Defoe, Daniel .

Robinson Crusoe
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Robinson Crusoe
Defoe, Daniel
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Robinson Crusoe
Daniel Defoe
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Robinson Crusoe
b& Daniel Defoe
Chapter #
CHA!TER '-(TART ') *'+E
$ 42/ born in the year 5)6&, in the city of 7or', of a good family, tho#gh not of that co#ntry,
my father being a foreigner of 8remen, ,ho settled first at 0#ll% 0e got a good estate by
merchandise, and leaving off his trade, lived after,ards at 7or', from ,hence he had married my
mother, ,hose relations ,ere named 9obinson, a very good family in that co#ntry, and from
,hom $ ,as called 9obinson :re#t;naer3 b#t, by the #s#al corr#(tion of ,ords in England, ,e
are no, called-nay ,e call o#rselves and ,rite o#r name-Cr#soe3 and so my com(anions al,ays
called me%
$ had t,o elder brothers, one of ,hom ,as lie#tenant-colonel to an English regiment of foot in
<landers, formerly commanded by the famo#s Colonel Loc'hart, and ,as 'illed at the battle near
D#n'ir' against the /(aniards% 4hat became of my second brother $ never 'ne,, any more than
my father or mother 'ne, ,hat became of me%
8eing the third son of the family and not bred to any trade, my head began to be filled very
early ,ith rambling tho#ghts% 1y father, ,ho ,as very ancient, had given me a com(etent share
of learning, as far as ho#se-ed#cation and a co#ntry free school generally go, and designed me for
the la,3 b#t $ ,o#ld be satisfied ,ith nothing b#t going to sea3 and my inclination to this led me
so strongly against the ,ill, nay, the commands of my father, and against all the entreaties and
(ers#asions of my mother and other friends, that there seemed to be something fatal in that
(ro(ensity of nat#re, tending directly to the life of misery ,hich ,as to befall me%
1y father, a ,ise and grave man, gave me serio#s and excellent co#nsel against ,hat he
foresa, ,as my design% 0e called me one morning into his chamber, ,here he ,as confined by
the go#t, and ex(ost#lated very ,armly ,ith me #(on this s#b!ect% 0e as'ed me ,hat reasons,
more than a mere ,andering inclination, $ had for leaving father=s ho#se and my native co#ntry,
,here $ might be ,ell introd#ced, and had a (ros(ect of raising my fort#ne by a((lication and
ind#stry, ,ith a life of ease and (leas#re% 0e told me it ,as men of des(erate fort#nes on one
hand, or of as(iring, s#(erior fort#nes on the other, ,ho ,ent abroad #(on advent#res, to rise by
enter(rise, and ma'e themselves famo#s in #nderta'ings of a nat#re o#t of the common road3 that
these things ,ere all either too far above me or too far belo, me3 that mine ,as the middle state,
or ,hat might be called the #((er station of lo, life, ,hich he had fo#nd, by long ex(erience,
,as the best state in the ,orld, the most s#ited to h#man ha((iness, not ex(osed to the miseries
and hardshi(s, the labo#r and s#fferings of the mechanic (art of man'ind, and not embarrassed
,ith the (ride, l#x#ry, ambition, and envy of the #((er (art of man'ind% 0e told me $ might !#dge
of the ha((iness of this state by this one thing-vi;% that this ,as the state of life ,hich all other
(eo(le envied3 that 'ings have fre>#ently lamented the miserable conse>#ence of being born to
great things, and ,ished they had been (laced in the middle of the t,o extremes, bet,een the
mean and the great3 that the ,ise man gave his testimony to this, as the standard of felicity, ,hen
he (rayed to have neither (overty nor riches%
0e bade me observe it, and $ sho#ld al,ays find that the calamities of life ,ere shared among
the #((er and lo,er (art of man'ind, b#t that the middle station had the fe,est disasters, and ,as
not ex(osed to so many vicissit#des as the higher or lo,er (art of man'ind3 nay, they ,ere not
s#b!ected to so many distem(ers and #neasinesses, either of body or mind, as those ,ere ,ho, by
5
vicio#s living, l#x#ry, and extravagances on the one hand, or by hard labo#r, ,ant of necessaries,
and mean or ins#fficient diet on the other hand, bring distem(er #(on themselves by the nat#ral
conse>#ences of their ,ay of living3 that the middle station of life ,as calc#lated for all 'ind of
virt#e and all 'ind of en!oyments3 that (eace and (lenty ,ere the handmaids of a middle fort#ne3
that tem(erance, moderation, >#ietness, health, society, all agreeable diversions, and all desirable
(leas#res, ,ere the blessings attending the middle station of life3 that this ,ay men ,ent silently
and smoothly thro#gh the ,orld, and comfortably o#t of it, not embarrassed ,ith the labo#rs of
the hands or of the head, not sold to a life of slavery for daily bread, nor harassed ,ith (er(lexed
circ#mstances, ,hich rob the so#l of (eace and the body of rest, nor enraged ,ith the (assion of
envy, or the secret b#rning l#st of ambition for great things3 b#t, in easy circ#mstances, sliding
gently thro#gh the ,orld, and sensibly tasting the s,eets of living, ,itho#t the bitter3 feeling that
they are ha((y, and learning by every day=s ex(erience to 'no, it more sensibly,
2fter this he (ressed me earnestly, and in the most affectionate manner, not to (lay the yo#ng
man, nor to (reci(itate myself into miseries ,hich nat#re, and the station of life $ ,as born in,
seemed to have (rovided against3 that $ ,as #nder no necessity of see'ing my bread3 that he
,o#ld do ,ell for me, and endeavo#r to enter me fairly into the station of life ,hich he had !#st
been recommending to me3 and that if $ ,as not very easy and ha((y in the ,orld, it m#st be my
mere fate or fa#lt that m#st hinder it3 and that he sho#ld have nothing to ans,er for, having th#s
discharged his d#ty in ,arning me against meas#res ,hich he 'ne, ,o#ld be to my h#rt3 in a
,ord, that as he ,o#ld do very 'ind things for me if $ ,o#ld stay and settle at home as he
directed, so he ,o#ld not have so m#ch hand in my misfort#nes as to give me any enco#ragement
to go a,ay3 and to close all, he told me $ had my elder brother for an exam(le, to ,hom he had
#sed the same earnest (ers#asions to 'ee( him from going into the Lo, Co#ntry ,ars, b#t co#ld
not (revail, his yo#ng desires (rom(ting him to r#n into the army, ,here he ,as 'illed3 and
tho#gh he said he ,o#ld not cease to (ray for me, yet he ,o#ld vent#re to say to me, that if $ did
ta'e this foolish ste(, "od ,o#ld not bless me, and $ sho#ld have leis#re hereafter to reflect #(on
having neglected his co#nsel ,hen there might be none to assist in my recovery%
$ observed in this last (art of his disco#rse, ,hich ,as tr#ly (ro(hetic, tho#gh $ s#((ose my
father did not 'no, it to be so himself-$ say, $ observed the tears r#n do,n his face very
(lentif#lly, es(ecially ,hen he s(o'e of my brother ,ho ,as 'illed: and that ,hen he s(o'e of
my having leis#re to re(ent, and none to assist me, he ,as so moved that he bro'e off the
disco#rse, and told me his heart ,as so f#ll he co#ld say no more to me%
$ ,as sincerely affected ,ith this disco#rse, and, indeed, ,ho co#ld be other,ise? and $
resolved not to thin' of going abroad any more, b#t to settle at home according to my father=s
desire% 8#t alas@ a fe, days ,ore it all off3 and, in short, to (revent any of my father=s f#rther
im(ort#nities, in a fe, ,ee's after $ resolved to r#n >#ite a,ay from him% 0o,ever, $ did not act
>#ite so hastily as the first heat of my resol#tion (rom(ted3 b#t $ too' my mother at a time ,hen $
