoured. They had loft their ammunition, which ren-
dered their fire arms ufelefs; nor could they uſe the bows and
arrows that were given them; fo that while the armies were at
a diſtance they had no chance, but would combat their enemies
when cloſed with halberts, and fharpened flicks put into the
muzzles of their mufkets. They made themſelves targets of
wood, covered with the fkins of wild beafts;. and when one
happened to be knocked down, the reft of the company fought
øver him till he recovered; and then ftanding cloſe in a line,.
they would make their way through a thoufand favages. At.
the return of their friend, who they thought had been entomb.
ed in the bowels of their enemies,, their joy was inconceiv-
able. Nor were they leſs ſurpriſed at the fight of the loaves.
of bread I had ſent them, things that they had not ſeen for
feveral years, at the fame time croffing and bleffing it, as though
it was manna fent from heaven: But when they knew the
errand, and perceived the boat, which was to carry them to
the perſon and place from whence ſuch relief came, this ftruck
them with a ſurpriſe of joy, that made fome of them faint
away, and others burst into tears.
This was the fummary account that I had from them; fo
that it now becomes neceffary I inform the reader what I did
for them, and in what a condition I left them. As we were
all agreed that the favages would fcarce trouble them any
more.
165
more, fo we had no apprehenfions about it. I told them I was
come purely to establish them, and not remove them; and
upon that occafion, had not only brought them neceffaries for
convenience and defence, but alſo artificers, and other perſons,
both for their neceffary employments, and to add to their
number. They were all together when I thus talked to them;
and, before I delivered to them the ftores I had brought, I aſked
them one by one, if they had entirely forgot their old animofi-
ties, would engage in the strictest friendſhip, and ſhake hands
with one another? To this, Will. Atkins, with abundance of
good humour, faid they had afflictions enough to make them
all fober, and enemies enough to make them all friends: As
for himſelf, he would live and die among them : owning that
what the Spaniards had done to him, his own mad humour
had made neceffary for them to do. Nor had the Spaniards
occafion to justify this proceeding to me; but they told me,
that fince Will. Atkins had behaved himself fo valiantly in fight,
and at other times fhewed fuch a regard to the common intereſt
of them all, they had not only forgot all that was paft, but
thought he ought to be as much truſted with arms and necef-
faries as any of them, which they teftified by making him com-
mand next to the Governour; and they moſt heartily embrac-
ed the opportunity of giving me this folemn affurance, that they
would never ſeparate their intereſt again as long as they lived.
Well, upon theſe kind declarations of friendſhip, we ap-
pointed all of us to dine together the next day, on which I
caufed the fhip's cook, and his mate, to come on fhore for
that purpoſe, and the cook's mate on land affifted them in
dreffing our dinner. We brought from the fhip fix pieces of
beef, and four of pork, together with our punch bowl, and
materials to fill it; and, in particular, I gave them ten bottles
of French claret, and ten of Engliſh beer, which was very ac-
ceptable to them. The Spaniards added to our feaſt five whole
kids; which being roaſted, three of them were fent as freſh
meat to the ſailors on board, and the other two we ate our-
felves. After our merry and innocent feaft was over, I began
to diſtribute my cargo among them; at first I gave them lin-
en fufficient to make every one of them four fhirts, and, at the
Spaniard's request, made them up fix. The thin Engliſh ſtuffs
I allotted to make every one a light coat, like a frock, agree-
able to the climate; and left them fuch a quantity, as to make
more upon their decay; as alſo pumps, fhoes, hats, and
ftockings. I cannot exprefs the pleafing fatisfaction which fat
upon the countenances of theſe poor men, when they perceiv-
ed what care I took of them, as if I had been a common father
to them all; and they all engaged never to leave the iftand,
till I gave my confent for their departure. Then I prefented
to them the people I brought; as the taylor, fmith, and the
twe
166
two carpenters ; but eſpecially my Jack of all Trades, was a re.
markable man among them. My taylor fell immediately to
work, and made every man of them a fhirt; after which he
learned the women to few and ftitch, thereby to become more
helpful to their hufbands. Neither were the carpenters lefs
uſeful, taking in pieces their clumfy things, inftead of which
they made convenient and handſome tables, ftools, bedfleads,
cupboards, lockers and ſhelves. But when I carried them to
fee Will. Atkins's baſket houfe, they owned they never faw fuch
a piece of natural ingenuity before. I'm fure, faid one of the
carpenters, the man that built this has no need of us; you need,
Sir, do nothing but give him tools.
I divided the tools among them in this manner: To every
man I gave a digging fpade, a fhovel and a rake, as having no
harrows or ploughs; and to every feparate place a pick axe, a
crow, a broad axe, and a faw, with a ſtore for a general fup-
ply, fhould any be broken or worn out. I left them alfo nails,
Haples, hinges, hammers, chiffels, knives, fciffars, and all forts
of tools and iron work; and for the ufe of the fmith threa
tons of unwrought iron for a fupply: And as to arms and
ammunition, 1 ftored them even to profufion, or at leaft
fufficient to equip a little army against all oppoſers "whatſo-
ever.
The young man (whole mother was unfortunately ftarved
to death) together with the maid, a pious and well educated
young woman, feeing things fo well ordered on fhore (for I
made them accompany me) as alſo conſidering they had no oc-
calion to go fo long a voyage as to the Eaft Indies; they
both deſired of me, that I would leave them there, and enter
them among my fubjects. This I readily agreed to, ordering
them a plat of ground, on which were three little houfes
erected, environed with baſket work, pallifadoed like Atkins's,
and adjoining to his plantation. So contrived were their tents
that each of them had a room apart to lodge in; while the
middle tent was not only their ſtore houſe, but their place for
eating and drinking. At this time the two Engliſhmen remov-
ed their habitations to their former place; fo that now the
iſland was divided into three colonies: First, theſe I have juſt
now mentioned; Secondly, that of Will. Atkins, where there
were four families of Engliſhmen, with their wives and children,
the widow and her children; the young man and the maid,
who (by the way) we made a wife of before our departure;
three favages, who were flaves; the taylor, fmith, (who ſerve
only as gunfmith) and my other celebrated perion, called
Jack of all Trades. Thirdly, my chiefeft colony confifted of
Spaniards, with old Friday, at my old habitation, which was
my capital city: And furely never was there fuch a metropolis
before, hid in fo ubſcure a grove, that a thouſand men might
have
167
have ranged the iſland a month, and looking purpofely for it,
I believe, could not have found it; and they had enlarged its
boundaries, both without and within, in a fecret and moſt fur-
priſing manner.
But now I think it high time to ſpeak of the young French
prieft, of the order of St. Benedict, whofe judicious and pious
difcourfes upon fundry occafions, merit an extraordinary ob-
fervation Nor can his being a French Papift Prieft, I prefume,
gived offence to any of my readers, wher. they have this af-
furance from me, that he was a perfon of the moſt courteous
difpofition, extenſive charity, and exalted piety. His argu-
ments were always agreeable to reafon, and his converfation
the moſt acceptable of any perſon that I had ever yet met with
in my life.
Sir (faid he to me one day) fince under God (at the fame
time croffing his breaſt) you have not only laved my life, but,
by permitting me to go this voyage, have granted me the hap-
pineſs of free converfation, I think it my duty, as my profef-
tion obliges me to fave what fouls I can, by bringing them to
the knowledge of fome Catholic doctrine, necellary to falva-
tion; but fince they are under your immediate government,
in gratitude, juftice, and decency, for what you have done for
me, I ſhall offer no farther points in religion, than what ſhall
merit your approbation. Pleafed with the modefty of his car-
riage, I told him he ſhould not be the worſe uſed for being of
a different perfuafion, if, upon that very account, we did not
fuffer in points of faith, not becoming in a country, where the
poor Indians ought to be inftructed in the knowledge of the
true God, and his Son Jefus Chrift. To this he replied, That
converfation might easily be ſeparated from difputes; that
he would difcourfe with me rather as a gentleman than a reli-
gious; but, if we did enter upon religious arguments, upon
my defiring the fame, that I would give him liberty to defend
his own principles. He further added, that he would do all
that become him in his office, as a priest, as well as a chriftian,
to procure the happineſs of all that were in the flip; that
though he could not pray with, he would pray for us, on all
occations: And then he told me ſeveral extraordinary events
of his life, within a few years paft, but particularly in this last,
which was the moſt remarkable: That in this voyage he had
the misfortune to be five times fhipped and unfhipped. His
firft defign was to have gone to Martinico, for which he took
a fhip at St. Malo, but was forced into Liſbon by bad weather,
the veffel running aground in the mouth of the Tagus: That
from thence he went on board a Portugueſe fhip bound to the
Madeiras, whofe mafter being but an indifferent mariner, and
out of his reckoning, they were drove to Fial, where ſelling
their commodity, which was corn, they refolved to take in
their
168
their loading at the Ifle of May, and to fail to Newfoundland ;
at the banks of which they met a French ſhip, bound to Quebeck,
in the river of Canada, and from thence to Martinico: In this
ſhip he embarked, the mailer of which dying at Quebeck, that
voyage was fufpended: And lastly, fhipping himself for France,
that ship was deſtroyed by the fury of the flames, as before has
been related: And fo our difcourfe ended for that time.
Another morning he comes to me, juft as I was going to
vifit the Engliſhmens' colony, and tells me, that as he knew the
profperity of the iſland was my principal defire, fo he had
fomething to communicate agreeable to my defign, and perhaps
might put it, more than he yet thought it was, in the way of
the benediction of heaven. How, Sir! faid I in a furpriſe,
are we not yet in the way of God's bleffing, after all theſe
fignal providences and deliverances, of which you have had
fuch an ample relation? He replied, I hope, Sir, you are in
the way, and that your good design will profper; but ftill
there are ſome among you that are not equally right in their
actions: And remember, I beseech you, Sir, that Achan, by
his crime, removed God's bleſſing from the camp of the Chil-
dren of Ifrael; that, though ſix and thirty were entirely in-
nocent, yet they became the objects of divine vengeance, and
bore the weight of the punishment accordingly.
So fenfibly was I touched with this difcourfe, and fo fatisfied
with that ardent piety that enflamed his foul, that I defired
him to accompany me to the Engliſhmens' plantations, which
he was very glad of, by reaſon they were the fubjects of what
he defigned to diſcourſe with me about. So we walked on tø-
gether, and then he began in the following manner :
Sir, ſaid he, I muſt confeſs it is a great unhappineſs that we
diſagree in feveral doctrinal articles of religion; but yet this
we acknowledge, that there is a GOD, who, having given us
fome ſtated rules for our our ſervice and obedience, we ought
not willingly and knowingly to offend, either by neglecting
what he has commanded, or doing what he has forbidden:
and this too is owned by every Chriſtian, that whenever any
people preſumptuouſly fin againſt God's command, the Al-
mighty withdraws his bleffing from them; and therefore eve-
ry good man ought to prevent fuch neglect of, or fin againſt
God and his commands, ſo long as any perfons are under his
care. Hereupon I thanked him for expreffing ſo great a con-
cern for us, and deſired him to explain the particulars of what
he had obferved; that according to the parable of dchan, I
might remove that curſed thing from us. Why then, Sir, faid
he, in the first place, you have four Englishmen, who, having
taken favage women to their wives, by whom they have had
ſeveral children, and yet not legally married, as the laws of
God and man require; they, I fay, Sir, are no leſs than adul-
terers,
1,69
terers, and, living in adultery, are liable to the curfe of God.
I know, Sir, you may object the want of a prieſt or clergymen
of any kind; as alſo pen, ink and paper, to write down a con-
tract of marriage, and have it figned between them. But nei-
ther this nor what the Spanish Governour has told you, of their
chufing by confent, can be reckoned a marriage, nor any more
than an agreement to keep them from quarrelling among them-
felves: For, Sir, the effence or facrament of matrimony (ſo he
called it) not only confifts in mutual confent, but in the legal
obligation which compels them to own and acknowledge
one another, to abftain from other perſons, the men to pro-
vide for their wives and children, and the women to the
fame, or like conditions, mutaris mutandis, on their fide:
whereas theſe men, Sir, upon their own pleaſure, on any oc-
cafion, forſake theſe women to marry others, and by difown-
ing their children, fuffer them utterly to perish.
And now,
Sir, added he, can God be honoured in fuch an unlawful liber-
ty as this? How can a bleſſing ſucceed the beſt endeavours, if
men are allowed to live in open adultery? Indeed I was ſtruck
with the thing itſelf, and they were much to blame that no for-
mal contract had been made, though it had been breaking a ſtick
between them, to engage them to live as man and wife, nẹv-
er to ſeparate, but love, cherish, and comfort one another all
their lives. But, Sir, faid I, when they took theſe women, I
was not here; and ifit is adultery, 'tis paſt my remedy, and I
cannot help it. 'Tis true, Sir, anſwered the young Prieſt, you
cannot be charged with that part of the crime which was done
in your abſence : But, I beleech you, don't flatter yourſelf
that you are under no obligation, now, to put a period to it;
which if you neglect to do, the guilt will be entirely on you,
alone; fince it is certainly in no body's power but your's to
alter their condition. I muſt confefs I was fo dull, that I
thought he meant I fhould part them, which, knowing it would
put the whole iſland in confuſion, I told him I could not con-
fent to upon any account whatſoever. Sir, ſaid he, in a great
ſurpriſe, I do not mean that you ſhould ſeparate, but marry
them: I mean in your way by a writ en contract, figned by both
man and woman, and by all the witneffes prefent, which all
the European laws decree to be of fufficient efficacy. Amazed
with fuch true piety and fincerity, and confidering the validity
of a written contract, I acknowledged all that he ſaid to be
very juſt and kind, and that I would difcourfe with the men
about it: Neither could I fee what reafon they could have
not to let him marry them, whofe authority in that affair is
owned to be as authentic as if they were married by any of our
clergymen in England.
The next complaint he had to make me was this, That theſe
Eøgliſh ſubjects of mine, having lived with theſe women ſeven
P
years,
170
years, who being of good underſtanding, and capable of in-
ftruction, having learnt them not only to fpeak, but to read
Engliſh; all this while they had never taught them any thing
of the Chriftian religion, or the knowledge of God; much lefs
in what manner he ought to be ferved. And is not this an
unaccountable neglect faid he, warmly. Depend upon it,
God Almighty will call them to account for fuch contempt.
And though I am not of your religion, yet I fhould be glad to
fee theſe people releaſed from the devil's power, and be laved
by the principles of the Chriftian religion, the knowledge of
God, of a Redeemer, the refurrection, and of a future ftate.
But, as it is not yet too late, if you pleaſe to give me leave to
inftru&t them, I doubt not but I fhall fupply this great defect,
by bringing them into the great circle of chirſtianity, even
while you continue in the iſland.
I could hold no longer, but, embracing him, told him, with
a thouſand thanks, I would grant what he requested; and de-
fired him to proceed in the third article, which he did in the
following manner :
Sir, faid he, it ſhould be a maxim among all Chriftians,
That chriftian knowledge ought to be propagated by all
poffible means, and on all occafions. Upon this account, our
church fends miffionaries into Perfia, India,and China, men who
are willing to die for the fake of God, and the Chriflian faith,
in order to bring poor infidels into the way of falvation. Now,
Sir, here is an opportunity to convert ſeven and thirty poor
favages, that I wonder how you can pafs by fuch an occafion
of doing good, which is really worth the expence of a man's
whole life.
If I
I'muft confeis I was fo confounded at his difcourfe, that I
could not tell how to antwer him: Sir, faid he, ſeeing me in
diſorder, I fhall be very forry if I have given you offence: No,
Sir, faid I, I'm rather confounded; and you know my circum-
ſtances, that being bound to the Eaft Indies, in a merchant ſhip,
I cannot wrong the owners fo much, as to detain the thip here,
the men lying at victuals and wages on their account.
ftay above twelve days, I muſt pay 31. fterling, per diem, de-
murrage, nor muft the fhip ftay above eight days more, fo that
I am unable to engage in this work, unless I would leave the
fhip, and fo be reduced to my former condition. The priest,
though he owned this was hard upon me, yet laid it to my con-
ſcience, whether the bleffing of saving feven and thirty fouls,
was not worth venturing all that I had in the world? Sir, faid
I, 'tis very true; but, as you are an ecclefiaftic, it naturally
falls into your profeffion: why therefore don't you rather
offer to undertake it yourſelf, than prefs me to it? Upon this
he turned about, making a very low bow. I most humbly
thank God and you, Sir, ſaid he, for ſo bleſſed a call, and
most
171
most willingly undertake ſo glorious an office, which will fuf-
ficiently compenfate all the difficulties and hazards I have
gone through, in a long and uncomfortable voyage.
While he was thus fpeaking, I could diſcover a rapture in
his face, by his colour coming and going; at the fame time his
eyes fparkled like fire; with all the figns of the moſt zealous
tranſports. And when I aſked whether he was in earneſt, Sir,
faid he, it was to preach to the Indians I confented to come
along with you; theſe infidels, even in this little ifland, are
infinitely of more worth than my poor life; and, fo 1 am, the
happy inftrument of faving thefe poor creatures' fouls, I care
not if I never ſee my native country again. The only thing I
beg of you more is, that you would leave Friday with me, to
be my interpreter, without whofe affittance neither of us will
underſtand each other.
This requeſt very fenfibly troubled me, firſt,, upon Friday's
being bred a Proteftant, and ſecondly for the affection I bore
to him for his fidelity: But immediately the remembrance of
Friday's father coming into my head, I recommended him to
him, as having learned Spaniſh, which the Prieſt alſo underflood,
and fo was thoroughly fatisfied with him.
When we came to the Englishmen, after I had told them
what neceffary things I had done for them, I talked to them
of the ſcandalous life they led ; told them what notice the Cler-
gyman had taken of it, and aſked them if they were married
men, or batchelors? They anſwered two of them were widow-
ers, and the other three fingle men, But, faid I, with what
confcience can you call theſe your wives, by whom you have
fo many children, and yet are not lawfully married? They
all faid, that they took them before the Governour as fuch,
having nobody elſe to marry them, which they thought as le-
gal as if they had had a parfon. No doubt, faid I, but in the
fight of God you are fo: But, unleſs I am affured of your
honeft intent, never to defert thefe poor creatures, I can do
nothing more for you, neither can you expect God's bleſſing
while you live in fuch an open courfe of adultery. Hereupon
Will. Atkins, who fpoke for the reft, told me, that they believed
their wives the most innocent and virtuous creatures in the
world; that they would never forfake them while they hạd
breath; and that if there was a Clergyman in the fhip, they
would be married to them with all their hearts.
I told you
before, faid I, that I have a miniſter with me, who ſhall marry
you to-morrow morning, if you are willing; fo I would have
you confult to-night with the reſt about it. I told him the
Clergyman was a Frenchman, and knew not a word of Engliſh,
but that I would act as a clerk between them. And indeed
this buſineſs met with fuch ſpeedy fuccefs, that in a few mi
nutes after they all told me, they were ready to be formal-
ly
172
ly married as foon as I pleafed, with which informing the
Prieſt, he was exceedingly rejoiced.
Nothing now remained, but that the women were to be
made fenfible of the meaning of the thing, with which being
well ſatisfied, they and their husbands attended at my apart-
ment the next morning: There was my priest, habited in a
black veſt, ſomething like a caflock, with a fath round it, much
reſembling a Minifter, and I was his interpreter. But the fe-
riouſneſs of his behaviour, and the fcruples he made of mar-
rying the women who were not baptized, gave them an ex-
ceeding reverence for his perſon: Nor indeed would he marry
them at all, till he obtained my liberty to difcourfe both with
the men and women; and then he told them, That, in the
fight of all indifferent men, and in the ſenſe of the laws of fo-
ciety, they had lived in open adultery, which nothing now, but
their content to marry, or final feparation could put an end to;
and even here was a difficulty, with refpe&t to the laws of
Chriftian matrimony, in marrying a profeffed Chriſtian to an
Heathen idolater, ;unbaptized but yet there was time enough
to make them profefs the name of Chrift, without which noth-
ing could be done; that beſides, he believed themfelves very
indifferent Chriftians, and confequently had not difcourfed with
their wives on that ſubject; and that unless they promiſed
him to do ſo, he could not marry them, as being exprefsly for-
bidden by the laws of God.
All this they heard attentively, and owned readily: But,
Lord, Sir, faid Will. Atkins to me, how fhould we teach them
religion, who know nothing of it ourfelves? And ſhould we
talk to our wives of God, Jefus Chrift, Heaven and Hell, they
would only laugh at us, who never yet have practiſed religion,
but on the contrary all manner of wickedness. Will. Atkins, faid
I, can't you tell your wife fhe's in the wrong; and that her
Gods are idols, which can neither hear, fpeak or underſtand;
but that our God, who has made, can deſtroy all things; that
he rewards the good, and punifhes the wicked; and at laſt
will bring us to judgment: Can't you tell her thele things ?
