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LIBRIS
LUCIUS L HUBBARD
I
2
Hubbard
Imag. Voy.
PR
3403
•AI
17198
三
​pt.
1
•
Clark Pinest.
THE
LIFE,
And STRANGE SURPRIZING
ADVENTURES
OF
ROBINSON CRUSOE,
Of YORK, MARINER:
Who lived eight and twenty Years all alone in
an un-inhabited Iſland on the Coaſt of AMERICA,
near the Mouth of the Great River of Oroonoque;
Having been caft on Shore by Shipwreck, where-
in all the Men periſhed but himſelf.
With an ACCOUNT how he was at laft as
ftrangely deliver'd by PYRATES.
Written by Himſelf.
The Fourth Edition.
To which is added a Map of the World, in which is
Delineated the Voyages of ROBINSON CRUSOE.
LONDON: Printed for W. TAYLOR at the
Ship in Pater-Nofter-Row. MDCCXIX.
Res.
Regent L. L. Hattainl
дно
17-24-172421
THE
PREFACE,
Fever the Story of any private
Man's Adventures in the
World were worth making
Publick, and were acceptable
when Publifh'd, the Editor of this
Account thinks this will be fo.
The Wonders of this Man's
Life exceed all that (he thinks)
is to be found extant; the Life of
one Man being Scarce capable of
a greater Variety.
The Story is told with Modefty,
with Serioufness, and with areli-
gious Application of Events to the
Ufes to which wife Men always
apply
The PREFACE.
apply them (viz.)to the Inftruction
of others by this Example, and to
juſtify and honour the Wisdom of
Providence in all the Variety of
our Circumftances, let them hap-
pen how they will.
>
The Editor believes the thing
to be a juft Hiftory of Fact; nei
ther is their any Appearance of
Fiction in it; And however
thinks, becauſe all fuch Things are
difputed, that the Improvement of
it, as well to the Diverfion, as
to the Inftruction of the Reader,
will be the fame; and as fuch, he
thinks, without farther Compli-
ment to the World, he does them
a great Service in the Publica-
tion.
THE
A MAP of the W01LD, a wch is Delineated the Voyages
of RBINSON CRUSO
Bo
90
20
30
10
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The
20
30
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The Arctic Circle
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Hudfons St.
NBRITAIN
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HUDSONS
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WESTERN
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JOULE OF
MEXICO
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NEW SPAN
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Tiffanisla ATLANTI
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THE PACIFIC OCEAN
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I Berbydos
de los Reys
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Equator
Eq
180
190
GREAT
本
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230
SOUTH SEA
The Tropic of Capricorn
New Zeland
250
Galapagos I
CRA
Juma
Tuan
Mile
Magellans Stra
Terradel
IERRA FIRMA.
TERRA
(ULAGILANICA
Blans
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Cape Horn
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COUNTRY of the
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13
THE
LIFE
AND
ADVENTURES
OF
ROBINSON CRUSOE, &C.
:
Was born in the Year 1632, in the
City of York, of a good Family, tho'
not of that Country, my Father be-
it g a Foreigner of Bremen, who ſettled
firit at Hull: He got a good Eſtate
by Merchandize, and leaving off his
Trade, lived afterward at York, from whence he had
married my Mother, whofe Relations were named
Robinſon, a very good Family in that Country, and
from whom I was call'd Robinſon Kreutznaer; but by
the uſual Corruption of Words in England, we are
now call'd, nay we call our felves, and write our
NameCrufoe,andſo my Companions always call'dme.
Part I.
B
I had
[2]
}
I had two elder Brothers, one of which was
Lieutenant Collonel to an English Regiment of Foot
in Flanders, formerly commanded bythe famous Coll.
Lockhart, and was killed at the Battle near Dunkirk
againſt the Spaniards; What became of my Second
Brother I never knew, any more than my Father or
Mother did know what was become of me.
Being the third Son of the Family, and not bred
to any Trade, my Head began to be fill❜d very ear-
ly with rambling Thoughts: My Father, who was
very ancient, had given me a competent Share of
Learning, as far as Houfe-Education, and a
Country free-School generally goes, and defign'd
me for the Law; but I would be fatisfied with no-
thing but going to Sea, and my Inclination to this
led me fo ftrongly againſt the Will, nay the Com-
mands of my Father, and againft all the Entreaties
and Perfwälions of my Mother and other Friends,
that there feem'd to be fomething fatal in that Pro-
penfion of Nature tending directly to the Life of
Mifery which was to befal me.
My Father, a wife and grave Man, gave me
ferious and excellent Counfel againft what he fore-
law was my Defign. He called me one Morning in-
to his Chamber, where he was confined by the
Gout, and expoftulated very warmly with me upon
this Subject: He ask'd me what Reafons more than
a meer wandring Inclination I had for leaving my
Father's Houfe and my native Country, where I
might be well introduced, and had a Profpect of
raising my Fortune by Application and Induftry,
with a Life of Eafe and Fleafure. He told me
it was for Men of defperate Fortunes on one
Hand, or of afpiring, fuperior Fortunes on the other,
who went abroad upon Adventures, to rife by
Enterprize, and make themfelves famous in Un-
dertakings of a Nature out of the comman Road;
that
*K
[ 3 ]
that theſe things were all either too far above me,
or too far below me; that mine was the middle
State, or what might be called the upper Station
of Low Life, which he had found by long Experience
was the beſt State in the World, the moſt ſuited to
human Happineſs, not expofed to the Miſeries and
Hardſhips, the Labour and Sufferings of the me-
chanick Part of Mankind, and not embarass'd with
the Pride Luxury, Ambition and Envy of the up-
per Part of Mar kind. He told me, I might judge
of the Happineſs of this State, by this one thing,
viz. That this was the State of Life which all
other People envied; that Kings have frequently
lamented the miferable Confequences of being born
to great Things, and with'd they had been placed
in the Middle of the two Extremes, beween the
Mean and the Great; that the wife Man gave his
Teſtimony to this as the juft Standard of true Felici-
ty, when he prayed to have neither Poverty or
Riches.
He bid me obferve it, and I fhould always find,
that the Calamities of Life were fhar'd among the
upper and lower Part of Mankind; but that the
middle Station had the feweft Difafters, and was
not expos'd to fo many Viciffitudes as the higher or
lower Part of Mankind; nay, they were not ſubje-
&ted to ſo many Diftempers and Uneafineffes either
of Body or Mind, as thole were, who by vicious
Living, Luxury and Extravances on one Hand,
or by hard Labour, want of Neceffaries, and mean
or inſufficient Diet on the other Hand, bring Di-
ftempers upon themſelves by the natural Confequen
ces of their Way of Living; That the middle Sta-
tion of Life was calculated for all Kind of Virtues,
and all Kind of Enjoyments; that Peace and Plen-
ty were the Hand-maids of a middle Fortune ;
that Temperance, Moderation, Quietefs, Health,
Society,
B 2
}
[4]
Society, all agreeable Diverfions, and all defireable
Pleafures, were the Beffings attending the middle
Station of Life; that this Way Men went filently
and ſmoothly' thro the World, and comfortably out
of it, not embarafs'd with the Labours of the Hands
or of the Head, not fold to the Life of Slavery for
daily Bread, or harrafs'd with perplex'd Circum-
ftances, which rob the Soul of Peace, and the
Body of Reft; not enrag'd with the Paffion of En-
vy, or fecret burning Luft of Ambition for great
things; but in eafy Circumftances fliding gently
thro' the World, and fenfibly tafting the Sweets of
Living, without the bitter, feeling that they are
happy, and learning by every Day's Experience to
know it more fenfibly.
After this, he prefs'd me earneſtly, and in the
moſt affectionate Manner, not to play the young
Man, nor to precipitate my felf into Miferies which
Nature and the Station of Life I was born in,
feem'd to have provided againft; that I was under
no Neceffity of feeking my Bread; that he would
do well for me, and endeavour to enter me fairly
into the Station of Life which he had been juſt re-
commending to me; and that if I was not very ca-
fy and happy in the World, it must be my meer
Fate or Fault that muft hinder it, and that he
ſhould have nothing to anſwer for, having thus dif-
charg'd his Duty in warning me againſt Meaſures
which he knew wou'd be to my Hurt: In a Word,
that as he would do very kind things for me if
I would flay and fettle at Home, as he directed,
fo he would not have fo much Hand in my Misfor-
runes, as to give me any Encouragement to go
away: And to cloſe all, he told me I had my
elder Brother for an Example, to whom he had uſed
the fame carneft Perfwafions to keep him from go-
ng into the Low Country Wars, but could not pre-
vail
[ 5 ]
vail, his young Defires prompting him to run into
the Army where he was kill'd; and tho' he faid
he would not ceafe to pray for me, yet he would
venture to say to me, that if I did take this fooliſh
Step, God would not bleſs me, and I would have
Leifure hereafter to reflect upon having neglected
his Counſel, when there might be none to affift in
my Recovery.
I obferved in this laft Part of his Difcourfe,
which was truly Prophetick, tho' I fuppofe my
Father did not know it to be fo himſelf; I fay, I
obferved the Tears run down his Face very plen-
tifully, especially when he fpoke of my Brother
who was kill'd; and that when he spoke of my
having Leifure to repent, and none to affift me, he
was fo mov'd, that he broke off the Diſcourſe, and
told me, his Heart was fo full, he could fay no
more to me.
I was fincerely affected with this Difcourfe, as
indeed who could be otherwife? and I refolv'd not
to think of going Abroad any more, but to ſettle
at Home according to my Father's Defire. But
alas! a few Days wore it all off; and in fhort, to
prevent any of my Father's farther Importunities,
in a few Weeks after, I refolv'd to run quite away
from him. However, I did not aft fo haftily neither
as my firſt Heat of Refolution prompted, but I took
my Mother, at a time when I thought her a little
pleafanter than ordinary, and told her, that my
Thoughts were fo entirely bent upon feeing the
World, that I fhould never fettle to any thing with
Refolution enough to go through with it, and my
Father had better give me his Confent than force
me to go without it: that I was now Eighteen
Years old, which was too late to go Apprentice to
a Trade, or Clerk to an Attorney; that I was fure,
if I did, I fhould never ferve out my Time, and I
B 3
ſhould
[6]
7
fhould certainly run away from my Mafter before
my Time was out, and go to Sea; and if fhe would
ſpeak to my Father to let me go one Voyage A-
broad, if I came home again and did not like it, I
would go no more, and I would promife by a dou-
ble Diligence to recover that Time I had loft.
This put my Mother into a great Paffion: She
told me, the knew it would be to no Purpoſe to
ſpeak to my Father upon any fuch Subject, that,he
knew too well what was my Intereft to give hisCon-
fent to any fuch thing fo much for my Hurt,and that
fhe wondered how I could think of any fuch thing
after fuch a Difcourfe as I had had with my Father,
and fuch kind and tender Expreffions as fhe knew my
Father had us'd to me; and that in fhort, if I would
ruin my felf there was no Help for me; but I might
depend I fhould never have theirConfent to it: That
for her Part fhe would not have ſo much Hand in my
Deftruction; and I fhould never have it to fay, that
my Mother was willing when my Father was not.
Tho' my Mother refufed to move it to my Fa-
ther, yet as I have heard afterwards, fhe reported
all the Difcourfe to him, and that my Father, after
fhewing a great Concern at it, faid to her with a
Sigh, That Boy might be happy if he would ftay
at Home, but if he goes Abroad, he will be the
moft miferableft Wretch that was ever born; I can
give no Confent to it.
It was not till almoft a Year after this that I broke
loofe, tho' in the mean time I continued obftinate-
ly deaf to all Propofals of fettling to Bufinefs, and
frequently expoftulating with my Father and Mo-
ther, about their being fo politively determin'd
againſt what they knew my Inclinations prompted
me to. But being one Day at Hull, where I
çafually, and without any Purpofe of making an
Elopement that time; but I fay, being there, and
went
one
[7]
one of my Companions being going by Sea to Lon-
don, in his Father's Ship, and prompting me to go
with them, with the common Allurement of Stafa-
ring Men, viz. That it fhould coft me nothing for
my Paffage, I confulted neither Father or Mother
any more,nor fo much as fent them Word of it; but
leaving them to hear of it as they might, without
asking God's Bleffing, or my Father's, without any
Confideration of Circumftances or Confequences,
and in an ill Hcur, God knows, on the firſt of Sep-
tember 1651, I went on board a Ship bound for Lon-
don: Never any young Adventurer's Misfortunes, I
believe, began fooner, or continued longer than
mine. The Ship was no fooner gotten out of the
Humber, but the Wind began to blow, and the
Winds to rife in a moft frightful manner; and as I
had never been at Sea before, I was most inexpreffi-
ble fick in Body, and terrify'd in Mind: I be-
gan now ſeriouſly to reflect upon what I had done,
and how juftly I was overtaken by the Judgment of
Heaven for my wicked leaving my Father's Houſe,
and abandoning my Duty; all the good Counſel of
my Parents, my Father's Tears and my Mother's
Entreaties came now fresh into my Mind, and my
Confcience, which was not yet come to the Pitch
of Hardneſs to which it has been fince, reproach'd
me with the Contempt of Advice, and the Breach
of my Duty to God and my Father.
All this while the Storm encreas'd, and the Sea,
which I had never been upon before, went very high,
tho' nothing like what I have feen many times
fince; no, nor like what I faw a few Days after:
But it was enough to affect me then, who was but
a young Sailor, and had never known any thing of
tne Matter. I expected every Wave would have
fwallowed us up, and that every time the Ship fell
down, as I thought, in the Trough or Hollow
B 4
of
[ 8 ]
1
of the Sea, we fhould never rife more; and in this
Agony of Mind, I made many Vows and Refolu-
tions, that if it would pleaſe God here to (pare
my Life this one Voyage, if ever I got once my
Foot upon dry Land again, I would go directly
home to my Father, and never fet it into a Ship a-
gain while I liv'd; that I would take his Advice,
and never run my ſelf into fuch Miſeries as theſe,
any more. Now I faw plainly the Goodneſs of
his Obfervations about the middle Station of Life,
how cafy, how comfortably he had liv'd all his
Days, and never had been expos'd to Tempefts
at Sea, or Troubles on Shore; and I refolv'd that
I would, like a true repenting Prodigal, go Home.
to my Father.
Thefe wife and fober Thoughts continued all the
while the Storm continued, and indeed fome time
after; but the next Day the Wind was abated and
the Sea calmer, and I began to be a little inur'd
to it: However I was very grave for all that Day,
being alfo a little Sea-fick ftill; but towards Night
the Weather clear'd up, the Wind was quite over,
and a charming fine Evening follow'd; the Sun
went down perfectly clear, and rofe fo the next
Morning and having little or no Wind, and a
fmooth Sea, the Sun fhining upon it, the Sight was,
as I thought, the most delightful that ever I faw.
·་
I had йlept well in the Night, and was now no
more Sea fick, but very chearful, looking with
Wonder upon the Sea that was fo rough and terri-
ble the Day before, and could be fo calm and fo
pleaſant in fo little time after. And now left my
good Refolutions fhould continue, my Companion,
who had indeed entic'd me away, comes to me,
Well Bob, fays he, clapping me upon the Shoulder,
How do you do after it? I warrant you were frighted,
wa'n't r you last Night, when it blew but a Cap full of
Wind?
[9]
Wind? A Cap full d'you call it? faid-I, 'twas a terri-
ble Storm: A Storm, you Fool you, replies he, do you
call that a Storm, why it was nothing at all; give us but
a good Ship and Sea-room, and we think nothing of fuch
a Squaul of Wind as that; but you're but a freshWater
Sailor, Bob; come let us make a Bowl of Punch and
we'll forget all that; d'ye fee what charming Weather 'tis
now? To make ſhort this fad Part of my Story,
we went the way of all Sailors, the Punch was
made, and I was made drunk with it, and in that
one Night's Wickedness I drowned all my Repen-
tance, all my Reflections upon my paft Condu&,
and all my Refolutions for the future. In a word,
as the Sea was returned to its Smoothnefs of Sur-
face and fettled Calmnefs by the Abatement of that
Storm, fo the Hurry of my Thoughts being over,
my Fears and Apprehenfions of being fwallow'd up
by the Sea being forgotten, and the Current of my
former Defires return'd, I entirely forgot the Vows
and Promiſes that I made in my Diftrefs. I found
indeed fome Intervals of Reflection, and the ſerious
Thoughts did, as it were, endeavour to return a-
gain fome time, but I fhook them off, and rouz'd
my felt from them as it were from a Diftemper,
and applying my felf to drinking and Company,
foon mafter'd the Return of thoſe Fits, (for fo I
call'd them) and I had in five or fix Days got as
compleat a Victory over Conſcience as any young
Fellow that refolv'd not to be troubled with it,
could' defire: But I was to have another Trial for
it ftill; and Providence, as in fuch Cafes génerally
it does, refolv'd to leave me entirely without Ex-
cufe. For if I would not take this for a Delive-
rance, the next was to be fuch a one as the worſt
and moſt harden'd Wretch among us would confefs
both the Danger and the Mercy.
The
[ 10 ]
{
The fixth Day of our being at Sea we came in-
to Tarmouth Roads; the Wind having been contra-
ry, and the Weather calm, we had made but little
Way fince the Storm. Here we were obliged to
come to Anchor, and here we lay, the Wind con-
tinuing contrary, viz. at South-weft, for ſeven or
eight Days, during which time a great many Ships
from Newcastle came into the fame Roads, as the
common Harbour where the Ships might wait for
a Wind for the River.
We had not however rid here fo long, but ſhould
have Tided it up the River, but that the Wind
blew too freſh; and after we had lain four or five
Days, blew very hard. However, the Roads be-
ing reckoned as good as a Harbour, the Anchorage
good, and our Ground-Tackle very ftrong, our
Men were unconcerned, and not in the leaſt appre-
henſive of Danger, but ſpent the Time in Reft and
Mirth, after the manner of the Sea; but the eighth
Day in the Morning, the Wind increafed, and we
had all Hands at Work to ftrike our Top-Mafts,
and make every thing ſnug and clofe, that the Ship
might ride as eafy as poffible. By Noon the Sea
went very high indeed, and our Ship rid Forecaftle
in, fhipp'd feveral Seas, and we thought once or
twice our Anchor had come Home, upon which
our Maſter order'd out the Sheet Anchor; fo that
we rode with two Anchors a-head, and the Cables
vered out to the better End.
By this Time it blew a terrible Storm indeed,
and now I began to fee Terror and Amazement in
the Faces even of the Seamen themfelves. The Ma-
fter, tho' vigilant in the Bufinefs of preferving the
Ship, yet as he went in and out of his Cabin by
me, I could hear him foftly to himfeif fay feveral
time, Lord be merciful to us, we shall be all loft, we
fhall be all undone; an the like. During thefe firſt
Hurries,
[ 11 ]
Hurries, I was ſtupid, lying fill in my Cabin,
which was in the Steerage, and cannot deſcribe my
Temper: I could ill refume the firft Penitence
which I had fo apparently trampled upon, and har-
den'd my felf againft: I thought the Bitterneſs of
Death had been paft, and that this would be no-
thing too like the firft. But when the Maſter him-
felf came by me, as I faid juft now, and ſaid we
fhould be all loft, I was dreadfully frighted: I got
up out of my Cabin, and look'd out; but fuch a
difmal Sight I never faw: The Sea went Mountains
high, and broke upon us every three or four Mi-
nutes: When I could look about, I could fee no-
thing but Diftrefs round us: Two Ships that rid
near us, we found, had cut their Mafts by the
Board, being deep loaden; and our Men cry'd out,
that a Ship which rid about a Mile a-Head of us
was foundered. Two more Ships being driven
from their Anchors, were run out of the Roads to
Sea, at all Adventures, and that not with a Maft
ftanding. The light Ships fared the beft, as not
fo much labouring in the Sea; but two or three of
them drove, and came close by us, running away
with only their Sprit-fail out before the Wind.
Towards Evening the Mate and Boatswain
begg'd the Maſter of our Ship to let them cut a-
way the Fore-maft, which he was very unwilling
to: But the Boatfwain protefting to him, that if he
did not, the Ship would founder, he confented;
and when they had cut away the Fore-maft, the
Main-maſt ſtood fo loofe, and fhook the Ship fo
much, they were obliged to cut her away alfo,
and make a clear Deck.
Any one may judge what a Condition I muſt be
in at all this, who was but a young Sailor, and
who had been in ſuch a Fright before at but a lit-
tle. But if I can exprefs at this Diſtance the
Thoughts
[ 12 ]
Thoughts I had about me at that time, I was in
ten fold more Horror of Mind upon Account of my
former Convictions, and the having returned from
them to the Reſolutions I had wickedly taken at firft,
tnan I was at Death it felf, and thefe, added to the
Terror of the Storm, put me in fuch a Condition,
that I can by no Words defcribe it. But the worſt
was not come yet, the Storm continued with fuch
Fury, that the Seamen themſelves acknowledged
they had never known a worſe. We had a good Ship,
but ſhe was deep loaden, and wallowed in the Sea,
that the Seamen every now and then cried out, fhe
would founder. It was my Advantage in one refpect,
that I did not know what they meant by founder,
till I enquir'd. However, the Storm was fo vio-
lent, that I faw what is not often feen, the Mafter,
the Boat-Swain, and fome others more ſenſible than
the reft, at their Prayers, and expecting every Mo-
ment when the Ship would go to the Bottom. In
the Middle of the Night, and under all the reft of
our Diftreffes, one of the Men that had been down
on Purpoſe to fee, cried out we had ſprung a Leak;
another faid there was four Foot Water in the
Hold. Then all Hands were called to the Pump.
At that very Word my Heart, as I thought, died
within me, and I fell backwards upon the Side of
my Bed where I fat, into the Cabin. However,
the Men rouzed me, and told me, that I that was
able to do nothing before, was as well able to
pump as another; at which I ftirr'd up, and went
to the Pump and work'd very heartily. While this
was doing, the Mafter feeing fome light Colliers,
who not able to ride out the Storm, were oblig'd
to flip and run away to Sea, and would come near
us, ordered to fire a Gun as a Signal of Diftrefs. I
who knew nothing what that meant, was to furpri-
zed, that I thought the Ship had broke, or ſome
dread-
(
[ 13 ]
dreadful thing happen'd. In a Word, I was fo fur-
prized, that I fell down in a Swoon. As this was
a time when every Body had his own Life to
think of, no Body minded me, or what was become
of me; but another Man ftept up to the Pump,and
thruſting me aſide with his Foot, let me lye, think-
ing I had been dead; and it was a great while
before I came to my felf.
We work'd on, but the Water encreaſing in the
Hold, it was apparent that the Ship would found-
er, and tho' the Storm began to abate a little, yet
as it was not poffible fhe could fwim till we might
run into a Port, ſo the Maſter continued firing Guns
for Help; and a light Ship who had rid it out juſt
a-Head of us, ventured a Boat out to help us. It
was with the utmoft Hazard the Boat came near
us, but it was impoffible for us to get on Board,
or for the Boat to lye near the Ship Side, till at laſt
the Men rowing very heartily, and venturing their
Lives to fave ours, our Men caft them a Rope over
the Stern with a Buoy to it, and then vered it out
a great Length, which they after great Labour and
Hazard took hold of, and we laul'd them clofe
under our Stern and got all into their Boat. It was
to no Purpoſe for them or us after we were in the
Boat to think of reaching to their own Ship, fo all
agreed to let her drive, and only to pull her in to-
wards Shore as much as we could, and our Maſter
promiſed them, That if the Boat was ſtav'd upon
Shore he would make it good to their Maſter, ſo
partly rowing and partly driving, our Boat went
away to the Norward, floaping towards the Shore
almoſt as far as Winterton-Nefs.
We were not much more than a Quarter of an
Hour out of our Ship but we faw her fink, and
then I underſtood for the first time what was meant
by a Ship foundering in the Sea; I muſt acknow-
ledge
[ 14 ]
ledge I had hardly Eyes to look up when the Sea-
men told me he was finking; for from that Mo-
ment they rather put me into the Boat than that I
might be faid to go in, my Heart was as it were
dead within me, partly with Fright, partly with
Horror of Mind and the Thoughts of what was
yet before me.
While we were in this Condition, the Men yet
labouring at the Oar to bring the Boat near the
Shore, we could fee, (when our Boat mounting the
Waves, we were able to fee the Shore,) a great
many People running along the Strand to affilt us
when we ſhould come near, but we made but flow
Way towards the Shore, nor were we able to reach
the Shore, till being paft the Light-Houfe at Win-
terton, the Shore falls off to the Weftward towards
Cromer, and fo the Land broke off a little the Vio-
lence of the Wind: Here we got in, and tho' not-
without much Difficulty, got all fafe on Shore, and
walk'd afterwards on Foot to Yarmouth, where, as
unfortunate Men, we were ufed with great Huma-
nity, as well by the Magiftrates of the Town, who
affign'd us good Quarters, as by particular Mer-
chants and Owners of Ships, and had Money gi-
ved us fufficient to carry us either to London or back
to Hull, as we thought fit.
Had I now had the Senfe to have gone back to
Hull, and have gone Home, I had been happy, and
my Father, an Emblem of our bleffed Saviour's Pa-
rable, had even kill'd the fatted Calf for me; for
hearing the Ship I went away in, was caft away in
Farmouth Road, it was a great while before he had
Affurance that I was not drown'd.
any
But my ill Fate pufh'd me on now with an Ob-
ftinacy that nothing could refift; and tho' I had ſe-
veral times loud Calls from my Reaſon and my
more compofed Judgment to go home, yet I had
no
1
1
[15]
no Power to do it. I know not what to call this, nor
will I urge, that it is a fecret over-ruling Decree
that hurries us on to be the Inftruments of our own
Deſtruction, even tho' it be before us, and that we
push upon it with our Eyes open. Certainly no-
thing but fome fuch decreed unavoidable Miſery
attending, and which it was impoffible for me to
eſcape, could have pufh'd me forward againſt the
calm Reaſonings and Perfwafions of my moft re-
tired Thoughts, and againſt two fuch viſible In-
ftructions as I had met with in my first Attempt.
My Comrade, who had help'd to harden me be-
fore, and who was the Mafter's Son, was now leſs
forward than I; the first time he ſpoke to me after
we were at Yarmouth, which was not till two or
three Days, for we were feparated in the Town
to ſeveral Quarters; Ifay, the firft time he faw me,
it appear'd his Tone was alter'd, and looking very
melancholy, and fhaking his Head, ask'd me how
I did, and telling his Father who I was, and how
I had come this Voyage only for a Tryal, in order
to go farther abroad; his Father turning to me
with a very grave and concern'd Tone, Young Man,
fays he, you ought never to go to Sea any more, you ought
to take this for a plain and viſible Token that you are
not to be a Seafaring Man. Why, Sir, faid I, will you
go to Sea no more? That is another Cafe, faid he,
it is my Calling, and therefore my Duty; but as you made
this Voyage fot a Tryal, you fee what a Tafte Heaven has
given you of what you are to expect if you perfift; perhaps
this is all befallen us on your Acc ount, like Jonah in the
Ship of Tarthith. Pray, continues he, what are you?
and on what Account did you go to Sea? Upon that I
told him fome of my Story; at the End of which he
burſt out with a ftrange kind of Paffion, What had
I done, fays he, that fuch an unhappy Wretch fhould
come into my Ship; I would not fet my Foot in
the
[ 16 ]
the fame Ship with thee again for a Thoufand
Pounds. This indeed was, as I faid, an Excurfion
of his Spirits which were yet agitated by the Senfe
of his Lofs, and was farther than he could have
Authority to go. However he afterwards talk'd very
gravely to me, exhorted me to go back to my Fa-
ther, and not tempt Providence to my Ruin; told
me I might fee a vifible Hand of Heaven againſt
me, And young Man, faid he, depend upon it, if you.
do not go back, wherever you go, you will meet with no-
thing but Difafters and Diſappointments, till your Fa-
ther's. Words are fulfilled upon you.
•
We parted foon after; for I made him little
Anfwer, and I faw him no more; which Way he
went, I know not. As for me, having fome Mo-
ney in my Pocket, I travelled to London by Land;
and there, as well as on the Road, had many Strug-
gles with my ſelf, what Courfe of Life I fhould take,
and whether I ſhould go Home, or go to Sea.
As to going Home, Shame oppoſed the beſt
Motions that offer'd to my Thoughts; and it im-
mediately occur'd to me how I fhould be laugh'd
at among the Neighbours, and fhould be afham'd
to fee, not my Father and Mother only, but even
every Body elfe; from whence I have fince often
obferv'd how incongruous and irrational the ccm-
mon Temper of Mankind is, eſpecially of Youth,
to that Reaſon which ought to guide them in fuch."
Cafes, viz. That they are not afham'd to fin, and
yet are afham'd to repent; nor afham'd of the Acti-
on for which they ought juſtly to be efteem'd Fools,
but are afham'd of the returning, which only can
make them be efteem'd wife Men.
In this State of Life however I remained fome
time, uncertain what Meaſures to take, and what
Courfe of Life to lead. An irreſiſtible Reluctance
continu'd to going Home; and as I ſtay'd a while,
the
[ 17 ]
the Remembrance of the Diſtreſs I had been in
wore off; and as that abated, the little Motion I
had in my Defires to a Return wore off with it,
till at last I quite laid afide the Thoughts of it,
and look'd out for a Voyage.
That evil Influence which carried me firft away
from my Father's Houfe, that hurried me into the
wild and indigefted Notion of raifing my Fortune;
and that imprefs'd thofe Conceits fo forcibly upon
mé, as to make me deaf to all good Advice, and
to the Entreaties, and even the Command of my
Father: I fay the fame Influence, whatever it was,
prefented the moſt unfortunate of all Enterprizes
to my View; and I went on board a Veffel bound
to the Coaft of Africa; or as our Sailors vulgarly
call it, a Voyage to Guiney.
It was my great Misfortune, that in a lltheſe
Adventures I did not fhip my felf as a Sailor;
whereby, tho' I might indeed have work'd a little
harder than ordinary, yet at the fame time I had
learn'd the Duty and Office of a Fore-maft Man ;
and in time might have qualified my ſelf for a
Mate or Lieutenant, if not for a Mafter. But as
it was always my Fate to chufe for the worle,
fo I did here; for having Money in my Pocket,
and good Clothes upon my Back, I would always
go on board in the Habit of a Gentleman; and fo
I neither had any Bufinefs in the Ship, or learn'd
to do any.
It was my Lot firſt of all to fall into pretty good
Company in London, which does not always hap-
pen to fuch looſe and unguided young Fellows as I
then was; the Devil generally not omitting to lay
fome Snare for them very early: But it was not fo
with me; I first fell acquainted with the Mafter of
a Ship who had been on the Coaſt of Guiney; and
who having had very good Succeſs there, was re-
Part I.
folved
C
咳
​[ 18 ]
folved to go again; and who taking a Fancy to my
Converfation, which was not at all difagreeable at
that time, hearing me fay I had a Mind to fee the
World, told me if I wou'd go the Voyage with
him, I fhould be at no Expence; I fhould be his
Meſs-Mate and his Companion, and if I could car-
ry any thing with me, I fhould have all the Ad-
vantage of it that the Trade would admit; and
per-
haps I might meet with fome Encouragement.
I embrac'd the Offer, and entring into a ſtrict
Friendship with this Captain, who was an honeſt
and plain-dealing Man, I went the Voyage with
him, and carried a fmall Adventure with me, which
by the difintereſted Honefty of my Friend the Cap-
tain, I increaſed very confiderably; for I carried
about 40 l. in fuch Toys and Trifles as the Cap-
tain directed me to buy. This 40 7. I had muftered
together by the Affiftance of fome of my Relations
whom I correfponded with, and who, I believe,
got my Father, or at leaft my Mother, to contri-
bute fo much as that to my firft Adventure.
This was the only Voyage which I may fay was
fucceſsful in all my Adventures, and which I owe
to the Integrity and Honefty of my Friend the
Captain, under whom alfo I got a competent
Knowledge of the Mathematicks and the Rules of
Navigation, learn'd how to keep an Account of the
Ship's Courfe, take an Obfervation; and, in fhort,
to underſtand fome things that were needful to be
underſtood by a Sailor: For, as he took Delight to
introduce me, I took Delight to learn; and, in a
Word, this Voyage made me both a Sailor and a
Merchant: For I brought Home L. 5. 9 Ounces of
Gold Duft for my Adventure, which yielded me
in London at my Return, almott 300 7. and this fil-
led me with thoſe afpiring Thoughts which have
fince ſo compleated my Ruin.
}
Yet
[ 19 ]
Yet even in this Voyage I had my Misfortunes
too; particularly, that I was continually fick, be-
ing thrown into a violent Calenture by the exceffive
Heat of the Climate; our principal Trading being
upon the Coaſt. from the Latitude of 15 Degrees,
North even to the Line it felf.
I was now fet up for a Guiney Trader; and my
Friend, to my great Misfortune, dying foon after
his Arrival, I refolved to go the fame Voyage
again, and I embark'd in the fame Veffel with one
who was his Mate in the former Voyage, and had
now got the Command of the Ship. This was the
unhappieſt Voyage that ever Man made; for tho'
I did not carry quite 100l. of my new gain'd
Wealth, fo that I had 200 l. left, and which I
lodg'd with my Friend's Widow, who was very
juft to me, yet I fell into terrible Misfortunes in
this Voyage; and the firft was this, viz. Our Ship
making her Courſe towards the Canary Iſlands, or
rather between thoſe Iſlands and the African Shore,
was furprized in the Grey of the Morning, by a
Turkish Rover of Sallee, who gave Chafe to us with
all the Sail ſhe could make. We crowded alſo as
much Canvaſs as our Yards would ſpread, or our
Mafts carry, to have got clear; but finding the Pi-
rate gain'd upon us, and would certainly come up
with us in a few Hours, we prepar'd to fight; our
Ship having 12 Guns, and the Rogue 18. About
three in the Afternoon he came up with us, and
bringing to by Miftake, juft athwart our Quarter,
inftead of athwart our Stern, as he intended, we
brought 8 of our Guns to bear on that Side, and
pour'd in a Broadfide upon him, which made him
Theer off again, after returning our Fire, and pour-
ing in alfo his fmall Shot from near 200 Men which
he had on Board. However, we had not a Man
touch'd, all our Men keeping cloſe. He prepar'd
C 2
to
[ 20 ]
}
to attack us again, and we to defend our felves;
but laying us on Board the next time upon our o-
ther Quarter, he entered 60-Men upon our Decks,
who immediately fell to cutting and hacking the
Decks and Rigging. We ply'd them with Small-
fhot, Half-Pikes, Powder-Chefts, and fuch like,
and clear'd our Deck of them twice. However,
to cut fhort this melancholy Part of our Story, our
Ship being difabled, and three of our Men kill'd,
and eight wounded, we were obliged to yield, and
were carry'd all Prifoners into Sallee, a Port be-
longing to the Mocrs.
The Ufage I had there was not fo dreadful as at
firft I apprehended, nor was I carried up the Coun-
try to the Emperor's Court, as the reft of our Men
were, but was kept by the Captain of the Rover,
as his proper Prize, and made his Slave, being
young and nimble, and fit for his Bufinefs. At this
furprizing Change of my Circumſtances, from a
Merchant to a miferable Slave, I was perfectly o-
ver whelmed; and now I look'd back upon my
Father's prophetick Difcourfe to me, that I fhould
be miferable, and have none to relieve me, which
I thought was now fo effectually brought to pafs,
that I could not be worfe; that now the Hand of
Heaven had overtaken me, and I was undone
without Redemption. But alas? this was but a
Tafte of the Mifery I was to go thro', as will
appear in the Sequel of this Story.
As my new Patron or Mafter had taken me Home
to his Houſe, ſo I was in hopes that he would take
me with him when he went to Sea again, believ-
ing that it would fome time or other be his Fate
to be taken by a Spanish or Portugal Man of War;
and that then I fhould be fet at Liberty. But this
Hope of mine was foon taken away; for when he
went to Sea, he left me on Shore to look after hist
A
little
[ 21 ]
21]
1
little Garden, and do the common Drudgery of
Slaves about his Houfe; and when he came home
again from his Cruife, he order'd me to lye in the
Cabin to look after the Ship.
Here I meditated nothing but my Efcape; and
what Method I might take to effect it, but found
no Way that had the leaft Probability in it: No-
thing prefented to make the Suppoſition of it rati-
onal; for I had no Body to communicate it to,
that would embark with me, no Fellow-Slave, no
Englishman, Irishman, or Scotfman there but my felf;
fo that for two Years, tho' I often pleafed my felf
with the Imagination, yet I never had the leaſt
encouraging Profpect of putting it in Practice.
F
After about two Years,an odd Circumftance pre-
fented it felf, which put the old Thought of ma-
king fome Attempt for my Liberty, again in my
Head: My Patron lying at Home longer than
ufual, without fitting out his Ship, which, as I
heard, was for want of Money, he ufed conftantly,
once or twice a Week, fometimes oftner, if the
Weather was fair, to take the Ship's Pinnace,
and go out into the Road a-fifhing; and as he al-
ways took me and a young Mar feo with him to
row the Boat, we made him very merry, and I
prov'd very dexterous in catching Fith; infomuch
that fometimes he would fend me with a Moor,
one of his, Kinfmen, and the Youth the Marefco as
they call'd him, to catch a Difh of Fifh for him.
It happen'd one time, that going a-fifhing in a
ftark calm Morning, a Fog rofe fo thick, that tho'
we were not half a League from the Shore, we loft
Sight of it; and rowing we knew not whither or
which way, we labour'd all Day, and all the next
Night, and when the Morning came we found we
had pull'd off to Sea inftead of pulling in for the
Shore; and that we were at least two Leagues from
C 3
the
[ 22 ]
the Shore: However we got well in again, tho'
with a great deal of Labour, and fome Danger;
for the Wind began to blow pretty freſh in the
Morning; but particularly we were all very hun-
gry.
But our Patron warn'd by this Diſaſter, reſolved
to take more Care of himſelf for the future; and
having lying by him the long Boat of our English
Ship we had taken, he refolved he would not go a
fishing any more without a Compafs and fome
Provifion; fo he ordered the Carpenter of his
Ship, who alfo was an English Slave, to build a
little State-room or Cabin in the middle of the
Long-boat, like that of a Barge, with a Place to
ftand behind it to fteer and haul home the Main-
fheet; and Room before for a Hand or two to
ftand and work the Sails? She fail'd with that we
call a Shoulder of Mutton Sail; and the Boom
gib'd over the top of the Cabin, which lay very
fnug and low, and had in it Room for him to lye,
with a Slave or two, and a Table to eat on, with
ſome ſmall Lockers to put in fome Bottles of ſuch
Liquor as he thought fit to drink; particularly his
Bread, Rice and Coffee.
We were frequently out with this Boat a-fifhing,
and as I was moft dextrous to catch Fish for him,
he never went without me. It happen'd that he
had appointed to go out in this Boat, either for
Pleaſure or for Fifh, with two or three Moors of
fome Diſtinction in that Place, and for whom he
had provided extraordinary; and had therefore
fent on Board the Boat over Night, a larger Store
of Proviſions than ordinary; and had order'd me
to get ready three Fuzees with Powder and Shot,
which were on Board his Ship; for that they de-
fign'd fome Sport of Fowling as well as Fishing.
I got all things ready as he had directed, and
waited the next Morning with the Boat waſhed
clean,
[ 23 ].
clean, her Antient and Pendants out, and every
thing to accommodate his Guelts; when by and by
my Patron came on board alone, and told me his
Guefts had put off going, upon fome Buſineſs that
fell out, and order'd me with the Man and Boy,
as ufual, to go out with the Beat and catch them
fome Fish, for that his Friends were to fup at his
Houſe; and commanded,that as foon as I got fome
Fish I ſhould bring it home to his Houfe; all which
I prepar'd to do.
This Moment my former Notions of Delive-
rance darted into my Thoughts, for now I found I
was like to have a little Ship at my Command; and
my Mafter being gone, I prepar'd to furnish my
felf, not for fishing Bufinels, but for a Voyage;
tho' I knew not, neither did I fo much as confider
whither I fhould fteer; for any where to get out
of that Place was my Way.
My first Contrivance was to make a Pretence to
fpeak to this Moor, to get fomething for our Sub-
fiftence on board; for I told him we must not pre-
fume to eat of our Patron's Bread; he faid, that,
was true; fo he brought a large Basket of Rusk
or Bisket of their kind, and three Jarrs with freſh
Water into the Boat; I knew where my Patron's
Cafe of Bottles flood, which it was evident by
the Make were taken out of fome English Prize; and
I convey d them into the Boat while the Moor was
on Shore, as if they had been there before, for our
Maſter: I convey'd alſo a great Lump of Bees-
Wax into the Boat, which weighed above half a
Hundred Weight, with a Parcel of Twine or
Thread, a Hatchet, a Saw, and a Hammer, all
which were of great Ufe to us afterwards; efpe-
cially the Wax to make Candles. Another Trick
I try'd upon him, which he innocently came into
alfo; his Name was Ifmael, whom they call M.ly,
C 4
or
[ 24 ]
or Moley; fo I call'd to him, Moley, faid I, our Pa
tron's Guns are on Board the Boat, can you no
get a little Powder and Shot, it may be we may
kill fome Alcamies (a Foul like our Culiens) for our
felves, for I know he keeps the Gunner's Stores in
the Ship? Yes, fays he, I'll bring fome, and accor-
dingly he brought a great Leather Pouch which
held about a Pound and a half of Powder, or ra-
ther more; and another with Shot, that had five
or fix Pound, with fome Bullets, and put all into
the Boat: At the fame time I had found fome
Powder of my Mafler's in the great Cabin, with
which I fill'd one of the large Bottles in the Cafe,
which was almost empty; pouring what was in it
into another: And thus furniſhed with every thing
needful, we fail'd out of the Port to fifh; The Ca-
ftle which is at the Entrance of the Port knew who
we were, and took no Notice of us; and we were
not above a Mile out of the Port before we haul'd
in our Sail, and fet us down to fifh. The Wind
blew from the N, NE. which was contrary to my
Defire; for had it blown foutherly, I had been fure
to have made the Coaft of Spain, and at leaft reach-
ed to the Bay of Cadiz; but my Refolutions were,
blow which way it would, I would be gone from
that horrid Place where I was, and leave the reft
to Fate.
After we had fifh'd fome time,and catch'd nothing,
for when I had Fifh on my Hook, I would not pull
them up, that he might not fee them; I faid to the
Moor, this will not do, our Mafter will not be
thus ferv'd, we muft ftand farther off: He think
ing no harm agreed, and being in the Head of the
Boat fet the Sails; and as I had the Helm, I run
the Boat out near a League farther, and then
brought her too as if I would fish, when giving
the Boy the Helm, I ftept forward to where the
Moor was, and making as if I ftoopt for fome-
C
thing
[ 25 ]
thing behind him, I took him by Surprize with my
Arm under h's Twift, and tofs'd him clear over
board into the Sea; he rofe immediately, for he
fwam like a Cork, and call'd to me, begg'd to be
taken in, told me, he would go all over the World
with me; he fwam fo ftrong after the Boat,that he
would have reach'd me very quickly, there being
but little Wind; upon which I ftept'd into the Cab-
bin, and fetching one of the Fowling Pieces, I pre-
fented it at him, and told him, I had done him no
Hurt, and if he would be quiet, I would do him
nore: But faid I, you fwim wel enough to reach
the Shore,and the Sea is calm, make the beft of your
Way to Shore, and I will do you no Harm; but if
you come near the Boat, I'll fhoot you thro' the
Head; for I am refolv'd to have my Liberty: So
he turn'd himſelf about and fwam for the Shore,
and I make no doubt but he reach'd it with Eaſe,
for he was an excellent Swimmer.
I could have been content to ha' taken this Moor
with me, and ha' drown'd the Boy, but there was no
venturing to truft him: When he was gone,I turn'd
to the Boy, who they call'd Xury, and faid to him,
Xury, if you will be faithful to me, I'll make you
a great Man, but if you will not ftroke your Face
to be true to me, that is, fwear by Mahomet and
his Father's Beard, I muit throw you into the Sea
too; the Boy (mil'd in my Face, and ſpoke fo in~
nocently, that I could not miftruft him; and fwore
to be faithful to me, and go all over the World with
me.
While I was in View of the Maor that was fwim-
ming, I flood out directly to Sea, with the Boat,
rather ftretching to Windward, that they might
think me gone towards the Straits-mouth (as indeed
any one that had been in their Wits muft ha' been fup-
pos'd to do) for who would ha' fuppos'd we were
fail'd
[ 26 ]
fail'd on to the Southward to the truly Barbarian
Coaſt, where whole Nations of Negroes were fure
to furround us with their Canoes, and deftroy us;
where we could ne'er once go on Shore, but we
ſhould be devour'd by favage Beaſts, or more mer-
cileſs Savages of Human Kind.
But as foon as it grew dusk in the Evening, I
chang'd my Courfe, and fteer'd directly South and
by Eaft, bending my Courfe a little toward the
Eaft, that I might keep in with the Shore; and ha-
ving a fair fresh Gale of Wind, and a ſmooth quiet
Sea, I made fuch Sail, that I believe by the next
Day at Three a-Clock in the Afternoon, when I
first made the Land, I could not be lefs than 150
Miles South of Sallee; quite beyond the Emperor
of Morocco's Dominions, or indeed of any other
King thereabouts, for we faw no People.
Yetfuch was the Fright I had taken at the Moors,
and the dreadful Apprehenfions I had of falling in-
to their Hands, that I would not ftop, or go on
Shore, or come to an Anchor; the Wind continu-
ing fair, till I had ſail'd in that Manner five Days:
And then the Wind fhifting to the Southward, I
concluded alfo that if any of our Veffels were in
Chafe of me, they alfo would now give over; fo
I ventur'd to make to the Coaft, and came to an
Anchor in the Mouth of a little River, I knew not
what, or where; neither what Latitude, what
Country, what Nation, or what River: I neither
faw, or defir'd to fee any People, the principal thing
I wanted was fresh Water. We came into this
Creek in the Evening, refolving to fwim on Shore
as foon as it was dark, and difcover the Country;
but as foon as it was quite dark, we heard fuch
dreadful Noifes of the Barking, Roaring, and
Howling of Wild Creatures, of we knew not what
Kinds, that the poor Boy was ready to die with
Fear,
;
[ 27 ]
Fear, and begg'd of me to go on Shore till
Day; well Xury, faid I, then I won't, but it may
be we may ſee Men by Day, who will be as bad to
us as thoſe Lions; then we may give them the boot Gun,
fays Xury, laughing, make them run wey; fuch English
Xury ſpoke by converfing among us Šlaves. Howe-
ver, I was glad to fee the Boy fo cheerful, and I
gave him a Dram, (out of our Patron's Cafe of Bot-
tles) to chear him up: After all, Xury's Advice
was good, and I took it, we dropp'd our little An-
chor and lay ftill all Night; I fay ftill, for we flept
none; for in two or three Hours we ſaw vaft great
Creatures (we knew not what to call them) of
many forts, came down to the Sea-fhore, and run in-
to the Water, wallowing and washing themſelves
for the Pleaſure of cooling themſelves; and they
made fuch hideous Howlings and Yellings, that I
never indeed heard the like.
Xury was dreadfully frighted, and indeed fo was
I too: but we were both more frighted, when we
heard one of the mighty Creatures come fwim-
ming towards our Boat; we could not fee him, but
we might hear him by his blowing to be a mon-
ftrous huge and furious Beaft; Xury faid it was a
Lion, and it might be fo for ought I know; but
poor Xury cried to me to weigh the Anchor and
row away; no, fays I, Xury, we can flip our Cable
with a Buoy to it and go to Sea, they cannot
follow us far; I had no fooner faid fo, but I per-
ceiv'd the Creature (whatever it was) within two
Oars length, which fomething furpriz'd me; how-
ever I immediately ftept to the Cabin-dcor, and
taking up my Gun fir'd at him, upon which he im-
mediately turn'd about, and fwam towards the
Shore again.
But it was impoffible to defcribe the horrible Noi-
fes, and hideous Cries and Howlings, that were
raifed
[ 28 28]
]
raiſed as well upon the Edge of the Shore, as high-
er within the Country, upon the Noife or Re-
port of a Gun, a thing I have fome Reafon to
believe thofe Creatures had never heard before.
This convinc'd me that there was no going on
Shore for us in the Night upon that Coaſt, and
how to venture on Shore in the Day, was another
Queflion too; for to have fallen into the Hands
of any of the Savages, had been as bad as to
have fallen into the Hands of Lions and Ty-
gers; at leaſt we were equally apprehenfive of the
Danger of it.
Be that as it would, we were oblig'd to go on
Shore fomewhere or other for Water, for we had
not a Pint left in the Boat; when or where to get to
it was the Point: Xury faid, if I would let him go
on Shore with one of the Jarrs, he would find if
there was any Water, and bring fome to me. I
ask'd him why he would go? Why I fhould not go
and he ſtay in the Boat? The Boy anfwer'd with
fo much Affection, that made me love him ever
after. Says he, It wild Mans come, they eat me, you
go wey.
Well, Xury, faid I, we will both go, and
if the wild Mans come, we will kill them, they
fhall eat neither of us; ſo I gave Xury a Piece of
Rusk-bread to eat, and a Dram out of our Pa-
tron's Cafe of Bottles which I mentioned before;
and we haul'd the Boat in as near the Shore as we
thought was proper, and waded on Shore; car-
rying nothing but our Arms, and two Jarrs for
Water.
I did not care to go out of Sight of the Boat,
fearing the coming of Canoes with Savages
down the River: But the Boy feeing a low Place
about a Mile up the Country, rambled to it, and
by and by I ſaw him come running towards me;
I thought he was purfued by fome Savage, or
frighted
[29]
frighted with fome wild Beaſt, and I run forward
towards him to help him, but when I came nearer
to him, I faw fomething hanging over his Shoul-
ders, which was a Creature that he had fhot, like a
Hare, but different in Colour, and longer Legs;
however we were very glad of it, and it was very
good Meat; but the great Joy that poor Xury
came with, was to tell me he had found good Wa-
ter, and feen no wild Mans.
But he found afterwards that we need not take
fuch Pains for Water, for a little higher up the
Creek where we were, we found the Water freſh
when the Tide was out, which flows but a little
way up; fo we filled our Jarrs and feafted on the
Hare we had killed, and prepared to go on our
Way, having feen no Foot-ſteps of any human
Creature in that part of the Country.
As I had been one Voyage to this Coaſt before,
knew very well that the Islands of the Canaries,
and the Cape de Verd Inlands alfo, lay not far off
from the Coaft. But as I had no Inftruments to
take an Obfervation to know what Latitude we
were in, and not exactly know, or at leaft to re-
member what Latitude they were in; I knew not
where to look for them, or when to ftand off to Sea
towards them; otherwife I might now eafily have
found fome of thefe Iflands. Burt my Hope was,
that if I stood along this Coaft till I came to that
Part where the English traded, I fhould find fome of
their Veffels upon their ufual Deſign of Trade,
that would relieve and take us in.
By the beſt of my Calculation, that Place where
Inow was, muſt be that Country, which lying be-
tween the Emperor of Morocco's Dominions and the
Negroes, lies waft and uninhabited, except by wild
Beaſts; the Negroes having abandon'd it, and gone
farther South for fear of the Moors; and the Moors
not
[ 30 ]
not thinking it worth inhabiting, by Reafon of its
Barrennefs; and indeed both forfaking it becauſe
of the prodigious Numbers of Tygers, Lyons,
Leopards, and other furious Creatures which har-
bour there; fo that the Moors ufe it for their Hun-
ting only, where they go like an Army, two or three
thouſand Men at a time; and indeed for near an
hundred Miles together upon this Coaft, we faw
nothing but a waſt uninhabited Country, by Day;
and heard nothing but Howlings and Roaring of
wild Beaſts, by Night.
Once or twice in the Day time, I thought I faw
the Pico of Teneriffe, being the high top of the
Mountain Teneriffe in the Canaries; and had a great
mind to venture out in hopes of reaching thither;
but having tried twice, I was forced in again by
contrary Winds, the Sea alfo going too high for my
little Veffel, fo I refolv'd to purfue my firft Deſign
and keep along the Shore.
Several times I was obliged to land for freſh Wa-
ter, after we had left this Place; and once in par-
ticular, being early in the Morning, we came to
an Anchor under a little Point of Land which was
pretty high, and the Tide beginning to flow, we
lay ftill to go farther in; Xury, whofe Eyes were
more about him than it ſeems mine were, calls foft-
ly to me, and tells me that we had beft go farther
off the Shore; for, fays he, look yonder lies a
dreadful Monfter on the Side of that Hillock faft
afleep I look'd where he pointed, and faw a
dreadful Monſter indeed, for it was a terrible great
Lion that lay on the Side of the Shore, under the
Shade of a Piece of the Hill that hung as it were a
little over him. Xury, fays I, you fhall go on Shore
and kill him; Xury look'd frighted, and faid,
Me kill! he eat me at one Mouth; one Mouthful he
meant; however, I faid no more to the Boy, but
bad
[ 31 ]
bad him ftill, and I took our biggeft Gun,
which was almoft Musket-boer, and loaded it with
a good Charge of Powder, and with two Slugs,
and laid it down; then I loaded another Gun with
two Bullets, and the third, for we had three Pie-
ces, I loaded with five fmalier Bullets. I took the
beſt Aim I could with the firft Piece to have fhot
him into the Head, but he lay fo with his Leg
rais'd a little above his Nofe, that the Slugs hit
his Leg about the Knee, and broke the Bone. He
ſtarted up growling at firft, but finding his Leg broke
fell down again, and then got up upon three Legs,
and gave the moft hideous Roar that ever I heard;
I was a little furpriz'd that I had not hit him on
the Head; however, I took up the fecond Piece im-
mediately, and tho' he began to move off, fir'd a-
gain, and fhot him into the Head, and had the
Pleaſure to ſee him drop,and make but little Noiſe,
but lay ftruggling for Life. Then Xury took Heart,
and would have me let him go on Shore: Well, go
faid I: So the Boy jump'd into the Water, and ta-
king a little Gun in one Hand, fwam to Shore with
the other Hand, and coming clofe to the Creature,
put
the Muzzle of the Piece to his Ear, and fhot
him into the Head again, which diſpatch'd him
quite.
This was Game indeed to us, but this was no
Food, and I was very forry to lofe three Charges of
Powder and Shot upon a Creature that was good
for nothing to us. However, Xury faid he would
have fome of him; fo he comes on board, and ask'd
me to give him the Hatchet; for what, Xury, faid
I? Me cut off his Head, faid he. However Xury
could not cut off his Head, but he cut off a Foot,
and brought it with him, and it was a monftrous
great one.
I be-
[ 32 ]
I bethought my felf however, that perhaps the
Skin of him might one way or other be of fome
Value to us; and I refolved to take off his Skin if
I could. So Xury and I went to work with him;
but Xury was much the better Workman at it, for I
knew very ill how to do it. Indeed it took us up both
the whole Day, but at last we got off the Hide of
him, and ſpreading it on the top of our Cabin,
the Sun effectually dried it in two Days time, and
it afterwards ferv'd me to lye upon.
After this Stop we made on to the Southward
continually for ten or twelve Days, living very
fparing on our Provifions, which began to abate
very much, and going no oftner in to the Shore than
we were oblig'd to for fresh Water. My Defign in
this was to make the River Gambia or Senegall, that
is to fay, any where about the Cape de Verd, where
I was in hopes to meet with fome European Ship,
and if I did not, I knew not what Courfe I had to
take, but to feek for the Islands, or perifh there a-
mong the Negroes. I knew that all the Ships from
Europe, which fail'd either to the Boaft of Guiney,
or to Brafil, or to the Eaft Indies, made this Cape,
or thoſe Ilands; and in a word, I put the whole
of my Fortune upon this fingle Point, either that I
muſt meet with fome Ship, or muſt periſh.
When I had purfued this Refolution about ten
Days longer, as I have faid, I began to fee that
the Land was inhabited, and in two or three Places
as we failed by, we ſaw People ſtand upon the
Shore to look at us; we could alfo perceive they
were quite black and ſtark naked. I was once
inclin'd to have gone on Shore to them; but Xury.
was my better Counfellor, and faid to me, no go,
no go; however I haul'd in nearer the Shore that I
might talk to them, and I found they run along
the Shore by me a good Way. Iobferv'd they had
no
[ 33 ]
no Weapons in their Hands, except one, who had a
long flender Stick, which Xury faid was a Lance,
and that they would throw them a great way with
good Aim; fo I kept at a diſtance, but talk'd with
them by Signs as well as I could, and particularly
made Signs for fomething to eat; they beckon'd to
me to ſtop my Boat, and they would fetch me
fome Meat; upon this I lower'd the Top of my
Sail, and lay by, and two of them run up into the
Country, and in leſs than half an Hour came back
and brought with them two Pieces of dry Fleſh,
and fome Corn, fuch as is the Produce of their
Country; but we neither knew what the one or the
other was, however we were willing to accept it.
But how to come at it was our next Difpute, for
I was not for venturing on Shore to them, and they
were as much afraid of us, but they took a ſafe
Way for us all, for they brought it to the Shore
and laid it down, and went and ſtood a great
way off till we fetch'd it on Board, and then came
cloſe to us again.
We made Signs of Thanks to them, for we had
nothing to make them amends; but an Opportu
nity offer'd that very Inftant to oblige them won-
derfully; for while we were lying by the Shore,
came two mighty Creatures, one purſuing the other
(as we took it) with great Fury from the Mountains
towards the Sea; whether it was the Male purſuing
the Female, or whether they were inSport or in Rage
we could not tell, any more than we could tell whe-
ther it was uſual or ſtrange,but I believe it was the
latter; becauſe in the firft Place, thofe ravenous
Creatures feldom appear but in the Night, and in
the fecond Place, we found the People terribly
frighted, eſpecially the Women. The Man that
had the Lance or Dart did not fly from them,
but the reft did; however, as the two Creatures
Part I.
D
ran
[ 34 ]
ed my
ran directly into the Water, they did not feem to
offer to fall upon any of the Negroes, but plung'd
themſelves into the Sea, and fwam about as if
they had come for their Diverfion; at laft one of
them began to come nearer our Boat than at firft I
expected, but I ay ready for him, for I had load-
Gun with all poffible Expedition, and bad
Xury load both the other; as foon as he came fair-
ly within my Reach I fir'd, and fhot him directly
into the Head; immediately he funk down into
the Water, but rofe inftantly and plung'd up and
down as if he was ftruggling for Life, and fo in-
deed he was; he immediately made to the Shore,
but between the Wound, which was his mortal
Hurt, and the ftrangling of the Water, he died juſt
before he reach'd the Shore.
It is impoffible to exprefs the Aftoniſhment of
theſe poor Creatures at the Noife and the Fire of
my Gun, fome of them were even ready to die for
Fear, and fell down as dead with the very Ter-
ror. But when they faw the Creature dead, and
funk in the Water, and that I made Signs to them
to come to the Shore, they took Heart and came
to the Shore, and began to fearch for the Creature.
I found him by his Blood ftaining the Water, and
by the Help of a Rope, which I flung round him,
and gave the Negroes to haul; they dragg'd him
on Shore, and found that it was a moft curious
Leopard, fpotted and fine to an admirable Degree,
and the Negroes held up their Hands with Admira-
tion to think what it was I had kill'd him with.
The other Creature, frighted with the Flaſh of
Fire and the Noife of the Gun, fwam on Shore,
and ran up directly to the Mountains, from whence
they come, nor could I at that Diftance know
what it was. I found quickly the Negroes were
for eating the Flefh of this Creature, fo I was wil-
ling
[ 35 ]
ling to have them take it as a Favour from me,
which when I made Signs to them that they might
take him, they were very thankful for. Immediate-
ly they fell to work with him, and tho' they had
no Knife, yet with a fharpen'd Piece of Wood they
took off his Skin as readily, and much more readily
than we could have done with a Knife; they offer'd
me fome of the Fleth, which I declin'd, making as
if I would give it them, but made Signs for the Skin,
which they gave me very freely, and brought me a
great deal more of their Provifion, which tho' I did
not underſtand, yet I accepted; then I made Signs
to them for fome Water, and held out one of my
Jars to them, turning it Bottom upward, to fhew
that it was empty, and that I wanted to have it
filled; they call'd immediately to fome of their
Friends, and there came two Women and brought
a great Veffel made of Earth, and burnt as I fup-
poſe in the Sun; this they fet down for me, as be-
fore, and I fent Xury on Shore with my Jars, and
filled them all three. The Women were as ftark
naked as the Men.
I was now furnish'd with Roots and Corn, fuch
as it was, and Water, and leaving my friendly Ne-
groes, I made forward for about eleven Days more,
without offering to go near the Shore, till I faw
the Land run out a great Length into the Sea, at
about the Diſtance of four or five Leagues before
me, and the Sea being very calm, I kept a large
Offing to make this Point; at length, doubling the
Point at about two Leagues from the Land, I
faw plainly Land on the other Side to Seaward;
then I concluded, as it was moſt certain indeed,
that this was the Cape de Verd, and thofe the
Inlands, call'd from thence Cape de Verd Inlands.
However, they were at a great Diſtance, and I
could not well tell what I had beft to do; for if I
fhould
D 2
[36]
fhould be taken with a Freſh of Wind, I might nei-
ther reach one or other.
In this Dilemma, as I was very penfive. I ftept
into the Cabin, and fat me down, Xary having
the Helm, when on a fudden the Boy cry'd out
Mafter Mafter, a Ship with a Sail, and the fooliſh
Boy was frighted out of his Wits, thinking it muſt
needs be fome of his Maſter's Ships fent to pur-
fue us, when, I knew we were gotten far enough
out of their Reach. I jump'd out of the Cabin,
and immediately faw not only the Ship, and what
fhe was, (viz.) that it was a Portuguefe Ship, and,
as I thought, was bound to the Coaft of Guiney for
Negroes: But when I obferv'd the Courfe fhe
fteer'd, I was foon convinc'd they were bound
fome other way, and did not defign to come any
nearer to the Shore ; upon which I ftretch'd out to
Sea as much as I could, refolving to ſpeak with
them if poffible.
With all the Sail I could make I found I ſhould
not be able to come in their Way, but that they
would be gone by, before I could make any Signal
to them; but after I had crowded to the utmoft,
and began to deſpair, they it feems faw me by the
help of their Perfpective-Glafles, and that it was
fome European Boat, which they fuppofed muſt
belong to fome Ship that was loft; to they fhortned
Sail to let me come up. I was encouraged with
this, and as I had my Patron's Antient on Board, I
made a Waft of it to them for a Signal of Di-
ftrefs, and fir'd a Gun, both which they faw, for
they told me they faw the Smoke, tho' they did
not hear the Gun; upon thefe Signals they very
kindly brought to, and lay by for me, and in a-
bout three Hours time I came up with them.
They ask'd me what I was, in Portuguese, and in
Spanish, and in French, but I underſtood none of
them;
[ 37 ]
them; but at laſt a Scots Sailor who was on board,
call'd to me, and I anſwer'd him, and told him I
was an English Man, that I had made my Efcape
out of Slavery from the Moors at Sallee; then they
bad me come on board, and very kindly took me
in, and all my Goods.
It was an inexpreffible Joy to me, that any one
will believe, that I was thus deliver'd, as I eſteem'd
it, from ſuch a miſerable and almoſt hopeleſs Con-
dition as I was in, and I immediately offer'd all I
had to the Captain of the Ship, as a Return for
my Deliverance; but he generoufly told me, he
would take nothing from me, but that all I had
fhould be deliver'd fafe to me when I came to the
Brafils; for, fays he, I have fav'd your Life on no o-
ther Terms than I would be glad to be faved myself, and
it may one time or other be my Lot to be taken up in the
fame Condition; befides, faid he, when I carry you to
the Brafils, fo great a way from your own Country, if I
fhould take from you what you have, you will be starved
there, and then I only take away that Life I have given.
No, no, Seignior Inglefe, fays he, Mr. Englifhman,
I will carry you thither in Charity, and thofe Things will
help you to buy your Subfiftence there, and your Paffage
home again.
As he was charitable in this Propofal, fo he was
just in the Performance to a Tittle, for he ordered
the Seamen, that none fhould offer to touch any
Thing I had; then he took every Thing into his
own Poffeffion, and gave me back an exact Inven-
tory cfathem, that I might have them, even fo
much as my three Earthen Jarrs.
As to my Boat, it was a very good one, and
that he faw, and told me he would buy it of me
for the Ship's Ufe,and ask'd me what I would have
for it? I told him he had been fo generous to mę
in every Thing, that I could not offer to make
D 3
any
[ 38 ]
{
ny Price of the Boat, but left it entirely to him
upon which he told me he would give me a Note
of his Hand to pay me 80 Pieces of Eight for it
at Brafil, and when it came there, if any one of
fer'd to give more he would make it up; he offer'd
me alfo 60 Pieces of Eight more for my Boy Xury
which I was loath to take, not that I was not wil-
ling to let the Captain have him, but I was very
loath to fell the poor Boy's Liberty, who had affi-
fted me fo faithfully in procuring my own. How-
ever, when I let him know my Reafon, he own'd
it to be just, and offer'd me this Medium, that he
would give the Boy an Obligation to fet him free
in 10 Years, if he turn'd Chriftian; upon this,
and Xury faying he was willing to go to him, I let
the Captain have him.
We had a very good Voyage to the Brafils, and
arriv'd in the Bay de Todos los Santos, or All-Saints-
Bay, in about 22 Days after. And now I was
once more deliver'd from the moſt miferable of
all Conditions of Life, and what to do next with
myſelf, I was now to confider.
The generous Treatment the Captain gave me,
I can never enough remember; he would take no-
thing of me for my Paffage, gave me 20 Ducats
for the Leopard's Skin, and 40 for the Lion's Skin
which I had in the Boat, and caufed every Thing
I had in the Ship to be punctually deliver'd me,
and what I was willing to fell he bought; fuch as
the Cafe of Bottles, two of my Guns, and a Piece
of the Lump of Bees-wax, for I had made Can-
dles of the reft; in a word, I made about 220
Pieces of Eight of all my Cargo, and with this
Stock I went on Shore in the Brafilo
I had not been long here, but being recommen-
ded to the Houfe of a good honeft Man like him-
felf, who had an Ingeino as they call it, that is, a
Plan-
[ 39 [
Plantation and a Sugar Houfe, I liv'd with him
fome time, and acquainted myfelf by that Means
with the Manner of their Planting and making of
Sugar; and feeing how well the Planters liv'd, and
how they grew rich fuddenly, I refolv'd, ifI could
get Licence to fettle there, I would turn Planter a-
mong them, refolving in the mean time to find out
fome Way to get my Money which I had left in Lon-
don remitted to me. To this Purpoſe getting a kind
of a Letter of Naturalization, I purchafed as much
Land that was Uncur'd, as myMoney would reach,
and form'daPlan for my Plantation and Settlement,
and fuch a one as might be fuitable to the Stock
which I propos'd to myſelf to receive from England.
I had a Neighbour, a Portugueze of Lisbon, but
born of English Parents, whole Name was Wells,
and in much fuch Circumftances as I was. I call
him Neighbour, becaufes his Plantation lay next
to mine, and we went on very fociably together.
My Stock was but low as well as his; and we ra-
ther planted for Food, than any thing eife, for a-
bout two Years. However, we began to increaſe,
and our Land began to come into Order; ſo that
the third Year we planted fome Tobacco, and
made each of us a large Piece of Ground ready for
planting Canes in the Year to come; but we both
wanted Help; and now I found more than before,
I had done wrong in parting with my Boy Xury.
But alas! for me to do wrong that never did right,
was no great Wonder: I had no Kemedy but to go
on: I was gotten into an Employment quite remote
to my Genius, and directly contrary to the Life I
delighted in, and for which I forfook my Father's
Houte, and broke thro' all his good Advice; nay,
I was coming into the very middleStation, or up-
per Degree of low Life, which my Father advifed
me to before, and which, if I refolv'd to go on
with
D +
[40]
}
1
with, I might as well ha' ftaid at home, and never
have fatigu❜d my felf in the World as I have done;
and I uſed often to fay to my ſelf, I could ha' done
this as well in England among my Friends, as ha
gone 5000 Miles off to do it among Strangers and
Savages in a Wildernefs, and at fuch a Diftance,
as never to hear from any Part of the World that
had the leaft Knowledge of me.
In this manner I uſed to look upon my Condition
with the utmoſt Regret. I had no Body to converſe
with, but now and then this Neighbour; no Work
to be done, but by the Labour of my Hands; and
I uſed to ſay, I liv'd juſt like a Man caft away up-
on fome defolate Ifland,that had no Body there but
himſelf. But how juſt has it been, and how fhould
all Men reflect, that, when they compare their pre-
fent Conditions with others that are worſe, Heaven
may oblige them to make the Exchange, and be
convinc'd of their former Felicity, by their Experi-
ence: I fay, how juft has it been, that the truly foli-
tary Life I reflected on in an Iſland of meer Defo-
lation fhould be my Lot, who had ſo often unjuſt-
ly compar'd it with the Life which I then led, in
which had I continued, I had in all Probability
been exceeding profperous and rich.
•
I was in fome Degree fettled in my Meaſures for
carrying on the Plantation, before my kind Friend
the Captain of the Ship, that took me up at Sea,
went back; for the Ship remained there in provi-
ding his Loading, and preparing for his Voyage
near three Months, when telling him what little
Stock I had left behind me in London, he gave me
this friendly and fincere Advice, Seignior Ingleſe, fays
he, for fo he always call'd me, if you will give me
Letters, and a Procuration here in Form to me,
with Orders to the Perfon who has your Money in
London, to fend your Effects to Lisbon, to fuch Per-
fons
[ 41 ]
per
fons as I fhall dire&t, and in fuch Goods as are pro-
for this Country, I will bring you the Produce
of them, God willing, at my Return; but fince
human Affairs are all fubject to Changes and Dif-
fafters, I would have you give Orders but for 100 l.
Sterl. which you fay is half your Stock, and let
the Hazard be run for the firſt; fo that if it come
fafe, you may order the reft the fame Way; and
if it mifcarry, you may have the other Half to
have Recourfe to for your Supply.
This was fo wholeſome Advice, and look'd fo
friendly, that I could not but be convinc'd it was
the beft Courſe I could take; fo I accordingly pre-
pared Letters to the Gentlewoman with whom I
had left my Money, and a Procuration to the Por-
tugueſe Captain, as he defired.
I wrote the English Captain's Widow a full Ac-
count of all my Adventures, my Slavery, Eſcape,
and how I had met with the Portugal Captain at
Sea, the Humanity of his Behaviour, and in what
Condition I was now in, with all other neceffary
Directions for my Supply; and when this honeſt
Captain came to Lisbon, he found means by fome of
the English Merchants there, to fend over not the
Order only, but a full Account of my Story to a
Merchant at London, who reprefented it effectual-
ly to her; whereupon, fhe not only delivered the
Money, but out of her own Pocket fent the Por-
tugal Captain a very handfom Prefent for his Hu-
manity and Charity to me.
The Merchant in London vefted this 100l. in
English Goods, fuch as the Captain had writ for,
fent them directly to him at Lisbon, and he brought
them all fafe to me to the Brafils, among which,
without my Direction (for I was too young in my
Buſineſs to think of them) he had taken Care to
have all forts of Tools, Iron-work, and Uten-
fils
[ 42 ]
fils neceſſary for my Plantation, and which were
of great Ufe to me.
When this Cargo arrived, I thought my For-
tune made, for I was furprizd with Joy of it; and
my good Steward the Captain had laid out the 5 1.
which my Friend had fent him for a Prefent for
himſelf, to purchaſe, and bring me over a Servant
under Bond for fix Years Service, and would not
accept of any Confideration, except a little To-
bacco, which I would have him accept, being of
my own Produce.
Neither was this all; but my Goods being all
English Manufactures, fuch as Cloath, Stuff, Bays,
and Things particularly valuable and defirable in
the Country, I found means to fell them to a very
great Advantage; fo that I may fay, I had more
than four times the Value of my first Cargo, and
was now infinitely beyond my poor Neighbour, I
mean in the Advancement of my Plantation; for
the first Thing I did, I bought me a Negroe Slave,
and an European Servant allo; I mean another be-
fides that which the Captain brought me from
Lisbon.
But as abus'd Profperity is oftentimes made the
very Means of our greatest Adverfity, fo was it
with me. I went on the next Year with great Suc-
cefs in my Plantation: I raiſed 50 great Rolls of
Tobacco on my own Ground, more than I had
difpofed of for Neceffaries among my Neighbours;
and thefe 50 Rolls being each of above a 100 Wt.
were well cur'd and laid by against the Return of
the Fleet from Lisbon: And now increafing in Bu-
finefs and in Wealth, my Head began to be full
of Projects and Undertakings beyond my Reach;
fuch as are indeed often the Ruin of the beſt
Heads in Bulincfs.
Had
[ 43 ]
Had I continued in the Station I was now in, I
had room for all the happy I hings to have yet be-
fallen me, for which my Father fo earnestly recom-
mended a quiet retired Life, and of which he had
fo fenfibly defcribed the middle Station of Lite to
be full of; but other Things attended me, and I
was till to be the wilful Agent of all my own
Miferies; and particularly to encreafe my Fault,
and double the Reflections upon myſelf, which in
my future Sorrows I fhould have Leiſure to make,
all theſe Miſcarriages were procured by my appa-
rent obftinate adhering to my foolish Inclination of
wandring abroad, and purfuing that Inclination,
in Contradiction to the cleareftViews of doing my
felf good in a fair and plain Purfuit of thofe Pro-
ſpects and thofe Meafures of Life, which Nature
and Providence concurred to prefent me with,
and to make my Duty.
As I had once done thus in breaking away from
my Parents, fol could not be content now, but I
muft go and leave the happy View I had of being
a rich and a thriving Man in my new Plantation,
only to purfue a rafh and immoderate Defire of
rifing fafter than the Nature of the Thing admit-
ted; and thus I caft my felf down again into the
deepeſt Gulph of human Mifery that ever Man
fell into, or perhaps could be confiftent with Life
and a State of Health in the World.
To come then by juft Degrees, to the Particu-
lars of this Part of my Story; you may fuppofe,
that having now lived almoſt four Years in the
Brafilo, and beginning to thrive and profper very
well upon my Plantation, I had not only learn'd
the Language, but had contracted Acquaintance
and Friendship among my Fellow-Planters, as well
as among the Merchants at St. Salvadore, which
was our Port; and that in my Difcourfe among
them,
}
[ 44 ]
!
them, I had frequently given them an Account of
my two Voyages to the Coaft of Guiney, the man-
ner of Trading with the Negroes there, and how
cafy it was to purchate upon the Coaft, for Tri-
fles; fuch as Beads, Toys, Knives, Sciffars, Hat-
chets, Bits of Glaſs, and the like; not only Gold
Duft, Guiney Grains, Elephants Teeth, &c. but
Negroes for the Service of the Brafils, in great
Numbers.
They liftened always very attentively to my
Difcourfes on thefe Heads, but efpecially to that
Part which related to the buying Negroes, which
was a Trade at that time not only not far entred
into, but as far as it was, had been carried on by
the Affiento's, or Permiffion of the Kings of Spain
and Portugal, and engrofs'd in the Publick, fo that
few Negroes were bought, and thofe exceffive
dear.