tho#ght her a little more (leasant than ordinary, and told her that my tho#ghts ,ere so entirely
bent #(on seeing the ,orld that $ sho#ld never settle to anything ,ith resol#tion eno#gh to go
thro#gh ,ith it, and my father had better give me his consent than force me to go ,itho#t it3 that $
,as no, eighteen years old, ,hich ,as too late to go a((rentice to a trade or cler' to an attorney3
that $ ,as s#re if $ did $ sho#ld never serve o#t my time, b#t $ sho#ld certainly r#n a,ay from my
master before my time ,as o#t, and go to sea3 and if she ,o#ld s(ea' to my father to let me go
one voyage abroad, if $ came home again, and did not li'e it, $ ,o#ld go no more3 and $ ,o#ld
(romise, by a do#ble diligence, to recover the time that $ had lost%
This (#t my mother into a great (assion3 she told me she 'ne, it ,o#ld be to no (#r(ose to
s(ea' to my father #(on any s#ch s#b!ect3 that he 'ne, too ,ell ,hat ,as my interest to give his
&
consent to anything so m#ch for my h#rt3 and that she ,ondered ho, $ co#ld thin' of any s#ch
thing after the disco#rse $ had had ,ith my father, and s#ch 'ind and tender ex(ressions as she
'ne, my father had #sed to me3 and that, in short, if $ ,o#ld r#in myself, there ,as no hel( for
me3 b#t $ might de(end $ sho#ld never have their consent to it3 that for her (art she ,o#ld not
have so m#ch hand in my destr#ction3 and $ sho#ld never have it to say that my mother ,as
,illing ,hen my father ,as not%
Tho#gh my mother ref#sed to move it to my father, yet $ heard after,ards that she re(orted all
the disco#rse to him, and that my father, after sho,ing a great concern at it, said to her, ,ith a
sigh, AThat boy might be ha((y if he ,o#ld stay at home3 b#t if he goes abroad, he ,ill be the
most miserable ,retch that ever ,as born: $ can give no consent to it%A
$t ,as not till almost a year after this that $ bro'e loose, tho#gh, in the meantime, $ contin#ed
obstinately deaf to all (ro(osals of settling to b#siness, and fre>#ently ex(ost#lated ,ith my
father and mother abo#t their being so (ositively determined against ,hat they 'ne, my
inclinations (rom(ted me to% 8#t being one day at 0#ll, ,here $ ,ent cas#ally, and ,itho#t any
(#r(ose of ma'ing an elo(ement at that time3 b#t, $ say, being there, and one of my com(anions
being abo#t to sail to London in his father=s shi(, and (rom(ting me to go ,ith them ,ith the
common all#rement of seafaring men, that it sho#ld cost me nothing for my (assage, $ cons#lted
neither father nor mother any more, nor so m#ch as sent them ,ord of it3 b#t leaving them to hear
of it as they might, ,itho#t as'ing "od=s blessing or my father=s, ,itho#t any consideration of
circ#mstances or conse>#ences, and in an ill ho#r, "od 'no,s, on the 5st of /e(tember 5)*5, $
,ent on board a shi( bo#nd for London% .ever any yo#ng advent#rer=s misfort#nes, $ believe,
began sooner, or contin#ed longer than mine% The shi( ,as no sooner o#t of the 0#mber than the
,ind began to blo, and the sea to rise in a most frightf#l manner3 and, as $ had never been at sea
before, $ ,as most inex(ressibly sic' in body and terrified in mind% $ began no, serio#sly to
reflect #(on ,hat $ had done, and ho, !#stly $ ,as overta'en by the !#dgment of 0eaven for my
,ic'ed leaving my father=s ho#se, and abandoning my d#ty% 2ll the good co#nsels of my (arents,
my father=s tears and my mother=s entreaties, came no, fresh into my mind3 and my conscience,
,hich ,as not yet come to the (itch of hardness to ,hich it has since, re(roached me ,ith the
contem(t of advice, and the breach of my d#ty to "od and my father%
2ll this ,hile the storm increased, and the sea ,ent very high, tho#gh nothing li'e ,hat $ have
seen many times since3 no, nor ,hat $ sa, a fe, days after3 b#t it ,as eno#gh to affect me then,
,ho ,as b#t a yo#ng sailor, and had never 'no,n anything of the matter% $ ex(ected every ,ave
,o#ld have s,allo,ed #s #(, and that every time the shi( fell do,n, as $ tho#ght it did, in the
tro#gh or hollo, of the sea, ,e sho#ld never rise more3 in this agony of mind, $ made many vo,s
and resol#tions that if it ,o#ld (lease "od to s(are my life in this one voyage, if ever $ got once
my foot #(on dry land again, $ ,o#ld go directly home to my father, and never set it into a shi(
again ,hile $ lived3 that $ ,o#ld ta'e his advice, and never r#n myself into s#ch miseries as these
any more% .o, $ sa, (lainly the goodness of his observations abo#t the middle station of life,
ho, easy, ho, comfortably he had lived all his days, and never had been ex(osed to tem(ests at
sea or tro#bles on shore3 and $ resolved that $ ,o#ld, li'e a tr#e re(enting (rodigal, go home to
my father%
These ,ise and sober tho#ghts contin#ed all the ,hile the storm lasted, and indeed some time
after3 b#t the next day the ,ind ,as abated, and the sea calmer, and $ began to be a little in#red to
it3 ho,ever, $ ,as very grave for all that day, being also a little sea-sic' still3 b#t to,ards night
the ,eather cleared #(, the ,ind ,as >#ite over, and a charming fine evening follo,ed3 the s#n
,ent do,n (erfectly clear, and rose so the next morning3 and having little or no ,ind, and a
6
smooth sea, the s#n shining #(on it, the sight ,as, as $ tho#ght, the most delightf#l that ever $
sa,%
$ had sle(t ,ell in the night, and ,as no, no more sea-sic', b#t very cheerf#l, loo'ing ,ith
,onder #(on the sea that ,as so ro#gh and terrible the day before, and co#ld be so calm and so
(leasant in so little a time after% 2nd no,, lest my good resol#tions sho#ld contin#e, my
com(anion, ,ho had enticed me a,ay, comes to me3 A4ell, 8ob,A says he, cla((ing me #(on the
sho#lder, Aho, do yo# do after it? $ ,arrant yo# ,ere frighted, ,er=n=t yo#, last night, ,hen it
ble, b#t a ca(f#l of ,ind?A A2 ca(f#l d=yo# call it?A said $3 A=t,as a terrible storm%A A2 storm,
yo# fool yo#,A re(lies he3 Ado yo# call that a storm? ,hy, it ,as nothing at all3 give #s b#t a good
shi( and sea-room, and ,e thin' nothing of s#ch a s>#all of ,ind as that3 b#t yo#=re b#t a fresh-
,ater sailor, 8ob% Come, let #s ma'e a bo,l of (#nch, and ,e=ll forget all that3 d=ye see ,hat
charming ,eather =tis no,?A To ma'e short this sad (art of my story, ,e ,ent the ,ay of all
sailors3 the (#nch ,as made and $ ,as made half dr#n' ,ith it: and in that one night=s ,ic'edness
$ dro,ned all my re(entance, all my reflections #(on my (ast cond#ct, all my resol#tions for the
f#t#re% $n a ,ord, as the sea ,as ret#rned to its smoothness of s#rface and settled calmness by the
abatement of that storm, so the h#rry of my tho#ghts being over, my fears and a((rehensions of
being s,allo,ed #( by the sea being forgotten, and the c#rrent of my former desires ret#rned, $
entirely forgot the vo,s and (romises that $ made in my distress% $ fo#nd, indeed, some intervals
of reflection3 and the serio#s tho#ghts did, as it ,ere, endeavo#r to ret#rn again sometimes3 b#t $
shoo' them off, and ro#sed myself from them as it ,ere from a distem(er, and a((lying myself to
drin'ing and com(any, soon mastered the ret#rn of those fits-for so $ called them3 and $ had in
five or six days got as com(lete a victory over conscience as any yo#ng fello, that resolved not
to be tro#bled ,ith it co#ld desire% 8#t $ ,as to have another trial for it still3 and rovidence, as in
s#ch cases generally it does, resolved to leave me entirely ,itho#t exc#se3 for if $ ,o#ld not ta'e
this for a deliverance, the next ,as to be s#ch a one as the ,orst and most hardened ,retch
among #s ,o#ld confess both the danger and the mercy of%