That's true, faid Atkins, but then the'll tell me 'tis utterly falſe,
finte I am not punifhed and ſent to the devil, who have been
fuch a wicked creature. Theſe words I interpreted to the
prieft: 01 faid he, tell him his repentance will make him a
very good miniſter to his fpoufe, qualifying him to preach on
the mercy and long fuffering of a merciful Being, who defires
not the death of a finner; that he even defers damnation to
the laſt judgment, which will lead to the doctrine of it,
and will make him an excellent preacher to his wife.-
This I repeated to Atkins, who being more than ordinarily affect-
ed with it, replied, I know all this, Sir, and a great deal more;
but how can I have the impudence to talk thus to my wife,
when
173
when my, conſcience witneſſes againſt me › Alas 1 (ſaid he, with
tears in his eyes; and giving a great figh) as for repenting that
is for ever paſt me. Paſt you! Atkins, faid I, what do you
mean? I know well enough, faid he, what I mean, I mean 'tis
too late.
When I told the prieſt what he ſaid, the poor affectionate man
could not refrain from weeping: But recovering himſelf, pray,
fir, ſaid he, aſk him, if he is contented that it is too late ; or is
he concerned, and wiſhes it were not fo? This queſtion I put
fairly to Atkins, who repled in a paffion, how can I be eafy in a
ftate of damnation, which I know muſt terminate in my ruin :
For I really believe ſome time or other, I ſhall cut my throat, to
put a period both to my life and to the terrors of my confcience.
At this the clergyman fhook his head: Sir, ſaid he, pray
tell him it is not too late! Chrift will give him repentance,
if he has recourſe to the merit of his Paffion. Does he think
he is beyond the power of Divine mercy? There may indeed be
a time when provoked merey will no longer ftrive, but never
too late for men to repent in this world. I told Atkins every
word the Prieſt had ſaid, who then parted from us, to talk to
his wife; while we difcourfed with the reft: But thoſe were
very ftupid in religious matters, yet all of them promiſed to
do their endeavours to make their wives turn Chriſtians; and,
upon theſe promifes, the Prieft married the three couple. But,
as Aikins was the only fincere convert, and of more ſenſe than
the reft, my Clergyman was earnestly enquiring after him':
Sir, faid he, let's walk out of this labyrinth, and I dare fay we
fhall find this poor man preaching to his wife already. And
indeed we found it true; for, coming to the edge of the wood,
we perceived Atkins, and his favage wife, fitting under the ſhade
of a bush in very earneſt difcourfe: He pointed to the lun,
to the quarters of the earth, to himſelf, to her, the wood, and
the trees. Immediately we could perceive him flart upon his
feet, fall down upon his knees, and lift up both his hands; at
which the tears ran down my Clergyman's cheeks; but our
great misfortune was, that we could not hear one word that
paffed between them. Another time he would embrace her,
wiping the tears from her eyes, kiffing her with the greateſt
tranſports, and then both kneeled down for fóme minutes to-
gether. Such raptures of joy did this occafion in my young
Prieft, that he could fcarcely contain himſelf And a little
after this, we obferved by her motion, as frequently lifting
up her hands and laying them on her breaſt, that the was
mightily affected with his doctrine; and fo they withdrew from
our fight.
When we came back, we found them both waiting to be
called in; upon which we agreed to examine him alone. and
P 2
fo
174
fo I began thus to difcourfe him. Prithee, Will. Atkins, faid I,
what education had you? What was your father?
W. A. A better man than ever I fhall be: He was, Sir,
a Clergyman, who gave me good inftruction, or correction,
which I defpifed, like a brute as I was, and murdered my poor
father.
Prieft.
R. C.
Ha! a murderer.*
What, did you kill him with your hands?
W. A. No, Sir, I did not cut his throat, but broke his
heart; by the moſt unnatural return of difobedience to the
tendereft and beft of fathers.
R. C. Well, I pray God grant you repentance; I did not
afk you to extort a confeſſion; but I aſked you, becauſe I ſee
you have more knowledge of what is good than your compan-
ions.
W. A. O, Sir, whenever I look back upon my paſt life, my
confcience upbraids me with my father; the fins against our
parents make the deepest wounds, and their weight lies the hav-
ieft on the mird.
R. C. You talk, Will. too feelingly and fenfibly for me: I
am not able to bear it.
W. A. You bear, it, Sir! you know nothing of it.
R. C. But yes, Atkins, I do; and every fhore, valley, and
tree in this ifland, witnefs the anguifh of my foul for my un-
dutifulneſs to my kind father, whom I have murdered like.
wife; yet my repentance falls infinitely ſhort of yours. But
Will. how comes the fenfe of this matter to touch you juſt
now ?
W. A. Sir, the work you have fet me about has occafioned
it; for, talking to my wife about God and religion, he has
preached me fuch a fermon, that I fhall retain it in lafting re-
membrance.
R. C. No, no, 'tis your own moving pious arguments to
her, has made confcience fling them back upon you. But,
pray, Atkins, inform us what paffed between you and your
wife, and in what manner did you begin?
W. A. I talked to her of the laws of marriage, the reaſon
of ſuch compacts, whereby order and juſtice is maintained;
without which, men would run from their wives and children,
to the diffolution of families and inheritances.
R. C. Well, and what did the fay to all this?
W. 4. Sir, we began our diſcourſe in the following man-
ner; which I fhal! repeat exactly, according to my mean ca-
pacity, if you think it worth your while to honour it with your
attention.
The
Here the Prieft ftarted and looked pale, as thinking he had re-
ally killed his father,
175
The DIALOGUE between Will. Atkins, and his Wife, in the
Wood.
Wife. God in your country?
You tell me marriage God
OU tell me marriage God appoint have you
W. A.
Wife.
yours.
Yes, child, God is in every nation.
No, great old Benamuckee God is my country, not
W. A. My dear, God is in heaven, which he made, the
earth, the fea, and all therein.
Wife. Why you not tell me much long ago ?
W. A. My dear, I've been a wicked wretch, having a
long time lived without the knowledge of God in the world.
Wife. What, not know great God in own nation ? No do
good ting? No fay O to him? That's ftrange!
W. A. But, my dear, many live as if there was no God in
heaven for all that.
Wife. Why God fuffer this? Why makee not live well?
W A. It is our own faults, child.
Wife. But if he much great, can makee kill, why no makee
kill when no ferve him? No be good mans, no cry O to
him ?
W. A.
That is true, my dear, he may ftrike us dead, but
his abundant mercy fpareth us.
Wife. Did not you tell God tankee for that?
W. A. No, I have neither thanked him for his mercy, nor
feared him for his power.
Wife. Then me not believe you God be good, not makee
kill, when you makee him angry.
W. A. Alas muft my wicked life hinder you from be-
lieving in him.
Wife. How can me tink your God live there? (pointing to
heaven) Sure he no tell what you do there.
W. A. Yes, yes, my dear, he hears us fpeak, fees what we
do, and knows what we even think.
Wife. Where then makee power ftrong, when he hears you
curſe, fwear de great down?
W. A. My dear, this fhews he is indeed a God, and not a
man, who has not ſuch tender mercy.
Wife. Mercy what you call mercy ?
W. A. He pities and fpares us; as he is our great Creator,
fo alfo is he our tender father.
Wife. So God never angry, never kill wicked, then he no
good, no great mighty.
W. A. O, my dear don't ſay fo, he is both; and many
times he fhews terrible examples of his judgement and ven-
geance.
Wife.
176
Wife. Then you makee de bargain with him; you do bad
ting, he no hurt you, he hurt other mans.
W. A. No indeed, my fins are all prefumptions upon his
goodnels.
Wife. Well, and yet not makee you dead? and you give
him no thankee neither ?
W. A. 'Tis true, I am an ungrateful, unthankful dog, that
I am.
Wife. Why you fay, he makee you, why makee you no
much better then?
W. A. 'Tis I alone that have deformed myſelf, and abuſed
his goodness.
Wife. Pray makee God know me, me no makee him angry,
no do bad thing.
W. A. You mean, my dear, that you defire I would teach you
to know God: Alas! poor dear creature! he muſt teach thee,
and not I. But I'll pray earnestly to him to direct thee, and
to forgive me, a miferable finner. Hereupon I went a little
diſtance, and, kneeling down, prayed earneſtly to God to en-
lighten her mind and to pardon her fins: When this was
done, we continued our difcourfe thus.
Wife. What you put down knee for? For what hold up
hand? Who you speak to ?
W. A. My dear, I bowed in token of ſubmiſſion to him
that made me; and prayed that he would open your eyes and
underſtanding.
Wife.
you fay?
And can he do that too? And will he hear what
W. A. Yes, my dear, he bids us pray, and has given his
promiſe that he will hear us.
Wife. When did he bid us pray? What, do you hear him
ſpeak?
W. A. No, my dear, but God has ſpoken formerly to
good men from heaven; and by divine revelation, they have
written all his laws down in a book.
Wife. O, where dat good book?
W. A. I have it not now by me; but, one time or other, I
fhall get it for you to read.
great affection.
Then he embraced her with
Wife. Pray tell-ame how God teachee them write that
book?
W. A. By that we know him to be God.
Wife. What way, what rule you know him?
W. A. Becauſe he teaches what is good, juft, and holy;
and forbids ali wicked and abominable actions that incur his
difpleaſure.
Wife. O me fain underſtand that, and if he do all things
you ſay he do, ſurely he hear me fay O to him; he makee me
good,
177
good, if I wiſh to be good; he no kill me if I love him; me
tink, believe him great God; me fay O to him along with you,
my dear.
Here the poor man fell upon his knees, and made her kneel
down by him, praying in the greateſt fervency, that God
would inftruct her by his holy fpirit; and that fome time God,
by his providence, would fend them a bible for both their in-
ftruction. And fuch was the early piety of his new convert,
that the made him promiſe never to forfake God any more;
left, being made dead, as the called it, fhe fhould not only want
her inftructor, but himſelf be miſerable in a long eternity.
Such a ſurpriſing account as this was, proved very affecting
to us both, but particularly to the young Clegyman, who was
mightily concerned he could not talk to her himſelf: Sir, ſaid
he, there is fomething more to be done to this woman than to
marry her : I mean that ſhe ought to be baptized. To this
I prefently agreed: Pray, faid he again, afk her huſband,
whether he has ever talked to her of Jefus Chrift, the ſalvation
of finners, the nature of faith and redemption in and by him,
of the holy spirit, the refurrection; laft judgment, and a fu-
ture ftate; but the poor fellow melted into tears at this quef-
tion, faying, that he had ſaid fomething to her of thefe things,
but his own confcience terrifying him with the moſt dreadful
apprehenſions, he was afraid left her knowledge of it ſhould
make her rather contemn religion, than embrace it; but if I
would difcourfe with her, it was probable my labour would
not be in vain. Accordingly I called her in, and placing my
felf as interpreter between the religious priest and the woman,
I entreated him to go on : But furely never was fuch a fermon
preached by any clergyman in theſe latter days of the world,
which had fo much zeal, knowledge and fincerity: In ſhort
he brought the woman to embrace the knowledge of Chriſt,
and of redemption by him, with fo furprising a degree of un-
derſtanding, that he made it her own request to be baptized.
And now he performed his office in the facrament of Bap-
tifm, first by ſaying fome words over to himself in Latin, and
then, asking me to give her a name, as being her godfather,
he poured a whole difhful of water upon the woman's head,
faying, MARY, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt, ſo that none could know
what religion he was of; and after, he pronounced the bene-
diction in Latin. Thus, the woman being made a Chriftian,
he married her to Will. Atkins, which being finiſhed, he affec-
tionately exhorted him to lead a holy life for the future; that,
fince the Almighty, by the convictions of his confcience, had
honoured him to be the inftrument of his wife's converſion, he
ſhould not dishonour the grace of God, left, while the favage
was converted, the inftrument fhould be caft away. And thus
ended
178
ended the ceremony, which made it the moſt pleaſant and a-
greeable day I ever paffed in my life,
The affairs of the island being fettled, I was preparing to go
on board, when the young man, whofe mother was ftarved,
came to me, ſaying, That, as he underdood I had a clergyman
with me, who had married the Engliſhmen with favages, he had
a match to make between two Chriftians, which he defired
might be finiſhed before I departed. But thinking it was
himſelf that had courted his mother's maid, I perfuaded him
not to do any thing rafhly upon the account of his folitary
circumſtances; that the maid was an unequal match for him,
both in respect to fubftance and years; and that it was very
probable he would live to return to his own country, where he
might have a far better choice. At these words, he fmilingly
interrupted me, thanking me for my good advice; that, as he
had nothing to beg of me, but a ſmall ſettlement, with a fer-
vant or two, or fome few neceffaries; fo he hoped I would not
be unmindful of him when I returned to England, but give
his letters to his friends; and that when he was redeemed, the
plantation, and all its improvements, however valuable, ſhould
be returned to me again : But, as for the marriage he propof-
ed, why truly it was between my Jack of all Trades, and the
maid Sufan.
t
Indeed I was agreeably furprized at the mentioning this
match, which ſeemed very ſuitable; the one being a very in
genious fellow, and the other an excellent, dexterous, and fen-
fible houſewife, fit to be governefs of the whole ifland: So we
married them the fame day; and as I was her father, and gave
her away, fo I gave her a handfome portion, and appointed
her and her husbond a large convenient fpace of ground for
their plantation. The fharing out of the land to them, I left
to Will. Atkins, who really very juftly divided it to every per-
fon's fatisfaction: They only delired one general writing, un-
der my hand, for the 'whole, which I cauled to be drawn up,
figned, and fealed to them, fetting out their bounds, and giv-
ing them a right to the whole poffeffion of their respective
plantations, with their improvements, to them and their heirs,
referving all the rest of the ifland as my own property, and a
certain rent for every particular plantation, after 11 years. As
to their laws and government, I exhorted them to love one
another: And as to the Indians, whọ lived on a neck by them-
felves, allotted three or four of them plantations, and the reſt
willingly choſe to become fervants to all the other families, by
which means they were employed in uſeful labour, and fared
much better than they did before. Thus the favages, being
mixed with the Chriftians, the work of the converfion of the
Indians might be fet on foot by the latter, in the clergyman's
abfence, to our equal fatisfaction. But how, faid the young
Priest,
179
Prieſt, ſhall I know that the Chriftians will do their parts to
inftruct them; I told him we would call them all together,
that we ſhould ſpeak to the Spaniards, who were Papiſts, and I
to the English, who were Proteftants, and make them promile
that they would never make any diſtinction in religion, but
teach the general true knowledge of God, and his Son Jefus
Chriſt, in order to convert the poor favages: And this indeed
they all promiſed us accordingly.
When I came to Will. Atkins's houfe, I found his baptized
wife, and the young woman newly married to my Jack of all
Trades, were become great intimates, and difcourfing of re-
ligion together: O Sir, faid Will. Atkins, when God has fin-
ner to reconcile to himſelf, he never wants an inftructor: I
knew I was unworthy of fo good a work, and therefore this
young woman has been fent hither, as it were from heaven,
who is fufficient to convert a whole island of favages. The
young woman bluſhed, and was going to rife, but I defired her
to fit ftill, and hoped that God would blefs her in fo good a
work: And then, pulling out a Bible, which I brought on
purpoſe in my pocket for him; here Atkins, faid I, here is an
affiftant that perhaps you had not before. So confounded was
the poor man, that it was fome time before he could ſpeak; at
laft, turning to his wife, my dear, ſaid he, did I not tell you
that God could hear what we faid? Here is the book I prayed
for when you and I kneeled under the buſh: God then heard
us, and now has fent it. The woman was ſurpriſed, and
thought God had really ſent that individual book from heav-
en; but I turned to the young woman, and deſired her to ex-
plain to the new convert, that God may properly be faid to an-
[wer our petitions, when, in the courfe of his Providence, ſuch
particular things as we petitioned for, do come to pafs. This
the young woman did effectually; but furely Will. Atkins's
joy cannot be expreffed; no man in the world being more
thankful for any thing, than he was for this bible, nor defire
it from a better principle.
After ſeveral religious diſcourſes, I defired the young wo-
man to give me an account of the anguifh fhe felt when the
was ftarving to death for hunger; to which the readily con-
fented, and began in the following manner :
"Sir, faid fhe, all our victuals being gone, after I had faſt-
ed one day, my ſtomach was very ſickiſh, and, at the approach
of night, I was inclined to yawning and fleeping. When I
flept upon the couch three hours: Three hours after, my fto-
mach being more and more fickiſh, I laid down again, but
could not fleep, being very faint and ill. Thus 1 paffed the
ſecond day in a ftrange variety, firft hungry, then fick again,
with reachings to vomit. That night I dreamt that I was at
Barbadoes, buying plenty of provifions, and dining heartily.
But
180
But when I awaked, my fpirits were exceedingly funk to find
myſelf in the extremity of famine. There was but one glaſs
of wine, which being mixed with ſugar, I drank up, but, for
want of ſubſtance to digeſt upon, the fumes of it got into my
head, and made me fenteleſs for fome time. The third day, I
was fo ravenous and furious, that I could have ate a little child
had it come in my way; during which time I was as mad as
any creature in Bedlam. In one of theſe fits I fell down, and
Bruck my face against the corner of a pallet bed, where my
miſtreſs lay: The blood gushed out of my nofe, but by my
excelfive bleeding, both the violence of the fever, and the rav.
enous part of the hunger abated. After, I grew fick again,
ftrove to vomit, but could not; then bleeding a fécond time,
I (wooned away as dead; coming to myſelf again, I had a
dreadful gnawing pain at my ftomach, which went off towards
night with a longing defire for food. I took a draught of wa-
ter and fugar, but it came up again; then I drank water with-
our fugar, and that ftayed with me. I laid me down on the
bed, praying God he would take me away; atter I had flum-
hered, I thought myfelf a dying, therefore recommending my
foul to God, wifhed fomebody would throw me into the fea.
All this while my departing miſtreſs lay by me. The laſt bit
of bread ſhe had, the gave to her dear child, my young maſter.
The morning after, I fell into a violent paffion of crying, and
after that into hunger. I eſpied the blood that came from my
nofe in a bafon, which I immediately fwallowed up. At night
I had the ufual variations, as pain in the ftomach, fick, fleepy,
and ravenous; and I had no thoughts but that I should die be-
fore morning. Now came on a terrible griping in my bow-
Then I heard my young maſter's terrible lamentations,
that his mother was dead! And, foon after the failors cried, a
fail, a fail, hallooing as if they were diſtracted, for joy of that
relief, which we afterwards received from your hands."
eis
{
Surely this is fuch a diftinét account of ftarving to death,
that I believe few ever met with the like: But to return to the
difpofition of things among my people. I did not take any
notice to them of the floop that I had framed, neither would I
leave them the two pieces of braſs cannon, or the two quarter
deck gurs that I had on board; left, upon any difguft, they
fhould have feparated, or turned pirates, and fo made the ifland
a den of thieves, inftead of a plantation of fober pious people.
But, without theſe things, leaving them in a flourishing con-
dition, with a promife to fend them further relief from Brafil;
as ſheep, hogs, and cows (being obliged to kill the latter at fea,
having no hay to feed them) I went on board the ſhip again the
firſt of May, 1605, having been twenty days among them; and
the next morning giving them a falute of five guns at parting,
we fet fail for the Brafils; but the third day, towards evening,
there
181
there happening a calm, and yet being by a ſtrong current
drove to the N. N. E. towards the land fide, we perceived the
ſea covered as it were with ſomething very black, not eaſily to
be diſcovered at firft: Upon which our chief mate afcending
the throuds a little way, and taking a view with a perſpective
glaſs, he cries out, it is an army. An army, you fool I ſaid I,
What do you mean? Nay, Sir, faid he, don't be angry; I al-
ſure you 'tis not only an army, but a fleet too; I believe there
are a thouſand canoes paddling along, and making haſte tow-
ards us too.
لي
7
Indeed every one of us were furprifed at this relation; and
my nephew, the captain, could not tell what to think of it, but
imagined we ſhould all be devoured. Nor was I free trom
concern, when I confidered how much we were becalmed, and
what a ftrong current let towards the fhore: However, I en-
couraged him not to be afraid, but bring the ſhip to an anchor,
as foon as we were certain that we must engage them. We ac
cordingly did fo, and furled all our fails: As to the favages,
we feared nothing but their fetting the fhip on fire; to prevent
which, I ordered them to get their boats out, and faſten them,
one cloſe by the head and the other by the ftern, well manned,
with theets and buckets to extinguifli the flames, ſhould it fo
happen. But when the ſavages came up, they were a horrid
fight indeed, but there were not fo many as the mate had ſaid ;
for, instead of a thouſand canoes, they were about one hun-
dred and twenty, though indeed they were too many, feveral
of theſe canoes containing above fixt een or feventeen men.