It happen'd, being in Company with fome Mer-
chants and Planters of my Acquaintance, and
talking of thofe Things very earnestly, three of
them came to me the next Morning, and told me
they had been mufing very much upon what I had
difcourfed with them of, the laft Night, and they
came to make a fecret Propofal to me; and after
enjoining me Secrecy, they told me that they had
a mind to fit out a Ship to go to Guiney, that
they had all Plantations as well as I, and were
ftraitned for nothing fo much as Servants; that as
it was a Trade that could not be carried on, be-
cauſe they could not publickly fell the Negroes`
when they came home, fo they defired to
make but one Voyage, to bring the Negroes on
Shore privately, and divide them among their
own Plantations; and in a Word, the Queftion
was, whether I would go their Super-Cargo in the
Ship to manage the Trading Part upon the Coaft
of
1
[ 45 ]
of Guiney? And they offer'd me that I fhould have
my equal Share of the Negroes, without providing
any Part of the Stock.
This was a fair Propofal, it muſt be confefs'd,
had it been made to any one that had not had a
Settlement and Plantation of his own to look after,
which was in a fair Way of coming to be very
confiderable, and with a good Stock upon it. But
for me that was thus entered and eftablifh'd, and
had nothing to do but go on as I had begun for
three or four Years more, and to have fent for the
other 100 l. from England, and who in that Time,
and with that little Addition, could fcarce have
fail'd of being worth 3 or 4000 l. Sterling, and
that encreafing too; for me to think of fuch a Voy-
age, was the moſt prepofterous Thing that ever
Man in fuch Circumftances could be guilty of.
But I that was born to be my own Deftroyer,
conld no more refift the Offer than I could reftrain
my firſt rambling Defigns, when my Father's good
Counſel was loft upon me. In a Word, I told
them I would go with all my Heart, if they
would undertake to look after my Plantation in
my Abſence, and would difpofe of it to fuch as I
fhould direct if I miſcarried. This they all en-
gaged to do, and entered into Writings or Cove-
nants to do ſo; and I made a formal Will, diſpo-
fing of my Plantation and Effects, in Cafe of my
Death, making the Captain of the Ship that had
fav'd my Life, as before, my univerfal Heir, but
obliging him to difpofe of my Effects as I had direct-
ed in my Will, one half of the Produce being to him-
felf, and the other to be fhipp'd to England.
In fhort, I took all poffible Caution to preſerve
my Effects, and to keep up my Plantation; had I u-
fed half as much Prudence to have look'd into my
own
[46]
1
own Intereft, and have made a Judgment of what
I'uoght to have done, and not to have done, I had
certainly never gone away from fo profperous an
Undertaking, leaving all the probable Views of a
thriving Circumftance, and gone upon a Voyage to
Sea, attended with all its common Hazards; to fay
nothing of the Reaſons I had to expect particular
Misfortunes to my felf.
:
But I was hurry'd on, and obey'd blindly the
Dictates of my Fancy rather than my Reafon And
accordingly the Ship being fitted out, and the Car-
go furniſh'd, and all Things done as by Agreement,
by my Partners in the Voyage, I went on board
in an evil Hour again, the 1ft. of Sept. 1659, be-
ing the fame Day eight Years that I went from my
Father and Mother at Hull, in order to act the
Rebel to their Authority, and the Fool to my own
Intereſt.
Our Ship was about 120 Tun Burthen, carried
6 Guns, and 14 Men, beſides the Maſter, his Boy,
and my felf; we had on board no large Cargo of
Goods, except of fuch Toys as were fit for our
Trade with the Negroes, fuch as Beads, Bits of
Glafs, Shells, and odd Trifles, efpecially little
Looking-Glaffes, Knives, Sciffars, Hatchets, and
the like.
The fame Day I went on board we fet Sail,
ſtanding away to the Northward upon our own
Coaft, with Defign to ftretch over for the African
Coaſt. When they came about 10 or 12 Degrees of
Northern Latitude, which it feems was the Man-
ner of their Courfe in thofe Days, we had very
good Weather, only exceffive hot, all the Way up-
on our own Coaſt, till we came to the Height of
Cape St. Auguftino, from whence keeping farther off
at Sea, we lolt Sight of Land, and fteer'd as if we
were bound for the Ifle Fernand de Noronha, holding
[ 47 ]
our Courſe N. E. by N. and leaving thofe Ifles
on the Eaft; in this Courfe we paft the Line in
about 12 Days Time, and were by our laft Obfer-
vation in 7 Degrees 22 Min. Northern Latitude,
when a violent Tournado or Hurricane took us quite
out of our Knowledge; it began from the South-
Eaft, came about to the North-Weft, and then
fettled into the North-Eaſt, from whence it blew
in fuch a terrible manner, that for 12 Days toge-
ther we could do nothing but drive, and fcudding
away before it, let it carry us whither ever Fate
and the Fury of the Winds directed; and during
theſe 12 Days, I need not fay, that I expected
every Day to be ſwallowed up, nor indeed did
any
in the Ship expect to fave their Lives.
In this Diftrefs we had, befides the Terror of
the Storm, one of our Men died of the Calenture,
and one Man and the Boy wafh'd over-board. A-
bout the 12th Day the Weather abating a little,
the Mafter made an Obfervation as well as he
could, and found that he was in about 11 Degrees
North Latitude, but that he was 22 Degrees of
Longitude Difference Weft from Cape St. Auguftino,
fo that he found he was gotten upon the Coast of
Guiana, or the North Part of Brafil, beyond the
River Amazones, toward that of the River Oroono-
que, commonly called the Great River, and began
to confult with me what Courfe he fhould take,
for the Ship was leaky, and very much difabled,
and he was going dire&ly back to the Coaſt of
Brafil.
I was pofitively againſt that, and looking over
the Charts of the Sea Coaſt of America with him,
we concluded there was no inhabited Country for
us to have Recourfe to, till we came within the
Circle of the Caribec Islands, and therefore refolved
to ſtand away for Barbadoes, which by keeping off
at
[ 48 ]
1
at Sea, to avoid the Indraught of the Bay or Gulph
of Mexico, we might eafily perform, as we hoped,
in about fifteen Days Sail, whereas we could not
poffibly make our Voyage to the Coaſt of Africa
without fome Affiftance both to our Ship and to
our felves.
With this Deſign we chang'd our Courfe, and
fteer'd away N. W. by W. in order to reach fome
of our English Iſlands, where I hoped for Relief:
but our Voyage was otherwiſe determined, for
being in the Latitude of 12 Deg. 18 Min. a fe-
cond Storm came upon us, which carry'd us away
with the fame Impetuofity Weftward, and drove
us fo out of the very Way of all human Com-
merce, that had all our Lives been faved, as to
the Sea, we were rather in Danger of being de-
voured by Savages than ever returning to our
own Country.
In this Diftrefs, the Wind ftill blowing very
hard, one of our Men, early in the Morning, cry'd
out, Land; and we had no fooner run out of the
Cabin to look out, in hopes of feeing where-
abouts in the World we were, but the Ship ftruck
upon a Sand, and in a Moment her Motion being
fo ſtopp'd, the Sea broke over her in fuch a man-
ner, that we expected we fhould all have perish'd
immediately, and we were immediately driven
into our clofe Quarters, to fhelter us from the very
Foam and Sprye of the Sea.
It is not eafy for any one, who has not been
in the like Condition, to deſcribe or conceive the
Confternation of Men in fuch Circumftances; we
knew nothing where we were, or upon what Land
it was we were driven, whether an Ifland or the
Main, whether inhabited or not inhabited; and
as the Rage of the Wind was fill great, tho ra-
ther less than at firft, we could not fo much as
hope
[ 49 ]
C
hope to have the Ship hold many Minutes with-
out breaking in Pieces, unleſs the Winds by a Kind
of Miracle fhould turn immediately about. In a
Word, we fat looking one upon another, and ex-
pecting Death every Moment, and every Man a&-
ing accordingly, as preparing for another World,
for there was little or nothing more for us to do in
this; that which was our preſent Comfort, and
all the Comfort we had, was, that contrary to our
Expectation the Ship did not break yet, and that
the Maſter ſaid the Wind began to abate.
Now tho' we thought that the Wind did a little
abate, yet the Ship having thus ftruck upon the
Sand, and ſticking too faft for us to expect her get-
ting off, we were in a dreadful Condition indeed,
and had nothing to do but to think of faving our
Lives as well as we could; we had a Boat at our
Stern, juſt before the Storm, but fhe was firſt ſtav'd
by dafhing againſt the Ship's Rudder, and in the
next Place the broke away, and either funk or
was driven off to Sea, fo there was no Hope from
her; we had another Boat on board, but how to
get her off into the Sea, was a doubtful Thing;
however, there was no Room to debate, for we
fancy'd the Ship would break in Pieces every Mi-
nute, and fome told us fhe was actually broken al-
ready.
In this Diſtreſs, the Mate of our Veſſel lays hold
of the Boat, and with the Help of the rest of the
Men, they got her flung over the Ship's-fide, and
getting all into her, let go, and committed our
felves being Eleven in Number, to God's Mercy,
and the wild Sea; for tho' the Storm was abated
confiderably, yet the Sea went dreadful high upon
the Shore, and might well be call'd Den wild Zee,
as the Dutch call the Sea in a Storm.
E
Part I.
And
[ 50 ]
f
4
And now our Cafe was very difmal indeed; for
we all faw plainly, that the Sea went fo high, that
the Boat could not live, and that we fhould be ine-
vitably drowned. As to making Sail, we had none,
nor,if we had,could we have done any Thing with
it; fo we work'd at the Oar towards the Land,
tho' with heavy Hearts, like Men going to Executi-
for we all knew,that when the Boat came near-
er the Shore, he would be dafh'd in a thouſand
Pieces by the Breach of the Sea. However, we
committed our Souls to God in the moſt earneſt
Manner, and the Wind driving us towards the
Shore, we haften'd our Destruction with our own
Hands, pulling as well as we could towards Land.
on;
What the Shore was, whether Rock or Sand,
whether Steep or Shoal, we knew not; the only
Hope that could rationally give us the leaft Shadow
of Expectation, was, if we might happen into fome
Bay or Gulph, or the Mouth of fome River, where
by great Chance we might have run our Boat in,or
got under the Lee of the Land, and perhaps made
Imooth Water. But there was nothing of this ap-
peared; but as we made nearer and nearer the
Shore,the Land look'd more frightful than the Sea.
After we had row'd, or rather driven about a
League and a Half, as we reckon'd it, a raging
Wave, Mountain-like, came rowling a-ftern of
us, and plainly bad us expect the Coup-de-Grace. In
a word, it took us with fuch a Fury, that it over-
fet the Boat at once, and feparating us as well
from the Boat, as from one another, gave us not
time hardly to fay, O God! for we were all fwal-
lowed up in a Moment.
Nothing can defcribe the Confufion of Thought
which I felt when I funk into the Water; for tho' I
fwam very well,yet I could not deliver myfelf from
the Waves fo as to draw Breath, till that Wave
having
[ 51 ]
having driven me,or rather carried me a vaft Way
on towards the Shore, and having ſpent itſelf, went
back, and left me upon the Land almoft dry, but
half dead with the Water I took in. I had ſo much
Prefence of Mind as well as Breath left, that ſeeing
myſelf nearer the main Land than I expected, I got
upon my Feet, and endeavoured to make on to-
wards the Land as faſt as I could, before another
Wave ſhould return, and take me up again. But I
foon found it was impoffible to avoid it, for I faw
the Sea come after me as high as a great Hill, and
as furious as an Enemy which I had no Means or
Strength to contend with; my Buſineſs was to hold
my Breath, and raiſe myſelf upon the Water, if I
could: And fo by fwimming to preferve my Breath-
ing, and Pilot myſelf towards the Shore, if poffi-
ble; my greateſt Concern now being, that the Sea,
as it would carry me a great Way towards the
Shore when it came on, might not carry me back.
again with it when it gave back towards the Sea.
The Wave that came upon me again, buried me
at once 20 or 30 Foot deep in its own Body; and I
could feel myſelf carried with a mighty Force and
Swiftnefs towards the Shore a very great Way; but
I held my Breath, and affifted myſelf to ſwim ftill
forward with all my Might. I was ready to burft
with holding my Breath, when, as I felt myſelf
rifing up, ſo to my immediate Relief, I found my
Head and Hands ſhoot out above the Surface of the
Water; and tho' it was not two Seconds of Time
that I could keep myſelf fo, yet it reliev'd me
greatly, gave me Breath and new Courage. I was
covered again with Water a good while, but not
fo long but I held it out; and finding the Water
had spent itself, and began to return, I ftruck for-
ward againſt the Return of the Waves, and felt
Groundagain with my Feet. I ftood still a few
E 2
Moments
[ 52 ]
!
#
Moments to recover Breath, and till the Water
went from me,and then took to my Heels,and run
with what Strength I had farther towards theShore.
But neither would this deliver me from the Fury of
the Sea, which came pouring in after me again,
and twice more I was lifted up by the Waves, and
carried forwards as before,the shore being very
Aat.
The laft Time of theſe two had well near been
fatal to me; for the Sea having hurried me along as
before, landed me, or rather dafh'd me againſt a
Piece of a Rock, and that with fuch Force, as it
left me fenflefs, and indeed helplefs, as to my own
Deliverance; for the Blow taking my Side and
Breaſt, beat the Breath as it were quite out of my
Body; and had it returned again immediately, I
muft have been ftrangled in the Water; but I re-
cover'd a little before the Return of the Waves,
and feeing I fhould be cover'd again with the
Water, I refolv'd to hold faft by a Piece of the
Rock, and fo to hold my Breath, if poffible, till
the Wave went back; now as the Waves were not
fo high as at firft, being near Land, I held my
Hold til. the Wave abated, and then fetch'd ano-
ther Run, which brought me fo near the Shore,
that the next Wave, tho' it went over me, yet did
not to ſwallow me up as to catry ine away, and
the next Run I took, I got to the main Land.
where, to my great Comfort, I clamber'd up the
Clifts of the Shore, and fat me down upon the
Grafs, free from Danger, and quite out of the
Reach of the Water.
I was now landed, and fafe on Shore, and began
to look up and thankGod that my Life was fav'd in
aCafe wherein there was fome Minutes before fcarce
any Room to hope. I believe it is impoffible to ex-
prefs to the Life what theExtafies and Tranfports of
the
?
[53]
the Soul are, when it is fo fav'd, as I may fay, out
of the very Grave; and I do not wonder now at
that Cuſtom, viz. That when à Malefactor, who
has the Halter about his Neck, is tyed up, and juſt
going to be turn'd off, and has a Reprieve brought
to him I fay, I do not wonder that they bring a
Surgeon with it, to let him Blood that every Mo-
ment they tell him of ir, that the Surprize may not
drive the Animal Spirits from the Heart, and over-
whelm him:
For fudden Joys, like Griefs, confound at fift.
I walk'd about on the Shore, lifting up my Hands,
and my whole Being, as I may fay, wrapt up in the
Contemplation of my Deliverance, making a thou-
fand Geftures and Motions which I cannot defcribe,
reflecting upon all my Comrades that were drown'd,
and that there fhould not be one Soul fav'd but my
felf; for, as for them, I never faw them afterwards,
or any Sight of them, except three of their Hats,
one Cap, and two Shoes that were not Fellows.
I caft my Eyes to the ſtranded Veffe', when the
Breach and Froth of the Sea being fo big, I could
hardly fee it, it lay fo far off, and confidered, Lord!
how was it poffible I could get on Shore!
After I had folac'd my Mind with the comfortable
Part of my Condition, I began to look round me to
fee what kind of Place I was in, and what was next
to be done, and I foon found my Comforts abate,
and that in a Word I had a dreadful Deliverance:
For I was wet, had no Clothes to fhift me, nor any
thing either to eat or drink to comfort me, neither
did I fee any Profpe&t before me, but that of pe-
rifhing with Hunger, or being devo r'd by wild
Beans: And that which was particularly afflicting
to me, was, that I had no Weapon either to hunt
E 3
and
[ 54 ]
1
1
and kill any Creature for my Suſtenance, or to de-
fend my felf againſt any other Creature that might
defire to kill me for theirs: In a Word, I had no-
thing about me but a Knife, a Tobacco-pipe, and
a little Tobacco in a Box; this was all my Provifi-
on, and this threw me into terrible Agonies of
Mind, that for a while I run about like a Mad-man.
Night coming upon me, I began with a heavy
Heart to confider what would be my Lot if there
were any ravenous Beafts in that Country, feeing at
Night they always come abroad for their Prey.
All the Remedy that offer'd to my Thoughts at
that Time, was, to get up into a thick bufhy Tree
like a Firr, but thorny, which grew near me, and
where I refolv'd to fit all Night, and confider the
next Day what Death I fhould dye, for as yet I
faw no Profpect of Life; I walk'd about a Furlong
from the Shore, to fee if I could find any frefh Wa-
ter to drink, which I did, to my great Joy; and ha-
ving drank, and put a little Tobacco in my Mouth
to prevent hunger, I went to the Tree, and get-
ting up into it, endeavour'd to place my felf fo, as
that if I fhould fleep I, might not fall; and having
cut me a fhort Stick, like a Truncheon, för my
Defence, I took up my Lodging, and having been
exceffively fatigu'd, I fell faft afleep, and flept as
comfortably as, I believe, few could have done
in my Condition, and found my ſelf the moſt re-
frefh'd with it, that I think I ever was on fuch an
Occafion.
When I wak'd it was broad Day, the Weather
clear, and the Storm abated, fo that the Sea did
not rage and ſwell as before: But that which fur-
priz'd me moft, was, that the Ship was lifted off
in the Night from the Sand where fhe lay, by
the Swelling of the Tide, and was driven up al-
moſt as far as the Rock which I firft mention'd,
where
[55]
where I had been fo bruis'd by the dafhing me a-
gainst it; this being within about a Mile from the
Shore where I was, and the Ship feeming to ſtand
upright ſtill, I wifh'd myſelf on board, that, at
leaft, I might fave fome neceffary Things for
my Ufe.
When I came down from my Apartment in the
Tree, I look'd about me again, and the first Thing
I found was the Boat, which lay as the Wind and
the Sea had tofs'd her up upon the Land, about
two Miles on my Right Hand, I walk'd as far as I
could upon the Shore to have got to her, but found
a Neck or Inlet of Water between me and the
Boat, which was about half a Mile broad, fo I
came back for the prefent, being more intent upon
getting at the Ship, where I hop'd to find fome-
thing for my prefent Subfiftence.
A little after Noon I found the Sea very calm,
and the Tide ebb'd fo far out, that I could come
within a Quarter of a Mile of the Ship; and here
I found a fresh renewing of my Grief, for I faw
evidently, that if we had kept on Board, we had
been all fafe, that is to fav, we had all got fafe
on Shore, and I had not been fo miferable as to
be left entirely deſtitute of all Comfort and Com-
pany, as I now was; this forced Tears from my
Eyes again, but as there was little Relief in that,
I refolv'd, if poffible, to get to the Ship, fo I
pulled off my Clothes, for the Weather was hot to
Extremity, and took the Water; but when I came
to the Ship, my Difficulty was ftill greater to
know how to get on Board, for as fhe lay a-ground,
and high out of the Water, there was nothing
within my Reach to lay hold of, I fwam round
her twice, and the fecond Time I efpy'd a fmall
Piece of a Rope, which I wonder'd' I did not fee
at firft, hang down by the Fore Chains fo low,
E 4
as
[56]
as that with great Difficulty I got hold of it, and
by the Help of that Rope, got up into the Fore-
caſtle of the Ship. Here I found that the Ship was
bulg'd, and had a great deal of Water in her Hold,
but that the lay fo on the Side of a Bank of hard
Sand, or rather Earth, and her Stern lay lifted up
upon the Bank, and her Head low almoft to
the Water; by this Means all her Quarter was
free, and all that was in that Part was dry;
for you may be fure my first Work was to fearch
and to fee what was fpoil'd and what was
free; and first I found that all the Ship's Pro-
vifions were dry and untouch'd by the Water,
and being very well difpos'd to eat, I went to
the Bread room and fill'd my Pockets with Bif-
ket, and eat it as I went about other Things,
for I had no time to lofe. I alfo found fome Rum
in the great Cabin, of which I took a large
Dram, and which I had indeed need enough of
to ſpirit me for what was before me. Now I
wanted nothing but a Beat to furnish myſelf with
many things which I forefaw would be very necef-
fary to me.
It was in vain to fit ftill and wifh for what was
not to be had, and this Extremity rouz'd my
Application. We had ſeveral ſpare Yards, and
two or three large Sparrs of Wood, and a fpare
Top maft or two in the Ship; I refolv'd to fall to
work with thefe, and flung as many of them
over-board as I could manage of their Weight,
tying every one with a Rope that they might
not drive away; when this was done I went down
the Ship's Side, and pulling them to me, I ty'd
four of them faft together at both Ends as well
as I could, in the Form of a Raft, and laying
two or three fhort Pieces of Plank upon them
Crofs-ways, I found I could walk upon it very
well,
[57]
well, but that it was not able to bear any great
Weight, the Pieces being too light; fo I went to
work, and with the Carpenter's Saw I cut a fpare
Top-Maft into three Lengths, and added them to
my Raft, with a great deal of Labour and Pains;
but the Hope of furnishing myfelf with Neceffaries,
encourag'd me to go beyond what I fhould have
been able to have done upon another Occaſion.
My Raft was now ftrong enough to bear any
reaſonable Weight; my next Care was what to
load it with, and how to preferve what I laid upon
it from the Surf of the Sea; but I was not long confi-
dering this, I firſt laid all the Planks or Boards upon
it that I could get, and having confider'd well what
I moſt wanted, I first got three of the Seamens
Chefts, which I had broken open and empty'd, and
lower'd them down upon my Raft; the first of
thefe I fill'd with Provifions, viz. Bread, Rice,
three Dutch Cheeſes, five Pieces of dry'd Goat's
Fleſh, which we liv'd much upon, and a little Re-
mainder of European Corn which had been laid by
for fome Fowls which we brought to Sea with us,
but the Fowls were kill'd; there had been fome
Barley and Wheat together, bur, to my great Dif-
appointment, I found afterwards that the Rats had
caten or fpoil'd it all. As for Liquors,I found feve-
ral Cafes of Bottles belonging to our Skipper, in
which were fome Cordial Waters,and in all about
five or fix Gallons of Rack; thefe I ftow'd by
themſelves, there being no Need to put them into
the Cheft, nor no Room for them. While I was
doing this, I found the Tide began to flow, tho'
very calm, and I had the Mortification to fee my
Coat, Shirt, and Waffecoat, which I had left on
Shore upon the Sand, fwim away; as for my
Breeches which were only Linnen and open-knee'd,
Ifwam on board in them and my Stockings: How-
ever,
[ 58 ]
ever this put me upon rummaging for Clothes, of
which I found enough, but took no more than I
wanted for preſent Ufe, for I had other Things
which my Eye was more upon, as firft Tools to
work with on Shore, and it was after long fearch-
ing that I found out the Carpenter's Cheft, which
was indeed a very uſeful Prize to me, and much
more valuable than a Ship Loading of Gold would
have been at that time; I got it down to my Raft,
even whole as it was, without lofing time to look
into it, for I knew in general what it contain'd.
My next Care was for fome Ammunition and
Arms; there were two very good Fowling-Pieces
in the great Cabin, and two Piftols, thefe I fe-
cur'd firit, with fome Powder-Horns, and a fmall
Bag of Shot, and two old rusty Swords: I knew
there were three Barrels of Powder in the Ship,
but knew not where our Gunner had ftow'd them,
but with much Search I found them, two of them
dry and good, the third had taken Water, thofe
two I got to my Raft, with the Arms, and now
I thought myſelf pretty well freighted, and be-
gan to think how I fhould get to Shore with them,
having neither Sail, Oar, or Rudder, and the leaſt
Cap full of Wind would have overfet all my Na-
vigation.
I had three Encouragements. I. A fmooth
calm Sea. 2. The Tide rifing and fetting into
the Shore. 3. What little Wind there was blew
me towards the Land; and thus,having found two
or three broken Oars belonging to the Boat, and
befides the Tools which were in the Cheft, I found
two Saws, an Axe, and a Hammer, and with this
Cargo I put to Sea: For a Mile or thereabouts, my
Raft went very well, only that I found it drive a
Jittle diſtant from the Place where I had landed be-
fore, by which I perceiv'd that there was fome In-
draught
1
[ 59 ]
1
draught of the Water, and confequently I hop❜d to
find fome Creek or River there, which I might
make uſe of as a Port to get to Land with my
Cargo.
As I imagin'd, fo it was, there appear'd before
me a little opening of the Land, and I found a
ftrong Current of the Tide fet into it, ſo I gui-
ded my Raft as well as I could to keep in the Mid-
dle of the Stream: But here I had like to have
fuffer'd a fecond Shipwreck, which, if I had, I
think verily would have broke my Heart, for know-
ing nothing of the Coaft, my Raft run a-ground
at one End of it upon a Shoal, and not being a-
ground at the other End, it wanted but a little
that all my Cargo had flipp'd off towards that End
that was a float, and fo fall'n into the Water: I
did my utmoft by fetting my Back againſt the
Chefts, to keep them in their Places, but could
not thruſt off the Raft with all my Strength, nei-
ther durft I ftir from the Pofture I was in, but hold-
ing up the Cheſts with all my Might, ftood in that
Manner near half an Hour, in which time the rifing
of the Water brought me a little more upon a Le-
vel, and a little after, the Water ftill rifing, my
Raft floated again, and I thruft her off with the
Oar I had, into the Channel, and then driving up
higher, I at length found my felf in the Mouth of a
little River, with Land on both Sides, and a
ftrong Current or Tide running up, I look'd on both
Sides for a proper Place to get to Shore, for I was
not willing to be driven too high up the River,
hoping in time to fee fome Ship at Sea, and there-
fore refolv'd to place my felf as near the Coaft as
I could.
}
At length I fpy'd a little Cove on the right
Shore of the Creek, to which with great Pain and
Difficulty I guided my Raft, and at läft got ſo near,
as
1
[60]
as that, reaching Ground with my Oar, I could
thrust her directly in, but here I had like to have
dipt all my Cargo in the Sea again; for that Shore
lying pretty ſteep, that is to fay, floping, there
was no Piace to land, but where one End of the
Float, if it run on Shore, would lie fo high, and
the other fink lower as before, that it would en-
danger my Cargo again: All that I could do, was
to wait till the Tide was at the higheft, keeping the
Raft with my Oar like an Anchor to hold the Side
of it faft to the Shore, near a flat Piece, of
Ground, which I expected the Water would flow
over; and fo it did: As foon as I found Water
enough, (for my Raft drew about a Foot of Water)I
thruft er upon that Hat Piece of Ground, and
there faften'd or mor'd her, by sticking my two
broken Oars into the Ground; one on one Side
near one End, and one on the other Side near the
other End; and thus I lay till the Water ebb'd a-
way, and left my Raft and all my Cargo fafe on
Shore.
:
My next Work was to view the Country, and
feek a proper Place for my Habitation, and where
to ftow my Goods, to fecure them from whatever
might happen. Where I was, I yet knew not, whe-
ther on the Continent or on an Ifland, whether in-
habited, or not inhabited, whether in Danger of
wild Beafts or not: There was a Hill not above
a Mile from me, which rofe up very ſteep and high,
and which feem'd to over-top fome other Hills
which lay as in a Ridge from it Northward; I took
out one of the Fowling Pieces, and one of the Pi-
ftols, and an Horn of Powder, and thus arm'd I
travelled for Diſcovery up to the Top of that Hill,
where after I had with great Labour and Difficul-
ty got up to the Top, I faw my Fate to my great
Affliction, (viz.) that I was in an Inland environ'd.
every
[61]
every Way with the Sea, no Land to be feen, ex-
cept fome Rocks which lay a great Way off, and
two ſmall Iſlands lefs than this, which lay about
three Leagues to the Weft.
I found alſo that the Inland I was in was barren,
and, as I faw good Reafon to believe, uninhabited,
except by wild Beafts, of whom however I faw
none, yet I faw Abundance of Fowls, but knew
not their Kinds, neither when I kill'd them could
I tell what was fit for Food, and what not. At my
coming back, I fhot at a great Bird which I faw
fitting upon a Tree on the side of a great Wood, I
believe it was the firft Gun that had been fir'd
there fince the Creation of the World; I had no
fooner fir'd, but from all the Parts of the Wood
there aroſe an innumerable Number of Fowls of
many Sorts, making a confus'd Screaming, and
crying every one according to his ufual Note; but
not one of them of any Kind that I knew: As for
that Creature I kill'd, I took it to be a Kind of a
Hawk, its Colour and Beak reſembling it,but had
no Talons or Claws more than common, its Flefh
was Catrion, and fit for nothing.
Contented with this Diſcovery, I came back to
my Raft, and fell to work to bring my Cargo on
Shore, which took me up the reft of that Day, and
what to do with myfelf at Night I knew not, nor
indeed where to rett; for I was afraid to lie down
on the Ground, not knowing but fome wild Beaft
might devour me, tho', as I afterwards found,
there was really no Need for thofe Fears.
However, as well as I could, I barricado'd my-
felf round with the Chefts and Boards that I had
brought on Shore, and made a Kind of a Hutt for
that Night's Lodging; as for Food, I yet faw not
which Way to fupply mylelf, except that I had
feen
[62]
feen two or three Creatures like Hares run out of
the Wood where I fhot the Fowl.
I now began to confider, that I might yet get
a great many Things out of the Ship, which would
be uſeful to me, and particularly fome of the Rig-
ging and Sails, and fuch other Things as might
come to Land, and I refolv'd to make another
Voyage on Board the Veffel, if poffible; and as I
knew that the firſt Storm that blew muſt neceffa-
rily break her all in Picces, I refolv'd to fet all o-
ther Things apart, till I got every Thing out of
the Ship that I could get; then I call'd a Council,
that is to fay, in my Thoughts, whether I fhould
take back the Raft, but this appear'd impractica-
ble; fo I refolv'd to go as before, when the Tide
was down, and I did fo, only that I ftripp'd be-
fore I went from my Hutt, having nothing on but
a checquer❜d Shirt, and a Pair of Linnen Drawers,
and a Pair of Pumps on my Feet.
I got on Board the Ship, as before, and prepar'd
a fecond Raft, and having had Experience of the
first, I neither made this fo unweildy, nor loaded
it fo hard, but yet I brought away feveral Things
very useful to me; as firſt, in the Carpenter's Stores
I found two or three Bags full of Nails and Spikes,
a great Skrew-Jack, a Dozen or two of Hatchets,
and above all, that moft ufeful Thing cali'd a
Grind ftone; all theſe I fecur'd together, with fe-
veral Things belonging to the Gunner, particular-
ly two or three Iron Crows, and two Barrels of
Mufquet-Bullets, feven Mufquets, and another
Fowling-Piece, with fome fmall Quantity of Pow-
der more; a large Bag full of fmall Shot, and a
great Roll of sheet Lead: But this laft was fo heavy,
I could not hoift it up to get it over the Ship's Side.
Befides thefe Things, I took all the Mens Clothes
that I could find, and a ſpare Fore-top-fail, Ham-
mock,
[63]
mock and fome Bedding; and with this I loaded my
fecond Raft, and brought them all fafe on Shore to
my very great Comfort.
I was under fome Apprehenfions during my Ab-
fence from the Land, that at leaft my Provifions
might be devour'd on Shore ; but when I came back,
I found no Sign of any Vifitor, only there fat a
Creature like a wild Cat upon one of the Chefts,
which when I came towards it, ran away a little
Diſtance, and then ſtood ftill; fhe fat very com-
pos'd, and unconcern'd, and lock'd full in my
Face, as if ſhe had a Mind to be acquainted with
me: I prefented my Gun at her, but as he did
not underſtand it, fhe was perfectly unconcern'd
at it, nor did fhe offer to ftir away; upon which
I tofs'd her a Bit of Bisket, tho by the Way I was
not very free of it, for myStore was not great. How-
ever, I fpar'd her a Bit, I fay, and fhe went to it,
fmeli'd of it, and eat it, and look'd (as pleas'd) for
more, but I thank'd her, and could fpare no more;
fo fhe march'd off.
Having got my fecond Cargo on Shore, tho' I
was fain to open the Barrels of Powder, and bring
them by Parcels, for they were too heavy, being
large Casks, I went to Work to make me a little
Tent with the Sail and fome Poles which I cut for
that Purpoſe, and into this Tent I brought every
Thing that I knew would fpoil, either with Rain,
or Sun, and I piled all the empty Chefts and Casks
up in a Circle round the Tent, to fortify it from
any fudden Attempt, either from Man or Beaft.
When I had done this, I block'd up the Door of
the Tent with fome Boards within, and an empty
Cheft fet up on End without, and ſpreading one
of the Beds upon the Ground, laying my two Pi-
ſtols juſt at my Head, and my Gun at Length by
me, I went to Bed for the firft Time, and flept
very
[64]
1
I
着
​very quietly all Night, for I was very weary and
heavy, for the Night before I had flept little, and
had labour'd very hard all Day, as well to fetch
all thofe Things from the Ship, as to get them
on Shore.
I had the biggeſt Magazine of all Kinds now
that ever were laid up, I believe, for one Man ;
but I was not fatisfy'd ftill; for while the Ship fat
upright in that Pofture, I thought I ought to get
every Thing out of her that I could; fo every Day
at low Water I went on board, and brought away
fomething or other: But particularly the third
Time I went, I brought away as much of the
Rigging as I could, as alfo all the fmall Ropes and
Rope-twine I could get, with a Piece of fpare Can-
vas, which was to mend the Sails upon Occafion,
and the Barrel of wet Gun-powder: In a Word, 1
brought away all the Sails firſt and laft, only that I
was fain to cut them in Pieces, and bring as much
at a Time as I could; for they were no more uſeful
to be Sails, but as meer Canvas only.
But that which comforted me more ftili, was,
that at laſt of all, after I had made five or fix fuch
Voyages as theſe, and thought I had nothing more
to expect from the Ship that was worth my med-
ling with, Ifay, after all this, I found a great Hog-
fhead of Bread, and three large Runlets of Rum or
Spirits, and a Box of Sugar, and a Barrel of fine
Flower; this was furprizing to me, becauſe I had
given over expecting any more Provifions, except
what was fpoil'd by the Water: I foon empty'd the
Hogfhead of that Bread, and wrapt it up, Parcel
by Parcel, in Pieces of the Sails, which I cut out;
and in a Word, I got all this fafe on Shore alfo.
The next Day I made another Voyage; and
now having plunder'd the Ship of what was porta-
ble
[ 65 ]
•
ble, and fit to hand out, I began with the Cables;
andcutting the great Cable into Pieces, fuch as I
could move, I got two Cables and a Haulfer on
Shore, with all the Iron-work I could get; and
having cut down the Spritfail-yard, and the Mi-
fen-yard, and every Thing I could to make a large
Raft, I loaded it with all thoſe heavy Goods, and
came away: But my good Luck began now to
leave me; for this Raft was fo unweildy, and fo
overladen, that after I was enter'd the little Cave,
where I had landed the reft of my Goods; not
being able to guide, it fo handily as I did the o-
ther, it overfet, aud threw me and all my Cargo
into the Water: As for my ſelf it was no great Harm,
for I was near the Shore; but as to my Cargo, it
was great Part of it loft, pefecially the Iron, which
I expected would have been of great Ufe to me:
However, when the Tide was out, I got molt of
the Pieces of Cable afhore, and fome of the Iron,
tho' with infinite Labour; for I was fain to dip for
it into the Water, a Work which fatigu'd me very
much; after this, I went every Day on Board,
and brought away what I could get.
I had been now 13 Days on Shore, and had been
II Times on Board the Ship; in which Time I
had brought away all that one Pair of Hands could
well be fuppos'd capable to bring, tho' I believe
verily, had the calm Weather held, I fhould have
brought away the whole Ship, Piece by Piece:
But preparing the 12th Time to go on Board, I found
the Wind began to rife; however, at low Water I
went on Board, and tho' I thought I had rum-
maged the Cabin fo effectually, as that nothing
more could be found, yet I diſcovered a Locker
with Drawers in it, in one of which I found` two
orhre e Razors, and one Pair of large Sciffars,
with fome ten or a Dozen of good Knives and
Part I.
Forks;
F
[66]
}
Forks; in another I found about Thirty fix Pounds
Vali e in Money, fome European Coin, feme Brafil,
fome Pieces of Eight, fome Gold, fome Silver.
$
I fmil'd to my felf at the Sight of this Money.
O Drug! faid I aloud, what art thou good for?
Thou art not worth to me, no not the taking off
of the Ground; one of thofe Knives is worth all
this Heap; I have no Manner of uſe for thee, e'en
remain where thou art, and go to the Bottom as
a Creature whofe Life is not worth faving. How-
ever, upon fecond Thoughts, I took it away, and
wrapping all this in a Piece of Canvas, I began.
to think of maſting another Raft; but while I was
preparing this, I found the Sky over-caft, and the
Wind began to rife, and in a Quatter of an Hour
it blew a freſh Gale from the Shore; it prefently
occur'd to me, that it was in vain to pretend to
make a Raft with the Wind off Shore, and that
it was my Buſineſs to be gone before the Tide of
Flood began, otherwife I might not be able to
reach the Shore at all: Accordingly I let my felf
down into the Water, and fwam crofs the Channel,
which lay between the Ship and the Sands, and
even that with Difficulty enough, partly with the
Weight of the things I had about me, and partly
the Roughness of the Water, for the Wind rofe
very haftily, and before it was quite high Water,
it blew a Storm.
But I was gotten home to my little Tent, where
I lay with all my Wealth about me very fecure. It
blew very hard all that Night, and in the Morning
when I look'd out, behold no more Ship was to be
feen. I was a little furpriz'd, but recover'd my
felf with this fatisfactory Reflection, viz. That I
had loft no Time, nor abated no Diligence to get
every thing out of her that could be ufeful to me,
and that indeed there was little left in her that I
was
[ 67 ]
was able to bring away, if I had had more Time.
I now gave over any more Thoughts of the
Ship, or of any thing out of her, except what
might drive on Shore from her Wreck, as indeed
divers Pieces of her afterwards did; but thoſe
things were of ſmall uſe to me.
My
Thoughts were now wholly employ'd about
fecuring my felf againſt either Savages, if any
ſhould appear, or wild Beafts, if any were in the
Iſland; and I had many Thoughts of the Method
how to do this, and what kind of Dwelling to
make, whether I fhould make me a Cave in the
Earth, or a Tent upon the Earth: And, in fhort,
I refolv❜d upon both, the Manner and Deſcription
of which it may not be improper to give an Ac-
count of
Í foon found the Place I was in was not for my
Settlement, particularly becauſe it was upon a low
moorish Ground near the Sea, and I believ'd would
not be wholſome, and more particularly becauſe
there was no freſh Water near it, fo I refolv'd to
find a more healthy and more convenient Spot of
Ground.
I confulted feveral Things in my Situation which
I found would be proper for me, ift. Health, and
freth Water, I juft now mentioned. 2dly, Shelter
from the Heat of the Sun. 3dly, Security from ra-
venous Creatures, whether Man or Beaft. 4thly,
A View to the Sea, that if God fent any Ship in
Sight, I might not lofe any Advantage for my
Deliverance, for which I was not willing to baniſh
all my Expectation yet.
In Search of a Place proper for this, I found a
little Plain on the fide of a rifing Hill, whoſe
Front towards this little Plain was fteep as a
Houfe-fide, fo that nothing could come down up-
on me from the Top; on the Side of this Rock
there
F 2
}
[ 68 ]
卓
​1
there was a hollow Place worn a little way in, like
the Entrance or Door of a Cave, but there was
not really any Cave or Way into the Rock at all.
On the Flat of the Green, juft before this hollow
Place, I refolved to pitch my Tent: This Plain was
not above an hundred Yards broad, and about
twice as long, and lay like a Green before my
Door, and at the End of it defcended irregularly
every way down into the low Grounds by the Sea-
fide. It was on the N N.W. Side of the Hill, fo
that it was ſheltered from the Heat every Day, till
it came to a W. and by S. Sun, or thereabouts,
which in thoſe Countries is near the Setting.
Before I fet up my Tent, I drew a half Circle
before the hollow Place, which took in about ten
Yards in its Semi-diameter from the Rock, and
twenty Yards in its Diameter, from its Beginning
and Ending.
!
In this half Circle I pitch'd two Rows of ftrong
Stakes, driving them into the Ground till they ſtood
very firm like Piles, the beggeft End being out of
the Ground about five Foot and a half, and fhar-
pen'd on the Top; the two Rows did not ftand
above fix Inches from one another.
Then I took the Pieces of Cable which I had cut
in the Ship, and laid them in Rows upón one ano-
ther, within the Circle between thefe two Rows
of Stakes, up to the Top, placing other Stakes in
the Infide, leaning against them, about two Foot
and a half high, like a Spur to a Poft, and this
Fence was fo ftrong, that neither Man or Beaſt
could get into it or over it: This coft me a great
deal of Time and Labour, eſpecially to cut the
Piles in the Woods, bring them to the Place, and
drive them into the Earth.
The Entrance into this Place I made to be not
by a Door, but by a fhort Ladder, to go over
the
[ 69 ]
the Top, which Ladder, when I was in, I lifted
over after me, and fo I was compleatly fenced in,
and fortify'd, as I thought, from all the World,
and confequently flept fecure in the Night, which
otherwiſe I could not have done, tho', as it appear'd
afterward, there was no need of all this Caution
from the Enemies I apprehended Danger from.
Into this Fence or Fortreſs, with infinite Labour,
I carry'd all my Riches, all my Provifions, Am-
munition and Stores, of which you have the Ac-
count above, and I made me a large Tent, which
to preſerve me from the Rains, that in one Part of
the Year are very violent there, I made double, viz.
one ſmaller Tent within, and one larger Tent a
bove it, and cover'd the uppermoft with a large
Tarpaulin which I had fav'd among the Sails.
And now I lay no more for a while in the Bed
which I had brought on Shore, but in a Hammock,
which was indeed a very good one, and belong'd
to the Mate of the Ship.
Into this Tent I brought all my Provifions, and
every Thing that would fpoil by the Wet, and ha-
ving thus enclos'd all my Goods, I made up the
Entrance, which till now I had left open, and fo
paſs'd and repafs'd, as I faid, by a fhort Ladder.
When I had done this, I began to work my Way
into the Rock, and bringing all the Earth and
Stones that I dug down, out thro' my Tent, I
laid them up within my Fence in the Nature of a
Terrace, fo that it rais'd the Ground within about
a Foot and a Half; and thus I made me a Cave juſt
behind my Tent, which ferv'd me like a Cellar to
my Houfe.
It coft me much Labour, and many Days, before
all thefe Things were brought to Perfection, and
therefore I muft go back to fome other Things which
took up fome of my Thoughts. At the fame Time it
happen'd
F 3
[70]
happen'd after I had laid my Scheme for the fer-
ting up my Tent, and making the Cave, that a
Storm of Rain falling from a thick dark Cloud, a
fudden Flaſh of Lightning happen'd, and after that
a great Clap of Thunder, as is naturally the Effect
of it; I was not fo much furpriz'd with the Light-
ning, as I was with a Thought which darted into
my Mind as fwift as the Lightning itfelf: O my
Powder, my very Heart funk within me, when I
thought, that at one Blaft all my Powder might
be deſtroy'd; on which, not my Defence only, but
the providing me Food, as I thought, entirely de-
pended; I was nothing near fo anxious about my
own Danger, tho' had the Powder took Fire, I had
never known who had hurt me.
Such Impreffion did this make upon me, that
after the Storm was over, I laid afide all my Works,
my Building and Fortifying, and apply'd my felf
to make Bags and Boxes to feparate the Powder,
and to keep it a little and a little in a Parcel, in
Hope, that whatever might come, it might not
all take Fire at once, and to keep it fo apart, that
it fhould not be poffible to make one Part Fire a-
nother. I finiſh'd this Work in about a Fortnight,
and I think my Powder, which in all was about
1401. Weight, was divided in not lefs than a Hun-
dred Parcels. As to the Barrel that had been wet,
I did not apprehend any Danger from that, fo I
plac'd it in my new Cave, which in my Fancy I
call'd my Kitchin; and the reft I hid up and
down in Holes among the Rocks, fo that no Wet
might come to it, marking very carefully where I
laid it.
In the Interval of Time while this was doing, I
went out at leaft orce every Day with my Gun,
as well to divert my felf, as to fee if I could kill any
Thing fit for Food, and as near as I could, to ac-
quaint
[71]
quaint myſelf with what the Iſland produc'd. The
firſt Time I went out I preſently diſcover'd that
there were Goats in the Ifland, which was a great
Satisfaction to me; but then it was attended with
this Misfortune to me, viz. That they were ſo
fhy, fo fubtle, and fo fwift of Foot, that it was the
difficulteft Thing in the World to come at them:
But I was not difcourag'd at this, not doubting
but I might now and then fhoot one, as it foon hap-
pen'd, for after I had fonnd their Haunts a little,
I laid wait in this Manner for them: I obferv'd, if
they faw me in the Valleys, tho' they were upon
the Rocks, they would run away as in a terrible
Fright; but if they were feeding in the Valleys,
and I was upon the Rocks, they took no Notice
of me, from whence I concluded, that by the
Pofition of their Opticks, their Sight was fo di-
rected downward, that they did not readily fee
Objects that were above them; fo afterward I
took this Method, I always climb'd the Rocks firſt
to get above them, and then had frequently a fair
Mark. The firſt Shot I made among thele Crea-
tures, I kill'd a She-Goat which had a little Kid
by her which ſhe gave Suck to, which grieved me
heartily; but when the Old one fell, the Kid
ftood Stock ſtill by her till I came and took her up;
and not only fo, but when I carried the O.d one
with me upon my Shoulders, the Kid follow'd me
quite to my Encloſure; upon which I laid down
the Dam, and took the Kid in my Arms, and car-
ried it over my Pale, in Hopes to have bred it up
tame, but it would not eat, fo I was forc'd to
kill it and eat it my felf; thefe two fupply'd me
with Fefh a great while, for I eat fparingly; and
fav'd my Proviſions (my Bread eſpecially) as much
as poffibly I could.
F 4
Having
1
K
[72]
Having now fix'd my Habitation, I found it ab-
folutely neceffary to provide a Place to make a
Fire in, and Feuel to burn; and what I did for
that, as alfo how I enlarg'd my Cave, and what
Coveniencies I made, I fhall give a full Account
of it in its Place: But 1 muft firft give fome little
Account of my felf, and of my Thoughts about
Living, which it may well be fuppofed were not
a few.
I had a difmal Profpect of my Condition; for as
I was not caft away upon that Inland without being
driven, as is faid by a violent Storm quite out of
the Courſe of our intended Voyage, and a great
Way, viz. fome Hundreds of Leagues out of the
ordinary Courfe of the Trade of Mankind, I had
great Reaſon to confider it as a Determination of
Heaven, that in this defolate Place, and in this
defolate Manner I fhould end my Life; the Tears
would run plentifully down my Face when I made
thele Reflections, and fomeitmes I would expoftu-
late with my felf, Why Providence fhould thus
compleatly ruin its Creatures, and render them fo
abfolutely miferable, fo without Help abandon'd,
fo entirely deprefs'd, that it could hardly be ra-
tional to be thankful for fuch a Life.
But fomething always return'd fwift upon me to
check theſe Thoughts, and to reprove me; and
particularly one Day walking with my Gun in my
Hand by the Sea-fide, I was very penfive upon the
Subject of my prefent Condition, when Reafon as
it were expoftulating with me to'ther Way, thus ;
Well, you are in a defolate Condition, 'tis true, but
pray remember, where are the rest of you? Did
not you come Eleven of you into the Boat,, where
are the Ten? Why were not they fav'd, and you
loft? Why were you fingled out? Is it better to be
here or there? And then I pointed to the Sea. All
Evils
1
A
[73]
Evils are to be confider'd with the Good that is in.
them, and with what worſe attended them.
Then it occurr'd to me again, how well I was
furniſh'd for my Subfiftence, and what would have
been my Cafe if it had not happen'd, Which was
an Hundred Thouſand to one, that the Ship floated
from the Place where the firft ftruck, and was dri-
ven fo near to the Shore that I had time to get
all theſe things out of her: What would have
been my Cafe, if I had been to have liv'd in the
Condition in which I at firſt came on Shore, with-
out Neceffaries of Life, or Neceffaries to fupply
and procure them? Particularly faid I aloud, (tho'
to my felf) what fhould I ha' done without a
Gun, without Ammunition, without any Tools
to make any thing, or to work with, without
Clothes, Bedding, a Tent, or any manner of
Coverings; and that now I had all theſe to a fuffi-
cient Quantity, and was in a fair way to provide
my ſelf in fuch a manner, as to live without my
Gun when my Ammunition was spent? So that
I had a tolerable View of fubfifting without any
Want as long as I liv'd; for I confider'd from the
Beginning how I would provide for the Accidents
that might happen, and for the time that was to
come, even not only after my Ammunition fhould
be ſpent, but even after my Health or Strength
fhould decay.
I confefs I had not entertain'd any Notion of my
Ammunition being deſtroy'd at one Blaſt, I mean
my Powder being blown up by Lightning, and this
made the Thoughts of it fo furprizing to me when
it lighten'd and thunder'd, as I obferv'd juft now.
And now being to enter inro a melancholy
Relation of a Scene of filent Life, fuch perhaps as
was never heard of in the World before, I fhall
take it from its Beginning, and continue it in its
Order
[74]
Order. It was, by my Account, the 30th of Sep.
when, in the Manner as abovefaid, 1 firft fet Foot
upon this horrid Ifland, when the Sun being, to
us, in its Autumnal Equinox, was almoft juft over
my Head, for I reckon'd my felf, by Obſervation,
to be in the Latitude of 9 Degrees 22 Minutes
North of the Line.
After I had been there about Ten or Twelve.
Days, it came into my Thoughts, that I fhould
lofe my Reckoning of Time for want of Books,
and Pen and Ink, and fhould even forget the Sab-
bath Days from the working Days: but to prevent
this, I cut it with my Knife upon a large Poſt, in
Capitals Letters, and making it into a great Croſs,
I fet it up on the Shore where I firſt Landed, viz. I
came on Shore here the 30th of Sept. 1659. Upon
the Sides of this fquare Poft, I cut every Day a
Notch with my Knife, and every ſeventh Notch
was as long again as the reft, and every firſt Day of
the Month as long again as that long one; and thus
I kept my Kalendar, or weekly, monthly, and
yearly reckoning of Time.
In the next Place we are to obferve, that among
the many things which I brought off the Ship
in the ſeveral Voyages, which, as abovemention'd,
I made to it, I got feveral things of lefs Value,
butnot at all lefs ufeful to me, which I omitted fet-
ting down before; as in particular, Pens, Ink, and
Paper, feveral Parcels in the Captain's, Mate's,
Gunner's, and Carpenter's keeping, three or four
Compaffes, fome Mathematical Inftruments, Dials,
Perfpectives, Charts, and Books of Navigation,
all which I huddled together, whether I might
want them or no; alfo I found three very good
Bibles which came to me in my Cargo from Eng-
land, and which I had pack'd up among my things;
feme Portugueze Books alfo, and among them two
or
[75]
or three Popish Prayer-Books, and feveral other
Books, all which I carefully fecur'd. And I muſt
not forget, that we had in the Ship a Dog and two
Cats, of whoſe eminent Hiſtory I may have occa-
fion to lay fomething in its Place; for I carry'd
both the Cats with me; and as for the Dog, he
jump'd out of the Ship of himſelf, and fwam on
Shore to me the Day after I went on Shore with my
firft Cargo, and was a trufty Servant to me many
Years; I wanted nothing that he could fetch me,
nor any Company that he could make up to me.
I only wanted to have him talk to me, but that
would not do: As I obferv'd before, I found Pen,
Ink and Paper, and I husbanded them to the ut-
moft; and I ſhall fhew, that while my Ink lafted,
I kept things very exa&; but after that was gone,
I could not; for I could not make any Ink, by any
Means that I could devife.
And this put me in mind that I wanted many
things, notwithſtanding all that I had amafs'd to-
gether; and of thefe, this of Ink was one, as alfo
Spade, Pick-Axe and Shovel, to dig or remove
the Earth; Needles, Pins, and Thread; as for
Linnen, I foon learn'd to want that without much
Difficulty.
This Want of Tools made every Work I did go
on heavily, and it was near a whole Year before I
had entirely finished my little Pale or furrounded
Habitation: The Piles or Stakes, which were as
heavy as I could well lift, were a long time in cut-
ting and preparing in the Woods, and more by far
in bringing home; fo that Ifpent fometimes two
Days in cutting and bringing home one of thoſe
Polls, and a third Day in driving it into theGround;
for which Purpofe I got a heavy Piece of Wood
at firſt, but at laft bethought myſelf of one of the
Iron Crows, which however, tho' I found it, yet
it
i
[76]
it made driving thoſe Poſts or Piles very laborious.
and tedious Work.
But what need I ha' been concerned at the Te-
diouſneſs of any thing I had to do, feeing I had
time enough to do it in, nor had I any other Em-
ployment if that had been over, at leaft, that I
could forefee, except the ranging the Inland to feek
for Food, which I did more or leſs every Day.
I now began to confider feriouſly my Condition,
and the Circumftance I was reduc'd to, and I drew
up the State of my Affairs in Writing, not fo much
to leave them to any that were to come after me,
for I was like to have but few Heirs, as to de-
liver my Thoughts from daily poring upon them,
and afflicting my Mind; and as my Reafon began
now to maſter my Defpondency, I began to com-
fort my felf as well as I could, and to fet the Good
againſt the Evil, that I might have fomething to
diſtinguiſh my Cafe from worfe; and I ftated it
very impartially, like Debtor and Creditor, the
Comforts I enjoy'd, against the Miferics I fuffer'd,
thus;
Evil.
I am caft upon a horri-
ble defolate Ifand, void of
all Hope of Recovery.
I am fingled out and fe-
parated, as it were, from
all the World to be mifera-
ble.
I am divided from Man-
kind, a Solitaire, one ba-
nifb'd from human Society.
Good.
But I am alive, and
not drown'd,as all my Ship's
Company was.
But I am fingled out too
from all the Ship's Crew to
be spared from Death; and
he that miraculously Saved
me from Death,can deliver
me from this Condition
But I am not ſtarv'd and
perishing on a barren Place,
affording no Suftenance.
I have
[77]
}
I have no Clothes to
cover me.
7
I am without any De-
fence or Means to refift any
Violence of Man or Beaft.
I have no Soul to Speak
to, or relieve me.
"
But I am in a hot Cli-
mate, where if I hadClothes
I could hardly wear them.
But I am caft on an I-
fland, where I ſee no wild
Beafts to hurt me, as I fares
on the Coast of Africa:
And what if I had been
Shipwreck'd there?
But God wonderfully
Sent the Ship in near enough
to the Shore, that I have
gotten out so many neceſſa-
ry Things as will either
Supply my Wants, or ena-
ble me to fupply my felf e-
ven as long as I live.
Upon the whole, here was an undoubted Tefti-
mony, that there was fcarce any Condition in the
World fo miferable, but there was fomething ne-
gative or fomething pofitive to be thankful for in it;
and let this ftand as a Direction from the Experi-
ence of the moft miferable of all Conditions in this
World, that we may always find in it fomething
to comfort ourselves from, and to fet, in the De-
fcription of Good and Evil, on the Credit Side of
the Account.
Having now brought my Mind a little to reliſh
my Condition, and given over looking out to Sea,
to fee if I could ſpy a Ship; I fay, giving over
thefe Things, I began to apply my felf to accom-
modate my way of Living, and to make things as
eafy to me as I could.
I have
[ 78 ]
I have already defcribed my Habitation, which
was a Tent under the Side of a Rock, furrounded
with a ſtrong Pale of Pofts and Cables, but I might
now rather call it a Wall, for I rais'd a kind of
Wall up againſt it of Turfs, about two Foot thick
on the Outfide, and after fome time, I think it
was a Year and half, I rais'd Rafters from it, lean-
ing to the Rock, and thatch'd or cover'd it with
Boughs of Trees, and fuch things asI could get to
keep out the Rain, which I found at fome times of
the Year very violent.
I have already obferv'd how I brought all my
Goods into this Pale, and, into the Cave which I
had made behind me: But I muft obferve too,
that at first this was a confus'd Heap of Goods,
which as they lay in no Order, fo they took up
all my Place; I had no room to turn my felf: So
I fet my felf to enlarge my Cave and Works far-
ther into the Earth; for it was a looſe fandy Rock,
which yielded eafily to the Labour I beftowed on
it: And fo when I found I was pretty fafe as to
Beafts of Prey, I work'd fideways to the Right
Hand into the Rock; and then turning to the
Right again, work'd quite out, and made me a
Door to come out, on the Outfide of my Pale or
Fortification.
This gave me not only Egrefs and Regrefs, as it
were a Back-way to my Tent and to my Store-
houſe, but gave me room to ftow my Goods.
And now I began to apply my felf to make fuch
neceflary things as I found I moſt wanted, particu-
larly a Chair and a Table; for without thefe I was
not able to enjoy the few Comforts I had in the
World; I could not write or eat, or feveral things,
with fo much Pleaſure, without a Table.
So I went to work; and here I muſt needs ob-
ferve, that as Reaſon is the Subſtance and Origi-
nal
[79]
2
•
nal of the Mathematicks, fo by ftating and fqua-
ring every thing by Reaſon, and by making the
moft rational Judgment of things, every Man may
be in time Maſter of every mechanick Art. I had
never handled a Tool in my Life, and yet in time
by Labour, Application and Contrivance, I found
at laſt that I wanted nothing but I could have made
it, eſpecially if I had had Tools; however, I
made Abundance of things, even without Tools,
and fome with no more Tools than an Adze and
a Hatchet, which perhaps were never made that
way before, and that with infinite Labour. For
Example, If I wanted a Board, I had no other
Way but to cut down a Tree, fet it on an Edge
before me, and hew it flat on either Side with my
Axe, till I had brought it to be as thin as a Plank,
and then dubb it ſmooth with my Adże. It is
true, by this Method I could make but one Board
out of a whole Tree, but this I had no Remedy
for but Patience, any more than I had for the pro-
digious deal of Time and Labour which it took
me up to make a Plank or Board: But my Time
or Labour was little worth, and fo it was as well
employ'd one way as another.
However, I made me a Table and a Chair, as
I obferv'd above, in the firft Place, and this I did
out of the fhort Pieces of Boards that I brought
on my Raft from the Ship: But when I had
wrought out fome Boards, as above, I made large
Shelves of the Breadth of a Foot and a Half one
over another, all along one Side of my Cave, to
lay all my Tools, Nails, and Iron-work, and in a
Word, to feparate every thing at large in their
Places, that I might come easily at them; I knock'd
Pieces into the Wall of the Rock to hang my Guns
and all things that would hang up.
So
[80]
1
•
So that had my Cave been to be feen, it look'd
like a general Magazine of all neceffary things,
and I had every thing fo ready at my Hand, that
it was a great Pleaſure to me to fee all my Goods
in fuch Order, and eſpecially to find my Stock of
all Neceffaries fo great.
And now it was when I began to keep a Jour-
nal of every Day's Employment, for indeed at firft
I was in too much a Hurry, and not only Hurry
as to Labour, but in too much Difcompofure of
Mind, and my Journal would ha' been full of many
dull things. For Example, I muſt have ſaid thus:
Sept. the 30th, After I got to Shore, and had efcap'd
drowning, inſtead of being thankful to God for
my Deliverance, having firſt vomited with the
great Quantity of falt Water which was gotten
into my Stomach, and recovering my felf a little,
I ran about the Shore, wringing my Hands, and
beating my Head and Face, exclaiming at my Mi-
fery, and crying out, I was undone, undone, till
tir'd and faint, I was forc'd to lye down on the
Ground to repoſe, but durft not fleep for fear of
being devour'd.
Some Days after this, and after I had been on
board the Ship, and got all that I could out of
her, yet I could not forbear getting up to the Top
of a little Mountain, and looking out to Sea in
hopes of feeing a Ship, then fancy at a vaft Di-
ftance I ſpy'd a Sail, pleafe my felf with the Hopes
of it, and then after looking ſteadily till I was al-
moft blind, loſe it quite, and fit down and weep
like a Child, and thus encreafe my Mifery by my
Folly.
But having gotten over theſe things in fome Mea-
fure, and having fettled my Houfhold-Stuff and Ha-
bitation, made me a Table and a Chair, and all
as handſome about me as I could, I began to keep
my
[81]
my Journal of which I fhall here give you the Co-
py (tho' in it will be told all thefe Particulars o-
ver again) as long as it lafted, for having no more
Ink I was forced to leave it off.
The JOURNAL.
Eptember 30, 1659. poor miſerable Robinſon
Crufoe, being Shipwreck'd, during a dreadful
Storm in the Offing, came on Shore on this dif-
mal unfortunate Ifland, which I call'd the Iſland of
Despair, all the reft of the Ship's Company being
drown'd, and my felf almoſt dead.
All the rest of the Day I ſpent in afflicting my
felf at the diſmal Circumftances I was brought to,
viz. I had neither Food, Houfe, Clothes, Wea-
pon, or Place to fly to, and in Defpair of any Re-
lief, faw nothing but Death before me, either that
I ſhould be devour'd by wild Beafts, murther'd by
Savages, or ſtarv'd to Death for want of Food. At
the Approach of Night, I flept in a Tree for fear
of wild Creatures, but flept foundly tho' it rain'd
all Night.
October 1. In the Morning I faw to my great
Surprize the Ship had floated with the high Tide,
and was driven on Shore again much nearer the
Iſland, which as it was fome Comfort on one Hand,
(for feeing her fit upright, and not broken to Pieces,
I hop'd, if the Wind abated, I might get on Board,
and get fome Food and Neceffaries out of her for
my Relief) fo on the other Hand it renew'd my
Grief at the Lofs of my Comrades, who I ima-
gin'd if we had all ftaid on Board might have
fav'd the Ship, or at leaſt that they would not have
been all drown'd as they were; and that had the
Men been fav'd, we might perhaps have built us
a Boat out of the Ruins of the Ship, to have car-
Part I.
G
ried
[82]
ried us to fome other Part of the World. I fpent
great Part of this Day in perplexing my felf on
thefe Things; but at length feeing the Ship almoſt
dry, I went upon the Sand as near as I could, and
then fwam on Board; this Day alfo continu'd
raining, tho' with no Wind at all.
From the 1st of October to the 24th. All theſe
Days entirely ſpent in many feveral Voyages to
get all I could out of the Ship, which I brought
on Shore,every Tide of Flood, upon Rafts. Much
Rain alfo in thefe Days, tho' with fome Intervals
of fair Weather: But, it feems, this was the rainy
Seafon.
Oct. 20. I overſet my Raft, and all the Goods
I had got upon it, but being in fhoal Water, and
the Things being chiefly heavy, I recover'd many
of them when the Tide was out.
Oct. 25. It rain'd all Night and all Day, with
fome Gufts of Wind, during which Time the Ship
broke in Pieces, the Wind blowing a little harder
than before, and was no more to be feen, except
the Wreck of her, and that only at low Water. I
fpent this Day in covering and fecuring the Goods
which I had fav'd, that the Rain might not fpoil
them.
Oct. 26. I walk'd about the Shore almoſt all Day
to find out a Place to fix my Habitation, greatly
concern'd to fecure my felf from any Attack in the
Night, either from wild Beafts or Men. Towards
Night I fix'd upon a proper Place under a Rock,
and mark'd out a Semi-Circle for my Encampment,
which I refolv'd to ſtrengthen with a Work, Wall,
or Fortification, made of double Piles, lin'd with-
in with Cable, and without with Turf.
From the 26th to the 30th I work'd very hard
in carrying all my Goods to my new Habitation
tho'
[83]
tho' fome Part of the Time it rain'd exceeding
hard.
The 31ft in the Morning I went out into the
Inland with my Gun to fee for fome Food, and dif-
cover the Country, when I kill'd a She-Goat, and
her Kid follow'd me Home, which I afterwards
kill'd alfo, becauſe it would not feed.
November 1. I fet up my Tent under a Rock, and
lay there for the firft Night, making it as large as
I could with Stakes driving in to fwing my Ham-
mock upon.
Nov. 2. I fet up all my Chefts and Boards, and
the Pieces of Timber which made my Rafts, and
with them form'd a Fence round me, a little with-
in the Place I had mark'd out for my Fortifica-
tion.
Nov. 3. I went out with my Gun,and kill'd two
Fowls like Ducks, which were very good Food.
In the Afternoon went to work to make me a
Table.
Nov. 4. This Morning I began to order my
Times of Work, of going out with my Gun,Time
of Sleep, and Time of Diverfion, viz. Every
Morning I walk'd out with my Gun for two or
three Hours if it did not rain, then employ'd my
felf to work till about eleven a Clock, then eat what
I had to live on, and from twelve to two I lay
down to fleep, the Weather being exceffive hot,
and then in the Evening to work again: The
working Part of this Day and the next were whol-
ly employ'd in making my Table, for I was yet
but a very forry Workman, tho' Time and Necef-
fity made me a compleat natural Mechaniek foon
after, as I believe it would do any one elſe.
Nov. 5. This Day went Abroad with my Gun
and my Dog, and kill'd a wild Cat, her kin
pretty foft, but her Fleſh good for nothing: Every
Creature
G 2
[ 84 ]
Creature I kill'd, I took off the Skins and preferv'd
them. Coming back by the Sea Shore, I faw ma-
ny Sorts of Sea-Fowls which I did not underſtand;
but was furprized, and almoſt frighted with two or
three Seals, which, while I was gazing at, not well
knowing what they were, got into the Sea, and
eſcaped me for that time.
Nov. 6. After my Morning Walk, I went to
Work with my Table again, and finiſhed it, tho'
not to my Liking; nor was it long before I learn'd
to mend it.
Nov. 7. Now it began to be fettled fair Wea-
ther. The 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and Part of the
12th (for the 11th was Sunday, according to my
Reckoning) I took wholly up to make me a Chair,
and with much ado brought it to a tolerable Shape,
but never to pleaſe me; and even in the Making I
pull'd it to Pieces feveral times. Note, I foon ne-
glected my keeping Sunday; for omitting my Mark
for them on my Poft, I forgot which was which.
Nov. 13. This Day it rained, which refreſhed me
exceedingly, and cooled the Earth, but it was ac-
company'd with terrible Thunder and Lightning,
which frighted me dreadfully, for fear of my Pow-
der: As foon as it was over, I reſolved to ſeparate
my Stock of Powder into as many little Parcels as
poffible, that it might not be in Danger.
Nov. 14, 15, 16. Thefe three Days I ſpent in
making little ſquare Chefts or Boxes, which might
hold about a Pound, or two Pound, at moſt, of
Powder; and fo putting the Powder in, I ftowed
it in Places as fecure and remote from one another
as poffible. On one of thefe three Days I kill'd a
large Bird that was good to eat, but I know not
what to call it.
Nov. 17. This Day I began to dig behind my
Tent into the Rock, to make room for my farther
Conve-
I
ل
[85]
Conveniency. Note, Three Things I wanted ex-
ceedingly for this Work, viz.a Pick-axe, a Shovel,
and a Wheel-barrow or Basket, ſo I defifted from
my Work, and began to confider how to fupply
that Want, and make me fome Tools. As for a
Pick-axe, I made ufe of the Iron Crows, which
were proper enough, tho' heavy; but the next
Thing was a Shovel or Spade; this was fo abfo-
lutely neceffary, that indeed I could do nothing
effectually without it; but what kind of one to
make I knew not.
Nov. 18. The next Day in fearching the Woods,
I found a Tree of that Wood, or like it, which
in the Brafils they call the Iron Tree, for its ex-
ceeding Hardness; of this, with great Labour
and almoft fpoiling my Ax, I cut a Piece, and
brought it Home too with Difficulty enough, for
it was exceeding heavy.
·
The exceffive Hardneſs of the Wood, and having
no other Way, made me a long while upon this
Machine; for I work'd it effectually by little and
Little into the Form of a Shovel or Spade, the
Handle exactly fhap'd like ours in England, only
that the broad Part having no Iron fhod upon it
at Bottom, it would not laft me fo long; however
it ferv'd well enough for the Ufes which I had
Occafion to put it to; but never was a Shovel,
I believe, made after that Fafhion, or fo long a
making.
I was ſtill deficient, for I wanted a Basket or a
Wheel-barrow; a Basket I could not make by any
means, having no fuch Things as Twigs that would
bend to make Wicker Ware, at leaſt none yet found
out; and as to the Wheel-barrow, I fancy'd I could
make all but the Wheel, but that I had no Notion
of, neither did I know how to go about it; beſides,
I had no poffible Way to make Iron Gudgeons
G 3
for
1
[86]
1
for the Spindle or Axis of the Wheel to run in, fo
I gave it over; and fo for carrying away the Earth
which I dug out of the Cave, I made me a Thing
like a Hoad which the Labourers carry Mortar in
when they ferve the Bricklayers.
This was not fo difficult to me as the making
the Shovel; and yet this, and the Shovel, and the
Attempt, which I made in vain, to make a Wheel-
barrow, took me up no lefs than four Days, I mean
always, excepting my Morning Walk with my Gun,
which I feldom fail'd; and very feldom fail'd alſo
of bringing home fomething fit to eat.
Nov. 23. My other Work having now ſtood
ftill, becauſe of my making thefe Tools; when they
were finish'd, I went on, and working every Day,
as my Strength and Time allow'd, I ſpent eigh-
teen Days entirely in widening and deepning my
Cave, that it might hold my Goods commodi-
ouſly.
Note, During all this Time, I work'd to make
this Room or Cave ſpacious enough to accommo-
date me as a Warehouſe or Magazine, a Kitchen,
a Dining-room, and a Cellar; as for a Lodging,
I kept to the Tent, except that fometimes in the
wet Seafon of the Year, it rain'd fo hard that I
could not keep my felf dry, which caus'd me after-
wards to cover all my Place within my Pale with
long Poles in the Form of Rafters, leaning againſt
the Rock, and load them with Flags, and large
Leaves of Trees like a Thatch.
December. 10. I began now to think my Cave
or Vault finished, when on a fudden (it feems I
had made it too large) a great Quantity of Earth
fell down from the Top and one Side, fo much,
that in fhort it frighted me, and not without Rea-
fon too, for if I had been under it, I had never
wanted a Grave-digger: Upon this Difafter I had
a great
[87]
a great deal of Work to do over again; for I had
the looſe Earth to carry out, and which was of
more Importance, I had the Ceiling to prop up, fo
that I might be fure no more would come down.
Dec. II. This Day I went to work with it accor-
dingly, and got two Shoars or Pofts pitch'd upright
to the Top, with two Pieces of Boards a-crofs over
each Poft; this I finifh'd the next Day; and fetting
more Pofts up with Boards, in about a Week more
I had the Roof fecur'd; and the Pofts ftanding in
Rows, ferv'd me for Partitions to Part of my Houfe.
Dec. 17. From this Day to the Twentieth I
plac'd Shelves, and knock'd up Nails on the Pofts
to hang every Thing up that could be hung up,
and now I began to be in fome Order within
Doors.
Dec. 20. Now I carry'd every Thing into the
Cave, and began to furnifh my Houſe and fet up
fome Pieces of Boards like a Dreffer, to order my.
Visuals upon, but Boards began to be very ſcarce
with me; alfo I made me another Table.
Dec. 24. Much Rain all Night and all Day; no
ftirring out.
Dec. 25. Rain all Day.
Dec. 26. No Rain, and the Earth much cooler
than before, and pleafanter.
Dec. 27. Kill'd a young Goat, and lam'd ano-
ther fo that I catch'd it, and led it Home in a
String; when I had it Home, 1 bound and fplin-
ter'd up its Leg which was broke. N. B. I
took fuch Care of it, that it liv'd, and the Leg
grew well and as ftrong as ever; but by nurfing
it fo long it grew tame, and fed upon the little
Green at my Door, and would not go away:
This was the firft Time that I entertain'd a
Though of breeding up fome tame Creatures,
G4
that
}
[88]
that I might have Food when my Powder and
Shot was all spent.
Dec. 28, 29, 30. Great Heats and no Breeze; fo
that there was no ſtirring abroad, except in the E-
vening for Food; this Time I fpent in putting all
my Things in Qrder within Doors.
January 1. Very hot ftill, but I went abroad ear-
ly and late with my Gun, and lay ftill in the middle
of the Day; this Evening going farther into the
Valleys, which lay towards the Center of the Island,
I found there was Plenty of Goats, tho'exceeding
fhye and hard to come at; however I refolv'd to try
if I could not bring my Dog to hunt them down.
Jan. 2. Accordingly, the next Day, I went out
with my Dog, and fet him upon the Goats; but I
was miſtaken, for they all fac'd about upon the
Dog, and he knew his Danger too well, for he
would not come near them,
Jan. 3. I began my Fence or Wall; which, being
ftill jealous of my being attack'd by fome Body, I
refolv❜d to make very thick and ftrong.
1
N. B. This Wall being defcrib'd before, I
purposely omit what was faid in the Four-
nal it is fufficient to obferve, that I was
no lefs Time than from the 3d of January
to the 14th of April, working, finishing and
perfecting this Wall, tho' it was no more
than about 24 Yards in Length, being a half
Circle from one Place in the Rock to another
Place about eight Yards from it, the Door
of the Cave being in the Center behind it.
All this Time I work'd very hard, the Rains
hindering me many Days, nay fometimes Weeks
together; but I thought I fhould never be perfect-
ly fecure 'till this Wall was finiſh'd; and it is
fcarce
[89]
fcarce, credible what inexpreffible Labour every
Thing was done with, eſpecially the bringing Piles
out of the Woods, and driving them into the
Ground; for I made them much bigger than I
needed to have done.
When this Wall was finifh'd, and the Outſide
double fenc'd with a Turf-Wall rais'd up clofe to
it, I perfwaded myſelf, that if any People were to
come on Shore there, they would not perceive
any Thing like a Habitation; and it was very
well I did fo, as may be obſerv'd hereafter upon a
verv remarkable Occafion.
During this Time, I made my Rounds in the
Woods for Game every Day when the Rain ad-
mitted me, and made frequent Difcoveries in thefe
Walks of fomething or other to my Advantage;
particularly I found a Kind of wild Pidgeons, who
built not as Wood-Pidgeons in a Tree, but rather
as Houſe-Pidgeons, in the Holes of the Rocks ;
and taking fome young ones, I endeavour'd to
breed them up tame, and did fo; but when they
grew older, they flew all away, which perhaps
was at firft for want of feeding them, for I had
nothing to give them; however,I frequently found
their Nefts,and got their young ones, which were
very good Meat.
And now in the managing my Houfhold Affairs,
I found myſelf wanting in many Things, which ĺ
thought at firſt it was impoffible for me to make,
as indeed as to fome of them it was; for Inftance,
I could never make a Cask to be hoop'd, I had a
fmall Runlet or two, as I obferv'd before, but I
could never arrive to the Capacity of making one
by them, tho' I fpent many Weeks about it
could neither put in the Heads, or joint the Staves
I
fo true to one another, as to make them hold Wa-
ter; fo I gave that alfo over,
ذ
In
[90]
In the next place, I was at a great Lofs for Can-
dle; fo that as foon as ever it was dark, which
was generally by Seven a-Clock, I was oblig'd to
go to Bed: I remember, the Lump of Bees-Wax,
with which I made Candles in my African Adven-
ture, but I had none of that now; the only Re-
medy I had, was, that when I had kill'd a Goat,
I fav'd the Tallow, and with a little Dish made
of Clay, which I bak'd in the Sun, to which I
added a Wick of fome Oakum, I made me a
Lamp; and this gave me Light, tho' not a clear
fteady Light like a Candle. In the middle of all
my Labours it happen'd, that rummaging my
Things, I found a little Bag, which, as 1 hinted
before, had been Ell'd with Corn for the feeding
of Poultry, not for this Voyage, but before, as I
fuppofe, when the Ship came from Lisbon; what
little Remainder of Corn had been in the Bag,
was all devour'd with the Rats, and I faw nothing
in the Bag but Husks and Duft; and being willing
to have the Bag for fome other Ufe, I think it was
to put Powder in, when I divided it for fear of
the Lightning, or fome fuch Uſe, I ſhook the
Husks of Corn out of it on one Side of my Fortifi-
cation under the Rock.