The sixth day of o#r being at sea ,e came into 7armo#th 9oads3 the ,ind having been
contrary and the ,eather calm, ,e had made b#t little ,ay since the storm% 0ere ,e ,ere obliged
to come to an anchor, and here ,e lay, the ,ind contin#ing contrary-vi;% at so#th-,est-for seven
or eight days, d#ring ,hich time a great many shi(s from .e,castle came into the same 9oads,
as the common harbo#r ,here the shi(s might ,ait for a ,ind for the river%
4e had not, ho,ever, rid here so long b#t ,e sho#ld have tided it #( the river, b#t that the
,ind ble, too fresh, and after ,e had lain fo#r or five days, ble, very hard% 0o,ever, the 9oads
being rec'oned as good as a harbo#r, the anchorage good, and o#r gro#nd-tac'le very strong, o#r
men ,ere #nconcerned, and not in the least a((rehensive of danger, b#t s(ent the time in rest and
mirth, after the manner of the sea3 b#t the eighth day, in the morning, the ,ind increased, and ,e
had all hands at ,or' to stri'e o#r to(masts, and ma'e everything sn#g and close, that the shi(
might ride as easy as (ossible% 8y noon the sea ,ent very high indeed, and o#r shi( rode
forecastle in, shi((ed several seas, and ,e tho#ght once or t,ice o#r anchor had come home3
#(on ,hich o#r master ordered o#t the sheet-anchor, so that ,e rode ,ith t,o anchors ahead, and
the cables veered o#t to the bitter end%
8y this time it ble, a terrible storm indeed3 and no, $ began to see terror and ama;ement in
the faces even of the seamen themselves% The master, tho#gh vigilant in the b#siness of
(reserving the shi(, yet as he ,ent in and o#t of his cabin by me, $ co#ld hear him softly to
himself say, several times, ALord be mercif#l to #s@ ,e shall be all lost@ ,e shall be all #ndone@A
and the li'e% D#ring these first h#rries $ ,as st#(id, lying still in my cabin, ,hich ,as in the
steerage, and cannot describe my tem(er: $ co#ld ill res#me the first (enitence ,hich $ had so
B
a((arently tram(led #(on and hardened myself against: $ tho#ght the bitterness of death had been
(ast, and that this ,o#ld be nothing li'e the first3 b#t ,hen the master himself came by me, as $
said !#st no,, and said ,e sho#ld be all lost, $ ,as dreadf#lly frighted% $ got #( o#t of my cabin
and loo'ed o#t3 b#t s#ch a dismal sight $ never sa,: the sea ran mo#ntains high, and bro'e #(on
#s every three or fo#r min#tes3 ,hen $ co#ld loo' abo#t, $ co#ld see nothing b#t distress ro#nd
#s3 t,o shi(s that rode near #s, ,e fo#nd, had c#t their masts by the board, being dee( laden3 and
o#r men cried o#t that a shi( ,hich rode abo#t a mile ahead of #s ,as fo#ndered% T,o more
shi(s, being driven from their anchors, ,ere r#n o#t of the 9oads to sea, at all advent#res, and
that ,ith not a mast standing% The light shi(s fared the best, as not so m#ch labo#ring in the sea3
b#t t,o or three of them drove, and came close by #s, r#nning a,ay ,ith only their s(ritsail o#t
before the ,ind%
To,ards evening the mate and boats,ain begged the master of o#r shi( to let them c#t a,ay
the fore-mast, ,hich he ,as very #n,illing to do3 b#t the boats,ain (rotesting to him that if he
did not the shi( ,o#ld fo#nder, he consented3 and ,hen they had c#t a,ay the fore-mast, the
main-mast stood so loose, and shoo' the shi( so m#ch, they ,ere obliged to c#t that a,ay also,
and ma'e a clear dec'%
2ny one may !#dge ,hat a condition $ m#st be in at all this, ,ho ,as b#t a yo#ng sailor, and
,ho had been in s#ch a fright before at b#t a little% 8#t if $ can ex(ress at this distance the
tho#ghts $ had abo#t me at that time, $ ,as in tenfold more horror of mind #(on acco#nt of my
former convictions, and the having ret#rned from them to the resol#tions $ had ,ic'edly ta'en at
first, than $ ,as at death itself3 and these, added to the terror of the storm, (#t me into s#ch a
condition that $ can by no ,ords describe it% 8#t the ,orst ,as not come yet3 the storm contin#ed
,ith s#ch f#ry that the seamen themselves ac'no,ledged they had never seen a ,orse% 4e had a
good shi(, b#t she ,as dee( laden, and ,allo,ed in the sea, so that the seamen every no, and
then cried o#t she ,o#ld fo#nder% $t ,as my advantage in one res(ect, that $ did not 'no, ,hat
they meant by fo#nder till $ in>#ired% 0o,ever, the storm ,as so violent that $ sa,, ,hat is not
often seen, the master, the boats,ain, and some others more sensible than the rest, at their
(rayers, and ex(ecting every moment ,hen the shi( ,o#ld go to the bottom% $n the middle of the
night, and #nder all the rest of o#r distresses, one of the men that had been do,n to see cried o#t
,e had s(r#ng a lea'3 another said there ,as fo#r feet ,ater in the hold% Then all hands ,ere
called to the (#m(% 2t that ,ord, my heart, as $ tho#ght, died ,ithin me: and $ fell bac',ards
#(on the side of my bed ,here $ sat, into the cabin% 0o,ever, the men ro#sed me, and told me
that $, that ,as able to do nothing before, ,as as ,ell able to (#m( as another3 at ,hich $ stirred
#( and ,ent to the (#m(, and ,or'ed very heartily% 4hile this ,as doing the master, seeing some
light colliers, ,ho, not able to ride o#t the storm ,ere obliged to sli( and r#n a,ay to sea, and
,o#ld come near #s, ordered to fire a g#n as a signal of distress% $, ,ho 'ne, nothing ,hat they
meant, tho#ght the shi( had bro'en, or some dreadf#l thing ha((ened% $n a ,ord, $ ,as so
s#r(rised that $ fell do,n in a s,oon% 2s this ,as a time ,hen everybody had his o,n life to
thin' of, nobody minded me, or ,hat ,as become of me3 b#t another man ste((ed #( to the
(#m(, and thr#sting me aside ,ith his foot, let me lie, thin'ing $ had been dead3 and it ,as a
great ,hile before $ came to myself%
4e ,or'ed on3 b#t the ,ater increasing in the hold, it ,as a((arent that the shi( ,o#ld
fo#nder3 and tho#gh the storm began to abate a little, yet it ,as not (ossible she co#ld s,im till
,e might r#n into any (ort3 so the master contin#ed firing g#ns for hel(3 and a light shi(, ,ho
had rid it o#t !#st ahead of #s, vent#red a boat o#t to hel( #s% $t ,as ,ith the #tmost ha;ard the
boat came near #s3 b#t it ,as im(ossible for #s to get on board, or for the boat to lie near the
shi(=s side, till at last the men ro,ing very heartily, and vent#ring their lives to save o#rs, o#r
*
men cast them a ro(e over the stern ,ith a b#oy to it, and then veered it o#t a great length, ,hich
they, after m#ch labo#r and ha;ard, too' hold of, and ,e ha#led them close #nder o#r stern, and
got all into their boat% $t ,as to no (#r(ose for them or #s, after ,e ,ere in the boat, to thin' of
reaching their o,n shi(3 so all agreed to let her drive, and only to (#ll her in to,ards shore as
m#ch as ,e co#ld3 and o#r master (romised them, that if the boat ,as staved #(on shore, he
,o#ld ma'e it good to their master: so (artly ro,ing and (artly driving, o#r boat ,ent a,ay to
the north,ard, slo(ing to,ards the shore almost as far as 4interton .ess%
4e ,ere not m#ch more than a >#arter of an ho#r o#t of o#r shi( till ,e sa, her sin', and then
$ #nderstood for the first time ,hat ,as meant by a shi( fo#ndering in the sea% $ m#st
ac'no,ledge $ had hardly eyes to loo' #( ,hen the seamen told me she ,as sin'ing3 for from the
moment that they rather (#t me into the boat than that $ might be said to go in, my heart ,as, as it
,ere, dead ,ithin me, (artly ,ith fright, (artly ,ith horror of mind, and the tho#ghts of ,hat ,as
yet before me%
4hile ,e ,ere in this condition-the men yet labo#ring at the oar to bring the boat near the