As they approached near us, they feemed to be in the great-
eft amazement, and not knowing what to make of us, they
rowed round the fhip, which occafioned us to call to the men
in the boats, not to fuffer them to come near them. Hereup-
on they beckoned to the favages to keep back, which they acé
cordingly did; but, at their retreat, they let fly about so ar-
rows among us, and very much wounded one of our men in
the long boat. I called to them not to fire upon any account,
but handing them down fome deal boards, the carpenters made
them a kind of fence to fhield them from the arrows. In half
an hour after, they came fo near a ftern of us, that we had a
perfect light of them; then they rowed a little farther out, till
they came directly broad fide with us, and then approached fo
near us they could hear us ſpeak. This made me order all our
men to keep cloſe, and get their guns ready; in the mean time
I ordered Friday to go out upon deck, and afk them in his
language what they meant." No fooner did he do ſo, but fiɛ
of the lavages, who were in the foremoſt canoe, stooping down,
fhewed us their naked back fides, as much as to lay in English,
Kils our
; but Friday quickly knew what this meant, by
immediately crying out they were going to fhoot; unfortunate-
ly
干
​182
ly for him poor creature! who fell under a cloud of three
hundred arrows, no lefs than feven piercing through his body,
killing one of the beſt of ſervants, and faithfulleſt of compa-
nions in all my folitudes and afflictions.
So enraged was I at the death of poor Friday, that I ordered
the guns, which were charged before only with powder tö
frighten them, to be loaded with fmall fhot; nor did the gun-
ners fail in their aim, but, at this broadſide, ſplit and overfet
thirteen or fourteen of their canoes, no doubt killed ſeveral of
them, and let the reſt a ſwimming: The others, frightened
out of their wits, little regarding their fellows a drowning,
fcoured away as faſt as they could; but our men took up one
poor wretch, ſwimming for his life, an hour after. He was fo
fullen at firſt, that he would neither eat nor ſpeak; but I took
a way to cure him, by ordering them to throw him into the
fea, which they did, and then he came fwimming to them like
a cork; calling, in his tongue, I fupppoſe, to fave him. So
we took him on board, but it was a long time before we could
make him ſpeak or underſtand English; yet, when we taught
him, he told us, they were going with their kings to fight a
great battle: And when we aſked him what made them come
up to us? He faid, To makee de great wonder look. By which it
is to be noted, that theſe natives, and thoſe of Africa, always
add two E's at the end of Engliſh words, as makee takee, and the
like, which it is a very difficult thing to break them of.
And now being under fail, I cannot but take my laſt farewel
of poor honest Friday! And indeed we interred him with all
poffible decency and folemnity, by putting him into a coffin,
and committing him to the deep, at the fame time caufing e-
leven guns to be fired for him: And thus ended the life of
one of the most grateful, faithful, honeft, and affectionate fer-
vants, that ever any man was blett with in the world.
Having now a fair wind for Brafil, in about twelve days time,
we made land in the latitude of five degrees fouth of the line.
Four days we kept on S. by E. in fight of the fore, when we
made Cape St. Auguftine, and, in three days, we came to an
anchor off the bay of All Saints. But it was with great diffi-
culty I obtained leave to hold correſpondence here on thore;
for neither the figure of my partner, my two merchant truſtees,
nor the fame of my wonderful prefervation in the land, could
procure me that favour, till fuch time as the Prior of the Monaf-
ſtery of the Auguſtines (to whom I had given 500 moidores) ob-
tained leave from the Governour for me perfonally, with the cap-
tain,and one more, together with eight failors, to come on ſhore,
and, upon this condition, that we fhould not land any goods.
out of the ship, or carry any perfon away without licence?
But, however, with difficulty, I got on fhore three bales of
Engliſh goods; as fine broad cloth, fluffs, and ſome linen,
which
183
which I brought as a preſent for my partner; who had fent me
on board a prefent of freſh proviſions, wine, and ſweet meats,
worth above thirty moidores, including fome tobacco, and three
or four fine gold medals.
And now I delivered my partner, in goods, to the value of
£100 Aerling, and obliged him to fet up the floop I brought för
the ule of my iſland, in order to fend them refreſhments: Nor
did'he fail in this, but had the veffel finiſhed in a few days; to
the maſter of which I gave particular inſtructions to find the
place. I foon loaded him with a ſmall cargo, and one of my
failors offered to fettle there, upon my letter to the Spanish
Governour, if I would allot him tools and a plantation. This I
willingly granted, and gave him the favage we had taken pris
foner to be his flave. All things being ready for the voyage,
my old partner told me, there was an acquaintance of his, a
Brafil planter, who having fallen under the diſpleaſure of the>
church, and in the fear of the inquifition, which obliged him
to be concealed, would be glad of ſuch an opportunity to make
his eſcape, with his wife and two daughters; and if I would*
allot them a plantation in my ifland, he would give them***
fmall flock to begin with, for that the officers had already téîz-4
ed his effects and eſtate, and left him nothing but a little houſe-"
hold ſtuff and two flaves. This requeft I preſently granted,
concealing him and his family on board our fhip, till fuch time
as the floop (where all the effects were) was got out of the bay,
and then we put them on board, who carried them fome ma-
terials and plants for planting fugar canes along with them.
By this floop, among other things, I fent my fubjects three¹
milch cows, and five calves, about 22 hogs, three fows big
with pig, two mares and a ſtallion. I alſo engaged three Pôr-
tugueſe women to go for the ſake of the Spaniards, which, with
the perfecuted man's two daughters, were fufficient, fince the
reft had wives of their own, though in another country: Alb
which cargo arrived fafe, no doubt, to their exceeding com-
fort; who, with this addition, were about fixty or ſeventy peo
ple, beſides children.
Here it was that my truly honeft and pious clergyman left
me; for a fhip being ready to fet fail for Liſbon, he asked me
leave to go thither; but I affure you it was with the greateſt
reluctance I parted from ſuch a perſon, whoſe virtue and piety
merited the greateſt eſteem.
When we failed from the Brafils, we made directly ter the
Atlantic ocean to the Cape of Good Hope, having a tolerable
good voyage, ſteering for the most part S. E. We were on a
trading voyage, and had a fupercargo on board, who was to
direct all the ship's motions after the arrived at the Cape; on-
ly being limited to a certain number of days for ſtay, by chart-
er party, at the ſeveral ports ſhe was to go to; but all this be-
longed
184
longed to my nephew the captain, and the ſupercargo, and was
none of my bulinefs. At the Cape we only took in freſh wa-
ter, and then failed for the coaſt of Coromandel, being informed
that a French man of war of fifty guns, and two large merchant
thips were failed for the Indies, but we heard no more of
them.
The first place we touched at was the iſland of Madagaſcar;
where, though the inhabitants are naturally fierce and treach-
erous, formidably armed with bows and lances; yet, for
fome time they treated us civilly enough; and, in exchange of
knives, fciffars, and other trifles, they brought us eleven good
fat bullocks,, which we took partly for prefent fresh victuals,
and the remainder to falt for the fiip's ufe.
So curious was I to view every corner of the world where I
came to, that I went on shore as often as I could; when one
evening, numbers of the people ſtood gazing at us at a dif-
tance, yet we thought ourſelves in no danger, becauſe they
had uſed us kindly. However, we cut three boughs out of a
free, ſticking them at a diſtance from us, which, it feems, in
that country, is not only a token of truce and amity, but, when
poles or boughs are fet up on the other fide, it is a fign the
truce is accepted: Yet there is one thing to be regarded, that
neither party must come beyond one another's three poles or
boughs; fo that the middle ſpace is not only fecure, but is al-
fo allowed like a market for traffick and commerce. They
flick up their lances and javelins at the first poles, and come
on unarmed; but, if any violence is offered, away they run to
their poles, take up their weapons, and then the truce is at an
end. One evening it happened, when we went on fhore, a
greater number of people than ufual, both men and women,
honeſtly traded among us for fuch toys as we had, with fuch
great civility, that we made us a little tent of large boughs of
*rees, fome of the men refolving to lie on ſhore all night. But,
for my part, I and fome others took our lodging in the boat,
with boughs of trees ſpread over it, having a fail ſpread at the
bottom to lie upon; when, about two o'clock in the morning,
we heard the firing of five muſkets, as alſo our reen crying out
for help, or elfe they Grould all be murdered: Nor fcarce had
we time to get the boat afhore, but that our men came and
plunged themſelves into the water, having above four hundred
men at their heels: We took up feven of the men, three of
them very much wounded, and one left behind killed, while
the enemy poured their arrows fo thick among us, that we were
forced to make a barricade, with boards lying at the fide of the
boat, to shield us from danger: And having got ready our
fire arms, we returned them a volley, which no doubt wound-
ed feveral of them, as we could hear by their cries. In this
condition we lay till break of day, and then, making ſignals of
diftrels
185
But
diftrefs to the ship, which my nephew, the captain, heard and
underſtood, he weighed anchor, and ſtood as near the fhore as
poffibie, and then fent another boat with ten hands in her to
affift us; but we called to them not to come near, informing
them of our unhappy condition: However they ventured,
when one of the men taking the end of a tow-line in his hand,
and keeping our boat between him and our adverſaries, ſwam
on board us, and made faft the line to our boat; upon this
flipping our cables, they towed us out of the reach of their ar-
rows, and quickly after a broadfide was given them from the
fhip, which made a moft dreadful havoc among them.
when we had get on board, and examined into the occaſion of
this fray, the men who fled informed us, that an old woman,
who fold milk within the poles, had brought a young woman
with her, who carried roots or herbs; the fight of whom fo
much tempted our men, that they offered rudenels to the maid,
at which the old woman fet up a great cry; nor would the
failors part from their prize, but carried her among the trees,
while the old woman went and brought a whole army down
upon them.
At the beginning of the attack one of our men
was killed with a lance, and the fellow who began the mif.
chief, paid dear enough for his mistress, though as yet we did
not know what became of him, but the reft got free. The
third night after the action, being curious to underſtand how
affairs flood, I took the fupercargo, and twenty flout fellows
with me, and landed about two hours before midnight, at the
fame place where thole Indians flood the night before; and
there we divided our men into two bodies, the boatswain com-
manding one, and I the other. It was fo dark, that we could
fee nobody; neither did we hear any voice near us; bet by
and by the boatſwain falling over a dead body, we confeated
to halt till the moon began to rife, which we knew would be
in an hour after; and then we perceived two and thirty bodies
upon the ground, whereof two were not quite dead. Satisfied
with this diſcovery, I was going on board again; but the boat-
Swain, and the reft, told me they would make a viſit to the In-
diay town where thofe dogs, fo the called them, refided, aſk-
ing me at the fame time to go along with them: that they did
not doubt, befides getting a good booty, but they ſhould find
Tom Jeffery there, for that was the unhappy man we miffed.
But I utterly refuſed to go, and commanded them back, as
being unwilling to hazard their lives, the fafety of the ship
wholly depending upon them. Upon which, in fhort, all
left me but one, and the fupercargo: So we return
boat where a boy was left, telling them we would ſtay
that returned, though we fuppofed that most of them would
us the fame fate of Tom Jeffery. To this they replied, Cone
bys, come along, "we'll warrant we'll come off fafe enough; and
the
thole
fo
186
fo away they went, notwithſtanding all my admonitions, either
concerning their own fafety, or the prefervation of the fhip.
Indeed they were gallantly armed, every man having a mul
ket, bayonet, and a piſtol, beſides cutlaſſes, hangers, poleaxes,
and hand granades. They came to a few Indian houfes at
fuift; but, not being the town they expected, they went farth-
er, and finding a cow tied to a tree, they concluded that would
be a fufficient guide to then), and ſo it proved; for after they
untied her, the led them directly to the town, which confifted
of above two hundred houſes, feveral fan.lies living in fome
of the huts together. Here, being all in a profound fleep, the
failors confulted to divide themfelves into three bodies, and
fet three parts of the town on fire at once;, to kill thoſe that
were eſcaping, and plunder the rest of the houſes. Thus def-
perately refolved, they went to work; but the firſt party had
not gone far, before they called out to the reft, that they had
found Tom Jeffery; whereupon they all ran up to the place,
and found the poor fellow indeed, hanging up naked by one
arm, and his throat almoft cut from ear to ear: In a houſe
that was hard by the tree, they found 16 or 17 Indians who
had been concerned in the fray, two or three of them being
wounded, who were not gone to fleep; this houſe they ſet on
fire firſt, and quickly, five or fix places more in the town ap
peared in flames, which they occafioned by wild fire, as the
fittest to burn their thatches, confiiting of flags or rushes: and
no fooner did the affrighted creatures run out to fave their
lives, but they were either driven back into the flames by the
failors, or killed without mercy. After the boatfwain had
flain two with his pole-axe, he threw a hand-granade into the
houfe, which, foon burfting, made a terrible havock, killing
and wounding moft of them; and neither their king, nor any
of his train, who were in that houſe, eſcaped their fury, but
they were every creature fmothered and burnt together. All
this while they never fired a gun, left the people thould waken
faſter than they could overpower them. But they awaked faft
enough, which obliged our fellows to keep together in bodies.
And by this time the whole town was in a flame, yet their fury
rather increaſed, calling out to one another to remember Tom
Jeffery. The terrible light of this conflagration made me ve-
ry unealy, and rouſed my nephew the captain, and the reſt of
his men, not knowing any thing of the matter. But when he
perceived the dreadful fmoke afcending in the clouds, and
heat the guns go off, which made him conclude his men in
danter, he takes another boat, and comes on fhore himſelf
with men well armed: Nor was he lefs furprized to fee me
and two men only in the boat; but though I argued with him,
as I did with his men, about the danger of the voyage, the in-
tereft of the merchants and owners, and the fafety of the fhp;
yet"
187
yet my nephew was like the reft, declaring, that he would rath-
er lole the ship, his voyage, his life and all, than his men fhould
be lost for want of help; and fo away he went. For my part,
feeing him refolved to go, I had not power to ftay behind him:
He ordered the pinnace back again for twelve men more; and
then we marched directly as the flame guided us. But furely
never was fuch a ſcene of horrour beheld, nor more difmal
cries heard before, except at the time of that vile traitor and
ufurper Oliver Cromwell's taking Drogheda in Ireland, where
he neither (pared man, woman or child.
The first object, I think, we met with, was the ruins of one
of their habitations, before which lay four men and three
women killed, and two burnt to death among the fire, which
was now decaying. Nothing could appear more barbarous
than this revenge; none more cruel than the authors of it.
As we went on,the fire increaſed, and the cry proceeded in pro-
portion: Nor had we goue much farther, but we beheld three
naked women, followed by fixteen or feventeen men, flying
with the greateſt ſwiftneſs from our men, who fhot one of
them in our fight: When they perceived us, whom they fup-
poſed would be their murderers, they fet up a molt dreadful
ſhriek, and two fwooned away in the fright. Here was fuch
a fight, as might furely foften the hardest heart; and, in pity,
we took means to let them know we would not hurt them;
while the poor creatures, with bended knees and lift up hands,
made piteous lamentations to us to fave their lives. I ordered
our men not to hurt any of the poor creatures whatfoever;
but, being willing to understand the occafion of all this, I
went among thefe unhappy wretches, who neither understood
me, nor I believe the meaning themſelves. Hereupon, being
refolved to go into the middle of the town through the fire,
in order to put an end to this barbarity, I ordered the men to
follow me ; but I had ſcarce ſpoke the word, before the boat-
fwain came up, with four of our men at his heels, covered.
with blood and duft, feeking more people to maffacre; upon
which, calling out to them, we made them underſtand who we
were, and they came up to us, fetting up a halloo of triumph,
in token that more help was come. Noble captain, ſaid he to
my nephew, I'm glad you'r come; we have not half done
with thefe villanous hell hound dogs, we'll root out the very
nation of them from the earth, and kill more than poor Tom
has hairs upon his head: And thus he went on till I interrupt-
ed him. Blood thirſty dog! faid I, will your cruelty never
end? I charge you touch not one creature more; flop your
hands and ſtand ſtill, or you'r a dead man this moment. Why,,
Sir, ſaid he, you neither know who you are protecting, or what
they have done; but pray come hither, and behold an object
of compattion, if fuch merit your clemency; and with that
h#
280
he fhewed me the poor fellow, with his throat cut, hanging up-
on the tree.
Indeed here was enough to fill their breafts with rage, which,
however, I thought had gone too far, agreeable to thefe words
of Jacob to his ſons, Simeon and Levi: Curſed be their anger
for it was fierce, and their wrath, for it was cruel. But this
fight made my nephew and the reft as bad as they; nay, my
nephew declared, his concern was only for his men; as for
the people, not a foul of them ought to live. Hereupon away
ran the boatſwain and eight more to finiſh the tragedy; which
being out of my power to prevent, I penfively returned back,
both from the diſmal fight, and the piteous cries of thoſe un-
fortunate creatures, who were made victims to their fury.
Nor was it a lefs piece of folly in me to return to the boat with
a few others, having narrowly efcaped forty armed Indians,
who had been alarmed by the conflagration; but, having mif-
fed the place where they flood, I got to the boat, accompanied
with the fupercargo, and fo went on board, fending the pin -
nace back again, to affift the men in what might happen. When
I had got to the boat, the fire was almoft extinguifhed, and the
noiſe abated; but I had fcarce been half an hour on board the
fhip, when I heard another volley given by our failors, and
a great ſmoke, which, as I afterwards found, was our men
falling upon thofe houfes and perfons that ftood between thera
and the fea; but here they fpared the wives and children, and
killed about fixteen or ſeventeen inen. And fo they came
ſtrolling down to the pinnace, which, at that time was gotted
on fhore to receive them. Not a man of them had received
the leaft hurt, except two, one of whom ſtrained his foot, and
the other burnt his hand a little, having met with no refift.
ance, the poor Indians being unprepared, amazed and con-
founded.
Indeed I was extremely angry with every one of them, but
particularly the Captain; who, instead of cooling the rage of
the men, had prompted them on to farther mifchief: Nor
could he make any other excuſe, but that, as he was a man, hë
could not maſter his paſſions, at the fight of one of his men fo
cruelly murdered. As for the reft, knowing they were not
under my command, they took no notice of my anger, but
rather boaſted of their revenge; and, according to all their ac-
counts, they killed or deſtroyed about 150, men women and
children, beſides burning the town to afhies. They took their
accompanion Tom Jeffery from the tree, covered him with fome
of the ruins, and ſo left him. But, however juſtifiable this
tion of our men might feem to themſelves, yet I always open-
ly condemned it, with the appellation of the maffacre of Mad
agascar: For though they had flain this Jeffery, yet he was cer
tain the firſt aggrellor, by attempting to violate the chaſtity of
a young
189
•
a young innocent woman, who ventured down to them on the
faith of the public capitulation, which was fo treacherouſly
broken.
We were now under fail, when the boatswain would defend
this bloody action, by ſaying, That the Indians had broke the
truce, the night before, by ſhooting one of our men without
juſt provocation : And what if the poor fellow had taken a
little liberty with the wench, he ought not to have been mur-
dered in fo villanous a manner; and that they had acted
nothing but what the divine laws commiffioned to be done to
fuch homicides. However, I was in the fame mind as before,
telling them that they were murderers, and bid him depend
upon it, that God would blaſt their voyage for fo unparalleled
a piece of barbarity.
When we came into the gulph of Perfia, five of our men who
ventured on fhore, were either killed, or made flaves by the
Arabians, the rest of them having ſcarce time to escape to their:
boat. This made me upbraid them afreſh with the just re-
wribution of heaven for ſuch actions: Upon which the boat-
fwain very warmly aſked me, whether thofe men on whom
the tower of Siloam fell, were greater finners than the rest of
the Galileans? And befides, Šir, faid he, none of theſe five
poor men that are loft, were with us at the maffacre of Mada.
gascar, as you call it, and therefore your reprehenfion is very
unjuft, and your application improperly applied. Befides,
added he, you are continually uſing the men very ill upon this,
account, and being but a paſſenger yourſelf, we are not oblig-
ed to bear it ; nor can we tell what ill deſigns you may have
to bring us to judgment for it in England; and therefore if
you don't leave this difcourfe, and not concern yourſelf with
any of our affairs, I will leave the fhip, and not fail in fuch
dangerous company.