It was a little before the great Rains, juft now
mention'd that I threw this Stuff away, taking no
Notice of any Thing, and not fo much as remem-
bring that I had thrown any Thing there; when
about a Month after, or thereabouts, I faw fome
few Stalks of fomething green shooting out of the
Ground, which I fancy'd might be fome Plant I
had not feen; but I was furpriz'd and perfectly
aftoniſh'd, when after a little longer Time I faw
about ten or twelve Ears come out, which were
perfect green Barley of the fame Kind as our Eu-
ropean, nay, as our English Barley.
It
[91]
It is impoffible to exprefs the Aftoniſhment and
Confufion of my Thoughts on this Occafion; I
had hitherto acted upon no religious Foundation at
all; indeed I had very few Notions of Religion in
my Head, nor had entertain'd any Senfe of any
Thing that had befallen me, otherwife than as a
Chance, or, as we lightly fay, what pleaſes God;
without fo much as enquiring into the End of Pro-
vidence in thefe Things, or his Order in govern-
ing Events in the World: But after I faw Barley
grow there, in a Climate which I knew was not
proper for Corn, and cfpecially that I knew not
how it came there, it ſtartled me ftrangely, and I
began to fuggeft, that God had miraculously caus'd
this Grain to grow without any Help of Seed fown,
and that it was fo directed purely for my Sufte-
nance on that wild miferable Place.
This touch'd my Heart a little, and brought
Tears out of my Eyes, and I began to bless my
felf, that fuch a Prodigy of Nature ſhould happen
upon my Account; and this was the more ftrange
to me, becauſe I faw near it ftill all along by the
Side of the Rock, fome other ftraggling Stalks,
which prov'd to be Stalks of Rice, and which I
knew, becauſe I had feen it grow in Africa, when
I was afhore there.
I not only thought thefe the pure Productions
of Providence for my Support, but not doubting,
but that there was more in the Place, I went all
over that Part of the Ifland, where I had been
before, peering in every Corner, and under every
Rock, to fee for more of it, but I could not find
any; at laft it occur'd to my Thoughts, that I had
fhook a Bag of Chickens Meat out in that Place,
and then the Wonder began to ceafe; and I muſt
confefs, my religious Thankfulneſs to God's Pro-
vidence began to abate too upon the diſcove-
** 2
ring
[92]
ring that all this was nothing but what was com-
mon; tho' I ought to have been as thankful for lo
ftrange and unforeſeen Providence, as if it had
been miraculous; for it was really the Work of
Providence as to me, that ſhould order or appoint,
that 10 or 12 Grains of Corn fhould remain un-
fpoil'd (when the Rats had deftroy'd all the reft)
as if it had been dropt from Heaven: As alfo that I
ſhould throw it out in that particular Place where
it being in the Shade of a high Rock, it fprang up
immediately; whereas if I had thrown it any
where elfe at that Time, it had been burnt up and
deſtroy'd.
I carefully fav'd the Ears of this Corn, you may be
fure in their Seafon, which was about the End of
June, and laying up every Corn, I refolv'd to fow
them all again, hoping in Time to have fome
Quantity fufficient to fupply me with Bread; but
it was not till the 4th Year that I could allow my
felf the leaft Grain of this Corn to eat, and even
then but fparingly, as I fhall fay afterwards in its
Order; for I loft all that I fow'd the firft Seafon,
by not obſerving the proper Time, for I fow'd it
juft before the dry Seafon, fo that it never came
up at all, at leaft, not as it would have done: Of
which in its Place.
: Befides this Barley, there was, as above, 20 or
30 Stalks of Rice, which 1 preferv'd with the fame
Care, and whofe Ufe was of the fame Kind, or to
the fame Purpoſe, (viz.) to make me Bread, or
rather Food; for I found Ways to cook it
up with-
out baking, tho' I did that alfo after fome Time.
But to return to my Journal.
I work'd exceffive hard thefe three or four
Months to get my Wall done; and the 14th of
April I cloſed it up, contriving to go into it, not
by a Door, but over the Wall by a Ladder, that
there
1
[ 93 ]
there might be no Sign in the Outfide of my
Habitation.
April 16. I finith'd the Ladder, fo I went up with
the Ladder to the Top, and then pull'd it up af-
ter me, and let it down on the Infide: This was
a compleat Enclofure to me; for within I had room
enough, and nothing could come at me from with-
out, unless it could firft mount my Wall.
The very next Day after this Wall was finiſhed,
I had almoft had all my Labour overthrown at
once, and myſelf kill'd; the Cafe was thus: As I
was bufy in the Infide of it, behind my Tent, juſt
in the Entrance into my Cave, I was terribly fright-
ed with a moft dreadful furprizing thing indeed;
for all on a fudden I found the Earth came crum-
bling down from the Roof of my Cave, and from
the Edge of the Hill over my Head, and two of
the Pots I had fet up in the Cave, crack'd in a
frightful manner: I was heartily fcared, but thought
nothing of what really was the Caufe, only think-
ing that the Top of my Cave was falling in, as ſome
of it had done before; and for fear I fhould be bu-
ried in it, I ran forward to my Ladder, and not
thinking my felf fafe there reither, I got over my
Wall for fear of the Pieces of the Hill which I ex-
pected might roll down upon me. I was no fooner
ſtept down upon the firm Ground, but I plainly
faw it was a terrible Earthquake, for the Ground
I ftood on fhook three times, at about eight Mi-
nutes Diſtance, with three fuch Shocks as would
have overturned the ftrongeft Building that could
be ſuppoſed to have ſtood on the Earth; and a
great Piece of the Top of a Rock, which ſtood
about Half a Mile from me next the Sea, fell down
with fuch a terrible Noife, as I never heard in all
my Life. I perceived alfo, the very Sea was put
into a violent Motion by it; and I believe the
Shock
!
[94]
!
!
Shocks were ftronger under the Water than on the
Inland.
I was fo amaz'd with the Thing it ſelf, having
never felt the like, or difcours'd with any one that
had, that I was like one dead or ftupify'd ; and the
Motion of the Earth made my Stomach fick, like
one that was tofs'd at Sea; but the Noife of the
falling of the Rock awak'd me, as it were, and rou-
zing me from the ftupified Condition I was in,
fill'd me with Horror, and I thought of nothing
then but the Hill falling upon my Tent, and all my
Houfhold Goods, and burying all at once; and
this funk my very Soul within me a fecond Time.
After the third Shock was over, and I felt no
more for fome Time, I began to take Courage, and
yet I had not Heart enough to get over my Wall a-
gain, for fear of being buried alive, but fat ftill
upon the Ground, greatly caft down and diſconfo-
late, not knowing what to do: All this while I had
not the leaſt ſerious religious Thought, nothing
but the common, Lord ha' Mercy upon me; and
when it was over, that went away too.
While I fat thus, I found the Air over caft, and
grew cloudy, as if it would rain; fo that in lefs
than half an Hour it blew a moft dreadful Hurri-
cane: The Sea was all on a fudden cover'd over
with Foam and Froth, the Shore was cover'd with
the Breach of the Water, the Trees were torn up
by the Roots, and a terrible Storm it was; and
this held about three Hours, and then began to
abate, and then in two Hours more it was calm, and
began to rain very hard.
All this while I fat upon the Ground very much
terrify'd and dejected, when on a fudden it came
into my Thoughts, that thefe Winds and Rain being
the Confequence of the Earthquake, the Earthquake
it felf
1
:
[ 95 ]
}
it felf was ſpent and over, and I might venture into
my Cave again: With this Thought my Spirits
began to revive, and the Rain helping alfo to per-
fwade me, I went in and fat down in my Tent,
but the Rain was fo violent, that my Tent was
ready to be beaten down with it; and I was forc'd
to go into my Cave, tho' very much afraid and un-
eafy for fear it fhould fall on my Head.
This violent Rain forc'd me to a new Work, viz.
to cut a Hole thro' my new Fortification like a Sink
to let Water go out, which would eife have drown'd
my Cave. After I had been in my Cave fome-
Time, and found ftill no more Shocks of the Earth-
quake follow, I began to be more compos'd; and
now to fupport my Spirits, which indeed wanted
it very much, I went to my little Store, and took
a fmall Sup of Rum, which however I did then
and always very fparingly, knowing I could have
no more when that was gone.
It continued raining all that Night, and great
Part of the next-Day, fo that I could not ſtir a-
broad, but my Mind being more compos'd, I be-
gan to think of what I had beft do, concluding,
that if the Ifland was Subject to theſe Earthquakes,
there would be no Living for me in a Cave, but I
muſt conſider of building me fome little Hut in an
open Place, which I might furround with a Wall as
I had done here, and fo make my felf fecure from
wild Beafts or Men: But concluded, if I ftaid where
I was, I fhould certainly, one Time or other be
be bury'd alive.
:
With thefe Thoughts I refolv'd to remove my
Tent from the Place where it ſtood, which was
juft under the hanging Precipice of the Hil, and
which, if it fhould be fhaken again, would certain-
ly fall upon my Tent: And Ifpent the two next
Days
[96]
Days being the 19th and 20th of April, in con-
triving where and how to remove my Habitation:
The Fear of being fwallow'd up alive, made me
that I never flept in quiet; and yet the Apprehen-
fion of lying abroad without any Fence, was al-
moſt equal to it: But ftill when I look'd about,
and faw how every Thing was put in Order, how
pleaſantly conceal'd I was, and how fafe from
Danger, it made me very loath to remove.
In the mean Time it occurr'd to me, that it would
require a vaſt Deal of Time for me to do this, and
that I muſt be contented to run the Venture where
I was, till I had form'd a Camp for my felf, and
had fecur'd it fo as to remove to it: So with this
Refolution I compos'd my ſelf for a Time, and re-
folv'd that I would go to work with all Speed to
build me a Wall with Piles and Cables, c. in a
Circle as before; and fet my Tent up in it when it
was finifh'd, but that I would venture to ſtay where
I was 'till it was finifh'd and fit to remove to. This
was the 21ft
April 22. The next Morning I began to confider
of Means to put this Refolve in Execution, but I
was at a great Lofs about my Tools; I had three
large Axes and Abundance of Hatchets, (for we
carry'd the Hatchets for Traffick with the Indians)
but with much chopping and cutting knotty hard
Wood, they were all full of Notches, and dull;
and tho' I had a Grindstone, I could not turn it and
grind my Tools too; this coft me as much Thought
as a Stateſman would have beftow'd upon a grand
Point of Politicks, or a Judge upon the Life and
Death of a Man. At length I contriv'd a Wheel
with a String to turn it with my Foot, that I
might have both my Hands at Liberty. Note, I had
not feen any fuch Thing in England, or at leaſt
not to take Notice how it was done, tho' fince I
have
[ 97 ]
have obferved it is very common there; befides
that, my Grindſtone was very large and heavy.
This Machine coft me a full Week's Work to
bring it to Perfection.
April 28, 29. Theſe two whole Days I took up
in grinding my Tools, my Machine for turning
my Grindstone performing very well.
April 30. Having perceived my Bread had been
low a great while, now I took a Survey of it, and
reduced myſelf to one Bisket-cake a Day, which
made my Heart very heavy.
May 1. In the Morning looking towards the
Sea-fide, the Tide being low, I faw fomething lye
on the Shore bigger than ordinary, and it look'd
like a Cask; when I came to it, I found a ſmall
Barrel, and two or three Pieces of the Wreck of
the Ship, which were driven on Shore by the late
Hurricane, and looking towards the Wreck it ſelf,
I thought it ſeemed to Ïye higher out of the Water
than it uſed to do; I examined the Barrel which
was driven on Shore, and foon found it was a
Barrel of Gunpowder, but it had taken Water, and
the Powder was cak'd as hard as a Stone: Howe-
ver, I roll'd it farther on Shore for the prefent, and
went on upon the Sands, as near as I could to the
Wreck of the Ship, to look for more.
When I came down to the Ship I found it ftrange-
ly remov'd: The Forecaſtle, which lay before bu-
ried in Sand, was heav'd up at leaſt fix Foot, and
the Stern, which was broke to Pieces, and parted
from the reft by the Force of the Sea, foon after
I had left rummaging of her, was toſs'd, as it were,
up, and caft on one Side, and the Sand was thrown
fo high on that Side next her Stern, that whereas
there was a great Place of Water before, fo that I
could not come within a Quarter of a Mile of the
Wreck without fwimming, I could now walk
Part I.
H
quite
[98]
3
quite up to her when the Tide was out. I'was fur-
prized with this at firſt, but foon concluded it muſt
be done by the Earthquake; and as by this Vio-
lence the Ship was more broken open than former-
ly, fo many things came daily on Shore, which the
Sea had loofen'd, and which the Winds and Water
rolled by Degrees to the Land.
This wholly diverted my Thoughts from the
Defign of removing my Habitation; and I bufied
myfelf mightily that Day eſpecially, in fearching
whether I could make any Way into the Ship, but
I found nothing was to be expected of that Kind,
for that all the Infide of the Ship was choak'd up
with Sand: However, as I had learnt not to de-
fpair of any thing, I refolved to pull every thing to
Pieces that I could of the Ship, concluding that
every thing I could get from her would be of fome
Ufe or other to me.
May 3. I began with my Saw, and cut a Piece of
a Beam thro', which I thought held fome of the
upper Part, or Quarter-Deck together, and when I
had cut it thro', I cleared away the Sand as well as
I could, from the Side which lay higheft; but the
Tide coming in, I was obliged to give over for that
Time.
May 4. I went a fishing, but caught not one Fiſh
that I durft eat of, till I was weary of my Sport,
when juſt going to leave off, I caught a young. Dol-
phin. I had made me a long Line of fome Rope
Yarn, but I had no Hooks, yet I frequently caught
Fiſh enough, as much as I car'd to eat; all which
I dry'd in the Sun, and eat them dry.
May 5. Work'd on the Wreck, cut another
Beam afunder, and brought three great Fir Planks
off from the Decks, which I tied together, and
made ſwim on Shore when the Tide of Flood
came on.
May
[99]
May 6. Work'd on the Wreck, got feveral Iron
Bolts out of her, and other Pieces of Iron Work,
work'd very hard, and came Home very much tir'd,
and had Thoughts of giving it over.
May 7. Went to the Wreck again, but with an
Intent not to work, but found the Weight of the
Wreck had broke itſelf down, the Beams being cut,
that ſeveral Picces of the Ship feem'd to lye looſe,
and the Infide of the Hold lay fo open, that I
could fee into it, but almoft full of Water and Sand.
May 8. Went to the Wreck, and carry'd an Iron
Crow to wrench up the Deck, which lay now
quite clear of the Water or Sand; I wrench'd open
two Planks, and brought them on Shore alfo with
the Tide: I left the Iron Crow in the Wreck for
next Day.
May 9. Went to the Wreck, and with the Crow
made Way into the Body of the Wreck, and felt
ſeveral Ca ks, and looſen'd them with the Crow,
but could not break them up; I felt alfo the Roll
of English Lead, and could ftir it, but it was too
heavy to move.
May 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. Went every Day to
the Wreck, and got a great deal of Pieces of Tim-
ber and Boards, or Plank, and 2 or 300 Weight
of Iron.
May 15. I carry'd two Hatchets to try if I
could not cut a Piece off of the Roll of Lead, by
placing the Edge of one Hatchet, and driving it
with the other; but as it lay about a Foot and a
half in the Water, I could not make any Blow to
drive the Hatchet.
May 16. It had blow'd hard in the Night, and
the Wreck appear'd more broken by the Force of
the Water; but I ftay'd fo long in the Woods to get
Pidgeons for Food, that the Tide prevented me
going to the Wreck that Day.
H 2
May
1
[ 100 ]
May 17. I faw fome Pieces of the Wreck blown
on Shore, at a great Diſtance, two Miles off me,
but refolv'd to fee what they were, and found it
was a Piece of the Head, but too heavy for me to
bring away.
May 24. Every Day to this Day I work'd on
the Wreck, and with hard Labour I looſen'd fome
Things fo much with the Crow, that the firſt
blowing Tide feveral Casks floated out, and two
of the Seamens Chefts; but the Wind blowing from
the Shore, nothing came to Land that Day, but
Pieces of Timber, and a Hogfhead which had fome
Brazil Pork in it, but the Salt-water and the Sand
had fpoil'd it.
I continu'd this Work every Day to the 15th of
June, except the Time neceffary to get Food,
which I always appointed, during this Part of my
Employment, to be when the Tide was up, that I
might be ready when it was ebb'd out, and by this
Time I had gotten Timber, and Plank, and Iron-
Work enough, to have built a good Boat, if I
had known how; and alfo, I got at feveral Times,
and in ſeveral Pieces, near 100 Weight of the Sheet-
Lead.
June 16. Going down to the Sea-fide, I found
a large Tortoife or Turtle; this was the firft I had
feen, which it feems was only my Misfortune, not
any Defect of the Place, or Scarcity; for had I hap-
pen'd to be on the other Side of the Ifland,ˆI:
might have had Hundreds of them every Day, as
I found afterwards; but perhaps had paid dear
enough for them.
June 17. I spent in cooking the Turtle; I
found in her threefcore Eggs; and her Fleſh was to
me at that Time the most favoury and pleaſant
that ever I tafted in my Life, having had no Fleth,
but...
ས་
[ 101 ]
but of Goats and Fowls, fince I landed in this
horrible Place.
June 18. Rain'd all Day, and I ftay'd within,
I thought at this Time the Rain felt cold, and I
was fomething chilly, which I knew was not ufual
in that Latitude,
June 19. Very ill, and fhivering, as if the Wea
ther had been cold.
June 20. No Reft all Night, violent Pains in
my Head, and feverish.
June 21. Very ill, frighted almoſt to Death
with the Apprehenfions of my fad Condition, to
be fick, and no Help: Pray'd to GOD for the
firſt Time fince the Storm of Hull, but ſcarce
knew what I faid, or why; my Thoughts being
all confuſed.
June 22. A little better, but under dreadful
Apprehenfions of Sickneſs.
June 23. Very bad again, cold and fhivering,
and then a violent Head-ach.
June 24. Much better.
June 25. An Ague very violent; the Fit held
me feven Hours, cold Fit and hot, with faint
Sweats after it.
June 26. Better; and having no Victuals to eat,
took my Gun, but found my felf very weak;
however I kill'd a She-Goat, and with much Dif-
ficulty got it Home, and broil'd fome of it, and
eat; I would fain have ſtew'd it, and made fome
Broath, but had no Pot.
June 27. The Ague again fo violent, that I
lay a-Bed all Day, and neither eat or drank. I
was ready to perifh for Thirft, but fo weak, I had
not Strength to ftand up, or to get my felf any
Water to drink Pray'd to God again, but was
light-headed, and when I was not, I was fo igno-
rant, that I knew not what to fay; only I lay and
:
H 3
cry'd,
[102]
་
ery'd, Lord look upon me, Lord pity me, Lord have
Mercy upon me: I fuppofe I did nothing elſe for two
or three Hours, till the Fit wearing off, I fell aſleep,
and did not wake till far in the Night. When I
wak'd, I found myſelf much refreſh'd, but weak,
and exceeding thirfty: However, as I had no Wa-
ter in my whole Habitation, I was forc'd to lye till
Morning, and went to fleep again: In this fecond
Sleep, I had this terrible Dream.
I thought, that I was fitting on the Ground on
the Outſide of my Wall, where I fat when the
Storm blew after the Earthquake, and that I faw
a Man defcend from a great black Cloud, in a
bright Flame of Fire, and light upon the Ground:
He was all over as bright as a Flame, fo that I could
but juſt bear to look towards him; his Counte-
nance was moſt inexpreffibly dreadful, impoffible
for Words to defcribe; when he ftepp'd upon the
Ground with his Feet, I thought the Earth trem-
bled, juft as it had done before in the Earthquake,
and all the Air look'd, to my Apprehenfion, as if
it had been fill'd with Flaſhes of Fire.
He was no fooner landed upon the Earth, but
he moved forward towards me, with a long Spear
or Weapon in his Hand, to kill me; and when he
came to a rifing Ground, at fome Diſtance, he
ſpoke to me, or I heard a Voice fo terrible, that
it is impoffible to exprefs the Terror of it; all that
I can fay, I underſtood, was this, Seeing all theſe
Things have not brought thee to Repentance, now thou
fhalt die: At which Words, I thought he lifted up
the Spear that was in his Hand to kill me.
No one, that fhall ever read this Account, will
expect that I fhould be able to defcribe the Horrors
of my Soul at this terrible Vifion; I mean, that e-
ven while it was a Dream, I even dreamed of thofe
Horrors; nor is it any more poffible to defcribe
the
[103]
the Impreffion that remain'd upon my Mind when
I awak'd and found it was but a Dream.
I had alas! no divine Knowledge; what I had re-
ceived by the good Inftruction of my Father was then
worn out by an uninterrupted Series, for 8 Years, of
Seafaring Wickednefs, and a conftant Converfation
with nothing but fuch as were like myſelf, wicked
and prophane to the laft Degree: I do not remem-
ber that I had in all that Time one Thought that
fo much as tended either to looking upwards to-
ward God, or inwards towards a Reflection upon
my own Ways: But a certain Stupidity of Soul,
without Delire of Good, or Confcience of Evil,
had entirely overwhelm'd me, and I was all that
the moſt hardned unthinking, wicked Creature a-
mong our common Sailors, can be fuppofed to be,
not having the leaft Senfe, either of the Fear of
God in Danger, or of Thankfulneſs to God in
Deliverances.
In the relating what is already paſt of my Story,
this will be the more eaſily believ'd, when I fhall
add, that thro' all the Variety of Miferies that
had to this Day befallen me, I never had fo much
as one Thought of it being the Hand of God, or
that it was a juft Puniſhment for my Sin; my re-
bellious Behaviour agaifft my Father, or my pre-
fent Sins which were great; or fo much as a Pu-
nifhment for the general Courſe of my wicked Life.
When I was on the defperate Expedition on the
defart Shores of Africa, I never had fo much as one
Thought of what would become of me; or one
With to God to direct me whether I fhould go, or
to keep me from the Danger which apparently
furrounded me, as well from voracious Creatures
as cruel Savages: But I was meerly thoughtless of
God, or a Providence; acted like a meer Brute
from the Principles of Nature, and by the Dictates
of common Senfe only, and indeed hardly that.
H 4
When
{
[104]
When I was deliver'd and taken up at Sea by the
Portugal Captain, well us'd, and dealt juftly and
honourably with, as well as charitably, I had not
the leaft Thankfulnefs on my Thoughts: When
again I was fhipwreck'd, ruin'd, and in Danger of
drowning on this Ifland, I was as far from Re-
morfe, or looking on it as a Judgment; I only faid
to my felf often, that I was an unfortunate Dog, and
born to be always miferable.
It is true, when I got on Shore firſt here, and
found all my Ship's Crew drown'd, and my felf
fpar'd, I was furpriz'd with a kind of Extafy, and
fome Tranfports of Soul, which, had the Grace of
God affifted, might have come up to true Thank-
fulness; but it ended where it begun, in a meer
common Flight of Joy, or as I may fay, being glad I
was alive, without the leaft Reflection upon the
diftinguiſhing Goodness of the Hand which had
preferv'd me, and had fingled me out to be pre-
ferv'd, when all the reft were deftroy'd; or an En-
quiry why Providence had been thus merciful to
me; even juft the fame common Sort of Joy which
Seamen generally have after they have got fafe afhore
from a Shipwreck, which they drown all in the next
Bowl of Punch, and forget almoft as foon as it is
over, and all the reft of my Life was like it.
Even when I was afterwards, on due Confide-
ration, made fenfible of iny Condition, how I was
caft on this dreadful Place, out of the Reach of hu-
man Kind, out of all Hope of Relief, or Profpe&
of Redemption, as foon as I faw but a Profpect of
living, and that I fhould not ftarve and perifh for
Hunger, all the Senfe of my Affliction wore off,
and I begun to be very cafy, apply'd my felf to the
Works proper for my Prefervation and Supply, and
was far enough from being afflicted at my Con-
dition, as a Judgment from Heaven, or as the
Hand
[ 105 ]
Hand of God againſt me; theſe were Thoughts
which very feldom enter'd into my Head.
The growing up of the Corn, as is hinted in my
Journal, had at firft fome little Influence upon me,
and began to affect me with Serioufnefs, as long as
I thought it had fomething miraculous in it; but
as foon as ever that Part of the Thought was re-
mov'd, all the Impreffion which was rais'd from it,
wore off alfo, as I have noted already.
Even the Earthquake, tho' nothing could be
more terrible in its Nature, or more immediately
directing to the invifible Power which alone di-
rects fuch Things, yet no fooner was the firft Fright
over, but the Impreffion it had made went off alſo.
I had no more Senfe of God or his Judgments,
much leſs of the preſent Affliction of my Circum-
ftances being from his Hand, than if I had been in
the moſt profperous Condition of Life.
But now when I began to be fick, and a leiſure-
ly View of the Miſeries of Death came to place it-
felf before me; when my Spirits began to fink un-
der the Burden of a ftrong Distemper, and Nature
was exhauſted with the Violence of the Fever;
Confcience that had flept fo long, began to awake,
and I began to reproach myfelf with my paft Life,
in which I had fo evidently, by uncommon Wicked-
nefs, provok'd the Juftice of God to lay me under
uncommon Strokes, and to deal with me in fo vin-
dictive a Manner.
Theſe Reflections oppreſs'd me for the ſecond or
third Day of my Diftemper, and in the Violence,
as well of the Fever, as of the dreadful Reproaches
of
my
Confcience, extorted fome Words from me,
like praying to God, tho' I cannot fay they were
either a Prayer attended with Defires or with
Hopes; it was rather the Voice of meer Fright
and Diftrefs; my Thoughts were confus'd, the
Con-
[106]
}
Convictions great upon my Mind, and the Hor-
ror of dying in fuch a miferable Condition, rais'd
Vapours into my Head with the meer Apprehen-
fions; and in thefe Hurries of my Soul, I know
not what my Tongue might exprefs: But it was ra-
ther Exclamation, fuch as, Lord! what a miferable
Creature am I? If I fhould be ſick, I fhall certain-
ly die for want of Help, and what will become of
me! Then the Tears burft out of my Eyes, and I
could fay no more for a good while.
In this Interval, the good Advice of my Father
came to my Mind, and preſently his Prediction
which I mention'd at the Beginning of this Story,
viz. That if I did take this foolish Step, God would not
bless me, and I would have Leifure hereafter to reflect
upon having neglected his Counsel, when there might be
none to aſſiſt in my Recovery. Now, faid I aloud,
my dear Father's Words are come to pafs: God's
Juftice has overtaken me, and I have none to help
or hear me I rejected the Voice of Providence,
which had mercifully put me in a Pofture or Sta-
tion of Life, wherein I might have been happy
and eafy; but I would neither fee it myſelf, or learn
to know the Bleffing of it from my Parents; I left
them to mourn over my Folly, and now I am left
to mourn under the Confequences of it: 1 refus'd
their Help and Affiftance who wou'd have lifted me
into the World, and would have made every thing
eafy to me, and now I have Difficulties to ftrug-
gle with, too great for even Nature itſelf to fup-
port, and no Affiftance, no Help, no Comfort, no
Advice; then I cry'd out, Lord be my Help, for I am
in great Diftrefs.
This was the firft Prayer, if I may call it fo,
that I had made for many Years: But I return to
my Journal.
Fune
[107]
June 28. Having been fomewhat refresh'd with
the Sleep I had had, and the Fit being entirely
off, I got up; and tho' the Fright and Terror of
my Dream was very great, yet I confider'd, that
the Fit of the Ague would return again the next
Day, and now was my Time to get fomething to
refreſh and ſupport myſelf when I fhould be ill;
and the firſt thing I did, I fill'd a large fquare
Cafe Bottle with Water, and fet it upon my Table,
in reach of my Bed; and to take off the Chill
or aguish Difpofition of the Water, I put about
a Quarter of a Pint of Rum into it, and mix'd
them together; then I got me a Piece of the
Goat's Fleſh, and broil'd it on the Coals, but could
eat very little; I walk'd about, but was very weak,
and withal very fad and heavy-hearted in the Senſe
of my miferable Condition, dreading the Return
of my Distemper the next Day; at Night I made
my Supper of three of the Turtle's Eggs, which
I roafted in the Afhes, and eat, as we call it, in
the Sheli; and this was the firſt Bit of Meat I had
ever ask'd God's Bleffing to, even as I could re-
member, in my whole Life.
After I had eaten, I try'd to walk, but found
my ſelf fo weak, that I could hardly carry the
Gun, (for I never went out without that) fo I
went but a little Way, and fat down upon the
Ground, looking out upon the Sea, which was
juft before me, and very calm and fmooth: As
I fat here, fome fuch Thoughts as thefe occurred
to me :
What is this Earth and Sea of which I have ſeen
fo much, whence is it produc'd, and what am I,
and all the other Creatures, wild and tame, human
and brutal, whence e we?
Sure
!
[ 108 ]
7
Sure we are all made by fome fecret Power, who
form'd the Earth and Sea, the Air and Sky; and
who is that?
Then it follow'd moft naturally, it is God that
has made it all: Well, but then it came on ftrange-
ly, if God has made all thefe Things, He guides
and governs them all, and all Things that concern
them; for the Power that could make all Things,
muſt certainly have Power to guide and direct
them.
If ſo, nothing can happen in the great Circuit of
his Works, either without his Knowledge or Ap-
pointment.
And if nothing happens without his Know-
ledge, he knows that I am here, and am in this
dreadful Condition; and if nothing happens with-
out his Appointment, he has appointed all this to
befal me.
Nothing occurr'd to my Thought to contradi&t
any of thefe Conclufions; and therefore it reſted
upon me with the greater Force, that it muſt needs
be, that God hath appointed all this to befal me;
that I was brought to this miferable Circumſtance,
by his Direction, he having the fole Power, not of
me only, but of every Thing that happen'd in the
World. Immediately it follow'd.
Why has God done this to me? What have I done
to be thus us'd?
* My Confcience preſently check'd me in that En-
quiry, as if I had blafphem'd, and methought it
ſpoke to me like a Voice; WRETCH! doft thou
ask what thou haft done! Look back upon a dreadful
mif-fpent Life, and ask thy felf what thou hast not
done? Ask, Why is it that wert not long ago de-
Stroy'd? Why wert thou not own'd in Yarmouth
Roads? Kill'd in the Fight when the Ship was taken by
the Salee Man of War? Devour'd by the wild Beafts
078
[109]
on the Coast of Africa? Or, drown'd HERE, when
all the Crew perish'd but thyfelj? Doft thou ask, What
have I done?
I was ſtruck dumb with thefe Reflections, as one
aſtoniſh'd, and had not a Word to fay, no not to
anſwer to myſelf, but roſe up penfive and fad,
walk'd back to my Retreat, and went up over my
Wall, as if I had been going to Bed, but my
Thoughts were fadly difturb'd, and I had no In-
clination to fleep, fo I fat down in my Chair,
and lighted my Lamp, for it began to be dark.
Now, as the Apprehenfion of the Return of my
Diftemper terrify'd me very much, it occurr'd to
my Thought, that the Brafilians take no Phyfick
but their Tobacco, for almoſt all Diftempers;
and I had a Piece of a Roll of Tobacco in one of
the Chefts, which was quite cur'd, and fome alfo
that was green, and not quite cur'd.
I went, directed by Heaven no doubt; for in
this Cheft I found a Cure, both for Soul and Body,
I open'd the Cheft, and found what I look'd for,
viz. the Tobacco; and as the few Books, I had
fav'd, lay there too, I took out one of the Bibles
which I mention'd before, and which to this Time I
had not found Leifure, or fo much as Inclination
to look into; I fay, I took it out, and brought
both that and the Tobacco with me to the Table.
What Ufe to make of the Tobacco, I knew not,
as to my Distemper, or whether it was good for it
or no; but I try'd feveral Experiments with it, as
if I was refolv'd it fhould hit one Way or other
I firſt took a Piece of a Leaf, and chew'd it in my
Mouth, which indeed at firft almoft ftupify'd my
Brain, the Tobacco being green and ftrong, and
that I had not been much us'd to it; then I took
fome and ſteeped it an Hour or two in fome Rum,
and refolv'd to take a Dofe of it when I lay down;
and
[110]
1
and laftly, I burnt fome upon a Pan of Coals, and
held my Noſe clofe over the Smoke of it as long
as I could bear it, as well for the Heat as almoft
for Suffocation.
In the Interval of this Operation, I took up the
Bible and began to read, but my Head was too
much diſturb'd with the Tobacco to bear reading,
at leaſt at that Time; only having open'd the Book
cafually, the first Words that occur'd to me were
thefe, Call on me in the Day of Trouble, and I will deli-
ver, and thou shalt glorify me.
The Words were very apt to my Cafe, and made
fome Impreffion upon my Thoughts at the Time of
reading them, tho' not fo much as they did after-
wards; for as for being deliver'd, the Word had no
Sound, as I my fay, to me; the Thing was fo remote,
fo impoffible in my Apprehenfion of Things, that
I began to fay as the Children of Ifrael did, when
they were promis'd Fleſh to eat, Can God Spread a
Table in the Wilderneſs? So I began to ſay,Can God
himſelf deliver me from this Place? And as it was
not for many Years that any Hope appear'd, this
prevail'd very often upon my Thoughts: But
however, the Words made a great Impreffion upon
me, and I mufed upon them very often. It grew
now late, and the Tobacco had, as I faid, doz'd
my Head fo much, that I inclin'd to fleep; fo I
left my Lamp burning in the Cave, left I ſhould
want any Thing in the Night, and went to Bed;
but before I lay down, I did what I never had done
in all my Life, I kneel'd down and pray'd to God
to fulfil the Promife to me, that if I call'd upon him
in the Day of Trouble, he would deliver me; af-
ter my broken and imperfect Prayer was over, I
drunk the Rum in which I had fteep'd the Tobac-
co, which was fo ftrong and rank of the Tobacco,
that indeed I could fcarce get it down. Immediately
upon
[ III ]
upon this I went to Bed, I found prefently it flew
up in my Head violently, but I fell into a found
Sleep, and wak'd no more ill by the Sun it muſt
neceffarily be near Three a Clock in the Afternoon
the next Day; nay, to this Hour, I'm partly of the
Opinion, that I flept all the next Day and Night,
and till almoſt Three that Day after; for other-
wife I knew not how I thould lofe a Day out of my
Reckoning in the Days of the Weck, as it appear'd
fome Years after I had done; for if I had loft it by
croffing and re-croffing the Line, I ſhould have loft
more than one Day: But certainly I loft a Day in
my Account, and never knew which Way.
Be that however one Way or other, when I
awak'd I found myfelf exceedingly refresh'd, and
my Spirits lively and chearful; when I got up, I
was ftronger than I was the Day before, and my
Stomach better, for I was hungry; and in fhort, I
had no Fit the next Day, but continu'd much
alter'd for the better; this was the 29th.
The 30th was my Well-Day of Courſe, and I
went abroad with my Gun, but did not care to
travel too far; I kill'd a Sea Fowl or two, fome-
thing like a Brand-Gooſe,and brought them Home,
but was not very forward to eat them; foleat fome
more of the Turtle's Eggs, which were very good.
This Evening I renew'd the Medicine which I had
fuppos'd did me good the Day before, viz. the To-
bacco fteep'd in Rum, only I did not take fo much
as before, nor did I chew any of the Leaf, or hold
my Head over the Smoke; however, I was not
fo well the next Day, which was the ift of July,
as I hop'd I ſhould have been; for I had a little
Spice of the cold Fit, but it was not much.
July 2. I renew'd the Medicine all the three
Ways, and doz'd my felf with it as at first; and
doubled the Quantity which I drank
3. I
[ 112 ]]
}
ง
3. I mifs'd the Fitt for good and all, tho' I did
not recover my full Strength for fome Weeks after;
while I was thus gathering Strength, my Thoughts
run exceedingly upon this Scripture, I will deliver
thee, and the Impoffibility of my Deliverance lay
much upon my Mind in Bar of my ever expecting
it: But as I was difcouraging myſelf with fuch
Thoughts, it occurr'd to my Mind, that I pored fo
much upon my Deliverance from the main Affli-
Єtion, that I difregarded the Deliverance I had re-
ceiv'd; and I was, as it were, made to ask my-
felf fuch Queſtions as thefe, viz. Have I not been
deliver'd, and wonderfully too, from Sickneſs ?
From the moſt diſtreſs'd Condition that could be,
and that was fo frightful to me, and what notice
had I taken of it: Had I done my Part, God had
deliver'd me, but I had not glorify'd him; that is to
ſay, I had not own'd and been thankful for that
as a Deliverance, and how cou'd I expe& greater
Deliverance?
This touch'd my Heart very much, and imme-
diately I kneel'd down and gave God Thanks a-
loud, for my Recovery from my Sicknefs.
July 4. In the Morning I took the Bible, and be-
ginning at the New Teftament, I began-feriou fly
to read it, and impos'd upon myfelf to read a
while every Morning and every Night, not tying
myſelf to the Number of Chapters, but as long as
my Thoughts fhou'd engage me: It was not long
after I fet feriouſly to this Work, but I found
my Heart more deeply and fincerely affected with
the Wickedness of my paft Life: The Impref-
fion of my Dream reviv'd, and the Words, All
theſe Things have not brought thee to Repentance, ran ſe-
riously in my Thoughts: I was earnestly begging
of God to give me Repentance, when it happen'd
providentially the very Day that reading the Scri-
pture,
[113]
ture, I came to thefe Words, He is exalted a Prince
and a Saviour to give Repentance, and to give Remifi-
on I threw down the Book, and with my Heart as
well as my Hands lifted up to Heaven, in a Kind
of Extafy of Joy, I cry'd out aloud, Jefus, thou Son
of David, Jefus, thou exalted Prince and Saviour,
give me Repentance!
This wa. the first time that I could ſay, in the
true Senſe of the Words, that I prayed in all my
Life; for now I prayed with a Senfe of my Condi-
tion, and with a true Scripture View of Hope
founded on the Encouragement of the Word of
God; and from this time, I may fay, I began to
have Hope that God would hear me.
Now I began to conftrue the Words mentioned
above, Call on me, and I will deliver you, in a diffe-
rent Senſe from what I had ever done before; for
then I had no Notion of any thing being called
Deliverance, but my being delivered from the Cap-
tivity I was in; for tho' I was indeed at large in
the Place, yet the Iſland was certainly a Priſon to
me, and that in the worſt Senfe in the World; but
now I learn'd to take it in another Senfe. Now I
look'd back upon my paſt Life with fuch Horror,
and my Sins appeared fo dreadful, that my Scul
fought nothing of God, but Deliverance from the
Load of Guilt that bore down all my Comfort.
As for my folitary Life it was nothing; I did not
fo much as pray to be delivered from it, or think
of it; it was all of no Confideratión in Compari-
fon to this; and I add this Part here, to hint to
whoever fhall read it, that whenever they come to
a true Senfe of things, they will find Deliverance
from Sin a much greater Bleffing, than Deliverance
from Afflictiɔn.
But leaving this Part, I return to my Journal.
I
My
Part I.
1
[114]
My Condition began now to be, tho³ not lefs
miferable as to my Way of living, yet much eaſier
to my Mind; and my Thoughts being directed by
a conftant reading the Scripture, and praying to
God, to things of a higher Nature; I had a great
deal of Comfort within, which till now I knew
nothing of: Alfo, as my Health and Strength re-
turned, I beftirr'd myſelf to furniſh my felf with eve-
ry thing that I wanted, and make my way of li-
ving as regular as I could.
From the 4th of July to the 14th, I was chiefly
employ'd in walking about with my Gun in my
Hand, a little and a little at a Time, as a Man
that was gathering up his Strength after a Fit of
Sickness: For it is hardly to be imagin'd, how low
I was, and to what Weakneſs I was reduc'd. The
Application which I made ufe of was perfectly
new, and perhaps what had never cur'd an Ague
before, neither can I recommend it to any one to
practife, by this Experiment; and tho' it did car-
off the Fit, yet it rather contributed to weaken-
ing me; for I had frequent Convulfions in my
Nerves and Limbs for fome time.
ry
I learnt from it alfo this in particular, that be-
ing abroad in the rainy Seafon was the moft perni-
cious thing to my Health that could be, eſpecially
in thoſe Rains which came attended with Storms
and Hurricanes of Wind; for as the Rain which
came in a dry Seafon was always moft accompa-
ny'd with fuch Storms, fo I found that Rain was
much more dangerous than the Rain which fell in
September and October.
I had been now in this unhappy Ifland above 10
Months, all Poffibility of Deliverance from this
Condition feem'd to be entirely taken from me;
and I firmly believed, that no human Shape had
ever fet Foot upon that Place. Having now fecur'd.
my
[ 115 ]
1
my Habitation, as I thought, fully to my Mind, I
had a great Deſire to make a more perfe& Difco-
very of the Inland, and to fee what other Produ
&tions I might find, which yet I knew nothing
of.
It was the 15th of July that I began to take a
more particular Survey of the Iſland it felf: I went
up the Creek firſt, where, as I hinted, I brought
my Rafts on Shore. I found, after I came about
two Miles up, that the Tide did not flow any
higher, and that it was no more than a little
Brook of running Water, and very freſh and good;
but this being the dry Seafon, there was hardly any
Water in fome Parts of it, at leaſt, not enough to
run in any Stream, fo as it could be perceiv'd.
On the Bank of this Brook I found many plea-
fant Savana's, or Meadows, plain, ſmooth, and
cover'd with Grafs; and on the rifing Parts of
them next to the higher Grounds, where the Wa-
ter, as it might be fuppofed, never overflowed, I
found a great deal of Tobacco green, and growing
to a great and very ſtrong Stalk: There were divers
other Plants which I had no Notion of, or Under-
ſtanding about, and might perhaps have Virtues of
their own which I could not find out.
I fearched for the Caffava Root, which the Indi-
ans in all that Climate make their Bread of, but I
could find none. I faw large Plants of Aloes, but
did not then underſtand them. I ſaw feveral Sugar
Canes, but wild, and for Want of Cultivation, im-
perfect. I contented my felf with theſe Diſcoveries
for this time, and came back muſing with my felf
what Courſe I might take to know the Virtue
and Goodneſs of any of the Fruits or Plants which
I ſhould diſcover, but could bring it to no Conclu
fion; for in fhort, I had made fo little Obferva-
tion while I was in the Brafils, that I knew little
I 2
of
[116]
of the Plants in the Field, at leaft very little that
might ſerve me to any Purpofe now in my Di-
firefs:
.
The next Day, the 16th, I went up the fame
Way again, and after going fomething farther than
1 had gone the Day before, I found the Brook and
the Savana's began to ceafe, and the Country be
came more woody than before. In this Part I found
different Fruits, and particularly I found Melons.
upon the Ground in great Abundance, and Grapes
upon the Trees; the Vines had ſpread indeed over
the Trees, and the Clufters of Grapes were juſt
now in their Paime, very ripe and rich. This was
a furprizing Discovery, and I was exceeding glad of
them; but I was warn'd by my Experience to eat
fparingly of them, remembring, that when I was
afhore in Barbary, the eating of Grapes kill'd feve-
ral of our English Men who were Slaves there, by
throwing them into Fluxes and Fevers: But I found
an excellent Ufe for thefe Grapes, and that was to
cure or dry them in the Sun, and keep them as
dry'd Grapes or Raifins are kept, which I thought
would be, as indeed they were, as wholeſome,
as agreeable to eat, when no Grapes might be to
be had.
I spent all that Evening there, and went not
back to my Habitation, which by the way was
the first Night, as I might ſay, I had lain from
Home. In the Night I took my firft Contrivance,
and got up into a Tree, where I flept well, and
the next Morning proceeded upon my Difcovery,
travelling near four Miles, as Imight judge by the
Length of the Valley, keeping till due North,
with a Ridge of Hills on the South and North Side
of me.
At the End of this March I came to an Open-
ing, where the Country feemed to defcend to the
Weft,
[ 117]
Weft, and a little Spring of freſh Water, which
iffued out of the Side of the Hill by me, run the
other Way, that is, due Eaft; and the Country
appeared ſo freſh, fo green, ſo flouriſhing, every
thing being in a conftant Verdure or Flouriſh of
Spring, that it look'd like a planted Garden.
I defcended a little on the Side of that delicious
Vale, furveying it with a fecret kind of Pleaſure,
(tho' mixt with my other afflicting Thoughts) to
think that this was all my own, that I was King
and Lord of all this Country indefeaſibly, and had
a Right of Poffeffion; and if I could convey it, I
might have it in Inheritance, as compleatly as any
Lord of a Manor in England. I faw here Abun-
dance of Cocoa Trees, Orange and Lemon,
and Citron Trees; but all wild, and few bear-
ing any Fruit, at leaſt, not then: However,
the green Limes that I gathered, were not only
pleaſant to eat, but very wholefome; and
and i
mix'd their Juice afterwards with Water, which
made it very whole fome, and very cool and re-
freshing.
I found now I had Buſineſs enough to gather and
carry Home; and I refolved to lay up a Store, as
well of Grapes, as Limes and Lemons, to furnish
my felf for the wet Seafon, which I knew was ap-
proaching.
1
In order to this, I gather'd a great Heap of
Grapes in one Place, and a lefler Heap in another
Place, and a great Parcel of Limes and Lemons in
another Place; and taking a few of each with me,
I travell❜d homeward, and refolved to come again,
and bring a Bag or Sack, or what I could make, to
carry the reft Home.
Accordingly, having ſpent three Days in this
Journey, I came Home (fo I muſt now call my
Tent and my Cave) but before I got thither, the
Grapes
I 3
[ 118 ]
Grapes were spoilt, the Richness of the Fruits,
and the Weight of the Juice having broken them,
and bruiſed them, they were good for little or no-
thing; as to the Limes, they were good, but I
could bring but a few.
/
The next Day, being the 19th, I went back,
having made me two fmall Baggs to bring Home
my Harveſt: But I was furprized, when coming to
my Heap of Grapes, which were fo rich and fine,
when I gathered them, I found them all (pread
about, trod to Pieces, and dragg'd about, fome
here, fome there, and Abundance eaten and de-
voured: By this I concluded there were fome wild
Creatures thereabouts, which had done this; but
what they were I knew not.
However, as I found that there was no laying
them up on Heaps, and no carrying them away in
a Sack, but that one Way they would be deſtroy'd,
and the other Way they would be crufh'd with
their own Weight, I took another Courfe; for I
gather'd a large Quantity of the Grapes, and hung
them upon the Out-Branches of the Trees, that
they might cure and dry in the Sun; and as for the
Limes and Lemons, I carry'd as many back as I
could well ſtand under.
When I came Home from this Journey, I con-
templated with great Pleafure the Fruitfulneſs of
that Valley, and the Pleaſantnefs of the Situation,
the Security from Storms on that Side the Water,
and the Wood, and concluded that I had pitch'd
upon a Place to fix my Abode, which was by far
the wort Part of the Country. Upon the whole,
I began to confider of removing my Habitation,
and to look out for a Place equally fafe, as where I
now was fituate, if poffible, in that pleaſant fruit-
ful Part of the Illand.
A 4
This
[ 119 ]
*
This Thought run long in my Head, and I was
exceeding fond of it for fome Time, the Pleafant-
neſs of the Place tempting me; but when I came
to a nearer View of it, and to confider that I was
now by the Sea-fide, where it was at leaft poffible
that fomething might happen to my Advantage,
and by the fame ill Fate that brought me hither,
might bring fome other unhappy Wretches to the
fame Place; and tho' it was fcarce probable that
any fuch thing fhould ever happen, yet to encloſe
myfelf among the Hills and Woods, in the Center
of the Ifland, was to anticipate my Bondage, and
to render fuch an Affair not only improbable, but
impoffible; and that therefore I ought not by any
Means to remove.
However, I was fo enamour'd of this Place,
that I ſpent much of my Time there for the whole
remaining Part of the Month of July; and tho'
upon fecond Thoughts I refolv'd as above, not to
remove, yet I built me a little kind of a Bower,
and furrounded it at a Diſtance with a ftrong
Fence, being a double Hedge, as high as I could
reach, well ftak'd, and fill'd between with Brush-
wood; and here I lay very fecure, fometimes two
or three Nights together, always going over it
with a Ladder, as before; fo that I fancy'd now I
had my Country-Houfe, and my Sea-Coaft-Houfe:
And this Work took me up to the Beginning of
Auguft.
I had but newly finifh'd my Fence, and began
to enjoy my Labour, but the Rains came on, and
made me ſtick clofe to my firft Habitation; for tho'
I had made me a Tent like the other, with a Piece,
of a Sail, and fpread it very well; yet I had not
the Shelter of a Hill to keep me from Storms, nor a
Cave behind me to retreat into, when the Rains
were extraordinary.
I 4
About
[120]
i
About the Beginning of Auguft, as I faid, I had
finish'd my Bower, and began to enjoy myfelf.
The third of Auguft, I found the Grapes I had
hung up were perfectly dry'd, and indeed, were
excellent good Raifins of the Sun; fo I began to
take them down from the Trees, and it was very
happy that I did fo; for the Rains which follow-
ed would have ſpoil'd them, and I had loft the
beſt Part of my Winter Food; for I had aboye
two hundred large Bunches of them. No fooner
had I taken them all down, and carry'd moſt of
them Home to my Cave, but it began to rain; and
from hence, which was the fourteenth of Auguſt,
it rain'd more or lefs every Day, till the middle of
October; and fometimes fo violently, that I could
not ftir out of my Cave for feveral Days.
In this Seafon I was much furpriz'd with the
Increaſe of my Family: I had been concern'd for
the Lofs of one of my Cats, who run away from
me, or as I thought had been dead, and I heard no
more Tale or Tidings of her, till to my Aftonifh-
ment fhe came home about the End of Auguſt,
with three Kittens. This was the more ftrange to
me, becauſe tho' I had kill'd a wild Cat, as I
call'd it, with my Gun; yet I thought it was a
quite differing Kind from our European Cats; yet
the young Cats were the fame kind of Houfe-
breed like the old one; and both my Cats being
Females, I thought it very ftrange: But from thefe
three Cats, I afterwards came to be fo pefter'd
with Cats, that I was forc'd to kill them like Ver-
min, or wild Beafts, and to drive them from my
Houſe as much as poffible.
From the fourteenth of August to the twenty
fixth, inceffant Rain, fo that I could not ftir, and
was now very careful not to be much wet. In this
Confinement I began to be ftraitned for Food, but
venturing
[121]
Venturing out twice, I one Day kill'd a Goat, and
the laft Day, which was the twenty-fixth, found
a very large Tortoife, which was a Treat to me,
and my Food was regulated thus: I eat a Bunch
of Raifins for my Breakfaſt, a Piece of the Goat's
Fleſh, or of the Turtle for my Dinner broil'd ;
(for to my great Misfortune, I had no Veffel to
boil or ſtew any thing) and two or three of the
Turtle's Eggs for my Supper.
During this Confinement in my Cover by the
Rain, I work'd daily two or three Hours at en-
larging my Cave, and by Degrees work'd it on
towards one Side, till I came to the Outfide of the
Hill, and made a Door or Way out, which came
beyond my Fence or Wall, and fo I came in and
out this Way: But I was not perfectly eafy at
lying fo open, for as I had manag'd my felf be-
fore, I was in a perfect Encloſure, whereas now I
thought I lay expos'd, and yet I could not perceive
that there was any living thing to fear, the big-
geſt Creature that I had yet feen upon the Inland
being a Goat.
September the thirtieth, I was now come to the
unhappy Anniverſary of my Landing. Icaft up the
Notches on my Poft, and found I had been on
Shore three hundred and fixty five Days. I kept
this Day as a folemn Faſt, fetting it apart to Re-
ligious Exerciſe, proftrating my felf on the Ground
with the moſt ſerious Humiliation, confeffing my
Sins to God, acknowledging his righteous Judg-
ments upon me, and praying to him to have Mer-
cy on me, thro' Jefus Chrift; and having not
tafted the leaft Refreshment for twelve Hours,
even till the going down of the Sun, I then eat a
Bisket-Cake, and a Bunch of Grapes, and went to
Bed, finishing the Day as I began it.
I had
[122]
7
I had all this time obferv'd no Sabbath-Day;
for as at firft I had no Senfe of Religion upon my
Mind, I had after fome time omitted to diftin-
guifh the Weeks, by making a longer Notch than
ordinary for the Sabbath-Day, and fo did not really
know what any of the Days were; but now ha-
ving caft up the Days, as above, I found I had been
there a Year; ſo I divided it into Weeks, and fet
apart every ſeventh Day for a Sabbath; tho' I
found at the End of my Account I had loft a Day
or two in my Reckoning.
A little after this my Ink began to fail me, and
fo I contented myſelf to uſe it more fparingly, and
to write down only the moft remarkable Events of
my Life, without continuing a daily Memorandum
of other things.
The rainy Seaſon, and the dry Seafon, began now
to appear regular to me, and I learnt to divide
them fo, as to provide for them accordingly. But
I bought all my Experience before I had it; and
this I am going to relate, was one of the moft dif-
couraging Experiments that I made at all. I have
mention'd that I had fav'd the few Ears of Barley
and Rice which I had fo furprizingly found fpring
up, as I thought, of themselves, and believe there
were about thirty Stalks of Rice, and about twen-
ty of Barley; and now I thought it a proper time
to fow it after the Rains, the Sun being in its
Southern Poſition going from me.
I
Accordingly dug up a Piece of Ground, as
well as I could with my wooden Spade, and di-
viding it into two Parts, I fow'd my Grain; but
as I was fowing,it cafually occur'd to my Thoughts,
that I would not fow it all at firft, becauſe I did
not know when was the proper time for it; fo I
fow'd about two thirds of the Seed, leaving about
a Handful of each.
$
*
[123]
1
It was a great Comfort to me afterwards, that
I did fo, for not one Grain of that I fow'd this
time came to any thing; for the dry Months fol-
lowing, the Earth having had no Rain after the
the Seed was fown, it had no Moiſture to affift its
Growth, and never came up at all, till the wet
Seafon had come again, and then it grew as if it
had been but newly fown.
Finding my firft Seed did not grow, which I
eafily imagin'd was by the Drought, I fought for
a moifter Piece of Ground to make another Trial
in, and I dug up a Piece of Ground near my new
Bower, and fow'd the reft of my Seed in February,
a little before the Vernal Equinox; and this having
the rainy Months of March and April to water it,
fprung up very pleafantly, and yielded a very good
Crop; but having Part of the Seed left only, and
not daring to fow all that I had, I had but a ſmall
Quantity at laft, my whole Crop not amounting
to above half a Peck of each kind.
But by this Experiment I was made Maſter of
my Bufinefs, and knew exactly when the proper
Seafon was to fow; and that I might expect two
Seed-times, and two Harveſts every Year.
While this Corn was growing, I made a little
Diſcovery which was of Ufe to me afterwards:
As foon as the Rains were over, and the Weather
began to fettle, which was about the Month of
November, I made a Vifit up the Country to my
Bower, where tho' I had not been fome Months,
yet I found all things juſt as I left them. The Cir-
cle or double Hedge that I had made, was not on-
ly firm and entire, but the Stakes which I had cut
out of fome Trees that grew thereabouts, were all
fhot out, and grown with long Branches, as much
as a Willow-tree ufually fhoots the first Year after
lopping its Head. I could not tell what Tree to
call
[124]
call it, that theſe Stakes were cut from. I was
furpriz'd, and yet very well pleas'd, to fee the
young Trees grow; and I prun'd them, and led
them up to grow as much alike as I could; and
it is fcarce credible how beautiful a Figure they
grew into in three Year; fo that tho' the Hedge
made a Circle of about twenty five Yards in Dia-
meter, yet the Trees, for fuch I might now call
them, foon cover'd it; and it was a com-
pleat Shade, fufficient to lodge under all the dry
Seaſon.
This made me refolve to cut fome more Stakes,
and make me a Hedge like this in a Semicircle
round my Wall; I mean that of my firft Dwelling,
which I did; and placing the Trees or Stakes in
a double Row, at about eight Yards diftance from
my firft Fence, they grew prefently, and were at
firſt a fine Cover to my Habitation, and afterward
ferv'd for a Defence alfo, as I fhall obferve in its
Order.
I found now, that the Seafons of the Year
might generally be divided, not into Summer and
Winter, as in Europe; but into the rainy Seafons,
and the dry Seafons, which were generally thus:
Half February,
March,
Half April,
Rainy, the Sun being then on, or
near the Equinox.
Half April,
May,
June,
July,
Half August,
Y
Dry, the Sun being then to the
North of the Line.
Half
[125]
Half August, 2 Rain, the Sun being then come
September,
Half October,
Half Otober,
November,
December,
January,
back.
Dry, the Sun being then to the
South of the Line.
Half February,
The Rainy Seafon fometimes held longer or
fhorter, as the Winds happen'd to blow; but this
was the general Obfervation I made: After I had
found, by Experience, the ill Confequence of being
abroad in the Rain, I took Care to furnish myfelf
with Provifions before-hand, that I might not be
oblig'd to go out; and I fat within Doors as much
as poffible during the wet Months.
In this Time I found much Employment, (and
very fuitable alfo to the Time) for I found great
Occafion of many things which I had no way to
furniſh myſelf with, but by hard Labour and con-
ftant Application; particularly, I try'd many Ways
to make myſelf a Basket, but all the Twigs I
could get for the Purpofe prov'd ſo brittle, that
they would do nothing. It prov'd of excellent Ad-
vantage to me now, that when I was a Boy, I
ufed to take great Delight in ftanding at a Basket-
maker's in the Town where my Father liv'd, to
fee them make their Wicker-ware; and being, as
Boys ufually are, very officious to help, and a
great Obferver of the Manner how they work'd
thofe things, and fometimes lending a Hand, I
had by this means full Knowledge of the Methods.
of it, that I wanted nothing but the Materials;
when it came into my Mind, that the Twigs of
that Tree from whence I cut my Stakes that grew,
might
[126]
}
might poffibly be as tough as the Sallows, and
Willows, and Ofters in England, and I refolv'd
to try.
Accordingly the next Day I went to my Coun-
try-Houfe, as I call'd it, and cutting fome of the
fmaller Twigs, I found them to my Purpoſe as
much as I could defire; whereupon I came the next
time prepar'd with a Hatchet to cut down a
Quantity, which I foon found, for there was great
Plenty of them: thefe I fet up to dry within my
Circle or Hedge, and when they were fit for Ufe,
I carried them to my Cave; and here during the
next Seaſon, I employ'd myſelf in making, as well
as I could, a great many Baskets, both to carry
Earth, or to carry or lay up any thing as I had oc-
cafion; and tho' I did not finifh them very hand-
fomly, yet I made them fufficiently ferviceable for
my Purpoſe; and thus afterwards I took Care ne-
ver to be without them; and as my Wicker-ware
decay'd, I made more, eſpecially I made ftrong
deep Baskets to place my Corn in, inſtead of Sacks,
when I fhould come to have any Quantity of it.
Having mafter'd this Difficulty, and employ'd
a world of Time about it, I beftirr'd myfelf to fee
if poffible, how to fupply two Wants. I had no
Veffels to hold any thing that was Liquid, ex-
cept two Runlets which were almoft full of Rum,
and fome Glafs Bottles, fome of the common Size,
and others which were Cafe-Bottles fquare, for
the holding of Waters, Spirits, &c. I had not fo
much as a Pot to boil any thing, except a great
Kettle which I fav'd out of the Ship, and which
was too big for fuch Ufe as I defir'd it, viz. to
make Broth, and ſtew a Bit of Meat by itfelf.
The fecond Thing I would fain have had, was a
Tobacco-Pipe; but it was impoffible to me to
make
[127]
make one, however I found a Contrivance for
that too at laſt.
I employ'd my felf in planting my fecond Rows
of Stakes or Piles, and in this Wicker working all
the Summer, or dry Seaſon, when another Bufi-
nefs took me up more Time than it could be ima-
gin'd I could fpare.
I mention'd before, that I had a great Mind to
fee the whole Inland, and that I had travelled up
the Brook, and fo on to where I built my Bower,
and where I had an Opening quite to the Sea on
the other Side of the Ifland; I now refolved to
travel quite croſs to the Sea-fhore on that Side:
So taking my Gun, a Hatchet, and my Dog, and
a larger Quantity of Powder and Shot than ufual,
with two Bisket-Cakes, and a great Bunch of
Raifions in my Pouch for my Store, I began my
Journey. When I had pafs'd the Vale where my
Bower ftood, as above, I came within View of
the Sea, to the Weft, and it being a very clear Day,
I fairly deſcry'd Land, whether an Iſland or a Con-
tinent, I could not tell; but it lay very high, ex-
tending from the Weft to the W. S. W. at a very
great Diſtance; by my Guefs it could not be leſs
than fifreen or twenty Leagues off.
I could not tell what Part of the World this
might be, otherwife than that I know it muft be
Part of America; and as I concluded by all my
Obſervations, muſt be near the Spanish Dominions,
and perhaps was all inhabited by Savages, where
if I fhould have landed, I had been in a worſe
Condition than I was now; and therefore I ac-
quiefced in the Difpofitions of Providence, which
I began now to own, and to believe, order'd eve-
ry thing for the beft; I fay, I quieted my Mind
with this, and left afflicting mylelf with fruitlefs
Withes of being there.
Befides
[ 128 ]
F
Befides, after fome Paufe upon this. Affair, I
confider'd, that if this Land was the Spanish Coalt,
I fhould certainly, one Time or other, fee fome
Veffel país or re-pafs one Way or other; but if
not, then it was the Savage Coaft between the Spa-
nish Country and Brafils, which were indeed the
worft of Savages; for they are Cannibals, or Men-
Eaters, and fail not to murther and devour all the
human Bodies that fall into their Hands.
With thefe Confiderations I walk'd very lei-
furely forward. I found that Side of the Ifland
where I now was, much pleaſanter than mine, the
open or Savana Fields fweet, adorn'd with Flowers
and Grafs, and full of very fine Woods. I faw A-
bundance of Parrots, and fain I would have caught
one, if poffible, to have kept it to be tame, and
taught it to ſpeak to me. I did, after fome Pains
taking, catch a young Parrot, for I knock'd it
down with a Stick, and having recover'd it, I
brought it home; but it was fome Years before I
could make him fpeak: However, at laft I taught
him to call me by my Name very familiarly: But
the Accident that follow'd, tho' it be a Trifle, will
be very diverting in its Place.
**
I was exceedingly diverted with this Journey: I
found in the low Grounds Hares, as I thought
them to be, and Foxes, but they differ'd greatly
from all the other Kinds I had met with; nor could
I fátisfy myſelf to eat them, tho' I kill'd feveral:
But I had no need to be venturous; for I had no
Want of Food, and of that which was very good
too; efpecially these three Sorts, viz. Goats, Pid-
geons,and Turtle or Tortoife; which,added to my
Grapes, Leaden-Hall Market could not have fur-
nifh'd a Table better than I, in Proportion to the
Company; and tho' my Cafe was deplorable
enough, yet I had great Cauſe for Thankfulneſs
and
•
'
[129]
that I was not driven to any Extremities for Food
but rather Plenty, even to Dainties.
I never travell'd in this Journey above two
Miles outright in a Day, or thereabouts; but I
took fo many Turns and Returns to fee what Dil-
coveries I could make, that I came weary enough
to the Place where I refolved to fit down for all
Night; and then I either repos'd myſelf in a Tree,
or furrounded myſelf with a Row of Stakes fet up-
right in the Ground, either from one Tree to
another, or ſo as no wild Creature could come at
me, without waking me.
As foon as I came to the Sea-Shore, I was fur-
prized to fee that I had taken up my Lor on the
worſt Side of the lfland; for here indeed the Shore
was cover'd with innumerable Turtles, whereas
on the other Side I had found but three in a Year
and half. Here was alfo an infinite Number of
Fowls of many Kinds, fome of which I had feen,and
fome of which I had not feen of before, and many
of them very good Meat; but fuch as I knew not
the Names of, except thofe call'd Penguins.
I could have fhot as many as I pleas'd, but was
very fparing of my Powder and Shot; and there-
fore had more Mind to kill a She-Goat, if I could,
which I could better feed on: And tho' there
were many Goats here more than on my Side the
Inland, yet it was with much more Difficulty that
I could come near them, the Country being flat
and even, and they faw me much fooner than
when I was on the Hill.
I confefs this Side of the Country was much
pleaſanter than mine, but yet I had not the leaft In-
clination to remove; for as I was fix'd in my Ha-
bitation, it became natural to me, and I feem'd all
the while I was here, to be as it were upon a Jour-
ney, and from Home: However, I travell'd along
Part I.
K
the
[130]
B
the Shore of the Sea, towards the East, I fuppofe
about twelve Miles, and then fetting up a great
Pole upon the Shore for a Mark, I concluded I
would go Home again; and that the next Journey
I took fhould be on the other Side of the Ifland,
Eaft from my Dwelling, and fo round till I came
to my Poft again: Of which in its Place.
I took another Way to come back than that I
went, thinking I could eaſily keep all the Ifland fo
much in my View, that I could not mifs finding
my firft Dwelling by viewing the Country, but I
found myfelf miſtaken; for being come about two
or three Miles, I found myfelf defcended into a
very large Valley; but fo furrounded with Hills,
and thofe Hills covered with Wood, that I could
not fee which was my Way by any Direction but
that of the Sun, nor even then, unlefs I knew very
well the Pofition of the Sun at that Time of the
Day.
It happen'd, to my farther Misfortune, that
the Weather prov'd hazey for three or four Days,
while I was in this Valley; and not being able to
fee the Sun, I wander'd about very uncomfortably,
and at laſt was obliged to find out the Sea-Side,
look for my Poft, and come back the fame Way
I went; and then by cafy Journeys I turn'd home-
ward, the Weather being exceeding hot, and my
Gun, Ammunition, Hatchet, and other Things
very heavy.
In this Journey my Dog furpriz'd a young Kid,
and feiz'd upon it, and I running in to take hold
of it, caught it, and fav'd it alive from the Dog:
I had a great mind to bring it home if I could s
for I had often been mafing, whether it might not
be poffible to get a Kid or two, and fo raiſe a
Breed of tame Goats, which might fupply me
when my Powder and Shot fhould be all spent.
1
I made
[ 13
]
I made a Collar to this little Creature, and with
a String which I made of fome Rope-Yarn which
I always carry'd about me, I led him along, tho'
with fome Difficulty, till I came to my Bower,
and there I enclos'd him, and left him; for I was
very impatient to be at Home, from whence I had
been abfent above a Month.
I cannot expreſs what a Satisfaction it was to
me, to come into my old Hutch, and lie down in
my Hammock-Bed: his little wandring Journey,
without fettled Place of Abode, had been fo un-
pleaſant to me, that my own Houfe, as I call'd it
to myſelf, was a perfect Settlement to me, com-
par'd to that; and it render'd every thing about
me fo comfortable, that I refolv'd I would never
go a great Way from it again, while it fhould be
my Lot to ſtay on the Ifland.
I repos'd myſelf here a Week, to reft and regale
myſelf after my long Journey; during which, moft
of the Time was taken up in the weighty Affair of
making a Cage for my Poll, who began now to be
a meer Domeſtick, and to be mighty well acquain-
ted with me. Then I began to think of the poor
Kid, which I had pent in within my little Circle,
and refolved to go and fetch it Home, or give it
fame Food; accordingly I went,and found it where
I left it; for indeed it could not get out, but
was almoſt ſtarv'd for want of Food: I went and
cut Boughs of Trees, and Branches of fuch Shrubs
as I could find, and threw it over, and having fed
ity Ity'd it as I did before, to lead it away; but
it was ſo tame with being hungry, that I had no
need to have ty'd it; for it follow'd me like a Dog;
and as I continually fed it, the Creature became fo
loving, fo gentle, and fo fond, that it became from
that time one of my Domefticks alfo, and would
never leave me afterwards.
K 2
The
[132]
1
The rainy Seafon of the Autumnal Equinox was
now come, and I kept the 30th of September in the
fame folemn manner as before, being the Anniver-
fary of my Landing on the Ifland, having now been
there two Years, and no more Profpect of being de-
liver'd than the firft Day I came there. I fpent the
whole Day in humble and thankful Acknowledg-..
ments of the many wonderful Mercies which my fo-
litary Condition was attended with, and without
which it might have been infinitely more miferable.
I gave humble and hearty Thanks that God had
been pleaſed to difcover to me, even that it was
poffible I might be more happy in this folitary
Condition, than I fhould have been in a Liberty of
Society, and in all the Pleafures of the World. That
He could fully make up to me the Deficiencies of
my folitary State, and the want of Human So-
ciety, by his Prefence, and the Communications of
his Grace to my Soul, fupporting, comforting, and
encouraging me to depend upon his Providence
here, and hope for his Eternal Prefence hereafter.
It was now that I began fenfibly to feel how
much more happy this Life I now led was, with
all its miferable Circumftances, than the wicked,
curfed, abominable Life I led all the paſt Part of
my Days; and now I changed both my Sorrows
and my Joys; my very Defires alter'd, my Affe
Ations changed their Gufts, and my Delights were
perfectly new, from what they were at my first
coming, or indeed for the two Years paft.
Before, as I walk'd about, either on my Hunt-
ing, or for viewing the Country, the Anguifh of
my Soul at my Condition would break out upon
me on a fudden, and my very Heart would die
within me, to think of the Woods, the Mountains,
the Defarts I was in; and how I was a Priſoner
lock'd up with the Eternal Bars and Bolts of the
·
Ocean,
1
[133]
Ocean, in an uninhabited Wilderneſs, without
Redemption. In the midſt of the greateſt Com-
pofures of my Mind, this would break out upon
me like a Storm, and make me wring my Hands,
and weep like a Child: Sometimes it would take
me in the Middle of my Work, and I would im-
mediately fit down and figh, and look upon the
Ground for an Hour or two together; and this was
ftill worſe to me; for if I could burft out into Tears,
or vent myſelf by Words, it would go off, and the
Grief having exhaufted itſelf, would abate.
But now I began to exerciſe my ſelf with new
Thoughts; I daily read the Word of God, and
apply'd all the Comforts of it to my prefent State.
One Morning being very fad, I opened the Bible
upon theſe Words, I will never, never leave thee, nor
forfake thee; immediately it occurr'd, that theſe
Words were to me, why eife fhould they be dire-
&ted in fuch a Manner, juft at the Moment when I
was mourning over my Condition, as one forſaken
of God and Man? Well then, faid I, if God does
pot forfake me, of what ill Confequence can it be,
or what matters it, tho' the World fhould all for-
fake me, feeing on the other Hand, if I had all the
World, and fhould lofe the Favour and Bleffing
of God, there would be no Comparifon in the
Lofs.
·
From this Moment I began to conclude in my
Mind, that it was poffible for me to be more hap-
py in this forfaken, folitary Condition, than it was
probable I fhould have ever been in any other par-
ticular State in the World; and with this Thought
I was going to give Thanks to God for bringing
me to this Place.
I know not what it was, but fomething fhock'd
my Mind at that Thought, and I durft not ſpeak
the Words: How canft thou be fuch a Hypocrite.
K 3
(ſaid
[
34 ]
(faid I, even audibly) to pretend to be thankful for
a Condition, which however thou may'ft endea-
vour to be contented with, thou wouldst rather
pray heartily to be delivered from; fo I ftopt
there: But tho' I could not fay, I thank'd God-for
being there; yet I fincerely gave Thanks to God
for opening my Eyes, by whatever afflicting Pro-
vidences, to ſee the former Condition of my Life,
and to mourn for my Wickedness, and repent. I
never open'd the Bible or fhut it, but my very Soul
within me blefs'd God for directing my Friend in
England, without any Order of mine, to pack it
up among my Goods; and for affifting me after-
wards to fave it out of the Wreck of the Ship..
*
Thus, and in this Difpofition of Mind, I began
my third Year; and tho' I have not given the Rea-
der the Trouble of ſo particular an Account of my
Works this Year as the firft; yet in general it may
be obſerved, that I was very feldom idle; but ha-
ving regularly divided my Time, according to the
feveral daily Employments that were before me,
fuch as, Fift, My Duty to God, and the reading
the Scriptures, which I conftantly fet apart fome
time for, thrice every Day! Secondly, The going
Abroad with my Gun for Food, which generally
took me up three Hours in every Morning, when it
did not rain. Thirdly, The ordering, curing, pre-
ferving and cooking what I had kill'd or catch'd.for
my Supply; thefe took up great Part of the Day:
Alſo it is to be confidered, that the Middle of the
Day when the Sun was in the Zenith, the Violence
of the Heat was too great to ftir out; fo that
about four Hours in the Evening was all the time
I could be ſuppoſed to work in; with this Excep-
tion, that fometimes I changed my Hours of
Hunting and Working, and went to Work in the
Morning,
{
[ 135 ]
Morning, and Abroad with my Gun in the After-
noon.
To this fhort time allow'd for Labour, I defire
may be added the exceeding Laboriouſneſs of my
Work, the many Hours which for want of Tools,
want of Help, and want of Skill, every thing I
did, took up out of my Time: For Example, I
was full two and forty Days making me a Board
for a long Shelf, which I wanted in my Cave;
whereas two Sawyers with their Tools, and a Saw-
Pit, would have cut fix of them out of the fame
Tree in half a Day.
J
My Cafe was this; it was to be a large Tree
which was to be cut down, becauſe my Board was
to be a broad one. This Tree I was three Days
a cutting down, and two more cutting off the
Bows, and reducing it to a Log, or Piece of Tim-
ber. With inexpreffible hacking and hewing I
reduced both the Sides of it into Chips, till it be-
gun to be light enough to move; then leturn'd it,
and made one fide of it ſmooth, and flat, as a
Board from End to End; then turning that fide
downward, cut the other fide, till I brought the
Plank to be about three Inches thick, and fmooth
on both Sides. Any one may judge the Labour of
my Hands in fuch a Piece of Work; but Labour
and Patience carry'd me thro' that and many
other things I only obferve this in particular, to
fhew the Reaſon why fo much of my time went
away with fo little Work, viz. that what might
be a little to be done with Help and Tools, was a
vaft Labour, and requir'd a prodigious time to do
alone, and by Hand.
But notwithſtanding this, with Patience and La-
bour I went thro' many things, and indeed every
thing that my Circumſtances made neceflary to me
to do, as will appear by what follows.
K 4
I was
[136]
}
I was now in the Months of November and De
cember, expecting my Crop of Barley and Ricë.
The Ground I had manur'd or dug up for them
was not great; for as I obferv'd, my Seed of each
was not above the Quantity of half a Peck; for
I had loſt one whole Crop by fowing in the dry
Seafon; but now my Crop promis'd very well,
when on a fudden I found I was in Danger of
lofing it all again by Enemies of feveral Sorts,
which it was ſcarce poffible to keep from it; as
firſt, the Goats, and wild Creatures which I call'd
Hares, who tafting the Sweetneſs of the Blade,
lay in it Night and Day, as foon as it came up,
and eat it ſo cloſe, that it could get no time to
hoot up into Stalk.