shore-,e co#ld see C,hen, o#r boat mo#nting the ,aves, ,e ,ere able to see the shoreD a great
many (eo(le r#nning along the strand to assist #s ,hen ,e sho#ld come near3 b#t ,e made b#t
slo, ,ay to,ards the shore3 nor ,ere ,e able to reach the shore till, being (ast the lightho#se at
4interton, the shore falls off to the ,est,ard to,ards Cromer, and so the land bro'e off a little
the violence of the ,ind% 0ere ,e got in, and tho#gh not ,itho#t m#ch diffic#lty, got all safe on
shore, and ,al'ed after,ards on foot to 7armo#th, ,here, as #nfort#nate men, ,e ,ere #sed ,ith
great h#manity, as ,ell by the magistrates of the to,n, ,ho assigned #s good >#arters, as by
(artic#lar merchants and o,ners of shi(s, and had money given #s s#fficient to carry #s either to
London or bac' to 0#ll as ,e tho#ght fit%
0ad $ no, had the sense to have gone bac' to 0#ll, and have gone home, $ had been ha((y,
and my father, as in o#r blessed /avio#r=s (arable, had even 'illed the fatted calf for me3 for
hearing the shi( $ ,ent a,ay in ,as cast a,ay in 7armo#th 9oads, it ,as a great ,hile before he
had any ass#rances that $ ,as not dro,ned%
8#t my ill fate (#shed me on no, ,ith an obstinacy that nothing co#ld resist3 and tho#gh $ had
several times lo#d calls from my reason and my more com(osed !#dgment to go home, yet $ had
no (o,er to do it% $ 'no, not ,hat to call this, nor ,ill $ #rge that it is a secret overr#ling decree,
that h#rries #s on to be the instr#ments of o#r o,n destr#ction, even tho#gh it be before #s, and
that ,e r#sh #(on it ,ith o#r eyes o(en% Certainly, nothing b#t some s#ch decreed #navoidable
misery, ,hich it ,as im(ossible for me to esca(e, co#ld have (#shed me for,ard against the
calm reasonings and (ers#asions of my most retired tho#ghts, and against t,o s#ch visible
instr#ctions as $ had met ,ith in my first attem(t%
1y comrade, ,ho had hel(ed to harden me before, and ,ho ,as the master=s son, ,as no,
less for,ard than $% The first time he s(o'e to me after ,e ,ere at 7armo#th, ,hich ,as not till
t,o or three days, for ,e ,ere se(arated in the to,n to several >#arters3 $ say, the first time he
sa, me, it a((eared his tone ,as altered3 and, loo'ing very melancholy, and sha'ing his head, he
as'ed me ho, $ did, and telling his father ,ho $ ,as, and ho, $ had come this voyage only for a
trial, in order to go f#rther abroad, his father, t#rning to me ,ith a very grave and concerned tone
A7o#ng man,A says he, Ayo# o#ght never to go to sea any more3 yo# o#ght to ta'e this for a (lain
and visible to'en that yo# are not to be a seafaring man%A A4hy, sir,A said $, A,ill yo# go to sea no
more?A AThat is another case,A said he3 Ait is my calling, and therefore my d#ty3 b#t as yo# made
this voyage on trial, yo# see ,hat a taste 0eaven has given yo# of ,hat yo# are to ex(ect if yo#
(ersist% erha(s this has all befallen #s on yo#r acco#nt, li'e Eonah in the shi( of Tarshish% ray,A
contin#es he, A,hat are yo#3 and on ,hat acco#nt did yo# go to sea?A U(on that $ told him some
)
of my story3 at the end of ,hich he b#rst o#t into a strange 'ind of (assion: A4hat had $ done,A
says he, Athat s#ch an #nha((y ,retch sho#ld come into my shi(? $ ,o#ld not set my foot in the
same shi( ,ith thee again for a tho#sand (o#nds%A This indeed ,as, as $ said, an exc#rsion of his
s(irits, ,hich ,ere yet agitated by the sense of his loss, and ,as farther than he co#ld have
a#thority to go% 0o,ever, he after,ards tal'ed very gravely to me, exhorting me to go bac' to my
father, and not tem(t rovidence to my r#in, telling me $ might see a visible hand of 0eaven
against me% A2nd, yo#ng man,A said he, Ade(end #(on it, if yo# do not go bac', ,herever yo# go,
yo# ,ill meet ,ith nothing b#t disasters and disa((ointments, till yo#r father=s ,ords are f#lfilled
#(on yo#%A
4e (arted soon after3 for $ made him little ans,er, and $ sa, him no more3 ,hich ,ay he ,ent
$ 'ne, not% 2s for me, having some money in my (oc'et, $ travelled to London by land3 and
there, as ,ell as on the road, had many str#ggles ,ith myself ,hat co#rse of life $ sho#ld ta'e,
and ,hether $ sho#ld go home or to sea%
2s to going home, shame o((osed the best motions that offered to my tho#ghts, and it
immediately occ#rred to me ho, $ sho#ld be la#ghed at among the neighbo#rs, and sho#ld be
ashamed to see, not my father and mother only, b#t even everybody else3 from ,hence $ have
since often observed, ho, incongr#o#s and irrational the common tem(er of man'ind is,
es(ecially of yo#th, to that reason ,hich o#ght to g#ide them in s#ch cases-vi;% that they are not
ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed to re(ent3 not ashamed of the action for ,hich they o#ght
!#stly to be esteemed fools, b#t are ashamed of the ret#rning, ,hich only can ma'e them be
esteemed ,ise men%
$n this state of life, ho,ever, $ remained some time, #ncertain ,hat meas#res to ta'e, and ,hat
co#rse of life to lead% 2n irresistible rel#ctance contin#ed to going home3 and as $ stayed a,ay a
,hile, the remembrance of the distress $ had been in ,ore off, and as that abated, the little motion
$ had in my desires to ret#rn ,ore off ,ith it, till at last $ >#ite laid aside the tho#ghts of it, and
loo'ed o#t for a voyage%
Cha(ter &
C02TE9 $$-/L2VE97 2.D E/C2E
T02T evil infl#ence ,hich carried me first a,ay from my father=s ho#se-,hich h#rried me into
the ,ild and indigested notion of raising my fort#ne, and that im(ressed those conceits so
forcibly #(on me as to ma'e me deaf to all good advice, and to the entreaties and even the
commands of my father-$ say, the same infl#ence, ,hatever it ,as, (resented the most
#nfort#nate of all enter(rises to my vie,3 and $ ,ent on board a vessel bo#nd to the coast of
2frica3 or, as o#r sailors v#lgarly called it, a voyage to "#inea%
$t ,as my great misfort#ne that in all these advent#res $ did not shi( myself as a sailor3 ,hen,
tho#gh $ might indeed have ,or'ed a little harder than ordinary, yet at the same time $ sho#ld
have learnt the d#ty and office of a fore-mast man, and in time might have >#alified myself for a
mate or lie#tenant, if not for a master% 8#t as it ,as al,ays my fate to choose for the ,orse, so $
did here3 for having money in my (oc'et and good clothes #(on my bac', $ ,o#ld al,ays go on
board in the habit of a gentleman3 and so $ neither had any b#siness in the shi(, nor learned to do
any%
$t ,as my lot first of all to fall into (retty good com(any in London, ,hich does not al,ays
ha((en to s#ch loose and misg#ided yo#ng fello,s as $ then ,as3 the devil generally not omitting
to lay some snare for them very early3 b#t it ,as not so ,ith me% $ first got ac>#ainted ,ith the
master of a shi( ,ho had been on the coast of "#inea3 and ,ho, having had very good s#ccess
there, ,as resolved to go again% This ca(tain ta'ing a fancy to my conversation, ,hich ,as not at
all disagreeable at that time, hearing me say $ had a mind to see the ,orld, told me if $ ,o#ld go
F
the voyage ,ith him $ sho#ld be at no ex(ense3 $ sho#ld be his messmate and his com(anion3 and
if $ co#ld carry anything ,ith me, $ sho#ld have all the advantage of it that the trade ,o#ld admit3
and (erha(s $ might meet ,ith some enco#ragement%
$ embraced the offer3 and entering into a strict friendshi( ,ith this ca(tain, ,ho ,as an honest,
(lain-dealing man, $ ,ent the voyage ,ith him, and carried a small advent#re ,ith me, ,hich, by
the disinterested honesty of my friend the ca(tain, $ increased very considerably3 for $ carried