All this I heard very patiently, till at length I told him
what concern I had on board was none of his business; that,
however, I was a conſiderable owner of the ſhip, and therefore
had a right to ſpeak in common, and that I was no way ac-
countable to him, nor to any body elfe. Well, this paſt on, and
I thought all had been over. At this time we were in the road-
of Bengal; where, going on fhore with the fupercargo one day
towards evening, as I was preparing to go on board, one of the
men came to me, and told me, I need not trouble myfelt to
come to the boat, for that the cockſwain and others had order.
ed him not to carry me on board any more. This infolent
meffage much ſurpriſed me, yet I gave him no anfwer to it,
but went directly, and acquainted the fupercargo, entreating
him to go on board, and, by acquainting the captain with it,
to prevent the mutiny which I perceived would happen. But,
before I had ſpoke this, the matter was effected on board: For,
no
190
no fooner was I gone off in the boat, but the boatſwain, gun.
ner, carpenter, and all the inferior officers, came to the quar-
ter deck, defiring to ſpeak with the captain; and there it was
the boatfwain made a long harangue, exclaiming against me
as before mentioned; that if I had not gone peaceably for my
own diverſion, they would have compelled me by violence
for their fatisfaction; that, as they had fhipped with the
captain, fo they would faithfully ferve him; but, if I did not
quit the ſhip, or the captain oblige me to it, they would leave
the ſhip immediately: Hereupon, turning his face about by
way of fignal, they all cried out, One and All, one and All.
You may be fure, that though my nephew was a man of
great courage, yet he could not but be ſurpriſed at their fudden
and unexpected behaviour: And, though he talked ſtoutly to
them, and afterwards expoftulated with them that, in com-
mon juſtice to me, who was a confiderable owner in the fhip,
they could not turn me out, as it were out of my own houſe,
which might bring their lives in danger fhould they ever be
taken in England: Nay, though he invited the boatſwain on
fhore to accommodate matters with me, yet all this, I fay, fig-
nified nothing: They would have nothing to do with me:
And they were refolved to go on fhore if I came on board.
Well, faid my nephew, if you are ſo refolved, permit me to
talk with him, and then I have done : And fo he came to me,
giving me an account of their reſolution, how one and all de-
figned to forſake the ſhip. if I came on board, for which he was
mightily concerned. I am very glad to fee you, nephew, faid
1, and rejoice it is no worſe, fince they have not rebelled againſt
you I only defire you to fend my neceffary things on fhore,
with a fufficient fum of money, and I will find my way to Eng-
land as well as I can. Though this grieved my nephew to the
heart, yet there was no remedy but compliance, and, in ſhort,
going on board, all my neceflaries were ſent me, and fo this
matter was over in a few hours.
*
I think I was now near a thouſand leagues farther off Eng-
land by fea, than at my little kingdom, except this difference,
that I might travel by land over the Great Mogul's country to
Surat, from thence up to Bafora by fea up the Perhan gulph,
then take the way of the caravans over the Arabian deſert to
Aleppo and Scandaroon, there take ſhipping to Italy, and ſo trav-
et by land into France, and from thence crois the lea to Eng-
land.
My nephew left me two rerfons to attend me, one of them
was his fervant, and the other clerk to the purfer, who en-
gaged to be raine. I took lodgings in an English woman's
houſe, where leveral Trench, one Lingliſh, and two Italian mer-
chants refided. The handſome entertainment I met with
here, occafioned me to flay nine months, conſidering what
courſe
197
courſe I ſhould take. I had fome English goods, with me, of
great value, beſides a 1000 pieces of eight, and a letter of credit
for more, if there were occalion. The goods I foon diſpoſed
of to advantage, and bought here feveral good diamonds,
which I could eaſily carry about me. One morning the Eng-
liſh merchant came to me, and, being very intimate together,
countryman, faid he, I have a project to communicate to you,
which I hope will fuit to both our advantage. To be ſhort,
Sir, we are both in a remote part of the world from our coun-
try; but yet in a place where men of buſineſs may get a great
deal of money. Now if you will put a thouſand pounds to
my thousand pounds we will hire a fhip to our fatisfaction
you ſhall be captain, I'll be merchant, and we'll go a trading
voyage to China; for why ſhould we lie ftill like drones, when
all the world is in continual motion ?
;
This propoſal foon got my confent, being very agreeable to
my rambling genius; and the more fo, becauſe I looked upon
my countryman to be a very ſincere perfon: It required fome
time before we could get a veffel to our minds, and failors to
man it accordingly: At length, we got an Engliſh mate, boat-
fwain and gunrer, a Dutch carpenter, and three Portugueſe
foremalt men, and, for want of others, made ſhift with Indian
feamen. From hence we firſt failed to Ashin, in the iſland of
Sumatra, and then to Siam, where we bartered our wares for
ſome arrack and opium, the laft of which bore a great price
among the Chineſe: In a word, we went up to Sufkam,
making a very great voyage; and after eight months time,
1 returned to Bengal, very well fatisfied with this adventure,
having not only gotten a fufficient fum of money, but an infight
of getting a great deal more.
The next voyage my friend propoſed to me, was to go a-
mong the ſpice iflands, and bring home a lead of cloves from
the Manillas, or thereabouts; iflands belonging partly to
Spain, but yet places where the Dutch trade very much. We
were not long preparing for this voyage, which we made no
lefs fuccessful than the laſt, touching at Borneo, and ſeveral oth-
er places which I do not perfectly remember, returning home
in about five months time. We foon fold our ſpices, which
were chiefly cloves, and fome nutmegs, to a Perfian merchant,
who carried them away for the gulf; and in short, making
five to one advantage, we were loaded with money.
Not long after my friend and I had made up our accounts,
to our entire fatisfaction, there came in a Dutch coafter, trom
Batavia, of above two hundred ton. All the men pretended
themſelves fo ill, that there were not hands fufficient to under-
take a voyage, and the captain being, forfooth, willing to go to
Europe, public notice was given that the fhip was to be fold..
No fooner did this come to our ears, but we bought the ſhip,
paid
192
paid the maſter, and took poſſeſſion. We would alfo very wil.
lingly have entertained fome of the men; but they, having re-
ceived their fhare of the booty, were not to be found; being
Aed all together, to Agra, the city of the great Mogul's refi-
dence; and from thence were to travel to Surat, and fo by
fea to the Perfian gulph. And indeed they had reafon to fly
in this manner; for the truth of it was, the pretended captain,
was the gunner only, and not the commander; that, having
been a trading voyage, they were attacked on more by the
Mallayans, who killed three men and the captain; after whoſe
death, the other eleven men, running away with the ſhip to
the bay of Bengal, left the mate and five men more on fhore,
or whom you will hear in the ſequel.
Let them come by the hip how they will, we thought we
bought it honestly; neither did we fufpect any thing of the
matter, when the man fhewed us a bill of ſale for the ſhip (un-
doubtedly torged) to one Emanuel Cloſterſboven, which name
he went by. And fe, without any more to do, we picked up
fome Dutch and English feamen, refolving for another voyage
for cloves among the Philippine and Molucca iſlands; and, in
fhort, we continued thus five or fix years, trading from port
to purt with extraordinary fuccefs; and was now, in the fev-
enth and laſt year, going in the fhip with my partner to China,
defigning to touch at Siam, and buy fome rice by the way.
But in this voyage, contrary winds beat us up and down for a
confiderable time among the iſlands in the ſtraights of Molucca ;
and no fooner were we clear of theſe rugged teas, but we per-
ceived our hip had (prung a leak, which obliged us to put into
the river Cambodia, which lies northward of the gulph, and
goes up to Sian
One day as I was on fhore refreſhing myſelf, there comes an
Engliſhman to me, who was a gunner's mate on board an
English East India fhip, riding up the river, near the city of
Cambodia. Sir, faid he, you may wonder at my buſineſs, hav
ing never ſeen me in your life; but though I am a ftranger, I
have ſomething to tell you that very nearly concerns you; and
indeed, it is the imminent danger you are in has moved me to
give you this timely notice. Danger! faid I, what danger? I
know of none, except my ſhip being leaky, for which I defign
to have her run aground to-morrow morning. Sir, faid he, [
hope you'll be better employed, when you fhall hear what I
have to ſay to you. You know the town of Cambodia is about
15 leagues up this river; and about three leagues on this fide,
there lie two Dutch, and three English fhips; and would you
venture here, without conſidering what ſtrength you had to
engage them? I knew not what he meant by this diſcourſe;
and, turning ſhort upon him, Sir, ſaid I, I know no reaſon I
have to be afraid either of any Engliſh or Dutch thips; I am no
interlopen,
193
interloper, and what bufinefs have they then with me? Well,
Sir, faid the man, if you do think yourſelf ſecure, all I can fay
is, you muſt take your chance: However, I am very forry
you are fo deaf to good advice; but I affure you, if you don't
put to ſea immediately, you will be attacked by five long-boats
full of men, hanged yourſelf for a pirate, if you are taken, and
the particulars examined afterwards. I thought, Sir, added
he, I might have met with a better reception for fueh a fingu-
lar piece of fervice. Sir, faid I, I never was ungrateful to any
man; but pray explain yourſelf and I'll go on board this mi-
nute, whether the leak be ſtopped or no. Why, Sir, faid he,
to be ſhort, becauſe time is precious, the matter is this: You
know well enough that you were with the fhip at Sumatra,
where your captain was murdered by the Malayans, with
three of his failors, and that either you, or ſome who were on
board you, ran away with the fhip, and are fince turned pirates
at fea. Now, Sir, this is the fum of what I had to fay; and I
can pofitively affure you, that if you be taken, you will be
executed without much ceremony; for, undoubtedly, you
cannot but be fenfible what little law merchant ships fhew to
pirates, whenever they fall into their unmerciful hands. Sir,
faid I, I thank you for your kind information, and though I
am fure no man could come more honeftly by the thip than Ĩ
have done; yet, fatisfied with your honeft intention, and
knowing their defigns, I'll be upon my defence. Prithee, Sir,
faid the man, don't talk of being upon your defence; the best
that you can make, is to be out of danger; and therefore, if
you have any regard for your life, and the lives of your men,
take the advantage, without fail, of putting out to ſea at high
water; by which means, as you have a whole tide before you,
you will be gone too far out of their reach before they can
come down; and fo, by the tide (not reckoning the length)
you will get two hours of them; and as they are only boats,
confequently they will not venture (eſpecially if the wind
blows) to follow you far out to ſea.
I am mighty well fatisfied, faid I, in this particular, and of
your kindneſs, which merits my greateft efteem: Pray, Sir,
what amends fhall I make you? He replied, I know not what
amends you are willing to make, becauſe you may have fome
doubts of its certainty; but, to convince you of the truth of
what I fay, I have one offer to make unto you. On board
one of the Engliſh ſhips, I have nineteen months pay due to
me; and this Dutchman that is with me, has feven months pay
due to him, which, if you will make good to us, we will go a-
long with you. And fhould you find nothing more in it, why
then we will deſire no more; but when you are convinced that
we have faved the fhip, your life, and the lives of the men, we
will leave the rest to your generofity.
R
So
194
1
So reaſonable did this every way appear, as to obtain my
immediate confent, and ſo we went on board immediately. As
foon as we came on board, my partner calls joyfully out,
that they had ſtopped the leak ! Well, thank God, ſaid I, but
pray let us weigh anchor immediately. Weigh! faid he, what
is the meaning of this hurry! Pray, faid 1, afk no queſtions,
but all hands to work without lofing a moment's time: Upon
which, the captain was called in great haſte, who ordered the
anchor to be got up immediately; and, though the tide was
not quite down, yet being affifled with a little land breeze, we
ftood out to fea: And then it was, that calling my partner in-
to the cabin, I related the ſtory at large, which was confirmed,
and more amplified by the two men I had brought on board.
But ſcarce had we finiſhed our diſcourſe upon this head, but a
failor came to the cabin door, with a meffage from the captain,
that we were chaſed by five floops full of armed men. Very
well, faid f, it is plain now there is fomething in it. And fo,
going upon deck, I told the men there was a defign for feizing
the fhip, and confequently executing us for pirates; and aſked
them, whether they would faithfully ſtand by us, and one a-
nother? To which they unanimouſly replied, that they would
fight for us to the laſt drop of their blood. And when I aſked
the captain which way he thought_beſt for us to manage the
battle; Sir, faid he, the only method is to keep them off with
our great ſhot as long we are able, and then have recourſe to
our ſmall arms; and when both theſe fail us, then to retire to
clofe quarters, when perhaps the enemy, wanting materials,
can neither break open our bulk-heads, or get in upon us.
the mean time, the gunner was ordered to bring two guns to
bear fore and aft out of the steerage, and to load them with
muſket bullets and ſmall pieces of old iron; and thus, the
deck being cleared, we were prepared for the engagement, fiil
keeping out o fea. But yet the boats followed us with all the
fail they could make; and we could perceive the two foremoſt
were English, which outfailed the reft by two leagues, and
which we found would come up with us: Hereupon we fired
a gun without ball, intimating that they thould bring too, and
we put out a flag of truce, as a lignal for parley? but, finding
them crowding after us, till they came within a fhot, we took
in our white, and hanging out the red flag, immediately fired
at them with ball; and then we called to them with a ſpeak-
ing trumpet, bidding them to keep off at their peril.
In
But all this fignified nothing to them, who, depending upon
the strength that followed them, were refolutely bent for mil
chief: Hereupon I ordered them to bring the ſhip too, by
which means, they lying upon our broadfide, we let fly at
them at once, one of whom carried away the ftern of the
hindermoſt boat, and obliged them not only to take down
their
195
their fail, but made them all run to the head of the boat to
keep her from finking: and fo the lay by, having enough of
it; and, in the mean time, we prepared to meet the foremoſt
boat in the fame manner. But, while we were doing this, one
of the three hindermoſt boats made up to the relief of that
which was diſabled, and took the men out of her. Hereupon
we called again to parley with them, but, inſtead of an anſwer,
one of the boats came clofe under our ftern; whereupon our
gunner let fly his two chafe guns, but miffing, the men in the
boat fhouted, and waving their caps, came on with fary; but,
to repair his feeming difgrace, foon got ready; and, firing the
fecond time, this hot, we could perceive, did a great deal of
execution among the men; but, taking no notice of it, we
wore fhip again, bringing one quarter to bear upon them a
when, firing three guns more, we found the boat a finking, and
fcveral men already in the fea. Hereupon, immediately man-
ning our pinnace, I gave orders to fave fome of the men from"
drowning, and inſtantly come on board, because the rest of their
boats were approaching. They accordingly did fo, and took
up three of them, one of whom was almoft paft recovery; and,
then, crowding all the fail we could, after our men came on
board, we ſtood out farther to ſea, ſo that the other three boats
gave over their chafe, when they came up to the first two.
And thus, delivered from imminent danger, we changed our
courfe to the eastward, quite out of the course of all European
fhips.
#
Being now at fea, and enquiring more particularly of the
two feamen the meaning of all this; the Dutchman led us into
the fecret of it at once. He told us, That the fellow who fold
us the ship was an errant thief, who had run away with her ;
that the captain was treacherously murdered on the coaft of
Malacca, by the natives there, with three of his men; that he,
the. Dutchman, and four more, being obliged to have recourfe
to the woods for their fafety, at length eſcaped by means of a
Dutch hip in the way to China, which had fent their boat on
fhore for fresh water: That, after this, he went to Batavia.
where two of the leamen belonging to the hip (who had de-
ferted the reft in their travels) arrived, and there gave an ac-
count, that the fellow, who ran away with the fhip, had fold
her at Bengal to a fet of pirates, who went a cruifing, and had
already taken an English and two Dutch hips richly laden.
Now, though this was abfolutely falfe, yet, concerning us
directly, my partner truly faid, that our deliverance was to he
efteered fo much the more, by reafon had we fallen into their
hands, we could have expected nothing from them but imme-
diate death, confidering our accufers would have been our
Judges: And therefore his opinion was, to return directly to
Bengal, where, being known, we could prove how honeftly we
came
196
came by the fhip, of whom we bought her, and the like ; and
where we were fure of fome juftice, not to be hanged first, and
judged afterwards. And indeed I was at firft of my partner's
opinion; but when I had more ſeriouſly confidered of the mat-
ter, I told him, we ran a great hazard in attempting to return
thither, being on the wrong fide of the ſtraits of Malacca; and
if, upon alarm given, we ſhould be taken by the Dutch of Ba-
tawia, or Engliſh elſewhere, our running away would be a fuf-
ficient evidence to condemn ourfelves. This danger indeed
ftartled not only my partner, but ail the fhip's company; and
fo we changed our former refolution to go to the coaft of Ton-
quin, and fo to that of China; where purfuing our first deſign
as to trade, we might difpofe of the fhip fome way or other,
and return in one of the country veffels. This being general-
ly agreed to, we ſteered away N. N. E. above 50 leagues off
the uſual courſe to the eaſt, which put us to fome inconveni-
ences, as the winds blowing more ſteadily againſt us, made us
more tedious in our voyage, and confequently cauſed a more
fpeedy decay of our provifion; and, what was ſtill worſe, we
apprehended thofe fhips, from whofe boats we had eſcaped,
being bound for, and got to China before us, might have given
fresh information, which might create another vigorous pur-
fuit. And lastly, when I confidered I had never wronged or
defrauded any perfon in my life, to be now purfuued like a com-
mon thief, and, if taken, to be executed as fuch, according to
what they ſhould allege; this thing grieved me to the higher
degree (as it muſt all innocent men) and confequently made
me more defirous of eſcaping from its infamous fhame, than
from death itſelf. It was very eaſy to read a ſad dejection in
my countenance upon this occafion: My mind was oppreft
Tike thoſe unhappy innocent perfons, who, being overpowered
by blafphemous and perjured evidences, wickedly refolved to
take away their lives, or ruin their reputation, have no other
Tecourſe, in this world, to eale their unfpeakable forrow, but
fighs, and prayers, and tears. My partner feeing me fo con
cerned, encouraged me as well as he could; and, after defcrib-
ing to me the feveral ports of that coaft, told me he would
either put in on the coaft of Cochinchina, or elſe in the bay of
Tonquin, and from thence go to Macao, a town once poffeffed
by the Portuguese, and where there ſtill refided many European
families.
Well, to this place we ſteered our courſe, and early the next
morning we came in fight of the coaft. But, confidering op
paft circumftances, we refolved to put into a fmall river,
whereby we could know, either over the land, or by the ſhip's
pinnace, what veffels were in any ports thereabouts? And in-
deed this happy ftep was our ce: tain deliverance; the next
morning there came to the bay of Tonquin two Dutch ſhips, aud
a third
197
T
a third without any colours ſpread; and, in the evening, two
Engliſh ſhips ſteered the ſame courſe. The river where we
were, was but ſmall, within a few leagues of its limits north-
ward: The country was wild and barbarous, and the people
thieves, having no correfpondence with any other nation,
dealing only in fiſh, oil, and fuch grofs commodities. One bar-
barous cuffom they have, that when any veffel is unhappily
ſhipwrecked upon their coaft, they make the men their prifon-
ers or flaves; fo that when we coafted northeaſt, to the point
of land which opens to the great bay of Tonquin, we found
ourſelves furrounded by enemies both by fea and land.
As the thip had been leaky before, we took the opportunity
to cleanfe her in this place, and to ftop up the places which
let in the water. And when we had lightened her, and
brought our guns, and other moveable things, to one fide, we
eſlayed to bring her down, that we might come at her bottom :
But, upon fecond confideration, we cared not to let her lie on
dry ground; neither indeed could we find a convenient place
for it. The inhabitants, not uſed to ſuch a fight, as to fee a
Chip lie down on one fide, and heel in towards fhore, neither
perceiving her men who were at work on her bottom, with
itages and with boats on the off fide, they prefently imagined
the thip had been caft away, and fo lay on the ground. Agree-
able to this fuppofition, they furrounded us with ten or twelve
large boats, with a refolution, undoubtedly, to plunder the
ſhip, and to carry away thofe they found alive, for flaves to
their king. But when they perceived our men hard at work
upon the thip's bottom and fide, washing, graving, and ſtop-
ping it, it filled them with fuch furprize, that they flood gaz
ing as though they were confounded. Neither could we im-
agine what their defign was; however, for fear of danger, we
handed down arms and ammunition to thoſe at work, in order
to defend themfelves; and indeed this precaution was abſolute-
ly neceffary; for, in a quarter of an hour after, the natives
concluding it was really a fhipwreck, and that we were faving
our lives and goods, which they thought belonged to them,
came down to cur men, as though it had been in a line of bat-
tle. Indeed we lay but in a very unfit poſture to fight; and,
before the stages could be got down, or the men in the boat
come on board as they were ordered, the Cochineſes were upon
them, and two of their boats boarding our long boat, they be
gan to lay hold of our men as prifoners. The first they feized
was a ftout Engliſh failer, who never fired his muſket, like a
foot, as I imagined, but laid it down in the boat; but he knew
what he was doing, for, by main force, he dragged the Pagan
out of the boat into ours by the two ears, and knocked his
brains out againſt the boat's gunnel: A Dutchman, that was
next him, fnatches up the muſket, and knocked down five more
R 2
with
;
198
هر
with the but end of it: However, this was doing very little to
their number; but a frange, unexpected accident, which
rather merits laughter, than anything elfe, gave our men a
complete victory over them.