>
This I faw no Remedy for, but by making an
Encloſure about it with a Hedge, which I did
with a great deal of Toil; and the more, becauſe
it requir'd Speed. However, as my Arable Land
was but fmall, fuited to my Crop, I got it totally
well fenced in about three Weeks time;" and ſhoot-
ing fome of the Creatures in the Day-time, I fet
my Dog to guard it in the Night, tying him up to
a Stake at the Gate, where he would ftand and
bark all Night long; fo in a little time the Ene-
mies forfook the Place, and the Corn grew very
ftrong and well, and began to ripen apace.
But as the Beafts ruined me before, while my
Corn was in the Blade, fo the Birds were as likely
to ruin me now, when it was in the Ear; for go-
ing along by the Place to fee how it throve, I faw
my little Crop furrounded with Fowls of I know
not how many Sorts, who ftood as it were-watch-
ing till I fhould be gone. I immediately let fly
among them (for I always had my Gun with me.)
I had no fooner fhot, but there rofe up a little
Cloud
:
[ 37 ]
Cloud of Fowls, which I had not feen at all, from
among the Corn it felf.
This touch'd me fenfibly, for I forefaw, that in
a few Days they would devour all my Hopes, that
I fhould be ftarv'd, and never be able to raiſe a
Crop at all, and what to do I could not teli: How-
ever, I reſolv'd not to lofe my Corn, if poffible,
tho I fhould watch it Night and Day. In the
firſt Place, I went among it to fee what Damage
was already done, and found they had ſpoil'd a
good deal of it; but that as it was yet too green
for them, the Lofs was not fo great, but that the
Remainder was like to be a good Crop if it could
be favid. *
I ftaid by it to load my Gun, and then coming
away I could eaſily fee the Thieves fitting upon all
the Trees about me, as if they only waited till I
was gone away, and the Event proved it to be fo;
for as I walk'd off as if I was gone, I was no foon-
er out of their Sight, but they dropt down one by
one into the Corn again. I was fo provok'd, that I
could not have Patience to ſtay till more came on,
knowing that every Grain that they eat now, was,
as it might be faid, a Peck-loaf to me in the Confe-
quence; but coming up to the Hedge, I fir'd a-
gain, and kill'd three of them. This was what I
wifh'd for; fo I took them up, and ferv'd them as
we ſerve notorious Thieves in England, (viz.)
Hang'd them in Chains for a Terror to others. It
is impoffible to imagine almoft, that this ſhould
have fuch an Effect as it had; for the Fowls would
not only not come at the Corn, but in fhort they
forfook all that Part of the Island, and I could ne
ver fee a Bird near the Place as long as my Scare-
Crows hung there.
This
[ 138 ]
This I was very glad of, you may be fure; and
about the latter end of December, which was our
fecond Harvest of the Year, I reap'd my Crop.
I was fadly put to it for a Scythe or a Sickle to
cut it down, and all I could do was to make one as
well as I could out of one of the broad Swords or
Cutlaffes, which I fav'd among the Arms out of
the Ship. However, as my firft Crop was but
fmall, I had no great Difficulty to cut it down: In
fhort, I reap'd it my way, for I cut nothing off but
the Ears, and carry'd it away in a great Basket
which I had made, and ſo rubb'd it out with my
Hands: And at the End of all my Harveſting, I
found that out of my half Peck of Seed, I had
near two Bufhels of Rice, and above two Bufhels
and a half of Barley, that is to fay, by my Gueſs, for
I had no Meaſure at that time.
ويعلم
•
However, this was a great Encouragement to
me; and I forefaw that in time, it would pleafe
God to fupply me with Bread: And yet here I
was perplex'd again, for I neither knew how to
grind or make Meal of my Corn, or indeed how
to clean it and part it; nor if made into Meal, how
to make Bread of it; and if how to make it, yet I
knew not how to bake it. Theſe things being added
to my Defire of having a good Quantity for Store,
andito fecure a conftant Supply, I refolv'd not to
taſte any of this Crop, but to preſerve it all for
Seed against the next Seafon, and in the mean time
to employ all my Study and Hours of working to
accomplish this great Work of providing myſelf
with Corn and Bread.
t
It might be truly faid, that now I work'd for
my Bread. 'Tis a little wonderful, and what I be-
lieve few People have thought much upon,(viz.) the
ftrange Multitude of little things neceflary in the
Pro-
}
[ 139 ]
Providing, Producing, Curing, Dreffing, Making
and Finiſhing this one Article of Bread.
I that was reduced to a meer State of Nature,
found this to be my daily Difcouragement, and was
made more and more fenfible of it every Hour, even
after I had got the firft Handful of Seed-Corn,
which, as I have faid, came up unexpectedly, and
indeed to a Surprize.
First, I had no Plow to turn up the Earth, no
Spade or Shovel to dig it. Well, this I-conquer'd,
by making a wooden Spade, as I obferv'd before;
but this did my Work but in a wooden manner;
and tho' it coft me a great many Days to make it,
yet for want of Iron it not only wore out the foon-
er, but made my Work the harder, and made it
be perform'd much worfe.
However, this I bore with, and was content to
work it out with Patience, and bear with the Bad-
nefs of the Performance. When the Corn was
fow'd, I had no Harrow, but was forced to go
over it my ſelf, and drag a great heavy Bough of a
Tree over it, to fcratch it, as it may be call'd, ra-
ther than Rake or Harrow it.
When it was growing and grown, I have ob-
ferv'd already how many things I wanted, to
fence. it, fecure it, mow or reap it, cure and
carry it Home, thrash, part it from the Chaff,
and fave it. Then I wanted a Mill to grind it,
Sieves to drefs it, Yeaſt and Salt to make it into
Bread, and an Oven to bake it; and yet all theſe
things I did without, as fhall be obferv'd; and
yet the Corn was an ineftimable Comfort and Ad-
vantage to me too. All this, as I faid, made
every thing laborious and tedious to me, but that
there was no Help for; neither was my time fo
much Lofs to me, becaufe as I had divided it, a
certain Part of it was every Day appointed to
1
ไว
theſe
[140]
{
7
thefe Works; and as I refolv'd to ufe none of the
Corn for Bread till I had a greater Quantity by
me, I had the next fix Months to apply my felf
wholly by Labour and Invention, to furnish my felf
with Utenfils proper for the performing all the O-
perations necellary for the making the Corn (when
I had it) fit for my Ufe.
But first, I was to prepare more Land, for I
had now Seed enough to fow above an Acre of
Ground. Before I did this, I had a Week's Work
at leaſt to make me Spade, which when it was
done was but a forry one indeed, and very heavy,
and requir'd double Labour to work with it;
however I went thro' that, and fow'd my Seed in
two large flat Pieces of Ground, as near my
Houfe as I could find them to my Mind, and
fenc'd them in with a good Hedge, the Stakes of
which were all cut of that Wood which I had fet
before, and knew it would grow, ſo that in one
Year's time I knew I fhould have a Quick or Li-
ving Hedge, that would want but little Repair.
This Work was not fo little as to take me up lefs
than three Months, becauſe great Part of that time
was of the wet Seafon, when I could not go a
broad..
Within Doors, that is, when it rained, and I
could not go out, I found Employment on the fol-
lowing Occafions; always obferving, that all the
while I was at Work, I diverted my felf with talk-
ing to my Parrot, and teaching him to Speak ;
and I quickly learned him to know his own Name,
and at laft to ſpeak it out pretty loud, POLL,
which was the firft Word I ever heard fpoken in
the Inland by any Mouth but my own. This
therefore was not my Work, but an Affiftant to my
Work; for now, as I faid, I had a great Employ-
ment upon my Hands, as follows, (viz.) I had
long
[141]
long ftudy'd, by fome Means or other, to make
mylelf fome Earthen Veffels, which indeed I want-.
ed forely, but knew not where to come at them:
However, conſidering the Heat of the Climate, I
did not doubt but if I could find out any fuch
Clay, I might botch up fome fuch Pot, as might,.
being dry'd in the Sun, be hard enough, and ſtrong
enough to bear handling, and to hold any Thing
that was dry, and required to be kept fo; and
as this was neceflary in the preparing Corn,
Meal, &c. which was the Thing I was upon, I
refolved to make fome as large as I could, and fit
only to ftand like Jars to hold what ſhould be put
into them;
It would make the Reader pity me, or rather
laugh at me, to tell how many aukward Ways I
took to raiſe this Pafte, what odd mifhapen ugly
Things I made, how many of them fell in, and how
many fell out, the Clay not being ftiff enough to
bear its own Weight; how many crack'd by the
over violent Heat of the Sun, being fet out too
haftily; and how many fell in Pieces with only re-
moving, as well before as after they were dry'd;
and in a word, how after having laboured hard
to find the Clay, to dig it, to temper it, to bring
it home and work it, I could not make above two
large Earthen ugly things, I cannot call them Jarrs,
in about two Months Labour.
However, as the Sun bak'd thefe two very dry
and hard, I lifted them very gently up, and fet
them down again in two great Wicker-Baskets,
which I had made on purpofe for them, that they
might not break; and as between the Pot and the
Basket there was a little room to fpare, I ftuff'd it
full of the Rice and Barley Straw, and theſe two
Pots being to ftand always dry, I thought would
hold
1
[142]
hold my dry Corn, and perhaps the Meal, when
the Corn was bruifed.
Tho' 1 mifcarried fo much in my Design for
large Pots, yet I made feveral fmaller things with
better Success; fuch as little round Pots, flat Diſh-
es, Pitchers and Pipkins, and any things my Hand
burn'd to, and the Heat of the Sun bak'd them
ftrangely hard.
But all this would not anſwer my End, which
was to get an Earthen Pot to hold what was Li-
quid, and bear the Fire, which none of theſe could
do. It happen'd after fome time, making a pretty
large Fire for cooking my Meat, when I went to
put it out after I had done with it, I found a bro-
ken Piece of one of my Earthen-ware Veffels in the
Fire, burnt as hard as a Stone, and red as a Tile.
I was agreeably furpriz'd to fee it, and faid to my
felf, that certainly they might be made to burn
whole, if they would burn broken. :
This fet me to ſtudying how to order my Fire,
fo as to make it burn me fome Pots. I had no
notion of a Kiln, fuch as the Potters burn in, or
of glazing them with Lead, tho' I had fome Lead
to do it with; but I plac'd three large Pipkins,
and two or three Pots in a Pile one upon another,
and plac'd my Fire-wood all round it with a great
Heap of Embers under them; I ply'd the Fire
with freſh Fuel round the Outfide, and upon the
Top, till I faw the Pots in the Infide red hot quite
thro', and obſerv'd that they did not crack at all;
when I faw them clear red, I let them ftand in
that Heat about 5 or 6 Hours, till I found one of
them'; tho' it did not crack, did melt or run, for
the Sand which was mixed with the Clay melted:
by the Violence of the Heat, and would have run
into Glafs if I had gone on; fo I flack'd my Fire
gradually, till the Pots began to abate of the red
Colour
2
[143]
Colour, and watching them all Night, that I
might not let the Fire abate too faft, in the Mor-
ning I had three very good, I will not fay hand-
fome Pipkins, and two other Earthen Pots, as hard
burnt as could be defir'd, and one of them per-
fectly glaz❜d with the Running of the Sand.
After this Experiment, I need not ſay that I
wanted no fort of Earthen Ware for my Üfe; but
I muſt needs fay, as to the Shapes of them, they
were very indifferent, as any one may fuppofe,
when I had no Way of making them, but as the
Children make Dirt-Pyes, or as a Woman would
make Pyes that never learnt to raiſe Pafte. ⠀⠀⠀
·
No Joy at a Thing of fo mean a Nature was
ever equal to mine, when I found I had made an
Earthen Pot that would bear the Fire; and I had
hardly Patience to ftay till they were cold, before
I fet one upon the Fire again, with fome Water in
it, to boil me fome Meat, which it did admirably
well; and with a Piece of a Kid I made fome very
good Broth, though I wanted Oatmeal, and feve-
ral other Ingredients requifite to make it fo good
as I would have had it been.
My next Concern was, to get me a Stone Mor-
tar to ftamp or beat fome Corn in; for as to the
Mill, there was no Thought at arriving to that
Perfection of Art, with one Pair of Hands. To fup-
ply this Want I was at a great Lofs; for of all
Trades in the World I was as perfectly unqualified
for aStone-Cutter,as for any whatever; neither had
I any Tools to go about it with. 1fpent many a
Day to find out a great Stone big enough to cut
hollow, and make fit for a Mortar, and could find
none at all, except what was in the folid Rock,
and which I had noWay to dig or cut out; nor in-
deed were the Rocks in the Ifland of Hardneſs fuf-
ficient, but were all of a fandy crumbling Stone,
1
which
[
[144]
j
:
which would neither bear the Weight of a heavy
Peftle, or would break the Corn without filling it
with Sand So after a great deal of Time loit in
Searching for a Stone, I gave it over, and refolv'd
to look out a great Block of hard Wood, which
I found indeed much eaſier; and getting one as
big as I had Strength to ftir, I rounded it, and
form'd it on the Outſide with my Axe and Hatchet,
and then with the Help of Fire and infinite Labour,
made a hollow Place in it, as the Indians in Brafil
make their Canoes. After this, I made a great hea-
vy Peftle or Beater, of the Wood call'd the Iron-
Wood, and this I prepared and laid by againſt I
had my next Crop of Corn, when I propos'd to
my ſelf to grind, or rather pound, my Corn into
Meal to make my Bread.
My next Difficulty was to make a Sieve, or
Searfe, to dress my Meal, and to part it from the
Bran and the Husk, without which I did not fee
it poffible I could have any Bread. This was a
moft difficult thing, fo much as but to think on ;
for to be fure I had nothing like the neceffary thing
to make it; I mean fine thin Canvas, or Stuff to
fearch the Meal through. And here I was at a full
Stop for many Months; nor did I really know
what to do; Linnen I had none left, but what was
meer Rags; I had Goats Hair, but neither knew
I how to weave it, or ſpin it; and had I known
how, here was no Tools to work it with; all the
Remedy that I found for this, was, That at laſt I
did remember I had among the Seamens Clothes
which were fav'd out of the Ship, fome Neckcloths
of Callicoe or Muflin; and with fome Pieces of
theſe I made three fmall Sieves, but proper enough
for the Work; and thus I made fhift for fome Years;
how I did afterwards, I fhall fhew in its Place.
The
!
[145]
The baking Part was the next thing to be con-
fider'd, and how I fhould make Bread when I came
to have Corn; for firft I had no Yeaft. As to that
Part, as there was no fupplying the Want, fo I did.
not concern my felf much about it: But for an
Oven, I was indeed in great Pain. At length I
found out an Experiment for that alfo, which was
this; I made fome Earthen Veffels very broad, but
not deep; that is to ſay, about two Foot Diame-
ter, and not above nine Inches deep; thefe I burnt
in the Fire, as I had done the other, and laid them
by; and when I wanted to bake, I made a great
Fire upon my Hearth, which I had pay'd with
fome fquare Tiles of my own making and burning
alfo; but I fhould not call them fquare.
When the Fire-wood was burnt pretty much into
Embers, or live Coals, I drew them forward upon
this Hearth, fo as to cover it all over, and there I
let them lye, till the Hearth was very hot; then
fweeping away all the Embers, I fet down my
Loaf, or Loaves, and whelming down the Earth-
en Pot upon them, drew the Embers all round the
Outfide of the Pot, to keep in, and add to the
Heat; and thus, as well as in the beſt Oven in the
World, I bak'd my Barley-Loaves, and, became in
little time a meer Paftry-Cook into the Bargain;
for I made myself feveral Cakes of the Rice and
Puddings; indeed I made no Pies, neither had I
any Thing to put into them, fuppofing I had, ex-
cept the Flesh either of Fowls or Goats.
It need not be wondered at, if all theſe things
took me up moft Part of the third Year of my A-
boad here; for it is to be obferv'd, that in the In-
tervals of thefe Things, I had my new Harveft and
Husbandry to manage; for I reap'd my Corn in its
Seafon, and carry'd it Home as well as I could, and
laid it up in the Ear, in my large Baskets, till I had.
Part I
I
Time
!
[146]
Time to rub it out; for I had no Floor to thrash
it on, or Inftrument to thrash it with.
And now indeed my Stock of Corn encreaſing, I
really wanted to build my Barns bigger: I wanted
a Place to lay it up in; for the Increaſe of the Corn
now yielded me fo much, that I had of the Barley
about twenty Bufhels, and of the Rice as much, or
more; infomuch, that now I refolved to begin to
ufe it freely, for my Bread had been quite gone a
great while; alſo I refolv'd to fee what Quantity
would be fufficient for me a whole Year, and to
fow but once a Year.
Upon the whole, I found that the forty Bufhels
of Barley and Rice was much more than I could
confume in a Year; fo I refolved to fow juſt the
famé Quantity every Year that I fow'd the laft, in
hopes that fuch a Quantity would fully provide me
with Bread, &c.
All the while theſe things were doing, you may
be fure my Thoughts run many times upon the
Profpe&t of Land which I had feen from the other
Side of the Ifland, and I was not without fecret
Wishes that I were on Shore there, fancying the
feeing the main Land, and an inhabited Country,
Imight find fome Way or other to convey my felf
farther, and perhaps at laft find fome Means of
Efcape.
But all this while I made no Allowance for the
Dangers of fuch a Condition, and how I might fall
into the Hands of Savages, and perhaps fuch as I
might have Reaſon to think far worse than the Li-
ons and Tigers of Africa. That if I once came in-
to their Power, I fhould run a Hazard more than a
Thoufand to one of being kill'd, and perhaps of be-
ing eaten ; for I had heard that the People of the Car-
ribean Coaſts were Cannibals, or Men-eaters; and
I knew by the Latitude, that I could not be far off
from
}
[ 147 ]
from that Shore. That fuppofe they were not Can
nibals, yet that they might kill me, as many Euro-
peans who had fallen into their Hands had been fer-
ved, even when they had been ten or twenty toge-
ther; much more I that was but one, and could
make little or no Defence. All theſe things, I fay,
which I ought to have confider'd well of, and did
caft up in my Thoughts afterwards, yet took up
none of my Apprehenfions at firft; but my Head
run mightily upon the Thought of getting over to
the Shore.
Now I wiſh'd for my Boy Xury, and the Long-
Boat with the Shoulder of Mutton Sail, with which
I fail'd above à Thouſand Miles on the Coaſt of A-
frick; but this was in vain. Then I thought I would
go and look at our Ship's Boat, which, as I have
faid, was blown up upon the Shore a great Way in
the Storm, when we were firſt caft away. She lay
almoſt where fhe did at firft, but not quite; and
was turn'd by the Force of the Waves and the
Winds, almoſt Bottom upward, againſt a high
Ridge of beachy rough Sand; but no Water about
her as before.
If I had had Hands to have refitted her, and to
have launch'd her into the Water, the Boat would
have done well enough, and I might have gone
back into the Brafils with her eaſily enough; but
I might have eaſily foreſeen, that I could no more
turn her, and fet her upright upon her Bottom, than
I could remove the Inland. However, I went to the
Woods, and cut Levers and Rollers, and brought
them to the Boat, refolv'd to try what I could do;
fuggeſting to my felf, that if I could but turn her
down, I might eafily repair the Damage the had
received, and ſhe would be a very good Boat, and
I might go to Sea in her very easily.
I par'd no Pains indeed in this Piece of fruitlefs
Toil, and fpent, I think, three or four Weeks a-
L 2
bout
[148]
bout it; at laſt finding it impoffible to heave it up
with my little Strength, I fell to digging away the
Sand to undermine it, and fo to make it fall
down, fetting Pieces of Wood to thrust and
guide it right in the Fall.
But when I had done this, I was unable to ſtir
it up again, or to get under it, much lefs to move
it forward towards the Water; fo I was forc'd
to give it over; and yet, tho' I gave over the
Hopes of the Boat, my Defire to venture over
for the Main increafed, rather than decreaſed,
as the Means for it feem'd impoffible.
This at length put me upon thinking, Whether
it was not poffible to make my felf a Canse or Peria-
gua, fuch as the Natives of thofe Climates make,
even without Tools, or, as I might fay, without
Hands, viz. of the Trunk of a great Tree. This
I not only thought poffible, but eafy, and pleas'd
myſelf extreamly with the Thoughts of making
it,and with my having much more Convenience
for it than any of the Negroes or Indians; but not
at all confidering the particular Inconveniences
which I lay under, more than the Indians did, viz.
Want of Hands to move it, when it was made, into
the Water; a Difficulty much harder for me to
furmount, than all the Confequences of Want of
Tools could be to them: For what was it to me,
that when I had chofen a vaft Tree in the Woods,
I might with great Trouble cut it down, if after I
might be able with my Tools to hew and dub the
Outfide into the proper Shape of a Boat, and
burn or cut out the infide to make it hollow, fo
to make a Boat of it. if after all this, I muff leave
it juft there where I found it, and was not able to
launch it into the Water.
One would have thought, I could not have had
the leaſt Reflection upon my Mind of my Circum-
ftance,
[149]
ftance, while I was making this Boat, but I ſhould
have immediately thought how I fhou'd get it into
the Sea; but my Thoughts were fo intent upon
my Voyage over the Sea in it, that I never once
confider'd how I fhould get it off of the Land ;
and it was really in its own Nature more eafy for
me to guide it over forty five Miles of Sea, than
about forty five Fathom of Land, where it lay, to
fet it a float in the Water.
I went to work upon this Boat the moſt like a
Fool that ever Man did, who had any of his Senfes
awake. I pleas'd myſelf with the Defign, with-
out determining whether I was ever able to under-
take it; not but that the Difficulty of launching
my Boat came often into my Head; but I put a
top to my own Enquiries into it, by this foolish
Anſwer which I gave myſelf, Let's first make it, I'll
warrant I'll find fome Way or other to get it along, when
'tis done.
This was a molt prepofterous Method; but the
Eagerneſs of my Fancy prevail'd, and to work I
went. I fell'd a Cedar Tree: I queftion much
whether Solomon ever had fuch a one for the Build-
ing of the Temple at Jerufalem. It was five Foot
ten Inches Diameter at the lower Part next the
Stump, and four Foot eleven Inches Diameter at
the End of twenty two Foot, after which it lef-
fen'd for a while, and then parted into Branches:
It was not without infinite Labour that I fell'd
this Tree: I was twenty Days hacking and hew-
ing at it at the Bottom. I was fourteen more get-
ting the Branches and Limbs, and the vaft fpread-
ing Head of it cut off, which I hack'd and hew'd
through with Axe and Hatchet, and inexpreffible
Labour: After this, it coft me a Month to fhape
it, and dub it to a Proportion, and to fomething
like the Bottom of a Boat, that it might fwim up-
* } .
A
L 3
right
>
[ 150 ]
1
right as it ought to do. It cost me near three
Months more to clear the Infidc, and work it out
fo, as to make an exact Boat of it: This I did in-
deed without Fire, by mere Mallet and Chiffel, and
by the dint of hard Labour, till I had brought it to
be a very handfom Periagua, and big enough to
have carried fix and twenty Men, and confequently
big enough to have carried me and all my Cargo.
When I had gone through this Work, I was ex-
tremely delighted with it. The Boat was really
much bigger than I ever faw a Canoe, or Periagua,
that was made of one Tree, in my Life. Many a
weary Stroke it had coft, you may be fure; and
there remained nothing but to get it into theWater;
and had I gotten it into the Water, I make no que-
ſtion, but I ſhould have began the maddeft Voyage
and the moft unlikely to be perform'd, that ever
was undertaken.
But all my Devices to get it into the Water
fail'd me, though they coft me infinite Labour too.
It lay about one hundred Yards from the Water,
and not more: But the firft Inconvenience was, it
was up Hill towards the Creek: Well, to take a-
way this Difcouragement, I refolv'd to dig into
the Surface of the Earth, and fo make a Declivi-
ty: This Ibégun, and it coft me a prodigious deal
of Pains; but who grudges Pains, that have their
Deliverance in View? But when this was work'd
through, and this Difficulty manag'd, it was fill
múch at one; for I could no more ftir the Canoe,
than I could the other Boat.
Then I meafur'd the Diſtance of Ground, and
refolv'd to cut a Dock, or Canal, to bring the Wa-
ter up the Canoe, feeing I could not bring the
Canoe down to the Water: 'Well, I began this
Work, and when I began to enter into it, and ca-
culated how deep it was to be dug, how broad,
how
[151]
how the Stuff to be thrown out, I found, that by
the Number of Hands I had, being none but my
own, it muſt have been ten or twelve Years before
I ſhould have gone through with it; for the Shore
lay high, fo that at the upper End it must have
been at leaſt twenty Foot deep; ſo at length, tho'
with great Reluctancy, I gave this Attempt over
alío.
This griev'd me heartily, and now I faw, tho'
too late, the Folly of begining a Work before we
count the Coft, and before we judge rightly of
our own Strength to go through with it.
In the middle of this Work, I finiſh'd my fourth
Year in this Place, and kept my Anniverſary with
the fame Devotion, and with as much Comfort as
ever before; for by a conftant Study, and ferious
Application of the Word of God, and by the Af-
fiftance of his Grace, I gain'd a different Know-
edge from what I had before. I entertain'd diffe-
rent Notions of things. I look'd now upon the
World as a thing remote, which I had nothing to
do with, no Expectation from, and indeed no De-
fires about: In a word, I had nothing indeed to
do with it, nor, was ever like to have; foI thought
it look'd as we may perhaps look upon it hereafter,
viz. as a Place I had lived in, but was come out of
it; and well might I fay, as Father Abraham to
Dives, Between me and thee is a great Gulph fixed.
4
In the firft Place, I was removed from al the
Wickednefs of the World here: I had neither the
Luſt of the Fleſh, the Luft of the Eye, or the Pride of
Life, I had nothing to covet; for I had all that I
was now capable of enjoying: I was Lord of the
whole Manor; or if I pleas'd I might call my felf
King, or Emperor over the whole Country which
I had Poffeflion of. There were no Rivals: I had
no Competitor, none to diffute Sovereignty or
L 4
Com-
[152]
Command with me. I might have rais'd Ship
Loadings of Corn; but I had no Ufe for it; fo I let
as little grow as I thought enough for my Occafion.
I had Tortoife or Turtles enough; but now and
then one was as much as I could put to any Ufe. I
had Timber enough to have built a Fleet of Ships.
I had Grapes enough to have made Wine, or to
have cur'd into Raifins, to have loaded that Fleet
when they had been built.
But all I could make ufe of, was, All that was
valuable. I had enough to eat, and to fupply my
Wants, and, what was all the reft to me? If I
kill'd more Fleſh than I could eat, the Dog muft eat
it, or the Vermin, If I fow'd more Corn than I
could eat, it muſt be fpoil'd. The Trees that I
cut down were lying to rot on the Ground: I
could make no more Ufe of them than for Fewel,
and that I had.no Occafion for, but to drefs my
Food.....
*
In a Word, the Nature and Experience of
Things dictated to me upon juft Refication, that
all the good Things of this World, are no farther
good to us, than they are for our Ufe; and that
whatever we may heap up indeed to give others,
we enjoy as much as we can ufe, and no more.
The moft covetous griping Mifer in the World
would have been cared of the Vice of Covetousness,
if he had been in my Cafe; for I poffeffed infinitely
more than I knew what to do with. I had no room
for Defire, except it was of things which I had
not, and they were but Trifles, tho' indeed of
great Ufe to me. I had, as I hinted before, a Par-
cel of Money, as well Gold as Silver, above thirty
fix Pounds Sterling: Alas! there the nafty forry
uſeleſs Stuff lay; I had no manner of Bufincfs
for it; and I often thought with my felf, that I
would have given a Handful of it for a Grofs of
Tobacco-
2
[153]
Tobacco-Pipes, or for a Hand-mill to grind my
Corn; nay, I would have given it all for Sixpenny-
worth of Turnip and Carrot Seed out of England, or
for a Handful of Peaſe and Beans, and a Bottle of
Ink: As it was, I had not the leaft Advantage by
it, or Benefit from it; but there it lay in a Drawer,
and grew mouldy with the Damp of the Cave, in
the wet Seaſon; and if I had had the Drawer full
of Diamonds, it had been the fame Cafe; and
they had been of no manner of Value to me, be-
caufe of no Ufe.
7
I had now brought my State of Life to be much
eafier in itſelf than it was at firft, and much eafier
to my Mind, as well as to my Body. I frequently
fat down to my Meat with Thankfulneſs, and ad-
mired the Hand of God's Providence, which had
thus ſpread my Table in the Wilderneſs. Hlearned
to look more upon the bright Side of my Condi-
tion, and lefs upon the dark Side; and to conſider
what I enjoy'd, rather than what I wanted; and
this gave me fometimes fuch fecret Comforts, that
I cannot exprefs them; and which I take Notice
of here, to put thoſe diſcontented People in mind
of it, who cannot enjoy comfortably what God
has given them, becauſe they fee, and covet fome-
thing that he has not given them. All our Dif-
contents about what we want, appeared to me to
fpring from the Want of Thankfulnefs for what we
have.
Another Reflection was of great Ufe to me, and
doubtless would be fo to any one that ſhould fall
into fuch Diftrefs as mine was; and this was to
compare my prefent Condition with what I at firft
expected it should be; nay, with what it would
certainly have been, if the good Providence of
God had not wonderfully ordered the Ship to be
caft up nearer to the Shore, where I not only could
*
come
[154]
come at her, but could bring what I got out of her
to the Shore, for my Relief and Comfort; without
which, I had wanted for Tools to work, Weapons
for Defence, or Gun-powder and Shot for getting
my Food.
I fpent whole Hours, I may fay whole Days, in
reprefenting to myſelf in the moſt lively Colours,
how I must have acted, if I had got nothing out
of the Ship; how I could not have fo much as
got any Food, except Fish and Turtles; and that
as it was long before I found any of them, I muft
have perish'd firft: That I ſhould have liv'd, if I
had not perifh'd, like a meer Savage: That if I
had kill'd a Goat, or a Fowl, by any Contrivance,
I had no way to flea or open them, or part the Fleſh
from the Skin and the Bowels, or to cut it up;
but muft gnaw it with my Teeth, and pull it with
my Claws like a Beaſt.
Thefe Reflections made me very fenfible of the
Goodness of Providence to me, and very thankfil
for my prefent Condition, with all its Hardſhips
and Misfortunes: And this Part alfo I cannot but
recommend to the Reflection of thofe who are aft
in their Mifery to ſay, Is any Affliction like mine!
Let them confider, how much worſe the Cafes of
fome People are, and their Cafe might have been,
if Providence had thought fit.
I had another Reflection which affifted me alfo
to comfort my Mind with Hopes; and this was
comparing my prefent Condition with what I had
deferv'd, and had therefore Reafon to expect f. om
the Hand of Providence. I had liv'd a dreadful
Life, perfectly deftitute of the Knowledge and Fear
of God.. I had been well inftructed by Father and
Mother; neither had they been wanting to me in
their early Endeavours, to infufe a religious Awe
of Ged into my Mind, a Senfe of my Duty, and
아
​[155]
of what the Nature and End of my Being requir'd
of me. But alas! falling early into the Sea-faring
Life, which of all the Lives is the moſt deſtitute
of the Fear of God, tho' his Terrors are always
before them; I fay, falling early into the Sea-fa-
ring Life, and into Sea-faring Company, all that
little Senſe of Religion which I had entertain'd,
was laught out of me by my Mels-Mates, by a
a harden'd defpifing of Dangers, and the Views
of Death, which grew habitual to me, by my long
Abfence from all manner of Opportunities to con-
verſe with any thing but what was like my felf, or
to hear any thing that was good, or tended to-
wards it.
So void was I of every thing that was good, or
of the leaft Senfe of what I was, or was to be,
that in the greateſt Delivérances I enjoy'd, fuch
as my Eſcape from Salle, my being taken up by the
Portúgueze Mafter of the Ship, my being planted
fo well in the Brafils, my receiving the Cargo from
England, and the like, I never once had the Word
Thank God, fo much as on my Mind, or in my
Mouth; nor in the greateſt Diftrefs had I fo mucli
as a Thought to pray to him; or ſo much as to ſay,
Lord have Mercy upon me! no nor to mention the
Name of God, unleſs it was to ſwear by, and
blafpheme it.
I had terrible Reflections upon my Mind for ma-
ny Months, as I have already obferv'd, on the Ac-
count of my wicked and harden'd Life paft; and
when look'd about me, and confider'd what par-
ticular Providences had attended me fince my co-
ming into this Place, and how God had dealt boun-
tifully with me; had not only punished me lefs than
my In:quity had deferv'd, but had fo plentifully pro-
vided for me; this gave me great Hopes that my
Kepen-
[156]
Repentance was accepted, and that GOD. had
yet Mercies in Store for me.
With thefe Reflections I work'd my Mind up,
not only to Refignation to the Will of God in the
preſent Difpofition of my Circumftances, but even
to a fincere Thankfulnjefs for my Condition; and
that I who was yet a living Man, ought not to
complain, feeing I had not the due Puniſhment of
my Sinis; that I enjoy'd fo many Mercies which
I had no Reafon to have expe&ed in that Place;
that I ought never more to repine at my Condition,
but to rejoyce, and to give daily Thanks for that
daily Bread which nothing but a Croud of Wonders
could have brought. That I ought to confider I
had been fed even by a Miracle, even as great as
that of feeding Elijah by Ravens; nay, by a long
Series of Miracles, and that I could hardly have
nam'd'a' Place in the unhabitable Part of the World,
where I could have been caft more to my Advan-
tage': 'A Place, where as I had no Society, which
was my Affliction on one Hand, fo I found no rá-
venous Beafts, no furious Wolves or Tygers to
threaten my Life; no venomous Créatures or poi-
fonous, which might feed on my Hurt, no Sa-
vages to murder and devour me.
In a Word, as, my Life was a Life of Sorrow
one Way, fo it was a Life of Mercy another; and
I wanted nothing to make it a Life. of Comfort,
but to be able to make my Senfe of 'God's Good-
nefs to me,' and Care over me in this Condition,
Be my daily Confolation; and after I did make a
juft Improvement of thefe Things, I went away
and was no more fad.
+
had now been here fo long, that many Things
which I brought on Shore for my Help, were ei
ther quite gone, or very much wafted and near
fpent
1
My
[157]
My Ink, as I obferv'd, had been gone for fome
Time, all but a very little, which I eek'd out with
Water a little and a little, till it was fo pale it
Icarce left any Appearance of Black upon the Pa-
per: As long as it lafted I made Ufe of it to mi-
nute down the Days of the Month on which any,
remarkable Thing happen'd to me; and firft by
cafting up Times paft, I remember that there was
a ftrange Concurrence of Days in the various Pro-
vidences which befel me, and which, if I had been
fuperftitiously inclin'd to obferve Days as Fatal or
Fortunate, I might have had Reaſon to have
look'd upon with a great deal of Curiofity.
First, I had obferv'd, that the fame Day that I
broke away from my Father and my Friends, and
run away to Hull in order to go to Sea, the fame
Day afterwards I was taken by the Sallé Man of
War, and made a Slave.
The fame Day of the Year that I eſcaped out
of the Wreck of that Ship in Tarmouth Roads,
that fame Day-Year afterwards I made my
Efcape from Salé in the Boat.
The fame Day of the Year I was born on,(viz.)
the 30th of September, the fame Day I had my Life
fo miraculously faved 26 Years after, when I was
caft on Shore in this Ifland; fo that my wicked
Life and folitary Life began both on a Day.
The next Thing to my Ink's being wafted,
was that of my Bread, I mean the Bisket which
I brought out of the Ship: This I had husbanded
to the Taft Degree, allowing myfelf but one Cake
of Bread a Day, for above a Year; and yet I
was quite without Bread for near a Year before
I got any Corn of my own; and great Refon I
had to be thankful that I had any at all, the get-
ting it being, as has been already obferved next
to miraculous.
Y
My
[158]
My Clothes began to decay too mightily: As to
Linnen, I had had none a good while, except fome
checquer'd Shirts which I found in the Chefts of the
other Seamen, and which I carefully preferv'd, be-
cauſe many Times I could bear no other Clothes
on but a Shirt; and it was a very great Help to me
that I had among all the Mens Clothes of the Ship
almoft three Dozen of Shirts. There were alfo fe-
veral thick Watch-Coats of the Seamens, which
were left indeed, but they were too hot to wear;
and tho' it is true, that the Weather was fo violent
hot, that there was no need of Clothes, yet I could
not go quite naked; no, tho' I had been inclined
to it, which I was not, nor could not abide the
Thoughts of it, tho'd was all alone.
7
The Reaſon why I could not go quite naked,
was, I could not bear the Heat of the Sun to well
when quite naked, as with fome Clothes on; nay,
the very Heat frequently blifter'd my Skin; where-
as with a Shirt on, the Air itſelf made fome Mo-
tion, and whiſtling under that Shirt, was twofold
cooler than without it: No more could I ever bring
myfelf to go out in the Heat of the Sun without a
Cap or a Hat; the Heat of the Sun beating wit h
fuch Violence as it does in that Place, would give
me the Head Ach preſently, by darting fo directly
on my Head, without a Cap or a Hat on'; fo that
I could not bear it; whereas if I put on my Hat,
it would preſently go away.
Upon thofe Views I began to confider about put-
ting the few Rags I had, which I call'd Clothes,
into fome Order: 1 had wcrne out all the Wäfte-
coats I had, and my Bufinefs was now' to try if I
could not make Jackets out of the great Watch-
Coats which I had by me, and with fuch other
Materials as I had, fo I fet to work a Tayloring,
or rather indeed a Botching; for I made moft
piteous
[159]
piteous Work of it. However, I made fhift to
make two or three new Waftecoats, which I hoped
would ferve me a great while; as for Breeches or
Drawers, I made but a very forry fhift indeed, till
afterward.
I have mentioned, that I faved the Skins of all
the Creatures that I kill'd, I mean four-footed ones,
and I had hung them up ftretch'd out with Sticks
in the Sun, by which means fome of them were fo
dry and hard that they were fit for little, but others
it feems were very uſeful. The firſt thing I made
of thefe was a great Cap for my Head, with the
Hair on the Outfide to fhoot off the Rain; and
this I perform'd fo well, that after this I made me
a Suit of Clothes wholly of theſe Skins, that is to
fay, a Waftecoat and Breeches open at Knees, and
both loofe, for they were rather wanting to keep
me cool, than to keep me warm. I muſt not omit
to acknowledge that they were wretchedly made;
for if I was a bad Carpenter, I was a worſe Taylor.
However, they were fuch as I made very good
fhift with; and when I was abroad, if it happen'd
to rain, the Hair of the Waftecoat and Cap being
outermoft, I was kept very dry.
After this I ſpent a great deal of Time and Pains
to make me an Umbrella. I was indeed in great
Want of one, and had a great Mind to make one,
I had feen them made in the Brafils, where they are
very useful in the great Heats which are there:
And I felt the Heats every jot as great here, and
greater too, being neareft the Equinox; befides, as
was much obliged to be abroad, it was a moft
ufeful thing to me, as well for the Rains as the
Heats. I took a world of Pains at it, and was a
great while before I could make any thing likely to
hold; nay, after I thought I had hit the Way, I
ſpoilt 2 or 3 before I made one to my Mind; but
at
[ 160 ]
at laft I made one that anfwer'd indifferently well;
the main Difficulty I found was to make it to let
down. I could make it to ſpread, but it did not
let down too, and draw in, it was not portable for
me any Way but juſt over my Head, which would
not do. However, at laft, as I faid, I made one
to anſwer, and covered it with Skins, the Hair up-
wards, fo that it caft off the Rain like a Pent-
houfe, and kept off the Sun fo effectually, that I
could walk out in the hotteſt of the Weather, with
greater Advantage than I could before in the cool-
eft, and when I had no Need of it, could cloſe it
and carry it under my Arm.
Thus I lived mighty comfortably, my Mind be-
ing entirely compofed by refigning to the Will of
God, and throwing my felf wholly upon the Diſ-
pofal of his Providence. This made my Life bet-
ter than fociable; for when I began to regiet the
want of Converſation, I would ask my felf, whether
thus converfing mutually with my own Thoughts,
and as I hope I may fay, with even God himſelf by
Ejaculations, was not better than the untmoft En-
joyment of human Society in the World?
I cannot fay, that after this, for five Years, any
extraordinary Thing happen'd to me, but I liv'd on
in the fame Courfe, in the fame Pofture and Place,
as juft before. The chief Thing I was employ'd in,
belides my yearly Labour of planting my Barley and
Rice, and curing my Raifins, of both which I al-
ways kept up juft enough to have fufficient Stock
of one Year's Provifions beforehand; I ſay, befides
this yearly Labour, and my daily Labour of going
out with my Gun, I had one Labour to make me
a Canoe, which at lait I finiſhed: So that by dig-
ging a Canal to it of fix Foot wide, and four Foot
deep, I brought it into the Creek, almoſt half a
Mile. As for the firft, which was ſo vaſtly big,
29
[ 161 ]
as I made it without confidering before-hand, as I
ought to do, how I fhould be able to launch it; fo
never being able to bring it to the, Water, or bring
the Water to it, I was oblig'd to let it lie where it
was, as a Memorandum to teach me to be wiſer next
Time. Indeed, the next Time, tho' I could not
get a Tree proper for it, and was in a Place where
I could not get the Water to it, at any leſs Diſtance
than as I have fſaid, near half a Mile; yet as I ſaw
it was practicable at laft, I never gave it over; and
though I was near two Years about it, yet I never
grudg'd my Labour, in Hopes of having a Boat to
go off to Sea at laſt.
yet
However, tho' my little Periagua was finiſh'd,
the Size of it was not at all anſwerable to the
Deſign which I had in View, when I made the
firft; I mean of venturing over to the Terra Firma,
where it was above forty Miles broad; accor-
dingly, the Smalneſs of my Boat affifted to put an
End to that Deſign, and now I thought no more
of it: But as I had a Boat, my next Defign was to
make a Tour round the Inland; for as I had been
on the other Side, in one Place, croffing, as I have
already deſcribed it, over the Land; fo the Difco-
veries I made in that little Journey, made me very
eager to fee other Parts of the Coaft; and now I
had a Boat, I thought of nothing but failing round
the Iſland.
For this Purpoſe, that I might do every thing
with Diſcretion and Confideration, I fitted up a
little Maſt to my Boat, and made a Sail to it out
of ſome of the Pieces of the Ship's Sail, which lay
in Store, and of which I had a great Stock by me.
Having fitted my Maft and Sail, and try'd the
Boat, I found the would fail very well: Then I
made little Lockers or Boxes, at either End of my
Beat, to put Provifions, Neceffaries, and Ammuni-
Part I.
M
tion,
[162]
tion, &c. into, to be kept dry, either from Rain,
or the Sprye of the Sea; and a little long hollow
Place I cut in the Infide of the Boat, where I could
lay my Gun, making a Flag to hang down over it
to keep it dry.
I fix'd my Umbrella alfo in a Step at the Stern,
like a Maft, to ftand over my Head, and keep the
Heat of the Sun off of me like an Auning; and
thus I every now and then took a little Voyage
upon the Sea, but never went far out, nor far from
the little Creek; but at laft being eager to view
the Circumference of my little Kingdom, I refolv'd
upon my Tour, and accordingly I viduall'd my
Ship for the Voyage, putting in two Dozen of
my
Loaves, (Cakes I fhould rather call them) of
Barley Bread, an Earthern Pot full of parch'd Rice,
a Food I eat a great deal of, a little Bottle of Rum,
half a Goat, and Powder and Shot for killing more,
and two large Watch-coats, of thoſe which, as I
mention'd before, I had fav'd out of the Seamens
Chefts; theſe I took, one to lie upon, and the
other to cover me in the Night.
It was the fixth of November, in the fixth Wear
of my Reign, or my Captivity, which you pleafe,
that I fet out on this Voyage, and I found it much
longer than I expected; for though the Ifland itſelf
was not very large, yet when I came to the Eaft
Side of it, I found a great Ledge of Rocks lie out
above two Leagues into the Sea, fome above Wa-
ter, fome under it; and beyond that, a Shoal of
Sand, lying dry half a League more, fo that I was
oblig'd to go a great Way out to Sea to double the
Point.
A
When firft I difcover'd them, I was going to give
over my Enterprize, and come back again, not
knowing how far it might oblige me to go out to
Sea; and above all, doubting how I should get back
again;
1
[163]
again; fo I came to an Anchor, for I had made
me a kind of an Anchor with a Piece of a broken
Graplin, which I got out of the Ship.
Having fecur'd my Boat, I took my Gun, and
went on Shore, climbing up upon a Hill, which
feem'd to overlook that Point, where I faw the
full Extent of it, and refolv'd to venture.
In my viewing the Sea from that Hill where I
ſtood, I perceiv'd a ftrong, and indeed, a moſt fu-
rious Current, which run to the Eaft, and even
came close to the Point; and I took the more No-
tice of it, becauſe I faw there might be fome Dan-
ger, that when I came into it, I might be carry'd
out to Sea by the Strength of it, and not be able
to make the Iſland again; and indeed, had I not
gotten firſt up upon this Hill, I believe it would
have been fo; for there was the fame Current on
the other Side the Island, only that it ſet off at
a farther Diſtance; and I faw there was a ſtrong
Eddy under the Shore; fo I had nothing to do
but to get in out of the firſt Current, and I ſhould
preſently be in an Eddy.
I lay here, however, two Days; becauſe the
Wind blowing pretty fresh at E. S. E. and that
being just contrary to the faid Current, made a
great Breach of the Sea upon the Point; fo that it
was not fafe for me to keep too cloſe to the Shore
for the Breach, nor to go too far off becauſe of
the Stream.
The third Day in the Morning, the Wind ha-
ving abated over Night, the Sea was calm, and I
ventur'd; but I am a Warning-Piece again to all
rafh and ignorant Pilots; for no fooner was I come -
to the Point, when even I was not my Boat's
Length from the Shore, but I found myſelf in a
great Depth of Water,and aCurrent like the Sluice
of a Mill: It carry'd my Boat along with it
with
M 2
[164]
{
with fuch Violence, that all I could do, could not
keep her fo much as on the Edge of it; but I found
it hurry'd me farther and farther out from the Ed-
dy, which was on my Left Hand. There was no
Wind ſtirring to help me, and all I could do with
my Paddles fignify'd nothing; and now I began to
give myfelf over for loft; for as the Current was
on both Sides the Ifland, I knew in a few Leagues
Diſtance they muſt join again, and then I was ir-
recoverably gone; nor did I fee any Poffibility of
avoiding it; fo that I had no Profpe& before me
but of Perishing; not by the Sea, for that was
calm enough, but of ftarving for Hunger. I had
indeed found a Tortoife on the Shore, as big al-
moft as I could lift, and had tofs'd it into the
Boat; and I had a great Jar of freſh Water, that is
to fay, one of my Earthen Pots; but what was all
this to being driven into the vaft Ocean, where, to
be fure, there was no Shore, no main Land, or
Ifland, for a thonfand Leagues at leaſt ?
}
And now I faw how eafy it was for the Provi-
dence of God to make the moſt miferable Condi-
tion Mankind could be in, wo fe. Now I look'd
back upon my defolate folitary Iſland, as the most
pleafant Place in the World, and all the Happiness
my Heart could wish for, was to be but there
again. Iftretch'd out my Hands to it with eager
Wiſhes. O happy Defart, faid I, I fhall never fee
thee more! O miferable Creature, faid I, whi-
ther am I going! Then I reproach'd myfelf with
my unthankful Temper, and how I had repin'd at
my folitary Condition; and now what would give
to be on Shore there again? Thus we never fee
the true State of our Condition, till it is illuſtrated
to us by its Contraries; nor know how to value
what we enjoy, but by the Want of it. It is fcarce
poffible to imagine the Confternation I was now in,
1
being
[ 165 ]
being driven from my beloved Inland (for fo it ap-
peared to me now to be) into the wide Ocean, al-
moſt two Leagues, and in the utmoſt Defpair of
ever recovering it again. However, I work'd hard
till indeed my Strength was almoft exhaufted, and
kept my Boat as much to the Northward, that is,
towards the Side of the Current which the Eddy
lay on, as poffibly I could; when about Noon, as
the Sun pafs'd the Meridian, I thought I felt a lit-
tle Breeze of Wind in my Face, fpringing up from
the S. S. E. This chear'd my Heart a little, and
eſpecially when in about half an Hour more it
blew a pretty ſmall gentle Gale. By this Time I
was gotten at a frightful Diſtance from the Inland,
and had the leaft Cloud or hazy Weather interven'd,
I had been undone another Way too; for I had no
Compafs on Board, and fhould never have known
how to have ſteered towards the Ifland, if I had
but once loft Sight of it; but the Weather con-
tinuing clear, I apply'd my felf to get up my Maſt
again, fpread my Sail, ftanding away to the North
as much as poffible, to get out of the Current.
Juft as I had fet my Maft and Sail, and the Boat
began to ftretch away, I faw even by the Clear-
neſs of the Water, fome Alteration of the Current
was near; for where the Current was fo ftrong, the
Water was foul; but perceiving the Water clear, I
found the Current abate, and prefently I found to
the Eaſt, at about half a Mile, a Breach of the Sea
upon fome Rocks; thefe Rocks I found caus'd the
Current to part again, and as the main Strefs of it
ran away more Southerly, leaving the Roeks to the
North-Eaft, fo the other return'd by the Repulfe of
the Rocks, and made a ftrong Eddy, which ran
back again to the North Weft with a very harp
Streama
•
M3
"
They
[ 166 ]
They who know what it is to have a Reprieve
brought to them upon the Ladder, or to be refcu-
ed from Thieves juſt going to murder them, or
who have been in fuch like Extremities, may gueſs
what my prefent Surprize of Joy was, and how
gladly I put my Boat into the Stream of this Eddy,
and the Wind alfo freshening, how gladly I fpread
my Sail to it, running chearfully before the Wind,
and with a ſtrong Tide or Eddy under Foot.
This Eddy carry'd me about a League in my
Way back again directly towards the Ifland, but
about two Leagues more to the Northward than
the Current which carried me away at firft; fa
that when I came near the Ifland, I found myſelf
open to the Northern Shore of it, that is to ſay,
the other End of the Ifland oppofite to that which
I went out from.
When I had made fomething more than aLeague
of Way by the Help of this Current or Eddy, I
found it was ſpent and ferv'd me no farther. How-
ever, I found that being between the two great
Currents, (viz.) that on the South Side, which
had hurried me away, and that on the North,
which lay about a League on the other Side: I fay,
between theſe two, in the Wake of the Ifland, I
found the Water at leaft ftill and running no Way;
and having ftill a Breeze of Wind fair for me, I
kept on fleering directly for the Illand, tho' not
making fuch fresh Way as I did before.
About four a-Clock in the Evening, being then
within about a League of the Iland, I found the
Point of the Rocks which occafion'd this Difafter,
ftretching out, as is defcribed before, to the South
ward, and cafting off the Current more Southward-
ly, had of courfe made a nother Eddy to the North,
and this I found very ftrong, but not dire&lyfetting
the Way my Courfe lay, which was due Weft, but
almoft
[167]
almoſt full North. However, having a freſh
Gale, I ftretch'd a-crofs this Eddy flanting North-
Weft, and in about an Hour came within about a
Mile of the Shore, where it being fmooth Water,
I foon got to Land.
When I was on Shore I fell on my Knees, and
gave God Thanks for my Deliverance, refolving
to lay afide all Thoughts of my Deliverance by my
Boat; and refreshing myfelf with fuch Things as
I had, I brought my Boat clofe to the Shore in a
little Cave that I had fpy'd under fome Trees, and
laid me down to fleep, being quite ſpent with the
Labour and Fatigue of the Voyage.
I was now at a great Lofs which Way to get
Home with my Boat: I had run fo much Hazard,
and knew too much the Cafe to think of attempt-
ing it by the Way I went out ; and what might be
at the other Side, (I mean the Weft-Side) I knew
not, nor had I any Mind to run any moreVentures,
fo I only refolved in the Morning to make my Way
Weftward along the Shore, and to fee if there was
no Creek where I might lay up my Fregate in Safe-
ty,fo as to have her again if I wanted her. In about
three Miles, or thereabout, coafting the Shore, I
came to a very good Inlet,or Bay,about aMile over,
which narrow'd till it came to a very little Rivulet
or Brook, where I found a very convenient Harbout
for my Boat, and where the lay as it fhe had been
in a little Dock made on purpoſe for her. Here I
put in, and having ftow'd my Boat very fafe,I went
on Shore to look about me, and fee where I was.
}
I foon found I had but a little pafs'd by the Place
where I had been before, when I travell'd on Foot
to that Shore; fo taking nothing out of my Boat,
but my Gun and my Umbrella, for sit was ex-
ceeding hot, I began my March. The Way was
comfortable enough after fuch a Voyage as I had
MA
been
E 168 1
been upon, and I reach'd my old Bower in the
Evening, where I found every thing ſtanding as Į
left it; for I always kept it in good Order, being,
as I ſaid before, my Country houſe.
I got over the Fence, and laid me down in the
Shade to reft my Limbs, for I was very weary, and
fell aſleep: But judge you, if you can, that read my
Story what a Surprize I must be in, when I was
wak'd out of my Sleep by a Voice calling me by
my Name ſeveral times, Robin, Robin, Robin Crufoe,
poor Robin Crufoe! where are you Robin Crufoe?
Where are you? Where have you been?
+
I was fo dead afleep at firft, being fatigu'd with
Rowing, or Paddling, as it is call'd, the firft
Part of the Day, and with Walking the latter Part,
that I did not wake throughly; but dozing be-
tween fleeping and waking, thought I dream'd
that fome body ſpoke to me: But as the Voice
continu'd to repeat, Robin Crufoe, Robin Crufoe, at
laft I began to wake more perfectly, and was at
first dreadfully frighted, and ſtarted up in the ut-
moft Confternation: But no fooner were my Eyes
open, but I faw my Poll fitting on the Top of the
Hedge, and immediately knew that it was he that
fpoke to me; for juft in fuck bemoaning Language
I had ufed to talk to him, and teach him and he
}
had learn'd it fo perfectly, that he would fit upon
my Finger, and lay his Bill clofe to my Face, and
cry, Poor Robin Crufoe, Where are you? Where have
you been? How come you here? and fuch things as Į
had taught him.
However, even though I knew it was the Parrot,
and that indeed it could be no body elfe, it was
a good while before I could compoſe my ſelf.
First, I was amazed how the Créature got thither,
and then how he ſhould juſt keep about the Place,
and no where elſe: But as I was well fatisfied it
could
[169]
could be no body but honeft Poll, I got it over;
and holding out my Hand, and calling him by his
Name Poll, the fociable Creature came to me, and
fat upon my Thumb, as he uſed to do, and conti-
nued talking to me, Poor Robin Crufoe, and how
did I come here? And where had I been? Juft as if
he had been overjoy'd to ſee me again; and ſo I
carry'd him Home along with me.
I had now had enough of rambling to Sea for
fome time, and had enough to do for many Days
to fit ſtill, and reflect upon the Danger I had been
in. I would have been very glad to have had
my Boat again on my Side of the Inland; but I
knew not how it was practicable to get it about.
As to the East Side of the Island, which I had
gone round, I knew well enough there was no ven-
turing that Way; my very Heart would fhrink, and
my very Blood run chill but to think of it: And as
to the other Side of the Island, I did not know
how it might be there; but fuppofing the Current
ran with the fame Force againſt the Shore at the
Eaſt, as it pafs'd by it on the other, I might run
the fame Risk of being driven down the Stream,
and carry'd by the Inland, as I had been before, of
being carry'd away from it; fo with theſe Thoughts
I contented myſelf to be without any Boat, tho'
it had been the Product of fo many Months La-
bour to make it, and of fo many more to get it
unto the Sea.
In this Government of my Temper I remain'd
near a Year, lived a very fedate retired Life, as
you may well fuppofe; and my Thoughts being
very much compofed as to my Condition, and
fully comforted in refigning myſelf to the Dif
pofitions of Providence, I thought I liv'd really ve-
ry happily in all things, except that of Society.
lim-
[170]
&
I improv❜d myſelf in this Time in all the me-
chanick Exerciſes which my Neceffities put me
upon applying myfelf to, and I believe could, upon
Occafion, have made a very good Carpenter, efpe-
cially confidering how few Tools I had.
}
Befides this, I arrived at an unexpected Per-
fection in my Earthen Ware, and contrived well
enough to make them with a Wheel, which I found
infinitely eafier and better; becaufe I made Things
round and fhapable, which before were filthy
Things indeed to look on. But I think I was ne-
ver more vain of my own Performance, or more
joyful for any Thing I found out, than for my be-
ing able to make a Tobacco-Pipe. And tho' it was
a very ugly clumfy Thing, when it was done, and
only burnt red like other Earthen Ware, yet as it
was hard and firm, and would draw the Smoke, I
was exceedingly comforted with it; for I had been
always uſed to Smoke, and there were Pipes in the
Ship, but I forgot them at first, not knowing that
there was Tobacco in the Ifland; and afterwards,
when I fearch'd the Ship again, I could not come
at any Pipes at all.
In my Wicker-Ware alfo I improved much, and
made Abundance of neceffary Baskets, as well as
my Invention fhew'd me, though not very hand-
fome, yet they were fuch as were very handy and
convenient for my laying Things up in, or fetching
Things home in. For Example, if I kill'd a Goat
abroad, I could hang it up in a Tree, fleair, and
drefs it, and cut it in Pieces, and bring it home in
a Baskets and the like by a Turtle, I could cut it
up, take out the Eggs, and a Piece or two of the
Flesh, which was enough for me, and bring them
home in a Basket, and leave the reft behind
me. Alfo large deep Baskets were my Recei
vers for my Corn, which I always rubb'd out as
loon
[ 171 ]
foon as it was dry, and cured, and kept it in great
Baskets.
I began now to perceive my Powder abated confi-
derably, and this was a Want which it was im-
poffible for me to ſupply, and I began ſeriouſly to
confider what I must do when I fhould have no
more Powder; that is to fay, how I fhould do to
kill any Goats. I had, as is obferv'd in the third
Year of my being here, kept a young Kid, and
bred her up tame, I was in hopes of getting a He-:
Goat, but I could not by any means bring it to
paſs, till my Kid grew an old Goat; and I could
never find in my Heart to kill her, till fhe dy'd at
laft of meer Age.
But being now in the eleventh Year of my Refi-
dence, and, as I have faid, my Ammunition grow-
ing low, I fet my ſelf to ſtudy fome Art to trap and
fnare the Goats, to fee whether I could not catch
fome of them alive, and particularly I wanted a
She-Goat great with Young.
To this Purpoſe I made Snares to hamper them,
and I do believe they were more than once taken
in them; but my Tackle was not good, for I had
no Wire, and I always found them broken, and my
Bait devour'd.
At length I refolv'd to try a Pit-fall, fo I dug
feveral large Pits in the Earth, in Places where I
had obfervi'd the Goats ufed to feed, and over thefe
Pits I placed Hurdles of my own making too,
with a great Weight upon them; and ſeveral times
I
put Ears of Barley and dry Rice, without ſet-
ting the Trap, and I could eafily perceive that the
Goats had gone in and eaten up the Corn, for I
could fee the Mark of their Feet. At length I ſet
three Traps in one Night, and going the next
Morning I found them all ſtanding, and yet the
Bait eaten and gone. This was very difcouraging;
How-
&
[172]
my
However, I alter'd my Traps, and, not to trouble
yon with Párticulars, going one Morning to ſee
Traps, I found in one of them a large old He-Goat,
and in one of the other, three Kids, a Male and
two Females.
As to the old one, I knew not what to do with
him, he was fo fierce F durft not go into the Pit
to him; that is to ſay, to go about to bring him,
away alive, which was what I wanted. I could
have kill'd him, but that was not my Buſineſs, nor
would it anfwer my End. So I e'en let him out,
and he ran away as if he had been frighted out of
his Wits: But I had forgot then what I had learned
afterwards, that Hunger will tame a Lion. If I
had let him ſtay there three or four Days without
Food, and then have carry'd him fome Water to
drink, and then a little Corn, he would have been
as tame as one of the Kids, for they are mighty
fagacious tractable Creatures where they are well
uſed.
However, for the preſent I let him go, knowing
no better at that time; then I went to the three
Kids, and taking them one by one, I ty'd them
with Strings together, and with fome Difficulty
brought them all home.
It was a good while before they would feed, but
throwing them fome iweet Corn, it tempted them,
and they began to be tame: And now I found that
if I expected to fupply my felf with Goat Fleſh,
when I had no Powder or Shot left, breeding fome
up tame was my only Way, when perhaps I
might have them about my Houfe like a Flock of
Sheep.
ļ
But then it preſently occur'd to me, that I muſt
keep the Tame from the Wild, or elfe they would
always run wild when they grew up; and the only
Way for this was to have fome enclofed Piece of
Ground,
[173]
Ground, well fenc'd either with Hedge or Pale, to
keep them in fo effectually, that thoſe within might
not break out, or thofe without break in.
This was a great Undertaking for one Pair of
Hands; yet as I faw there was an abfolute Necef
fity of doing it, my first Piece of Work was to
find out a proper Piece of Ground, viz. where there
was likely to be Herbage for them to eat, Water
for them to drink, and Cover to keep them from
the Sun.
Thoſe who underſtand fuch Enclofures will
think I had very little Contrivance, when I pitch'd
upon a Place very proper for all theſe, being a plain
open Piece of Meadow-Land or Savanna, (as our
People call it in the Weſtern Colonies,) which had
two or three little Drills of fresh Water in it, and
at one End was very woody: I fay they will fmile
at my Forecaſt, when I fhall tell them I began my
enciofing of this Piece of Ground in fuch a Man-
ner, that my Hedge or Pale muſt have been at leaſt
two Mile about. Nor was the Madneſs of it fo
great as to the Compafs, for if it was ten Mile
about I was like to have time enough to do it in.
But I did not confider that my Goats would be as
wild in fo much Compaſs, as if they had had the
whole Iſland, and I ſhould have fo much Room
to chaſe them in, that
that I fhould never catch
them.
My Hedge was begun and carry'd on, I believe,
about fifty Yards, when this Thought occurr'd to
me, fo I prelently ftopt fhort, and for the firft Be-
ginning I refolv'd to encloſe a Piece of about 150
Yards in Length, and 100 Yards in Bredth, which as
it would maintain as many as I fhould have in any
reaſonable Time,fo as my Flock encreaſed, I could
add more Ground to my Encloſure.
This
[174]
This was acting with fome Prudence, and I
went to work with Courage. I was about three
Months hedging in the firft Piece, and till I had
done it I tether'd the three Kids in the beſt Part of
it, and us'd them to feed as near me as poffible to
make them familiar; and very often I would go
and carry them fome Ears of Barley,or a Handful
of Rice, and feed them out of my Hand; fo that
after my Inclofure was finifh'd, and I let them
loofe,they would follow me up and down,bleating
after me for a handful of Corn.
This anfwer'd my End, and in about a Year and
Half I had a Flock of about twelve Goats, Kids
and all; and in two Years more I had three and
forty; befides ſeveral that I took and kill'd for my
Food. And after that I incloſed five ſeveral Pieces
of Ground to feed them in, with little Penns to
drive them into, to take them as I wanted, and
Gates out of one Piece of Ground into ano-
ther.
But this was not all; for now I not only had
Goats-Fleſh to feed on when I pleas'd, but Milk
too, a Thing which indeed in my Beginning I did
not fo much as think of, and which, when it came
into my Thoughts, was really an agreeable Sur-
prize. For now I fet up my Dairy, and had ſome-
times a Gallon or two of Milk in a Day. And as
Nature, who gives Supplies of Food to every
Creature, dictates even naturally how to make ufe
of it; fo I that had never milk'd a Cow, much lefs
a Goat, or feen Butter or Cheeſe made, very rea-
dily and handily, tho' after a great many Effays
and Mifcarriages, made me both Butter and Cheeſe
at laft, and never wanted it afterwards.
How mercifully can our great Creator treat his
Creatures, even in thofe Conditions in which they
feem'd to be overwhelm'd in Deſtruction! How
can
[175]
}
can he ſweeten the bittereſt Providences, and give
us Caufe to praiſe him for Dungeons and Prifons!
What a Table was here (pread for me in a Wilder-
neſs, where I ſaw nothing at firſt but to periſh for
Hunger!
It would have made a Stoick ſmile to have ſeen
me and my little Family fit down to Dinner; there
was my Majefty the Prince and Lord of the whole
Iſland; I had the Lives of all my Subjects at my
abfolute Command. I could hang, draw, give Li-
berty, and take it away, and no Rebels among all
my Subjects.
Then to fee how like a King I din'd too all
alone, attended by my Servants; Poll, as if he had
been my Favourite, was the only Perfon permit-
ted to talk to ime. My Dog, who was now grown
very old and crazy, and had found no Species to
multiply his Kind upon, fat always at my Right
Hand; and two Cats, one on one Side the Ta-
ble, and one on the other, expecting now and
then a Bit from my Hand, as a Mark of ſpecial
Favour.
But theſe were not the two Cats which I brought
on Shore at firſt, for they were both of them dead,
and had been interr'd near my Habitation by my
own Hand; but one of them having multiply'd by
I know not what Kind of Creature, theſe were
two which I had preferv'd tame, whereas the
reft run wild in the Woods, and became indeed
troubleſome to me at laft; for they would often
come into my Houfe, and plunder me too, till at
laft I was obliged to fhoot them, and did kill a
great many; at length they left me with this At-
tendance, and in this plentiful Manner I liv'd; nei-
ther could be faid to want any thing but Society,
and of that in fome time after this I was like to
have too much.
I was
[176]
་
I was fomething impatient, as I have obſerv'd;
to have the Ufe of my Boat; though very loath to
run any more Hazards; and therefore fometimes I
fat contriving Ways to get her about the Illand,
and at other times I fat my felf down contented
enough with her. But I had a ftrange Uneafineſs in
my Mind to go down to the Point of the Island,
where, as I have faid, in my laſt Ramble, I went
up the Hill to fee how the Shore lay, and how the
Current fet, that I might fee what I had to do.
This Inclination increafed upon me every Day, and
at length I refolved to travel thither by Land; fol-
lowing the Edge of the Shore I did fo: But had any
one in England been to meet fuch a Man as I was, it
muft either have frighted them, or raiſed a great
deal of Laughter; and as I frequently ftood ftill to
look at my felf, I could not but ſmile at the Notion
of my travelling thro' Yorkshire with fuch an Equi-
page, and in fuch a Drefs. Be pleaſed to take a
Sketch of my Figure as follows.
I had a great high ſhapeleſs Cap, made of a
Goat's Skin, with a Flap hanging down behind, as
well to keep the Sun from me, as to fhoot the Rain
off from running into my Neck; nothing being fo
hurtful in theſe Climates, as the Rain upon the
Flesh under the Clothes.
I had a fhort Jacket of Goat-Skin, the Skirts
coming down to about the Middle of my Thighs;
and a Pair of open-kneed Breeches of the fame; the
Breeches were made of the Skin of an old He-goat,
whoſe Hair hung down fuch a Length on either
Side, that like Pantaloons it reach'd to the Middle
of my Legs. Stockings and Shoes I had none, but
had made me a Pair of Somethings, I fcarce know
what to call them, like Buskins, to flap over my
Legs, and lace on either Side like Spatter-dafhes;
:
but
[177]
but of a most barbarous Shape, as indeed were all
the rest of my Clothes.
I had on a broad Belt of Goat's Skin dry'd,
which I drew together with two Thongs of the
fame, inſtead of Buckles, and in a kind of a Frog
on either Side of this inftead of a Sword and a
Dagger, hung a little Saw and a Hatchet, one on
one Side, one on the other. I had another Belt not
fo broad, and faſten'd in the ſame Manner, which
hung over my Shoulder; and at the End of it,
under my left Arm hung two Pouches, both made
of Goat's-Skin too; in one of which hung my
Powder, in the other my Shot: At my Back I car-
ried my Basket, on my Shoulder my Gun, and over
my Head a great clumfy ugly Goat-Skin Umbrello,
but which, after all, was the moſt neceffary Thing
I had about me, next to my Gun; As for my Face,
the Colour of it was really not fo Moletta like as
one might expect from a Man not at all careful of
it, and living within 9 or 10 Degrees of the Equinox.
My Beard I had once fuffer'd to grow till it was
about a Quarter of a Yard long; but as I had both
Sciffars and Razors fufficient, I had cut it pretty
fhort, except what grew on my upper Lip, which
I had trimm'd into a large Pair of Mahometan Whif-
kers, fuch as I had feen worn by fome Turks, whom I
faw at Sallee, for the Moors did not wear fuch, tho'
the Turks did; of thefe Muftachioes or Whiskers, I
will not fay they were long enough to hang my Hat
upon them, but they were of a Length and Shape
monſtrous enough, and fuch as in England would
have pafs'd for frightful.
But-all this is by the by; for as to my Figure, I
had fo few to obferve me, that it was of no man-
ner of Confequence; fo I fay no more to that Part.
In this kind of Figure I went my new Journey, and
was out five or fix Days. I travell'd firft along the
Part I.
N
Sea-
;
!
[178]
Sea-Shore, directly to the Place where I firſt brought
my Boat to an Anchor, to get up upon the Rocks;
and having no Boat now to take care of, I went o
ver the Land a nearer Way, to the fame Height
that I was upon before; when looking forward to
the Point of the Rocks which lay out, and which
I was obliged to double with my Boat, as I faid a-
bove, I was furpriz'd to fee the Sea all ſmooth and
quiet, no Rippling, no Motion, no Current, any
more there than in other Places.
I was at a ſtrange Lofs to underſtand this, and
refolv'd to ſpend ſome Time in the obſerving it, to
fee if nothing from the Sets of the Tide had occa-
fion'd it; but I was prefently convinc'd how it was,
viz. That the Tide of Ebb fetting from the Weſt,
and joining with the Current of Waters from fome
great River on the Shore, muſt be the Occafion of
this Current; and that according as the Wind blew
more forcibly from the Weft, or from the North, this
Current came near, or went farther from the Shore;
for waiting thereabouts till Evening, I went up to
the Rock again, and then the Tide of Ebb being
made, I plainly faw the Current again as before,
only, that it run farther off, being near half a
League from the Shore; whereas in my Cafe, it
fet cloſe upon the Shore, and hurried me and my
Canoe along with it, which at another Time it
would not have done.
This Obfervation convinc'd me, That I had no-
thing to do but to obferve the Ebbing and the
Flowing of the Tide, and I might very easily bring
my Boat about the Ifland again: But when I be-
gan to think of putting it in Practice, I had fuch a
Terror upon my Spirits at the Remembrance of the
Danger I had been in, that I could not think of it
again with any. Patience; but on the contrary, I
took up another Refolution, which was more fafe,
though
[179]
though more laborious; and this was, That I
would build, or rather make me another Periagua,
or Canoe; and fo have one for one Side of the Iiland,
and one. for the other.
You are to underſtand, that now I had, as I
may call it, two Plantations in the Iſland; one my
little Fortification or Tent, with the Wall about
it under the Rock, with the Cave behind me,
which by this Time I had enlarg'd into feveral
Apartments or Caves, one within another. One
of thefe, which was the dryeft, and largeft, and
had a Door out beyond my Wall or Fortification;
that is to fay, beyond where my Wall join'd to
the Rock, was all fill'd up with the large Earthen
Pots, of which I have given an Account, and with
fourteen or fifteen great Baskets, which would hold
five or fix Bufhe's each, where I laid up my Stores
of Provifion, eſpecially my Corn, fome in the Ear
cut off fhort from the Straw, and the other rubb'd
out with my Hand.
As for my Wall made, as before, with long Stakes
or Piles, thoſe Piles grew all like Trees, and were
by this Time grown fo big, and ſpread fo very
much, that there was not the leaft Appearance to
any one's View of any Habitation behind them.
Near this Dwelling of mine, but a little farther
within the Land, and upon lower Ground, lay my
two Pieces of Corn-Ground, which I kept duly
cultivated and fow'd, and which duly yielded me
their Harveft in its Seafon; and whenever I had
Occafion for more Corn, I had more Land adjon-
ing as fit as that.
Befides this, I had my Country Seat, and I had
now a tolerable Plantation there allo; for firft, I
had my little Bower, as I call'd it, which I kept
in Repair; that is to fay, I kept the Hedge which
circled it in, conſtantly fitted up to its ufual Height,
N 2
the
[180]
the Ladder ſtanding always in the Infide; I kept
the Trees which at firft were no more than my
Stakes, but were now grown very firm and tall; I
kept them always fo cut, that they might fpread and
grow thick and wild, and make the more agreeable
Shade, which they did effectually to my Mind: In
the middle of this I had my Tent always ftanding,
being a Piece of a Sail ſpread over Poles fet up for
that Purpoſe, and which never wanted any Repair
or Renewing; and under this I had made me a
Squab or Couch, with the Skins of the Creatures
I had kill'd, and with other foft Things, and a
Blanket laid on them, fuch as 'belong'd to our
Sea Bedding, which I had faved, and a great
Watch-Coat to cover me; and here, whenever I
had Occafion to be abfent from my chief Seat, I
took up my Country Habitation.
Adjoyning to this I had my Encloſures for my
Cattle, that is to fay, my Goats: And as I had
taken an inconceivable deal of Pains to fence and
encloſe this Ground,fo I was fo uneafyto ſee it kept
entire, left the Goats fhould break thro', that I ne-
ver left off till with infinite Labour I had ftuck the
Outfide of the Hedge fo full of ſmall Stakes, and
fo near to one another, that it was rather a Pale
than a Hedge, and there was ſcarce Room to put
a Hand thro' between them, which afterwards
when thofe Stakes grew, as they all did in the next
rainy Seafon, made the Encloſure ftrong like a Wall,
indeed ftronger than any Wall.
This will teftify for me that I was not idle,
and that I fpared no Pains to bring to pafs what-
ever appear'd neceflary for my comfortable Sup-
port; for I confider'd the keeping up a Breed of
tame Creatures thus at my Hand, would be a li-
ving Magazine of Flefh, Milk, Butter and Cheeſe,
for
}
[181]
1
for me as long as I liv'd in the Place, if it were to be
forty Years, and that keeping them in my Reach,
depended entirely upon my perfecting my Enclo-
fures to fuch a Degree, that I might be fure of
keeping them together; which by this Method in-
deed I fo effectually fecur'd, that when thefe lit-
tle Stakes began to grow, I had planted them fo
very thick, I was forced to pull fome of them up
again.
In this Place alfo I had my Grapes growing,
which I principally depended on for my Winter
Store of Raifins, and which I never fail'd to pre-
ferve very carefully, as the beft and moft agreeable
Dainty of my whole Diet; and indeed they were
not agreeable only, but Phyfical, wholeſome, nou-
rifhing and refreſhing, to the laft Degree.
As this was alfo about half Way between my o-
ther Habitation and the Place where I had laid up
my Boat, I generally ftay'd and lay here in my
Way thither; for I ufed frequently to vifit my
Boat, and I kept all things about or belonging to
her in very good Order; fometimes I went out in
her to divert my felf, but no more hazardous
Voyages would I go, nor fcarce ever above a
Stone's Caft or two from the Shore, I was fo appre-
henfive of being hurried out of my Knowledge a-
gain by the Currents, or Winds, or any other Acci-
dent: But now I come to a new Scene of my Life.