abo#t B- (o#nds in s#ch toys and trifles as the ca(tain directed me to b#y% These B- (o#nds $ had
m#stered together by the assistance of some of my relations ,hom $ corres(onded ,ith3 and ,ho,
$ believe, got my father, or at least my mother, to contrib#te so m#ch as that to my first advent#re%
This ,as the only voyage ,hich $ may say ,as s#ccessf#l in all my advent#res, ,hich $ o,e to
the integrity and honesty of my friend the ca(tain3 #nder ,hom also $ got a com(etent 'no,ledge
of the mathematics and the r#les of navigation, learned ho, to 'ee( an acco#nt of the shi(=s
co#rse, ta'e an observation, and, in short, to #nderstand some things that ,ere needf#l to be
#nderstood by a sailor3 for, as he too' delight to instr#ct me, $ too' delight to learn3 and, in a
,ord, this voyage made me both a sailor and a merchant3 for $ bro#ght home five (o#nds nine
o#nces of gold-d#st for my advent#re, ,hich yielded me in London, at my ret#rn, almost 6--
(o#nds3 and this filled me ,ith those as(iring tho#ghts ,hich have since so com(leted my r#in%
7et even in this voyage $ had my misfort#nes too3 (artic#larly, that $ ,as contin#ally sic',
being thro,n into a violent calent#re by the excessive heat of the climate3 o#r (rinci(al trading
being #(on the coast, from latit#de of 5* degrees north even to the line itself%
$ ,as no, set #( for a "#inea trader3 and my friend, to my great misfort#ne, dying soon after
his arrival, $ resolved to go the same voyage again, and $ embar'ed in the same vessel ,ith one
,ho ,as his mate in the former voyage, and had no, got the command of the shi(% This ,as the
#nha((iest voyage that ever man made3 for tho#gh $ did not carry >#ite 5-- (o#nds of my ne,-
gained ,ealth, so that $ had &-- (o#nds left, ,hich $ had lodged ,ith my friend=s ,ido,, ,ho
,as very !#st to me, yet $ fell into terrible misfort#nes% The first ,as this: o#r shi( ma'ing her
co#rse to,ards the Canary $slands, or rather bet,een those islands and the 2frican shore, ,as
s#r(rised in the grey of the morning by a T#r'ish rover of /allee, ,ho gave chase to #s ,ith all
the sail she co#ld ma'e% 4e cro,ded also as m#ch canvas as o#r yards ,o#ld s(read, or o#r
masts carry, to get clear3 b#t finding the (irate gained #(on #s, and ,o#ld certainly come #( ,ith
#s in a fe, ho#rs, ,e (re(ared to fight3 o#r shi( having t,elve g#ns, and the rog#e eighteen%
2bo#t three in the afternoon he came #( ,ith #s, and bringing to, by mista'e, !#st ath,art o#r
>#arter, instead of ath,art o#r stern, as he intended, ,e bro#ght eight of o#r g#ns to bear on that
side, and (o#red in a broadside #(on him, ,hich made him sheer off again, after ret#rning o#r
fire, and (o#ring in also his small shot from near t,o h#ndred men ,hich he had on board%
0o,ever, ,e had not a man to#ched, all o#r men 'ee(ing close% 0e (re(ared to attac' #s again,
and ,e to defend o#rselves% 8#t laying #s on board the next time #(on o#r other >#arter, he
entered sixty men #(on o#r dec's, ,ho immediately fell to c#tting and hac'ing the sails and
rigging% 4e (lied them ,ith small shot, half-(i'es, (o,der-chests, and s#ch li'e, and cleared o#r
dec' of them t,ice% 0o,ever, to c#t short this melancholy (art of o#r story, o#r shi( being
disabled, and three of o#r men 'illed, and eight ,o#nded, ,e ,ere obliged to yield, and ,ere
carried all (risoners into /allee, a (ort belonging to the 1oors%
The #sage $ had there ,as not so dreadf#l as at first $ a((rehended3 nor ,as $ carried #( the
co#ntry to the em(eror=s co#rt, as the rest of o#r men ,ere, b#t ,as 'e(t by the ca(tain of the
rover as his (ro(er (ri;e, and made his slave, being yo#ng and nimble, and fit for his b#siness% 2t
this s#r(rising change of my circ#mstances, from a merchant to a miserable slave, $ ,as (erfectly
over,helmed3 and no, $ loo'ed bac' #(on my father=s (ro(hetic disco#rse to me, that $ sho#ld
G
be miserable and have none to relieve me, ,hich $ tho#ght ,as no, so effect#ally bro#ght to
(ass that $ co#ld not be ,orse3 for no, the hand of 0eaven had overta'en me, and $ ,as #ndone
,itho#t redem(tion3 b#t, alas@ this ,as b#t a taste of the misery $ ,as to go thro#gh, as ,ill
a((ear in the se>#el of this story%
2s my ne, (atron, or master, had ta'en me home to his ho#se, so $ ,as in ho(es that he ,o#ld
ta'e me ,ith him ,hen he ,ent to sea again, believing that it ,o#ld some time or other be his
fate to be ta'en by a /(anish or ort#gal man-of-,ar3 and that then $ sho#ld be set at liberty% 8#t
this ho(e of mine ,as soon ta'en a,ay3 for ,hen he ,ent to sea, he left me on shore to loo' after
his little garden, and do the common dr#dgery of slaves abo#t his ho#se3 and ,hen he came home
again from his cr#ise, he ordered me to lie in the cabin to loo' after the shi(%
0ere $ meditated nothing b#t my esca(e, and ,hat method $ might ta'e to effect it, b#t fo#nd
no ,ay that had the least (robability in it3 nothing (resented to ma'e the s#((osition of it
rational3 for $ had nobody to comm#nicate it to that ,o#ld embar' ,ith me- no fello,-slave, no
Englishman, $rishman, or /cotchman there b#t myself3 so that for t,o years, tho#gh $ often
(leased myself ,ith the imagination, yet $ never had the least enco#raging (ros(ect of (#tting it
in (ractice%
2fter abo#t t,o years, an odd circ#mstance (resented itself, ,hich (#t the old tho#ght of
ma'ing some attem(t for my liberty again in my head% 1y (atron lying at home longer than #s#al
,itho#t fitting o#t his shi(, ,hich, as $ heard, ,as for ,ant of money, he #sed constantly, once or
t,ice a ,ee', sometimes oftener if the ,eather ,as fair, to ta'e the shi(=s (innace and go o#t into
the road a-fishing3 and as he al,ays too' me and yo#ng 1aresco ,ith him to ro, the boat, ,e
made him very merry, and $ (roved very dextero#s in catching fish3 insom#ch that sometimes he
,o#ld send me ,ith a 1oor, one of his 'insmen, and the yo#th-the 1aresco, as they called him-
to catch a dish of fish for him%
$t ha((ened one time, that going a-fishing in a calm morning, a fog rose so thic' that, tho#gh
,e ,ere not half a leag#e from the shore, ,e lost sight of it3 and ro,ing ,e 'ne, not ,hither or
,hich ,ay, ,e labo#red all day, and all the next night3 and ,hen the morning came ,e fo#nd ,e
had (#lled off to sea instead of (#lling in for the shore3 and that ,e ,ere at least t,o leag#es
from the shore% 0o,ever, ,e got ,ell in again, tho#gh ,ith a great deal of labo#r and some
danger3 for the ,ind began to blo, (retty fresh in the morning3 b#t ,e ,ere all very h#ngry%
8#t o#r (atron, ,arned by this disaster, resolved to ta'e more care of himself for the f#t#re3
and having lying by him the longboat of o#r English shi( that he had ta'en, he resolved he ,o#ld
not go a-fishing any more ,itho#t a com(ass and some (rovision3 so he ordered the car(enter of
his shi(, ,ho also ,as an English slave, to b#ild a little state-room, or cabin, in the middle of the
long-boat, li'e that of a barge, ,ith a (lace to stand behind it to steer, and ha#l home the main-
sheet3 the room before for a hand or t,o to stand and ,or' the sails% /he sailed ,ith ,hat ,e call
a sho#lder-of-m#tton sail3 and the boom !ibed over the to( of the cabin, ,hich lay very sn#g and
lo,, and had in it room for him to lie, ,ith a slave or t,o, and a table to eat on, ,ith some small
loc'ers to (#t in some bottles of s#ch li>#or as he tho#ght fit to drin'3 and his bread, rice, and
coffee%
4e ,ent fre>#ently o#t ,ith this boat a-fishing3 and as $ ,as most dextero#s to catch fish for