It feems the carpenter, who was preparing to grave the out-.
fide of the ship, as well as to pay the feams where he caulked
her, to stop the leaks, had gotten two kettles juſt let down in:
the boat, one, filled with boiling pitch, and the other with
rofin, tallew and ol, and fuch ſtuff as the ſhipwrights. uſe :
The carpenter's man had a great iron ladle, with which he
ufed to fupply the workmen with hot ſtuff; and, as two of the
enemies entered the boat where the fellow (tood, he faluted-
them with a ladleful of the hot boiling liquor, that, being half
naked, made them roar again, and jump into the fea. Well
done Jack, fays the carpenter, give them t'other dofe; and fó,
leaping forward himſelf, takes a mop, and dipping it into the
pitch-pot, he and his man flung it fo plentifully among them,
as none efcaped being ſcalded: Upon which they all made the
beſt of their way, crying and howling in fuch a trightful man-
ner, that in all my adventures I never heard the like before.
And, indeed, never was I better pleafed with any conqueft
than I was with this, by reafon there was fo little blood fhed,
having an averfion to killing ſuch favage wretches (more than
was neceffary) knowing they came on errands which their laws
and cuſtoms made them think were juſt and equitable. By
this time, all things being in order, and the fhip fwimming,
they found their mistake, lo they durft not venture a fecord
attack. Thus ended our merry fight; and having got fome
rice, bread, roots, and fixieen good hogs on board the day be-
fore, we ſet fail, not daing to go into the bay of Tonquin, but
feered N, E. towards the ifle of Formofa, as though we would
go to the Manillas, or the Philippine flands, for fear of meet-
ing with any European hips. When we anchored at the iße
qf Formofa, the inhabitants not only ſupplied us with provifions
and fresh water, but dealt very fairly and honeftiy with us in
their bargains and agreements. From this place we fleered
north, keeping till off the coaft of China, till we were beyond
all the ports where European veffels ufually come; and at
length, being come to the latitude of thirty degrees, we re-
folved to put into the first trading port we fhould come at ;
and ſtanding for the thre, a boat came off two leagues to us,
with an old Portugueſe pilot on board, who offering his fervice,
we very gladly accepted him, and fent the boat back again.
And now, having the old man on board, I talked to him of
going to Nanquin, the most northward part of the coaſt of China.
What will you do there faid he, fmiling; I told him we
would fell.our cargo, and purchaſe callicoes, raw and wrought
filk, tea, &c. and ſo return the fame way back. ` O, faid he,
1
you
199
you had better put in at Macao, where you may buy china
wares as cheap as at Nanquin, and fell your opium at a greater
advance. But, faid, I, we are gentlemen as well as merchants,
and deſign to ſee the great city of Pekin, and the magnificent
court of the monarch of China. Why then, faid he, you
fhould go to Ningpo, where there is a navigable river that goes
through the heart of that vaft empire, two hundred and feven-
ty leagues from the fea, which croffes all the rivers, paffes con-
fiderable hills by the help of fluices and gate, and goes even
up to the city of Pekin, and you may go to Nanquin, if you
pleaſe, and travel to Pekin; there is a Dutch hip juft before
bound that way. At the name of a Dutch or English fhip I
was ftruck with confufion, they being as great a terror to me
in this veffel, as an Algerine man of war is to them in the Me-
diterranean. The old man finding me troubled, Sir, faid he,
I hope the Dutch are not now at war with your nation: No,
faid I, but God knows what liberty they may take when out of
the reach of the law. Why, fays he, what occafion is there for
peaceable merchants to fear? For, believe me, they never
meddle with any but PIRATES.
→
At the mentioning the word Pirates, my countenance turn-
ed to ſcarlet, nor was it poffible for me to conceal it from the
old pilot, who taking notice of it, Sir, ſaid he, take what courfe
you please, I'll do you all the fervice I can. Signior, faid 1, I
am a little concerned at your mentioning Pirates, I hope there
are none in thefe feas, becauſe you fee in what a weak condi.
tion we are to defend ourfelves. O Sir, faid he, if that's all,
don't be concerned; I don't remember, one in theſe parts these fifteen
years, except about a month ago, one was feen in the bay of Siam
but fue is gone to the fouth; nor was the built for a privateer but
was run away with, by a pirate captain, and fome of his men, the
right captain having been murdered by the Mallayans..
F
What, faid 1, (as though ignorant of what had happened)
did they kill the captain? No, faid he, 'tis thought the Ma-
layans, murdered him, but perhaps they might procure them
them to do it, and therefore deferved hanging. They were
lately difcovered in the bay of Siam, in the river of Cambodia,
by fome Dutchmen who belonged to the ſhip, and had much ado
to eſcape five boats that purſued them: But they have all given
fuch an exact defcription of the flap, that wherever they find
her, they will be fure to know her; and they have, folemnly
fworn to give them no quarter, but to hang them every one at
the yard arm, without formally bringing them to a court of
juftice.
Being fenfible that, having the old man on board, he could
Rot do me any mischief, Well, Signior, ſaid I, 'tis for this very
reafon I would have you carry us up to Nanguin, where neith
er Engliſh or Dutch fhips come: And I muſt tell you their cap-
tains
200
tains are a parcel of rafh, proud, infolent rafcals, that neither
know what belongs to juſtice, nor how to behave themſelves as
the laws of God and nature direct: Fellows that would prove
murderers to puniſh robbers; and take upon them to adjudge
innocent men to death, without any plain proof to confirm their
guilt; but perhaps I may live to call them to account in a
place where they may learn how juftice fhould be executed.
And fo I told him the ftory of buying the hip and how we
were faved by the means of two men: That the murder of the
captain by the Malayans, as alfo the running away with the
ſhip, I believe to be true; but that we who bought it were
turned pirates, was a mere fiction, to cover their cowardice
and foolish behaviour when they attacked us; and the blood of
those men we killed in our own juft detence lay at their door
who fent them to attack us by furprize.
:
#
Sir, ſaid the old man amazed, you have taken the right courfe
to fleer to the north; and, if I might adviſe you, I would have
you fell your ſhip in China, and buy another in that country; and I'll
procure people to buy one and fell the other. Well, but Signior,
faid 1, if I fell the ship in this manner, I may bring fome inno-
cent perfons into the fame danger as I have gone through, per..
haps worſe, even death itſelf, whereby I fhould be as guilty
of their murder as their villanous perfecutors. That need
not trouble you, faid the old man, I'll find a way to prevent that :
For thofe commanders you talk cf, I know very well, and I will im-
form them rightly of the matter, as you have related; and lam per-
fuaded they will not only believe me, but aƐt more cautiously for the
future. And will you deliver one meffage from me to them ?
Yes, faid he, if you will give it under your hand, that I may prove
it is not my own invention. Hereupon I wrote a large account of.
their attacking me in their long boats, the pretended reafon
and unjuſt deſign of it; that they had done what they ought to
be ashamed of, and could not anſwer, at any tribunal in Eng-
land. But this letter was written in vain, providence ordering
things another way. We failed directly for Nanquin, and in
about 13 days fail came to an anchor at the fouth west point
of the great gulf of that place, where we learned, that two
Dutch hips were gone the length before us, and that we ſhould
certainly fall into their hands. We were at a great lofs in
this exigency, and would very gladly have been on fore al-
moft any where: But our old pilot told me, that if I would
fail to the fouthward about 42 leagues, there was a little port
called Quinchang, where no European fhips ever came, and
where we might confider what was further to be done.
cordingly we weighed anchor the next day, calling only twice.
on bore by the way to get freſh water. The country people
very courteouſly fold us roots, tea, rice, fowls, and other pro-
viſion. After five days fail, we came to the port, and landed
with
Ac-
201
with unspeakable joy. We refolved to difpofe of ourſelves
and effects any way poſſible, rather than go on board that ill
fated veffel again. For no ſtate can be more miferable than a
continual fear, which is a life of death, and a confounder of
our underſtandings, that ſets the imagination at work to form
a thouſand frightful things that may never happen. And in-
deed both my partner and I ſcarce flept a night without dream-
ing of halters, yard-arms, &c. of fighting and being taken,
killing and being killed, nay, fo violent were our apprehen-
fions, that we would bruiſe our hands and heads againft the
cabin, as though actually engaged. The ftory of the Dutch
cruelty at Amboyna often came into our waking thoughts; and,
for my part I uled to think my condition very bad, that after
fo many difficulties, and fignal deliverances, I fhould be hang-
ed in my old age, and innocent too; but then religion would
feem to reprehend me, as though the voice of it had faid,
Confider, O man the fins you have been formerly guilty,
which now thou art called to account for, to expiate with thy
blood And as to thy innocence, what art thou more than thy
bleffed Redeemer, who ſuffered for thy offences, and to whoſe
providence you ought to fubmit, let what will happen! After
this my natural courage would inſpire me to reſiſt to the laſt, and
rather to die than be taken by booriſh raſcally Dutchmen, who
had arts to torment beyond the cruelty of death.
But now, thanks to kind Heaven, being aſhore, our old pilot
procured a lodging and a warehouſe: It was a little hut, with
a large warehouſe adjoining, all built with canes, and pallifa-
doed round with large ones, to keep out the pilfering thieves,
which are very numerous in that country: But the magistrates
allowed us a little guard, befides we employed a fentry with a
kind of halbert, for three pence a day. The fair or mart had
been over ſome time; however there remained in the river
four junks and two Japan fhips, the merchants of the latter
being afhore. In the first place, our old pilot brought us ac-
quanted with three Romib miffionaries, who were converting
the Chineſe to Chriftianity; two of them were reſerved, rigid
and auftere, applying themſelves to the work they came about
with great earnestnefs; but the third, a Frenchman, called
Father Simon, was of a freer converſation, yet not a worſe
Chriftian than the other two, one of whom was a Portugueſe,
and the other a Genoese: But Father Simon, it ſeems, was ap
pointed to go to Pekin, the reſidence of the Emperor of China,
and only waited for another prieſt, who was ordered from Ma-
coa to accompany him. We fcarce met, but he was prompting
me to go with him: Sir, faid he, I will fhew you the glorious
things of this mighty empire, and a city, the city of Pekin, far
exceeding London or Paris, put them both together.
day particularly, being at dinner with him, I fhewed fome in-
clination
£
One
202
clination to go, which made him prefs me the more, and my
partner alfo, to gain our confent: But father, faid my partner,
what fatisfaction can you have in our company, when you
eſteem us heretics, conlequently objects not worth your re-
gard? Oh, faid he, you may be as good Catholics in time,
as thote I hope to convert. And fo, faid he, we fhall have you
preaching to us all the way, inſtead of pleaſing us with defcrip-
tion of the country. Sir, faid he, however our religion may
be vilified, 'tis very certain it neither divests us of good man-
ners or Chriftian charity; and as we are gentlemen, as fuch
we may converſe, without making one another unealy.
But, to leave him awhile, let us confider our hip and
merchandize, that we had to difpofe of. There was but lit
tle bufinels in the place where we were; and once I was re-
folved to fail to the river Kilam, and fo to the city of Nanquin;
but Providence ordered it otherwife, by our old pilot's bring.
ing a Jew merchant to us, to ſee what goods we had. He
immediately bought our opium, for which he gave us a very
good "rice in gold by weight, fome wedges of which weighed
above 10 or 11 ounces. It came into my head, that he might
buy the ship too; and I ordered his interpreter to propofe it
to him. He faid nothing then, but ſhrunk up his shoulders,
yet in a few days after he came, accompanied by a miffionary
prieſt, who was his interpreter, with this propoſal, that as he
had bought a great quantity of our goods, he had not money.
enough to purchaſe our thip; but, if I pleafed, he would hire
her, with all my men, to go to Japan, and fend them with an..
other loading to the Philippine flands, the freight of which he
would willingly pay to us before; and at their return to Jap-
an, would buy the hip. Upon this we aſked the captain and
his men, if they were willing to go to Japan; to which they
unanimoufly agreed. While this was in agitation, the young,
man whom my nephew left to attend me, told me, that as I
did not care to accept this profpect of advantage, he would.
manage it for me as I pleaſed, and render me a faithful aç-
count of his fuccefs, which ſhould be wholly mine. Indeed.
I was very unwilling to part with him; but as it might. turn
to his advantage, I difcourfed my partner about it, who, at:
his own accord, gave him his fhare of the vellel, fo that I could
not do otherwife than give him mine; but, however, we let.
him have but the property of half of it, and preferved a pow.
er, that when we met in England, if he had obrained fuccefs,
he ſhould account to us for one half of the profits of the fhip's.
freight, and the other thould be his own. Thus having tak-
en a writing under his hand, away he failed to Japan, where..
the merchant deait honeftly by him, got him a licence to go on
fhore, ſent him loaded to the Philippines with their fupercargo,
came back again with European goods, cloves, and other fpices;
>
+
and,
E
203
and, in ſhort, he got a great deal of money ; nor would he fell
his ſhip, but traded on his own account, went back to the
Manillas, where getting acquaintance he made his ſhip free,
was then hired by the governour to go to Acapulco in America,
on the Mexican coaft, with a licence to travel to that great
city; and this gained him immenfe treaſure, and finding nieans
to get to Jamaica, he returned nine years after exceedingly
rich to England.
In parting with the fhip it comes in courfe to confider of
thole men who faved our lives in the river of Cambodia : and
though, by the way, they were a couple or rogues, who thought
to turn pirates themfelves: yet we paid them what they at
first demanded, and gave each a mall fun of mocey, making
the Englishman a gunner, and the Dutchman a boatfwain, with
which they were very well conituted.
We were now above 1000 leagues farther from home, than
when at Bengal. All the comfort we could expect was, that
there being another fair in a month's time, we might not only
purchaſe all forts of the country manufactures, but very poffi-
bly find fome Chineſe junks or veffels from Tonquin, to be fold,
which would carry us and our goods wherever we pleaſed.
Upon thele hopes, we refolved to continue; and to divert
ourfelves, took leveral little journies into the country. Ten
days we travelled to fee the city of Nanquin, about lat. 30. N.
which is regularly built, the fireets exactly ftrait, creffing each
other in direct lines, which makes it fhew to great advantage.
At our return, we found the priest was come from Macao that
was to go with Father Simon to Pekin. That Father earnestly
folicited me to accompany him, and I referred him to my part-
ner. In fhort we both agreed to it, and prepared accordingly.
Nor did we fail meeting with great advantage, as to finding
the way, having the liberty to travel among the retinue of a
Mandarin, who is a principal magiſtrate, and much reverenced
by the people.
We were 25 days travelling through this miſerable country,
infinitely populous, but as indifferently cultivated; but their
pride is infinitely greater than their poverty, infomuch that
even their prieſts deride them. As we paffed the houſe of one
of their country gentlemen, two leagues off Nanquin, we had
the honour to ride with the Chineſe 'fquire about two miles.
Never was Don Quixote fo exactly imitated, never fuch a com*
pound of pomp and poverty ſeen before.
+
His habit, made of callico, was dirty, greafy, and very prop-
er fo a Merry Andrew, with all its tawdry trappings, as
hanging fleeves, taffels, &c. but torn in every part: His velt
underneath it was no cleaner, but more grealy. His horfe
(worſe than Rofinante or the famous fleed of the doughty
Hudibrafs) was a poor, ftarved, decrepid thing, that would not
iell
204
fell for thirty fhillings in England: And yet after this piece of
beggarly pomp attended ten or twelve flaves, guarding him to
kis country feat. We ftopt at a little village for refreſhment;
and when we came by the country feat of this great man, we
found him fitting under a tree before his door, eating a meſs
of boiled rice, with a great piece of garlick in it, and a bag
filled with green pepper by him, and another plant like ginger,
with a bit of lean mutton, all this put together was his wor-
fhip's repaft: But pray obferve the floth and ſtate of the foul !
Two women flaves brought his food; which being laid before
him, two others appeared to perform their reſpective offices;
one fed him with a fpoon, while the other fcraped off what
fell upon his beard and veft, and gave it to a particular favour-
ite to eat. And thus we left the wretch, pleaſed with the
conceit of our admiring his magnificence, which rather raiſed
our fcorn and deteftation.
At last we arrived at the great city of Pekin, accompanied
by two fervants, and the old Portugueſe pilot, whofe charges we
bore, and who was our interpreter. We had fcarce been a
week at Pekin, but he comes laughing to us, Ah, Signior In-
glife, faid he, me fometing tell you make your heart glad, but
make me forry, for you bring me here, 25 days journey, and
now you leave me, go back alone; and which ſhall I make my
port after, widout the thip, widout de horfe, widout pecune,
To he called money in his broken language. But, in ſhort, that
there was a great caravan of Mufcovite and Polish merchants
in the city, who were preparing to let out for Muſcovy by land
within fix weeks; and that he was certain we would take this
opportunity, and confequently that he must go home by him-
felf. Indeed this news pleafed us much: Are you certain of
this, faid I? Yes, Sir, faid he, me fure true. Then he told
me, that having met an old acquaintance, an Armenian, who
was among them, and came laſt from Aftracan, with a defign
to go to Tonquin, where he formerly knew him; but having
altered his relolution, was reſolved to go with the caravan to
Moſcow, and fo down the river Wolga to Aftracan. Well,
Signior, faid I, don't be diſcontented about your returning a-
lone; for, if by this means I can find a paffage to England, it
will be your own fault if you return to Macao at all. And fo,
confulting with my partner what was beft to be done, he re-
ferred it to me as I pleaſed, our affairs being fo well fettled at
Bengal, that if we could vend the China Gjiks we had purchaſed,
he would confent to go to England, and to return to Bengal in
one of the Company's fhips. And thus we refolved, that it 'our
pilot would go with us, we would bear his charges to Moscow or
England, and give him £170 sterling. Hereupon we called
him, and told him the caule of his complaint ſhould he re-
moved, if he would accompany us with the caravan, and
therefore
205
*
therefore defired to know his mind. At this he hook his
head, great long journey, faid he, me no pecine, karty”me Moſ-
cow, keep me dere. But we loon difpelted hi's concern, by neh -
ing him what we would give him here to lay out to the beſt
advantage; and, as for his charges, we would pay them to
Moſcow or to England, which he pleaſed, except the carriage of
his goods. At this propofal he was quite tranported, laying
he would go with us all the world over. We then prepared
for our journey: But, I think it was near four inonths before
all the merchants were ready.
In the mean time, my partner and the pilot went expreſs to
the port where we first put in, to fell what goods were left
there, while I accompanied a Chineſe merchant to Nanquin, anc
there bought 29 pieces of damafk, with about 300 more of
other fine ilks; and by the time my partner returned to Pe-
kin, I had them all carried thither; fo that our cargó amount.
ed in goods only to about £4500 sterling, which, together witt:
tea, fine calicoes, nutmegs and cloves, loaded 18 camels for
our fhare, belidesrat we rode upon, with two or three fpare
horfes, and two more loaded with provifion. And indeed the
company in general was very great, making about 400 horle.
and above 120 men, well armed and provided. We were of
feveral nations, among the reſt were five Scotch merchants liv.
ing at Mofcow, well experienced in buſineís.
We let Pekin the beginning of February, O. S. and in two
days we affed through the gate of the great China wall, which
was built as a fortification against the Tartars 1800 years ago,
being 1500 miles long. We then entered a country not neat
fo populous, chiefly under the power of plundering Tartars,
feveral companies of whom we perceived, on poor ftarved
horfes, contemptible as themfelves, without order or difci-
pline. One time our leader, for the day, permitted wgito
unt. But what do you think we hunted? only a parcel of
fhces, which indeed excceded any in the world for wildness
and fwiftnefs; but while we were purſuing this game, we the:
above forty Tartars, who no fooner perceived us, but one of
them blew a horn, at which there immediately appeared above
ferty or fifty more, at about a mile diftant. Hereupon one of
the Sutch merchants (who knew their curled ways) ordered us
to advance towards them, and attack them immediately.VAS
we advanced, they let v a volley of arrows, which happily
fell a little fhort of us: This made ushalt a little, to 'reviri
the compliment With bullets. And then it was, 'led up by the
bold Scor, that we fired our piftols in their faces, and drew our
fwords; but there was to occafion, for they flew like timorcus
theệp, and only three of them remained, beckoning the reft to
come up to them. But our brave leader galloped up to them,
$
16
fhet
206
ſhot one dead, knocked another off his horfe, while the third
ran away. And thus ended our battle with the Tartars.
*
We still travelled a month more through the Emperor of
China's dominions; and at length coming to one of their towns
(about a day, and a half's journey from the city of Naum]
wanted to buy a gamei: And the perton I fpoke to would have
brought me one, but like a fool I must go along with him,
which was about two miles from the village. My old pilot
and I walked on foot, forfoeth, for ſome variety; when com-
ing to the place, where, the camels were kept as in a park
(guarded by Chineſe foldiers) we there agreed and bought one,
which the Chineſe man that came with me led along the road.