It happen'd one Day about Noon going towards
my Boat, I was exceedingly furpriz'd with the Print
of a Man's naked Foot on the Shore, which was
very plain to be feen in the Sand: I ftood like one
Thunder-ftruck, or as if I had feen an Apparition ;
I liftend, I look'd round me, I could hear nothing,
nor fee any Thing; I went up to a rifing Ground to
look farther: I went up the Shore and down the
Shore, but it was all one, I could fee no other
Impreffion
N 3
[182]
Impreffion but that one, I went to it again to ſee
if there were any more, and to obferve if it might
not be my Fancy; but there was no Room for
that, for there was exactly the very Print of a Foot,
Toes, Heel, and every Part of a Foot; how it
came thither, I know not, nor could in the leaſt
imagine. But after innumerable Aluttering Thoughts,
like a Man perfectly confus'd and out of myfelf, I
came Home to my Fortification, not feeling, as we
fay, the Ground I went on, but terrify'd to the laſt
Degree, looking behind me at every two or three
Steps, miſtaking every Buth and Tree, and fancy-
ing every Stump at a Diſtance to be a Man; nor is
it poffible to defcribe how many various Shapes af-
frighted Imagination reprefented Things to me in;
how many wild Ideas were found every Moment
in my Fancy, and what ſtrange unaccountable
Whimfies came into my Thoughts by the Way.
When I came to my Caftle, for fo I think I call'd
it ever after this, I fled into it like one purſued;
whether I went over by the Ladder as firſt con-
triv'd, or went in at the Hole in the Rock, which
I call'd a Door, I cannot remember; no, nor could
I remember the next Morning; for never frighted
Hare fled to Cover, or Fox to Earth, with more
Terror of Mind than I to this Retreat.
I flept none that Night; the farther I was from
the Occafion of my Fright, the greater my Ap-
prehenfions were; which is fomething contrary to
the Nature of fuch Things, and efpecially to the
ufual Practice of all Creatures in Fear: But I was
fo embarraſs'd with my own frightful Ideas of the
Thing, that I form'd nothing but difmal Imagina-
tions to my felf, even tho' I was now a great way
off it. Sometimes I fancy'd it muſt be the De-
vil; and Reafon join'd in with me upon this Sup-
pofition: For how fhould any other Thing in hu-
man
[183]
1
man Shape come into the Place? Where was the
Veffel that brought them? What Marks was there
of any other Footfteps? And how was it poffible
a Man fhould come there? But then to think that
Satan ſhould take human Shape upon him in ſuch a
Place where there could be no manner of Occafion
for it, but to leave the Print of his Foot behind
him,and that even for no Purpoſe too (for he could
not be fure I ſhould fee it) this was an Amulement
the other Way: I confidered that the Devil might
have found out Abundance of other Ways to have
terrify'd me, than this of the fingle Print of a Foor.
That as I liv'd quite on the other Side of the Ifland,
he would never have been ſo fimple to leave a Mark
in a Place where it was ten Thouſand to One whe-
ther I fhould ever ſee it or not, and in the Sand
too, which the first Surge of the Sea upon a high
Wind would have defac'd entirely : All this feem'd
inconfiftent with the Thing itfelf, and with all
the Notions we ufually entertain of the Subtilty
of the Devil.
Abundance of fuch Things as thefe affifted to ar-
gue me out of all Apprehenfions of its being the
Devil: And 1 preſently concluded then,that it muſt
be fome more dangerous Creature, viz. That it
muſt be ſome of the Savages of the main Land
over-againſt me, who had wandered out to Sea in
their Canoes, and either driven by the Currents, or
by contrary Winds, had made the Iftand; and had
been on Shore, but were gone away again to Sea,
being as loath, perhaps, to have ftaid in this defo-
late land, as I would have been to have had them.
While thefe Reflections were roling upon my
Mind, I was very thankful in my Thoughts, that
I was to happy as not to be thereabouts at that
Time, or that they did not fee my Boat, by which
they would have concluded that fome Inhabitants
N 4.
had
[184]
"
had been in the Place, and perhaps have fearch'd
farther for me: Then terrible Thoughts rack'd my
Imagination about their having found my Boat,
and that there were People here; and that if fo, I
fhould certainly have them come again in greater
Numbers and devour me; that if it fhould happen
fo that they ſhould not find me, yet they would
find my Enclofure, deftroy all my Corn, carry away
my Flock of tame Goats, and Ifhould periſh at
laft for meer Want.
all
Thus my Fear banish'd all my Religious Hope,
all that former Confidence in God, which was
founded upon fuch wonderful Experience as I had
had of his Goodneſs, now vanifh'd; as if he that
had fed me by Miracle hitherto, could not preferve
by his Power the Provifion which he had made for
me by his Goodnefs. I reproach'd myſelf with my
Eafinefs, that would not fow any more Corn one
Year than would juft ferve me till the next Seafon,
as if no Accident could intervene to prevent my
enjoying the Crop that was upon the Ground;
and this I thought fo juft a Reproof, that I refolv'd
for the future to have two or three Years Corn be-
fore-hand, ſo that whatever might come, I might
not perish for want of Bread.
How ftrange a Chequer-Work of Providence is
the Life of Man! and by what fecret differing
Springs are the Affections hurried about, as differ-
ing Circumſtances prefent! To Day we love what
to Morrow we hate; to Day we feek what to Mor-
row we fhun; to Day we defire what to Morrow
we fear; nay, even tremble at the Apprehenfions of.
This was exemplified in me at this time n the
moft lively Manner imaginable; for I, whofe only
Affliction was, that I feem'd banish'd from human
Society, that I was alone, circumfcrib'd by the
boundlefs Ocean, cut off from Mankind, and con-
demn'd
[185]
demn'd to what I call filent Life; that I was as
one whom Heaven thought not worthy to be num-
ber'd among the Living, or to appear among the
reſt of his Creatures; that to have ſeen one of my
own Species, would have feem'd to me a Raifing
me from Death to Life, and the greateſt Bleffing
that Heaven itſelf, next to the fupreme Bleffing of
Salvation, could beftow; I fay, that I fhould now
tremble at the very Apprehenfions of feeing a Man,
and was ready to fink into the Ground at but the
Shadow, or filent Appearance of a Man's having
fet his Foot on the Ifland.
Such is the uneven State of Human Life; and it
afforded me a great many curious Speculations af-
terwards, when I had a little recovered my firlt
Surprize; I confidered that this was the Station of
Life, the infinitely wife and good Providence of
God had determin'd for me, that as I could not
foreſee what the Ends of Divine Wiſdom might be
in all this, fo I was not to difpute his Sovereignty,
who, as I was his Creature, had an undoubted
Right by Creation to govern and difpofe of me
abfolutely as he thought fit; and who, as I was a
Creature who had offended him, had likewiſe a
judicial Right to condemn me to what Puniſhment
he thought fit; and that it was my Part to fubmit
to bear his Indignation, becauſe I had finn'd a-
gainst him.
I then reflected, that God, who was not only
Righteous but Omnipotent, as he had thought fit
thus to puniſh and afflict me, fo he was able to
deliver me; that if he did not think fit to do it,
'twas my unqueftion'd Duty to refign myſelf abfo-
lutely and entirely to his Will: And on the other
hand, it was my Duty alfo to hope in him, pray
to him, and quietly to attend the Dictates and
Directions of his daily Providence.
Thefe
[186]
Thefe Thoughts took me up many Hours, Days,
nay, I may fay, Weeks and Months; and one par-
ticular Effect of my Cogitations on this Occafion,
I cannot omit, viz. One Morning early, lying in
my Bed, and fill'd with Thought about my Dan-
ger from the Appearance of Savages, I found it
difcompos'd me very much; upon which thofe
Words of the Scripture came into my Thoughts,
Call upon me in the Day of Trouble, and I will deliver,
and thou shalt glorify me.
Upon this, rifing chearfully out of my Bed, my
Heart was not only comforted, but I was guided
and encouraged to pray earneſtly to God for De-
liverance: When I had done praying, I took up
my Bible, and opening it to read, the first Words
that prefented to me, were, Wait on the Lord, and
be of good Cheer, and he shall strengthen thy Heart
wait, I say, on the Lord. It is impoffible to exprels
the Comfort this gave me. In Anfwer, I thank-
fully laid down the Book, and was no more fad,
at leaſt, not on that Occafion.
;
In the Middle of thefe Cogitations, Apprehen-
fions,and Reflections,it came into my Thought one
Day, that all this might be a mcer Chimera of my
own; and that this Foot might be the Print of my
own Foot, when I came on Shore from my Boat:
This chear'd me up a little too, and I began to per-
fwade myſelf it was all a Delufion; that it was no-
thing elſe but my own Foot; and why might not I
come that Way from the Boat, as well as I was go-
ing that Way to the Boat? Again, I confider'd alfo
that I could by no Means tell for certain where I
had trod, and where I had not; and that if at laſt
this was only the Print of my own Foot, I had
play'd the Part of thofe Fools, who ftrive to make
Stories of Spectres and Apparitions, and then are
frighted at them more than any body.
Now
[187]
Now I began to take Courage,and to peep abroad
again; for I had not ſtirr'd out of my Caſtle for three
Days and Nights; fo that I began to ftarve for
Proviſion; for I had little or nothing within Doors,
but fome Barley Cakes and Water." Then I knew
that my Goats wanted to be milk'd too, which
uſually was my Evening Diverſion; and the poor
Creatures were in great Pain and Inconvenience for
want of it; and indeed, it almoſt ſpoil'd ſome of
them, and almoft dry'd up their Milk.
Heartning my felf therefore with the Belief that
this was nothing but the Print of one of my own
Feet, and fo I might be truly faid to ſtart at my
own Shadow, I began to go abroad again, and
went to my Country Houfe, to milk my Flock; but
to fee with what Fear I went forward, how often I
look'd behind me, how I was ready every now and
then to lay down my Basket, and run for my Life, it
would have made any one have thought I was haunt-
ed with an evil Conſcience, or that I had been late-
ly most terribly frighted, and fo indeed I had.
However, as I went down thus two or three
Days, and having feen nothing, I began to be a lit-
tle bolder; and to think there was really nothing in
it, but my own Imagination: But I could not per-
fwade my felf fully of this, till I fhould go down to
the Shore again, and fee this Print of a Foot, and
meaſure it by my own, and fee if there was any Si-
militude or Fitnefs, that I might be affur'd it was
my own Foot: But when I came to the Place,
First, it appeared evidently to me, that when I laid
up my Boat, I could not poffibly be on Shore any
where thereabout. Secondly, When I came to mea-
fure the Mark with my own Foot, I found my Foot
not fo large by a great deal ; both thefe Things fill'd
my Head with new Imaginations, and gave me the
Vapours again to the higheſt Degree; fo that I
fnook
[ 188 ]
fhook with Cold, like one in an Ague; and I went
Home again, fill'd with the Belief that fome Man
or Men had been on Shore there; or, in fhort,. that
the Iſland was inhabited, and I might be furpriz'd
before I was aware; and what Courfe to take for
my Security, I knew not.
O what ridiculous Refolutions Men take, when
poffefs'd with Fear! it deprives them of the Ufe of
thoſe Means which Reaſon offers for their Relief.
The first Thing I propos'd to my felf, was, to
throw down my Enclofures, and turn all my tame
Cattle wild into the Woods, that the Enemy might
not find them, and then frequent the Inland in Pro-
ſpect of the ſame, or the like Booty; then to the
fimple Thing of Digging up my two Corn-Fields,
that they might not find fuch a Grain there, and
ftill be prompted to frequent the Ifland; then to de-
moliſh my Bower and Tent, that they might not
fee any Veftiges of Habitation, and be prompted to
look further, in order to find out the Perfons in-
habiting.
Thefe were the Subject of the firft Night's Cogi-
tation, after I was come home again, while the
Apprehenfions which had fo over-run my Mind
were freſh upon me, and my Head was full of Va-
pours, as above. Thus Fear of Danger is ten thou-
fand times more terrifying than Danger it felf,
when apparent to the Eyes; and we find the Bur-
then of Anxiety greater by much, than the Evil
which we are anxious about; and, which was worſe
than all this, I had not that Relief in this Trouble
from the Refignation I ufed to practiſe, that I
hop'd to have. I look'd, I thought, like Saul, who
complain'd not only that the Philistines were upon
him, but that God had forfaken him; for I did not
now take due Ways to compofe my Mind, by crying
to God in my Diftrefs, and refting upon his Provi-
dence,
[ 189 ]
I
dence, as I had done before, for my Defence and
Deliverance; which if I had done, I had, at leaſt,
1
been more cheerfully fupported under this new Sur-
prize, and perhaps carry'd through it with more
Refolution.
This Confufion of my Thoughts kept me waking
all Night; but in the Morning I fell aſleep, and
having, by the Amuſement of my Mind, been as
it were tired, and my Spirits exhaufted, I flept ve-
ry foundly, and wak'd much better compos'd than
I had ever been before: And now I began to think
fedately; and upon the utmoft Debate with my-
felf, I concluded, That this Iſland, which was fo
exceeding pleaſant, fruitful, and no farther from the
main Land than as I had feen, was not ſo entirely
abandon'd as I might imagine: That altho' there
were no ftated Inhabitants who liv'd on the Spot;
yet that there might fometimes come Boats off
from the Shore, who either with Defign, or per-
haps never, but when they were driven by croſs
Winds, might come to this Place.
That I had liv'd here fifteen Years now, and had
not met with the leaft Shadow or Figure of any
People yet; and that if at any Time they fhould
be driven here, it was probable they went away
again as foon as ever they could, feeing they had
never thought fit to fix there upon any Occafion,
to this Time.
That the moſt I cou'd fuggeft any Danger from,
was, from any fuch cafual accidental Landing of
ftraggling People from the Main, who, as it was
likely if they were driven hither, were here againſt
their Wills; fo they made no ftay here, but went off
again with all poffible Speed, feldom ftaying one
Night on Shore, left they fhould not have the
Help of the Tides, and Day-light back again; and
that therefore I had nothing to do but to confider
of
[ 190 ]
{
of ſome ſafe Retreat, in Cafe I fhould fee any Sa-
vages land upon the Spot.
Now I began forely to repent, that I had dug
my Cave fo large, as to bring a Door through
again, which Door, as I faid, came out beyond
where my Fortification joyn'd to the Rock: Upon
maturely confidering this therefore, I refolv'd to
draw me a fecond Fortification, in the fame Man-
ner of a Semicircle, at a Diſtance from my Wall,
juſt where I had planted a double Row of Trees,
about twelve Years before, of which I made menti-
on: Theſe Trees having been planted ſo thick be-
fore, they wanted but a few Piles to be driven be-
tween them, that they thould be thicker, and
ſtronger, and my Wall would be foon finifa'd.
So that I had now a double Wall, and my outer
Wall was thickned with Pieces of Timber, old Ca-
bles, and every Thing I could think of to make it
ftrong; having in it feven little Holes, about as
big as I might put my Arm out at. In the Infide
of this, I thickned my Wall to about ten Foot
thick, with continual bringing Earth out of my
Cave, and laying it at the Foot of the Wall, and
walking upon it; and through the ſeven Holes, I
contriv'd to plant the Mufquets, of which I took
Notice, that I got ſeven on Shore out of the Ship;
thefe, I fay, I planted like my Cannon, and fitted
them into Frames that held them like a Carriage,
that fo I could fire all the feven Guns in two Mi-
nutes time: This Wall I was many a weary Month
a finiſhing, and yet never thought myſelf fafe till it
was done.
When this was done, I ftuck all the Ground
without my Wall, for a great way every way, as
full with Stakes or Sticks of the Ofier-like Wood,
which I found fo apt to grow, as they could well
ſtand; infomuch, that I believe I might fet in near
twenty
[191]
twenty Thoufand of them, leaving a pretty large
Space between them and my Wall, that I might
have Room to ſee an Enemy, and they might have
no Shelter from the young Trees, if they attempted
to approach my outer Wall.
Thus in two Years time I had a thick Grove,
and in five or fix Years time I had a Wood before
my Dwelling, growing fo monftrous thick and
ftrong, that it was indeed perfectly impaſſable; and
no Men, of what kind foever, would ever imagine
that there was any Thing beyond it, much leſs a
Habitation. As for the Way which I propoſed to
myſelf to go in and out, for I left no Avenue, it
was by fetting two Ladders; one to a Part of the
Rock which was low, and then broke in, and left
room to place another Ladder upon that; fo when
the two Ladders were taken down, no Man living
could come down to me without mifchieving him-
felf; and if they had come down, they were ſtill
on the Outſide of my outer Wall.
Thus I took all the Meaſures human Prudence
could fuggeft for my own Prefervation; and it will
be feen at length, that they were not altogether
without juſt Reaſon; though I foreſaw nothing at
that Time, more than my meer Fear ſuggeſted to
me.
While this was doing, I was not altogether care-
lefs of my other Affairs; for I had a great Concern
upon me for my little Herd of Goats; they were
not only a prefent Supply to me upon every Occafi-
on, and began to be fufficient to me, without the
Expence of Powder and Shot; but alfo without
the Fatigue of Hunting after the wild ones; and I
was loath to loſe the Advantage of them, and to
have them all to nurſe up over again.
To this Purpoſe, after long Confideration, I
could think of but two Ways to preferve them;
one
[ 192 ]
one was to find another convenient Place to dig a
Cave under Ground, and to drive them into it every
Night; and the other was to encloſe two or three
little Bits of Land, remote from one another, and as
much conceal'd as I could, where I might keep about
half a Dozen young Goats in each Place: So that
if any Difafter happen'd to the Flock in general, I
might be able to raiſe them again with little Trou-
ble and Time: And this, tho' it would require a
great deal of Time and Labour, I thought was
the moſt rational Defign.
Accordingly I ſpent ſome Time to find out the
moft retir'd Parts of the Ifland; and I pitch'd up-
on one which was as private indeed as my Heart
could wish for; it was a little damp Piece of Ground
in the middle of the Hollow and thick Woods,
where, as is obferv'd, I almoft loft myſelf once be-
fore, endeavouring to come back that Way from the
Eaſtern Part of the Inland: Here I found a clear
Piece of Land near three Acres, fo furrounded with
Woods, that it was almoſt an Encloſure by Nature,
at leaſt it did not want near ſo much Labour to
make it fo, as the other Pieces of Ground I had
work'd fo hard at.
I immediately went to work with this Piece of
Ground, and in lefs than a Month's Time, I had
fo fenc'd it round, that my Flock or Herd, call it
which you pleaſe, who were not fo wild now as at
firſt they might be fuppofed to be, were well e-
nough fecur'd in it. So without any farther Delay,
I remov'd ten She-Goats and two He-Goats to
this Piece; and when they were there, I continu'd
to perfect the Fence till I had made it as fecure as
the other, which, however, I did at more Leifure,
and it took me up more Time by a great deal.
All
[ 193 ]
All this Labour I was at the Expence of, purely
from my Apprehenfions on the Account of the Print
of a Man's Foot which I had feen; for as yet I
never faw any human Creature come near the
Inland, and I had now liv'd two Years under theſe
Uneafineffes, which indeed made my Life much leſs
comfortable than it was before; as may well be
imagin'd by any who know what it is to live in
the conftant Snare of the Fear of Man and this I
muft obferve with Grief too, that the Difcompo-
fure of my Mind had too great Impreffions alfo up-
on the religious Part of my Thoughts, for the Dread
and Terror of falling into the Hands of Savages
and Canibals lay fo upon my Spirits, that I feldom
found my ſelf in a due Temper for Application to
my Maker, at leaſt not with the fedate Calmneſs
and Refignation of Soul which I was wont to do; I
rather pray'd to God as under great Affliction and
Preffure of Mind furrounded with Danger, and in
Expectation every Night of being murder'd and de-
vour'd before Morning; and I muſt teſtify from my
Experience, that a Temper of Peace, Thankfulness,
Love and Affection, is much the more proper Frame
for Prayer than that of Terror and Diſcompofure ;
and that under the Dread of Miſchief impending,
a Man is more fit for a comforting Performance
of the Duty of praying to God, than he is for Re-
pentance on a Sick-bed: For thefe Difcompofures
affect the Mind as the others do the Body; and the
Diſcompoſure of the Mind muſt neceffarily be as
great a Difability as that of the Body, and much
greater, praying to God being properly an Act of
the Mind, not of the Body.
But to go on; After I had thus fecur'd one Part
of my little living Stock, I went about the whole
Illand, fearching for another private Place, to make
Part I.
O
fuch
[194]
:
fuch another Depofite; when wandring more to the
West Point of the Ifland than I had ever done yet,
and looking out to Sea, I thought I faw a Boat up-
on the Sea, at a great Diftance. I had found a Pro-
fpective-Glafs, or two, in one of the Seamen's
Chefts, which I fav'd out of our Ship; but I had
it not about me, and this was fo remote, that I could
not tell what to make of it, though I look'd at it
till my Eyes were not able to hold to look any
longer; whether it was a Boat, or not, I do not
know, but as I defcended from the Hill, I could
fee no more of it, fo I gave it over, only I refolv'd
to go no more out without a Profpective-Glafs in
my Pocket.
When I was come down the Hill, to the End of
the Inland, where indeed I had never been before,
I was preſently convinc'd, that the feeing the Print
of a Man's Foot, was not fuch a ftrange Thing is
in
the Iſland as I imagin'd; and but that it was a fpe-
cial Providence that I was caft upon the Side of the
Iſland, where the Savages never came, I fhould ea-
fily have known, that nothing was more frequent
than for the Canoes from the Main, when they hap-
pen'd to be a little too far out at Sea, to fhoot over
to that Side of the Iſland for Harbour; likewife as
they often met, and fought in their Canoes, the Vi-
&tors having taken any Prifoners, would bring them
over to this Shore, where, according to their dread-
ful Cuſtoms, being all Canibals, they would kill and
eat them; of which hereafter,
When I was come down the Hill to the Shore,
as I faid above, being the S. W. Point of the
Ifland, I was perfectly confounded and amaz'd; nor
is it poffible for me to exprefs the Horror of my
Mind, at feeing the Shore fpread with Skulls,
Hands, Feet, and other Bones of human Bodies;
and particularly I obferv'd a Place where there had
been
[195]
been a Fire made, and a Circle dug in the Earth,
like a Cockpit, where it is fuppoſed the Savage
Wretches had fat down to their inhuman Feaftings
upon the Bodies of their Fellow-Creatures.
I was fo aftonifh'd with the Sight of thefe Things,
that I entertain'd no Notions of any Danger to my
felf from it for a long while; all my Apprehen-
fions were buried in the Thoughts of fuch a Pitch
of inhuman, hellifh Brutality, and the Horror of
the Degeneracy of human Nature; which tho' I
had heard often, yet I never had fo near a View
of before; in ſhort, I turned away my Face from
the horrid Spectacle; my Stomach grew fick, and
I was juft at the Point of Fainting, when Nature
diſcharg'd the Diſorder from my Stomach; and
having vomited with an uncommon Violence, I was
a little relieved; but could not bear to ftay in the
Place a Moment; fo I got me up the Hill again,
with all the Speed I could, and walk'd on towards
my own Habitation.
When I came a little out of that Part of the
Ifland, Iftood ftill awhile as amaz'd; and then re-
covering my felf, I look'd up with the utmoſt Af-
fection of my Soul, and with a Flood of Tears in
my Eyes, gave God Thanks that had caft my first
Lot in a Part of the World, where I was diftin-
guifhed from fuch dreadful Creatures as thefe; and
that tho' I had eſteem'd my preſent Condition very
Miferable, had yet given me fo many Comforts in
it, that I had ſtill more to give Thanks for than to
complain of; and this above all, that I had even in
this miferable Condition been comforted with the
Knowledge of himſelf, and the Hope of his Blef-
fing, which was a Felicity more than fufficiently
equivalent to all the Mifery which I had fuffer'd,
or could fuffer.
02
In
[196]
In this Frame of Thankfulneſs, I went Home to
my Caſtle, and began to be much eaſier now, as to
the Safety of my Circumftances, thatn ever I was
before; for I obferv'd that thefe Wretches never
came to this Ifland in Search of what they could
get; perhaps not feeking, not wanting, or not ex-
pecting any Thing here; and having often, no
doubt, been up in the cover'd woody Part of it
without finding any Thing to their Purpofe. I knew
I had been here now almoft eighteen Years, and ne-
ver faw the leaft Foot-ſteps of Human Creature
there before; and I might be here eighteen more
as entirely conceal'd as I was now, if I did not
difcover my felf to them, which I had no manner
of Occafion to do, it being my only Bufinefs to
keep my felf entirely concealed where I was, unleſs
I found a better fort of Creatures. than Canibals to
make my ſelf known to.
J
Yet I entertained fuch an Abhorrence of the fa-
vage Wretches that I have been fpeaking of, and
of the wretched inhuman Cuftom of their devour-
ing and eating one another up, that I continu'd pen-
five and fad, and kept cloſe within my own Circle
for almoſt two Years after this: When I fay my
own Circle, I mean by it, my three Plantations,
viz. my Caſtle, my Country-Seat, which I call'd
my Bower, and my Encloſure in the Woods ; nor
did I look after this for any other Ufe than as an
Incloſure for my Goats; for the Averfion which
Nature gave me to theſe hellish Wretches was
fuch, that I was fearful of feeing them, as of feeing
the Devil himself; nor did I fo much as go to look
after my Boat in all this Time; but began rather
to think of making me another; for I could not
think of ever making any more Attempts, to bring
the other Boat round the Ifland to me, left I
fhould meet with fome of thefe Creatures at Sea,
in
[197]
in which, if I had happen'd to have fallen into their
Hands, I knew what would have been my Lot.
Time however, and the Satisfaction I had, that
I was in no Danger of being difcovered by thefe
People, began to wear cff my Uneafinefs about
them; and I began to live juft in the fame compos'd
Manner as before; only with this Difference, that
I uſed more Caution, and kept my Eyes more a-
bout me than I did before, leit I fhould happen to
be feen by any of them; and particularly, I was
more cautious of firing my Gun, left any of them
being on the Ifland, fhould happen to hear of it;
and it was therefore a very good Providence to me,
that I had furniſh'd my felf with a tame Breed of
Goats, that I needed not hunt any more about the
Woods, or ſhoot at them; and if I did catch any
of them after this, is was by Traps and Snares,
as I had done before; fo that for two Years after
this, I believe I never fir'd my. Gun once off, tho' I
never went out without it; and which was more, as
I had fav'd three Piftols out of the Ship, I always
carried them out with me, or at leaft two of them,
fticking them in my Goat-Skin Belt; alſo I furbiſh’d
up one of the great Cutlathes, that I had out of the
Ship, and made me a Belt to put it on alfo; fo that
I was now a moft formidable Fellow to look at,
when I went abroad, if you add to the former De-
fcription of my felf, the Particular of two Piftols,
and a great broad Sword hanging at my Side in a
Belt, but without a Scabbard,
•
Things going on thus, as I have faid, for ſome
Time, I feem'd, excepting theſe Cautions, to be
reduc'd to my former calm fedate way of Living,
all thefe Things tended to fhewing me more and
more how far my Condition was from being miſc-
rable, compared to fome others; nay, to many o-
ther Particulars of Life, which it might have plea-
0 3
fed
[198]
fed God to have made my Lot. It put me upon
reflecting, how little repining there would be
among Mankind, at any Condition of Life, if Peo-
ple would rather compare their Condition with
thoſe that are worfe, in order to be thankful, than
be always comparing them with thoſe which are
better, to affift their Murmurings and Complain-
ings.
As in my prefent Condition there were not really
many Things which I wanted; fo indeed I thought
that the Frights I had been in about thefe Savage
Wretches, and the Concern I had been in for my
own Prefervation, had taken off the Edge of my In-
vention for my own Conveniences; and I had dropt
a good Defign, which I had once bent my Thoughts
too much upon; and that was to try if I could not
make fome of my Barley into Malt, and then try
to brew my ſelf fome Beer: This was really a whim-
fical Thought, and I reprov'd my felf often for the
Simplicity of it; for I prefently faw there would
be the Want of feveral Things neceffary to the
making my Beer, that it would be impoffible for
me to fupply: As Firft, Casks to preferve it in,
which was a Thing that, as I have obferv'd alrea
dy, I could never compafs; no, tho' I spent not
many Days, but Weeks, nay Months in attempt-
ing it, but to no purpofe. In the next Place, I had
no Hopes to make it keep, no Yeaft to make it work,
no Copper or Kettle to make it boil; and yet all
thefe Things notwithſtanding, I verily believe, had
not theſe Things interven'd, I mean the Frights and
Terrors I was in about the Savages, I had under-
taken it, and perhaps brought it to pafs too; for I
feldom gave any Thing over without accomplishing
it, when I once had it in my Head enough to be-
gin it.
But
[ 199 ]
But my Invention now run quite another Way;
for Night and Day I could think of nothing but
how I might deftroy ſome of thefe Monſters in their
cruel bloody Entertainment, and, if poſſible, ſave
the Victim they ſhould bring hither to deftroy. It
would take up a larger Volume than this whole
Work is intended to be, to fet down all the Contri-
vances I hatch'd, or rather brooded upon in my
Thoughts, for the deſtroying theſe Creatures, or at
leaft frighting them, fo as to prevent their coming
hither any more; but all was abortive, nothing
could be poffible to take Effect, unless I was to be
there to do it my felf; and what could one Man
do among them, when perhaps there might be
twenty or thirty of them together, with their
Darts, or their Bows and Arrows, with which they
could fhoot as true to a Mark, as I could with my
Gun?
Sometimes I contriv'd to dig a Hole under the
Place where they made their Fire, and put in five
or fix Pounds of Gun-powder, which when they
kindled their Fire, would confequently take Fire,
and blow up all that was near it, but as in the firſt
Place I fhould be very loath to waft ſo muchPowder
upon them, my Store being now within the Quan-
tity of one Barrel; fo neither could I be fure of its
going off, at any certain time, when it might fur-
prize them, and at beft, that it would do little more
than just blow the Fire about their Ears and fright
them, but not fufficient to make them forfake the
Place; fo I laid it afide, and then propos'd, that
I would place my felf in Ambufh, in fome con-
venient Place, with my three Guns, all double
loaded; and in the middle of their bloody Cere-
mony let fly at them, when I fhould be fure to kill
or wound perhaps two or three at every fhoot; and
then falling in upon them with my three Piftols,
O A
and
[200]
*
and my Sword, I made no doubt but that if there
was twenty I. fhould kill them all. This Fancy
pleas'd my Thoughts for fome Weeks, and I was
fo full of it, that I often dream'd of it; and fome-
times, that I was juft going to let fly at them in
my Sleep.
I went fo far with it in my Imagination, that I
employ'd myſelf feveral Days to find out proper
Places to put myſelf in Ambuſcade, as I faid, to
watch for them; and I went frequently to the Place
itfelf, which was now grown more familiar to
me; and efpecially while my Mind was thus fill'd
with Thoughts of Revenge, and of a bloody put-
ting twenty or thirty of them to the Sword, as I
may call it, the Horror I had at the Place, and
at the Signals of the barbarous Wretches devour-
ing one another, abated my Malice.
Well, at length I found a Place in the Side of the
Hill, where I was fatisfy'd I might fecurely wait,
till I faw any of their Boats coming, and might
then, even before they would be ready to come on
Shore,convey myſelf unfeen into Thickets of Trees,
in one of which there was a Hollow large enough
to conceal me entirely; and where I might fit, and
obferve all their bloody Doings, and take my full.
Aim at their Heads, when they were fo clofe toge-
ther, as that it would be next to impoffible that I
fhould mifs my Shoot, or that I could fail wound-
ing three or four of them at the firft Shoot.
In this Place then I refolved to fix my Defign,
and accordingly I prepar'd two Muskets, and my
ordinary Fowling-Piece. The two Muskets I
loaded with a Brace of Slugs each, and four or five
fmaller Bullets, about the Size of Piftol-Bullets;
and the Fowling- Piece I loaded with near a Hand-
ful of Swan-Shot, of the largeſt Size; I alſo loaded
my Piſtols with about four Bullets each, and inthis
Pofture,
[201]
Pofture, well provided with Ammunition for a fe-
cond and third Charge, I prepar'd my felf for my
Expedition.
After I had thus laid the Scheme of my Defign,
and in my Imagination put it in Practice, I con-
tinually made my Tour every Morning up to the
Top of the Hill, which was from my Caſtle, as
I call'd it, about three Miles, or more, to fee if I
could obferve any Boats upon the Sea, coming near
the Iſland, or ſtanding over towards it; but I be
gan to tire of this hard Duty, after I had for two
or three Months conftantly keep my Watch; but
came always back without any Diſcovery, there
having not in all that Time been the leaft Appea-
rance, not only on, or near the Shore; but not
on the whole Ocean, ſo far as my Eyes or Glaffes
could reach every Way.
As long as I kept up my daily Tour to the Hill
to look out, fo long alfo I kept up the Vigour of
my Deſign, and my Spirits feem'd to be all the
while in a fuitable Form, for fo outrageous an Exe-
cution as the killing twenty or thirty naked Savages,
for an Offence which I had not at all entred into
a Difcuffion of in my Thoughts, any further than
my Paffions were at firft fir'd by the Horror I con-
ceiv'd at the unnatural Cuſtom of that People of the
Country, who it ſeems had been fuffer'd by Provi-
dence, in his wife Difpofition of the World, to have
no other Guide than that of their own abominable
and vitiated Paffions; and confequently were left,
and perhaps had been fo for fome Ages, to act fuch
horrid Things, and receive fuch dreadful Cu-
ftoms, as nothing but Nature entirely abandon'd
of Heaven, and acted by fome helliſh Degeneracy,
could have run them into: But now when, as I
have faid, I began to be weary of the fruitless Ex-
curfion which I had made fo long, and ſo far, eve-
ry
[202]
ry Morning in vain, fo my Opinion of the Action
itſelf began to alter, and I began with cooler and
calmer Thoughts to confider what it was I was go-
ing to engage in; what Authority or Call I had,
to pretend to be Judge and Executioner upon thefe
Men as Criminals, whom Heaven had thought fit
for fo many Ages to fuffer, unpunifh'd, to go on,
and to be, as it were, the Executioners of his Judg-
ments one upon another: How far thefe People
were Offenders against me, and what Right I had
to engage in the Quarrel of that Blood, which they
fhed promifcuously one upon another, I debated
this very often with my felf thus: How do I know
what God himſelf judges in this particular Cafe? It
is certain thefe People do not commit this as a
Crime; it is not againſt their own Confciences re-
proving, or their Light reproaching them. They
do not know it to be an Offence, and then commit
it in Defiance of divine Juftice, as we do in almoſt
all the Sins we commit. They think it no more a
Crime to kill a Captive taken in War, than we do
to kill an Ox; nor to eat human Flesh, than we do
to eat Mutton.
When I had confider'd this a little, it follow'd ne-
ceffarily, that I was certainly in the Wrong in it;
that theſe People were not Murderers in the Senſe
that I had before condemned them in my Thoughts;
any more than thofe Chriftians were Murderers, who
often put to Death the Priſoners taken in Battle;
or more frequently, upon many Occafions, put
whole Troops of Men to the Sword, without gi-
ving Quarter, tho' they threw down their Arms.
and fubmitted.
In the next Place it occurr'd me, that albeit the
Ufage they gave one another was thus brutish
and inhuman; yet it was really nothing to me:
Thefe People had done me no Injury: That if they
attempted
[203]
attempted me, or I faw it neceffary for my imme-
diate Prefervation to fall upon them, fomething
might be faid for it; but that I was vec out of their
Power, and they had really no Knowledge of me,
and confequently no Defign upon me; and there-
fore it could not be juft for me to fall upon them.
That this would juſtify the Conduct of the Spaniards
in all their Barbarities practis'd in America, where
they deftroyed Millions of theſe People, who, how-
ever they were Idolaters and Barbarians, and had fe-
veral bloody and barbarous Rites in their Cuſtoms,
fuch as facrificing human Bodies to their Idols,
were yet, as to the Spaniards, very innocent People;
and that the Rooting them out of the Country, is
fpoken of with the utmoſt Abhorrence and Detefta-
tion, by even the Spaniards themſelves, at this Time,
and by all other Chriftian Nations of Europe, as a
mere Butchery, a bloody and unnatural Piece of
Cruelty, unjuftifiable either to God or Man; and
fuch, as for which the very Name of a Spaniard is
reckoned to be frightful and terrible to all People of
Humanity, or of Chriftian Compaffion: As if the
Kingdom of Spain were particularly eminent for
the Product of a Race of Men, who were without
Principles of Tenderneſs, or the common Bowels of
Pity to the Miferable, which is recon'd to be a Mark
of generous Temper in the Mind.
Thefe Confiderations really put me to a Paufe,
and to a kind of a full Stop; and I began by little
and little to be off of my Defign, and to conclude, I
had taken wrong Meafures in my Refolutions to at-
tack the Savages; that it was not my Bufinefs to
meddle with them, unless they firft attack'd me, and
this it was my Buſineſs if poffible to prevent; but
that if I were difcovered, and attacked, then I knew
my Duty.
:
On
1
[204]
ļ
On the other hand, I argu'd with myſelf, That
this really was the Way not to deliver myſelf, but
entirely to ruin and deftroy myfelf; for unless I
was fure to kill every one that not only ſhould be
on Shore at that Time, but that thould ever come
on Shore afterwards, if but one of them efcap'd, to
tell their Country-People what had happen'd,
they would come over again by Thouſands to re-
venge the Death of their Fellows, and I fhould
only bring upon myfelf a certain Deftruction,
which at prefent I had no manner of Occafion for.
Upon the Whole I concluded, that neither in
Principles nor in Policy I ought one Way or other
to concern myfelf in this Affair. That my Bufi-
nefs was by all poffible Means to conceal myſelf
from them, and not to leave the leaft Signal to
them to guefs by, that there were any living Crea-
tures upon the liland; I mean of human Shape
Religion join'd in with this Prudential, and I
was convinc'd now many Ways, that I was per-
fectly out of my Duty, when I was laying all my
bloody Schemes for the Deſtruction of innocent
Creatures, I mean innocent as to me: As to the
Crimes they were guilty of towards one another, I
had nothing to do with them; they were Natio-
nal, and I ought to leave them to the Juftice of
God, who is the Governor of Nations, and knows
how by National Puniſhments to make a juft Re-
tribution for National Offences; and to bring Pub-
lick Judgments upon thofe who offend in a Publick
Manner, by fuch Ways as beſt pleaſe him.
This appear'd fo clear to me now, that nothing
was a greater Satisfaction to me, than that I had
not been fuffer'd to do a Thing which I now faw
fo much Reafon to believe would have been no lefs
a Sin, than that of wilful Murder, if I had com-
mitted
[205]
mitted it; and I gave moft humble Thanks on iny
Knees to God, that had thus delivered me from
Blood-guiltinefs; bèſeeching him to grant me the
Protection of his Providence, that I might not fall
into the Hands of Barbarians; or that I might not
lay my Hands upon them, unless I had a more
clear Call from Heaven to do it, in Defence of my
own Life.
In this Difpofition I continued for near a Year
after this; and fo far was I from defiring an Oc-
cafion for falling upon thefe Wretches, that in all
that Time I never once went up the Hill to fee
whether there were any of them in Sight, or to
know whether any of them had been on Shore
there, or not, that I might not be tempted to re-
new any of my Contrivances againſt them, or be
provoked by any Advantage which might prefent
it felf to fall upon them; only this I did, I went
and removed my Boat, which I had on the other
Side the Iſland, and carried it down to the Eaft-End
of the whole Inland, where I ran it into a little
Cove which I found under fome high Rocks, and
where I knew, by reafon of the Currents, the
Savages durft not, at-leaft would not come with
their Boats, upon any Account whatſoever.
With my Boat I carried away every Thing that
I had left there belonging to her, tho' not neceffary
for the bare going thither, viz. A Maft and Sail
which I had made for her, and a Thing like an An-
chor, but indeed which could not be call'd either
Anchor or Grapling; however, it was the beft, I
could make of its kind: All theſe I removed, that
there might not be the leaft Shadow of any Difco-
very, or any Appearance of any Boat, or of any
human Habitation upon the Iſland.
Befides this, I kept myfelf, as I faid, more re-
tired than ever, and feldom went from my Cell, 9-
ther
:}
!
}
1
[206]
ther than upon my conftant Employment, viz. To
milk
my She-Goats, and manage my little Flock, in
the Wood; which, as it was quite on the other Part
of the Inland, was quite out of Danger; for certain
it is, that theſe favage People, who fometimes
haunted this Iſland, never came with any Thoughts
of finding any Thing here; and confequently never
wandred off from the Coaſt, and I doubt not, but
they might have been feveral Times on Shore, after
my Apprehenfions of them had made me cautious
as well as before; and indeed, I look'd back with
fome Horror upon the Thoughts of what my Con-
dition would have been, if I had chopp'd upon them,
and been diſcovered before that, when naked and
unarm'd, except with one Gun, and that loaded of-
ten only with fmall Shot, I walk'd every where
peeping, and peeping about the Iſland, to fee what
I could get; what a Surprize fhould I have been in,
if when I diſcover'd the Print of a Man's Foot, I
had inſtead of that feen fifteen or twenty Savages,
and found them purfuing me, and by the Swiftneſs
of their Running, no Poffiblity of my eſcaping
them?
The Thoughts of this fometimes funk my very
Soul within me, and diftrefs'd my Mind fo much,
that I could not foon recover it, to think what I
fhould have done, and how I not only fhould not
have been able to refift them, but even fhould not
have had Preſence of Mind enough to do what I
might have done; much lefs, what now after fo
much Confideration and Preparation I might be
able to do. Indeed, after ferious thinking of theſe
Things, I would be very Melancholy, and fome-
times it would laft a great while; but I refolv'd it
at laft all into Thankfulness to that Providence
which had delivered me from fo many unfeen Dan-
gers, and had kept me from thoſe Miſchiefs which
I could
[207]
my
I could no way have been the Agent in delivering
felf from; becauſe I had not the leaft Notion
of any fuch Thing depending, or the leaft Suppo-
fition of it being poffible.
This renew'd a Contemplation, which often had
come to my Thoughts in former Time, when firſt
I began to fee the merciful Difpofitions of Heaven,
in the Dangers we run through in this Life: How
wonderfully we are deliver'd, when we know no-
thing of it. How when we are in (a Quandary, as
we call it) a Doubt or Hefitation, whether to go
this Way, or that Way, a fecret Hint fhall direct
us this Way, when we intended to go that Way;
nay, when Senfe, our own Inclination, and perhaps
Buſineſs has call'd to go the other Way, yet a ftrange
Impreffion upon the Mind, from we know not what
Springs, and by we know not what Power, fhall
over-rule us to go this Way, and it fhall afterwards
appear, that had we gone that Way which we ſhould
have gone, and even to our Imagination ought to
have gone, we ſhould have been ruin'd and loft.
Upon thefe, and many like Reflections, I after-
wards made it a certain Rule with me, That when-
ever I found thofe fecret Hints, or Preffings of my
Mind, to doing, or not doing any Thing that
pre-
fented; or to going this Way, or that Way, I never
fail'd to obey the fecret Dictate; though I knew no
other Reafon for it, than that fuch a Preffure, or
fuch a Hint hung upon my Mind: I could give ma-
ny Examples of the Succefs of this Conduct in the
Courſe of my Life; but more efpecially in the lat-
ter Part of my inhabiting this unhappy Ifland; be-
fides many Occafions which it is very likely I might
have taken Notice of, if I had feen with the fame
Eyes then, that I faw with now: But 'tis never too
late to be wife; and I cannot but adviſe all confi-
dering Men, whofe Lives are attended with fuch ex-
traordinary
[208]
traordinary Incidents as mine, or even though not
fo extraordinary, not to flight ſuch fecret Intimati-
ons of Providence, let them come from what invifi-
ble Intelligence they will, that I fhall not diſcuſs,
and perhaps cannot account for; but certainly they
are a Proof of the Converfe of Spirits, and the fe-
cret Communication between thofe embody'd, and
thofe unembody'd; and fuch a Proof as can never
be withſtood: Of which I fhall have Occaſion to
give ſome very remarkable Inſtances in the Remain-
der of my folitary Reſidence in this diſmal Place.
I believe the Reader of this will not think
ftrange, if I confefs that thefe Anxieties, theſe
conftant Dangers I liv'd in, and the Concern that
wasnow upon me, put an End to all Invention,
and to all the Contrivances that I had laid for my
future Accommodations and Conveniencies. I had
the Care of my Safety more now upon my Hands,
than that of my Food. I car'd not to drive a Nail,
or chop a Stick of Wood now, forfear the Noiſe I
fhould make fhould be heard; much lefs would I
fire a Gun, for the fame Reaſon; and above all, I
was intolerably uneaſy at making any Fire, left the
Smoak, which is viſible at a great Diſtance in the
Day, ſhould betray me; and for this Reaſon I re-
mov'd that Part of my Bufinefs which requir'd
Fire, fuch as burning of Pots and Pipes, &c. into
my new Apartment in the Woods, where after I
had been fome Time, I found, to my unfpeakable
Confolation, a mere natural Cave in the Earth,
which went in a vaſt way, and where, I dare fay,
no Savage had been at the Mouth of it, would be
fo hardy as to venture in, nor indeed would any
Man elſe, but one who, like me, wanted nothing
ſo much as a ſafe Retreat.
The
[209]
The Mouth of this Hollow was at the Bottom
of a great Rock, where, by meer Accident (I
would fay, if I did not fee abundant Reafon to
afcribe all fuch things now to Providence) I was
cutting down fome thick Branches of Trees, to
make Charcoal; and before I go on, I must ob-
ferve the Reaſon of my making this Charcoal;
which was thus:
I was afraid of making a Smoak about my Ha-
bitation, as I faid before; and yet I could not live
there without baking my Bread, cooking my
Meat, &c. fo I contrived to burn fome Wood here,
as I had ſeen done in England under Turf, till it
became Chark, or dry Coal; and then putting the
Fire out, I preferv'd the Coal to carry home, and
perform the other Services, which Fire was want-
ing for at home, without danger of Smoak.
(
But this by the by. While I was cutting down
fome Wood here, I perceived that behind a very
thick Branch of low Brufh-wood, or Under-wood,
there was a kind of hollow Place; I was curious to
look into it, and getting with difficulty into the
mouth of it, I found it was pretty large, that is
to fay, fufficient for me to ftand upright in it, and
perhaps another with me; but I muft confefs to
you, I made more hafte out than I did in, when
looking further into the Place, and which was per-
fectly dark, I faw two broad fhining Eyes of fome
Creature, whether Devil or Man, I knew not,
which twinkled like two Stars, the dim Light
from the Cave's Mouth fhining directly in, and
making the Reflection.
However, after fome Paufe, I recover'd myfelf,
and began to call myfelf a thoufand Fools, and
tell myfelf, that he that was afraid to fee the De-
vil, was not fit to live twenty Years in an Iſland all
alone; and that I durft to believe there was no-
PARTI.
Ρ
thing
[210]
thing in this Cave that was more frightful than my
felf; upon this, plucking up my Courage, I took up
a great Firebrand, and in I rufh'd again, with the
Stick flaming in my Hand: I had not gone three
Steps in, but I was almoſt as much frighted as I was
before; for I heard a very loud Sigh, like that of a
Man in fome Pain, and it was follow'd by a broken
Noife, as if of Words half exprefs'd, and then a
deep Sigh again: I ftep'd back, and was indeed,
ftruck with fuch a Surprize, that it put me into a
cold Sweat; and if I had had a Hat on my Head,
I will not anſwer for it, that my Hair might not
have lifted it off. But ftill plucking up my Spirits
as well as I could, and encouraging myfelf a little,
with confidering that the Power and Prefence of
God was every where, and was able to prote& me;
upon this I ſtep'd forward again, and by the Light
of the Firebrand, holding it up a little over my
Head, I faw lying on the Ground a moft monftrous
frightful old He-Goat, juſt making his Will, as we
fay, and gafping for Life, and dying indeed of
meer old Age.
I ſtir'd him a little, to fee if I could get him out,
and he effay'd to get up, but was not able to raife
himſelf; and I thought with myſelf, he might e'en
lie there; for if he had frighted me fo, he would
certainly fright any of the Savages, if any of them.
fhould be fo hardy as to come in there while he
had any Life in him.
1
I was now recover'd from my Surprize, and be-
gan to look round me, when I found the Cave was
but very ſmall, that is to fay, it might be about
twelve Foot over, but in no manner of Shape, ei-
ther round or ſquare, no Hands having ever been
employed in making it, but thofe of meer Nature:
I obferv'd alſo, that there was a Place at the fur-
ther fide of it that went in further, but was fo
low,
[ 211 ]
low, that it required me to creep upon my Hands
and Knees to go into it, and whither I went I knew
not; fo having no Candle, I gave it over for fome
time; but reſolved to come again the next Day,
provided with Candles, and a Tinder-box, which
I had made of the Lock of one of the Muskets,
with fome Wild-fire in the Pan.
Accordingly, the next Day I came provided
with fix large Candles of my own making; for I
made very good Candles now of Goat's Tallow;
and going into this low Place, I was obliged to
creep upon all Fours, as I have faid, almoft ten
Yards; which, by the way, I thought was a Ven-
ture bold enough, confidering that I knew not how
far it might go, nor what was beyond it. When
I was got thro' the Strait, I found the Roof roſe
higher up, I believe near twenty Foot; but never
was ſuch a glorious fight feen in the Iſland, I dare
fay, as it was, to look round the Sides and Roof
of this Vault or Cave; the Walls reflected a hun-
dred thouſand Lights to me from my two Candles;
what it was in the Rock, whether Diamonds, or
any other precious Stones, or Gold, which I rather
fuppofed it to be, I knew not.
The Place I was in, was a moſt delightful Ca-
vity, or Grotto, of its kind, as could be expected,
tho' perfectly dark; the Floor was dry and le-
vel, and had a fort of ſmall loofe Gravel upon
it; fo that there was no naufeous or venomous
Creature to be feen, neither was there any Damp
or Wet on the Sides or Roof: The only Difficul
ty in it was the Entrance, which, however, as it
was a Place of Security, and fuch a Retreat as I
wanted, I thought that was a Convenience; fo
that I was really rejoiced at the Diſcovery, and re-
folved, without any delay, to bring fome of thofe
things which I was moft anxious about to this
Place;
P 2
[212]
1
!
Place; particularly, I refolved to bring hither my
Magazine of Powder, and all my fpare Arms,
viz. Two Fowling-Pieces, (for I had three in all)
and three Muskets, (for of them I had eight in all ;)
ſo I kept at my Caftle only five, which ſtood rea-
dy mounted, like Pieces of Cannon, on my out-
moft Fence; and were ready alfo to take out upon
any Expedition.
Upon this Occafion of removing my Ammuni-
tion, I took occafion to open the Barrel of Pow-
der which I took up out of the Sea, and which
had been wet; and I found that the Water had pe-
netrated about three or four Inches into the Pow-
der on every fide, which caking and growing hard,
had preſerved the infide like a Kernel in a Shell;
ſo that I had near fixty pounds of very good Pow-
der in the Centre of the Cask; and this was an a-
greeable difcovery to me at that time; fo I car-
ried all away thither, never keeping above two or
three pounds of Powder with me in my Caſtle, for
fear of a Surprize of any kind: I alfo carried thi-
ther all the Lead I had left for Bullets.
I fancied myſelf now like one of the ancient Gi-
ants, which were faid to live in Caves and Holes
in the Rocks, where none could come at them;
for I perfwaded myfelf, while I was here, if five
hundred Savages were to hunt me, they could ne-
ver find me out; or if they did, they would not
venture to attack me here.
The old Goat who I found expiring, died in
the mouth of the Cave, the next Day after I made
this Diſcovery; and I found it much eaſier to dig
a great Hole there, and throw him in, and cover
him with Earth, than to drag him out: So I in-
terr'd him there, to prevent offence to my Nofe.
I was
[ 21 ]
I was now in my twenty-third Year of Refi-
dence in this Ifland, and was fo naturalized to the
Place, and to the Manner of living, that could I
have but enjoyed the Certainty, that no Savages
would come to the Place to diſturb me, I could
have been content to have capitulated för fpending
the rest of my Time there, even to the laft Mo-
ment, till I had laid me down and died, like the old
Goat in the Cave. I had alſo arriv'd to fome little
Diverſions and Amuſements, which made the Time
pafs more pleaſantly with me a great deal than
it did before; as firſt, I had taught my Poll, as I
noted before, to fpeak; and he did it fo familiarly,
and talk'd fo articulately and plain, that it was
very pleaſant to me; and he lived with me no lefs
than fix and twenty Years. How long he might
live afterwards, I know not; tho' I know they
have a Notion in the Brafils, that they live a hun-
dred Years; perhaps poor Poll may be alive there
ftill, calling after Poor Robin Crufoe to this Day. I
with no Englishman the ill Luck to come there and
hear him; but if he did, he would certainly believe
it was the Devil. My Dog was a very pleaſant
and loving Companion to me for no less than fix-
teen Years of my Time, and then died of meer
old Age; as for my Cats, they multiplied, as I have
obferv'd, to that degree,that I was obliged to fhoot
feveral of them at first, to keep them from devour-
ing me and all I had; but at length, when the
two old ones I brought with me were gone, and
after fome time continually driving them from me,
and letting them have no Provifion with me, they
all ran wild into the Woods, except two or three
Favourites, which I kept tame, and whofe Young,
when they had any, I always drown'd; and theſe
were part of my Family. Befides thefe, I always
kept two or three Houfhold Kids about me, which I
taught
P 3
[214]
i
taught to feed out of my Hand; and I had two
more Parrots, which talk'd pretty well, and would
all call Robin Crufoe, but none like my firft'; nor in-
deed, did I take the Pains with any of them that I
had done with him. I had alfo feveral tame Sea-
Fowls, whofe Names I know not, who I caught
upon the Shore, and cut their Wings; and the lit-
tle Stakes which I had planted before my Caſtle-
Wall, being now grown up to a good thick Grove,
theſe Fowls all lived among theſe low Trees, and
bred there, which was very agreeable to me; ſo
that, as I faid above, I began to be very well con-
tented with the Life I led, if it might but have
been fecured from the Dread of the Savages.
But it was otherwiſe directed; and it may not
be amifs for all People who fhall meet with my
Story, to make this juft Obfervation from it, viz.
How frequently, in the Courſe of our Lives, the
Evil which in itſelf we feek moft to fhun, and
which, when we are fallen into, is the moft dread-
ful to us, is oftentimes the very means or door of
our Deliverance, by which alone we can be rais'd
again from the Affliction we are fallen into. I could
give many Examples of this in the Courſe of my un-
accountable Life; but in nothing was it more par-
ticularly remarkable than in the Circumftances of
my laft Year's folitary Refidence in this Inland.
It was now the Month of December, as I faid a-
bove, in my twenty-third Year; and this being the
fouthern Solſtice, for Winter I cannot call it, was
the particular Time of my Harveft, and required
my being pretty much abroad in the Fields; when
going out pretty early in the Morning, even before
it was thorow Day-light, I was furpriz'd with fee-
ing a Light of fome Fire upon the Shore, at a di-
ftance from me, of about two Miles, towards the
end of the Iſland, where I had obferved fome Sa-
vages
[215]
vages had been, as before, but not on the other
Side; but to my great Affliction, it was on my
Side of the Ifland.
I was indeed terribly furpriz'd at the Sight, and
ſtep'd fhort within my Grove, not daring to go
out left I might be furpriz'd; and yet I had no
more Peace within, from the Apprehenfions I had,
that if theſe Savages, in rambling over the Inland,
fhould find my Corn ftanding, or cut, or any of my
Works and Improvements, they would immediate-
ly conclude, that there were People in the Place,
and would then never give over till they had found
me out In this Extremity I went back directly to
my Caſtle, pull'd up the Ladder after me, and made
all things without look as wild and natural as I
could.
Then I prepared my felf within, putting my felf
in a Pofture of Defence; I loaded all my Cannon,
as I call'd them; that is to fay, my Muskets, which
were mounted upon my new Fortification, and all
my Piſtols, and refolv'd to defend my ſelf to the
laft Gaſp, not for getting ſeriouſly to commend my
felf to the divine Protection, and earneſtly to pray
to God to deliver me-out of the Hands of the Bar-
barians; and in this Pofture I continu'd about two
Hours, but began to be mighty impatient for In-
telligence abroad, for I had no Spies to fend out.
After fitting a while longer, and muſing what I
ſhould do in this Cafe, I was not able to bear fit-
ting in Ignorance any longer; fo fetting up my
Ladder to the fide of the Hill, where there was a
flat Place, as I obferved before, and then pulling
the Ladder up after me, I fet it up again, and
mounted to the Top of the Hill; and pulling out
my Profpective-Glafs, which I had taken on Pur-
pofe, I laid me flat down on my Belly on the
Ground, and began to look for the Place. I pre-
P 4
fently
[216]
fently found there was no less than nine naked Sa-
vages fitting round a fmall Fire, they had made,
not to warm them, for they had no need of that,
the Weather being extream hot; but, as I fuppos'd,
to dreſs ſome of their barbarous Diet of humane
Fleſh, which they had brought with them, whe-
ther alive or dead, I could not know.
They had two Canoes with them, which they had
haled up upon the Shore; and as it was then Tide
of Ebb, they feem'd to me to wait for the Return
of the Flood, to go away again; it is not eafy to
imagine what Confufion this Sight put me into,
eſpecially ſeeing them come on my fide the Ifland,
and fo near me too; but when I obferv'd their
coming muſt be always with the Current of the
Ebb, I began afterwards to be more fedate in my
Mind, being fatisfy'd that I might go abroad with
Safety all the Time of the Tide of Flood, if they
were not on Shore before: And having made this
Obfervation, I went abroad about my Harveft-
Work with the more Compofure.
C
As I expected, fo it prov'd; for as foon as the
Tide made to the Weftward, I faw them all take
Boat, and row (or paddle, as we call it) all away:
I fhould have obferv'd, that for an Hour and more
before they went off, they went to dancing, and I
could eaſily diſcern their Poftures and Geftures by
my Glaffes I could not perceive, by my niceſt
Obfervation, but that they were ftark naked, and
had not the leaſt Covering upon them; but whe-
ther they were Men or Women, that I could not
diftinguiſh.
As foon as I faw them fhip'd and gone, I took
two Guns upon my Shoulders, and two Piſtols at
my Girdle, and my great Sword by my fide, with-
out a Scabbard, and with all the ſpeed I was able
to make, I went away to the Hill, where I had dif
cover'd
[217]
cover'd the firft Appearance of all; and as foon as
I gat thither, which was not less than two Hours,
(for I could not go apace, being fo loaden with
Arms as I was) I perceiv'd there had been three
Canoes more of Savages on that Place; and looking
out further, I ſaw they were all at Sea together,
making over for the Main.
This was a dreadful Sight to me, eſpecially when
going down to the Shore, I could ſee the Marks of
Horror which the diſmal Work they had been
about had left behind it, viz. The Blood, the
Bones, and Part of the Flefh of humane Bodies,
eaten and devour'd by thofe Wretches, with Mer-
riment and Sport: I was fo fill'd with Indignation.
at the Sight, that I began now to premeditate the
Deſtruction of the next that I faw there, let them
be who or how many foever.
It feem'd evident to me, that the Vifits which
they thus make to this Iſland, are not very frequent;
for it was above fifteen Months before any more of
them came on fhore there again; that is to fay, I
neither faw them, or any Footſteps, or Signals of
them, in all that Time; for as to the rainy Sea-
fons, then they are fure not to come abroad, at
leaſt not ſo far; yet all this while I liv'd uncom-
fortably, by reafon of the conftant Apprehenfions
I was in of their coming upon me by furprize;
from whence I obferve, that the Expectation of
Evil is more bitter than the Suffering, efpecially if
there is no room to fhake off that Expectation,
or thoſe Apprehenfions.
During all this Time, I was in the murdering
Humour; and took up moſt of my Hours, which
fhould have been better employ'd in contriving
how to circumvent and fall upon them the very
next Time I ſhould fee them; efpecially, if they
fhould be divided, as they were the laft Time, in-
to
[218]
!
to two Parties; nor did I confider at all, that if I
kill'd one Party, ſuppoſe ten or a dozen, I was ſtill
the next Day, or Week, or Month, to kill another,
and ſo another, even ad infinitum, till I ſhould be at
length no leſs a Murderer than they were in being
Man-eaters, and perhaps much more fo.
Ifpent my Days now in great Perplexity and
'Anxiety of Mind, expecting that I fhould one Day
or other fall into the Hands of theſe merciless Crea-
tures; and if I did at any time venture abroad, it
was not without looking round me with the great-
eft Care and Caution imaginable; and now I found
to my great Comfort, how happy it was that I
provided for a tame Flock or Herd of Goats; for
I durft not upon any account, fire my Gun, efpe-
cially near that fide of the Iſland where they ufu-
ally came, left I fhould alarm the Savages; and
if they had fled from me now, I was fure to have
them come back again, with perhaps two or three
hundred Canoes with them in a few Days, and then
I knew what to expect.
However, I wore out a Year and three Months
more, before I ever faw any more of the Savages,
and then I found them again, as I fhall foon obferve.
It is true, they might have been there once or twice;
but either they made no Stay, or at leaft, I did not
hear them; but in the Month of May, as near as I
could calculate, and in my four and twentieth Year,
I had a very firange Encounter with them, of which
in its Place.
The Perturbation of my Mind, during this fif-
teen or fixteen Months Interval, was very great;
1 flept unquiet, dreamt always frightful Dreams,
and often started out of my Sleep in the Night: In
the Day great Troubles overwhelmed my Mind,
and in the Night I dreamt often of killing the
Savages,
[219]
1
\
Savages, and of the Reaſons why I might juftify
the doing of it: But to wave all this for a while;
it was in the middle of May, on the fixteenth Day
I think, as well as my poor wooden Calendar
would reckon; for I mark'd all upon the Poft ftill;
I fay, it was on the fixteenth of May, that it blew
a very great Storm of Wind, all Day, with a great
deal of Lightning and Thunder, and a very foul
Night it was after it: I know not what was the
particular occafion of it; but as I was reading in
the Bible, and taken up with very ferious Thoughts
about my preſent Condition, I was furpriz'd with
a Noife of a Gun, as I thought, fir'd at Sea.
This was to be fure a Surprize of a quite diffe-
rent Nature from any I had met with before; for
the Notions this put into my Thoughts were quite
of another kind. I ftarted up in the greateſt Hafte
imaginable, and in a trice clapt my Ladder to the
middle Place of the Rock, and pull'd it after me,
and mounting it the fecond Time, got to the Top
of the Hill, the very Moment that a Flaſh of Fire
bid me liften for a fecond Gun, which accordingly,
in about half a Minute, I heard, and by the Sound
knew that it was from that Part of the Sea where
I was driven down the Current in my Boat.
I immediately confider'd that this must be fome
Ship in Diſtreſs, and that they had fome Comrade,
or fome other Ship in company, and fir'd thefe Guns
for Signals of Diſtreſs, and to obtain Help: I had
this Prefence of Mind at that minute, as to think
that tho' I could not help them, it may be they
might help me; fo I brought together all the
dry Wood I could get at hand, and making a good
handſome Pile, I fet it on Fire upon the Hill; the
Wood was dry, and blaz'd freely; and tho' the
Wind blew very hard, yet it burnt fairly out; that
I was certain, if there was any fuch Thing as a
Ship,
[220]
Ship, they muſt needs fee it, and no doubt they did,
for as foon as ever my Fire blaz'd up, I heard ano-
ther Gun, and after that ſeveral others, all from the
fame Quarter. I ply'd my Fire all Night long, till
Day broke; and when it was broad Day, and the
Air clear'd up, I ſaw ſomething at a great Diſtance
at Sea, full Eaft of the Ifland, whether a Sail, or a
Hull, I could not diſtinguiſh, no not with my Glaf-
fes, the Diſtance was fo great, and the Weather ftill
fomething hazy alſo; at leaſt it was fo out at Sea.
I look'd frequently at it all that Day, and foon
perceiv'd that it did not move; fo I prefently con-
cluded that it was a Ship at an Anchor; and being
eager, you may be fure, to be fatisfy'd, I took my
Gun in my Hand, and run toward the South-East
Side of the Iſland, to the Rocks where I had for-
merly been carry'd away with the Current, and
getting up there, the Weather by this Time being
perfectly clear, I could plainly fee, to my great
Sorrow, the Wreck of a Ship caft away in the
Night, upon thofe concealed Rocks which I found
when I was out in my Boat; and which Rocks, as
they check'd the Violence of the Stream, and made
a kind of Counter-Stream or Eddy, were the Oc-
cafion of my.recovering from the moſt deſperate
hopeleſs Condition that ever I had been in in all
my Life.
Thus, what is one Man's fafety, is another Man's
deſtruction; for it ſeems theſe Men, whoever they
were, being out of their Knowledge, and the
Rocks being wholly under Water, had been driven
upon them in the Night, the Wind blowing hard at
E and E. N. E. Had they feen the Ifland, as I muſt
neceffarily fuppofe they did not, they muft, as I
thought, have endeavour'd to have fav'd themfelves
on Shore by the Help of their Boat; but their firing
of Guns for Help, efpecially when they faw, as I
imagin❜d,
[221]
1
imagin'd, my Fire, fill'd me with many Thoughts:
Firft I imagin'd, that upon feeing my Light, they
might have put themſelves into their boat, and
have endeavour'd to make the Shore; but that the
Sea going very high, they might have been caft
away; other times I imagin'd, that they might
have loft their Boat before, as might be the Caſe
many ways; as particularly, by the Breaking of
the Sea upon their Ship, which many times obli-
ges Men to ftave, or take in pieces their Boat; and
fometimes to throw it over Board with their own
Hands: Other times I imagin'd, they had fome
other Ship or Ships in Company, who, upon the
Signals of Diftrefs they had made, had taken them
up and carry'd them off: Other whiles I fancy'd,
they were all gone off to Sea in their Boat, and
being hurry'd away by the Current that I had been
formerly in, were carry'd out into the great Ocean
where there was nothing but Mifery and Periſhing;
and that perhaps they might by this Time think of
ftarving, and of being in a Condition to eat one
another.
A's all thefe were but Conjectures at beft, fo in the
Condition I was in, I could do no more than look
on upon the Mifery of the poor Men, and pity
them, which had ftill this good Effect on my Side,
that it gave me more and more Caufe to give
Thanks to God, who had ſo happily and comfort-
ably provided for me in my defolate Condition; and
that of two Ships Companies who were now caft
away upon this Part of the World, not one Life
fhould be fpar'd but mine: I learn'd here again to
obferve, that it is very rare that the Providence of
God cafts us into any Condition of Life fo low, or
any Mifery fo great, but we may fee fomething or
other to be thankful for; and may fee others in
worfe Circumftances than our own.
Such
[222]
Such certainly was the Cafe of thefe Men, of
whom I could not fo much as fee Room to fup-
pofe any of them were fav'd; nothing could make
it rational, fo much as to wifh or expect that they
did not all perish there, except the Poffibility only
of their being taken up by another Ship in Com-
pany and this was but mere Poffibility indeed; for
I faw not the leaft Signal or Appearance of any
fuch Thing.
I cannot explain,by any poffible Energy of Words,
what a ftrange Longing or Hankering of Defires I
felt in my Soul upon this Sight; breaking out fome-
times thus; O that there had been but one or two;
nay, or but one Soul fav'd out of this Ship, to have
efcap'd to me, that I might but have had one Com-
panion, one Fellow-Creature to have ſpoken to me,
and to have convers'd with! In all the Time of my
folitary Life, I never felt fo earneft, fo ftrong a De-
fire after the Society of my Fellow-Creatures, or fo
deep a Regret at the Want of it.
There are fome fecret moving Springs in the Af-
fections, which when they are fet a-going by fome
Object in View, or be it fome Object, though not
in View, yet render'd prefent to the Mind by the
Power of Imagination, that Motion carries out the
Soul by its Impetuofity to fuch violent eager Em-
bracings of the Object, that the Abſence of it is
infupportable.
Such were thefe earneſt Wiſhings, That but one
Man had been fav'd! O that it had been but One! I
believe I repeated the Words, O that it had been but
One! a thoufad times; and the Defires were fo
mov'd by it, that when I fpoke the Words, my
Hands would clinch together, and my Fingers prefs
the Palms of my Hands, that if I had had any foft
Thing in my Hand, it wou'd have crufh'd it invo-
luntarily; and my Teeth in my Head would ſtrike
together,
2
[223]
1
together, and fet againſt one another fo ftrong,
that for fome time I could not part them again.
Let the Naturalifts explain thefe Things, and
the Reaſon and Manner of them; all I can fay to
them is, to deſcribe the Fact, which was even fur-
prifing to me when I found it; tho' I knew not from
what it fhould proceed, it was doubtlefs the Effect
of ardent Wiſhes, and of ftrong Ideas form'd in my
Mind, realizing the Comfort which the Converſa-
tion of one of my Fellow-Chriftians would have
been to me.
But it was not to be; either their Fate, or mine,
or both, forbid it; for till the laft Year of my be-
ing on this Iſland, I never knew whether any were
fav'd out of that Ship or no; and had only the Af-
fiction fome Days after, to fee the Corps of a
drown'd Boy come on Shore, at the End of the
Iſland, which was next the Shipwreck: He had on
no Cloaths, but a Seaman's Waftcoat, a Pair of o-
pen knee'd Linnen Drawers, and a blew Linnen
Shirt; but nothing to direct me fo much as to gueſs
what Nation he was of: He had nothing in his
Pocket but two Pieces of Eight and a Tobacco-
Pipe; the laft was to me of ten times more Value
than the firft.
It was now calm, and I had a great Mind to
venture out in my Boat to this Wreck; not doubt-
ing but I might find fomething on Board, that
might be uſeful to me; but that did not altogether
prefs me ſo much, as the Poffibility that there
might be yet fome living Creature on board, whofe
Life I might not only fave, but might, by faving
that Life, comfort my own to the laſt Degree;
and this Thought clung fo to my Heart, that I
could not be quiet, Night nor Day, but I muſt
venture out in my Boat on board this Wreck ; and
committing the reft to God's Providence, I thought
the
}
[224]
t
the Impreffion was fo ftrong upon my Mind, that
it could not be refifted, that it must come from
fome invifib.e Direction, and that I fhould be want-
ing to my felf, if I did not go.
Under the Power of this Impreffion, I haſten'd
back to my Caſtle, prepar'd every Thing for my
Voyage, took a Quantity of Bread, a great Pot
for freſh Water, a Compafs to fteer by, a Bottle of
Rum; for I had ftill a great deal of that left; a
Basket full of Raifins: And thus loading my felf
with every Thing neceffary, I went down to my
Boat, got the Water out of her, and got her afloat,
loaded all my Cargo in her, and then went Home
again for more; my fecond Cargo was a great Bag
full of Rice, the Umbrella to fet up over my Head
for Shade, another large Pot full of freſh Water,
and about two Dozen of my fmall Loaves, or
Barley Cakes, more than before, with a Bottle of
Goat's Milk, and a Cheeſe; all which, with great
Labour and Sweat, I brought to my Boat; and
praying to God to direct my Voyage, I put out,
and rowing or paddling the Canoe along the Shore,
I came at laft to the utmoft Point of the Island,
on that Side, (viz.) N. E. And now I was to launch
out into the Ocean, and either to venture, or not
to venture. I look'd on the rapid Currents which
ran conftantly on both Sides of the Ifland, at a
Diſtance, and which were very terrible to me,
from the Remembrance of the Hazard I had been
in before, and my Heart began to fail me; for I
forfaw that if I was driven into either of thofe
Currents, I fhould be carry'd a vaſt Way out to
Sea, and perhaps out my Reach, or Sight of
the Inland again; and that then, as my Boat was
but ſmall, if any little Gale of Wind fhould rife, I
fhould be inevitably loft.
}
Thefe
[225]
Theſe Thoughts fo opprefs'd my Mind, that I
began to give over my Enterprize, and having hal-
led my Boat into a little Creek on the Shore, I
ſtept out, and fate me down upon a little rifing
bit of Ground, very penfive and anxious, between
Fear and Defire about my Voyage; when, as I was
mufing, I could perceive that the Tide was turn'd
and the Flood came on, upon which my going was
for ſo many Hours impracticable. Upon this
preſently it occurr'd to me, that I fhould go up to
the higheſt piece of Ground I could find, and ob-
ferve, if I could, how the Sets of the Tide or Cur-
rents lay, when the Flood came in, that I might
judge whether, if I was driven one way out, I might
not expect to be driven another way home, with
the fame Rapidnefs of the Currents: This
Thought was no fooner in my Head, but I caft my
Eye upon a little Hill, which fufficiently over-
look'd the Sea both ways, and from whence I had
a clear View of the Currents, or Sets of the Tide,
and which way I was to guide myfelf in my Re-
turn; here I found, that as the Current of the Ebb
fet out close by the South Point of the Ifland, fo
the Current of the Flood fet in clofe by the fhore.
of the North Side, and that I had nothing to do
but to keep to the North of the Iſland in my Re-
turn, and I fhould do well enough.
Encourag'd with this Obfervation, I refolv'd the
next Morning to fet out with the firſt of the Tide;
and repofing myſelf for the Night in the Canoe,
under the great Watch-coat I mention'd, I launch'd
out: I made firft a little out to Sea full North, till
I began to feel the Benefit of the Current, which fet
Eaſtward, and which carry'd me at a great Rate,
and yet did not fo hurry me as the Southern fide
Current had done before, and fo as to take from
me all Government of the Boat; but having a
PART I.
Atrong
е
[226]
1
ftrong fteerage with my Paddle, I went at a great
Rate, directly for the Wreck, and in lefs than two
Hours I came up to it.
It was a diſmal fight to look at: The Ship,
which by its Building was Spanish, ftuck faft,
jaum'd in between two Rocks; all the Stern and
Quarter of her was beaten to Pieces with the Sea;
and as her Forecaſtle, which ſtuck in the Rocks,
had run on with great Violence, her Mainmaft and
Foremaft were brought by the Board; that is to
fay, broken ſhort off; but her Boltſprit was found,
and the Head and Bow appear'd firm; when I
came cloſe to her, a Dog appear'd upon her, who
feeing me coming, yelp'd and cry'd, and as foon
as I call'd him, jump'd into the Sea, to come to
me, and I took him into the Boat, but found him
almoſt dead for Hunger and Thirft: I gave him a
Cake of my Bread, and he eat it like a ravenous
Wolf, that had been ftarving a Fortnight in the
Snow: I then gave the poor Creature fome freſh
Water, with which, if I would have let him, he
would have burſt himſelf.
After this I went on Board; but the firſt fight
I met with, was two Men drown'd in the Cook-
Room, or Forecaſtle of the Ship, with their Arms
faſt about one another: I concluded, as is indeed
probable, that when the Ship ftruck, it being in a
Storm, the Sea broke fo high, and fo continually
over her, that the Men were not able to bear it,
and were ſtrangled with the conftant rufhing in of
the Water, as much as if they had been under Wa-
ter. Befides the Dog, there was nothing left in
the Ship that had Life, nor any Goods that I
could fee, but what were ſpoil'd by the Water.
There were fome Casks of Liquor, whether Wine
or Brandy, I knew not, which lay lower in the
Hold; and which, the Water being ebb'd out, I
could
[227]
could fee; but they were too big to meddle with:
I faw feveral Chefts, which I believed belonged to
fome of the Seamen, and I got two of them into
the Boat, without examining what was in them.