him, he never ,ent ,itho#t me% $t ha((ened that he had a((ointed to go o#t in this boat, either for
(leas#re or for fish, ,ith t,o or three 1oors of some distinction in that (lace, and for ,hom he
had (rovided extraordinarily, and had, therefore, sent on board the boat overnight a larger store of
(rovisions than ordinary3 and had ordered me to get ready three f#sees ,ith (o,der and shot,
,hich ,ere on board his shi(, for that they designed some s(ort of fo,ling as ,ell as fishing%
H
$ got all things ready as he had directed, and ,aited the next morning ,ith the boat ,ashed
clean, her ancient and (endants o#t, and everything to accommodate his g#ests3 ,hen by-and-by
my (atron came on board alone, and told me his g#ests had (#t off going from some b#siness that
fell o#t, and ordered me, ,ith the man and boy, as #s#al, to go o#t ,ith the boat and catch them
some fish, for that his friends ,ere to s#( at his ho#se, and commanded that as soon as $ got some
fish $ sho#ld bring it home to his ho#se3 all ,hich $ (re(ared to do%
This moment my former notions of deliverance darted into my tho#ghts, for no, $ fo#nd $ ,as
li'ely to have a little shi( at my command3 and my master being gone, $ (re(ared to f#rnish
myself, not for fishing b#siness, b#t for a voyage3 tho#gh $ 'ne, not, neither did $ so m#ch as
consider, ,hither $ sho#ld steer- any,here to get o#t of that (lace ,as my desire%
1y first contrivance ,as to ma'e a (retence to s(ea' to this 1oor, to get something for o#r
s#bsistence on board3 for $ told him ,e m#st not (res#me to eat of o#r (atron=s bread% 0e said
that ,as tr#e3 so he bro#ght a large bas'et of r#s' or bisc#it, and three !ars of fresh ,ater, into the
boat% $ 'ne, ,here my (atron=s case of bottles stood, ,hich it ,as evident, by the ma'e, ,ere
ta'en o#t of some English (ri;e, and $ conveyed them into the boat ,hile the 1oor ,as on shore,
as if they had been there before for o#r master% $ conveyed also a great l#m( of bees,ax into the
boat, ,hich ,eighed abo#t half a h#ndred-,eight, ,ith a (arcel of t,ine or thread, a hatchet, a
sa,, and a hammer, all of ,hich ,ere of great #se to #s after,ards, es(ecially the ,ax, to ma'e
candles% 2nother tric' $ tried #(on him, ,hich he innocently came into also: his name ,as
$smael, ,hich they call 1#ley, or 1oely3 so $ called to him-A1oely,A said $, Ao#r (atron=s g#ns
are on board the boat3 can yo# not get a little (o,der and shot? $t may be ,e may 'ill some
alcamies Ca fo,l li'e o#r c#rle,sD for o#rselves, for $ 'no, he 'ee(s the g#nner=s stores in the
shi(%A A7es,A says he, A$=ll bring some3A and accordingly he bro#ght a great leather (o#ch, ,hich
held a (o#nd and a half of (o,der, or rather more3 and another ,ith shot, that had five or six
(o#nds, ,ith some b#llets, and (#t all into the boat% 2t the same time $ had fo#nd some (o,der
of my master=s in the great cabin, ,ith ,hich $ filled one of the large bottles in the case, ,hich
,as almost em(ty, (o#ring ,hat ,as in it into another3 and th#s f#rnished ,ith everything
needf#l, ,e sailed o#t of the (ort to fish% The castle, ,hich is at the entrance of the (ort, 'ne,
,ho ,e ,ere, and too' no notice of #s3 and ,e ,ere not above a mile o#t of the (ort before ,e
ha#led in o#r sail and set #s do,n to fish% The ,ind ble, from the .%.%E%, ,hich ,as contrary to
my desire, for had it blo,n so#therly $ had been s#re to have made the coast of /(ain, and at least
reached to the bay of Cadi;3 b#t my resol#tions ,ere, blo, ,hich ,ay it ,o#ld, $ ,o#ld be gone
from that horrid (lace ,here $ ,as, and leave the rest to fate%
2fter ,e had fished some time and ca#ght nothing-for ,hen $ had fish on my hoo' $ ,o#ld not
(#ll them #(, that he might not see them-$ said to the 1oor, AThis ,ill not do3 o#r master ,ill not
be th#s served3 ,e m#st stand farther off%A 0e, thin'ing no harm, agreed, and being in the head of
the boat, set the sails3 and, as $ had the helm, $ ran the boat o#t near a leag#e farther, and then
bro#ght her to, as if $ ,o#ld fish3 ,hen, giving the boy the helm, $ ste((ed for,ard to ,here the
1oor ,as, and ma'ing as if $ stoo(ed for something behind him, $ too' him by s#r(rise ,ith my
arm #nder his ,aist, and tossed him clear overboard into the sea% 0e rose immediately, for he
s,am li'e a cor', and called to me, begged to be ta'en in, told me he ,o#ld go all over the ,orld
,ith me% 0e s,am so strong after the boat that he ,o#ld have reached me very >#ic'ly, there
being b#t little ,ind3 #(on ,hich $ ste((ed into the cabin, and fetching one of the fo,ling-(ieces,
$ (resented it at him, and told him $ had done him no h#rt, and if he ,o#ld be >#iet $ ,o#ld do
him none% A8#t,A said $, Ayo# s,im ,ell eno#gh to reach to the shore, and the sea is calm3 ma'e
the best of yo#r ,ay to shore, and $ ,ill do yo# no harm3 b#t if yo# come near the boat $=ll shoot
yo# thro#gh the head, for $ am resolved to have my liberty3A so he t#rned himself abo#t, and
5-
s,am for the shore, and $ ma'e no do#bt b#t he reached it ,ith ease, for he ,as an excellent
s,immer%
$ co#ld have been content to have ta'en this 1oor ,ith me, and have dro,ned the boy, b#t
there ,as no vent#ring to tr#st him% 4hen he ,as gone, $ t#rned to the boy, ,hom they called
I#ry, and said to him, AI#ry, if yo# ,ill be faithf#l to me, $=ll ma'e yo# a great man3 b#t if yo#
,ill not stro'e yo#r face to be tr#e to meA-that is, s,ear by 1ahomet and his father=s beard-A$
m#st thro, yo# into the sea too%A The boy smiled in my face, and s(o'e so innocently that $ co#ld
not distr#st him, and s,ore to be faithf#l to me, and go all over the ,orld ,ith me%
4hile $ ,as in vie, of the 1oor that ,as s,imming, $ stood o#t directly to sea ,ith the boat,
rather stretching to ,ind,ard, that they might thin' me gone to,ards the /traits= mo#th Cas
indeed any one that had been in their ,its m#st have been s#((osed to doD: for ,ho ,o#ld have
s#((osed ,e ,ere sailed on to the so#th,ard, to the tr#ly 8arbarian coast, ,here ,hole nations
of negroes ,ere s#re to s#rro#nd #s ,ith their canoes and destroy #s3 ,here ,e co#ld not go on
shore b#t ,e sho#ld be devo#red by savage beasts, or more merciless savages of h#man 'ind%
8#t as soon as it gre, d#s' in the evening, $ changed my co#rse, and steered directly so#th and
by east, bending my co#rse a little to,ards the east, that $ might 'ee( in ,ith the shore3 and
having a fair, fresh gale of ,ind, and a smooth, >#iet sea, $ made s#ch sail that $ believe by the
next day, at three o=cloc' in the afternoon, ,hen $ first made the land, $ co#ld not be less than one
h#ndred and fifty miles so#th of /allee3 >#ite beyond the Em(eror of 1orocco=s dominions, or
indeed of any other 'ing thereabo#ts, for ,e sa, no (eo(le%
7et s#ch ,as the fright $ had ta'en of the 1oors, and the dreadf#l a((rehensions $ had of
falling into their hands, that $ ,o#ld not sto(, or go on shore, or come to an anchor3 the ,ind
contin#ing fair till $ had sailed in that manner five days3 and then the ,ind shifting to the
so#th,ard, $ concl#ded also that if any of o#r vessels ,ere in chase of me, they also ,o#ld no,
give over3 so $ vent#red to ma'e to the coast, and came to an anchor in the mo#th of a little river,
$ 'ne, not ,hat, nor ,here, neither ,hat latit#de, ,hat co#ntry, ,hat nation, or ,hat river% $
neither sa,, nor desired to see any (eo(le3 the (rinci(al thing $ ,anted ,as fresh ,ater% 4e came
into this cree' in the evening, resolving to s,im on shore as soon as it ,as dar', and discover the