But we had not gone far before we were attacked by five Tar
tars, mounted on horfeback; two of whom feized the man,
took the camel from him, and rode away; but the other three
approached us, the firft of which fuddenly feizing me as I was
drawing my fword, the fecond knocked me down, and stunned
me; but my old trusty Portugueſe, taking a pistol out of his
pocket, which I knew nothing of, and coming up to the fellow
that ftruck me, laid hold of him with one hand, pulling him
off his horfe, and then hot him dead upon the fpot: Then
taking his cymetar, he ſtruck at the man, that flopt us, but
milling him, cut off one of his horfe's ears, the pain of which
made him throw his rider to the ground, with himself upon
him.,¡¡he poor Chineſe, who had led the camel, feeing the
Tertan down, runs to him, and feizing upon his poleaxe,
wrenched it from his hands, and knocked out his brains. But
there was another Tartar to deal with, who feeming neither to
fight nor fly, my old man began to charge his piftol; the ve
ry fight of which ftruck fuch a terror in the wretch, that he
fcowered away, leaving my old pilot, rather my champion and
›defender, an abſolute victory,,
}
It was by this time, being awakened from my heep, as I
though, I began to open my eyes, wondering where I was,
quite forgetting all that was paft But when my fenfes return.
ed, fecling a great pain in my head, while the blood was run-
ning over my clothes, I inftantly jumped upon my feet, grafp-
ing my sword in my hand,, with a refolution to take revenge;
yet no enemies appeared, except the dead Tartar, with his
horfe ftanding by him; but the old man feeing me recover-
cd, whom he thought flain, ran towards me, and embraced me
with the greatest tenderness, at the fame time examining into
my wound; but being far from every body, we returned to the
village, when the man demanded payment for his camel, whi
I refuling, we brought the caufe before a binefe judge, who
acted with great impartiality. Having heard both fides, he
afked the Chinese man that went with me, whofe fervant he
was? Sir, faid he, I am nobody's, but went with the ftranger,
籠
​hich
at
207
at his requeft: Why then, faid the judge, you were the ſtrang
er's fervant for the time, and the camel being delivered to his
fervant is the fame as being delivered to himſelf, 'and accord=
ingly he muſt pay for it. Indeed the cafe was fo fairly ſtated,
that I had nothing to object to it, Yo, having paid for what I
was robbed of, I fent for another, but did not go myſelf to
fetch it, for I had enough of that ſport before.
The city of Naum is a frontier of the Chineſe empire, ſo for-
tified, as fome tell yölt, that millions of Tartar: cannot batter
down the walls; by which certainly one might think one of
our cannons would do more execution than all the legions.
1
But the Governour of that city, as we were within a day's
march of it, having fent meffengers to every part of the road.
to inform the travellers and caravans to halt till he had fent a
guard to protect them from the numerous bodies of Tartars
that lately appeared about this city; this news put us into
great confternation, but, obeying the orders, within two days
there camne 200 foldiers from a Chineſe garriſon, and: 300 more
from Naùm : Thus, being guarded both in the front and rear,
with our own men on the fides, we advanced boldly, thinking
we were able to combat 10,000 Mogul Tartars, if they had ap-
peared, but were forced to tell another ſtory next day.
For early next morning, marching from a little well situated
town called Changu, after having paffed a river, and entered
upon a deſert of above fifteen of fixteen miles over, we foon
beheld, by a cloud of duft that was raiſed, that the enemy was
approaching towards us. This fight much diſpirited the Chi-
neſe, which appeared fo plainly, that my old pilot took notice
of it, and called out, Signior Ingleſe, theſe fellows muſt be en-
couraged, or they will ruin us all; and I'm afraid, if the Tar-
tars attack us, they will all run away. Why, Signior, faid I,
what ſhall be done in this caſe? Donc, ſays he, why let fifty of
our men advance, and then flanking on each wing, encourage
them, for I know they will fight well enough in company.
Accordingly we took his adviče, marching fifty to the right
wing, and the fame number to the left, and the reſt made a line
of reſerve, leaving the laſt 200 men to guard the camels, or to
alift us as occaſion required.
Thus prepared, a party of them came forward, viewing our
poſture, and traverſing the ground on the front of our line:
Hereupon we ordered the two wings to fire, and each of them
to give a falvo with their fhot, which accordingly was done.
And this indeed put a ſtop to their proceeding; for ſoon after
wheeling off to their left, and undoubtedly giving an account
to their companions what reception they might expect, they
gave over their enterpriſe.
*
When we came to the city of Naum, we returned the Gov-
ernour hearty thank's, and gave 100 crowns among the foldiers
that
208.
that guarded us. We refted there but one day, and then pro-
reeded on our travels, paffing feveral great rivers and deferts,
till, on the 13th of April, we came to the frontiers of Muſcovy,
•he first town of which was called, Argun.
*
+
This happy event, as I thought it, of coming into a Chriſ-
tian country, made me congratulate the Scotch merchant upon
it: He ſmiled at that, telling me, not to rejoice tuo foon; for,
faid he, except the Ruffian foldiers in garriſon, and a few in-
babitants of the cities upon the road, all the reft of this coun-
try for above a thouſand miles, is inhabited by the moſt igno-
Tant and barbarous Pagans.
We advanced from the river Argun by moderate journeys;
and found convenient garriſons in the land filled with Chriť-
tian foldiers, for the fecurity of commerce, and for the conve-
nient lodging of travellers; but the inhabitants of the country
were mere Pagans, worſhipping the fun, moon, and ſtars. And
this idolatry we met near Argun, at a city of the Tartars and
Ruſſians joined together, called Nerifinkey: For being curious
to fee their way of living, while the caravan continued to reſt
*hemſelves in that city, I went to one of their villages, when
there was to be one of their folemn facrifices. There behold
ipon the ftump of an old tree, was placed an idol of wood,
more ugly than the repreſentation of the devil himſelf; its
head was fuch as refembled no living creature; its ears were
as big and high as goats' horns, a crooked nofe, four-corner-
ed mouth, and horrible teeth: It was clothed in theeps' fkins,
had a great - Tartar bonnet, with two horns growing through
it, and was eight feet high; without feet, legs, or proportion.
Before this idol, there lay 16 or 17 people, who brought their
offerings, and were making their prayers; while at a diftance
flood three men and one bullock, as victims to their ugly
nonfter.
J
Such ftupendous facrilege as this, in robbing the true God
of his honour, filled me with the greateſt aſtoniſhment and re-
flexion which foon turning to rage and fury, I rode up to
the image, and cut in pieces the bonnet that was upon his head
with my fword, fo that it hung down by one of the horns;
while one of my men that was with me, pulled at it by its
heep-kin garment: But immediately an hideous howling and
outcry ran through the village, and two or three hundred peo-
ple coming about our ears, we were obliged to fly for it.
But I had not done with the monster; for the caravan be-
ing to reſt three nights in the town, I told the Scotch merchant
what I had feen, and I was reſolved to take four or five men
well armed with me, in order to deftroy the idol, and ſhew the
people how little reaſon they had to truſt to it, who could not
fave itſelf. At firft he laughed at me, repreſenting the danger
of it; and when it was deftroyed, what time had we to preach
to
209
to them better things, whoſe zeal and ignorance were in the
highest degree, and both unparalelled; that if I ſhould be tak❤
en by them, I thould be ſerved like a poor Ruſſian, who con-
temned their worship; that is, be stripped naked, and tied to
the top of the idol, there thot at with arrows till my body was
full of them, and then burnt as a facrifice to the monſter: But,
Sir, faid he, Gince your zeal carries you fo far, rather than you
fhould be alone, I will accompany you, and bring a ftout tel-
low, equal to yourſelf, if he will affift us in this defign: And
accordingly he brought one called Captain Richardſon, who
hearing the ftory, readily coniented; but my partner declined
it, being altogether out of his way: And fo we three, and my
man lervant, reſolved to execute this exploit, about midnight;
but upon fecond thoughts we deferred it to the next night,
by reason the caravan being to go from thence next morn-
ing, we should be out of the Goverour's power. Well,
I procured a Tartar's fheep-fkin robe, a bonnet, with bows
and arrows, and every one of us got the like habits. The
first night we spent in mixing combuftible matter with aqua-
vitæ, gunpowder, &c. having a good quantity of tar in a little
pot. And the last night coming to the idol about eleven
o'clock, the moon being up, we found none guarding; but we
perceived a light in the houfe, where we faw the priests be-
tore. One man was for firing the hut, another for killing the
people, and a third for making them priſoners, while the idol
was deftroyed. And, in fhort, to the latter we agreed; fo that
knocking at the door, we feized the first that opened it, then
ftopping his mouth, and tying his feet together, left him with
the idol. In this manner did we ferve two others, but the
valiant Scotch merchant being diſcovered at length, ruſhed in
upon them, being backed by us, and fet fire to the compofi-
tion, which frightened them fo much, that we brought them
all away, as prifoners to their wooden god. Then we fell to
work with him, daubing him all over with tar, mixed with
tallow and brimstone, stopping his eyes, ears and mouth full of
gunpowder, with a great piece of wildfire in his bonnet, and
environed it with dry forage. All this being done, we un-
loofened and ungagged the prifoners, and let the idol on fire,
which the gunpowder blowing up, the shape of it was deform-
ed, rent and ſplit, which the forage utterly conſumed; for we
ftayed to lee its deftruction, left the ignorant idolatrous people
fhould have thrown themſelves into the flame. And thus we
came away undiſcovered, appearing fo buſy in the morning a
mong our fellow-travellers, that nobody could have fu:pected,
but that we had been in our beds all night.
But after we were fet out, and had got fome ſmall diſtance
from the city, there came a great multitude of the country
people to the gates, demanding fatisfaction of the Ruſſian Gov-
Sa
ernour,
210
A
ernour, for infulting their priests, and burning their great
Cham Chi Thaungu, who dwelt in the Sun, and that no mortal
would violate his image, but ſome Chriſtian mifcreants: And
therefore, being already 30,000 ftrong, they denounced war
against him and all his Chrift ans.
The Governour affured them he was ignorant of the matter,
and that none of his garrifon had been out; that indeed there
was a caravan that went away that morning, that he would ſend
after them to inquire into it, and whoever were the offenders,
ſhould be delivered into their hands. This fatisfied them for
the prefent; but the Governour fent to inform us, that if any
of us had done it, we fhould make our eſcape; or if not, make
all the haſte away poffible, while ne kept them in play as long
as he could.
Hereupon we marched two days and two nights,
ſtopping but very little, till at laß we reſted at a village called
Plotbus, and halted to Garawena, another of the Czar's colo-
nies. But on the fecond day's march from the former, hav-
ing entered the defert, and paffed the lake Shaks- Ofer, we be-
held a numerous body of horse on the other ſide of it to the
north, who fuppofed we had paſſed that ſide of the lake And
in three days atter, having found their mistake, or being in-
formed which way we went, they came upon us toward the
dufk of the evening, juft as we had pitched our camp between
two little but very thick woods, with a little river running be-
fore our front, and we cut down tome trees to place in our
rear, but before we had finished our fituation, the enemy were
at hand. But not falling on us immediately, they ſent three
meffengers, who demanded the men who had infulted their
priests, and burnt their god Cham Chi Thaungu, that they might
be burnt, and then they would peaceably depart; but
if not, they would deſtroy them all. Hereupon our men
ftared at one another, but nobody was the word, as in-
deed nobody knew it but thoſe who did it. Upon which the
leader of the caravan anfwered, that they were peaceable
merchants, who meddled with none of their priests or gods;
and therefore defired them not to diſturb us, and put us to the
neceffity of defending ourſelves. But fo far was this from
fatisfying them, that the next morning, coming to our right,
they let fly a volley of arrows at us, but hurt not any, becauſe
we theltered ourſelves under the baggage: But as we expected
to come to an engagement, a cunning father, a Coffack, obtain-
ing leave of the leader to go to theſe people, mounts his horſe,
and rides directly from our rear; when taking a circuit, he
comes back as though he had been fent exprefs; tells them a
formal ſtory, that the villains who burnt the Cham Chi Thaungu,
were gone to Sibielſka, with a refolution to burn the god Shal-
Ifar, belonging to the Tonguefes. Upon which, believing this
cunning Tertar, who was fervant to our Muscovites, away they
drove
211
drove to Sibielſka, and in less than three hours were out of
fight, nor did we ever hear of them more.
When we came to the city of Farawena, we reſted there five
days, and then entered into a frightful defert, which held us
twenty three days march, infefted with feveral fmall compa-
nies of robbers or Mogul Tartars, who never had the courage
10 attack us. But after we had paffed over this place, we
found feveral Tartars: In particular the governour of Adinſkoy
offered us a guard of fifty men, to the next flation; if we ap-
prehended any danger. All this way the natives retained the
fame Paganifm and barbarity, only not fo dangerous, being con-
quered by the Mufcovites. The clothing, both of men and
women, are the ſkins of beafts, living under ground in vaults
and caves, which run into one another. They have idols in
almoſt every family; beſides, they adore the fun and ſtars,
water and fnow; and the leatt uncommon thing that happens
in the elements, alarms them as much as thunder and lightning
does the unbelieving Jews.
Through all the country nothing more remarkable occurred :
When we had got through this great defert I before mention-
ed, after two days farther travel, we came to Janeza, a Muſco-
vite city, on the great river fo called, which we are told, parts
Europe from Afia. Neither here are the Pagans much better,
though intermixed with the Muscovites; but the wonder will
ceate, when I inform my reader of what was obferved to me,
that the Czar converts the Tartars with foldiers, not clergymen,
and is more affiduous to make them faithful ſubjects than good
Chriftians.
From this city to the river Oby, we travelled over a pleaſant,
fruitful, but very uncultivated country, for want of good, man-
agement and people, and thoſe few are moftly Pagans. This
is the place where the Muscovite criminals are banifhed to, if
they are not put to death. The next city we came to, was the
capital city of Siberia, called Tobolſki, when having been a'moſt
ſeven months on our journey, and winter drawing on apace,
my partner and I confulted about our particular affairs, in what
manner we ſhould difpofe of ourſelves. We had been told of
ſledges and rein deer, to carry us over the fnow in the winter
feaſon, the fnow being frozen very hard, making an entire
covering to the ground, ſo that the fledges can run upon the
furface without any regard to what is beneath. But I, being
bound to England, muft either go with the caravan to Jereſlaw,
thence well to Narva, and the gulf of Finland, and fo by land
or lea to Denmark; or elſe I must leave the caravan at a little
town on the Dwina, and fo go to Archangel, where I was fure
of ſhipping either to to England, Holland or Hamburgh. One
night I fell in company with an illuftrious, but baniſhed prince,
whole company and virtues were fuch as made me propoſe
a method
212
a method to him to obtain his liberty. My dear friend, faid
he, as I am freed from my miſerable greatneis, with all its at-
tendants of pride, ambition, avarice and luxury; if I fhould
eſcape from this place, thofe pernicious feeds may revive again,
to my latting difquietude : Theretore let me ftay in a bleffed
confinement. For I am but fleſh, a mere man, with paffions.
and affections as fuch: O be not my friend and tempter too
Struck dumb with furprife, I ſtood filent a while; nor was he
in leis diforder, by which perceiving he wanted to give vent
to his mind, I defired him to confider of it, and fo withdrew.
But about two hours after he came to my apartment, Dear
friend, íaid he, though I cannot confent to accompany you, I
fhall have this fatisfaction in parting, that you leave me an
honeft man fill; but as a testimony of my affection to you, be
pleated to accept this prefent of fables.
I fent my fervant the next morning to his Lordſhip, with
a fmall preſent of tea, two pieces of China damaſk, and four
little wedges of gold: But he only accepted the tea, one piece
of damaſk, and a wedge of gold, for the curiofity of the Japan
ftamp upon it. Not long after he fent for me, and told me,
that what he had refufed himſelf, he hoped, upon his account,
I would grant to another whom he ſhould name: In short, it
was his only fon, who was above 2co miles diftant from him
on the other fide of the Oby, whom he could fend for, if I gave
my confent. This I foon complied with, upon which he tent
his fervants the next day for his fon, who returned in twenty
days time, bringing feven horfes loaded with valuable furs.
At night the young Lord was conducted incognito to our
apartment, where his father prefented him to me. We then
confulted the beſt way for travelling, and, after buying a con-
fiderable quantity of fables, black fox fkins, fine ermines, &c.
(which I fold at Archangel at a good price) we fet out from this
city the beginning of June, making a fmall caravan, being
about 32 horſes and camels, of which I reprefented the head.
My young Lord had with him a very faithful Siberian fervant,
well acquainted with the roads: We fhunned the principal
towns and cities, as Tumen, Sal. Kamaſkoy, and feveral others,
by reaſon of their ſtrictnets in examining travellers, left any of
the banished perlons of diftinction fhould eſcape. Having paf-
fed the river Kama, we came to a city on the European fide
called Soloy Kamofkoy, where we found the people moftly Pa-
gans as before. We then pafled a defert about 200 miles
over, but in other places it is near 700: In paffing this wild
place, we were befet by a troop of men on horfeback, about
forty-five, armed with bows and arrows. At first they looked
earnestly on us, and then placed themſelves in our way. We
were about fixteen men, and drew up in a little line before our
camels. My young Lord fent out his fervant to know who
they
213
3
they were; but when he approached them, he neither knew.
a word they faid, nor would they admit him to come near
them at his peril, but prepared to fhoot him. At his return,
he told us, he believed them to be Calmuck Tartars, and thats
he thought there were more of them upon the defert. This
was but a fmall comfort for us, yet feeing a little grove at
about a quarter of a mile distance, we moved to it by the old
Portuguese pilot's advice, without meeting any oppofition. In
this place we found a fpringy piece of ground, a great fpring.
running from a little brook on one fide, joined with another
like it a little farther, which in fhort was the head of the river
Writſka. We went to work, immediately cutting down great
arms of trees, and laid them hanging (not quite cut off) from
one tree to another. And thus we waited the motions of the
enemy, without perceiving any advance they made towards us
But about two hours before night, being joined by ſome oth-
ers, they made about 80 horfe, among whom we fancied were
fome women, and coming to us with great fury, we fired with-
out ball, calling to them in the Ruffian tongue to know their
bufinefs; but they not understanding us, or pretending fo,
came directly to the wood fide, not confidering that we were
fo fortified, that they could not break in. Our old pilot prov-
ed both our captain and engineer, and defired us not to fire
till they came within piftol fhot, and he gave the word of com-
mand; then to take the ſureſt aim: But he did not bid us
fire, till they were within two pikes of us; and then we killed
15 of them, wounded ſeveral, as alſo their horſes, having eve-
ry one charged with two or three balls at leaſt. So much
were they furprized at our undauntedneſs, that they tell back
about one hundred rods from us. In the mean time we loaded
again, and all fallying out, fecured four or five of their horſes,
whofe riders we found were killed, and perceived them to be
Tartars. About an hour after they made another attempt to
break in, but finding us ready to receive them, they retired.
All that night we worked hard in ftrengthening our fitua-
tion, and barricadoing the entrances into the woods; but
when day light came, we made a very unwelcome diſcovery;
for the enemy being encouraged by their aſſiſtance, had fet up
eleven or twelve tents, in the form of a camp, about three
quarters of a mile from us. I must confefs, I was never more
concerned in my life, giving myſelf, and all that I had, over
for lott: As for my partner, as the lofs of his goods would be
his ruin, before they ſhould be taken from him, he would
fight to the laſt drop of his h'wod. But to eſcape their num-
bers, 1 had recourſe to a ſtratagem, by kindling a large flame
to burn all night; and no fooner was it dark, but we pursued
our journey towards the pole, or the north ítar, and fo travel.
ling all night, by ſix o'clock in the morning we came to a Ruf-
for
214
66
han village, called Kermanzinjky, where we paffed a little rive
er called Kerzta, and from thence came to a large town nam
ed Ozouays, where we heard that feveral troops of Calmuck Tar-
tars had been abroad upon the defert, but that we were paft
all danger. Within five days after, we came to Veuftima, up-
on the river Witzedga: From thence we came to Lawrenſkoy,
on the 3d of July, where providing ourſelves with two luggage
boats and a convenient bark, we embarked the 7th, and ar-
rived at · Archangel the 18th, after a year, five months, and
three days journey, including the eight months and odd days
we ſpent at Tobolki. We came from Achangel the 20th of
Auguft in the fame year, and arrived at the Elbe the 30th of
September. And here indeed my partner and I made a very
good fale of our goods, both thoſe of China and Siberia, when
dividing our effects, my fhare came to £3475. 17. 3d. after all
the loffes we had luſtained, and charges we had been at,
Hamburgb my young Lord parted from me, in order to go to
the court of Vienna, not only to feek protection, but to cor-
refpond with his father's friends: And, after we had flaid
four months at Hamburgh, I came from thence over land to the
Hague, where embarking in the packet, I arrived in London
the 10th of January, 1705, after ten years and nine months
abſence from England.