Had the Stern of the Ship been fix'd, and the
Forepart broken off, I am perfuaded I might have
made a good Voyage; for by what I found in theſe
two Chefts, I had room to fuppofe the Ship had
a great deal of Wealth on board; and if I may
guefs by the Courfe fhe fteer'd, fhe must have been
bound from the Buenos Ayres, or the Rio de la Plata,
in the South part of America, beyond the Brafils,
to the Havana, in the Gulph of Mexico, and fo per-
haps to Spain: She had, no doubt, a great Trea-
fure in her, but of no ufe at that time to any bo-
dy; and what became of the reft of her People,
I then knew not.
I found, befides theſe Cheſts, a little Cask full of
Liquor, of about twenty Gallons, which I got into
my Boat, with much difficulty: there were feveral
Muskets in a Cabin, and a great Powder-horn, with
about four pounds of Powder in it; as for the
Muskets, I had no occafion for them, fo I left them,
but took the Powder-horn: I took a Fire-fhovel
and Tongs, which I wanted extremely; as alfo
two little Braſs Kettles, a Copper Pot to make
Chocolate, and a Gridiron; and with this Cargo,
and the Dog, I came away, the Tide beginning to
make home again; and the fame Evening, about
an Hour within Night, I reach'd the Iſland again,
weary and fatigued to the laft degree.
I repos'd that Night in the Boat, and in the Morn-
ing I refolv'd to harbour what I had gotten in my
new Cave, not to carry it home to my Caftle. After
refreſhing myſelf, I got all my Cargo on fhore, and
began to examine the Particulars: The Cask of
Liquor I found to be a kind of Rum, but not fuch
{
Q 2
as
[228]
as we had at the Brafils; and in a word, not at
all good; but when I came to open the Chefts, I
found feveral things of great ufe to me: For Ex-
ample, I found in one a fine Cafe of Bottles, of an
extraordinary kind, and fill'd with Cordial Waters,
fine, and very good; the Bottles held about three
Pints each, and were tip'd with Silver: I found
two Pots of very good Succades, or Sweetmeats,
fo faften'd alfo on top, that the falt Water had
not hurt them; and two more of the fame, which
the Water had ſpoil'd: I found fome very good
Shirts, which were very welcome to me, and about
a dozen and a half of Linnen white Handkerchiefs,
and colour'd Neckcloths; the former were alſo
very welcome, being exceeding refreſhing to wipe
my Face in a hot Day; befides this, when I came
to the Till in the Chefts, I found there three great
Bags of Pieces of Eight, which held about eleven
hundred Pieces in all; and in one of them, wrapt
up in a Paper, fix Doubloons of Gold, and fome
fmall Bars or Wedges of Gold; I fuppofe they
might all weigh near a Pound.
The other Cheft I found had fome Cloaths in it,
but of little Value; but by the Circumftances it
muft have belong'd to the Gunner's Mate, tho'
there was no Powder in it, but about two Pounds
of fine glaz'd Powder, in three fmall Flasks, kept,
I fuppofe, for charging their Fowling-pieces on oc-
cafion Upon the whole, I got very little by this
Voyage, that was of any ufe to me; for as to the
Money, I had no manner of occafion of it; 'twas
to me as the Dirt under my Feet; and I would
have given it all for three or four Pair of English
Shoes and Stockings, which were things I greatly
wanted, but had not had on my Feet now for
many Years I had, indeed, gotten two Pair of
Shoes now, which I took off of the Feet of the
two
[229]
two drown'd Men, who I faw in the Wreck; and
I found two pair more in one of the Cheſts, which
were very welcome to me; but they were not like
our English Shoes, either for eaſe or fervice, being
rather what we call Pumps than Shoes: I found
in this Seaman's Cheft about fifty Pieces of Eight
in Royals, but no Gold; I fuppofe this belong'd
to a poorer Man than the other, which feem'd to
belong to fome Officer.
Well, however, I lugged this Money home to
my Cave, and laid it up, as I had done that before,
which I brought from our own Ship; but it was
great Pity, as 1 faid, that the other part of this
Ship had not come to my fhare, for I am fatisfy'd I
might have loaded my Canoe feveral times over
with Money, which, if I had ever efcap'd to Eng-
land, would have lain here fafe enough till I might
have come again and fetch'd it.
Having now brought all my Things on fhore,
and fecur'd them, I went back to my Boat, and
row'd or paddled her along the fhore to her old
Harbour, where I laid her up, and made the beſt of
my Way to my old Habitation, where I found
every Thing fafe and quiet; fo I began to repofe
myfelf, live after my old Fashion, and take Care of
my Family Affairs; and for a while, I liv'd eafy
enough; only that I was more vigilant than I us'd
to be, look'd out oftner, and did not go abroad ſo
much; and if at any time I did ftir with any Free-
dom, it was always to the Eaft Part of the Iſland,
where I was pretty well fatisfy'd the Savages never
came, and where I could go without fo many Pre-
cautions, and fuch a Load of Arms and Ammuni-
tion, as I always carry'd with me if I went the
other way.
I liv'd in this Condition near two Years more;
but my unlucky Head, that was always to let me
Q3
know
[230]
know it was born to make my Body miferable,
was all the two Years fill'd with Projects and De-
figns how, if it were poffible, I might get away
from this Iſland; for fometimes I was for making
another Voyage to the Wreck, tho' my Reafon
told me that there was nothing left there worth the
Hazard of my Voyage: Sometimes for a Ramble
one Way, fometimes another; and I believe verily,
if I had had the Boat that I went from Sallee in,
I fhould have ventured to Sea, bound any where,
I knew not whither.
1
I have been, in all my Circumftances, a Memento
to thoſe who are touch'd with the general Plague
of Mankind, whence, for ought I know, one half
of their Miſeries flow; I mean, that of not being
fatisfy'd with the Station wherein God and Na-
ture hath plac'd them; for not to look back upon
my primitive Condition, and the excellent Advice
of my Father, the Oppofition to which was, as I
may call it, my ORIGINAL SIN, my fubfequent
Miſtakes of the fame kind had been the means of
my coming into this miferable Condition; for had
that Providence, which fo happily had feated mè
at the Brafils, as a Planter, blefs'd me with con-
fin'd Defires, and I could have been contented to
have gone on gradually, I might have been by this
Time, I mean in the Time of my being in this Iland,
one of the moft confiderable Planters in the Bra-
fils; nay, I am perfwaded, that by the Improve-
ments I had made in that little time I liv'd there,
and the Encreaſe I fhould probably have made, if I
had ſtay'd, I might have been worth an hundred
thoufand Moyadores; and what Bufinefs had I to
leave a fettled Fortune, a well-ftock'd Plantation,
improving and increafing, to turn Supra Cargo to
Guinea, to fetch Negroes, when Patience and
Time would have fo encreas'd our Stock at
Home,
?
i
}
[231]
Home, that we could have bought them at our
own Door, from thoſe whoſe Buſineſs it was to
fetch them? and though it had coft us fomething
more, yet the Difference of that Price was by no
means worth ſaving at fo great a Hazard.
But as this is ordinarily the Fate of young Heads,
fo Reflection upon the Folly of it is as ordinarily
the Exerciſe of more Years, or of the dear-bought
Experience of Time; and fo it was with me now;
and yet fo deep had the Miftake taken Root in
my Temper, that I could not fatisfy my felf in
my Station, but was continually poring upon the
Means and Poffibility of my Eſcape from this
Place; and that I may with the greater Pleaſure to
the Reader bring on the remaining Part of my Sto-
ry, it may not be improper to give fome Account
of my firſt Conceptions on the Subject of this
foolish Scheme for my Eſcape; and how, and upon
what Foundation I acted.
I am now to be fuppos'd retir'd into my Caſtle,
after my late Voyage to the Wreck, my Frigate
laid up, and fecur'd under Water as ufual, and my
Condition reftor'd to what it was before: I had
more Wealth, indeed, than I had before, but was
not at all the richer; for I had no more Ufe for it,
than the Indians of Peru had before the Spaniards
came there.
It was one of the Nights, in the rainy Seaſon in
March, the four and twentieth Year of my firſt ſet-
ting Foot in this Iſland of Solitarinefs, I was lying
in my Bed, or Hammock, awake, very well in
Health, had no Pain, no Diftemper, no Uneafineſs
of Body, no, nor any Uneafinefs of Mind, more
than ordinary; but could by no means clofe my
Eyes; that is, fo as to fleep; no, not a Wink all
Night long, otherwife than as follows
i
1
Q4
It
[232]
It is as impoffible as needlefs, to fet down the
innumerable Crowd of Thoughts that whirl'd
through that great Thorowfair of the Brain, the
Memory, in this Night's Time: I run over the
whole Hiſtory of my Life in Miniature, or by
Abridgment, as I may call it, to my coming to this
Iſland; and alſo of the Part of my Life fince I
came to this Ifland. In my Reflections upon the
State of my Cafe, fince I came on Shore on this
Inland, I was comparing the happy Pofture of my
Affairs, in the firſt Years of my Habitation here,
compar'd to the Life of Anxiety, Fear, and Care,
which I had liv'd in ever fince I had feen the Print of
a Foot in the Sand; not that I did not believe the
Savages had frequented the Inland even all the while,
and might have been ſeveral Hundreds of them at
Times on Shore there; but I had never known it,
and was incapable of any Apprehenfions about it;
my
Satisfaction was perfect, tho' my Danger was
the fame; and I was as happy in not knowing my
Danger, as if I had never really been expos'd to it.
This furnish'd my Thoughts with many very pro-
fitable Reflections, and particularly this one, How
infinitely Good that Providence is, which has pro-
vided in its Government of Mankind fuch narrow
Bounds to his Sight and Knowledge of Things;
and tho' he walks in the midft of fo many thoufand
Dangers, the Sight of which, if diſcover'd to him,
would diſtract his Mind, and fink his Spirits, he is
kept ferene and calm, by having the Events of
Things hid from his Eyes, and knowing nothing
of the Dangers which furround him.
·
After thefe Thoughts had for fome Time enter-
tain'd me, I came to reflect ſeriouſly upon the real
Danger I had been in for fo many Years in this
very Ifland; and how I had walk'd about in thé
greateſt Security, and with all poffible Tranquili-
1
ty;
[233]
ty; even when perhaps nothing but a Brow of a
Hill, a great Tree, or the cafual Approach of
Night, had been between me and the worst Kind
of Deſtruction, viz. That of falling into the Hands
of Canibals and Savages, who would have feiz'd
on me with the fame View as I did of a Goat or
a Turtle, and have thought it no more a Crime to
kill and devour me, than I did of a Pidgeon or å
Curlieu. I fhould unjustly flander my ſelf, if I
ſhould fay I was not fincerely thankful to my great
Preferver, to whofe fingular Protection I acknow-
ledg'd, with great Humility, that all thefe un-
known Deliverances were due; and without which
I maft inevitably have fallen into their mercileſs
Hands.
When thefe Thoughts were over, my Head was
for fome time taken up in confidering the Nature
of theſe wretched Creatures, I mean, the Savages;
and how it came to pafs in the World, that the
wife Governour of all Things fhould give up any
of his Creatures to fuch Inhumanity; nay, to fome-
thing ſo much below even Brutality itſelf, as to
devour its own Kind: But as this ended in fome
(at that Time fruitlefs) Speculations, it occur'd
to me to enquire, what Part of the World theſe
Wretches liv'd in; how far off the Coaft was from
whence they came; what they ventur❜d over ſo far
from Home for; what Kind of Boats they had
and why I might not order my felf, and my Bufi-
nefs fo, that I might be as able to go over thi-
ther, as they were to come to me.
;
I never fo much as troubled my felf to confider
what I fhould do with my felf when I came thi-
ther; what would become of me, if I fell into the
Hands of the Savages; or how I fhould efcape from
them, if they attempted me; no, nor fo much as
how it was poffible for me to reach the Coaſt, and
not
[234]
not be attempted by fome or other of them, with-
out any Poffibility of delivering my felf; and if I
fhould not fall into their Hands, what I fhould do
for Provifion, or whither I ſhould bend my Courſe;
none of theſe Thoughts, I fay, fo much as came
in my way; but my Mind was wholly bent upon
the Notion of my paffing over in my Boat to the
main Land: I look'd back upon my prefent Condi-
tion, as the moſt miferable that could poffibly be;
that I was not able to throw my felf into any thing
but Death that could be call'd worfe; that if I
reach'd the Shore of the Main, I might perhaps
meet with Relief, or I might coaft along, as I did
on the Shore of Africk, 'till I came to fome inha-
bited Country, and where I might find fome Re-
lief; and after all, perhaps I might fall in with
fome Chriftian Ship that might take me in; and
if the worſe came to the worst, I could but die,
which would put an End to all theſe Miſeries at
once. Pray note, All this was the Fruit of a dif-
turb'd Mind, an impatient Temper, made as it
were defperate by the long Continuance of my
Troubles, and the Difappointments I had met in
the Wreck I had been on board of, and where I
had been fo near the obtaining what I fo earneſtly
long'd for, viz. fome Body to ſpeak to, and to learn
fome Knowledge from of the Place where I was,
and of the probable Means of my Deliverance;
I fay, I was agitated wholly by theſe Thoughts:
All my Calm of Mind in my Refignation to Pro-
vidence, and waiting the Iffue of the Difpofitions
of Heaven, feem'd to be fufpended; and I had, as
it were, no Power to turn my Thoughts to any
Thing, but to the Project of a Voyage to the
Main, which came upon me with fuch Force, and
fuch an Impetuofity of Defire, that it was not to
be refifted.
When
[235]
When this had agitated my Thoughts for two
Hours, or more, with fuch Violence, that it ſet
my very Blood into a Ferment, and my Pulfe beat
as high as if I had been in a Fever, merely with
the extraordinary Fervour of my Mind about it;
Nature, as if I had been fatigued and exhauſted
with the very Thought of it, threw me into a
found Sleep One would have thought I ſhould
have dreamt of it; but I did not, nor of any
thing relating to it; but I dreamt, that as I was
going out in the Morning, as ufual, from my Caſtle,
I faw upon the fhore two Canoes, and eleven Sava-
ges coming to Land, and that they brought with
them another Savage, who they were going to kill,
in order to eat him; when, on a fudden, the Sa-
vage, that they were going to kill, jump'd away,
and ran for his Life; and I thought in my fleep,
that he came running into my little thick Grove,
before my Fortification, to hide himſelf; and that
I ſeeing him alone, and not perceiving that the
other fought him that way, fhew'd myſelf to him,
and, fmiling upon him, encourag'd him; that he
kneel'd down to me, feeming to pray me to affift
him; upon which I fhew'd my Ladder, made him
go up, and carry'd him into my Cave, and he be-
came my Servant; and that as foon as I had got-
ten this Man, I faid to myfelf, now I may certain-
ly venture to the Main Land; for this Fellow
will ferve me as a Pilot, and will tell me what to
do, and whither to go for Provifions; and whi-
ther not to go for fear of being devour'd, what Pla-
ces to venture into, and what to efcape. I wak'd
with this Thought, and was under fuch inexpref-
fible Impreffions of Joy at the Profpect of my E-
fcape in my Dream, that the Diſappointments
which I felt upon coming to myfelf, and finding it
was no more than a Dream, were equally extra-
vagant
[236]
X
vagant
the other way, and threw me into a very
great Dejection of Spirit.
Upon this, however, I made this Conclufion,
That my only way to go about an Attempt for an
Eſcape, was, if poffible, to get a Savage into my
Poffeffion; and if poffible, it fhould be one of their
Prifoners, whom they had condemn'd to be eaten,
and fhould bring thither to kill; but thefe Thoughts
ftill were attended with this Difficulty, that it was
impoffible to effect this, without attacking a whole
Caravan of them, and killing them all; and this
was not only a very defperate Attempt, and might
mifcarry; but, on the other hand, I had greatly
fcrupled the Lawfulneſs of it to me, and my Heart
trembled at the Thoughts of fhedding fo much
Blood, tho' it was for my Deliverance. I need
not repeat the Arguments which occur'd to me
againſt this, they being the fame mention'd before:
But tho' I had other Reafons to offer now, (viz.)
that thofe Men were Enemies to my Life, and
would devour me, if they could, that it was Self-
prefervation in the higheft Degree, to deliver my-
felf from this Death of a Life, and was acting in
my own Defence, as much as if they were actually
affaulting me, and the like: I fay, tho' theſe things
argued for it, yet the Thoughts of fhedding hu-
mane Blood for my Deliverance, were very terrible
to me, and fuch as I could by no means reconcile
myfelf to a great while.
However, at laft, after many fecret Difputes
with myſelf, and after great Perplexities about
it, (for all theſe Arguments, one way and another,
ftruggled in my Head a long time,) the eager pre-
vailing Defire of Deliverance at length maſter'd
all the reft, and I refolv'd, if poffible, to get one
of thoſe Savages into my Hands, coft what it
would.
[237]
1
+
would. My next thing then was to contrive how
to do it; and this indeed was very difficult to re-
folve on. But as I could pitch upon no probable
Means for it, fo I refolv'd to put myself upon the
Watch, to fee them when they came on fhore, and
leave the reft to the Event, taking fuch Meaſures
as the Opportunity fhould prefent, let be what
would be.
With theſe Reſolutions in my Thoughts, I fet
myſelf upon the Scout, as often as poffible, and
indeed fo often till I was heartily tired of it; for
it was above a Year and a half that I waited, and
for great part of that Time went out to the Weſt
End, and to the South-Weft Corner of the Iſland
almost every Day, to fee for Canoes, but none
appear'd. This was very difcouraging, and be-
gan to trouble me much; tho' I can't fay that it
did in this cafe as it had done fome time before
that, (viz.) wear off the Edge of my Defire to the
thing; but the longer it ſeem'd to be delay'd, the
more eager I was for it in a word, I was not at
firſt ſo careful to fhun the fight of thefe Savages,
and avoid being feen by them, as I was now eager
to be upon them.
:
Befides, I fancied myſelf able to manage one,
nay, two or three Savages, if I had them, fo as
to make them entirely Saves to me, to do what-
ever I ſhould direct them, and to prevent their be-
ing able at any time to do me any Hurt. It was a
great while that I pleas'd myfelf with this Affair,
but nothing ftill prefented; all my Fancies and
Schemes came to nothing, for no Savages came
near me for a great while.
About a Year and half after I had entertain'd
thefe Notions, and, by long mufing, had as it were
refolv'd them all into nothing, for want of an oc-
cafion to put them in Execution, I was furpriz'd
one
[238]
one Morning early, with feeing no leſs than five
Canoes all on fhore together on my fide the Iſland,
and the People who belong'd to them all landed,
and out of my fight: The Number of them broke
all my meaſures; for feeing fo many, and know-
ing that they always came four, or fix, or fometimes
more, in a Boat, I could not tell what to think of
it, or how to take my meaſures, to attack twen-
ty or thirty Men fingle-handed; fo I lay ftill in
my Caſtle, perplex'd and diſcomforted: However
I put myself into all the fame Poftures for an At-
tack, that I had formerly provided, and was juſt
ready for Action, if any thing had prefented. Ha-
ving waited a good while, liftening to hear if they
made any Noife, at length being very impatient,
I fet my Guns at the Foot of my Ladder, and
clamber'd up to the Top of the Hill by my two
Stages, as ufual, ftanding fo, however, that my
Head did not appear above the Hill; fo that they
could not perceive me by any means: Here I ob-
ferv'd, by the help of my Perfpective-Glafs, that
they were no less than thirty in Number; that
they had a Fire kindled; that they had had Meat
drefs'd; how they had cook'd it, that I knew not,
or what it was; but they were all dancing in 1
know not how many barbarous Geftures and Fi-
gures, their own way, round the Fire.
:
While I was thus looking on them, I perceived
by my Perſpective two miferable Wretches drag'd
from the Boats, where, it feems, they were laid by,
and were now brought out for the Slaughter. I
perceived one of them immediately fell, being
knock'd down, I fuppofe with a Club or wooden
Sword, for that was their way, and two or three
others were at work immediately, cutting him open
for their Cookery, while the other Victim was left
tanding by himſelf, till they fhould be ready for
him.
[239]
him. In that very Moment this poor Wretch fee-
ing himſelf a little at Liberty, Nature inſpired him
with Hopes of Life, and he ftaried away from
them, and ran with incredible Swiftnefs along the
Sands directly towards me, I mean, towards that
part of the Coaft where my Habitation was.
I was dreadfully frighted (that I muſt acknow-
ledge) when I perceived him to run my way;
and eſpecially, when as I thought I faw him pur-
fued by the whole Body; and now I expected
that part of my Dream was coming to pafs, and
that he would certainly take fhelter in my Grove;
but I could not depend by any means upon my
Dream for the reft of it, (viz.) that the other Sa-
vages would not purfue him thither, and find him
there. However, I kept my ftation, and my Spi-
rits began to recover, when I found that there was
not above three Men that follow'd him; and ſtill
more was I encouraged, when I found that he out-
ftript them exceedingly in running, and gain'd
Ground of them, fo that if he could but hold it
for half an Hour, I faw eafily he would fairly get
away from them all.
There was between them and my Caftle the
Creek which I mention'd often at the firſt part of
my Story, when I landed my Cargoes out of the
Ship; and this, I faw plainly, he muft neceffarily
fwim over, or the poor Wretch would be taken
there: But when the Savage eſcaping came thi-
ther, he made nothing of it, tho' the Tide was
then up, but plunging in, fwam thro' in about
thirty ftrokes, or thereabouts, landed, and ran on
with exceeding ftrength and ſwiftnefs; when the
three Perfons came to the Creek, I found that
two of them could fwim, but the third could not,
and that ftanding on the other fide, he look'd at
the other, but went no farther; and foon after went
!
foftly
[240]
foftly back again, which, as it happen'd, was very
well for him in the main.
I obferv'd, that the two who fwam, were yet
more than twice as long fwimming over the Creek,
as the Fellow was that fled from them: It came
now very warmly upon my Thoughts, and indeed
irrefiftibly, that now was my Time to get me a
Servant, and perhaps a Companion, or Affiftant;
and that I was call'd plainly by Providence to fave
this poor Creature's Life; I immediately run down
the Ladders with all poffible Expedition, fetch'd
my two Guns, for they were both but at the Foot
of the Ladders, as I obferv'd above; and getting
up again with the fame hafte, to the top of the
Hill, I crofs'd toward the Sea; and having a very
fhort cut, and all down Hill, clap'd myfelf in
the way between the Purfuers and the Purfued,
hollowing aloud to him that fled, who looking
back, was at firſt perhaps as much frighted at me
as at them; but I beckon'd with my Hand to him
to come back, and in the mean time, I flowly ad-
vanced towards the two that follow'd; then rush-
ing at once upon the foremoſt, I knock'd him down
with the Stock of my Piece; I was loth to fire, be-
cauſe I would not have the reft hear; tho' at that
diſtance it would not have been eafily heard;
and being out of fight of the Smoak too, they
would not have eafily known what to make of it:
Having knock'd this Fellow down, the other who
purfued him ftopt, as if he had been frighted;
and I advanced apace towards him; but as I came
nearer, I perceived prefently, he had a Pow and
Arrow, and was fitting it to fhoot at me; fo I
was then neceffitated to fhoot at him fitft, which
I did, and kill'd him at the firſt ſhoot: the poor
Savage who fled, but had ſtop'd, tho' he faw both
his Enemies fallen, and kill'd, as he thought, yet
was
[241]
was fo frighted with the Fire, and Noife of my
Piece, that he ſtood ſtock ſtill, and neither came
forward or went backward, tho' he feem'd rather
inclined to fly ftill, than to come ón; I höllow'd
again to him, and made figns to come forward,
which he eafily understood, and came a little way
then ſtop'd again, and then a little farther, and
ſtop'd again; and I could then perceive that he
ſtood trembling, as if he had been taken Priſoner,
and had just been to be kill'd, as his two Enemies
were I beckon'd him again to come to me, and
gave him all the figns of Encouragement that Í
could think of; and he came nearer and nearer,
kneeling down every ten of twelve fteps, in token
of Acknowledgment for my faving his Life: I fmil'd
at him, and look'd pleaſantly, and beckon❜d to him
to come ſtill nearer; at length he came cloſe to me,
and then he kneel'd down again, kifs'd the Ground,
and laid his Head upon the Ground, and taking
me by the Foot, fet my Foót upon his Head
this, it ſeems, was in token of fwearing to be my
Slave for ever. I took him up, and made much of
him, and encouraged him all I could: But there
was more Work to do yet, for I perceiv'd the Sa-
vage whom I knock'd down, was not kill'd, but
ftun'd with the Blow, and began to come to him-
felf; fo I pointed to him, and fhowing him the Sa-
vage, that he was not dead; upon this He fpokë
fome Words to me, and tho' I could not underſtand
them, yet I thought they were pleafant to hear,
for they were the firft found of a Man's Voice that
I had heard, my own excepted, for above twenty five
Years. But there was no time for fuch Refe&i-
ons now; the Savage, who was knock'd down,
recover'd himſelf fo far, as to fit up upon the
Ground, and I perceiv'd that my Savage began to
1
be afraid; but when I faw that, I prefented my
PARTI
other
R
'
[242]
other Piece at the Man, as if I would ſhoot him;
upon this my Savage, for fo I call him now, made a
Motion to me to lend him my Sword, which hung
naked in a Belt by my fide; fo I did: He no fooner
had it, but he runs to his Enemy, and at one Blow
cut off his Head as cleverly, no Executioner in Ger-
many could have done it fooner or better; which I
thought very frange, for one, who I had reafon to
believe, never faw a Sword in his Life before, ex-
cept their own wooden Swords; however, it ſeems,
as I learn'd afterwards, they make their wooden
Swords fo fharp, fo heavy, and the Wood is fo
hard, that they will cut off Heads even with them,
ay and Arms, and that at one Blow too.
When
he had done this, he comes laughing to me in ſign
of Triumph, and brought me the Sword again,
and with abundance of Geftures, which I did not
underſtand, laid it down with the Head of the Sa-
vage that he had kill'd, juft before me.
But that which aftoniſh'd him moft was, to know
how I had kill'd the other Indian fo far off; fo,
pointing to him, he made figns to me to let him go
to him: fo I bad him go, as well as I could; when
he came to him, he flood like one amaz'd, looking
at him, turn'd him firft on one fide, then on t'other,
fook'd at the Wound the Bullet had made, which
it feems was juſt in his Breaſt, where it had made
a Hole, and no great Quantity of Blood had fol-
low'd, but he had bled inwardly, for he was quite
dead: He took up his Bow and Arrows, and came
back; fo I turn'd to go away, and beckon'd to
him to follow me, making figns to him that more
might come after them.
+
Upon this he fign'd to me, that he ſhould bury
them with Sand, that they might not be ſeen by the
reft if they follow'd; and fo I made ſigns again to
him to do fo; he fell to work, and in an inſtant he
had
243]
had ferap'd a Hole in the Sand with his Hands, big
enough to bury the first in, and then drag'd him in-
to it, and cover'd him, and did ſo alfo by the other;
I believe he had bury'd them both in a Quarter of
an Hour; then calling him away, I carry'd him, not
to my Caſtle, but quite away to my Cave, on the
farther Part of the Ifland; fo I did not let my Dream
come to paſs in that Part, viz. That he came into
my Grove for Shelter.
Here I gave him Bread,and a Bunch of Raifins to
eat, and a Draught of Water, which I found he
was indeed in great Diftrefs for, by his Running;
and having refreſh'd him, I made Signs for him to
go lie down and fleep, pointing to a Place where I
had laid a great Parcel of Rice Straw, and a Blanket
upon it, which I uſed to ſleep upon my felf fome-
times; fo the poor Creature laid down and went
to ſleep.
He was a comely handfome Fellow, perfectly well
made, with ſtrait long Limbs, not too large, tall
and well fhap'd; and, as I reckon, about twenty-fix
Years of Age. He had a very good Countenance,
not a fierce and furly Afpect, but feem'd to have
fomething very Manly in his Face, and yet he had
all the Sweetneſs and Softneſs of an European in his
Countenance too, eſpecially when he fmil'd. His
Hair was long and black, not curl'd like Wool; his
Forehead very high, and large, and a great Vivacity.
and fparkling Sharpnefs in his Eyes. The Colour of
his Skin was not quite black, but very tawny, and
yet not of an ugly yellow naufeous Tawny, as the
Brafilians, and Virginians, and other Natives of
America are, but of a bright kind of a dun Olive
Colour, that had in it fomething very agreeable,
tho not very eafy to defcribe. His Face was round
and plump, his Nofe fmall, not flat like the Ne-
groes, a very good Mouth, thin Lips, and his
R 2
fine
[244]
་སྐ
fine Teeth well fet, and white as Ivory. After he
had flumber'd, rather than flept, about half an
Hour, he wak'd again, and comes out of the Cave
to me, for I had been milking my Goats, which I
had in the Encloſure juft by: When he efpy'd me,
he came running to me, laying himſelf down
again upon the Ground, with all the poffible Signs
of an humble thankful Difpofition, making a many
antick Geſtures to fhow it: At laft he lays his
Head flat upon the Ground, clofe to my Foot, and
fets my other Foot upon his Head, as he had done
before; and after this, made all the Signs to me of
Subjection, Servitude, and Submiffion imaginable,
to let me know how he would ferve me as long as
he liv'd. I underſtood him in many Things, and
let him know I was very well pleas'd with him; in
a little Time I began to fpeak to him, and teach
him to ſpeak to me; and firſt, I made him know
his Name fhould be Friday, which was the Day I
fav'd his Life; I call'd him fo for the Memory of
the Time; I likewife taught him to fay Mafter, and
then let him know that was to be my Name; I
likewife taught him to fay Yes and No, and to know
the Meaning of them; I gave him fome Milk in an
earthen Pot, and let him fee me drink it before
him, and fop my Bread in it; and I gave him a
Cake of Bread to do the like, which he quickly
comply'd with, and made Signs that it was very
good for him.
I kept there with him all that Night, but as ſoon
as it was Day, I beckon'd to him to come with
me, and let him know. I would give him fome
Cloaths, at which he feem'd very glad, for he was
ftark-naked: As we went by the Place where he
had bury'd the two Men, he pointed exactly to the
Place, and fhew'd me the Marks that he had
made to find them again, making Signs to me
that
:
!
[245]
that we ſhould dig them up again, and eat them;
at this I appear'd very angry, exprefs'd my Ab-
horrence of it, made as if I would vomit at the
Thoughts of it, and beckon'd with my Hand to
him to come away, which he did immediately,
with great Submiffion. I then led him up to the
Top of the Hill, to fee if his Enemies were gone ;
and pulling out my Glaſs, I look'd, and faw plain-
ly the Place where they had been, but no Appea-
rance of them, or of their Canoes; fo that it was
plain that they were gone, and had left their two
Comrades behind them, without any Search after
them.
But I was not content with this Diſcovery, but
having now more Courage, and confequently more
Curiofity, I took my Man Friday with me, giving
him the Sword in his Hand, with the Bow and
Arrows at his Back, which I found he could uſe
very dexterously, making him carry one Gun for me,
and I two for myſelf, and away we march'd to the
Place where thefe Creatures had been; for I had a
mind now to get fome fuller Intelligence of them:
When I came to the Place, my very Blood ran
chill in my Veins, and my Heart funk within me
at the Horror of the Spectacle: Indeed it was a
dreadful Sight, at leaft it was fo to me, tho' Friday
made nothing of it: The Place was cover'd with
humane Bones, the Ground dy'd with their Blood,
great Pieces of Flefh left here and there, half
eaten, mangled and fcorch'd; and, in fhort, all the
Tokens of the triumphant Feaft they had been
making there, after a Victory over their Enemies.
I faw three Skulls, five Hands, and the Bones of
three or four Legs and Feet, and abundance of other
Parts of the Bodies; and Friday, by his Signs, made
me underſtand, that they brought over four Priſoners
to feaft upon; that three of them were eaten up,
R 3
and
[246]
?
and that he, pointing to himself, was the fourth
That there had been a great Battel between them
and their next King, whofe fubjects it feems he had
been one of; and that they had taken a great Num-
ber of Prifoners, all which were carried to feveral
Places by thofe that had taken them in the Fight,
in order to feaft upon them, as was done here by
theſe Wretches upon thoſe they brought hither.
:
I caus'd Friday to gather all the Skulls, Bones,
Fleſh, and whatever remain'd, and lay them to-
gether on a Heap, and make a great Fire upon it,
and burn them all to Afhes: I found Friday had ftill
a hankering ftomach after fome of the Flefh, and
was ftill a Canibal in his Nature; but I difcover'd
fo much Abhorrence at the very Thoughts of it, and
at the leaſt Appearance of it, that he durft not dif-
cover it; for I had, by fome means, let him know
that I would kill him if he offer❜d it,
!
When we had done this we came back to our
Caftle, and there I fell to work for my Man Friday;
and firſt of all I gave him a Pair of Linen Drawers,
which I had out of the poor Gunner's Cheft I men-
tion'd, and which I found in the Wreck; and which,
with a little Alteration, fitted him very well; then
I made him a Jerkin of Goat's-skin, as well as my
skill would allow; and I was now grown a tolerable
good Taylor; and I gave him a Cap, which I had
made of a Hare-skin, very convenient and fafhion-
able enough; and thus he was cloath'd, for the
prefent, tolerably well, and was mighty well pleas'd
to fee himſelf almoſt as well cloath'd as his Mafter:
It is true, he went aukwardly in theſe things at firſt;
wearing the Drawers was very aukward to him,
and the Sleeves of the Waiſtcoat gall'd his Shoul-
ders, and the infide of his Arms; but a little eafing
them, where he complain'd they hurt him, and
ufing
[247]
afing himſelf to them, at length he took to them
very well.
!
4
The next Day after I came Home to my Hutch
with him, I began to confider where I fhould lodge
him; and that I might do well for him, and yet be
perfectly eaſy myſelf, I made a little Tent for him
in the vacant Place between my two Fortifications,
in the Infide of the laft, and in the Outfide of the
firft: And as there was a Door or Entrance there
into my Cave, I made a formal fram'd Door-caſe,
and a Door to it of Boards, and fet it up in the
Paffage, a little within the Entrance; and caufing
the Door to open on the Infide, I bar'd it up in the
Night, taking in my Ladders too; fo that Friday
could no way come at me in the Infide of my inner-
moſt Wall, without making ſo much Noife in getting
over, that it muft needs waken me; for my firſt
Wall had now a compleat Roof over it of long
Poles, covering all my Tent, and leaning up to the
Side of the Hill, which was again laid crofs with
fmaller Sticks inſtead of Laths, and then thatch'd
over a great Thicknefs with the Rice-Straw, which
was ftrong like Reeds; and at the Hole or Place
which was left to go in or out by the Ladder, I had
plac'd a kind of Trap-door, which if it had been
attempted on the Out-fide, would not have open'd
at all, but would have fallen down, and made a
great Noiſe; and as to Weapons, I took them all
in to my Side every Night.
But I needed none of all this Precaution; for
never Man had a more faithful, loving, fincere Ser-
vant than Friday was to me; without Paffions,
Sullennefs, or Defigns, perfectly oblig'd and en-
gag'd; his very Affections were ty'd to me, like
thofe of a Child to a Father; and I dare fay, he
would have facrificed his Life for the faving mine,
upon any Occafion whatfoever: the many Teftimo-
R
4
nies
1
[248]
nies he gave me of this, put it out of doubt, and
foon convinc'd me, that I needed to uſe no Pre-
cautions as to my fafety on his account.
This frequently gave me Occafion to obferve,
and that with wonder, that however it had pleaſed
God in his Providence, and in the Government of
the Works of his Hands, to take from fo great a
Part of the World of his Creatures, the beſt Uſes
to which their Faculties and the Powers of their
Souls are adapted; yet that he has beſtow'd upon
them the fame Powers, the fame Reaſon, the fame
Affections, the fame Sentiments of Kindneſs and
Obligation, the fame Paffions and Refentments of
Wrongs, the fame Senfe of Gratitude, Sincerity,
Fidelity, and all the Capacities of doing Good,
and receiving Good, that he has given to us; and
that when he pleaſes to offer them Occafions of
exerting thefe, they are as ready, nay, more ready
to apply them to the right Ufes for which they
were beſtow'd, than we are. And this made me
very melancholy fometimes, in reflecting, as the fe-
veral Occaſions preſented, how mean a Uſe we
make of all thefe, even though we have theſe
Powers enlighten'd by the great Lamp of Inftru-
&tion, the Spirit of God, and by the Knowledge of
his Word, added to our Underftanding; and why
it has pleas'd God to hide the like faving Know-
ledge from fo many Millions of Souls, who (if I
might judge by this poor Savage) would make a
much better Ufe of it than we did.
From hence I fometimes was led too far to in-
vade the Sovereignty of Providence; and, as it were,
arraign the Juftice of fo arbitrary a Difpofition of
Things, that fhould hide that Light from fome,
and reveal it to others, and yet expect a like Duty
from both: But I fhut it up and check'd my
Thoughts with this Conclufion, Firft, That we did
not
[249]
not know by what Light and Law theſe fhould be
condemn'd; but that, as God was neceffarily, and,
by the Nature of his Being, infinitely holy and juſt,
fo it could not be, but that if theſe Creatures were
all fentenc'd to abfence from himſelf, it was on ac-
count of finning againft that Light, which, as the
Scripture fays, was a Law to themſelves, and by
fuch Rules as their Confciences would acknowledge
to be juft, tho' the Foundation was not difcover'd
to us And, Secondly, That ftill as we are all the
Clay in the Hand of the Potter, no Veflel could
ſay to him, Why haft thou form'd me thus ?
But to return to my new Companion: I was
greatly delighted with him, and made it my Bufi-
nefs to teach him every thing that was proper to
make him uſeful, handy and helpful; but eſpecially
to make him fpeak, and underſtand me when I
fpake; and he was the apteft Scholar that ever
was, and particularly was fo merry, fo conftantly
diligent, and fo pleas'd when he could but under-
ſtand me, or make me underſtand him, that it was
very pleaſant to me to talk to him; and now my
Life began to be ſo eaſy, that I began to fay to
myſelf, that could I but have been ſafe from more
Savages, I cared not if I was never to remove
from the Place while I liv'd.
After I had been two or three Days return'd to
my Caſtle, I thought, that, in order to bring Friday
off from his horrid way of feeding, and from the
Reliſh of a Canibal's Stomach, I ought to let him
taſte other Flefh; fo I took him out with me one
Morning to the Woods. I went, indeed, intending
to kill a Kid out of my own Flock, and bring it
home and dreſs it: But as I was going, I faw
a She Goat lying down in the Shade, and two
young Kids fitting by her. I catch'd hold of Friday,
hold, fays I, ftand ftill; and made figns to him
not
[250]
7
not to ftir, immediately I prefented my Piece, fhot
and kill'd one of the Kids. The poor Creature,
who had at a Diſtance, indeed, feen me kill the Sa-
vage, his Enemy, but did not know, or could
imagine, how it was done, was fenfibly furpriz'd,
trembled and fhook, and look'd fo amaz'd, that I
thought he would have funk down. He did not
fee the Kid I had fhot at, or perceive I had kill'd
it, but rip'd up his Waftecoat to feel if he was not
wounded; and, as I found, preſently thought I was
refolv❜d to kill him; for he came and kneeled down.
to me, and embracing my Knees, faid a great
many Things I did not underſtand, but I could
eafily fee that the Meaning was to pray me not to
kill him.
I foon found a Way to convince him that I would
do him no Harm, and taking him up by the Hand,
laugh'd at him, and pointing to the Kid which I
had kill'd, beckon'd, to him to run and fetch it,
which he did; and while he was wondering and
looking to fee how the Creature was kill'd, I loaded
my Gun again, and by-and-by I faw a great Fowl
like a Hawk fit upon a Tree within fhot; fo, to
let Friday underſtand a little what I would do, I
call'd him to me again, pointing at the Fowl,
which was indeed a Parrot, tho' I thought it had
been a Hawk; I fay, pointing to the Parrot, and to
my Gun, and to the Ground under the Parrot, to
let him fee I would make it fall, I made him un-
derſtand that I would ſhoot and kill that Bird; ac-
cordingly I fir'd, and bad him look, and immediate-
ly he faw the Parrot fall; he flood like one fright-
ed again, notwithſtanding all I had faid to him; and
I found he was the more amaz'd, becauſe he did not
fee me put any thing into the Gun; but thought
that there must be fome wonderful Fund of Death
and Deſtruction in that Thing, able to kill Man,
Beast,
t
[ 25 ]
Beaſt, Bird, or any thing near or far off; and the
Aftoniſhment this created in him was fuch, as
could not wear off for a long time; and I believe,
if I would have let him, he would have worſhip'd
me and my Gun: As for the Gun itſelf, he would
not ſo much as touch it for ſeveral Days after; but
would ſpeak to it, and talk to it, as if it had an-
fwer'd him, when he was by himſelf; which, as I
afterwards learn'd of him, was to defire it not to
kill him.
Well: After his Aftoniſhment was a little over
at this, I pointed to him to run and fetch the Bird
I had fhot, which he did, but stay'd fome Time ;
for the Parrot not being quite dead, was flutter'd
a good way off from the Place where the fell; how-
ever, he found her, took her up, and brought her to
me; and, as I had perceiv'd his Ignorance about the
Gun before, I took this Advantage to charge the
Gun again, and not let him fee me do it, that I
might be ready for any other Mark that might pre-
fent; but nothing more offer'd at that Time; fo I
brought home the Kid, and the fame Evening I took
the Skin off, and cut it out as well as I could ; and
having a Pot for that Purpoſe, I boil'd or. ftew'd
fome of the Fleſh, and made fome very good Broth;
and after I had begun to eat fome, I gave fome to
my Man, who feem'd very glad of it, and lik'd it
very well; but that which was ftrangeft to him, was
to ſee me eat Salt with it; he made a fign to me,
that the Salt was not good to eat, and putting a
little into his own Mouth, he feem'd to nauſeate it,
and would ſpit and fputter at it, washing his Mouth
with freſh Water after it; on the other hand, I took
fome Meat in my Mouth without Salt, and I pre-
tended to fpit and fputter for want of Salt, as faft as
he had done at the Salt; but it would not do, he
would
[252]
would never care for Salt with his Meat, or in his
Broth; at leaſt, not a great while, and then but a
very little.
Having thus fed him with boil'd Meat and
Broth, I was refolv'd to feaft him the next Day
with roafting a Piece of the Kid; this I did by
hanging it before the Fire in a ſtring, as I had feen
many People do in England, fetting two Poles up,
one on each fide the Fire, and one crofs on the top,
and tying the ftring to the croſs ſtick, letting the
Meat turn continually: This Friday admir'd very
much; but when he came to tafte the Fleſh, he took
fo many ways to tell me how well he lik'd it, that
I could not but underſtand him ; and at laft he told
me he would never eat Man's Flefh any more,
which I was very glad to hear.
The next Day I ſet him to work to beating fome
Corn out, and fifting it in the manner I uſed to do,
as I obferv'd before; and he foon underſtood how
to do it as well as I, efpecially, after he had feen
what the meaning of it was, and that it was to
make Bread of; for after that I let him fee me make
my Bread, and bake it too; and in a little Time
Friday was able to do all the Work for me, as well
as I could do it myſelf.
I began now to confider, that having two Mouths
to feed inſtead of one, I must provide more Ground
for my Harveſt, and plant a larger Quantity of
Corn than I uſed to do; fo I mark'd out a larger
Piece of Land, and began the Fence in the fame
manner as before, in which Friday not only work'd
very willingly and very hard, but did it very
chearfully; and I told him what it was for, that it
was for Corn to make more Bread, becauſe he was
now with me, and that I might have enough for
him and myſelf too: He appear'd very fenfible of
that Part, and let me know, that he thought I had
1
much
[253]
much more Labour upon me on his Account, than
I had for myſelf; and that he would work the
harder for me, if I would tell him what to do.
This was the pleaſanteſt Year of all the Life I
led in this Place: Friday began to talk pretty well,
and underſtand the Names of almoſt every thing I
had Occafion to call for, and of every Place I had
to fend him to, and talk a great deal to me; fo
that, in fhort, I began now to have fome ufe for my
Tongue again, which indeed I had very little Oc-
cafion for before; that is to fay, about Speech: Be-
fides the Pleaſure of talking to him, I had a fingu-
lar Satisfaction in the Fellow himſelf; his fimple
unfeign'd Honefty appear'd to me more and more
every Day,and I began really to love the Creature;
and on his Side, I believe he lov'd me more than it
was poffible for him ever to love any Thing before.
I had a Mind once to try if he had any hankering
Inclination to his own Country again; and having
learn'd him English fo well, that he could anfwer
me almoſt any Queftions, I ask'd him whether the
Nation that he belong'd to never conquer'd in
Battle? At which he fmil'd and faid, Yes, yes, we
always fight the better; that is, he meant always
get the better in Fight; and fo we began the fol-
lowing Difcourfe. You always fight the better, faid
I, How came you to be taken Priſoner then, Friday?
Friday. My Nation beat much, for all that.
Mafter. How beat; if your Nation beat them,
how came you to be taken ?
Friday. They more many than my Nation in the
Place where me was; they take one, two, three,
and me; my Nation over-beat them in the yonder
Place, were me no was; there my Nation take
one, two, great Thouſand.
Mafter. But why did not your Side recover you
from the Hands of your Enemies then?
í
Friday.
[254]
Friday. They run one, two, three, and me, and
make go in the Canoe; my Nation have no Canoë
that Time.
Mafter. Well, Friday, and what does your Na-
tion do with the Men they take? do they carry
them away, and eat them, as thefe did ?..
Friday. Yes, my Nation eat Man's too, eat
all up.
Mafter. Where do they carry them?
K
Friday. Go to other Place where they think.
Mafter. Do they come hither?
Friday. Yes, yes, they come hither; come other
elfe Place.
Mafter. Have you been here with them?
Friday. Yes, I been here: [Points to the N.W. fide
of the Iſland, which, it ſeems, was their fide.]
J
By this I underſtood, that my Man Friday had
formerly been among the Savages, who ufed to
come on fhore on the farther part of the Iland, on
the faid Man-eating occafions that he was now
brought for; and fome time after, when I took the
Courage to carry him to that fide, being the fame
I formerly mention'd, he prefently knew the Place,
and told me, he was there once when they eat up
twenty Men, two Women, and one Child: He
could not tell twenty in English; but he number'd
them by laying fo many Stones in a Row, and
pointing to me to tell them over.
I have told this Paffage, becauſe it introduces
what follows; that after I had had this Diſcourſe
with him, I ask'd him how far it was from our
Iſland to the Shore, and whether the Canoes were
not often loft: he told me there was no Danger,
no Canoes ever loft; but that after a little way out
to the Sea, there was a Current, and a Wind al-
ways one way in the Morning, the other in the
Afternoon.
This
[255]
>
This I underſtood to be no more than the fets of
the Tide, as going out, or coming in; but I after-
wards understood, it was occafion'd by the great
Draft and Reflux of the mighty River Oroonooko;
in the Mouth or the Gulph of which River, as I
thought afterwards, our Ifland lay; and that this
Land, which I perceiv'd to the W. and N. W. was
the great Iſland Trinidad, on the North Point of the
Mouth of the River. I ask'd Friday a thouſand
Queſtions about the Country, the Inhabitants, the
Sea, the Coaſt, and what Nations were near; he
told me all he knew, with the greateſt Openneſs
imaginable. I ask'd him the Names of the feveral
Nations of his fort of People, but could get no
other Name than Caribs; from whence I eaſily un-
derſtood, that theſe were the Caribbees, which our
Maps place on the Part of America, which reaches
from the Mouth of the River Oroonooko to Guiana,
and onwards to St. Martha: He told me that up a
great way beyond the Moon, that was, beyond
the ſetting of the Moon, which muſt be W. from
their Country, there dwelt white-bearded Men,
like me; and pointed to my great Whiskers, which
I mention'd before; and that they had kill'd much
Mans, that was his Word: By all which I under-
ftood he meant the Spaniards, whofe Cruelties in
America had been ſpread over the whole Countries,
and were remember'd by all the Nations from Fa-
ther to Son.
•
I enquir'd if he could tell me how I might come
from this Iſland, and get among thoſe white Men;
he told me, Yes, yes, I might go in two Canoe; I
could not underſtand what he meant, or make him
deſcribe to me what he meant by two Canoe, till at
laft, with great Difficulty, I found he meant it muſt
be in a large great Boat, as big as two Canoes.
This
[256]
This Part of Friday's Difcourfe began to relifli
with me very well; and from this time I enter-
tain'd fome Hopes, that one time or other I might
find an Opportunity to make my Efcape from this
Place, and that this poor Savage might be a means
to help me to do it.
During the long time that Friday had now been
with me, and that he began to ſpeak to me, and
underſtand me, I was not wanting to lay a Foun-
dation of religious Knowledge in his Mind; par-
ticularly, I ask'd him one time, who made him?
The poor Creature did not underſtand me at all,
but thought I had ask'd who was his Father: But
I took it by another Handle, and ask'd him who
made the Sea, the Ground we walk'd on, and the
Hills and Woods? He told me, it was one old
Benamuckee, that lived beyond all. He could de-
ſcribe nothing of this great Perfon, but that he was
very old; much older, he faid, than the Sea or the
Land, than the Moon or the Stars. I ask'd him
then, if this old Perſon had made all Things, why
did not all Things worship him? He look'd very
grave, and with a perfect Look of Innocence, faid,
All Things faid O to him. I ask'd him, if the People
who die in his Country, went away any where?
He faid, Yes, they all went to Benamuckee. Then
I ask'd him, whether theſe they eat up went thi-
ther too? He faid, Yes.
From theſe Things I began to inftru&t him in
the Knowledge of the true God. I told him, that
the great Maker of all Things lived up there,
pointing up towards Heaven: That he governs
the World by the fame Power and Providence by
which he had made it: That he was Omnipotent,
could do every thing for us, give every thing to
us, take every thing from us; and thus, by de
grees, I open'd his Eyes. He liften'd with great
Atten-
1
[257]
Attention, and received with Pleaſure the Notion
of Jefus Christ being fent to redeem us, and of
the manner of making our Prayers to God, and his
being able to hear us, even into Heaven. He told
me one Day, that if our God could hear us up be
yond the Sun, he muſt needs be a greater God than
their Benämückee, who lived but a little way off,
and yet could not hear, till they went up to the
great Mountains where he dwelt, to ſpeak to him
I ask'd him, if ever he went thither to ſpeak to
him. He faid, No, they never went that were
young Men; none went thither but the old Men,
who he call'd their Oowokakee, that is, as I made
him explain it to me, their Religious, or Clergy;
and that they went to fay O, (fo he call'd faying
Prayers) and then came back, and told them what
Benamuckee faid. By this I obſerved, that there is
Prieftcraft even amongst the moſt blinded ignorant
Pagans in the World, and the Policy of making a
fecret Religion, in order to preſerve the Veneration
of the People to the Clergy, is not only to be found
in the Roman, but perhaps among all Religions in
the World, even among the moft brutiſh and bar-
barous Savages.
I endeavoured to clear up this Fraud to my
Man Friday, and told him, That the Pretence of
their old Men going up to the Mountains to ſay O
to their God Benamuckee, was a Cheat, and their
bringing Word from thence what he faid, was
much more fo; that if they met with any Anfwer,
or ſpoke with any one there, it must be with an
evil Spirit: And then I enter'd into a long Dif
courſe with him about the Devil, the Original of
him, his Rebellion against God, his Enmity to
Man, the Reaſon of it, his fetting himſelf up in
the dark Parts of the World to be worthip'd in-
tead of God, and as God; and the many Strita-
PART I.
S
•
gems
[258]
密
​gems he made uſe of, to delude Mankind to their
Ruin; how he had a fecret Acceſs to our Paffions,
and to our Affections, to adapt his Snares fo to
our Inclinations, as to caufe us even to be our own
Tempters, and to run upon our Deftruction by our
own Choice.
I found it was not fo eafy to imprint right No-
tions in his Mind about the Devil, as it was about
the Being of a God. Nature affifted all my Argu-
ments to evidence to him even the Neceffity of a
great firft Cauſe and over-ruling governing Power,
a fecret directing Providence, and of the Equity
and Juftice of paying Homage to him that made
us, and the like. But there appear'd nothing of all
this in the Notion of an evil Spirit, of his Ori-
ginal, his Being, his Nature, and above all, of his
Inclination to do Evil, and to draw us in to do
fo too. And the poor Creature puzzled me once
in fuch a manner, by a Queſtion meerly natural
and innocent, that I fcarce knew what to fay to
him. I had been talking a great deal to him of
the Power of God, his Omnipotence, his dreadful
Averfion to Sin, his being a confuming Fire to the
Workers of Iniquity; how, as he had made us all,
he could deſtroy us and all the World in a Mo-
ment; and he liften'd with great feriouſneſs to me
all the while.
}
After this, I had been telling him how the De-
vil was God's Enemy in the Hearts of Men, and
uſed all his Malice and Skill to defeat the good
Defigns of Providence, and to ruin the Kingdom
of Chrift in the World, and the like. Well, fays
Friday, but you fay, God is fo ftrong, fo great, is
he not much ftrong, much might as the Devil?
Yes, yes, fays I, Friday, God is ftronger than the
Devil, God is above the Devil, and therefore we
pray to God to tread him down under our Feet,
and
[ 259]
and enable us to refift his Temptations, and quenchi
his fiery Darts. But, fays he again, if God much
Strong, much might as the Devil, why God no kill the De-
vil, fo make him no more do wicked?
I was ftrangely furpriz'd at his Queftion, and
after all, tho' I was now an old Man, yet I was
but a young Doctor, and ill enough qualified for
a Cafuift, or a Solver of Difficulties: And, at firſt,
I could not tell what to fay; fo I pretended not to
hear him, and ask'd him what he faid: But he
was too earneft for an Anſwer to forget his Quef
tion; fo that he repeated it in the very fame broken
Words, as above. By this time I had recovered
myſelf a little, and I faid, God will at last puniſh
him feverely; he is referved for the Judgment, and is
to be cast into the bottomless Pit, to dwell with ever-
lafting Fire. This did not fatisfy Friday, but he re-
turns upon me, repeating my Words, RESERVE
AT LAST, me no understand; But why not kill the
Devil now, not kill great ago? You may as well ask
me, faid I, why God does not kill you and I,
when we do wicked things here that offend him:
We are preferved to repent and be pardoned. He
mufes a while at this; Well, well, fays he, mighty
affectionately, that well; ſo you, I, Devil, all wick-
ed, all preferve, repent, God pardon all. Here I was
run down again by him to the laft degree, and it
was a Teſtimony to me, how the meer Notions
of Nature, tho' they will guide reaſonable Crea-
tures to the Knowledge of a God, and of a Wor-
thip or Homage due to the fupreme Being of God;
as the Confequence of our Nature; yet nothing but
divine Revelation can form the Knowledge of Je-
fus Chrift, and of a Redemption purchas'd for us, of a
Mediator of the new Covenant,and of an Interceffor,
at the Foot-ftool of. God's Throne; I fay, nothing
but a Revelation from Heaven can form thefe in
Sz
the
[260]
:
!
the Soul; and that therefore the Goſpel of our
Lord and Saviour Jefus Christ, I mean, the Word
of God, and the Spirit of God, promis'd for the
Guide and Sanctifier of his People, are the abſo-
lutely neceffary Inftructors of the Souls of Men
in the faving Knowledge of God, and the means
of Salvation.
I therefore diverted the prefent Difcourfe be-
tween me and my Man, rifing up haftily, as upon
fome fudden Occafion of going out; then fending
him for fomething a good way off, I feriously pray'd
to God, that he would enable me to inftruct faving-
ly this poor Savage, affifting by his Spirit the
Heart of the poor ignorant, Creature, to receive the
Light of the Knowledge of God in Christ, recon-
ciling him to himſelf, and would guide me to ſpeak
fo to him from the Word of God, as his Confci-
ence might be convinced, his Eyes opened, and his
Soul faved. When he came again to me, I enter'd
into a long Difcourfe with him upon the Subject
of the Redemption of Man by the Saviour of the
World, and of the Doctrine of the Gofpel preach'd
from Heaven, viz. of Repentance towards God,
and Faith in our bleffed Lord Jefus. I then ex-
plain'd to him, as well as I could, why our bleffed
Redeemer took not on him the Nature of Angels,
but the Seed of Abraham, and how for that Rea-
fon the fallen Angels had no fhare in the Redemp-
tion; that he came only to the loft fheep of the
Houſe of Ifrael, and the like.
I had, God knows, more Sincerity than Know-
Jedge, in all the Methods I took for this poor
Creature's Inftruction, and must acknowledge what
I believe all that act upon the fame Principle will
find, that in laying Things open to him, I really
inform'd and inftructed myſelf in many things, that
either I did not know, or had not fully confider'd
before;
[261]
before; but which occurr'd naturally to my mind,
upon my ſearching into them, for the Information
of this poor Savage; and I had more Affection in
my Enquiry after Things upon this Occafion, than
ever I felt before; fo that whether this poor wild
Wretch was the better for me or no, I had great
Reaſon to be thankful that ever he came to me:
My Grief fet lighter upon me, my Habitation
grew comfortable to me beyond meafure; and
when I reflected that in this folitary Life which I
had been confined to, I had not only been mov'd
myſelf to look up to Heaven, and to feek to the
Hand that had brought me there, but was now
to be made an Inftrument, under Providence, to fave
the Life, and, for ought I know, the Soul of a poor
Savage, and bring him to the true Knowledge of
Religion, and of the Chriſtian Doctrine, that he
might know Chrift Jefus, to know whom is Life eter-
nal. I fay, when I reflected upon all theſe things,
a fecret Joy run thro' every Part of my Soul, and
I frequently rejoiced that ever I was brought to
this Place, which I had fo often thought the moſt
dreadful of all Afflictions that could poffibly have
befallen me.
In this thankful Frame I continued all the Re-
mainder of my Time, and the Converfation which
employ'd the Hours between Friday and I, was
fuch, as made the three Years which we liv'd there
together,perfectly and compleatly happy, if any fuch
Thing as compleat Happiness can be form'd in a fublu-
nary State.
State. The Savage was now a good Chriftian,
a much better than I tho' I have Reafon to
Ï
hope, and blefs God for it, that we were equally
penitent, and comforted reftored Penitents: We
had here the Word of God to read, and no farther
off from his Spirit to inftruct, than if we had been
in England.
S 3
I al
}
[262]
>
!
វ
I always applied myſelf to reading the Scrip-
ture, to let him know, as well as I could, the
Meaning of what I read; and he again, by his fe-
rious Enquiries and Queſtions, made me, as I faid
before, a much better Scholar in the Scripture Know-
lédge, than I fhould ever have been by my own
private meer reading. Another thing I cannot re-
frain from obferving here alfo from Experience, in
this retired part of my Life, viz. "How infinite
and inexpreffible a Bleffing it is, that the Know-
ledge of God, and of the Doctrine of Salvation by
Christ Jefus, is fo plainly laid down in the Word
of God, fo eafy to be received and understood,
that as the bare reading the Scripture made me ca-
pable of underſtanding enough of my Duty to car-
ry me directly on to the great Work of fincere
Repentance for my Sins, and laying hold of a Sa-
viour for Life and Salvation, to a ftated Reforma-
tion in Practice; and Obedience to all God's Com-
mands, and this without any Teacher or Inftru&ter
(I mean, humane) fo the fame plain Inftruction fuf-
ficiently ferv'd to the enlightning this favage Crea-
ture, and bringing him to be fuch a Chriftian, as I
have known few equal to him in my Life.
As to all the Difputes, Wranglings, Strife, and
Contention, which has happen'd in the World about
Religion, whether Niceties in Doctrines, or Schemes
of Church-Government, they were all perfectly ufe-
lefs to us, as, for ought I can yet fee, they have
been to all the reft in the World: We had the fure
Guide to Heaven, viz. the Word of God; and we
had, bleſſed be God, comfortable Views of the Spi-
rit of God, teaching and inftructing us by his Word,
leading us into all Truth, and making us both wil-
ling and obedient to the Inftruction of his Word
and I cannot fee the leaft Ufe that the greateſt
Know-
[263]
Knowledge of the difputed Points in Religion,
which have made fuch Confufions in the World,
would have been to us, if we could have obtain❜d
it: But I must go on with the Hiftorical Part of
Things, and take every Part in its Order.
-
After Friday and I became more intimately ac-
quainted, and that he could underſtand almoſt all
I faid to him, and fpeak fluently, though in broken
English, to me; I acquainted him with my own
Story, or at leaft ſo much of it as related to my
coming into the Place, how I had liv'd there, and
how long. I let him into the Myftery, for fuch
it was to him, of Gunpowder and Bullet, and
taught him how to fhoot: I gave him a Knife,
which he was wonderfully delighted with, and I
made him a Belt, with a Frog hanging to it, ſuch
as in England we wear Hangers in; and in the Frog,
inſtead of a Hanger, I gave him a Hatchet, which
was not only as good a Weapon in fome Cafes, but
much more uſeful upon other Occafions.
I defcrib'd to him the Country of Europe, and
particularly England, which I came from; how we
liv'd, how we worship'd God, how we behav'd to
one another; and how we traded in Ships to all
Parts of the World: I gave him an Account of the
Wreck which I had been on board of, and ſhew'd
him as near as I could the Place where fhe lay;
but ſhe was all beaten in Pieces before, and gone.
I fhew'd him the Ruins of our Boat, which we
loft when we eſcap'd, and which I could not ftir
with my whole ftrength then, but was now fallen
almoſt all to Pieces : Upon feeing this Boat, Friday
ftood mufing a great while, and faid nothing; I
ask'd him what it was he ftudy'd upon; at laft, fays
he, me fee fuch Boat like come to Place at my Nation.
I did not underſtand him a good while; but af
laft, when I had examin'd farther into it, I under-
$ 4
ſtood
}
[264]
A
ftood by him, that a Boat, fuch as that had been
came on fhore upon the Country where he liv'd
that is, as he explain'd it, was driven thither by
ſtreſs of Weather I prefently imagin'd, that fome
European Ship muſt have been caft away upon their
Coaſt, and the Boat might get loofe, and drive
afhore, but was ſo dull, that I never once thought
of Men making eſcape from a Wreck thither,
much lefs whence they might come; fo I only en-
quir'd after a Deſcription of the Boat.
Friday defcrib'd the Boat to me well enough;
but brought me better to underſtand him, when he
added with fome Warmth, we fave the white Mans
from drown: Then I prefently ask'd him, if there
was any white Mans, as he call'd them, in the
Boat? Yes, he faid, the Boat full of white Mans. I
ask'd him how many? he told upon his Fingers fe-
venteen. I ask'd him then what became of them?
he told me, they have, they dwell at my Nation.
This put new Thoughts into my Head; for I
preſently imagin'd, that thefe might be the Men
belonging to the Ship that was caft away in fight
of my Inland, as I now call it ; and who, after the
Ship was ftruck on the Rock, and they faw her in-
evitably loft, had fav'd themſelves in their Boat,
and were landed upon that wild fhore, among the
Savages.
Upon this, I enquir'd of him more critically
what was become of them; he affur'd me they
liy'd ftill there; that they had been there about
four Years; that the Savages let them alone, and
gave them Victuals to live. I ask'd him, how it
came to pass they did not kill them and eat them?
he faid, No, they make Brother with them; that is,
as I understood him, a Truce: And then he ad-
ded, They no eat Mans but when make the War fight:
That is to fay, they never eat any Men, but
fuch
[265]
·
fuch as come to fight with them, and are taken in
Battel.
It was after this, fome confiderable Time, that
being on the Top of the Hill, at the Eaft fide
of the Ifland, from whence, as I have ſaid, I had
in a clear Day difcover'd the Main or Continent
of America; Friday, the Weather being very ferene,
looks very earneſtly towards the main Land, and
in a kind of Surprize falls a jumping and dancing,
and calls out to me, for I was at fome Diſtance
from him I ask'd him what was the Matter; 0
Joy! fays he, O Glad! There fee my Country, there my
Nation!
I obferv'd an extraordinary Senfe of Pleaſure ap-
pear'd in his Face, and his Eyes fparkled, and his
Countenance difcover'd a ftrange Eagerness, as if
he had a mind to be in his own Country again;
and this Obfervation of mine put a great many
Thoughts into me, which made me at firft not fo
eafy about my new Man Friday as I was before;
and I made no doubt, but that if Friday could get
back to his own Nation again, he would not only
forget all his Religion, but all his Obligation to
me; and would be forward enough to give his
Countrymen an Account of me, and come back per-
haps, with a hundred or two of them, and make a
Feaſt upon me, at which he might be as merry as
he uſed to be with thofe of his Enemies, when
they were taken in War.
But I wrong'd the poor honeft Creature very
much, for which I was very forry afterwards.
However, as my Jealoufy increas'd, and held me
fome Weeks, I was a little more circumfpect, and
not fo familiar and kind to him as before; in
which I was certainly in the wrong too, the ho-
neft grateful Creature having no Thought about it,
but what confifted with the beſt Principles, both
as
[266]
}
4
as a religious Chriftian, and as a grateful Friend,
as appear'd afterwards to my full Satisfaction.
While my Jealouſy of him lafted, you may be
fure I was every day pumping him to fee if he
would diſcover any of the new Thoughts, which
I fufpected were in him; but I found every thing
he faid was fo honeft, and fo innocent, that I
could find nothing to nourish my Sufpicion; and,
in ſpite of all my Uneafinefs he made me at laſt
entirely his own again; nor did he in the leaſt per-
ceive that I was uneafy, and therefore I could not
fufpect him of Deceit.
One Day walking up the fame Hill, but the
Weather being hazy at Sea, fo that we could not
fee the Continent, I call'd to him, and ſaid, Fri-
day, do not you with yourſelf in your own Coun-
try, your own Nation? Yes, he faid, I be much O
glad to be at my own Nation. What would you do
there faid I, would you turn wild again, eat Mens
Fleſh again, and be a Savage as you were before?
He look'd full of Concern, and fhaking his Head,
faid, No, no, Friday tell them to live good, tell them
to pray God, tell them to eat Corn-bread, Cattle-Flesh,
Milk, no eat Man again: Why then, faid I to him,
They will kill you. He look'd grave at that, and
then faid, No, they no kill me, they willing love learn:
He meant by this, they would be willing to learn.
He added, they learn'd much of the bearded Mans
that came in the Boat. Then I ask'd him if he
would go back to them? He fmil'd at that, and
told me he could not fwim fo far. I told him I
would make a Canoe for him. He told me, he
would go, if I would go with him.
if I would go with him. I go! fays I,
why, they will eat me if I come there: No, no,
fays he, me make they no eat you, me make they much
love you. He meant, he would tell them how I had
kill'd his Enemies, and fav'd his Life, and fo he
would
•
[267]
1
i
would make them love me; then he told me, as
well as he could, how kind they were to feventeen
white Men, or bearded Men, as he call'd them,
who came on fhore there in diftrefs.
From this Time, I confefs, I had a mind to
venture over, and fee if I could poffibly join with
theſe bearded Men, who, I made no doubt, were
Spaniards or Portuguefe; not doubting but, if I could,
we might find fome Method to eſcape from
thence, being upon the Continent, and a good
Company together, better than I could from an
Ifland 40 Miles off the Shore, and alone without
Help. So, after fome Days, I took Friday to work
again, by way of Difcourfe, and told him I would
give him a Boat to go back to his own Nation
and accordingly I carry'd him to my Frigate,
which lay on the other fide of the Iſland, and ha-
ving clear'd it of Water, for I always kept it funk
in the Water, I brought it out, fhew'd it him, and
we both went into it.
1
A
}
;
I found he was a moft dextrous Fellow at ma-
naging it, would make it go almoſt as fwift and
faft again as I could; fo when he was in, I ſaid to
him, Well, now, Friday, fhall we go to your Na-
tion? He look'd very dull at my faying fo, which,
it feems, was becauſe he thought the Boat too
fmall to go fo far. I told him then I had a bigger;
fo the next day I went to the Place where the
firft Boat lay which I had made, but which I could
not get into Water; he ſaid that was big enough;
but then, as I had taken no Care of it, and it had
lain two or three and twenty Years there, the Sun
had ſplit and dry'd it, that it was in a manner
rotten. Friday told me, fuch a Boat would do ve-
ry well, and would carry much enough Vittle, Drink,
Bread, that was his way of Talking.
Upon
[268]
Upon the whole, I was by this Time fo fix'd
upon my Deſign of going over with him to the
Continent, that I told him we would go and make
one as big as that, and he ſhould go home in it.
He anſwer'd not one Word, but look'd very grave
and fad: I ask'd him what was the Matter with'
him; he ask'd me again thus, Why you angry mad
with Friday, what me done? I ask'd him what he
meant; I told him I was not angry with him at all
No angry! No angry! fays he, repeating the Words
feveral times, Why Jend Friday home away to my
Nation? Why, fays 1, Friday, did you not ſay you
wifh'd you were there? Yes, yes, fays he, wifh be both
there, no wifh Friday there, no Mafter there. In a
word, he would not think of going there without
me: I go there, Friday, fays I, what fhall I do
there? He turn'd very quick upon me at this: You
do great deal much Good, fays he, you teach wild Mans
be good fober tame Mans; you tell them know God,
pray God, and live new Life. Alas, Friday, fays I,
thou knoweft not what thou fay'ft, I am but an
ignorant Man myſelf. Yes, yes, fays he, you teachee
me Good, you teachee them Good. No, no, Friday,
fays I, you fhall go without me, leave me here to
live by my felf, as I did before. He look'd confus'd
again at that Word, and running to one of the
Hatchets, which he us'd to wear, he takes it up
haftily, and gives it me; what muſt I do with this?
fays I to him: You take kill Friday, fays he: What
muft I kill you for? faid I again. He returns ve-
ry quick, What you fend Friday away for? take kill
Friday, no fend Friday away. This he fpoke fo
earneftly, that I faw Tears ftand in his Eyes. In a
word, I fo plainly diſcover'd the utmoſt Affection
in him to me, and a firm Refolution in him, that
I told him then, and often after, that I would ne-
ver fend him away from me, if he was willing to
ftay with me.
Upon
[269]
Upon the whole, as I found by all his Difcourfe
a fettled Affection to me, and that nothing fhould
part him from me, fo I found all the Foundation
of his Defire to go to his own Country, was laid
in his ardent Affection to the People, and his Hopes
of my doing them good; a Thing, which as I had
no notion of my ſelf, fo I had not the leaſt Thought
or Intention, or Defire of undertaking it. But ftill
I found a ſtrong Inclination to my attempting an
Eſcape, as above, founded on the Suppofition ga-
ther'd from the Difcourfe, (viz.) That there were
feventeen bearded Men there, and therefore, with-
out any more Delay, I went to work with Friday
to find out a great Tree proper to fell, and make a
large. Periagua or Canoe to undertake the Voyage.
There were Trees enough in the Iſland to have
built a little Fleet, not of Periagua's and Canoes,
but even of good large Veffels. But the main Thing
I look'd at, was to get one fo near the Water that
we might launch it when it was made, to avoid
the Miſtake I committed at firſt.
At laft, Friday pitch'd upon a Tree, for I found he
knew much better than I what Kind of Wood was
fitteſt for it; nor can I tell, to this Day, what Wood
to call the Tree we cut down, except that it was
very like the Tree we call Fuftic, or between that
and the Nicaragua Wood, for it was much of the
fame Colour and Smell. Friday was for burning the
Hollow or Cavity of this Tree out to make it for
a Boat: But I fhew'd him how rather to cut it out
with Tools, which after I had fhew'd him how
to uſe, he did very handily, and in about a Month's
hard Labour we finifh'd it, and made it very
handfome, eſpecially when with our Axes, which I
fhew'd him how to handle, we cut and hew'd the
Out-fide into the true Shape of a Boat; after this,
however, it coft us near a Fortnight's Time to get
her
[270]
her along, as it were, Inch by Inch upon great
Rowlers into the Water. But when he was in, fhe
would have carry'd twenty Men with great
Eafe.
1
...k
}
When fhe was in the Water, and tho' fhe was fo
big, it amaz'd me to fee with what Dexterity and
how fwift my Man Friday would manage her, turn
her, and paddle her along; fo I ask'd him if he
would, and if we might venture over in her; Yes, he
faid, he venter over in her very well, though great blow
Wind. However, I had a farther Defign that he
knew nothing of, and that was to make à Maft and
Sail, and to fit her with an Anchor and Cable: As
to a Maſt, that was eafy enough to get; fo I pitch'd
upon a ftrait young Cedar-Tree, which I found near
the Place, and which there was great Plenty of
in the Iſland; and I fet Friday to Work to cut it
down, and gave him Directions how to fhape and
order it. But as to the Sail, that was my particular
Care; I knew I had old Sails, or rather Pieces of
old Sails enough; but as I had had them now 26
Years by me, and had not been very careful to pre-
ferve them, not imagining that I fhould ever have
this kind of Uſe for them, I did not doubt but they
were all rotten; and indeed most of them were fo;
however, I found two Pieces which appear'd
pretty good, and with theſe I went to work, and
with a great deal of Pains, and aukward tedious
ftitching (you may be fure) for Want of Needles, I
at length made a three-corner'd ugly Thing, like
what we call in England, a Shoulder of Mutton Sail,
to go with a Boom at Bottom, and a little fhort
Sprit at the Top, fuch as ufually our Ships Long-
Boats fail with, and fuch as I beft knew how to
manage, becaufe it was fuch a one as I had to the
Boat in which I made my Eſcape from Barbary,
as related in the firft Part of my Story.
I was
[271]
2
I was near two months performing this laft
Work, viz. rigging and fitting my Maft and Sails;
for I finifh'd them very compleat, making a fmall
ftay, and a Sail, or Forefail to it, to aflift, if we
fhould turn to Windward; and which was more
than all, I fix'd a Rudder to the Stern of her, to
fteer with; and though I was but a bungling Ship-
wright, yet as I knew the Ufefulneſs, and even
Neceffity of fuch a Thing, I apply'd myſelf with
fo much Pains to do it, that at laft I brought it to
pafs, tho' confidering the many dull Contrivances
I had for it that fail'd, I think it coft me almoſt
as much Labour as making the Boat.
After all this was done too, I had my Man Fri-
day to teach as to what belong'd to the Navigation
of my Boat; for though he knew very well how to
paddle the Canoe, he knew nothing what belong'd
to a Sail and a Rudder, and was the moft amaz'd
when he faw me work the Boat too and again in
the Sea by the Rudder, and how the Sail gyb'd, and
fill'd this Way or that Way, as the Courfe we fail'd
chang'd: I fay, when he faw this, he ftood like
one aftonifh'd and amaz'd: However, with a little
Ufe, I made all thefe Things familiar to him; and
he became an expert Sailor, except that as to the
Compafs, I could make him underſtand very little
of that. On the other hand, as there was very little
cloudy Weather, and feldom or never any Fogs in
thofe Parts, there was the lefs Occafion for a Com-
paſs, ſeeing the ſtars were always to be feen by
Night, and the fhore by Day, except in the rainy
feaſons, and then no Body cared to ſtir abroad, ei-
ther by Land or Sea.