co#ntry3 b#t as soon as it ,as >#ite dar', ,e heard s#ch dreadf#l noises of the bar'ing, roaring,
and ho,ling of ,ild creat#res, of ,e 'ne, not ,hat 'inds, that the (oor boy ,as ready to die
,ith fear, and begged of me not to go on shore till day% A4ell, I#ry,A said $, Athen $ ,on=t3 b#t it
may be that ,e may see men by day, ,ho ,ill be as bad to #s as those lions%A AThen ,e give
them the shoot g#n,A says I#ry, la#ghing, Ama'e them r#n ,ey%A /#ch English I#ry s(o'e by
conversing among #s slaves% 0o,ever, $ ,as glad to see the boy so cheerf#l, and $ gave him a
dram Co#t of o#r (atron=s case of bottlesD to cheer him #(% 2fter all, I#ry=s advice ,as good, and $
too' it3 ,e dro((ed o#r little anchor, and lay still all night3 $ say still, for ,e sle(t none3 for in
t,o or three ho#rs ,e sa, vast great creat#res C,e 'ne, not ,hat to call themD of many sorts,
come do,n to the sea-shore and r#n into the ,ater, ,allo,ing and ,ashing themselves for the
(leas#re of cooling themselves3 and they made s#ch hideo#s ho,lings and yellings, that $ never
indeed heard the li'e%
I#ry ,as dreadf#lly frighted, and indeed so ,as $ too3 b#t ,e ,ere both more frighted ,hen
,e heard one of these mighty creat#res come s,imming to,ards o#r boat3 ,e co#ld not see him,
b#t ,e might hear him by his blo,ing to be a monstro#s h#ge and f#rio#s beast% I#ry said it ,as
a lion, and it might be so for a#ght $ 'no,3 b#t (oor I#ry cried to me to ,eigh the anchor and
ro, a,ay3 A.o,A says $, AI#ry3 ,e can sli( o#r cable, ,ith the b#oy to it, and go off to sea3 they
cannot follo, #s far%A $ had no sooner said so, b#t $ (erceived the creat#re C,hatever it ,asD
,ithin t,o oars= length, ,hich something s#r(rised me3 ho,ever, $ immediately ste((ed to the
55
cabin door, and ta'ing #( my g#n, fired at him3 #(on ,hich he immediately t#rned abo#t and
s,am to,ards the shore again%
8#t it is im(ossible to describe the horrid noises, and hideo#s cries and ho,lings that ,ere
raised, as ,ell #(on the edge of the shore as higher ,ithin the co#ntry, #(on the noise or re(ort of
the g#n, a thing $ have some reason to believe those creat#res had never heard before: this
convinced me that there ,as no going on shore for #s in the night on that coast, and ho, to
vent#re on shore in the day ,as another >#estion too3 for to have fallen into the hands of any of
the savages had been as bad as to have fallen into the hands of the lions and tigers3 at least ,e
,ere e>#ally a((rehensive of the danger of it%
8e that as it ,o#ld, ,e ,ere obliged to go on shore some,here or other for ,ater, for ,e had
not a (int left in the boat3 ,hen and ,here to get to it ,as the (oint% I#ry said, if $ ,o#ld let him
go on shore ,ith one of the !ars, he ,o#ld find if there ,as any ,ater, and bring some to me% $
as'ed him ,hy he ,o#ld go? ,hy $ sho#ld not go, and he stay in the boat? The boy ans,ered
,ith so m#ch affection as made me love him ever after% /ays he, A$f ,ild mans come, they eat
me, yo# go ,ey%A A4ell, I#ry,A said $, A,e ,ill both go and if the ,ild mans come, ,e ,ill 'ill
them, they shall eat neither of #s%A /o $ gave I#ry a (iece of r#s' bread to eat, and a dram o#t of
o#r (atron=s case of bottles ,hich $ mentioned before3 and ,e ha#led the boat in as near the shore
as ,e tho#ght ,as (ro(er, and so ,aded on shore, carrying nothing b#t o#r arms and t,o !ars for
,ater%
$ did not care to go o#t of sight of the boat, fearing the coming of canoes ,ith savages do,n
the river3 b#t the boy seeing a lo, (lace abo#t a mile #( the co#ntry, rambled to it, and by-and-by
$ sa, him come r#nning to,ards me% $ tho#ght he ,as (#rs#ed by some savage, or frighted ,ith
some ,ild beast, and $ ran for,ard to,ards him to hel( him3 b#t ,hen $ came nearer to him $ sa,
something hanging over his sho#lders, ,hich ,as a creat#re that he had shot, li'e a hare, b#t
different in colo#r, and longer legs3 ho,ever, ,e ,ere very glad of it, and it ,as very good meat3
b#t the great !oy that (oor I#ry came ,ith, ,as to tell me he had fo#nd good ,ater and seen no
,ild mans%
8#t ,e fo#nd after,ards that ,e need not ta'e s#ch (ains for ,ater, for a little higher #( the
cree' ,here ,e ,ere ,e fo#nd the ,ater fresh ,hen the tide ,as o#t, ,hich flo,ed b#t a little
,ay #(3 so ,e filled o#r !ars, and feasted on the hare he had 'illed, and (re(ared to go on o#r
,ay, having seen no footste(s of any h#man creat#re in that (art of the co#ntry%
2s $ had been one voyage to this coast before, $ 'ne, very ,ell that the islands of the Canaries,
and the Ca(e de Verde $slands also, lay not far off from the coast% 8#t as $ had no instr#ments to
ta'e an observation to 'no, ,hat latit#de ,e ,ere in, and not exactly 'no,ing, or at least
remembering, ,hat latit#de they ,ere in, $ 'ne, not ,here to loo' for them, or ,hen to stand off
to sea to,ards them3 other,ise $ might no, easily have fo#nd some of these islands% 8#t my
ho(e ,as, that if $ stood along this coast till $ came to that (art ,here the English traded, $ sho#ld
find some of their vessels #(on their #s#al design of trade, that ,o#ld relieve and ta'e #s in%
8y the best of my calc#lation, that (lace ,here $ no, ,as m#st be that co#ntry ,hich, lying
bet,een the Em(eror of 1orocco=s dominions and the negroes, lies ,aste and #ninhabited,
exce(t by ,ild beasts3 the negroes having abandoned it and gone farther so#th for fear of the
1oors, and the 1oors not thin'ing it ,orth inhabiting by reason of its barrenness3 and indeed,
both forsa'ing it beca#se of the (rodigio#s n#mber of tigers, lions, leo(ards, and other f#rio#s
creat#res ,hich harbo#r there3 so that the 1oors #se it for their h#nting only, ,here they go li'e
an army, t,o or three tho#sand men at a time3 and indeed for near a h#ndred miles together #(on
this coast ,e sa, nothing b#t a ,aste, #ninhabited co#ntry by day, and heard nothing b#t
ho,lings and roaring of ,ild beasts by night%
5&
Jnce or t,ice in the daytime $ tho#ght $ sa, the ico of Teneriffe, being the high to( of the
1o#ntain Teneriffe in the Canaries, and had a great mind to vent#re o#t, in ho(es of reaching
thither3 b#t having tried t,ice, $ ,as forced in again by contrary ,inds, the sea also going too
high for my little vessel3 so, $ resolved to (#rs#e my first design, and 'ee( along the shore%
/everal times $ ,as obliged to land for fresh ,ater, after ,e had left this (lace3 and once in
(artic#lar, being early in morning, ,e came to an anchor #nder a little (oint of land, ,hich ,as
(retty high3 and the tide beginning to flo,, ,e lay still to go farther in% I#ry, ,hose eyes ,ere
more abo#t him than it seems mine ,ere, calls softly to me, and tells me that ,e had best go
farther off the shore3 A<or,A says he, Aloo', yonder lies a dreadf#l monster on the side of that
hilloc', fast aslee(%A $ loo'ed ,here he (ointed, and sa, a dreadf#l monster indeed, for it ,as a
terrible, great lion that lay on the side of the shore, #nder the shade of a (iece of the hill that h#ng
as it ,ere a little over him% AI#ry,A says $, Ayo# shall on shore and 'ill him%A I#ry, loo'ed
frighted, and said, A1e 'ill@ he eat me at one mo#th@A-one mo#thf#l he meant% 0o,ever, $ said no
more to the boy, b#t bade him lie still, and $ too' o#r biggest g#n, ,hich ,as almost m#s'et-bore,
and loaded it ,ith a good charge of (o,der, and ,ith t,o sl#gs, and laid it do,n3 then $ loaded
another g#n ,ith t,o b#llets3 and the third Cfor ,e had three (iecesD $ loaded ,ith five smaller
b#llets% $ too' the best aim $ co#ld ,ith the first (iece to have shot him in the head, b#t he lay so