$
At
ROBINSON
ROBINSON CRUSOE'S VISION
OF THE
ANGELIC WORLD.
悉
​H
CHAPTER I.
Of Solitude.
OWEVER folitude is looked upon as a refraint to the
pleafures of the world, in company and converfation;
yet it is a happy ſtate of exemption from a ſea of trouble, an
inundation of vanity, vexation and diſappointment. While
we enjoy ourſelves, neither the joy nor forrow of other men
affect us: We are then at liberty, with the voice of our foul,
to fpeak to God! By this welthun fuch frequent trivial dif-
courſe, as ever becomes an obſtruction to virtue: And how
often do we find we had reafon to wifh we had not been in
company, or faid nothing when we were there: For either we
offend God by the impiety of our diſcourſe, or lay ourselves.
open to the violence of de@gning people by unguarded ex-
preffions" And confequently perceive the coldness and treach-
erv² of Bietended friends, when once involved invtrouble and
affiction: And ſuch unfaithful intimates (I fhould fay ene-
mies) who rather by falſe inunendoes would accumulate mif-
eries upon us, than honestly affiit us when fuffering under the
moſt ärtful ätid- deſigning. men. But in a ſtate of folitude,
when our tongues cannot be heard except by the Great Maj-
efty of Heaven, how happy are we, in the bleffed enjoyment
of converſe with our Maker Tis then we make him our
friend, which makes us above the envy and contempt of wick-
ed meha Aad when a man converfes with himſelf, he is fure
méh?
that he does not converfe with an enemy: At least, we ſhould
retreat to goods company, and good books: I mean, not by
folitude that a man should retire into a cell, adeſert, or a
monaftery, which would be altogether an ufelefs and unpro-
fitable reſtraint: For as men are formed for fociety, and have
an abfolute aeceffity and dependence one upon another; fo
there is a retirement of the foul, in which it converles with
heaven, even in the mid of men: And indeed no man is
more
216
more fit to ſpeak freely, than he, who can without any violence
to himſelf, refrain his tougue, or keep filent altogether. As
to religion, it is by this the foul gets acquainted with the hid-
den myfteries of the holy writings: Here the finds thoſe floods
of tears, in which good men wash themſelves day and night;
and only make a vifit to God, and his holy angels. In this
converfation, the trueft peace and moft folid joy are to be
found; it is a continual feaſt of contentment on earth, and the
means of attaining everlasting happineſs in heaven.
H
CHA P. II.
Of Honefty.
4
NESTY is a virtue beloved by good men, and pretend-
ed to by all perſons: In this there are feveral degrees
To pay every man his own, is the common law of honeſty; but
to do good to all mankind, is the Chancery law of hone!ty;
and this chancery court is in every man's breast, where his
Confcience is Lord Chancellor. Hence it is that a miſer, though
he pays every one their own, cannot be an honeft man, when
he does not diſcharge the good offices that are incumbent on
a friendly, kind, generous penfon: For the prophet Iſaiah faith,
ch. xxxvii. 7, 8. The inftruments of a churl are evil: He de-
vifeth wicked deances to deftroy the poor with lying words, even
when the needy fpeaketh right. But the liberal devijeth liberal
things, and by liberal things ſhall be fland. 'Tis certainly honef-
he
ty, to do every thing the law.requires: but thould we throw
every pour debtor in prifon till he has paid the utmoſt farthing,
hang every malefactor without mercy, exact the penalty of
every bond, and the forfeiture of every indenture: why this
would be downright cruelty, and not honeſty; and is contrary
to that generaf rule, to do to another, that which you would hawe
done unto you. Sometimes neceffity makes an honeft mag a
knave, when a rich man is an honeſt man, but no thanks to him
for it. The trial of honesty is this: Did you ever want bread,
and had your neighbour's loaf“ in keeping, and, would farve,
rather than eat it? Were you ever arreſted, having in your
cuftodý another man's caſh, and would rather go to gaol than
break it if fo, then indeed this may be reckoned honeſty.
For King Solomon tells us, that a good name is better, than life,
and is a precious ointment, and which when a man has once loft, be
bas nothing left worth keeping.
}
1
CHAP.
217
AFFLICTIONS
CHAP. III.
Of Suffering Afflictions.
FFLICTIONS are very common to all mankind, and
whether they proceed from Joffes and difappointments,
or the malice of men, they often bring their advantages along
with them: For this fhews men the vanity and deceitfulneſs
of this life, and is an occaſion of rectifying our meaſures, and
bringing us to a more modeſt opinion of ourſelves: It tells us
how neceffary the affiftance of Divine Grace is to us, when life
itſelf becomes a burthen, and death even deſirable. But when
the greateſt oppreffion comes upon us, we muſt have recourſe
to Patience, begging of God to give us that virtue. And the
more compoſed we are in any trouble, the more commenda-
ble is our wiſdom; and the larger will be our recompence.
And let the provocation be what it will, whether from a good
natured and confcientious, or a wicked, preverle, and vexatious
man, all this we ſhould take as from the over ruling hand of
God, as a puniſhment for our fins. Many times injured inno-
cence may be abuſed by falſe oaths, or the power of wicked,
jealous, or malicious men; but we often find it, like the
palm, rife the higher, the more it is depreffed, while the juf-
tice of God is eminently remarkable in puniſhing thoſe, one
way or other, who defire or endeavour to procure the downfal
of an innocent man : Nor does God fai! comforting an afflict-
ed perfon, who with tears and prayers folicits the throne of heav.
en for deliverance and protection. David ſays, That his foul
was full of trouble, and his life drew near unto the grace. But cer-
tainly David's afflictions made him eminently remarkable, par-
ticularly when purſued by King Saul, and hunted as a par-
tridge over the mountains. But one thing which ſtands by
innocence, is the love of God: For were we to fuffer difgrace,
nay, an ignominious death itſelf, what confolation does inno-
cence procure at our lateſt conflict, our laſt moments ?
CHA P. IV.
Of Immorality of Converſation, and the vulgar Errors of Be-
haviour.
As converfation is a great part of human happineſs, fo it is
a pleaſant fight to behold a ſweet tempered man, who is
always fit for it; to fee an air of humour and pleaſantneſs fit
upon every brow, and even fomething angelic upon every
countenance: Whereas if we obferve a defigning man, we
ſhall find a mark of involuntary ſadneſs breaks in on his joy,
and
T
218
and a certain infurrection in the foul against the tyranny of
profligate principles.
They err very much, who think religion, or a ſtrict moral-
ity diſcompoſes the mind, and renders it unfit for converfa-
tion; for it is rather that which infpires us to innocent mirth,
indeed, without a counterfeit joy, as vicious men appear with :
And indeed wit is as confiftent with religion, as religion is with
good manners; nor is there any thing in the limitation of
virtue and religion, that ſhould abate the pleaſure of it, but
on the contrary increaſe it.
But on the other hand, many men by their own vice and
intemperance, difqualify themſelves for converfation, in being
of cynical, furly and rude tempers, though they boaſt them-
felves otherwife. Converfation is immoral, where difcourſe
is indecent, immodeft, fcandalous, flanderous or abuſive.
How great is their folly, and how much it is expofed, by af-
fronting their best friend, even God himfelf, before men,
whofe notions are uncertain, and yet who laugh at the fool
*when his fear cometh !
The great fcandal atheiſtical and immoral diſcourſe gives
to virtue, ought, methinks, to be puniſhed by the judges:
Make a man once ceaſe to believe a God, and he has nothing
left to limit his foul but mere philoſophy. And how incon-
grous is this to government, that a man fhould be punished for
drunkenneſs or fwearing, and yet have liberty to affront and
even deny the Majeſty of Heaven? If a man gives the lie to
a gentleman in company, or perhaps fpeaks a word without
any offenfive meaning, he flies into a paffion, quarrels, fights,
and perhaps murders him; or afterwards profecutes him at
Jaw with the utmoſt villany and oppreffion.
The next thing to be refrained from is obfcene diſcourſe,
which is the language only of the proficients in debauchery, who
never repent but in a gaol or an hofpital; and whofe caicaffes
ftink as bad as their diſcourſe, till the body becomes too nafy
for the foul to ſtay any longer in it.
Nor is falfe talking lefs to be avoided: For lying is the
Theep's clothing hung upon the wolf's back; 'tis the Pharifee's
prayer, the whore's bluth, the hypocrite's paint, the murderer's
Imile, the thief's cloak, 'tis Joab's embrace, and Judas's kiſs;
in a word. 'tis mankinds' darling fin, and the devil's diftin-
guishing character. Some add lies to lies, till it not only comes
so be improbable, but even impoffible too : Others lie for
gain, to deceive, delude, and betray: And a third fort lie for
1port, or for fun. There are other liars, who are perfonal and
malicious; who foment differences, and carry tales from one
houſe to another, in order to gratify their own envious temp-
ers, without any regard or reverence for truth.
CHAP.
219
I
CHAP. V.
Of the prefent State of Religion in the World.
DOUBT, indeed, there is much more devotion than reli-
gion in the world, more adoration than fupplication, and
more hypocrify than fincerity: And it is very melancholy to
confider, what numbers of people there are, furnished with
the powers of reafon and the gifts of nature, and yet aban-
doned to the groffeft ignorance and depravity. But it would
be uncharitable for us to imagine, (as fome Papiſts abounding
with too much ill-nature, the only fcandal to religion, do) that
they will certainly be in the ftate of damnation after this life:
for how can we think it confiftent with the mercy and goodnets
of an infinite being, to damn thofe creatures, when he has not
furniſhed them with the light of his gofpel? Or how can
fuch proud, conceited, and cruel bigots preſcribe rules to the
justice and mercy of God?
We are told by fome people, that the great image which King
Nebuchadnezzar fet up to be adored by his people, held the re-
prefentation of the fan in his right hand, as the principal object
of adoration. But to wave this diſcourſe of Heathens, how many
ſelf contradicting principles are held among Chriſtians? And
how do we doom one another to the devil, while all profefs to
worship the fame Deity, and to expect the fame íalvation ?
When I was at Portugul there was held at that time the
court of juſtice of the inquifition. All the criminals were
carried in proceffion to the great church; where eight of them
were habited in gowns and caps of canvas, whereon the tor-
ments of hell were difplayed, and they were condemned and
burnt for crimes againit the Catholic faith and Bleſſed Virgin.
I am forry to make any reflexions upon Chriftians; but
indeed in Italy the Romifb religion feems the most cruel and
mercenary upon earth: And a very judicious perfon, who
travelled through Italy from Turkey, telis us, "That there is
only the face, and outward pomp of religion there; that the
church protects murderers and affafias, and then delivers the
civil magiſtrates over to Satan for doing juftice; interdicts
whole kingdoms, and ſhuts up the churches for want of paying
a few ecclefiaftic dues, and fo puts a top to religion for want
of their money: That the Court of Inquifition burnt two men
for fpeaking diſhonourably of the Bleffed Virgin, and the mif-
fionaries of China tolerated the worshipping the devil by their
new converts: That Italy, was the theatre, where religion was
the grand opera; and that the Popish clergy were no other
than the ſtage players.'
As to religion in Poland, they deny Christ to be the Meſſiah,
or that the Meffiah was come in the fle. And as to their
Proteftants, they are the followers of Lelius Socinus, who de
nied
220
nied our Saviour's divinity; and have no concern about the
divine inſpiration of the Holy Ghoſt.
In Muscovy their churches are built of wood, and indeed
they have but wooden prieſts, though of the Greek church :
They pray as much to St. Nicholas, as Papiſts do to the Virgin
Mary, for protection in all their difficulties or afflictions.
•
As to Lutherans, they only differ from the Romans in believ-
ing Confubftantation, inſtead of Tranfubftantation; but, like
them, they are much pleaſed with the external gallantry and
pomp, more than the true and real practice of religion.
In France I found a world of priests, the ftreets every where
crowded with them, and the chuches full of women; but
furely never was a nation fo full of blind guides, fo ignorant
of religion, and even as void of morals, as thoſe people who
confeſs their fins to them.
Now it ſeems frange, that while all, men own the Divine
Being, there fhould be fo many different ſentiments about pay-
ing him obedience in the Chriſtian church : I know nct what
reaſon to affign for this, except it be their different capacities
and faculties.
And indeed upon this account, we have perceived in all
Chriftian countries what mortal feuds have been about relig-
Jon: what wars and bloodſhed have moleſted Europe, till the
general pacification of the German troubles at the treaty of
Weftphalia; and fince, between the Lutheran churches? And
hould I take a profped at home, what unhappy divifions are
between Chriſtians in this kingdom about Epiſcopacy, Prefby-
tery, the Church of England men and the Diffenters; and
where they withſtand one another like St. Paul and St. Peter,
even to the face; as much as to ſay, carry on the difpute to
the utmoſt extremity.
It might be a queftion, why there are fuch differences in
religious points, and why thefe breaches fhould be fo hot and
irreconcileable ì All the anfwer I can give to this, is, that we
inquire more concerning the truth of religion, than any other
nation in the world; and the anxious concern we have about
it, makes us jealous of every opinion; and tenacious of our
own: And this is not becauſe we are more furious and rafh
than other people; but the truth is, we are more concerned
about them, and being fenfible that the fcripture is the great
rule of faith, the standard for life and doctrine, we have re-
courſe to it ourſelves, without fubmitting to the pretended in-
fallible judge upon earth.
There is another question pertinent to the former, what
remedy can we apply to this malady? And to this I muft neg-
atively anfwer, not to have us be leſs religious, that we
might differ lefs about it: And this is ftriking at the very root
of all religious differences; for certainly, were they to be
carried
221
carried on with a peaceable ſpirit, willing to be informed, our
variety of opinions would not have the name of differences ;
nor ſhould we ſeparate in communion of charity, though we did
not agree in feveral articles of religion.
Nor is there a lefs ufeful queſtion to ſtart, namely, where
will our unhappy religious differences end? To which I hope I
may anfwer, In Heaven: There all unchriſtian and unbroth-
erly differences will find a period; there we ſhall embrace
many a finner that here we think it a diſhonour to converſe
with; and perceive many a heart we have broken here with
cenfures, reproaches and revilings, made whole again by the
balm of the Redeemer's blood. Here we fhall perceive the e
have been other flocks than thoſe of our fold; that thoſe we
have excommunicated have been taken into that fuperiour
communion; and, in a word, that thoſe contradicting notions
and principles, which we thought inconſiſtent with true relig-
ion, we fhall find reconcileable to themſelves, to one another,
and to the fountain of truth. If any man afk me, why our
differences cannot be ended on earth? I answer, were we all
thoroughly convinced, that then they would be reconciled,
we would put an end to them before; but this is impoffible
to be done : for as men's certain convictions of truth are not
equal to one another, or to the weight and fignificancy of ſuch
veracity; ſo neither can a general effect of this affair be ex-
pected on this ſide of time, this fide of the grave.
A man
Before I conclude this chapter, I fhall beg leave to diſcourſe
a little of the wonderful excellency of negative religion and
negative virtue. The latter fets out like the Pharifee with God,
I thank thee; 'tis a piece of religious pageantry, the hypocrite's
hope; and in a word, 'tis a pofitive vice: For it is either a
maſk to deceive others, or a miſt to deceive ourſelves.
thus clothed with negatives, thus argues: I am not fuch a
drunkard as my landlord, fuch a thief as my tenant, fuch a
fwearer as my neithbour; neither am I a cheat, an atheift, a
rakiſh fellow, or a highwayman: No! I live a fober, regular,
retired life: I am a good man, I go to church, God I thank
Now though a man boaſts of his virtue in contradiction
to the vices mentioned, yet a perſon had better be them all to-
gether than the man himself, for he is fo full of himself, fo per-
fuaded that he is good and religious enough already, that he has
no thoughts of any thing, except it be to pull off his hat to
God Almighty now and then, and thank him, that he has no
occafion for him; and has the vanity to think that his neigh-
bours must imagine well of him too
thee
Now the negative man, though he is no drunkard, yet is in-
toxicated with the pride of his own worth: A good neighbour
and peacemaker in other families, but a tyrant in his own: ap-
gears in church for a fhew, but never falls upon his knees in
T
I a
his
222
his clofet; does all his alms before men to be feen by them;
eager in the duties of the ſecond table, but regardleſs of the
first; appears religious to be taken notice of by men, but with-
out intercourfe or communication between God and his own
foul. Pray what is this man? Or what comfort is there of
the life he lives? He is fenfible of faith, repentance, and a
chriſtian mortified life: In a word, he is perfectly a ftranger
to the effential part of religion.
Let us, for a while, enter into the private and retired part
of his converfation: What notions has he of his mifpent
hours, and the natural reflux of all our minutes on to the great
centre and gulph of life, Eternity? Does he know how to put
a right value on time, or eſteem the life blood of his foul, as it
really is, and act in all the moments of it, as one that muſt ac-
count for them? If then you cannot form an equality between
what he can do, and what he shall receive; lefs can it be
founded upon his negative virtue, or what he forbore to do;
and if neither his negative or pofitive piety can be equal to the
reward, and to the eternity that reward is to laſt for, what then
is to become of the Pharifee, when he is to be judged by the
fincerity of his repentance, and rewarded, according to the in-
Suite grace of God, with a ſtate of bieffedneſs to an endlels
eternity?
When the negative man converſes with the inviſible world,
he is filled with as much horrour and dread, as Felix when St.
Paul reaſoned to him of temperance, righteouſneſs, and of
judgment to come: For Fælix, though a great philofopher of
great power and reverence, was a negative man; and he was
anade fenfible, by the apoſtle, that as a life of virtue and tem-
perance was its own reward, by giving a healthy body, a
clear head, and a compofed life; fo eternal happineſs mutt
proceed from another ſpring; namely, the infinite unbounded
grace of a provoked God, who having erected a righteous tri-
bunal, Jefus Chrift would feparate fuch as by faith and repent-
ance he had brought hɔme and united to himſelf by the grace
of adoption; and on the foot of his having laid down his life as
a ranſom for them, had appointed them to falvation, when
all the philofophy, temperance, and righteoufnefs in the world
befides, was ineffectual; and this, I fay, it was, that made Fœlix,
this negative man, tremble.
TH
CHAP. VI.
Of Liftening to the Voice of Providence.
"HE magnificent and wife King Solomon bids us cry after
knowledge, and lift up our voice for underſtanding; which
is explained to us as a religious knowledge by the following
words:
223
words: Then ſhalt thou underſtand the fear of the Lord, and find
the knowledge of God. By which undoubtedly he meant to in-
quire after every thing he has permitted us to know, and not
to fearch into thoſe ways that are unfearchable, and are effec-
tually locked up from our knowledge. Now, as liſtening to the
voice of Providence is my prefent fübject, I am very willing in
the first place, to ſuppoſe that I am writing to thofe who own,
1. That there is a God, a first great moving cauſe of all things,
an eternal power, prior, and confequently fuperior, to all
power and being. 2. That this eternal power, which is God,
is the fovereign creator and governour of heaven and earth.
To avoid all needlefs diftinctions what perfons in the God-
head exerciſe the creating, and what the governing power, I
offer that glorious text, Pfalm xxxiii. 6. Where the whole
Trinity is entitled to the whole creating work; and therefore in
the next place, I fhall lay down theſe two propofitions:
1. That the Eternal God guides by bis Providence the whole uni-
verfe, which was created by his power.
I. That this Providence manifefts a particular care over, and
concern in the governing and directing man, the moſt noble creature
upon earth.
Now it is plain, that natural religion proves the firſt, by in-
timating the neceffity of a Providence guiding and governing
the world, from the confequence of the wildom, juftice, pre-
ſcience, and goodnels of the Almighty Creator: For other-
wife it would be abfurd to think that God ſhould create a
world, without any care or providence over it, in guiding the
operations of nature, to as to preſerve the order of his crea-
tion.
Revealed religion gives us light into the care and concern of
his Providence, by the climates being made habitable, the
creatures ſubjected and made nouriſhing, and all vegetative
life made medicinal; and all this for the fake of man, who is
made viceroy to the king of the earth. The ſhort defcription
I fhall give of Providence is this, that it is that operation of
the power, of the wildom, juſtice and goodneſs of God, by
which he influences, governs and directs, not only the means,
bur the events of all things, which concera us in this fubluna-
ry world; the fovereignty of which we ought always to re-
verence, obey its motions, obferve its dictates; and liften to its
voice. The prudent man forefeeth evil and hideth b:mſelf; that
is, as I take it, there is a fecret Providence inmates to us,
that fome danger threatens, if we lirive not to ſhun it,
The fame day of the month that Sir John Hotbam kept out
Hull againſt the royal mar yr King Charles ▲ the fame day Sip
John Hotham was put to death by the Parlia.nent for that very
action: The fame day that the King himfelf figned the war-
rant for the execution of the Eart of Strafford, the lame day of
the
224
the month was he barbarously murdered by the blood thirty
Oliverian crew: And the fame day that King James II. came
to the crown againſt the bill of exclufion, the fame day he was
voted abdicated by the parliament, and the throne filled with
King William and Queen Mary.