I was now enter'd on the feven and twentieth
Year of my Captivity in this Place; though the
three laft Years that I had this Creature with me,
ought rather to be left out of the Account, my Ha-
bitation
[272]
bitation being quite of another kind than in all the
reft of the time. I kept the Anniverſary of my
landing here with the fame Thankfulneſs to God
for his Mercies, as at firft; and if I had fuch Caufe
of Acknowledgment at firſt, I had much more fo
now, having fuch additional Teftimonies of the
Care of Providence over me, and the great Hopes
I had of being effectually and ſpeedily deliver'd;
for I had an invincible Impreffion upon my Thoughts,
that my Deliverance was at hand, and that I fhould
not be another Year in this Place: However, I went
on with my Husbandry, digging, planting, fencing,
as ufual; I gather'd and cur'd my Grapes, and did
every neceflary Thing, as before.
The rainy Seafon was in the mean time upon
me, when I kept more within Doors than at other
Timeo
fo I had ftow'd our new Veffel as fecure as
we could, bringing her up into the Creek, where,
as I ſaid in the beginning, I landed my Rafts from
the Ship, and haling her up to the fhore, at high
Water Mark, I made my Man Friday dig a little
Dock, juſt big enough to hold her, and juft deep
enough to give her Water enough to float in; and
then, when the Tide was out, we made a ſtrong
Dam croſs the End of it to keep the Water out;
and fo fhe lay dry, as to the Tide, from the Sea;
and to keep the Rain off, we laid a great many
Boughs of Trees fo thick, that he was as well
thatch'd as a Houfe; and thus we waited for the
Month of November and December, in which I de-
fign'd to make my Adventure.
When the fettled feafon began to come in, as
the Thought of my Defign return'd with the fair
Weather, I was preparing daily for the Voyage;
and the first Thing I did, was to lay by a certain
quantity of Provifions, being the Stores for our
Voyage; and intended, in a Week or a Fortnight's
+
Time,
[ 273 ]
Time, to open the Dock, and launch out our Boat.
I was bufy one Morning upon fomething of this
kind, when I call'd to Friday, and bid him go to the
Sea-fhore, and fee if he could find a Turtle, or
Tortoife, a Thing which we generally got once a
Week, for the fake of the Eggs, as well as the
Fleſh Friday had not been long gone, when he
came running back, and flew over my outer Wall,
or Fence, like one that felt not the Ground, or the
Steps he fet his Feet on ;,and before I had Time to
ſpeak to him, he cries out to me, O Maſter! O Ma-
fter! O Sorrow! O bad! What's the matter, Friday,
fays I; O yonder, there, fays he, one, two, three Canoe!
one, two, three! By his way of fpeaking I conclu-
ded there were fix; but on Enquiry I found it was
but three: Well, Friday fays I, do not be frighted;
fo I hearten'd him up as well as I could: However,
I faw the poor Fellow was moft terribly ſcar'd; for
nothing ran in his Head but that they were come to
look for him, and would cut him in Pieces, and eat
him; and the poor Fellow trembled fo, that I
fcarce knew what to do with him: I comforted him
as well as I could, and told him I was in as much
Danger as he, and that they would eat me as well as
him; but, fays I, Friday we must refolve to fight them;
Can you fight, Friday? Me shoot, fays he, but there
come many great Number. No matter for that, faid
I again, our Guns will fright them that we do not
kill; fo I ask'd him, Whether if I refolv'd to defend
him, he would defend me, and ſtand by me, and do
juſt as I bid him? He faid, Me die, when you bid die,
Mafter fo I went and fetch'd a good Dram of
Rum, and gave him; for I had been ſo good a Huf-
band of my Rum, that I had a great deal left:
When he had drank it, I made him take the two
Fowling-Pieces, which we always carry'd, and load
them with large Swan-Shot, as big as fmall Piftol
T
Bullets;
ز
[274]
}
Bullets; then I took four Muskets, and loaded
them with two Slugs, and five fmall Bullets each;
and my two Piſtols I loaded with a brace of Bul-
lets each: I hung my great Sword as ufual, naked
by my fide, and gave Friday his Hatchet.
When I had thus prepar'd my felf, I took my Per-
fpective Glafs, and went up to the fide of the Hill,
to fee what I could diſcover; and I found quickly,
by my Glaſs, that there were one and twenty Sa-
vages, three Prifoners, and three Canoes; and that
their whole Bufinefs feemed to be the triumphant
Banquet upon theſe three humane Bodies, (a barba-
rous Feaft indeed) but nothing more than as I had
obferv'd was ufual with them.
I obferv'd alſo, that they were landed not where
they had done when Friday made his Eſcape, but
nearer to my Creek, where the fhore was low, and
where a thick Wood came cloſe almoſt down to the
Sea: This, with the Abhorrence of the inhumane
Errand thefe Wretches came about, fill'd me with
fuch Indignation, that I came down again to Friday
and told him, I was refolv'd to go down to them,
and kill them all; and ask'd him if he would ftand
by me? He had now gotten over his Fright, and
his Spirits being a little rais'd with the Dram I had
given him, he was very chearful, and told me, as
before, he would die, when I bid die.
ין
In this Fit of Fury, I took firſt and divided the
Arms which I had charg'd, as before, between us:
I gave Friday one Piſtol to ſtick in his Girdle, and
three Guns upon his Shoulder; and I took one Pi-
ftoi, and the other three my felf; and in this Po-
fture we march'd out: I took a fmall Bottle of Rum
in my Pocket, and gave Friday a large Bag with
more Powder and Bullet; and as to Orders, I
charg'd him to keep clofe behind me, and not to
ftir, or ſhoot, oralo any thing, till I bid him ; and
in
1
[275]
3
1
in the mean time, not to ſpeak a Word: In this
Pofture I fetch'd a Compaſs to my Right Hand ọf
near a Mile, as well to get over the Creek, as to
get into the Wood; fo that I might come within
Thot of them before I fhould be difcover'd, which
I had ſeen by my Glafs it was eafy to do.
While I was making this March, my former
Thoughts returning, I began to abate my Refolu-
tion; I do not mean, that I entertain'd any Fear
of their Number; for as they were naked, unarm'd
Wretches, 'tis certain I was fuperior to them; nay,
though I had been alone; but it occurr'd to my
Thoughts, What Call; What Occafion; much
lefs, What Neceffity, I was in to go and dip my
Hands in Blood, to attack People, who had neither
done or intended me any Wrong? Who, as to me,
were innocent, and whoſe barbarous Cuſtoms were
their own Difafter, being in them a Token indeed
of God's having left them, with the other Nations
of that part of the World, to fuch ftupidity, and
to fuch inhumane Courfes; but did not call me to
take upon me to be a Judge of their Actions, much
lefs an Executioner of his Juftice; that whenever
he thought fit, he would take the Caufe into his
own Hands, and by National Vengeance puniſh
them as a People for National Crimes; but that,
in the mean time, it was none of my Bufinefs; that
it was true, Friday might juſtify it, becauſe he was
a declar'd Enemy, and in a ftate of War with thoſe
very particular People, and it was lawful for him
to attack them; but I could not fay the fame with
reſpect to me. Thefe Things were fo warmly
prefs'd upon my Thoughts all the Way as I went,
that I refolv'd I would only go and place myſelf
near them, that I might obferve their barbarous
Feaſt, and that I would act then as God fhould
direct; but that unleſs fomething offer'd that was
4
"T 2
more
[276]
more a Call to me than yet I knew of, I would not
meddle with them.
With this reſolution I enter'd the Wood, and
with all poffible Warynefs and Silence (Friday fol-
lowing cloſe at my Heels) I march'd till I came
to the Skirt of the Wood, on the Side which was
next to them; only that one Corner of the Wood
lay between me and them: Here I' call'd foftly to
Friday, and fhewing him a great Tree, which was
juft at the Corner of the Wood, I bad him go to
the Tree, and bring me Word if he could fee there
plainly what they were doing; he did fo, and came
immediately back to me, and told me they might
be plainly view'd there; that they were all about
their Fire, eating the Fleſh of one of their Priſo-
ners; and that another lay bound upon the Sand,
a little from them, which he ſaid they would kill
next, and which fir'd all the very Soul within me:
He told me it was not one of their Nation, but one
of the bearded Men, who he had told me of, that
came to their Country in the Boat: I was fill'd
with Horror at the very naming the white-bearded
Man, and, going to the Tree, I faw plainly, by my
Glaſs, a white Man, who lay upon the Beach of
the Sea, with his Hands and his Feet ty'd with
Flags, or Things like Rufhes, and that he was an
European, and had Cloaths on.
There was another Tree, and a little Thicket
beyond it, about fifty Yards nearer to them than
the Place where I was, which, by going a little Way
about, I ſaw I might come at undifcover'd, and
that then I fhould be within half Shot of them; fo
Iwith-held my Paffion, though I was indeed en-
rag'd to the higheſt Degree, and 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 came to a little rifing Ground, which gave me a
full
[277]
full View of them, at the Diſtance of about eighty
Yards.
I had now not a Moment to lofe; for nineteen
of the dreadful Wretches fate upon the Ground,. all
cloſe huddled together, and had juſt ſent the other
two to butcher the poor Chriftian, and bring him
perhaps Limb by Limb to their Fire; and they
were ftoop'd down to untie the Bands at his Feet:
I turn'd to Friday, Now, Friday, faid I, do as I bid
thee; Friday ſaid he would; then, Friday, fays I,
do exactly as you ſee me do, fail in nothing; fo I
fet down one of the Muskets and the Fowling-
Piece upon the Ground, and Friday did the like
by his; and with the other Musket I took my
Aim at the Savages, bidding him do the like; then
asking him, If he was ready? he faid, Yes, then
fire at them, faid I; and the fame Moment I fir'd
alfo.
་
!
Friday took his Aim fo much better than I, that
on the fide that he fhot, he kill'd two of them,
and wounded three more; and on my fide, I kill'd
one, and wounded two: They were, you may be
fure, in a dreadful Confternation; and all of them,
who were not hurt, jump'd up upon their Feet,
but did not immediately know which Way to run,
or which Way to look; for they knew not from
whence their Deſtruction came: Friday kept his
Eyes cloſe upon me, that as I had bid him, he
might obferve what I did; fo, as foon as the firſt
Shot was made, I threw down the Piece, and took
up the Fowling-Piece, and Friday did the like; he
fee me cock, and prefent, he did the fame again;
Are you ready? Friday, faid I; yes, fays he; let
fly then, fays I, in the Name of God, and with
that I fir'd again among the amaz'd Wretches, and
fo did Friday; and as our Pieces were now loaden
with what I call'd Swan-fhot, or fmall Piftol Bul-
T 3
lets
[278]
1
lets, we found only two drop; but fo many were
wounded, that they ran about yelling and skream-
ing like mad Creatures, all bloody, and miferably
wounded, moſt of them; whereof three more fell
quickly after, though not quite dead.
Now, Friday, fays I, laying down the diſcharg'd
Pieces, and taking up the Musket, which was yet
loaden, follow me, fays I; which he did, with a
great deal of Courage; upon which I rush'd out of
the Wood, and fhew'd myſelf, and Friday cloſe at
my Foot: As foon as I perceiv'd they faw me, I
fhouted as loud as I could, and bad Friday do fo
too; and running as faft as I could, which by the
way was not very fast, being loaden with Arms as I
was, I made directly towards the poor Victim, who
was, as I faid, lying upon the Beach, or Shore,
between the Place where they fat and the Sea;
the two Butchers, who were just going to work
with him, had left him, at the Surprize of our firſt
Fire, and fled in a terrible Fright to the Sea-fide,
and had jump'd into a Canoe, and three more of the
reft made the ſame Way: I turn'd to Friday, and
bid him ſtep forwards, and fire at them; he under-
ſtood me immediately, and running about forty
Yards to be near them, he fhot at them, and I
thought he had kill'd them all: for I fee them all
fall of a Heap into the Boat; though I faw two of
them up again quickly However, he kill'd two
of them, and wounded the third; fo thet he lay
down in the Bottom of the Boat, as if he had been
dead.
While my Man Friday fir'd at them, I pull'd out
my Knife, and cut the Flags that bound the poor
Vi&im; and loofing his Hands and Feet, I lifted
him up, and ask'd him in the Portugueſe Tongue,
What he was? He anfwer'd in Latin, Chriftianus ;
but was fo weak and faint, that he could ſcarce
ftand,
着
​}
1
$.
[ 279 ]
ftand or ſpeak; I took my Bottle out of my Pocket;
and gave it him, making figns that he fhould
drink, which he did; and I gave him a Piece of
Bread, which he eat; then I ask'd him, What
Countryman he was? And he faid, Efpagniole; and
being a little recover'd, let me know by all the
figns he could poffibly make, how much he was
in my. Debt for his Deliverance: Seignior, faid I,
with as much Spanish as I could make up, we will
talk afterwards, but we must fight now;
if you
have any Strength left, take this Piftol and Sword,
and lay about you. He took them very thankfully,
and no fooner had he the Arms in his Hands, but
as if they had put new Vigour into him, he flew
upon his Murderers like a Fury, and had cut two
of them in Pieces in an inſtant; for the Truth is,
as the whole was a Surprize to them, fo the poor
Creatures were fo much frighted with the Noiſe of
our Pieces, that they fell down for meer Amaze-
ment and Fear, and had no more Power to at-
tempt their own Efcape, than their Flefh had to
refift our Shot; and that was the Cafe of thoſe five
that Friday fhot at in the Boat; for as three of
them fell with the Hurt they receiv'd, fo the other
two fell with the Fright.
I kept my Piece in my Hand ftill, without firing,
being willing to keep my Charge ready, becauſe I
had given the Spaniard my Piftol and Sword; ſo I
call'd to Friday, and bad him run up to the Tree
from whence we firſt fir'd, and fetch the Arms
which lay there, that had been diſcharg'd, which
he did with great Swiftnefs; and then giving him
my Musket, I fat down myſelf to load all the reft
again, and bad them come to me when they want-
ed: While I was loading thefe Pieces, there hap-
pen'd a fierce Engagement between the Spaniard
and one of the Savages, who made at him with one of
T 4
their
[ 280]
}
**
their great wooden Swords, the fame Weapon that
was to have kill'd him before, if I had not prevent-
ed it: The Spaniard, who was as bold and as brave
as could be imagin'd, tho' weak, had fought this
Indian a good while, and had cut him two great
Wounds on his Head; but the Savage being a
ftout lufty Fellow, clofing in with him, had thrown
him down (being faint) and was wringing my
Sword out of his hand, when the Spaniard, tho' un-
dermoft, wifely quitting the Sword, drew the Piftol
from his Girdle, fhot the Savage through the Body,
and kill'd him upon the Spot, before 1, who was
running to help him, could come near him.
Friday being now left to his Liberty, purfu'd the
flying Wretches with no Weapon in his Hand, but
his Hatchet; and with that he diſpatch'd thofe
three, who as I faid before, were wounded at firſt
and fall'n, and all the reft he could come up with;
and the Spaniard coming to me for a Gun, I gave
him one of the Fowling-Pieces, with which he
purfu'd two of the Savages, and wounded them
both; but as he was not able to run, they both
got from him into the Wood, where Friday purfu'd
them, and kill'd one of them; but the other was
too nimble for him; and tho' he was wounded, yet
had plung'd himſelf into the Sea, and fwam with
all his might off to thofe two who were left in
the Canoe, which three in the Canoe, with one
wounded, who we know not whether he dy'd or no,
were all that eſcap'd our Hands of one and twenty:
The Account of the reft is as follows;
3
Kill'd at our firſt Shot from the Tree..
2 Kill'd at the next Shot.
2 Kill'd by Friday in the Boat.
་
2 Kill'd by Ditto, of thofe at firft wounded....
1 Kill'd by Ditto, in the Wood.
#
3 Kill'd
[281]
1
3 Kill'd by the Spaniard.
4 Kill'd, being found dropp'd here and there of
their Wounds, or kill'd by Friday in his Chace
of them.
4 Efcap'd in the Boat, whereof one wounded,
if not dead.
21. In all.
Thoſe that were in the Canoe, work'd hard to
get out of Gun-fhot; and tho' Friday made two
or three hot at them, I did not find that he hit
any of them: Friday would fain have had me took
one of their Canoes, and purfued them; and indeed
I was very anxious about their Eſcape, leaſt carry-
ing the News Home to their People, they fhould
come back, perhaps, with two or three hundred of
their Canoes, and devour us by meer Multitude; fo
I confented to purſue them by Sea, and running to
one of their Canoes, I jump'd in, and bad Friday
follow me; but when I was in the Canoe, I was
furprized to find another poor Creature lie there
alive, bound Hand and Foot, as the Spaniard was,
for the Slaughter, and almoſt dead with Fear, not
knowing what the matter was; for he had not been
able to look up over the fide of the Boat, he was
tied fo hard, Neck and Heels, and had been tied fo
long, that he had really little Life in him.
I immediately cut the twifted Flags, or Rufhes,
which they had bound him with, and would have
help'd him up; but he could not ftand, or fpeak,
but groan'd moſt piteouſly, believing, it ſeems, ftill
that he was only unbound in order to be kill'd.
When Friday came to him, I bade him ſpeak to
him, and tell him of his Deliverance, and pulling
out my Bottle, made him give the poor Wretch a
Dram,
[282]
1
•
Dram, which, with the News of his being deli-
ver'd, revived him, and he fat up in the Boat; but
when Friday came to hear him ſpeak, and look'd
in his Face, it would have moved any one to Tears
to have ſeen how Friday kifs'd him, embraced him,
hugg'd him, cry'd, laugh'd, hollow'd, jump'd a-
bout, danced, fung, then cry'd again, wrung his
Hands, beat his own Face and Head, and then
fung, and jump'd about again, like a diſtracted
Creature: It was a good while before I could make
him ſpeak to me, or tell me what was the matter;
but when he came a little to himſelf, he told me
that it was his Father.
It is not eafy for me to exprefs how it moved
me to ſee what Extafy and filial Affection had
work'd in this poor Savage, at the fight of his Fa-
ther, and of his being deliver'd from Death; nor
indeed can I defcribe half the Extravagancies of his
Affection after this; for he went into the Boat and
out of the Boat a great many times: When he
went in to him, he would fit down by him, open
his Breaſt, and hold his Father's Head clofe to his
Bofom, half an Hour together, to nourish it; then
he took his Arms and Ankles, which were numb'd
and ſtiff with the binding, and chaffed and rubbed
them with his Hands; and I perceiving what the
Cafe was, gave him fome Rum out of my Bottle,
to rub them with, which did them a great deal
of good.
fo
This Action put an End to our Purfuit of the
Canoe, with the other Savages, who were now
gotten almoſt out of fight; and it was happy for
us that we did not; for it blew ſo hard within two
Hours after, and before they could be gotten a
Quarter of their Way, and continued blowing fo
hard all Night, and that from the North-West,
which was againſt them, that I could not fuppofe
their
[283]
J
their Boat could live, or that they ever reach'd to
their own Coaſt.
:
But to return to Friday; he was ſo buſy about
his Father, that I could not find in my Heart to
take him off for fome time: But after I thought
he could leave him a little, I call'd him to me,
and he came jumping and laughing, and pleas'd to
the higheſt Extream: then I ask'd him, If he had
given his Father any Bread? He fhook his Head,
and faid, None: Ugly Dog eat all up felf; fo 1 gave
him a Cake of Bread out of a little Pouch I carried
on purpoſe; I alſo gave him a Dram for himſelf,
but he would not tafte it, but carried it to his Fa-
ther: I had in my Pocket alſo two or three Bunches
of my Raifins, fo I gave him a Handful of them
for his Father. He had no fooner given his Fa-
ther theſe Raiſins, but I ſaw him come out of the
Boat, and run away as if he had been bewitch'd,
he run at fuch a rate; for he was the fwifteft Fel-
low of his Foot that ever I faw; I fay, he run at
fuch a rate, that he was out of fight, as it were,
in an inſtant; and tho' I call'd and hollow'd too
after him, it was all one, away he went, and in a
Quarter of an Hour, I faw him come back again,
tho' not ſo faſt as he went; and as he came near-
er, I found his Pace was flacker, becauſe he had
fomething in his Hand.
Z
When he came up to me, I found he had been
quite Home for an Earthen Jugg, or Pot, to bring
his Father fome freſh Water, and that he had got
two more Cakes, or Loaves of Bread: The Bread
he gave me, but the Water he carried to his Father:
However, as I was very thirſty too, I took a little
fup of it. This Water revived his Father more
than all the Rum or Spirits I had given him; for
he was juſt fainting with Thirft.
!
When
1
[2841
When his Father had drank, I call'd to him to
know if there was any Water left; he faid, Yes;
and I bad him give it to the poor Spaniard,
who was in as much Want of it as his Father;
and I fent one of the Cakes, that Friday brought,
to the Spaniard too, who was indeed very weak,
and was repofing himself upon a green Place, under
the fhade of a Tree, and whofe Limbs were alfo
very ſtiff, and very much fwell'd with the rude
Bandage he had been tied with. When I faw that
upon Friday's coming to him with the Water, he
fat up and drank, and took the Bread, and be-
gan to eat, I went to him, and gave him a Handful
of Raifins; he look'd up in my Face with all the
Tokens of Gratitude and Thankfulneſs that could
appear in any Countenance; but was fo weak, not-
withſtanding he had fo exerted himſelf in the Fight,
that he could not ftand up upon his Feet; he tried
to do it two or three times, but was really not
able, his Ankles were fo fwell'd and fo painful to
him; fo I bad him fit ftill, and caus'd Friday to rub
his Ankles, and bathe them with Rum, as he had
done his Father's.
!
I obferv'd the poor affectionate Creature every
two Minutes, or perhaps leſs, all the while he
was here, turn'd his Head about, to fee if his Fa
ther was in the fame Flace and Pofture as he left
him fitting; and at laſt he found he was not to
be feen; at which he ſtarted up, and without
fpeaking a Word, flew with that fwiftneſs to him,
that one could fcarce perceive his Feet to touch
the Ground as he went: But when he came, he
only found he had laid himſelf down to eafe his
Limbs; fo Friday came back to me preſently, and
I then spoke to the Spaniard to let Friday help
him up if he could, and lead him to the Boat, and
then he ſhould carry him to our Dwelling, where
I would
[ 285 ]
1
I would take Care of him: But Friday, a lufty
ſtrong Fellow, took the Spaniard quite up upon
his Back, and carry'd him away to the Boat, and
fet him down foftly upon the Side or Gunnel of the
Canoe, with his Feet in the Infide of it, and then
lifted him quite in, and fet him clofe to his Fa-
ther, and prefently ftepping out again, launched
the Boat off, and paddled it along the Shore fafter
than I could walk, tho' the Wind blew pretty
hard too; fo he brought them both fafe into our
Creek; and leaving them in the Boat, runs away
to fetch the other Canoe. As he pafs'd me, I
fpoke to him, and ask'd him, whither he went,
he told me, Go fetch more Boat; fo away he went,
like the Wind; for fure never Man or Horfe run
like him, and he had the other Canoe in the Creek,
almoſt as ſoon as I got to it by Land; fo he wafted
me over, and then went to help our new Gueſts
out of the Boat, which he did; but they were nei-
ther of them able to walk; fo that poor Friday
knew not what to do.
To remedy this, I went to work in my Thought,
and calling to Friday to bid them fit down on the
Bank while he came to me, I foon made a Kind
of Hand-Barrow to lay them on, and Friday and I
carry'd them up both together upon it between us:
But when we got them to the Outfide of our Wall,
or Fortification, we were at a worſe Lofs than be-
fore; for it was impoffible to get them over; and
I was refolv'd not to break it down: So I fèt to
Work again; and Friday and I, in about two Hours
Time, made a very handſome Tent, cover'd with
old Sails, and above that with Boughs of Trees,
being in the Space without our outward Fence
and between that and the Grove of young Wood
which I had planted: And here we made them two
Beds of fuch Things as I had (viz.) of good Rice-
Straw,
2
[286]
}
Straw, with Blankets laid upon it to lye on, and.
another to cover them on each Bed.
1
My Iſland was now peopled, and I thought my
felf very rich in Subjects; and it was a merry Re-
flection which I frequently made, How like a King
I look'd. First of all, the whole Country was my
own meer Property; fo that I had an undoubted
Right of Dominion. 2dly, My People were per-
fectly fubjected: I was abfolute Lord and Law-
giver; they all ow'd their Lives to me, and were
ready to lay down their Lives, if there had been Oc-
cafion of it, for me. It was remarkable too, we had
but three Subjects, and they were of three different
Religions. My Man Friday was a Proteftant, his
Father was a Pagan and a Cannibal, and the Spaniard
was a Papiſt: However, I allow'd Liberty of Con-
ſcience throughout my Dominions: But this is by
the Way.
(
*
As foon as I had fecur'd my two weak refcued
Priſoners, and given them Shelter, and a Place to
reft them upon, I began to think of making fome
Provifion for them: And the firft Thing I did, I
order'd Friday to take a yearling Goat, betwixt a
Kid and a Goat, out of my particular Flock, to
be kill'd: When I cut off the hinder Quarter, and
chopping it into ſmall Pieces, I fet Friday to Work,
to boiling and ftewing, and made them a very
good Diſh, I affure you, of Flesh and Broth, ha
ving put fome Barley and Rice alfo into the
Broth; and as I cook'd it without Doors, for I
made no Fire within my inner Wall, fo I carry d
it all into the new Tent; and having fet a Table
there for them, I fat down and eat my own Din-
ner alfo with them, and, as well as I could, chear'd
them and encourag'd them: Friday being my Inter-
preter, eſpecially to his Father, and, indeed, to the
Span
!
1
{
[287]
Spaniard too; for the Spaniard ſpoke the Language
of the Savages pretty well.
After we had dined, or rather fupped, I order'd
Friday to take one of the Canoes, and go and
fetch our Muskets and other Fire Arms, which for
want of Time we had left upon the Place of Battle;
and the next Day I order'd him to go and bury
the dead Bodies of the Savages, which lay open to
the Sun, and would prefently be offenfive; and I
alfo order'd him to bury the horrid Remains of
their barbarous Feaft, which I knew were pretty
much, and which I could not think of doing my
felf; nay, I could not bear to ſee them, if I went
that Way: All which he punctually perform'd, and
defac'd the very Appearance of the Savages being
there; fo that when I went again, I could fcarce
know where it was, otherwife than by the Corner
of the Wood pointing to the Place.
་
I then began to enter into a little Converfation
with my two new Subjects; and firſt I fet Friday
to enquire of his Father, what he thought of the
Eſcape of the Savages in that Canoe, and whether
we might expect a Return of them with a Power
too great for us to refift: His firft Opinion was, that
the Savages in the Boat never could live out the Storm
which blew that Night they went off, but muft of
Neceffity be drown'd or driven South to thofe other
fhores, where they were as fure to be devour'd as
they were to be drowned if they were caft away;
but as to what they would do if they'came fafe on
fhöre, he faid he knew not; but it was his Opini-
on that they were fo dreadfully frighted with the
manner of their being attack'd, the Noife and the
Fire, that he believ'd they would tell their People,
they were all kill'd by Thunder and Lightning, not
by the Hand of Man, and that the two which ap-
pear'd, (viz.) Friday and me, were two Heavenly,
Spirits
[ 288 ]
Spirits or Furies come down to deftroy them, and
not Men with Weapons: This he ſaid he knew,
becauſe he heard them all cry out fo in their Lan-
guage to one another; for it was impoffible to them
to conceive that a Man could dart Fire, and fpeak
Thunder, and kill at a Diſtance without lifting up
the Hand, as was done now: And this old Savage
was in the right; for, as I underſtood fince by
other hands, the Savages never attempted to go
over to the Iſland afterwards; they were fo terri-
fied with the Accounts given by thofe four Men,
(for it ſeems they did eſcape the Sea) that they be-
liev'd whoever went to that enchanted Iſland would
be deſtroy'd with Fire from the Gods.
This however I knew not, and therefore was
under continual Apprehenfions for a good while,
and kept always upon my Guard, me and all my
Army; for as we were now four of us, I would
have ventur'd upon a hundred of them fairly in the
open Field at any time.
In a little time, however, no more Canoes ap-
pearing, the Fear of their coming wore off, and I
began to take my former Thoughts of a Voyage
to the Main into Confideration, being likewife
affur'd by Friday's Father, that I might depend up-
on good Ufage from their Nation on his Account,
if I would go.
But my Thoughts were a little fufpended, when
I had a ferious Diſcourſe with the Spaniard, and
when I underſtood that there were fixteen more
of his Countrymen and Portugueſe, who having
been caft away, and made their Efcape to that
fide, liv'd there at Peace indeed with the Sa-
vages, but were very fore put to it for Neceflaries,
and indeed for Life: I ask'd him all the Par-
ticulars of their Voyage, and found they were
a Spanish Ship, bound from the Rio de la Plata,
το
1
[289]
1
to the Havana, being directed to leave their Load-
ing there, which was chiefly Hides and Silver, and
to bring back what European Goods they could
meet with there; that they had five Portugueſe Sea-
mén on Board, who they took out of another
Wreck; that five of their own Men were drowned
when firft the Ship was loft,and that theſe eſcaped
thro' infinite Dangers and Hazards, and arriv'd al-
moſt ſtarv'd on the Cannibal Coaft, where they ex-
pected to have been devour'd every Moment.
He told me, they had fome Arms with them,
but they were perfectly uſeleſs, for that they had
neither Powder or Ball, the Waſhing of the Sea
having spoil'd all their Powder, but a little, which
they uſed at their firſt Landing to provide them-
felves fome Food.
I asked him what he thought would become of
them there, and if they had form'd no Deſign of
making any Eſcape; He faid, They had many
Confultations about it, but that having neither
Veſſel, nor Tools to build one, or Proviſions of any
Kind, their Counfels always ended in Tears and
Defpair.
I ask'd him how he thought they would receive
a Propofal from me, which might tend towards an
Eſcape: And whether, if they were all here, it might
not be done? I told him with Freedom, I fear'd
moſtly their Treachery and ill Ufage of me, if I
put my Life in their Hands; for that Gratitude was
no inherent Virtue in the Nature of Man; nor
did Men always fquare their Dealings by the Obli-
gations they had receiv'd, fo much as they did
by the Advantages they expected. I told him, it
would be very hard,that I fhould be the Inftrument
of their Deliverance, and that they ſhould after-
wards make me their Priſoner in New Spain,where
an Englishman was certain to be made a Sacri-
Part I.
U
fice,
f
[290]
fice, what neceffity, or what Accident foever
brought him thither: And that I had rather be de-
liver'd up to the Savages, and be devour'd a live,
than fall into the mercilefs Claws of the Prieſts,and
be carry'd into the Inquifition. I added, That o-
therwife 1 was perfwaded, if they were all here,
we might, with fo many Hands, build a Bark large
enough to carry us all away, either to the Brafils
Southward, or to the Iflands or Spanish Coaft
Northward: But that if in Requital they ſhould,
when I had put Weapons into their Hands, carry
me by Force among their own People, I might be
ill uſed for my Kindnefs to them, and make my
Cafe worse than it was before.
י
He anfwer'd with a great deal of Candor and In-
genuity, That their Condition was fo miferable,
and they were fo fenfible of it, that he believed
they would abhor the Thought of using any Man
unkindly that fhould contribute to their Delive-
rance: and that, if I pleafed, he would go to them
with the old Man, and difcourfe with them about
it, and return again, and bring me their Anfwer:
That he would make Conditions with them upon
their folemn Oath, That they thould be abfolute-
ly under my Leading, as their Commander and
Captain; and that they should fwear upon the Holy
Sacraments and the Gofpel, to be true to me, and
to go to fuch Chriftian Country as that I fhould
agree to, and no other; and to be directed wholly
and abfolutely by my Orders, 'till they were land-
ed fafely in fuch Country as I intended; and that
he would bring a Contract from them under their
Hands for that Purpofe.
Then he told me, he would firft fwear to me
himfelf, That he would never ftir from me as long
as he liv'd, 'till I gave him Orders; and that he
would take my Side to the laſt Drop of his Blood,
if
[291]
if there fhould happen the leaſt Breach of Faith a-
mong his Countrymen.
He told me, they were all of them very civil
honeſt Men, and they were under the greateſt Di-
ftrefs imaginable, having neither Weapons or
Cloaths, nor any Food, but at the Mercy and Di-
fcretion of the Savages; out of all Hopes of ever
returning to their own Country; and that he was
fure, if I would undertake their Relief, they would
live and die by me.
Upon thefe Affurances, I refolv'd to venture to
relieve them, if poffible, and to fend the old Sa-
vage and this Spaniard over to them to treat: But
when we had gotten all Things in a readineſs to
go, the Spaniard himſelf ſtarted an Objection,
which had fo much Prudence in it on one hand,
and fo much Sincerity on the other hand, that I
could not but be very well fatisfy'd in it; and, by
his Advice, put off the Deliverance of his Com-
rades for at leaſt half a Year. The Cafe was thus :
He had been with us now about a Month; du◄
ring which Time I had let him fee in what Man-
ner I had provided, with the Affiitance of Provi-
dence for my Support; and he faw evidently
what Stock of Corn and Rice I had laid up; which,
as it was more than fufficient for my felf, fo it was
not fufficient, at leaſt without good Husbandry,
for my Family, now it was encreas'd to Number
four: But much lefs would it be fufficient, if his
Countrymen, who were, as he faid, fourteen ftill
alive, fhould come over; and leaft of all would
it be fufficient to victual our Veffel, if we ſhould
build one, for a Voyage to any of the Chriſtian
Colonies of America. So he told me, he thought
it would be more adviſable, to let him and the
two other dig and cultivate fome more Land, as
much as I could ſpare Seed to ſow; and that we
U 2
fhould
[292]
fhould wait another Harveft, that we might have
a Supply of Corn for his Country-men when they
fhould come; for Want might be a Temptation to
them to difagree, or not to think themfelves deli-
ver'd, otherwife than out of one Difficulty into
another. You know, fays he, the Children of If-
rael, though they rejoyc'd at first for their being
deliver'd out of Egypt, yet rebell'd even againſt
God himself that deliver'd them, when they came
to want Bread in the Wildernefs.
His Caution was fo feaſonable, and his Advice
fo good, that I could not but be very well pleas'd
with his Propofal, as well as I was fatisfy'd with
his Fidelity. So we fell to digging all four of us,
as well as the wooden Tools we were furniſhed
with permitted; and in about a Month's Time, by
the End of which it was Seed-time, we had gotten
as much Land cur'd and trimm'd up, as we fow'd
22 Bushels of Barley on, and 16 Jarrs of Rice,
which, was, in ſhort, all the Seed we had to spare;
nor indeed did we leave ourſelves Barley fufficient
for our own Food, for the Six Months that we had
to expect our Crop, that is to fay, reckoning from
the Time we fet our Seed afide for fowing; for it
is not to be fuppos'd it is fix Months in the Ground
in the Country.
Having now Society enough, and our Number
being fufficient to put us out of Fear of the Savages,
if they had come, unless their Number had been
very great, we went freely all over the land,
where-ever we found Occafion; and as here we had
our Eſcape or Deliverance upon our Thoughts, it
was impoffible, at leaſt for me, to have the
Means of it out of mine; to this Purpoſe,
mark'd out ſeveral Trees which I thought fit for
our Work, and I fet Friday and his Father to cut-
ting them down; and then I caus'd the Spaniard,
A
to
[293]
1
to whom I imparted my Thought on that Affair,
to overſee and direct their Work. I fhew'd them
with what indefatigable Pains I had hewed a large
Tree into fingle Planks, and I caus'd them to do
the like, till they had made about a Dozen large
Planks of good Oak, near 2 Foot broad, 35 Foot
long, and from 2 Inches to 4 Inches thick: What
prodigious Labour it took up, any one may ima-
gine.
At the fame Time I contriv'd to increaſe.
my lit-
tle Flock of tame Goats as much as I could; and
to this Purpoſe I'made Friday and the Spaniard go
out one Day, and my felf, with Friday, the next
Day; for we took our Turns: And by this Means
we got above 20 young Kids to breed up with the
reft; for when-ever we fhot the Dam, we fav'd
the Kids and added them to our Flock : But above
all, the Seaſon for curing the Grapes coming on,
I caus'd fuch a prodigious Quantity to be hung up
in the Sun, that I believe, had we been at Alicant,
where the Raiſins of the Sun are cured, we could
have filled:60 or 80 Barrels; and thefe, with our
Bread, was a great Part ofour Food, and very good
diving too, I affure you; for it is an exceeding nou-
rifhing Food.
It was now Harveft, and our Crop in good Or-
der; it was not the moſt plentiful Encreaſe I had
feen in the Ifland, but however it was enough to
anfwer our End; for from our 22 Bushels of Bar-
ley, we brought in and threſh'd out above 220
Bufhels; and the like in Proportion of the Rice,
which was Store enough for our Food to the next
Harveft,tho'all the 16 Spaniards had been on Shore
with me; or if we had been ready for a Voyage,
it would very plentifully have victuall'd our Ship,
to have carry'd us to any Part of the World, that
is to ſay, of America.
U 3
When
[294]
When we had thus hous'd and fecur'd our Ma-
gazine of Corn, we fell to work to make more
Wicker Work, viz. Great Baskets in which we
kept it; and the Spaniard was very handy and dex-
terous at this Part, and often blam'd me that I did
not make fome Things for Defence, of this kind of
Work; but I faw no need of it.
And now having a full fupply of Food for all
the Guests I expected, 1 gave the Spaniard Leave
to go over to the Main, to fee what he could do
with thoſe he had left behind him there. I gave
him a ſtrict Charge in Writing, not to bring any
Man with him, who would not firft fwear in the
Prefence of himself and of the old Savage, That
he would no Way injure, fight with, or attack the
Perfon he ſhould find in the Inland, who was fo
kind to fend for them in order to their Delive-
rance; but that they would ftand by and defend
him against all fuch Attempts, and where-ever
they went, would be entirely under and fubjected
to his Commands; and that this fhould be put in
Writing, and fign'd with their Hands: How we
were to have this done, when I knew they had
neither Pen or Ink, that, indeed, was a Queſtion
which we never ask'd.
"
Under thefe Inftructions, the Spaniard, and the
old Savage (the Father of Friday) went away in one
of the Canoes, which they might be faid to come
in, or rather were brought in, when they came as
Priſoners to be devour'd by the Savages...
I gave each of them a Musket with a Firelock
on it, and about eight Charges of Powder and
Ball, charging them to be very good Husbands of
both, and not to ufe either of them but upon ur-
gent Occafion.
This was a chearful Work, being the first Mea-
fures uſed by me in View of my Deliverance for
now
[295]
now 27 Years and fome Days. I gave them Provi-
Tons of Bread, and of dry Grapes, fufficient for
themſelves for many Days, and fufficient for all
their Country-men for about eight Days time; and
wiſhing them a good Voyage, I fee them go, a-
greeing with them about a Signal they fhould hang
out at their Return, by which I ſhould know then
again, when they came back, at a Diſtance, before
they came on Shore.
They went away with a fair Gale on the Day
that the Moon was at Full; by my Account in the
Month of October; but as for an exact Reckoning
of Days, after I had once loft it, I could never re-
cover it again; nor had I kept even the number of
Years fo punctually,as to be fure that I was right,
tho',as it prov'd, when Iafterwards examin'd my Ac-
count, I found I had kept a true Reckoning of Years.
?
It was no leſs than eight Days I had waited for
them, when a ſtrange and unforeſeen Accident in-
terven❜d, of which the like has not, perhaps, been
heard of in Hiftory: I was faft afleep in my Hutch
one Morning, when my Man Friday came running
in to me, and called aloud, Mafter, Mafter, they
are come, they are come.
Ijump'd up, and, regardleſs of Danger, I went
out as foon as I could get my Cloaths on, thro'
my little Grove, which (by the Way) was by this
Time grown to be a very thick Wood: I fay, re-
gardlefs of Danger, I went without my Arms,
which was not my Cuſtom to do; but I was fur-
priz'd, when turning my Eyes to the Sea, I pre-
fently faw a Boat at about a League and Half's Di-
ftance, ftanding in for the Shore, with a Shoulder of
Mutton Sail, as they call it, and the Wind blow-
ing pretty fair to bring them in: Alfo 1 obferv'd
prefently, that they did not come from that Side
which the Shore lay on, but from the Souther
U A
Մ
moft
[296]
moft End of the Ifland: Upon this I call'd Friday
in, and bid him lie clofe, for theſe were not the
People we look'd for, and that we might not know
yet whether they were Friends or Enemies.
In the next Place, I went in to fetch my Per-
fpective-Glaſs, to fee what I could make of them;
and having taken the Ladder out, I climb'd up to
the top of the Hill, as I uſed to do when I was
apprehenfive of any Thing, and to take my View
the plainer without being difcover'd.
I had fcarce fet my Foot on the Hill, when my
Eye plainly diſcover'd a Ship lying at an Anchor,
at about two Leagues and an half's Diftance from
me South-fouth-east, but not above a League and
an half from the Shore. By my Obfervation it ap-
pear'd plainly to be an English Ship, and the Boat
appear'd to be an Engliſh Long-Boat.
I cannot exprefs the Confufion I was in, tho' the
Joy of feeing a Ship, and one who I had Reafon to
believe was mann'd by my own Country-men, and
confequently Friends, was fuch as I cannot de-
fcribe; but yet I had fome fecret doubts hung a-
bout me, I cannot tell from whence they came,
bidding me keep upon my Guard. In the first
Place, it occurr'd to me to conſider what Bufinefs
an English Shipcould have in that Part of the World,
fince it was not the Way to,or from any Part of the
World, where the English had any Traffick; and I
knew there had been no Storms to drive them in
there, as in Diſtrefs; and that if they were Eng-
lifh really, it was moſt probable that they were
here upon no good Defign; and that I had better
continue as 1 was, than fall into the Hands of
Thieves and Murderers.
Let no Man defpife the fecret Hints and Notices
of Danger which fome times are given him,
when he may think there is no Poffibility of its be
ing
[297]
?
ing real. That fuch Hints and Notices are given
us, I believe few that have made any Obfervati-
ons of Things can deny; that they are certain Dif-
coveries of an invifible World, and a Converſe of
Spirits, we cannot doubt; and if the Tendency
of them feems to be to warn us of Danger, why
fhould we not fuppofe they are from fome friendly
Agent, (whether fupreme, or inferior and fubor-
dinate, is not the Queſtion) and that they are gi-
ven for our Good?
The prefent Queſtion abundantly confirms me
in the Juſtice of this Reaſoning; for had I not
been made cautious by this fecret Admonition,
come it from whence it will, I had been undone
inevitably, and in a far worfe Condition, than be
fore, as you will fee prefently.
I had not kept my felf long in this Poſture, but
I ſaw the Boat draw near the Shore, as if they
look'd for a Creek to thrust in at for the Conveni-
ence of Landing; however, as they did not come
quite far enough, they did not fee the little Inlet
where I formerly landed my Rafts; but run their
Boat on Shore upon the Beach, at about half a
Mile from me, which was very happy for me; for
otherwife they would have landed juft, as I may
fay, at my Door, and would foon have beaten me
out of my Caitle, and, perhaps, have plunder'd me
of all I had.
>
When they were on Shore, I was fully fatisfy'd
they were English Men; at leaſt moſt of them;
one or two I thought were Dutch; but it did not
prove fo: There were in all eleven Men, whereof
three of them I found were unarm'd, and, as I
thought, bound; and when the firft four or five of
them were jump'd on Shore, they took thoſe three
out of the Boat as Prifoners: One of the three I
could perceive uſing the moſt paſſionate Geſtures of
Entreaty,
[298]
Intreaty, Affliction and Defpair, even to a kind of
Extravagance; the other two, I could perceive,
lifted up their Hands fometimes, and appear'd con-
cern'd indeed, but not to fuch a Degree as the
firſt.
I was perfectly confounded at the Sight, and
knew not what the Meaning of it fhould be. Fri-
day call'd out to me in English, as well as he could,
O Mafter! You fee Engliſh Mans eat Prifoner as well
as Savage Mans. Why, fays I, Friday, do you
think they are a going to eat them then? Tes fays
Friday, They will eat them: No, no, fays I, Friday,
I am afraid they will murder them, indeed, but
you may be fure they will not eat them.
All this while I had no Thought of what the
Matter really was; but ftood trembling with the
Horror of the fight, expecting every Moment when
the three Priſoners fhould be kill'd; nay, once I faw
one of the Villains lift up his Arm with a great Cut-
lafh, (as the Seamen call it) or Sword, to ftrike one
of the poor Men; and I expected to fee him fall
every Moment, at which all the Blood in my Body
feem'd to run chill in my Veins,
I wish'd heartily now for my Spaniard, and the
Savage that was gone with him; or that I had a-
ny Way to have come undiſcover'd within Shot of
them, that I might have reſcu'd the three Men
;
for I faw no Fire-Arms they had among them, but
it fell out to my Mind another Way.
After I had obferv'd the outragious Ufage of the
three Men by the infolent Seamen, I obferv'd the
Fellows run fcattering about the Land, as if they
wanted to fee the Country: I obfery'd that the
three other Men had Liberty to go, alfo where they
pleas'd; but they fate down all three upon the
Ground very penfive, and look'd like Men in
Defpair.
This
[299]
!
This put me in Mind of the first Time when I
came on Shore, and began to look about me; how
I gave my ſelf over for loft, how wildly I look'd
round me, what dreadful Apprehenfions I had, and
how I lodg'd in the Tree all Night for fear of be-
ing devour'd by wild Beafts.
As I knew nothing that Night of the Supply I
was to receive by the providential Driving of the
Ship nearer the Land, by the Storms and Tide, by
which I have fince been fo long nouriſh'd and fup-
ported; fo theſe three poor defolate Men knew
nothing how certain of Deliverance and Supply
they were, how near it was to them, and how ef-
fectually and really they were in a Condition of
Safety, at the fame Time that they thought them-
felves loft, and their Cafe defperate.
So little do we fee before us in the World, and
fo much Reafon have we to depend chearfully up-
on the great Maker of the World, that he does not
leave his Creatures fo abfolutely deſtitute, but that
in the worſt Circumſtances they have always fome-
thing to be thankful for, and fometimes are near-
er their Deliverance than they imagine; nay, are
even brought to their Deliverance by the Means
by which they ſeem to be brought to their Deſtru-
Єtion.
It was juft at the Top of High-water when thefe
People came on Shore, and while partly they ſtood
parlying with the Prifoners they brought, and
partly while they rambled about to fee what kind
of a Place they were in, they had careleſly ſtaid till
the Tide was ſpent, and the Water was ebb'd con-
fiderably away, leaving their Boat a-ground.
They had left two Men in the Boat, who as I
found afterwards, having drank a little too much
Brandy, fell a-fleep; however, one of them waking
fooner than the other, and finding the Boat too faſt
a-ground
[300]
a ground for him to ftir it, hollow'd for the reft
who were ftragling about, upon which they all
foon came to the Boat; but it was paft all their
Strength to launch her, the Boat being very heavy,
and the Shore on that fide being a foft oufy Sand,
almoſt like a Quick-Sand.
In this Condition, like true Seamen,who are,per-
haps, the leaft of all Mankind given to Fore-thought,
they gave it over, and away they ſtroll'd about the
Country again; and I heard one of them fay aloud
to another, (calling them off from the Boat) Why,
let her alone, Jack, can't ye, fhe'll float next Tide; by
which I was fully confirm'd in the main Enquiry,
Of what Countrymen they were?
All this while I kept my felf very clofe, not once
daring to ftir out of my Caftle, any farther than to
my Place of Obfervation, near the Topof the Hill;
and very glad I was, to think how well it was for-
tify'd: I knew it was no less than ten Hours before
the Boat could be on float again, and by that
Time it would be dark, and I might be at more
Liberty to fee their Motions, and to hear their
Difcourfe, if they had any.
In the mean Time I fitted my felf up for a Bat-
tle, as before; tho' with more Caution, knowing
I had to do with another kind of Enemy than I had
at firſt I order'd Friday alfo, who I had made an
excellent Markf-man with his Gun, to load him-
felf with Arms: I took my felftwo Fowling-Pieces,
and I gave him three Muskets. My Figure, indeed,
was very fierce; I had my formidable Goat-skin
Coat on, with the great Cap I have mentioned, a
naked Sword by my Side, two Piſtols in my Belt,
and a Gun upon each Shoulder.
It was my Deſign, as I faid above, not to have
made any Attempt 'till it was dark: But about
two a-Clock, being the Heat of the Day, I found
that
[ 301 ]
that in ſhort they were all gone ftraggling into the
Woods, and,as I thought, were laid down to Sleep.
The three poor diſtreſſed Men,too anxious for their
Condition to get any Sleep, were, however, ſet.
down under the Shelter of a great Tree, at about
a quarter of a Mile from me, and, as I thought,
out of Sight of any of the reſt.
Upon this I refolv'd to diſcover my felf to them,
and learn fomething of their Condition: Immedi-
ately I march'd in the Figure as above, my Man
Friday at a good Distance behind me, as formidable
for his Arms as I, but not making quite fo ftaring
a Spectre-like Figure as I did.
I came as near them undiſcover'd as I could, and
then before any of them faw me, I call'd aloud to
them in Spanish, What are ye Gentlemen ?
+
They started up at the Noife, but were ten
times more confounded when they faw me, and
the uncouth Figure that I made. They made no
Anſwer at all; but I thought I perceiv'd them juft
going to fly from me, when I fpoke to them in
English Gentlemen, faid I, do not be furpriz❜d at
me; perhaps you may have a Friend near you
when you did not expect it. He must be fent di-
rectly from Heaven then, faid one of them very
gravely to me, and pulling off his Hat at the fame Time
to me, for our Condition is paſt the help of Man.
All Help is from Heaven, Sir, faid I. But can
you put a Stranger in the Way how to help you,
for you feem to me to be in fome great Diftrefs?
I faw you when you landed, and when you feem'd
to make Application to the Brutes that came with
you, I faw one of them lift up his Sword to kill
you.
The poor Man, with Tears running down his
Face, and trembling, looking like one aſtoniſh'd,
return'd, Am I talking to God, or Man! Is it a real
*
Man
[302]
羹
​'Man, or an Angel! Be in no fear about that, Sir,
faid I, if God had fent an Angel to relieve you, he
would have come better cloath'd, and arm'd after
another Manner than you fee me in; pray lay afide
your Fears, I am a Man, an Englishman, and dif
pos'd to aílift you, you fee; I have one Servant
only; we have Arms and Ammunition; tell us
freely, Can we ſerve you?
What is your
Cafe?
Our Cafe, faid he, Sir, is too long to tell you,
while our Murderers are ſo near; but, in fhort,
Sir, I was commander of that Ship, my Men
have mutiny'd againſt me, they have been hardly.
prevail'd on not to murder me, and at laft
have fet me on Shore in this defolate Place, with
theſe two Men with me, one my Mate, the other
a Paſſenger, where we expected to perifh, believ-
ing the Place to be uninhabited, and know not yet
what to think of it.
Where are thoſe Brutes, your Enemies, faid I,
Do you know where they are gone? There they lye,
Sir, faid he, pointing to a Thicket of Trees, my
Heart trembles for fear they have feen us, and heard
you speak; if they have, they will certainly murder us
all.
Have they any Fire-Arms, faid I? He anfwer'd,
they had only two Pieces, and one which they
left in the Boat. Well then, faid I, leave the reft
to me; I fee they are all afleep, it is an eafy thing
to kill them all; but fhall we rather take them
Prifoners? He told me there were two defpe
rate Villains among them that it was fcarce fafe
to fhew any Mercy to; but if they were fecur'd,
he beliey'd all the reft would return to their
Duty. I asked him, which they were? He
told me, he could not at that Diſtance defcribe
them; but he would obey my Orders in any thing
I would
[303]
I would direct. Well, fays I, let us retreat out of
their View or Hearing, leaft they awake, and we
will refolve farther; fo they willingly went back
with ine, till the Woods cover'd us from them.
Look you, Sir, faid I, if I venture upon your
Deliverance, are you willing to make two Condi-
tions with me; he anticipated my Propoſals, by
telling me, that both he and the Ship, if recover'd
fhould be wholly directed and commanded by me
in every thing, and if the Ship was not recover'd,
he would live and die with me in what Part of the
World foever I would fend him; and the two o-
ther Men faid the fame.
1
Well, fays i, my Conditions are but two. 1. That
while you ſtay on this Iſland with me, you will not
pretend to any Authority here; and ifI put Arms
into your Hands, you will upon all Occaſions give
them up to me, and do no Prejudice to me or mine,
upon this Ifland, and in the mean time be govern'd
by my Orders.
2. That if the Ship is, or may be recover'd,
you will carry me and my Man to England Paf
fage-free.
He gave me all the Affurances that the Invention
and Faith of Man could deviſe, that he would com-
ply with theſe moſt reaſonable Demands, and be-
fides would owe his Life to me, and acknowledge
it upon all Occafions as long as he liv'd.
Well then, faid I, here are three Muskets for
you, with Powder and Ball; tell me next what you
think is proper to be done. He fhewed all the
Teſtimony of his Gratitude that he was able ;
but offer'd to be wholly guided by me. I told him,
I thought it was hard venturing any Thing; but
the beſt Method I could think of was to fire upon
them at once, as they lay; and if any was not
kill'd at the firſt Volley, and offered to fubmit,
we
1
[304]
we might fave them, and fo put it wholly upon
God's Providence to direct the Shot.
He faid very modeftly, That he was loth to
kill them, if he could help it; but that thoſe two
were incorrigible Villains, and had been the Au-
thors of all the Mutiny in the Ship, and if they
eſcaped, we ſhould be undone ftill; for they would
go on Board, and bring the whole Ship's Com-
pany, and deſtroy us all. Well then, faid I, Ne-
ceffity legitimates my Advice; for it is the only
Way to fave our Lives. However, fecing him ftill
cautious of fhedding Blood, I told him they ſhould
go themſelves, and manage as they found con-
venient.
In the Middle of this Difcourfe we heard fome
of them awake, and foon after we faw two of
them on their Feet, I ask'd him, if either of them
were the Men who he had faid were the Heads
of the Mutiny? He faid, No: Well then, faid I,
you may let them eſcape, and Providence feems to
have waken'd them on Purpoſe to fave themſelves.
Now, fays I, if the reft efcape you, it is your
Fault.
Animated with this, he took the Mufquet I
had given him in his Hand, and a Pistol in
his Belt, and his two Comrades with him, with
each Man a Piece in his Hand. The two Men*
who were with him going firft, made fome
Noife, at which one of the Seamen, who was
awake, turn'd about, and feeing them coming,
cry'd out to the reſt, but it was too late then, for
the Moment he cry'd out, they fir'd; Imean the two
Men, the Captain wifely referving his own Piece:
They had fo well aim'd their Shot at the Men they
knew, that one of them was kill'd on the Spot, and
the other very much wounded; but not being dead,
he ftarted up upon his Feet, and call'd eagerly for
Help
[305]
help to the other; but the Captain ſtepping to him,
told him, 'twas too late to cry for Help, he fhould
call upon God to forgive his Villany, and with that
Word knock'd him down with the Stock of his
Musket; ſo that he never ſpoke more: There were
three more the Company, and one of them was
alfo flightly wounded: By this time I was come;
and when they faw their Danger, and that it was
inv
vain to refift, they begg'd for Mercy: The Cap-
tain told them, he would fpare their Lives, if they
would give him any Affurance of their Abhorrence
of the Treachery they had been guilty of, and
would fwear to be faithful to him in recovering the
Ship, and afterwards in carrying her back to Ja-
maica, from whence they came: They gave him
all the Proteftations of their Sincerity that could
be defir'd, and he was willing to believe them, and
fpare their Lives, which I was not againſt; only I
oblig'd him to keep them bound Hand and Foot
while they were upon the Inland.
While this was doing, I fent Friday with the
Captain's Mate to the Boat, with Orders to fecure
her,and bring away the Oars and Sail, which they
did; and by and by, three ftragling Men that
were (happily for them) parted from the reft,came
back upon hearing the Guns fir'd, and feeing their
Captain, who before was their Prifoner, now their
Conqueror, they fubmitted to be bound alfo, and
fo our Victory was compleat.
It now remain'd, that the Captain and I ſhould
enquire into one another's Circumftances: I began
firft, and told him my whole Hiftory, which he
heard with an Attention even to Amazement, and
particularly at the wonderful Manner of my being
furnish'd with Proviſions and Ammunition; and,
indeed, as my Story is a whole Collection of Won-
ders, it affected him deeply; but when he reflected
Part 1.
X
from
[306]
1
from thence upon himself, and how I feem'd to
have been preferv'd there on purpoſe to fave his
I Life, the Tears ran down his Face, and he could
not fpeak a Word more.
و
After this Communication was at an End, I car-
ry'd him and his two Men into my Apartment,
leading them in juft where I came out viz. at the
Top of the Houfe, where I refresh them with
fuch Provifions as I had, and fhew'd them all the
Contrivances I had made, during my long, long,
inhabiting that Place.
All I fhew'd them, all I faid to them, was per-
fectly amazing, but above all, the Captain admir'd
my Fortification,and how perfectly I had conceal'd
my Retreat with a Grove of Trees, which having
been new planted near twenty Years,and the Trees
growing much faster than in England, was become
a little Wood, and fo thick, that it was unpaffable
in any Part of it, but at that one Side, where I
had referv'd my little winding Paffage into it: I
told him, this was my Caftle and my Refidence;
but that I had a Seat in the Country, as moft Prin-
ces have, whither I could retreat upon Occafion,
and. I would fhew him that too another Time;
but at prefent our Bufinefs was to confider how to
recover the Ship: He agreed with me as to that;
but told me, he was perfectly at a Lofs what Mea-
fures to take; for that there were ftill fix and twen-
ty Hands on Board, who having enter'd into a
curfed Confpiracy, by which they had all forfeited
their Lives to the Law, would be harden'd in it
now by Defperation; and would carry it on,know-
ing that if they were reduc'd, they fhould be
brought to the Gallows as foon as they came to
England, or to any of the English Colonies; and
that therefore there would be no attacking them
with fo finall a Number as we were.
I mufed
1
[307]
I muſed for fome time upon what he had faid,
and found it was a very rational Conclufion; and
that therefore ſomething was to be reſolved on ve-
ry ſpeedily, as well to draw the Men on Board in-
to fome Snare for their Surprize, as to prevent their
Landing upon us, and deſtroying us; upon this it
preſently occur'd to me, that in a little while, the
Ship's Crew wondering what was become of their
Comrades and of the Boat, would certainly come
on Shore in their other Boat, to fee for them, and
that then perhaps they might come arm'd, and be
too ſtrong for us: This he allow'd was rational.
Upon this I told him, the firſt Thing we had to
do, was to ſtave the Boat, which lay upon the
Beach, fo that they might not carry her off; and
taking every thing out of her, leave her fo far ufe-
lefs as not to be fit to fwim; accordingly we went
on Board,took the Arms which were left on Board,
out of her, and whatever elfe we found there,
which was a Bottle of Brandy, and another of
Rum, a few Bisket-Cakes, a Horn of Powder, and
a great Lump of Sugar, in a Piece of Canvas; the
Sugar was five or fix Pounds; all which was
very welcome to me, eſpecially the Brandy and
Sugar of which I had, had none left for many
Years.
When we had carry'd all thefe Things on Shore,
(the Oars, Maft, Sail, and Rudder of the Boat,
was carry'd away before, as above) we knock'd a
great Hole in the Bottom, that if they had come
Itrong enough to mafter us, yet they could not
carry off the Boat.
Indeed it was not much in my Thoughts, that
we could be able to recover the Ship; but my View
was, that if they went away without the Boat, Idid
not much question to make her fit again, to carry us
away to the Leeward Ifands, and call upon our
Friends
X 2
[308]
Friends the Spaniards, in my Way, for I had them
ftill in my Thoughts.
?
Į
While we were thus preparing our Deſigns, and
had firſt, by main Strength, heaved the Boat up
upon the Beach, fo high that the Tide would not
fleet her off at High-Water-Mark; and, befides,
had broke a Hole in her Bottom, too big to be
quickly ftopp'd, and were fat down mufing what
we fhould do, we heard the Ship fire a Gun, and
faw her make a Waft with her Antient, as a Sig-
nal for the Boat to come on Board; but no Boat
ftirr'd; and they fir'd feveral times, making other
Signals for the Boat.
At laft when all their Signals and Firings prov'd
fruitless, and they found the Boat did not ftir, we
faw them, by the Help of my Glaffes, hoift ano-
ther Boat out, and row towards the Shore; and
we found as they approached, that there was no
defs than ten Men in her, and that they had Fire-
Arms. with them.
As the Ship lay almoſt two Leagues from the
Shore, we had a full View of them as they came,
and a plain Sight of the Men, even of their Faces,
becauſe the Tide having fet them a little to the
Eaſt of the other Boat,they rowed up under Shore,
to come to the fame Place, where the other had
landed, and where the Boat lay.
C
}
By this Means, I fay, we had a full view of them,
and the Captain knew their Perfons and Chara-
cters of all the Men in the Boat of whom he faid,
that there were three very honeft Fellows, who
he was fure were led into this Confpiracy by the
reft, being over-powered and frighted i
But that as for the Boatswain, who it feems as
the chief Officer among them, and all the reft, they
were as outragious as any of the Ship's Crew, and
were,no doubt,made defperate in their new Enter-
}
prize;
[309]
prize; and terribly apprehenfive he was,that they
would be too powerful for us.
L
I fmil'd at him, and told him, that Men in our
Circumſtances were paft the Operations of Fear:
That feeing almost every Condition that could be
was better than that which we were fuppos'd to be
in, we ought to expect that the Confequence, whe-
ther Death or Life, would be fure to be a Delive-
rance. I asked him what he thought of the Cir-
cumſtances of my Life? And, whether a Delive
rance were not worth venturing for? And where,
Sir, faid I, is your Belief of my being preferv'd here
on purpoſe to fave your Life, which elevated you
a little while ago? For my Part, faid I, there feems
to be but one Thingamifs in all the Profpect of it:
What's that? fays he; why, faid I, 'Tis that, as you
fay, there are three or four honeft Fellows among
them, which ſhould be ſpar'd; had they been all of
the wicked part of the Crew, Ifhould have thought
God's Providence had fingled them out to deliver
them into your Hands; for depend upon it, every
Man of them that comes a-fhore are our own, and
fhall die or live, as they behave to us, i
As I spoke this with a rais'd Voice and chearful
Countenance, I found it greatly encourag'd him,fo
we fet vigorously to our Business: We had, upon
the firft Appearance of the Boat's coming from the
Ship, confider'd of feparating our Priſoners, and
had indeed fecur'd them effectually,
Two of them, of whom the Captain was lefs af
fur'd than ordinary, I fent with Friday,`and one of
the three (deliver'd Men) to my Cave, where they
were remote enough, and out of Danger of being
heard or diſcover'd, or of finding their Way out of
the Woods,if they could have deliver'd themſelves.
Here they left them bound, but gave them Provifi-
ons, and promiſed them if they continued there
X 3
quietly,
[ 3to ]
quietly, to give them their Liberty in a Day or
two; but that if they attempted their Escape,they
fhould be put to Death without Mercy. They pro-
mis'd faithfully to bear their Confinement with
Patience, and were very thankful that they had
fuch good Ufage as to have Proviſions, and a Light
left them; for Friday gave them Candles (fuch as
we made our felves) for their Comfort; and they
did not know but that he ftood Centinel over
them at the Entrance.
↓
The other Priſoners had better Ufage; two of
them were kept pinion'd indeed, becauſe the Cap-
tain was not free to truft them, but the other two
were taken into my Service upon their Captain's
Recommendation, and upon their folemnly enga-
ging to live and die with us; fo, with them and the
three honeſt Men, we were feven Men well arm'd;
and I made no doubt we should be able to deal well
enough with the Ten that were a coming, conf-
dering that the Captain had faid, there were three
or four honeſt Men among them alfo.
And
As foon as they got to the Place where their o-
ther Boat lay, they run their Boat into the Beach,
and came all on Shore, hailing the Boat up after
themi, which I was glad to fee; for I was afraid
they would rather have left the Boat at an An-
chor, fome Diſtance from the Shore, with fome
Hands in her to guard her; and fo we ſhould not
be able to feize the Boat..
Being on Shore, the first Thing they did, they
ran.all to the other Boat, and it was eafy to ſee
that they were under a great Surprize, to find her
ftripp'd as above, of all that was in her, and a
great Hole in her Bottom.
}
> •
After they had mus'd a while upon this, they
fetup two or three great Shouts, hollowing with
all their Might, to try if they could make their
Companions
...
[311]
{
}
Companions hear; but all was to nó Purpose: Then,
they came all clofe in a Ring, and fir'd a Volley of
their ſmall Arms, which indeed we heard, and the
Echoes made the Woods ring; but it was all one,
thofe in the Cave we were fure could not hear,and
thoſe in our Keeping, though they heard it well e-
nough, yet durft give no Anſwer to them.
They were fo aftoniſh'd at the Surprize of this,
that as they told us afterwards, they refolv'd to go
all on Board again to their Ship, and let them know
there, that the Men were all murder'd, and the
Long-Boat ftav'd; accordingly they immediately
launch'd their Boat again, and got, all of them on
Board.
The Captain was terribly amaz'd, and even con-
founded at this; believing they would go on Board
the Ship again and fet Sail, giving their Comrades
for loft, and fo he ſhould ſtill lose the Ship, which
he was in Hopes we ſhould have recover'd; but he
was quickly as much frighted the other way.
They had not been long put off with the Boat,
but we perceiv'd them all coming on Shore again,
but with this new Meaſure in their Conduct,which
it feems they confulted together upon, viz. To
leave three Men in the Boat, and the reft to go on
Shore, and go up into the Country to look for
their Fellows.
{
This was a great Difappointment tous: for now
we were at a Lofs what to do; for our feizing
thofe feven Men on Shore would be no Advantage
to us, if we let the Boat efcape,becauſe they would
then row away to the Ship, and then the rest of
them would be fure to weigh and fet Sail, and fo
our recovering the Ship would be loft.
However, we had no Remedy but to wait and
fee what the Iffue of Things might prefent: The
feven Men came on Shore, and the three who re-
X 4
main'd
[312]
main'd in the Boat, put her off to a good Diſtance
from the Shore, and came to an Anchor to wait
for them; fo that it was impoffible for us to come
at them in the Boat.
Thofe that came on Shore, kept clofe together,
marching towards the Top of the little Hill, under
which my Habitation lay, and we could fee them
plainly, tho' they could not perceive us: We
could have been very glad they would have come
nearer to us, fo that we might have fir'd at them,
or that they would have gone farther off, that we
might have come Abroad.
•
But when they were come to the Brow of the
Hill, where they could fee a great Way into the
Valleys and Woods, which lay towords the North-
Eaft Part, and where the Ifland lay loweſt, they
fhouted and hallow'd till they were weary; and
not caring, it feems, to venture far from the Shore,
nor far from one another, they fat down together
under a Tree, to confider of it: Had they thought
fit to have gone to fleep there, as the other Party
of them had done, they had done the Jobb for us;
but they were too full of Apprehenfions of Danger,
to venture to go to fleep, tho' they could not tell
what the Danger was they had to fear neither.
The Captain made a very juft Propofal to me,
upon this Confultation of theirs, viz. That per-
haps they would all fire a Volley again, to endea-
vour to make their Fellows hear, and that we
Thould all fally upon them, juft at the Juncture
when their Pieces were all difcharg'd, and they
would certainly yield, and we fhould have them
without Blood-fhed: I lik'd the Propofal, provided
it was done while we were near enough to come
up to them, before they could load their Peices
again.
}
But
[313]
But this event did not happen, and we lay ftill
a long time, very irrefolute what Courſe to take;
at length I told them, there would be nothing to
be done in my Opinion till Night, and then if they
did not return to the Boat, perhaps we might find
a Way to get between them and the Shore, and fo
might ufe fome Stratagem with them in the Boat,
to get then on Shore.
3
We waited a great while, tho' very impatient
for their removing, and were very uneafy; when,
after long Confultations, we faw them itart all up,
and march down toward the Sea: It feems they
had fuch dreadful Apprehenfions upon them, of
the Danger of the Place, that they refolv'd to go
on Board the Ship again, give their Companions
over for loft, and fo go on with their intended
Voyage with the Ship.
As foon as I perceiv'd them go towards the Shore,
I imagin'd it to be as it really was, That they had
given over their Search, and were for going back
again; and the Captain, as foon as I told him my
Thoughts, was ready to fink at the Apprehenfions
of it, but I prefently thought of a Stratagem to
fetch them back again, and which anſwer'd my
End to a Tittle.
I order'd Friday, and the Captain's Mate, to go
over the little Creek Weſtward, towards the Place
where the Savages came on Shore, when Friday was
refcu'd ; and as foon as they came to a little rifing
Ground, at about half a Mile Diſtance, I bad them
hallow, as loud as they could, and wait till they
found the Seamen heard them, that as foon as ever
they heard the Seamen anſwer them, they Ihould
return it again,and then keeping out of Sight, take
a Round,always anfwering when the other hollow'd,
to draw them as far into the Inland,and among the
Woods,
[314 ]
Woods, as poffible, and then wheel about again to
me, by fuch Ways as I directed them.
They were just going into the Boat, when Fri-
day and the Mate hollow'd,and they preſently heard
them, and answering, run along the Shore Weft-
ward, towards the Voice they heard, when they
were preſently ſtopp'd by the Creek, where the
Water being up, they could not get over, and
call'd for the Boat to come up, and fet them over,
as indeed I expected.
When they had fet themſelves over, I obferv'd,
that the Boat being gone up a good Way into the
Creek, and, as it were, in a Harbour within the
Land, they took one of the three Men out of her
to go along with them, and left only two in the
Boat, having faften'd her to the ſtump of a little
Tree on the Shore.
This was what I wiſh'd for, and immediately
leaving Friday and the Captain's Mate to their Bu-
finefs, I took the rest with me, and croffing the
Creek out of their Sight, we furpriz'd the two
Men before they were aware, one of them lying
on Shore, and the other being in the Boat; the
Fellow on Shore was between fleeping and waking,
and going to ſtart up, the Captain, who was fore-
most, ran in upon him, and knock'd him down,and
them call'd out to him in the Boat to yield, or he
was a dead Man..
There needed very few Arguments to perſwade
a fingle Man to yield, when he ſaw five Men upon
him, and his Comrade knock'd down; befides, this
was,it feems, one of the three who were not fo hear-
ty in the Mutiny as the rest of the Crew,and there-
fore was easily perfwaded, not only to yield, but
afterwards to join very fincerely with us.
In the mean Time,Friday and the Captain's Mate
fo well manag'd their Bulinefs with the reft, that
they
[315]
they drew them, by Hollowing and Anſwering
from one Hill to another, and from one Wood to
another, 'till they not only heartily tir'd them, but
left them where they were very fure they could
not reach back to the Boat before it was dark 7
and indeed they were heartily tir'd themſelves al
fo by the Time they came back to us.
We had nothing now to do but to watch for
them in the Dark, and to fall upon them, fo as to
make fure Work with them.
It was feveral Hours after Friday came back to
me, before they came back to their Boat, and we
could hear the foremoſt of them long before they
came quite up, calling to thoſe behind to come
along, and could alfo hear them anfwer, and com-
plain how lame and tyr'd they were, and not able
to come any faſter, which was very welcome
News to us...
;
At length they came up to the Boat; but 'tis
impoffible to exprefs their Confuſion, when they
found the Boat faft a-ground in the Creek, the
Tide ebb'd out, and their two Men gone: We
could hear them call to one another in a moſt las
mentable Manner, telling one another they were
gotten into an inchanted Iſland; that either there
were Inhabitants in it, and they fhould all be mure
der'd; or elſe there were Devils or Spirits in it, and
they ſhould be all carry'd away and devour'd.
They hollow'd again, and call'd their two
Comerades by their Names a great many Times,
but no Anſwer. After fome Time, we could fee
them, by the little Light there was, run about
wringing their Hands, like Men in Defpair; and
that fometimes they would go and fit down in the
Boat to reft themfelves, then come a-fhore again,
and walk about again, and fo the fame Thing o
ver again.
My
[ 316 ]
و
My Men would fain have me give them Leave
to fall upon them at once in the Dark; but I was
willing to take them at fome Advantage, fo to
fpare them, and kill as few of them as I could;
and eſpecially I was unwilling to hazard the kil
ling any of our own Men, knowing the other were
very well armed. I refolv'd to wait to fee if they
did not ſeparate; and therefore to make fure of
them, I drew my Ambufcade nearer, and ordered
Friday and the Captain to creep upon their Hands
and Feet as clofe to the Ground as they could,
that they might not be diſcovered, and get as near
them as they could poffibly, before they offer'd to
fire.
They had not been long in that Poſture,but that
the Boatswain, who was the principal Ringleader
of the Mutiny, and had now fhewn himſelf the
moft dejected and difpirited of all the reft, came
walking towards them with two more of their
Crew; the Captain was fo eager, as having this
principal Rogue fo much in his Power, that he
could hardly have Patience to let him come fo near
as to be ſure of him; for they only heard his
Tongue before:: But when they came nearer,
the Captain and Friday ſtarting up on their Feet,
let fly at them.⠀⠀
?
The Boatswain was kill'd upon the Spot; the
next Man was ſhot into the Body, and fell juft by
him, tho' he did not die till an Hour or two after;
and the third run for it.
At the Noife of the Fire, I immediately ad
vanced with my whole Army, which was now
eight Men, viz. my felf Generaliffimo, Friday my
Lieutenant-General, the Captain and his two Men
and the three Prisoners of War, who we had trusted
with Arms,
We
ނ
[ 217 ]
We came upon them indeed in the Dark, fo that
they could not fee our Number, and I made the
Man they had left in the Boat, who was now one
of us, to call them by Name, to try if I could
bring them to a Parley, and fo might perhaps re-
duce them to Terms, which fell out just as we de-
fired: For indeed it was eaſy to think, as their
Condition then was, they would be very willing
to capitulate; fo he calls out as loud as he could,'
to one of them, Tom Smith, Tom Smith; Tom Smith
anfwer'd immediately, Who's that, Robinſon? For
it ſeems he knew his Voice: T'other anſwer'd, Ay,
ay, for God's fake, Tom Smith, throw down your
Arms and yield, or you are all dead Men this Mo
ment. :
·
Who must we yield to? Where are they? (fays Smith
again ;) Here they are, fays he, here's our Captain,
and fifty Men with him, have been hunting you
this two Hours; the Boatswain is killed, Will Frye,
is wounded, and I am a Prifoner; and if you do
not yield, you are all loft.
1
Will they give us Quarter then, (fays Tom
Smith) and we will yield? I'll go and ask if you pro-
mife to yield, fays Robinfon; fo he asked the Cap-
tain, and the Captain himfelf then calls out, You
Smith, you know my Voice, if you lay down your
Arms immediately and fubmit, you ſhall have your
Lives, all but Will. Atkins.
Upon this, Will. Atkins cry'd out, For God's fake,
Captain, give me Quarter, what have I done? They
have been all as bad as 1; which by the Way was not
true neither; for it ſeems this Will. Atkins was the
firſt Man that laid hold of the Captain, when they
firſt mutiny'd, and ufed him barbaroufly, in tying
his Hands, and giving him injurious Language.
However, the Captain told him he muſt lay down
his Arms at Diſcretion, and truſt to the Gover-
nour's
[318]
nour's Mercy, by which he meant me; for they
all called me Governour,
In a Word, they all laid down their Arms, and
begg'd their Lives; and I fent the Man that had
parly'd with them, and two more, who bound
them all; and then my great Army of 50 Men,
which particularly with thofe three, were all but
eight, came up and feiz'd upon them all, and up-
on their Boaty only that I kept my ſelf and one
more out of Sight, for Reafons of State.
Qur next Work was to repair the Boat, and to
think of feizing the Ship; and as for the Captain,
now he had Leiſure to parly with them: He expo-
ftulated with them upon the Villany of their Pra-
ctices with him, and at length, upon the farther
Wickedness of their Defign, and how certainly it
muſt bring them to Mifery and Diſtreſs in the End,
and perhaps to the Gallows.....
They all appear'd very penitent, and begg'd hard
for their Lives: As for that, he told them, they
were none of his Prifoners, but the Commanders of
the liland; that they thought they had fet him on
Shore in a barren uninhabited Ifland, but it had
pleas'd God fo to direct them, that the Iſland
was inhabited, and that the Governour was an
Englishman; that he might hang them all there, if
he pleas'd; but as he had given them all Quarter,
he fuppos'd he would fend them to England, to be
dealt with there, as Juftice requir'd, except At-
kins, who was commanded by the Governour to
adviſe to prepare for Death; for that he would be
hang'd in the Morning.
Though this was all a Fiction of his own, yet
it had its defired Effect; Arkins fell upon his Knees
to beg the Captain to intercede with the Gover-
nour for his Life, and all the rest begg'd of him
for
[ 319 ]
+
for God's fake, that they might not be fent
to England.
It now occurr'd to him, that the Time of our
Deliverance was come, and that it would be a moſt
eafy thing to bring thefe Fellows in, to be hearty
in getting Poffeffion of the Ship; fo I retir'd in the
Dark from them, that they might not fee what
Kind of a Government they had,and call'd the Capi
tain to me; when I call'd, as at a good Distance,
one of the Men was order'd to ſpeak again,and fay
to the Captain, Captain, the Commander calls for
you; and prefently the Captain reply'd, Tell his
Excellency, I am just a coming: This more perfectly
amus'd them; and they all believ'd that the Com-
mander was juſt by with his fifty Men.
•
Upon the Captain's coming to me, I told him
my Project for feizing the Ship, which he lik'd of
wonderfully well, and refoly'd to put it in Execu
tion the next Morning.
But in order to execute it with more Art, and
fecure of Succefs, I told him, we muſt divide the
Priſoners, and that he ſhould go and take Atkins
and two more of the worst of them, and fend them:
pinion'd to the Cave where the others lay: This:
was committed to Friday and the two Men who
came on Shore with the Captain.
፡፡
They convey'd them to the Cave, as to a Pris
fon; and it was, indeed, a diſmal Place, eſpecially
to Men in their Condition.
The other I order'd to my Bower, as I call'd it,
of which I have given a full Deſcription; and as
it was fenc'd in, and they pinion'd; the Place was
fecure enough, confidering they were upon their
Behaviour.
To thefe in the Morning I fent the Captain, who
was to enter into a Parley with them, in a Word,
to try them, and tell me, whether he thought they
might
[320]
might be trufted or no, to go on Board and fur-
prize the Ship. He talk'd to them of the Injury
done him; of the Condition they were brought to;
and that though the Governour had given them
Quarter for their Lives, as to their prefent Acti-
on, yet that if they were fent to England, they
would all be hang'd in Chains; to be fure; but that
if they would join in fo juſt an Attempt, as to re-
cover the Ship, he would have the Governour's
Engagement for their Pardon.
}
Any one may guess how readily futch a Propofal
would be accepted by Men in 'their Condition;
they fell down on their Knees to the Captain, and
promiſed with the deepeſt Imprecations, that they
would be faithful to him to the laft Drop, and
that they fhould owe their Lives to him,' and
would go with him all over the World; that they
would own him for a Father to them as long as
they liv❜d.
Well, fays the Captain, I muſt go and tell the
Governour what you fay, and fee what I can do
to bring him to confent to it: So he brought me
an Account of the Temper he found them in;
and that he verily believ'd they would be faith
ful.
However, that we might be very fecure, I told
him he ſhould go back again, and chufe out thofe
five, and tell them, they might fee that he did not
want Men; that he would take out thofe five to be
his Affiftants, and that the Governour will keep
the other two, and the three that were fent Prifo-
ners to the Caſtle (my Cave) as Hoftages, for the
Fidelity of thoſe five; and that if they prov'd'un-
faithful in the Execution, the five Hoftages fhould
be hang'd in Chains alive upon the Shore.
T
This
[321]
1
This look'd fevere, and convinc'd them that the
Governour was in Earneft; however, they had no
Way left them but to accept it; and it was now
the Business of the Priſoners, as much as of the
Captain, to perfwade the other five to do their
Duty.
Our Strength was now thus order'd for the Ex-
pedition: 1. The Captain, his Mate, and Paſſenger.
2. Then the two Prifoners of the firft Gang, to
whom, having their Characters from the Captain,
I had given their Liberty, and trufted them with
Arms. 3. The other two, who I had kept 'till now
in my Bower, pinion'd, but, upon the Captain's
Motion, had now releas'd. 4. Thefe five releas'd
at laft; fo that they were twelve in all, beſides
five we kept Priſoners in the Cave for Hoftages.
I ask'd the Captain, if he was willing to ven-
ture with theſe Hands on board the Ship; for,
as for me and my Man Friday, I did not think
it was proper for us to ftir, having feven Men
left behind and it was Employment enough for
us to keep them afunder, and fupply them with
Victuals.
As to the five in the Cave, I refolv'd to keep
them fast; but Friday went in twice a Day to them,
to fupply them with Neceffaries; and I made the
other two carry Provifions to a certain Diſtance,
where Friday was to take it.
When I fhew'd my felf to the two Hoftages, it
was with the Captain, who told them, I was the
Perfon the Governour had order'd to look after
them, and that it was the Governour's Pleaſure they
fhould not ftir any where but by my Direction;
that if they did, they fhould be fetch'd into the
Caſtle, and be laid in Irons; fo that as we ne-
ver fuffered them to fee me as Governour, fo I
now appear'd as another Perfon, and ſpoke of the
Gover-
Part. I.
Y.
[ 322 ]
Governour, the Garrifon, the Caſtle, and the like,
upon all Occaſions.
The Captain now had no Difficulty before him,
but to furnish his two Boats, ſtop the Breach of
one, and Man them. He made his Paffenger
Captain of one, with four other Men; and him-
felf, and his Mate, and five more went in the o-
ther: And they contriv'd their Bufinefs very well;
for they came up to the Ship about Midnight. As
foon as they came within Call of the Ship, he made
Robinſon hale them, and tell them he had brought
off the Men and the Boat, but that it was a 'long
Time before they had found them, and the like;
holding them in a Chat 'till they came to the Ship's
Side; when the Captain and the Mate, entering
firft with their Arms, immediately knock'd down
the Second Mate and Carpenter with the But-end
of their Muskets, being very faithfully feconded
by their Men; they fecur'd all the reft that were
upon the Main and Quarter Decks, and began to
falten the Hatches to 'keep them down who were
below, when the other Boat and their Men énter-
ing at the Fore-Chains, fecur'd the Forc-Caſtle of
the Ship, and the Scuttle which went down in
the Cook-Room, making three Men they found
there Prifoners.
}
When this was done, and all fafe upon Deck, the
Captain order'd the Mate with three Men to break
into the Round-Houfe, where the new Rebel Cap-
tain lay; and, having taken the Alarm,was gotten
up, and with two Men and a Boy had gotten Fire-
Arms in their Hands; and when the Mate with a
Crow fplit open the Door, the new Captain and
his Men fir'd boldly among them, and wounded the
Mate with a Musket-Ball, which broke his Arm,
and wounded two more of the Men, but kill'd no
Body.
The
[323]
The Mate calling for Help, ruſh'd however in-
to the Round-Houfe, wounded as he was, and with
his Piſtol ſhot the new Captain through the Head,
the Bullet entering at his Mouth, and came out
again behind one of his Ears, fo that he never
fpoke a Word; upon which the reſt yielded, and
the Ship was taken effectually, without any more
Lives loft.
As foon as the Ship was thus fecur'd, the Cap-
tain order'd feven Guns to be fir'd, which was the
Signal agreed upon with me, to give me Notice
of his Succefs, which you may be fure I was very
glad to hear,having fate watching upon the Shore,
for it, till near two of the Clock in the Morning.
Having thus heard the Signal plainly, I laid me
down; and it having been a Day of great Fatigue
to me, I flept very found, till I was fomething fur-
priz'd with the Noife of a Gun; and prefently
Itarting up, I heard a Man call me by the Name
of Governour,Governour,and preſently I knew the
Captain's Voice, when climbing up to the Top of
the Hill,there he ſtood, and pointing to the Ship,
he embrac'd me in his Arms, My dear Friend and
Deliverer, fays he,there's your Ship, for fhe is all yours;
and fo are we and all that belong to her. I caft my Eyes
to the Ship, and there ſhe rode within little more
than half a Mile of the Shore; for they had weigh'd
her Anchor as foon as they were Maſters of her;
and the Weather being fair, had brought her to an
Anchor juſt againſt the Mouth of the little Creek;
and the Tide being up, the Captain had brought
the Pinnace in near the Place where I firft landed
my Rafts, and fo landed juſt at my Door.
I was at firſt ready to fink down with the Sur-
prize: For I faw my Deliverance indeed vifibly
put into my Hands, all Things eafy, and a large
Ship juft ready to carry me away whither I plea-
Y 2
fed
[324]
fed to go. At first, for fome Time, I was not able
to anſwer him one Word; but as he had taken
me in his Arms, I held faft by him, or I fhould
have fallen to the Ground.
He perceiv'd the Surprife, and immediately
pulls a Bottle out of his Pocket, and gave me a
Dram of Cordial, which he had brought on pur-
pofe for me; after I had drank it, I fat down up-
on the Ground; and though it brought me to my
felf, yet it was a good while before I could fpeak
a Word to him.
All this while the poor Man was in as great an
Extafy as I, only not under any Surprize, as I was;
and he faid a thoufand kind tender Things to me,
to compofe and bring me to my felf; but fuch
was the Flood of Joy in my Breaſt, that it put all
my Spirits into Confufion; at laft it broke out
into Tears, and in a little while after I recover'd
my Speech.
Then I took my Turn, and embrac'd him as
my Deliverer; and we rejoyc'd together. I told
him, I look'd upon him as a Man fent from Hea-
ven to deliver me, and that the whole Tranſaction
feem'd to be a Chain of Wonders; that fuch Things
as theſe were the Teftimonies we had of a fecret
Hand of Providence governing the World, and an
Evidence, that the Eyes of an infinite Power could
ſearch into the remoteſt Corner of the World, and
fend Help to the Miferable whenever he pleafed.
I forgot not to lift up my Heart in Thankful-
nefs to Heaven; and what Heart could forbear to
bless him, who had not only in a miraculous Man-
ner provided for one in fuch a Wilderneſs, and
in fuch a defolate Condition, but from whom
every Deliverance muft always be acknowledged
to proceed!
When
[325 ]
1
When we had talk'd a while, the Captain told
me, he had brought me fome little Refreshment,
fuch as the Ship afforded, and fuch as the Wretches
that had been fo long his Maſters had not plun-
der'd him of: Upon this he call'd aloud to the
Boat, and bid his Men bring the Things a-fhore
that were for the Governour; and indeed it was
a Prefent, as if I had been one not that was to be
carry'd away along with them, but as if I had been
to dwell upon the Iſland ſtill, and they were to go
without me.
+
Firſt he had brought me a Cafe of Bottles full
of excellent Cordial Waters, fix large Bottles of
Madera Wine; the Bottles held two Quarts a-
piece two Pound of excellent good Tobacco,
twelve good Pieces of the Ship's Beef, and fix Pie-
ces of Pork, with a Bag of Peafe, and about a hun-
dred Weight of Bisket.
2
He brought me alfo a Box of Sugar, a Box of
Flower, a Bag full of Lemons, and two Bottles of
Lime-juice, and abundance of other Things: But
befides thefe, and what was a thouſand times more
ufeful to me, he brought me fix clean new Shirts,
fix very good Neckcloaths, two Pair of Gloves,
one Pair of Shoes, a Hat, and one Pair of Stock-
ings, and a very good Suit of Cloaths of his own,
which had been worn but very little : In a Word,
he cloathed me from Head to Foot.
It was a very kind and agreeable Prefent, as any
one may imagine, to one in my Circumftances:
But never was any thing in the World of that Kind
fo unpleafant, awkard, and uneafy as it was to
me to wear fuch Cloaths at their firft putting on,
After thefe Ceremonies paft, and after all his
good Things were brought into my little Apart
inent, we began to confult what was to be done
with the Prifoners we had; for it was worth.con-
fidering
Y 3
}
[326]
:
fidering, whether we might venture to take them
away with us or no, efpecially two of them, who
we knew to be incorrigible and refractory to the
laſt degree; and the Captain faid, he knew they
were fuch Rogues, that there was no obliging
them, and if he did carry them away, it muſt be
in Irons, as Malefactors to be deliver'd over to Ju-
ftice at the firft English Colony he could come at;
and I found that the Captain himſelf was very an-
xious about it.
}
Upon this, I told him, that if he defired it, I
durft undertake to bring the two Men he spoke of,
to make it their own Requeft that he ſhould leave
them upon the Ifland: I should be very glad of that,
fays the Captain, with all my Heart.
Well, fays I, I will fend for them up, and talk
with them for you; fo I caus'd Friday and the two
Hoſtages, for they were now difcharg'd, their
Comrades having perform'd their Promiſe; I ſay, I
caufed them to go to the Cave, and bring up the
five Men pinioned, as they were, to the Bower and
keep them there 'till I came.
After fome Time, I came thither drefs'd in my
new Habit, and now I was call'd Governour again;
being all met, and the Captain with me, I caus'd
the Men to be brought before me, and I told them,
I had had a full Account of their villanious Beha
viour to the Captain, and how they had ran away
with the Ship, and were preparing to commit far-
ther Robberies, but that Providence had en-
fnar'd them in their own Ways, and that they
were fall'n into the Pit which they had digg'd for
others.
I let them know, that by my Direction the Ship
had been feiz'd, that the lay now in the Road, and
they might fee by and by, that their new Captain
had
[327]
}
had receiv'd the Reward of his Villany; for that
they might fee him hanging at the Yard-Arm.
That as to them, I wanted to know what they
had to fay, why I fhould not execute them as Pi-
rates taken in the Fact, as by my Commiffion they
could not doubt I had Authority to do.
One of them anfwer'd in the Name of the reft,
That they had nothing to fay but this, That when
they were taken the Captain promis'd them their
Lives, and they humbly implor'd my Mercy: But
I told them, I knew not what Mercy to fhew them;
for, as for myſelf, I had refolved to quit the
Ifland with all my Men, and had taken Paffage
with the Captain to go for England: And as for
the Captain, he could not carry them to England,
other then as Prifoners in Irons to be tryed for
Mutiny and running away with the Ship; the
Confequence of which they muft needs know
would be the Gallows; fo that I could not tell
which was beft for them, unless they had a Mind
to take their Fate in the Iſland, if they defir'd that,
I did not care, as I had Liberty to leave it, I had
Tome Inclination to give them their Lives, if they
thought they could ſhift on Shore.
They feem'd very thankful for it, faid they
would much rather venture to stay there, than to
be carry'd to England to be hang'd; fo I left it on
that Iffue.
However, the Captain feem'd to make fome
Difficulty of it, as if he durft not leave them
there: Upon this I feemed a little angry with the
Captain, and told him, That they were my Prifo-
ners, not his; and that feeing I had offer'd them
fo much Favour, I would be as good as my Word
;
and that if he did not think fit to confent to it, Í
would fet them at Liberty as I found them; and
Y 4
if
7
[328]
1
if he did not like it, he might take them again if
he could catch them.
Upon this they appear'd very thankful, and I
accordingly fet them at Liberty, and bad them rc-
tire into the Woods, to the Place whence they
came, and I would leave them fome Fire Arms,
fome Ammunition, and fome Directions how they
ſhould live very well, if they thought fit.
Upon this, I prepar'd to go on Board the Ship,
but told the Captain, that I would ſtay that Night
to prepare my Things, and defir'd him to go on
Board in the mean Time, and keep all right in
the Ship, and fend the Boat on Shore the next Day
for me; ordering him, in the mean time, to caufe
the new Captain who was kill'd, to be hang'd at
the Yard-Arm, that theſe Men might fee him.
1
When the Captain was gone, I fent for the Men
up to me to my Apartment, and enter'd ſeriouſly
into Difcourfe with them of their Circumſtances
I told them, I thought they had made a right
Choice; that if the Captain carry'd them away,
they would certainly be hang'd. I fhewed them
the new Captain hanging at the Yard-Arm of the
Ship,and told them they had nothing lefs to expect.
When they had all declar'd their willingness to
ftay, I then told them, I would let them into the
Story of my living there, and put them into the
Way of making it eafy to them. Accordingly I
gave them the whole Hiftory of the Place, and of
my coming to it; thew'd them my Fortifications,
the way I made my Bread, planted my Corn, cu-
red my Grapès; and in a Word, all that was ne-
ceffary to make them eafy: I told them the Story
alfo of the fixteen Spaniards that were to be expect-
ed; for whom I left a Letter, and made thei
promile to treat them in common with then-
felves.
:
I left
[ 329 ]
I left them my Fire-Arms, viz, Five Muskets,
three Fowling-Pieces, and three Swords. I had
above a Barrel and half of Powder left; for after
the first Year or two, I uſed but little, and waſted
none. I gave them a Defcription of the Way I
managed the Goats, and Directions to milk and
fatten them, and to make both Butter and Cheeſe.
•
In a Word, I gave them every Part of my own
Story; and I told them, I would prevail with the
Captain to leave them two Barrels of Gun-Powder
more, and fome Garden-Seeds, which I told them
I would have been very glad of; alfo I gave them
the Bag of Peaſe which the Captain had brought
me to eat, and bad them be fure to fow and en-
creaſe them.
!
Having done all this, I left them the next Day,
and went on Board the Ship: We prepar'd imme-
diately to fail, but did not weigh that Night:
The next Morning early, two of the five Men
came fwimming to the Ship's Side, and making a
moſt lementable Complaint of the other three,
begg❜d to be taken into the Ship, for God's Sake,
for they ſhould be murder'd, and begged the Cap-
tain to take them on Board, tho' he hang'd them
immediately.
Upon this, the Captain pretended to have no
Power without me; but after fome Difficulty, and
after their folemn Promifes of Amendment, they
were taken on Board, and were fome time after
foundly whipped and pickled; after which, they
proved very honeft and quiet Fellows.
Some time after this, the Boat was ordered on
Shore, the Tide being up, with the Things promi-
fed to the Men, to which the Captain,at my Inter-
ceffion, caus'd their Chefts and Cloaths to be ad-
ded, which they took, and were very thankful for?
I also encouraged them, by telling them, that if
it
[ 33༠ ]
it lay in my Way to fend any Veffel to take them
in, I would not forget them.
When I took Leave of this Iſland, I carry'd on
Board for Reliques the great Goat's Skin Cap I had
made, my Umbrella, and one of my Parrots;
alfo I forgot not to take the Money I formerly
mention'd, which had lain by me fo long ufelefs,
that it was grown rufty, or tarnished, and could
hardly pafs for Silver, till it had been a little
rubbed and handled; as alfo the Money I found
in the Wreck of the Spanish Ship.
And thus I left the Ifland, the Nineteenth of
December, as I found by the Ship's Account, in the
Year 1686, after I had been upon it eight and
twenty Years, two Months, and nineteen Days;
being deliver'd from this fecond Captivity the fame
Day of the Month, that I firit made my efcape, in
the Barco-Longo, from among the Moors of Sallee.
I
In this Veffel, after a long Voyage, I arriv'd in
England, the Eleventh of June, in the Year 1687,
having been thirty and five Years abſent.
When I came to England, I was as perfect a
Stranger to all the World, as if I had never been
known there. My Benefactor and faithful Stew.
ard, who I had left in Truft with my Money, was
alive; but had had great Misfortunes in the World,
was become a Widow the fecond Time, and very
low in the World: I made her eafy as to what the
ow'd me,affuring her, I would give her no Trouble;
but on the contrary, in gratitude to her former
Care and Faithfulness to me, I relieved her, as my
little Stock would afford, which at that Time
would indeed allow me to do but little for her;
but I affur'd her, I would never forget her former
Kindness to me; nor did I forget her, when I had
fufficient to help her; as fhall be obferved in its
Place.
I went
[ 33 ]
1
I went down afterwards into Torkshire; but my
Father was dead, and my Mother, and all the Fa-
mily extinct, except that I found two Sifters, and
two of the Children of one of my Brothers; and as
I had been long ago given over for dead, there had
been no Proviſion made for me; fo that, in a Word,
I found nothing to relieve or affift me; and that
little Money I had, would not do much for me, as
to ſettling in the World.
I met with one piece of Gratitude indeed, which
I did not expect; and this was, That the Maſter
of the Ship, who I had fo happily, deliver'd, and
by the fame Means fav'd the Ship and Cargo, ha-
ving given a very handfome Account of the Own-
ers of the Manner how I had fav'd the Lives of
the Men, and the Ship, they invited me to meet
them, and fome other Merchants concern'd, and
all together made me a very hand fome Complement
upon the Subject, and a Prefent of almoft two
hundred Pounds Sterling.
But after making feveral Reflections upon the
Circumſtances of my Life, and how little Way this
would go towards fettling me in the World, I re-
folv'd to go to Lisbon, and fee it I might not come
by fome Information of the State of my Plantation
in the Brafils, and of what was become of my Parte
ner. who I had Reafon to fuppofe had fome Years
now given me over for dead.
With this View I took Shipping for Lisbon,
where I arriv'd in April following; my Man Fri-
day accompanying me very honeftly in all theſe
Ramblings, and proving a moſt faithful Servant
upon all Occafions.
When I came to Lisbon, I found out, by Enqui-
ry, and to my particular Satisfaction, my old Friend
the Captain of the Ship, who firſt took me up at
Sea, off of the Shore of Africk: He was now
grown
[332]
6
grown old, and had left off the Sea, having put
his Son, who was far from a young Man, into his
Ship; and who ſtill uſed the Brafil Trade. The
old Man did not know me, and, indeed, I hardly
knew him; but I foon brought him to my Re-
membrance, and as foon brought my felf to his
Remembrance, when I told him who I was.
}
After fome paffionate Expreffions of the old Ac-
quaintance, I enquir'd, you may be fure, after my
Plantation and my Partner: The old Man told me
he had not been in the Brafils for about nine Years;
but that he could affure me, that when he came
away, my Partner was living, but the Trustees,
who I had join'd with him to take Cognizance of
my Part, were both dead; that however, he be-
liev'd that I would have a very good Account of
the Improvement of the Plantation; for that upon
the general Belief of my being caft away and
drown'd, my Truſtees had given in the Account of
the Produce of my Part of the Plantation, to the
Procurator Fifcal; who had appropriated it, in
Cafe I never came to claim it, one Third to the
King, and two Thirds to the Monaftery of St. Au-
guftine, to be expended for the Benefit of the Poor,
and for the Converſion of the Indians to the Ca-
tholick Faith; but that if I appear'd, or any one
for me, to claim the Inheritance, it fhould be re-
ftor'd; only that the Improvement, or annual
Production, being diſtributed to charitable Uſes,
could not be reſtor'd; but he affured me, that the
Steward of the King's Revenue (from Lands) and
the Provedidore, or Steward of the Monaftery,
had taken great Care all along, that the Incum-
bent, that is to fay, my Partner, gave every Year
a faithful Account of the Produce, of which they
receiv'd duly my Moiety.
I ask❜á
[ 333 ]
I ask'd him if he knew to what Height of Im-
provement he had brought the Plantation? And,
whether he thought it might be worth looking af-
ter; or whether, on my going thither, I ſhould
meet with no Obftruction to my poffeffing my juft
Right in the Moiety?
He told me, he could not tell exactly to what
Degree the Plantation was improv'd; but this he
knew, that my Partner was grown exceeding rich
upon the enjoying but one Half of it; and that, to
the beſt of his Remembrance, he had heard, that
the King's Third of my Part, which was, it feems,
granted away to fome other Monaſtery, or Reli-
gious Houfe, amounted to above two hundred
Moidores a Year; that as to my being reſtor'd to a
quiet Poffeffion of it, there was no Queſtion to be
made of that, my Partner being alive to witnefs
my Title, and my Name being alſo enroll'd in the
Regiſter of the Country; alfo he told me, that
the Survivors of my two Truſtees, were very fair
honeſt People, and very Wealthy; and he believ'd
I would not only have their Affiftance for putting
me in Poffeffion, but would find a very confider-
able Sum of Money in their Hands, for my Ac-
count; being the Produce of the Farm, while their
Fathers held the Truſt,and before it was given up,
as above, which, as he remember'd, was for about
twelve Years.
I fhew'd my ſelf a little concern'd, and uneafy
at this Account, and enquir'd of the old Captain,
how it came to paſs, that the Truſtees ſhould thus
difpofe of my Effects, when he knew that I had
made my Will, and had made him, the Portugueſe
Captain, my univerfal Heir, &c.
He told me, that was true; but that as there
was no Proof of my being dead, he could not act
as Executor, until fome certain Account fhould
come
✔
[334]
Come of my Death; and that beſides, he was not
willing to intermeddle with a Thing fo remote:
That it was true, he had Regifter'd my Will,
and put in his Claim; and could he have given
any Account of my being dead or alive, he would
have acted by Procuration, and taken Poffeffion of
the Ingenio (fo they call'd the Sugar-houfe) and
had given his Son, who was now at the Brafils,
Order to do it.
But, fays the old Man, I have one Piece of
News to tell you, which, perhaps, may not be fo
acceptable to you as the reft, and that is, That
believing you were loft, and all the World believ
ing fo alfo, your Partner and Trustees did offer
to accompt to me in your Name, for fix or eight
of the firft Years of Profits, which I receiv'd ;
but there being at that Time, fays he, great Dif
burſements for increafing the Works, building an
Ingenio, and buying Slaves, it did not amount to
near fo much as afterwards it produc'd : However,
fays the old Man, I fhall give you a true Accounť
of what I have receiv'd in all, and how I have
difpos'd of it
After a few Days farther Conference with this
ancient Friend, he brought me an Account of the
fix firſt Years Income of my Plantation, fign'd by
my Partner, and the Merchant's Trustees, being
always deliver'd in Goods, viz. Tobacco in Roll,
and Sugar in Chefts, befides Rum, Malaflus, &c.
which is the Confequence of a Sugar-Work; and
I found, by this Account, that every Year the In-
come confiderably Increas'd: But, as above, the
Disburſement being large, the Sum at firft was
fmall: However, the old Man let me fee, that he
was Debtor to me 470 Maidores of Gold, befidcs
60 Cheſts of Sugar, and 15 double Rolls of To-
bacco, which were loft in his Ship; he having been
fhi-
[335]
fhip-wreck'd coming Home to Lisbon, about ir
Years after my leaving the Place.
The good Man then began to complain of his
Misfortunes, and how he had beenoblig'd to make
Ufe of my Money to recover his Loffes, and buy
him a Share in a new Ship However, my old
Friend, fays he, you fhall not want a Supply in
your Neceflity; and as foon as my Son returns,
you ſhall be fully fatisfy'd.
Upon this, he pulls out an old Pouch, and gives
me 160 Portugal Moidores in Gold; and giving
me the Wrighting of his Title to the Ship, which
his Son was gone to the Brafils in, of which he
was a Quarter Part Owner, and his Son another,
he puts them both into my Hands for Security of
the reſt.
I was two much mov'd with the Honefty and
Kindness of the poor Man, to be able to bear this;
and remembring what he had done for me, how
he had taken me up at Sea, and how generouſly he
had uſed me on all Occafions, and, particularly,
how fincere a Friend he was now to me, I could
hardly refrain weeping at what he ſaid to me:
Therefore, firſt I ask'd him, if his Circumſtances
admitted him to fpare fo much Money at that
Time, and if it would not ftraiten him? He told
me, he could not fay but it might ſtraiten him a
little; but however, it was my Money, and I
might want it more than he.
i
Every thing the good Man faid was full of Af
fection, and I could hardly refrain from Tears
while he fpoke: In fhort, I took 100 of the Moi-
dores, and call'd for a Pen and Ink to give him a
Receipt for them; then I return'd him the reft,and
told him, if ever I had Poffeffion of the Plantation
I would return the other to him alfo, as indeed I
afterwards did; and that as to the Bill of Sale of
!
his
[336]
his Part in his Son's Ship, I would not take it by
any Means; but that if I wanted the Money, I
found he was honeft enough to pay me; and if I
did not, but came to receive what he gave me Rea-
fon to expect, I would never have a Penny more
from him,
:
+
When this was pafs'd, the old Man began to ask
me, if he ſhould put me in a Method to make my
Claim to my Plantation? I told him, I thought to
go over to it my felf: He faid, I might do fo if I
pleas'd; but that if I did not, there were Ways e-
nough to fecure my Right, and immediately to ap-
propriate the Profits to my Ufe; and as there were
Ships in the River of Lisbon, juſt ready to go away
to Brafil, he made me enter my Name in a publick
Regifter, with his Affidavit, affirming upon Oath
that I was alive, and that I was the fame Perfon
who took up the Land for the Planting the faid
Plantation at first.
This being regularly attefted by a Notary, and
a Procuration affix'd, he directed me to fend it with
a Letter of his Writing, to a Merchant of his Ac-
quaintance at the Place, and then propos'd my
ſtaying with him 'till an Account came of the Re-
turn.
Never any thing was more honourable than the
Proceedings upon this Procuration; for in lefs than
feven Months I receiv'd a large Packet from the
Survivors of my Truſtees, the Merchants, for whoſe
Account I went to Sea, in which were the follow-
ing particular Letters and Papers enclos'd.
}
First, There was the Account Current of the
Porduce of my Farm, or Plantation, from the Year
when their Fathers had balanc'd with my old Por
tugal Captain, being for fix Years; the Balance
appear'd to be 1174 Moidores in my Favour..
Secondly
[ 337 ]
Secondly, There was the Account of four years
more, while they kept the Effects in their Hands,
before the Government claim'd the Adminiftra-
tion, as being the Effects of a Perſon not to be
found, which they call Civil Death; and the Bal-
lance of this, the Value of the Plantation encrea-
fing, amounted to Cruifadoes, which made
3241 Moidores.
Thirdly, There was the Prior of the Augustin's
Account, who had receiv'd the Profits for above
fourteen Years; but not being to account for what
was difpos'd to the Hofpital,very honeftly declar'd
he had 872 Moidores not diftributed, which he
acknowledg'd to my Account; as to the King's
Part, that refunded nothing.
;
There was a Letter of my Partner's, congratula-
ting me very affectionately upon my being alive,
giving me an Account how the Eftate was im
prov'd, and what it produc'd a Year, with a Par-
ticular of the Number of Squares or Acres that it
contain'd; how planted, how many Slaves there
were upon it; and making two and twenty Croffes
for Bleffings, told me he had faid fo many Ave Ma-
ria's to thank the Bleſſed Virgin that I was a live
inviting me very paffionately to come over and
take Poffeffion of my own, and in the mean time
to give him Orders to whom he ſhould deliver my
Effects, if I did not come my felf; concluding
with a hearty Tender of his Friendſhip, and that
of his Family, and fent me, as a Prefent, feven
fine Leopards Skins, which he had, it feems, recei-
ved from Africk, by fome other Ship which he had
fent thither, and who, it ſeems, had made a better
Voyage than I: He fent me alfo five Chefts of ex-
cellent Sweetmeats, and an Hundred Pieces of
Gold uncoin'd, not quite fo large as Moidores.
Part I.
Z
By
[ 338
]
By the fame Fleet, my two Merchant-Truffees
fhipp'd me 1200 Chefts of Sugar, 80 Rools of To-
bacco, and the reſt of the whole Accompt in Gold.
I might well fay now, indeed, That the latter
End of Job was better than the Beginning. It is
impoffible to exprefs the Flutterings of my very
Heart, when I look'd over thefe Letters, and efpe-
cially when I found all my Wealth about me; for
as the Brafil Ships come all in Fleets, the fame
Ships which brought my Letters, brought my
Goods; and the Effects were fafe in the River be-
fore the Letters came to my Hand. In a Word,
I turn'd pale, and grew fick; and had not the old
Man run and fetch'd ine a Cordial, I believe the
fudden Surprize of Joy had overfet Nature, and I
had dy'd upon the Spot.
י
Nay, after that I continued very ill, and was fo
fome Hours, 'till a Phyſician being fent for, and
fomething of the real Caufe of my Illness being
known, he order'd me to be let Blood; after
which I had Relief, and grew well: But I verily
believe, if it had not been cas'd by a Vent given
in that Manner to the Spirits, I fhould have
dy'd.
I was now Maſter, all on a fudden, of above
5000l. Sterling in Money, and had an Eſtate, as
might well call it, in the Brafils, of abové a
thouſand Pounds a Year, as fure as an Eftate of
Lands in England; And, in a Word, I was in a
Condition which I fcarce knew how to underſtand,
or how to compofe my felf for the Enjoyment
of it.
The first Thing I did, was to recompence my
original Benefactor, my good old Captain, who
had been firft Charitable to me in my Diſtreſs,
Kind to me in the Beginning, and Honeft to me at
the End I fhew'd him all that was fent me; I
told
[ 339 ]
told him, that next to the Providence of Heaven,
which difpofes all Things, it was owing to him;
and that it now lay on me to reward him, which
I would do a hundred fold: So I firſt returned to
him the hundred Moidores I had received of him,
then I fent for a Notary, and caufed him to draw
up a General Releaſe or Difcharge for the 470
Moidores, which he had acknowledged heow'd me,
in the fulleft and firmeft manner poffible; after
which, I caus'd a Procuration to be drawn, im-
powering him to be my Receiver of the Annual Pro-
fits of my Plantation, and appointing my Partner
to Accompt to him, and make the Returns by the
ufual Fleets to him in my Name: And a Clauſe in
the End, being a Grant of 100 Moidores a Year to
him, during his Life, out of the Effects, and 50
Moidores a Year to his Son after him, for his Life:
And thus I requited my old Man.
I was now to confider which Way to ſteer my
Courſe next, and what to do with the Eſtate that
Providence had thus put into my Hands; and, in-
deed, I had more Care upon my Head now, than
I had in my filent State of Life in the Iſland,
where I wanted nothing but what I had, and
had nothing but what I wanted: Whereas Í had
now a great Charge upon me, and my Buſineſs
was how to fecure it. I had ne'er a Cave now to
hide my Money in, or a Place where it might lye
without Lock or Key, 'till it grew mouldy and
tarniſh'd before any Body would meddle with it :
On the contrary, I knew not where to put it, or
who to truſt with it. My old Patron, the Cap-
tain, indeed was honeft, and that was the only
Refuge I had.
In the next "Place, my Intereſt in the Brafils
feem'd to fummon me thither; but now I could
not tell how to think of going thither, 'till I had
Z 2
fettled
[ 340 ]
fettled my Affairs, and left my Effects in fome fafe
Hands behind me. At first I thought of my old
Friend the Widow, who I knew was honeft, and
would be just to me; but then he was in Years,
and but poor, and, for ought I knew, might be in
Debt; fo that, in a Word, I had no Way but to
go back to England my felf, and take my Effects
with me.
It was fome Months however before I refolved
upon this; and therefore, as I had rewarded the
old Captain fully, and to his Satisfaction, who had
been my former Benefactor, fo I began to think of
my poor Widow, whofe Husband had been my
first Benefactor, and fhe,while it was in her Power,
my faithful Steward and Inftructor. So the firft
Thing I did, I got a Merchant in Lisbon to write to
his Correfpondent in London, not only to pay a
Bill, but to go find her out, and carry her in Mo-
ney an hundred Pounds from me, and to talk with
her, and comfort her in her Poverty, by telling
her, fhe fhould, if I liv'd, have a further Supply:
At the fame time I fent my two Sifters in the
Country, each of them an hundred Pounds, they
being, though not in Want, yet not in very good
Circumſtances; one having been marry'd, and left
a Widow, and the other having a Husband not fo
kind to her as he ſhould be.
But among all my Relations or Acquaintances,
I could not yet pitch upon one, to whom I durft
commit the Grofs of my Stock, that I might go
away to the Brafils, and leave Things fafe behind
me; and this greatly perplexed me.
I had once a Mind to have gone to the Brafils,
and have fettled my felf there; for I was, as it
were, naturaliz'd to the Place; but I had fome lit-
tle Scruple in my Mind about Religion, which in-
fenfibly drew me back, of which I fhall fay more
prefently,
[ 34 ]
prefently. However, it was not Religion that
kept me from going there for the prefent; and as
I had made no Scruple of being openly of the Re-
ligion of the Country, all the while I was among
them, fo neither did I yet; only that now and
then having of late thought more of it, (than for-
merly) when I began to think of living and dying
among them, I began to regret my having profefs'd
my felf a Papiſt, and thought it might not be the
beft Religion to die with.
But, as I have faid, this was not the main Thing
that kept me from going to the Brafils; but that
really I did not know with whom to leave my Ef-
fects behind me; fo I refolv'd at laft to go to Eng-
land with it, where,if I arriv'd, I concluded I fhould
make fome Acquaintance, or find fome Relations
that would be faithful to me; and accordingly I
prepar❜d to go for England with all my Wealth.
In order to prepare Things for my going Home,I
firft (the Brafil Fleet being juſt going away) refolv'd
to give Anſwers fuitable to the juft and faithful Ac-
count of Things I had from thence; and firft to the
Prior of St. Auguftin.I wrote a Letter full of Thanks
for their juft Dealings, and the Offer of the 872
Moidores, which was indifpos'd of, which I defir'd
might be given, 500 to the Monastery, and 372 to
the Poor, as the Prior fhould direct, defiring the
good Padres Prayers for me, and the like,
I wrote next, a Letter of Thanks to my two
Truſtees, with all the Acknowledgment that fo
much Juſtice and Honefty called for; as for fend-
ing them any Prefent, they were far above having
any Occafion of it.
Laftly, I wrote to my Partner, acknowledging
his Induſtry in the Improving the Plantation, and
- his Integrity in encreating the Stock of the Works,
giving him Inftructions for his future Govern-
Z 3
Ꮓ
ment
i
[342]
ment of my Part, according to the Powers I had
left with my old Patron, to whom I defir'd him to
fend whatever became due to me, 'till he fhould
hear from me more particularly; affuring him, that
it was my Intention, not only to come to him, but
to fettle my ſelf there for the Remainder of my
Life: To this I added a very hand fome Prefent of
fome Italian Silks for his Wife and two Daughters,
for fuch the Captain's Son inform'd me he had;
with two Pieces of fine English Broad-Cloath, the
beſt I could get in Lisbon, five Pieces of black Bays,
and fome. Flanders Lace of a good Value.
Having thus fettled my Affairs, fold my Cargoe,
and turn'd all my Effects into good Bills of Ex-
change, my next Difficulty was, which Way to go
to England: I had been accuſtom'd enough to the
Sea, and yet I had a ſtrange Averfion to going to
England by Sea at that Time; and though I could
give no Reafon for it, yet the Difficulty encreas'd
upon me fo much, that though I had once fhipp'd
my Baggage, in order to go, yet I altered my Mind,
and that not once, but two or three times.
It is true, I had been very unfortunate by Sea,
and this might be fome of the Reafons: But let
no Man flight the ftrong Impulfes of his own
Thoughts in Cafes of fuch Moment: Two of the
Ships which I had fingled out to go in, I mean,
more particularly fingled out than any other, that
is to fay, fo as in one of them to put my Things on
Board, and in the other to have agreed with the
Captain; I fay, two of thefe Ships mifcarry'd, viz.
one was taken by the Algerines, and the other
was caft away on the Start near Torbay, and all the
People drown'd except three; fo that in either of
thofe Veffels I had been made miferable, and in
which moft, it was hard to fay.
Having
[ 343 ]
Having been thus harafs'd in my Thoughts, my
old Pilot, to whom I communicated every thing,
prefs'd me earneſtly not to go by Sea; but either
to go by Land to the Groyne, and cross over the
Bay of Biscay to Rochell, from whence it was but
an eaſy and fafe Journey by Land to Paris, and fo
to Calais and Dover; or to go up to Madrid, and
fo all the Way by Land through France.
In a Word,I was ſo prepoffefs'd againſt my going
by Sea at all, except from Calais to Dover, that
I refolv'd to travel all the Way by Land; which,
as I was not in Hafte, and did not value the
Charge, was by much the pleaſanter Way; and to
make it more ſo, my old Captain brought an Eng-
lish Gentleman, the Son of a Merchant in Lisbon,
who was willing to Travel with me: After which,
we pick'd up two more English Merchants alfo, and
two young Portuguese Gentlemen, the laſt going to
Paris only; fo that we were in all fix of us, and
five Servants; the two Merchants, and the two
Portugueſe contenting themſelves with one Servant
between two, to fave the Charge; and as for me,
I got an English Sailor to travel with me as a Ser-
want, befides my Man Friday, who was too much
a Stranger, to be capable of fupplying the Place
of a Servant on the Road.
In this Manner I fet out from Lisbon; and our
Company being all very well mounted and arm'd,
we made a little Troop, whereof they did me the
Honour to call me Captain, as well becauſe I was
the oldeſt Man, as becauſe I had two Servants,
and, indeed, was the Original of the whole
Journey.
As I have troubled you with none of my Sea
Journals, fo I fhall trouble you now with none of
my Land Journal: But fome Adventures that hap-
Ꮓ
ZA
pen'd
1
[344]
pen'd to us in this tedious and difficult Journey, I
must not omit.
When we came to Madrid, we being all of us
Strangers to Spain, were willing to ſtay fome Time
to fee the Court of Spain, and to fee what was
worth obſerving; but it being the latter Part of
the Summer, we haften'd away, and ſet out from
Madrid about the Middle of October: But when we
came to the Edge of Navarre, we were alaram'd at
feveral Towns on the Way, with an Account, that
fo much Snow was fallen on the French Side of the
Mountains, that feveral Travellers were oblig'd
to come back to Pampeluna, after having attempted,
at an extreme Hazard, to paſs on.
When we came to Pampeluna it felf, we found it
fo indeed; and to me that had been always uſed
toa hot Climate, and indeed to Countries where
we could ſcarce bear any Cloaths on, the Cold was
inſufferable; nor, indeed,was it more painful than
it was furprizing, to come but ten Days before out
of the Old Caftile, where the Weather was not only
warm, but very hot; and immediately to feel a
Wind from the Pyrenean Mountains, ſo very keen,
fo feverely cold, as to be intollerable, and to en-
danger benumbing and perifhing of our Fingers
and Toes.
Poor Friday was really frighted when he ſaw the
Mountains all cover'd with Snow, and felt cold
Weather, which he had never ſeen or felt before
in his Life.
To mend the Matter, when we came to Pam-
peluna, it continu'd Snowing with fo much Vio-
lence, and fo long, that the People faid, Winter
was come before its Time, and the Roads, which
were difficult before, were now quite impaffable;
for, in a Word, the Snow lay in fome Places too
thick for us to Travel, and being not hard frozen,
as
1
[345]
as in the Cafe in Northern Countries, there was no
going without being in Danger of being bury'd
alive every Step. We ftaid no less than twenty
Days at Pampeluna; when (feeing the Winter com-
ing on, and no likelyhood of its being better, for
it was the fevereſt Winter all over Europe that had
been known in the Memory of Man) I propoſed
that we ſhould all go away to Fonterabia, and there
take Shipping for Bourdeaux, which was a very
little Voyage.
But while we were confidering this, there came
in four French Gentlemen, who having been ſtop-
ped on the French fide of the Paffes, as we were on
the Spanish, had found out a Guide, who traverfing
the Country near the Head of Languedoc, had
brought them over the Mountains by fuch Ways,
that they were not much incommoded with the
Snow; and where they met with Snow in any
Quantity, they faid it was frozen hard enough to
bear them and their Horſes.
We fent for this Guide, who told us, he would
undertake to carry us the fame Way, with no Ha-
zard from the Snow, provided we were arm'd fuf-
ficiently to protect us from wild Beafts; for, he
faid, upon theſe great Snows, it was frequent for
fome Wolves to fhow themſelves at the Foot of
the Mountains, being made ravenous for want of
Food, the Ground being covered with Snow: We
told him we were well enough prepared for fuch
Creatures as they were,if he would enfure us from
a Kind of two legged Wolves, which we were told
we were in moſt Danger from, eſpecially on the
French Side of the Mountains.
He fatisfy'd us there was no Danger of that Kind
in the way that we were to go: So we readily a-
greed to follow him, as did alſo twelve other Gen-
tlemen
[346]
tlemen, with their Servants, fome French, fome
Spanish, who, as I faid, had attempted to go, and
were oblig'd to come back again.
Accordingly we all fet out for Pampelung, with
our Guide, on the fifteenth of November; and in-
deed, I was furpriz'd, when inftead of going for-
ward, he came directly back with us, on the fame
Road that we came from Madrid, above twenty
Miles; when, being paſs'd two Rivers, and come
into the plain Country, we found our felves in a
warm Climate again, where the Country was plea-
fant, and no Snow to be feen; but on a fudden,
turning to the Left, he approach'd the Mountains
another Way; and though it is true, the Hills and
Precipices look'd dreadful, yet he made fo many
Tours, fuch Meanders, and led us by fuch wind-
ing Ways, that we were infenfibly pafs'd the
Height of the Mountains, without being much
incumber'd with the Snow; and all on a fudden.
he fhew'd us the pleafant fruitful Provinces of Lan-
guedoc and Gascoign, all green and flourishing; tho'
indeed it was at a great Diſtance, and we had fome
rough Way to paſs yet.
We were a little uneafy however, when we found
it fnow'd one whole Day, and at Night, fo faſt,
that we could not travel; but he bid us be eafy,
we ſhould foon be paſt it all: We found, indeed,
that we began to defcend every Day, and to come
more North than before; and fo depending upon
our Guide, we went on
It was about two Hours before Night, when
our Guide being fomething before us, and not juft
in Sight, out rufh'd three monftrous Wolves, and
after them a Bear, out of a hollow Way, adjoyn-
ing to a thick Wood; two of the Wolves flew up-
on the Guide, and had he been half a Mile before
us, he had been devour'd indeed, before we could
have
[ 347 ]
1
have help'd him: One of them faften'd upon his
Horſe, and the other attacked the Man with that
Violence, that he had not Time, or not Prefence
of Mind enough to draw his Piſtol, but hollowed
and cry'd out to us moſt luftily; my Man Friday
being next to me, I bid him ride up, and fee what
was the Matter: As foon as Friday came in Sight
of the Man, he hollow'd as loud as t'other, O Ma-
fter! O Master! But like a bold Fellow, rode di-
rectly up to the poor Man, and with his Piſtol
fhot the Wolf that attacked him into the Head.
It was happy for the poor Man, that it was my
Man Friday; for he having been uſed to that kind
of Creature in his Country, had no Fear upon
him; but went cloſe up to him, and fhot him, as
above; whereas any of us would have fir'd at a
farther Diſtance, and have perhaps either miss'd
the Wolf, or endanger'd fhooting the Man.
But it was enough to have terrify'd a bolder
Man than I,and indeed it alarm'd all our Compa-
ny, when with the Noife of Friday's Piftol, we
heard on both Sides the difmalleft howling of
Wolves, and the Noife redoubled by the Eccho of
the Mountains, that it was to us as if there had
been a prodigious Multitude of them; and perhaps
indeed, there was not fuch a few, as that we had
no Cauſe of Apprehenfions.
However, as Friday had killed this Wolf, the o-
ther, that had faſten'd upon the Horſe,left him im-
mediately, and fled, having happily faften'd upon
his Head, where the Boffes of the Bridle had ftuck
in his Teeth, fo that he had not done him much
Hurt: The Man, indeed, was moſt hurt; for the
raging Creature had bit him twice, once on the
Arm, and the other Time a little above his Knee;
and he was juſt as it were tumbling down by the
Diſorder
[ 348 ]
X
Diſorder of his Horfe, when Friday came up and
fhot the Wolf.
It is eafy to fuppofe, that at the Noife of Fri-
day's Piſtol, we all mended our Pace, and rid up as
faft as the Way (which was very difficult) would
give us Leave, to fee what was the Matter; as foon
as we came clear of the Trees, which blinded us
before, we faw clearly what had been the Cafe,
and how Friday had difengaged the poor Guide;
though we did not prefently difcern what Kind of
Creature it was he had killed.
But never was a Fight manag'd ſo hardily, and
in fuch a furprizing Manner,as that which follow'd
between Friday and the Bear, which gave us all
(though at firſt we were furpriz'd and afraid for
him) the greateſt Diverſion imaginable. As the
Bear is a heavy, clumfey Creature, and does not
gallop as the Wolf does, who is ſwift and light,
fo he has two particular Qualities, which generally
are the Rule of his Actions; First, As to Men, who
are not his proper Prey, I fay, not his proper Prey,
becauſe,tho' Ican't fay what exceffive hunger might
do, which was now their Cafe, the Ground being
all cover'd with Snow; but as to Men, he does not
ufually attemp them,unless they firft attack him:
On the contrary, if you meet him in the Woods, if
you don't meddle with him, he won't meddle with
you; but then you must take care to be very civil
to him, and give him the Road, for he is a very
nice Gentleman, he won't go a ſtep out of his Way
for a Prince; nay, if you are really afraid, your
beſt way is to look another Way, and keep going
on; for fometimes, if you ftop, and ſtand ſtill, and
look ftedfaſtly at him, he takes it for an Affront, but
if you throw or tofs any thing at him, and it hits
him, though it were but a Bit of a Stick as big as
your Finger, he takes it for an Affront, and fets all
his
[349]
his other Bufinefs afide to purfue his Revenge,
for he will have Satisfaction in Point of Honour,
that is his firſt Quality: The next is, That if he
be once affronted, he will never leave you, Night
or Day, till he has his Revenge, but follows at
a good round Rate, till he overtakes you.
My Man Friday had delivered our Guide, and
when we came up to him, he was helping him off
from his Horfe, for the Man was both hurt and
frighted, and indeed the laft more than the firſt ;
when on the fudden, we fpy'd the Bear come out
of the Wood, and a vaſt monftrous one it was,
the biggeſt by far that ever I faw. We were all a
little furprized when we faw him,but when Friday
faw him, it was eafy to fee Joy and Courage in the
Fellow's Countenance: 0!0! O! fays Friday,three
Times pointing to him, O Mafter! You give me to
Leave, me hakee to Hand with him, me make you good
laugh.
I was furpriz'd to fee the Fellow fo pleas'd; You
Fool you, fays 1, he will eat you up: Eatee me up! Eatee
me up! fays Friday, twice over again; Me eatee
him up: Me make you good Laugh: You all stay here,
me show you good Laugh: So down he fits, and gets
his Boots off in a Moment, and put on a Pair of
Pumps, (as we call the flat Shoes they wear) and
which he had in his Pocket, gives my other Ser-
vant his Horſe, and, with his Gun, away he flew,
fwift like the Wind.
The Bear was walking foftly on, and offer'd to
meddle with no Body, till Friday coming pretty
near, calls to him, as if the Bear could underſtand
him; Hark ye, hark ye, fays Friday, me fpeakee wit
you: We follow'd at a Diſtance; for now being
come down on the Gascoign Side of the Mountains,
we were enter'd a vaft great Foreft, where the
Country was plain, and pretty open, tho' many
Trees in it ſcatter'd here and there. Friday
[350]
1
Friday, who had, as we fay, the Heels of the Bear,
came up with him quickly, and takes up a great
Stone and throws at him, and hit him juft on the
Head; but did him no more Harm, than if he had
thrown it againſt a Wall; but it anfwer'd Friday's
End; for the Rogue was fo void of Fear, that he
did it purely to make the Bear follow him, and
fhow us fome Laugh, as he call'd it.
As foon as the Bear felt the Stone, and faw him,
he turns about, and comes after him, taking devi-
lifh long Strides, and fhuffling along at a ſtrange
Rate, fo as would put a Horfe to a middling Gal-
lop; away runs Friday, and takes his Courfe, as if
he run towards us for Help; fo we all refolved to
fire at once upon the Bear, and deliver my Man;
tho' I was angry at him heartily for bringing the
Bear back upon us, when he was going about
his own Buſineſs another Way; and efpecially I
was angry that he had turn'd the Bear upon us, and
then run away; and I call'd out, You Dog, faid I,
is this your making us laugh? Come away, and take your
Horfe, that we may fhoot the Creature; he hears me,
and cries out, No shoot, no shoot, stand still, you get
much Laugh. And as the nimble Creature run two
Foot for the Beaſt's one, he turn'd on a fudden, on
one Side of us, and feeing a great Oak-Tree, fit for
his Purpoſe, he beckon'd to us to follow, and dou-
bling his Pace, he gets nimbly up the Tree, laying
his Gun down upon the Ground, at about five or
fix Yards from the Bottom of the Tree.
The Bear foon came to the Tree, and we fol-
low'd at a Diſtance; the first Thing he did, he
ſtopp'd at the Gun, fmelt to it, but let it lie, and
up he fcrambles into the Tree, climbing like a Cat,
tho' ſo monstrouſly heavy: I was amazed at the
Folly, as I thought it, of my Man, and could not
for my Life fee any Thing to laugh at yet, till fee-
ing
1
[351]
4
ing the Bear get up the Tree, we all rode nearer
to him.
When we came to the Tree, there was Friday
got out to the finall End of a large Limb of the
Tree, and the Bear got about half Way to him;
as foon as the Bear got out to that Part where the
Limb of the Tree was weaker, Ha, fays he to us,
now you see me teachee the Bear dance; fo he falls a
jumping and fhaking the Bough, at which the Bear
began to totter, but ſtood still, and began to look
behind him, to ſee how he ſhould get back; then
indeed we did laugh heartily: But Friday had not
done with him by a great deal; when he fees him
ſtand ſtill, he calls out to him again, as if he had
fuppos'd the Bear could fpeak English; What, you
no come farther? Pray you come farther; fo he left
jumping and fhaking the Bough; and the Bear, juſt
as if he had underſtood what he faid, did come a
little farther, then he fell a jumping again, and
the Bear ſtopp'd again.
We thought now was a good Time to knock him
on the Head, and I call'd to Friday to ftand ftill,
and we would ſhoot the Bear; but he cry'd out
carneſtly, O pray! O pray! no shoot, me shoot by and
then; he would have faid, by and by. However, to
fhorten the Story, Friday danc'd fo much, and
the Bear ſtood fo ticklish, that we had laughing
enough indeed, but ftill could not imagine what
the Fellow would do; for firft we thought he de-
pended upon fhaking the Bear off; and we found
the Bear was too cunning for that too; for he
would not go out far enough to be thrown down,
but clings faft with his great broad Claws and
Feet, fo that we could not imagine what would
be the End of it, and where the Jeft would be
at laft.
But
1
*
[ 352 ]
But Friday put us out of Doubt quickly; for
feeing the Bear cling faft to the Bough, and that
he would not be perfwaded to come any farther ;
Well, well, fays Friday, you no come farther, me go,
me go; you no come to me, me come to you, and upon
this, he goes out to the finalleft End of the Bough,
where it would bend with his Weight, and gently
lets himſelf down by it, fliding down the Bough,
till he came near enough to jump down on his Feet,
and away he run to his Gun, takes it up, and
ftands ftill.
Well, faid I to him, Friday, What will you do
now? Why don't you fhoot him? No fhoot, fays
Friday, no yet, me shoot now, me no kill, me stay, give
you one more Laugh: And indeed fo he did, as you
will fee prefently; for when the Bear fee his Ene-
my gone, he comes back from the Bough where he
ftood; but did it mighty leifurely, looking behind
him every Step, and coming backward till he
got into the Body of the Tree; then with the
fame hinder End foremost, he came down the
Tree, grafping it with his Claws, and moving
one Foot at a Time, very leifurely; at this Jun-
&ure, and juſt before he could fet his hind Feet
upon the Ground, Friday ſtepp'd close to him,
clapp'd the Muzzel of his Piece into his Ear, and
fhot him dead as a Stone.
Then the Rogue turn'd about, to fee if we did
not laugh, and when he faw we were pleas'd by
our Looks, he falls a laughing himfelf very loud;
So we kill Bear in my Country, fays Friday, fo you
kill them, fays I, why you have no Guns: No,
fays he, no Gun, but shoot great much long Arrow.
This was, indeed, a good Diverfion to us; but
we were ſtill in a wild Place, and our Guide very
much hurt, and what to do we hardly knew; the
Howling of Wolves run much in my Head; and in-
deed
4
}
[ 353 ]
deed, except the Noife I once heard on the Shore
of Africa, of which I have faid fomething already,
I never heard any thing that fill'd me with fo much
Horror.
Theſe things, and the Approach of Night, cal-
led us off, or elfe, as Friday would have had us,
we ſhould certainly have taken the Skin of this
monftrous Creature off, which was worth faving :
but we had three Leagues to go, and our Guide
haften'd us, fo we left him, and went forward on
our Journey.
The Ground was ftill cover'd with Snow, tho'
not fo deep and dangerous as on the Mountains,
and the ravenous Creatures, as we heard after-
terwards, were come down into the Forreſt and
plain Country, prefs'd by Hunger to feek for Food;
and had done a great deal of Miſchief in the Vil-
lages, where they furpriz'd the Country People,
kill'd a great many of their Sheep and Horfes,
and fome People too.
We had one dangerous Place to pafs, which our
Guide told us, if there were any more Wolves
in the Country, we ſhould find them there; and
this was in a ſmall Plain, furrounded with Woods
on every Side, and a long narrow Defile or Lane,
which we were to pass to get through the Wood,
and then we ſhould come to the Village where we
were to Lodge.
It was within half an Hour of Sun-fet when we
enter'd the firſt Wood; and a little after Sun-ſet,
when we came into the Plain, we met with no-
thing in the firſt Wood, except that in a little
Plain within the Wood, which was not above two
Furlongs over, we faw five great Wolves cross the
Road, full Speed one after another, as if they had
been in Chaſe of fome Prey, and had it in View,
Part I...
A a
they
[354]
they took no Notice of us, and were gone, and
out of our Sight in a few Montents.
{
"
' '
Upon this our Guide, who by the Way was a
wretched faint-hearted Fellow, bid us keep in a
ready Poſture: for he believ'd there were more
Wolves a coming.
We kept our Arms ready, and our Eyes aboutus,
but we faw no more Wolves, 'till we came thro'
that Wood, which was near half a League, and en-
ter'd the Plain; as foon as we came into the Plain,
we had Occafion enough to look about us; The
first Object we met with; was a dead Hotfe;
that is to fay, a poor Horfe which the Wolves
had kill'd, and at leaſt a Dozen of them at Work;
we could not fay eating of him, but picking of his
Bones rather; for they had eaten up all the Fich
before.
We did not think fit to diſturb them at their
Feaft, neither did they take much Notice of
us: Friday would have let fly at them, but I
would not fuffer him by any Means; for I found
we were like to have more Bufinefs upon our
Hands than we were aware of. We were not
gone half over the Plain, but we began to hear the
Wolves houl in the Wood on our Left, in a fright-
ful Manner, and prefently after we faw about a
hundred coming on directly towards us, all in, a
Body, and moſt of them in a Line, as regularly as
an Army drawn up by experienc'd Officers. I
fcarce knew in what Manner to receive them;
but found to draw our felves in a clofe Line was
the only way: So we form'd in a Moment: But
that we might not have too much Interval, I or-
der'd, that only every other Man fhould fire, and
that the others who had not fir'd ſhould ſtand rea-
dy to give them a fecond Volley immediately, if
they continu'd to advance upon us, and that then
ད
thofe
[355]
}
thoſe who had fir'd at firft, fhould not pretend to
load their Fuzees again, but ſtand ready with every
one a Piſtol, for we were all arm'd with a Fuzee,
and a Pair of Pistols each Man; fo we were by
this Method able to fire fix Volleys, half of us at
a Time; however, at preſent we had no Necefli-
ty; for upon firing the firft Volley, the Enemy
made a full Stop, being terrify'd as well with the
Noife, as with the Fire; four of them being fhot
into the Head,dropp'd,ſeveral others were wound-
ed, and went bleeding off, as we could fee by the
Snow, I found they ftopp'd, but did not immedi-
ately retreat; whereupon remembring that I had
been told, that the fierceft Creatures were terri-
fy'd at the Voice of a Man, I caus'd all our Com-
pany, to hollow as loud as we could, and I found
the Notion not altogether miſtaken; for upon
our Shout, they began to retire, and turn about;
then I order'd a ſecond Volley to be fir'd, in their
Rear, which put them to the Gallop, and away
they went to the Woods.
This gave us leiſure to charge our Pieces again,
and that we might loſe no Time, we kept going;
but we had but little more than loaded our Fu-
zees, and put our felves into a Readiness, when
we heard a terrible Noife in the fame Wood, on
our Left, only that it was farther onward the
fame Way we were to go.
The Night was coming on, and the Light be-
gan to be dusky, which made it worfe on our Side;
but the Noife encreating, we could eaſily perceive
that it was the howling and yelling of thofe hel-
lith Creatures; and on a fudden, we perceiv'd 2 or
3 Troops of Wolves, one on our left, one behind
us, and one on our Front; fo that we feem'd to
be furrounded with 'em; however, as they did not
fall upon us, we kept our Way forward, as faft as
A a 2
we
[356]
1
we could make our Horfes go, which the Way be
ing very rough, was only a good large Trot, and
in this manner we came in View of the Entrance
of a Wood, thro which we were to pafs, at the
farther fide of the Plain; but we were greatly fur-
priz'd, when coming near the Lane, or Pafs, we
faw a confus'd Number of Wolves ftanding juft
at the Entrance.
1
100
Ön a fudden, at another opening of the Wood,
we heard the Noife of a Gun, and looking that
Way, out rufh'd a Horfe, with a Saddle, and a
Bridle on him, flying like the Wind,and fixteen or
feventeen Wolves after him, full Speed, indeed,
the Horfe had the Heels of them; but as we fup-
pos'd that he could not hold it at that rate, we
doubted not but they would get up with him at
laft, and no queſtion but they did.
!!:},
But here we had a moft horrible Sight; for ri-
ding up to the Entrance where the Horfe came
out, we found the Carcafs of another Horfe, and of
two Men,devour'd by the ravenous Creatures, and
one of the Men was no doubt the fame who we
heard fire the Gun; for there lay a Gun juft by
him fir'd off, but as to the Man, his Head, and
the upper Part of his Body, was eaten up.
14
This fill'd us with Horror, and we knew not
what Courſe to take, but the Creatures refolv'd, us
foon; for they gather'd about us prefently,in hopes
of Prey; and I verily believe there were three hun-
dred of them: It happen'd very much to our Ad-
vantage, that at the Entrance into the Wood, but
a little Way from it, there lay fome large Timber
Trees, which had been cut down the Summer be-
fore, and I fuppofe, lay there for Carriage; I drew
my little Troop in among thofe Trees,and placing
our felves in a Line, behind one long Tree, Lad-
vis'd them all to Light, and keeping that Tree be-
foie
її
"
[ 357 ]
D
fore us, for a Breaſt-Work, to ftand in a Tri-
angle, or three Fronts, enclosing our Horfes in
the Center.
We did fo, and it was well, we did; for never
was a more furious Charge than the Creatures
made upon us in this Place; they came on us with
a growling kind of a noife and mounted the Piece
of Timber, (which as I faid, was our Breaſt-Work)
as if they were only rushing upon their Prey; and
this Fury of theirs, it feems, was principally occa-
fion'd by their feeing our Horfes behind us, which
was the Prey they aimed at : I order'd our Men to
fire as before, every other Man; and they took
their Aim fo fure, that indeed they kill'd feveral
of the Wolves at the firft Volley; but there was
a Neceffity to keep a continual Firing; for they
came on like Devils, thoſe behind, puſhing on
thofe before.
When we had fir'd our fecond Volley of our
Fuzees, we thought they stopped a little, and I
hoped they would have gone off, but it was but
a Moment; for others came forward again; fo
we fired two Volleys of our Piftols, and I believe
in thefe four Firings, we kill'd feventeen or eigh-
teen of them, and lamed twice as many; yet they
came on again.
I was loath to ſpend our laſt Shot too haftily; fo
I call'd my Servant, not my Man Friday, for he was
better employ'd; for with the greateſt Dexterity
imaginable, he had charged my Fuzee, and his
own, while we were engag'd, but as I faid, I call'd
my other Man, and giving him a Horn of Powder,
I bad him lay a Train, all along the Piece of Tim-
ber, and let it be a large Train; he did fo, and had
but juft Time to get away, when the Wolves came
up to it, and fome were got up upon it; when
I fnapping an uncharg'd Piftol, clofe to the Pow-
A a 3
der,
J
1
[358]
}
{
der, fet it on fire, thofe that were upon the Tim-
ber were fcorch'd with it, and fix or ſeven of
them fell, or rather jump'd in among us, with
the Force and Fright of the Fire, we dispatched
thefe in an Inftant, and the reft were fo frighted.
with the Light, which the Night, for it was
now very near dark, made more terrible, that
they drew back a little.
ال
1 71 7 )
Upon which I order'd our laft Pistols to be fir'd
off in one Volley, and after that we gave a Shout;
upon this, the Wolves turn'd Tail, and, we fal-
fy'd immediately upon near twenty lame Ones,
who we found ftrugling on the Ground, and
fell a cutting them with our Swords, which an-
fwer'd our Expectation; for the Crying and Howl-
ing they made was better understood by their Fel-
lows, fb that they all fled and left us.
We had, first and laft, kill'd about threescoré
of them; and had it been Day-light, we had
kill'd many more: The Field of Battle being thus
clear'd, we made forward again; for we had ftill
near a League to go. We heard the ravenous
Creatures houl and yell in the Woods as we went,
feveral times; and fometimss we fancy'd we faw
fome of them, but the Snow dazling our Eyes,
we were not certain; fo in about an Hour more,
we came to the Town, where we were to lodge,
which we found in a terrible Fright; and all in
Arms; for it feems, that the Night before, the
Wolves and fome Bears had broke into the Vil-
lage, and put them in a terrible Fright; and they
were oblig'd to keep Guard Night and Day, but
efpecially in the Night, to prefer ve their Cattle,
and indeed their People.
The next Moining our Guide was fo ill, and his
Limbs fwell'd with the rankling of his two Wounds,
that he could go no farther; fo we were oblig'd to
tabe
[389]
take a rew Guide there, and go to Tholoufe, where
we found a warm Climate, a fruitful pleafant Coun-
try and no Snow, no Wolves, or any Thing like
them; but when we told our Story at Tholoufe, they
told us it was nothing but what was ordinary in the
great Foreft at the Foot of the Mountains, efpeci-
ally when the Snow lay on the Ground. But they
enquir'd much what kind of a Guide we had got-
ten, that would venture to bring us that Way in
fuch a fevere Seafon ; and told us, it was very much
we were not all devour'd. When we told them how
we plac'd our felves, and the Horfes in the middle,
they blam'd us exceedingly, and told us it was fifty
to one but we had been all deſtroy'd; for it was the
Sight of the Horfes which made the Wolves fo fu-
rious, feeing their Prey; and that at other Times
they are really afraid of a Gun; but they being ex-
ceffive hungry, and raging on that Account, the
Eagerness to come at the Horfes had made them
fenfelefs of Danger; and that if we had not by the
continu'd Fire, and at laft by the Stratagem of the
Train of Powder,mafter'd them, it had been great
Odds but that we had been torn to pieces; where-
as had we been content to have fat ftill on Horfe-
back, and fir'd as Horfemen, they would not have
taken the Horfes fo much for their own when Men
were on their Back, as otherwife; and withal they
told us, that at laft, if we had ſtood all together,
and left our Horfes, they would have been fo eager
to have devour'd them, that they might have come
off fafe, efpecially having our Fire Arms in our
Hands, and being fo many in Number.
For my Part, I was never fo fenfible of Danger
in my Life; for feeing above three hundred Devils
come roaring and open-mouth'd to devour us, and
have nothing to fhelter us, or retreat to, I gave
my felf over for loft; and as it was, I believe, I
A a 4
fhall
L 360 ]
]
ſhall never care to cross thofe Mountains again; I
think I would much rather go a thoufand Leagues
by Sea, though I were fure to meet with a Storm
once a Week.
I have nothing uncommon to take Notice of, in
my Paſſage through France; nothing but what o
ther Travellers have given an Account of, with
much more Advantage than I can. I travell'd from
Thouloufe to Paris, and without any confiderable
Stay, came to Calais, and landed fafe at Dover, the
fourteenth of January, after having had a fevere
cold Seafon to travel in.
I was now come to the Center of my Travels,
and had in a little Time all my new diſcover'd E-
ftate fafe about me, the Bills of Exchange which I
brought with me having been currently paid.
My principal Guide, and Privy-Counſellor, was
my good Ancient Widow, who in Gratitude for
the Money I had fent her, thought no Pains too
much, or Care too great, to employ for me; and I
truſted her fo entirely with every Thing, that I
was perfectly eafy as to the Security of my Effects;
and indeed I was very happy from my Beginning,
and now to the End, in the unfpotted Integrity
of this good Gentlewoman.
And now I began to think of leaving my Effects
with this Woman, and fetting out for Lisbon, and
fo to the Brafils; but now another Scruple came in
my Way, and that was Religion; for as I had en-
tertain'd fome Doubts about the Roman Religion,
even while I was abroad, eſpecially in my State of
Solitude; fo I knew there was no going to the Bra-
fils for me, much lefs going to fettle there, unless I
refolv'd to embrace the Roman Catholick Religion,
without any Referve; unless on the other hand, I
refolv'd to be a Sacrifice to my Principles, be a
Martyr for Religion, and die in the Inquifition; fo
I re-
[ 361 ]
I refolv'd to ſtay at Home, and if I could find
Means for it, to difpofe of my Plantation.
To this Purpoſe I wrote to my old Friend at
Lisbon, who in Return gave me Notice, that he
could eafily difpofe of it there: But that if I
thought fit to give him Leave to offer it in my
Name to the two Merchants, the Survivors of my.
Truſtees who liv'd in the Brafils, who muft fully
underſtand the Value of it, who liv'd juſt upon the
Spot, and who I knew were very rich, fo that he
believ'd they would be fond of buying it; he did
not doubt, but I fhould make 4 or 5000 Pieces of
Eight the more of it.
Accordingly I agreed, gave him Order to offer
it to them, and he did fo; and in about 8 Months
more, the Ship being then returned, he fent me an
Account, that they had accepted the Offer, and
had remitted 33000 Pieces of Eight, to a Cor-
refpondent of theirs at Lisbon, to pay for it.
!
In Return, I fign'd the inftrument of Sale in the
Form which they fent from Lisbon, and fent it to
my old Man, who fent me Bills of Exchange for
328000 Pieces of Eight to me, for the Eftate; re
ferving the Payment of 100 Moidores a Year to
him, the old Man, during his Life, and 50 Moi-
dores afterwards to his Son for his Life, which I
had promiſed them, which the Plantation was to
make good at a Rent-Charge. And thus I have
given the firſt Part of a Life of Fortune and Ad-
venture, a Life of Providence's Chequer-Work,
and of a Variety which the World will feldom be
able to fhew the like of: Beginning foolishly, but
cloſing much more happily than any Part of it ever
gave me Leave fo much as to hope for.
Any one would think, that in this State of com-
plicated good Fortune, I was paft running any
more Hazards; and fo indeed I had been, if other
Cir-
Circumstances had concurred, but I was inured to
a wandring Life, had no Family, not many Rela-
tions, nor however rich had I contracted much Ac-
quaintance; and though I had fold my Eſtate in
the Brafils, yet I could not keep the Country out
of my Head, and, had, a great Mind to be upon
the Wing again, especially I could not refift the
ftrong Inclination I had to fee my Ifland, and to
know if the poor Spaniards were in Being there,
and how the Rogues I left there had ufed them.
} {
My true Friend, the Widow, earnestly difwa-
ded me from it, and fo far prevail'd with me, that'
for almoſt ſeven Years fhe prevented my running.
abroad; during which Time, I took my two
Nephews, the Children of one of my Brothers,
Into my Care: The eldeſt having fomething of
his own, I bred up as a Gentleman, and gave him
a Settlement of fome Addition to his Eſtate, after
my Deceaſe; the other I put out to a Captain of
Ship; and after five Years, finding him a fen-
fible, bold, enterprizing young Fellow, I put him
Into a good Ship, and fent him to Sea: And this
young Fellow afterwards drew me in, as old as
I was, to farther Adventures my felf.
In the mean time, I in part fettled myſelf here;
for first of all I marry'd, and that not either to my
Diſadvantage or Diffatisfaction, and had three
Children, two Sons and one Daughter: But my
Wife dying, and my Nephew coming Home with
good Success from a Voyage to Spain, my Inclina-
tion to go abroad, and his Importunity, prevailed
and ingag'd me to go in his Ship, as a private Tra-
der to the East-Indies: This was in the Year 1694,
In this Voyage I visited my new Colony in the
Inland, faw my Succeffors the Spaniards, had the
whole Story of their Lives, and of the Villains, I
left there, how at first they infulted the poor Spa-
niards,
V
[362]
+1
niards, how they arterwards agreed; diſagreed, u-
nited, feparated, and "How at Taft the Spaniards
were oblig'd to tife Violence with them, how they
were fubjected to the Spaniards, how honestly the
Spaniards usd them; a Hiftory, if it were enter'd
into, as full of Variety and wonderful Accidents,
as my own Part, particularly alfo as to their Bat-
tles with the Carribeans, who landed feveral times.
upon the fland, and as to the Improvement they
made upon the Iffand it felf, and how five of them
made an Attempt upon the main Land, and
brought away eleven Men and five Women Pri
foners, by which, at my coming, I found about
twenty young Children on the land.
Here I ftay'd about 20 Days, left them Sup
lies of all neceffary Things, and particularly of
Arms, Powder, Shot, Cloaths, Tools, and twở
Workmen, which I brought from England with
me, viz. a Carpenter and a Smith.
Befides this, I fhar'd the Island into Parts with
'em, referv'd to iny felf the Property of the whole,
but gave them fuch Parts refpectively as they a-
greed on; and having fettled all Things with
them, and engaged them not to leave the Place,
I left them there.
From thence I touch'd at the Brafils,from whence
I fent a Bark, which I bought there, with more
People to the Iſland, and in it, befides other Sup-
plies, I fent feven Women, being fuch as I found
proper for Service, or for Wives to fuch as would
take them: As to the English Men, I promis'd them
to fend them fome Women from England, with a
good Cargo of Neceffaries, if they would apply
themſelves to Planting, which I afterwards per-
form'd. And the Fellows prov'd very honeft
and diligent after they were maſter'd, and hád
their Properties fet apart for them. I fent them
alfo
[364]
!!
alfo from the Brails five Cows, three of them be-
ing big with Calf, fome Sheep, and fome Hogs,
which, when I came again, were confiderably en-
creas'd.
But all thefe Things, with an Account how 300
Caribbes came and invaded them, and ruin'd their
Plantations, and how they fought with that whole
Number twice, and were at firft defeated, and
three of them kill'd; but at laft a Storm deſtroy-
ing their Enemies Canoes, they famifh'd or de-
ftroy'd almoſt all the reft, and renew'd and re-
cover'd the Poffeffion of their Plantation, and ſtill
liv'd upon the Iſland.
All theſe Things, with fome very furprizing In-
cidents in fome new Adventures of my own, for
ten Years more, I may perhaps give a farther
Account of hereafter.
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