The voice of fignal deliverances from fudden dangers, is not
only a just call to repentance, but a caution againſt falling into
the like danger: But fuch, who are utterly carelefs of them-
felves after, thew a lethargy of the worft nature, which feems
to me to be a kind of practical atheiſm, or at leaſt a living in a
contempt of heaven, when he receives good at the hand of his
Maker, but is unconcerned at the nature and original of it;
neither when he receives evil does it bring him to any ſtate of
humiliation.
We have a remarkable ſtory of two foldiers being condemn.
ed to death in Flanders, the general being prevailed upon to
fpare one of them, ordered them to caft dice upon the drum-
head for their lives: The first throwing two fixes, wrung his
hands, but was ſurprized when the other threw two fixes alfo.
The officer appointed to ſee the execution ordered them to
throw again; they did fo, and each of them threw two fives;
at which the foldiers that ſtood round fhouted, and faid neith-
er of them was to die. Hereupon the officer acquainted the
council of war, who ordered them to throw again, and then
came up two fours: The general being made acquainted with
it, fends for the men, and pardoned them: I love, fays he, in
fuch extraordinary cafes, to liften to the voice of Providence.
We read in the holy writings, how God fpeaks to men, by
appearance of angels, or by dreams and viſions of the night.
As God appeared to Abraham, Lot, and Faceb; so angels have
appeared to many in other cafes, as Manoah and his wife, Zac-
hariah, the Virgin Mary, and to the apoſtles; others have been
warned in a dream, as King Abimilech, the falſe prophet Bala-
am, and many others.
It is certainly a very great and noble inquiry, what we ſhall
be after this life, being affured that there is a place reſerved
for the reception of our fouls after death: For if we are to be,
we muſt have a where, which the fcriptures affert by the ex-
amples of Dives and Lazarus. The doctrine of fpirits was
long believed before our Saviour's time; for even the difcr-
ples of the bleffed Jefus perceiving our Saviour walking on the
fea, they were much furprized, as though they had ſeen a fpi-
rit. Nay, in thofe ages of the world, it was believed that ſpi-
rits intermeddied in the affairs of mankind: And throughout
the Old Teſtament I do not find any inftitution, that in the
Jeaſt contradicts it. All the pains and labour that fome learn-
ed men have taken to confute the ftory of the witch of Endor,
and the appearance of an old man perfonating Samuel, cannot
make
215
make ſuch apparitions inconfiftent with nature or religion:
And it is plain, that, was it either a good or bad ſpirit, it pro-
phetically told the unfortunate king what fhould happen the
next day: For, faid the ſpirit, The Lord will deliver thee into
the hand of the Philistines; and to-morrow ſbalt thou, and tby fons,
be with me.
Abundance of ſtrange notions poffeffed me when I was in the
defolate iſland; eſpecially of a moonſhiny night, when every
bufh feemed a man, and every tree a man on horieback. When
I crept into the difmal cave, where the old goat lay expiring,
whoſe articulate groans even refembled thofe of a man, how
was I furprized on this occafion, when my blood chilled in my
veins, a cold fweaty dew fat on my forehead, my hair tood
upright, and my joints, like Belſbazzar's knees, fhook againft
one another. And indeed, though I afterwards found what
it was, the remains of this forprize did not wear off me for a
great while; and I had frequently fome returns of thoſe va-
pours on different occafions, and fometimes without any occa-
fion at all.
*One night, after having ſeen ſome appearance in the air, as I
had juſt laid down in my bed, one of my feet pained me ; after
that came a numbneſs fucceeded with a tingling in my blood;
when on a fudden I thought fomething alive lay upon me,
from my knee to above half my leg. Hereupon immediately I
flung myfelf out of bed in the dark, where I thought the crea
ture lay: But finding nothing, Lord deliver me from an evil
ſpirit, ſaid I, what can this be And when I lighted a candle,
I could perceive no living creature in the place with me, but
the poor parrot, who being frighted, cried out, Hold your
tongue, and What's the matter with you? which words I had
taught him, by faying to to him, when he made fuch fcream-
ing noites that I did not like. Lord, faid I aloud, furely the
devil has been here. Hold your tongue, ſays Poll. I then was
mad at the bird, and putting on my clothes, cried, I am terri-
bly frighted. What's the matter with you? lays Poll. You
toad, ſaid I, I'll knock your brains out. Hold your tongue, cri-
ed he again, and ſo tell a chattering, and calling Robinſon Cru-
foe, as he did before. But after I had compoſed myſelf, and
went to bed again, I began plainly to fee it was a distemper
that affected the nerves, and fo my terrors vaniſhed at once.
How intelligences are given or received, we do not know;
nor are we ſenſible of their being conveyed this way, from the
ſpirits unembodied, to ours that are in life; or of their being
conveyed that way, namely from us to them: The latter cer-
tainly is done without the help of organs, and the former is
conveyed by the underſtanding, and the retired faculties of the
foul.
The fpirits, without the help of voices, converſe.
The
226
The more particular diſcoveries of the converſe of ſpirits,
feem to me as follow:
Dreams, voices, noifes, impulfes, hints, apprehenfions, in-
voluntary ſadneſs, &c.
Dreams of old were the ways by which God himſelf was
pleaſed to warn men what fervices to perform, and what to
Thun. Jofeph was directed of God in a dream to go to Egypt,
and fo were the wife men warned in a dream to depart into
their own country another way, to avoid the fury of Herod. I
am not like thoſe who think dreams are the mere dofings of a
delirious head, or the relicts of a day's perplexities or plea-
fures; but on the contrary, I must take leave to fay, I never
had any capital miſchief befel me in my life, but I had ſome
notice of it by a dream; and had I not been a thoughtless un-
believing creature, I might have taken many a warning, and
avoided many of the evils I afterwards fell into, merely by a
total neglect of thoſe dreams.
¥
1 remember, I was prefent at a diſpute between a layman
and a clergyman upon the ſubject of dreams: The first, thought
no regard ſhould be given unto them, that their communica-
tion from the invifible to the viſible world was a mere chimera,
without any folid foundation: For, 1. (faid he) if dreams were
from the agency of any prefcient being, the motives would be
more direct, and the difcoveries more plain; and not by al-
Jegories and emblematic fancies expreffing things imperfect
and obfcure. Since, with the notice of evil, there was not
a power given to avoid it, it is not likely to proceed from a
fpirit, but merely fortuitous. 3. That the inconftancy of
fuch notices, in cafes equally important, prove, they did not
proceed from any fuch agent. 4. That as our moſt diſtinct
dreams had nothing in them of any fignificancy, it would be
irrational and vain to think that they came from heaven.
And, 5. That as men were not always thus warned or fuppli-
ed with notice of good or evil, fo all men are not alike fuppli-
ed with them; and what reafon could we give, why one man
or one woman ſhould not have the fame hints as another.
To all this the clergyman gave anfwer, 1. That as to the
fignification of dreams, and the objections againſt them, as be-
ing dark and doubtful, they are expreſſed generally by hiero-
glyphical repreſentations, fimilies, allufions, and figurative
emblematic ways, by which means, for want of interpretation,
the thing was not understood, and confequently the evil not
fhunned, That we charge God foolishly, to ſay he has giv.
en the notice of evil without the power to avoid it; for if any
one had not power to avoid the evil, it was no notice to him;
and it was want of giving due heed to that notice, that men firſt
neglected themſelves, and then charged the Judį
earth with injuftice. 3. That we ought not to fin
227
the inconftancy of theſe notices, but rather our crazy under-
ftandings, by pretending dreams were not to be regarded, and
neglected when the voice really fpoke to us for our good. It
was a great miſtake to fay dreams had no import at all; it
might rather be faid, none that we could perceive the reaſon
of, which was owing to our blindneſs and ſupine negligence to
be ſecure at one time, and our heads too much alarmed at a-
nother; ſo that the fpirit which we might be faid to be con-
verfing with in a dream, was conftantly and equally kind and
careful; but our powers not always in the fame ſtate of action,
nor equally attentive to or retentive of the hints that were giv.
en. And, 5. To anſwer the laſt queſtion, Why people are
not equally fupplied? This ſeemed to be no question; tor
Providence itfelf might have fome fhare in the direction of it,
and then that Providence might be limited by fome fuperiour
direction: That as to the converie of ſpirits, he could not tie
up to a ſtated converfe: Such a thing there was, but why
there was fo much of it, and no more, was none of his buſi-
nels, and that no fuch diſcovery had ever been made yet to
mankind. Nor are we lefs to imagine of walking dreams,
trances, viſions, noifes, hints, impulies, and all the waking
teftimonies of an inviſible world, and of the communication
that there is between us and them, which commonly entertain
us with bur eyes open.
One time my fancy foared on high, to fee what diſcoveries I
could make in thoſe clearer regions. I found that ſuch immenſe
bodies as the fun, (tars, planets and moons in the great circie of
the lower heaven, is far from being found in the fudy of na-
ture, on the furface of the earth: Here I ſaw many things that
we can entertain little or no notion of in a ſtate of common fu-
perficial life, and the emptiness of our notion that the planets
were made habitable worlds; that is, I mean, for the fubfift-
ence and exiſtence of man and beaft, and the preſervation of
the vegetative and fenfitive life: No no, this is, I affure you, a
world of fpirits: For here I faw a clear demonftration of Sa-
tan being the prince of the power of the air, keeping his court
or camp, with innumerable angels to attend him: But his
power is not fo great as we imagine, he can tempt us to the
crime, but cannot force us to commit it: Humanum eft peccare.
Neither has the devil power to force the world into a rebel-
lion againſt heaven, though his legions are employed in the
favage nations to fet up their maſter for a god, and who made
the heathens either worship him in perfon, or by his reprefen-
tatives, idols, and monſters, with the cruel facrifices of human
blood. Now as to the limitations of the devil's power, you
must underſtand, that there are numbers of good angels fent
from the higher and bleft abodes, to difconcert and oppofe
their meaſures: And this, I hope, every Chriftian believes,
when
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when he prays to God, the Father of Spirits, to give his angels
charge over him while he flumbereth and ſleepeth. For if by
shefe preventing powers the devil was not reſtrained, the earth ·
would be fubject to dearth, droughts and famine; the air in-
fected with obnoxious fumes; and, in a word, mankind would
be utterly deſtroyed, which might oblige our Maker to the ne-
ceffity of a new Fiat, or elfe have no more creatures to honour
and worſhip him.
As the devil never wanted infinuators, I fhall obferve, that I
learned a way how to make a man dream of what I pleaſed.
For instance, let us fuppofe one to be found afleep, let another
lay his mouth close to his ear, and whifper any thing fo foftly
as not to awake him, the ſleeping man fall dream of what has
been ſo whiſpered in his ear; nay, I can affure you, theſe in-
finuating devils can do this even when we are awake, which I
call impulfes of the mind: For from whence, but from theſe in-
finuators, come our cauſeleſs paſſions, involuntary wickedneſs,
or finful defires? Who else forms ideas in the mind of man
when he is aſleep, or prefents terrible or beautiful figures to
the fancy? Mr. Milton reprefents the devil tempting Eve in
the fhape of a toad lying juft at her ear, when in her bower fhe
lay faſt aſleep; and brings in Eve telling Adam what an uneaſy
night's reft the had, and relating her dream to him. And like-
wife I believe that good ſpirits have the fame intercourſe with
us, in warning us against thoſe things that are evil, and prompt-
ing us to thofe which are good.
Were we to have the eyes of our fouls opened through the
eyes of our bodies, we ſhould fee this very immediate region
of air which we breathe in, thronged with fpirits now invifi-
ble, and which otherwiſe would be the most terrible: We
ſhould view the ſecret tranſactions of thoſe meffengers who are
employed when the parting ſoul takes its leave of the reluct-
ant body, and perhaps fee things, nature would ſtart back from
with the utmoſt terrour and amazement. In a word, the cur-
tain of Providence for the difpofition of things here, and the
curtain of judgment for the determination of the ſtate of fouls
hereafter would be alike drawn back; and what heart could
ſupport here its future ſtate in life, much leſs that of its fu-
ture ſtate after life, even good or bad.
A gentleman of my acquaintance, being about ſeven miles
diſtant from Londen, a friend that came to dine with him, ſolic-
ited him to go to the city. What for, faid the gentleman, is
there any occaſion for me? No, Sir, faid the other, nothing
at all, except the enjoyment of your good company; and fo
*gave over importuning him. Just then a strong impulfe of
mind urged the gentleman, and purfed him like a voice with, go
20 London, ga to London. Hark ye, fays he to his friend, is
all well at London ? Am I wanted there ? Or did you aſk me
to go with you on any particular account ? Are all my family
well?
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$
well? Yes, indeed, Sir, faid he, I perceived them all very hear-
ty; and I did not afk you to go to London upon any particular
account whatſoever, except it was for the fake of your good
company. Again, he puts off his reſolution, but ftill the
impulfe fuggefted to him, Go to London; and at length he
did fo; and when he came there he found a letter and meſſen-
ger had been there to ſeek him, and to tell him of a particular
bufinefs, which was firſt and laſt above a thouſand pounds to
him, and which might have inevitably been loft, had he not
returned to London that night.
The obeying of ſeveral hints, or fecret impulfes, argues
great wifdom. I knew a man that was under misfortunes,
being guilty of mifdemeanors against the government; when
abfconding for fear of his ruin, all his friends adviſing him not
to put himfelf in the hands of the law, one morning as he
awaked, he felt a ftrong impulfe darting into his mind thus,
Write a letter to them: And this was repeated feveral times to
his mind, and at laſt he anſwered to it as if it had been a voice,
Who shall I write to? Immediately it returned, Write to the judge:
And this impulfe purfued him for feveral days, til at length
he took pen, ink, and paper, and fat down to write to him;
when immediately words flowed from his pen like ftreams
from a fair fountain, that even charmed himſelf with expec-
tation of fuccefs: In fhort, the letter was fo ftrenuous in argu-
ment, fo pathetic in its eloquence, and perſuaſively moving,
that when the judge had read it, he fent him an anſwer he
might be eaſy, for he would endeavour to make the matter
light to him; and indeed never left exerting himſelf, till he
had ftopt the proſecution, and reſtored him to his liberty and
family.
I knew a perfon, who had fo ftrong an impreffion upon her
mind, that the houfe the was in would be burnt that very
night, that the could not go to fleep, the impulfe the had upon
her mind preffed her not to go to bed, which, however, the re-
fifted and went to bed, but was terrified with the thought,
which, as the called it, run into her mind, that the houfe
would be burnt, that the could not go to fleep. So much
diſcovery had the made of her apprehenfions in the family,
that they were all in a fright, and applied themſelves to ſearch
from the too of the houſe to the bottom, and to fee every
fire and every candle fafe out, fo that, as they all faid, it was
impoffible any thing could happen in the houſe, and they fent
to the neighbours on both fides to do the like. Thus far they
did well, but had the obeyed the hint, which preffed upon her,
ftrangely, not to go to bed, he had done much better, for the
fire was actually kindled that time, though not broken out.
About an hour after the whole family was in bed, the houſe
juſt over the way, directly oppofite, was all in a flame, and
the
280
the wind, which was very high, blowing the flame upon the,
houfe this gentlewoman lived in, fo, filled it with Imoke and
fire, in a few moments, the street being narrow, that they had
not air to breathe, or time to do any thing, but jump out of
their beds, and fave their lives; had the obeyed the hint given,
and not gone to bed, he might have faved leveral things
but the few moments fhe had fpared to her, were but juft
fufficient to leap out of bed, put fome clothes on, and get
down ftairs, for the houfe was on fire in half a quarter of an
hour.
T
While I am mentioning theſe things, methinks it is very
hard, that we ſhould obey the whifpers of evil fpirits, and not
much rather receive the notices which good ones are pleaſed
to give. We never perceive the misfortune of this, but when
in real danger; and then we cry, my mind mifgave me, when I
was going about it: But if fo, why did you flight the caution ?
Why not listen to it, as to a voice? And then there had been
no reaſon to make this complaint.
I remember about fourteen or fifteen years ago (as to time I
cannot be very pofitive) there was a young clergyman in the
city of Dublin, in Ireland, who had a very uncommon dream.
That a gentleman had killed his wife (who was a relation of
his) by ſtabbing her in feveral places. The fright of this foon
awaked him; he then fell aſleep a fecond time, dreamt the
fame dream; and, in fhort, a third time alfo. So troubled
was he in his mind, that he aroſe, and knocking at his moth-
´er's chamber, told his concern, and of his apprehenfions that
all was not right at his relation's houſe. Dear fon, ſays the
good old gentlewoman, mind not thele foolish dreams: And I
very much wonder that you, being a perfon in holy orders,
fhould have regard to fuch illufions.. He went to bed again,
lept and dreamt as before. And then indeed he put on his
night-gown, and went to Smithfield, the place where his rela.
tion dwelt. Here it was, alas! he perceived his dream too
fadly fulfilled, by feeing his relation, the young lady, big with
child, who was a Proteftant, ftabbed in feven places, by her
barbarous huſband, Mr. Euftace, a rigid Papift, only upon
fome difcourfes of religion that happened the day before: Af-
ter the wretch had ſtabbed her in three places he endeavoured
to eſcape out of a window, but the cried, My dear, don't leave
me, come back; and I ſhall be well again. At which he return-
ed in a hellish rage, and gave her tour wounds more; when
even in this condition, rifing from her bed, the wrapt herſelf
in her night-gown, and went to the Lord Bishop of Rapho's
chamber door (the Bishop lodging at that time in the houſe) my
Lord, faid the, O, my Lord, make baßte unto me; but as foon as
his Lordship came, the expired in his arms, refigning her pre-
cious foul into the hands of Almighty God. The cruel wretch
her huſband was thot by the purfuers, too good a death for on
whe
291
who deferved the gibbet: The lady was univerfally lamented
by all tender and religious people. And this tragical relation
I have mentioned upon the account of that impulie, or dream,
that the clergyman had at the fatal time of the bloody act.
It might be expected I ſhould enter upon the ſubject of ap-
paritions, and diſcourte concerning the reality of them; and
whether they can revifit the place of their former exiſtence, and
relume thofe faculties of fpeech and fhape which they had
when living; but as theſe are very doubtful matters, I ſhall
only make a few observations upon them.
I once heard of a man who would allow the reality of ap-
paritions, but laid it all on the devil, and thinking the fouls of
men departed did never appear; yet to this very man fome-
thing did appear, and then he ſaid he faw the ſhape of an an-
cient man paſs by him in the duſk, who holding up his hand in
a threatening poſture, cried out, O wicked man repent, repent.
Terrified with this apparition, he confulted feveral friends,
who adviſed him to take the advice. But, after all, it was not
an apparition, but a grave and pious gentleman, who met him
by mere accident, and had been made fenfible of his wicked-
nefs; and who never undeceived him, left it ſhould hinder his
reformation: Were we always willing to make good uſe of
Satan's real appearances, I know not but it would go a great
way to baniſh him from the viſible world; for I am very pofi-
tive he would ſeldom vifit, if he thought his coming would do
us any good: But fo abfolutely is he at the command of heav-
en, that he muſt go, even to do the work he abhors.
Some people make a very ill uſe of the general notion, that
there are no apparitions, nor fpirits at all; which is worfe
than thoſe who fancy they fee them upon every occafion: For
thofe carry their notions farther; even to annihilate the devil,
and believe nothing about him, neither of one kind or other..
The next ſtep they come to is to conclude There is no God; and
fo atheiím takes its rife in the fame firk, with a careleſſnels a-
bout futurity: But there is no occaſion to enter upon argu-
ment, to prove the being of the Almighty, or to illuftrate his
power by words, who has fo many undeniable teftimonies in
the breaſt of every rational being to prove his exiſtence: And
we have proofs fufficient enough to convince us of the great
fuperintendency of Divine Providence in the minuteſt af
fairs of the world, the manifeſt exiſtence of the inviſible world,
the reality of fpirits, and intelligence between us and them..
What I have faid, I hope will not miſlead any perſon, or be a
means whereby they may delude themſelves: For I have
fpoken of theſe things with the utmoſt ſeriouſneſs of mind, and
with a fincere and ardent deſire for the general good and bea-
eft of the world.
FINIS