,ith his leg raised a little above his nose, that the sl#gs hit his leg abo#t the 'nee and bro'e the
bone% 0e started #(, gro,ling at first, b#t finding his leg bro'en, fell do,n again3 and then got
#(on three legs, and gave the most hideo#s roar that ever $ heard% $ ,as a little s#r(rised that $
had not hit him on the head3 ho,ever, $ too' #( the second (iece immediately, and tho#gh he
began to move off, fired again, and shot him in the head, and had the (leas#re to see him dro(
and ma'e b#t little noise, b#t lie str#ggling for life% Then I#ry too' heart, and ,o#ld have me let
him go on shore% A4ell, go,A said $: so the boy !#m(ed into the ,ater and ta'ing a little g#n in one
hand, s,am to shore ,ith the other hand, and coming close to the creat#re, (#t the m#;;le of the
(iece to his ear, and shot him in the head again, ,hich des(atched him >#ite%
This ,as game indeed to #s, b#t this ,as no food3 and $ ,as very sorry to lose three charges of
(o,der and shot #(on a creat#re that ,as good for nothing to #s% 0o,ever, I#ry said he ,o#ld
have some of him3 so he comes on board, and as'ed me to give him the hatchet% A<or ,hat,
I#ry?A said $% A1e c#t off his head,A said he% 0o,ever, I#ry co#ld not c#t off his head, b#t he
c#t off a foot, and bro#ght it ,ith him, and it ,as a monstro#s great one%
$ betho#ght myself, ho,ever, that, (erha(s the s'in of him might, one ,ay or other, be of some
val#e to #s3 and $ resolved to ta'e off his s'in if $ co#ld% /o I#ry and $ ,ent to ,or' ,ith him3
b#t I#ry ,as m#ch the better ,or'man at it, for $ 'ne, very ill ho, to do it% $ndeed, it too' #s
both #( the ,hole day, b#t at last ,e got off the hide of him, and s(reading it on the to( of o#r
cabin, the s#n effect#ally dried it in t,o days= time, and it after,ards served me to lie #(on%
Cha(ter 6
C02TE9 $$$-49EC:ED J. 2 DE/E9T $/L2.D
2<TE9 this sto(, ,e made on to the so#th,ard contin#ally for ten or t,elve days, living very
s(aringly on o#r (rovisions, ,hich began to abate very m#ch, and going no oftener to the shore
than ,e ,ere obliged to for fresh ,ater% 1y design in this ,as to ma'e the river "ambia or
/enegal, that is to say any,here abo#t the Ca(e de Verde, ,here $ ,as in ho(es to meet ,ith
some E#ro(ean shi(3 and if $ did not, $ 'ne, not ,hat co#rse $ had to ta'e, b#t to see' for the
islands, or (erish there among the negroes% $ 'ne, that all the shi(s from E#ro(e, ,hich sailed
either to the coast of "#inea or to 8ra;il, or to the East $ndies, made this ca(e, or those islands3
and, in a ,ord, $ (#t the ,hole of my fort#ne #(on this single (oint, either that $ m#st meet ,ith
some shi( or m#st (erish%
56
4hen $ had (#rs#ed this resol#tion abo#t ten days longer, as $ have said, $ began to see that the
land ,as inhabited3 and in t,o or three (laces, as ,e sailed by, ,e sa, (eo(le stand #(on the
shore to loo' at #s3 ,e co#ld also (erceive they ,ere >#ite blac' and na'ed% $ ,as once inclined
to have gone on shore to them3 b#t I#ry ,as my better co#nsellor, and said to me, A.o go, no
go%A 0o,ever, $ ha#led in nearer the shore that $ might tal' to them, and $ fo#nd they ran along
the shore by me a good ,ay% $ observed they had no ,ea(ons in their hand, exce(t one, ,ho had
a long slender stic', ,hich I#ry said ,as a lance, and that they co#ld thro, them a great ,ay
,ith good aim3 so $ 'e(t at a distance, b#t tal'ed ,ith them by signs as ,ell as $ co#ld3 and
(artic#larly made signs for something to eat: they bec'oned to me to sto( my boat, and they
,o#ld fetch me some meat% U(on this $ lo,ered the to( of my sail and lay by, and t,o of them
ran #( into the co#ntry, and in less than half-an-ho#r came bac', and bro#ght ,ith them t,o
(ieces of dried flesh and some corn, s#ch as is the (rod#ce of their co#ntry3 b#t ,e neither 'ne,
,hat the one or the other ,as3 ho,ever, ,e ,ere ,illing to acce(t it, b#t ho, to come at it ,as
o#r next dis(#te, for $ ,o#ld not vent#re on shore to them, and they ,ere as m#ch afraid of #s3
b#t they too' a safe ,ay for #s all, for they bro#ght it to the shore and laid it do,n, and ,ent and
stood a great ,ay off till ,e fetched it on board, and then came close to #s again%
4e made signs of than's to them, for ,e had nothing to ma'e them amends3 b#t an
o((ort#nity offered that very instant to oblige them ,onderf#lly3 for ,hile ,e ,ere lying by the
shore came t,o mighty creat#res, one (#rs#ing the other Cas ,e too' itD ,ith great f#ry from the
mo#ntains to,ards the sea3 ,hether it ,as the male (#rs#ing the female, or ,hether they ,ere in
s(ort or in rage, ,e co#ld not tell, any more than ,e co#ld tell ,hether it ,as #s#al or strange,
b#t $ believe it ,as the latter3 beca#se, in the first (lace, those raveno#s creat#res seldom a((ear
b#t in the night3 and, in the second (lace, ,e fo#nd the (eo(le terribly frighted, es(ecially the
,omen% The man that had the lance or dart did not fly from them, b#t the rest did3 ho,ever, as the
t,o creat#res ran directly into the ,ater, they did not offer to fall #(on any of the negroes, b#t
(l#nged themselves into the sea, and s,am abo#t, as if they had come for their diversion3 at last
one of them began to come nearer o#r boat than at first $ ex(ected3 b#t $ lay ready for him, for $
had loaded my g#n ,ith all (ossible ex(edition, and bade I#ry load both the others% 2s soon as
he came fairly ,ithin my reach, $ fired, and shot him directly in the head3 immediately he san'
do,n into the ,ater, b#t rose instantly, and (l#nged #( and do,n, as if he ,ere str#ggling for
life, and so indeed he ,as3 he immediately made to the shore3 b#t bet,een the ,o#nd, ,hich ,as
his mortal h#rt, and the strangling of the ,ater, he died !#st before he reached the shore%
$t is im(ossible to ex(ress the astonishment of these (oor creat#res at the noise and fire of my
g#n: some of them ,ere even ready to die for fear, and fell do,n as dead ,ith the very terror3 b#t
,hen they sa, the creat#re dead, and s#n' in the ,ater, and that $ made signs to them to come to
the shore, they too' heart and came, and began to search for the creat#re% $ fo#nd him by his
blood staining the ,ater3 and by the hel( of a ro(e, ,hich $ sl#ng ro#nd him, and gave the
negroes to ha#l, they dragged him on shore, and fo#nd that it ,as a most c#rio#s leo(ard, s(otted,
and fine to an admirable degree3 and the negroes held #( their hands ,ith admiration, to thin'
,hat it ,as $ had 'illed him ,ith%
The other creat#re, frighted ,ith the flash of fire and the noise of the g#n, s,am on shore, and
ran #( directly to the mo#ntains from ,hence they came3 nor co#ld $, at that distance, 'no, ,hat
it ,as% $ fo#nd >#ic'ly the negroes ,ished to eat the flesh of this creat#re, so $ ,as ,illing to
have them ta'e it as a favo#r from me3 ,hich, ,hen $ made signs to them that they might ta'e
him, they ,ere very than'f#l for% $mmediately they fell to ,or' ,ith him3 and tho#gh they had no
'nife, yet, ,ith a shar(ened (iece of ,ood, they too' off his s'in as readily, and m#ch more
readily, than ,e co#ld have done ,ith a 'nife% They offered me some of the flesh, ,hich $
5B
declined, (ointing o#t that $ ,o#ld give it them3 b#t made signs for the s'in, ,hich they gave me
very freely, and bro#ght me a great deal more of their (rovisions, ,hich, tho#gh $ did not
#nderstand, yet $ acce(ted% $ then made signs to them for some ,ater, and held o#t one of my !ars
to them, t#rning it bottom #(,ard, to sho, that it ,as em(ty, and that $ ,anted to have it filled%
They called immediately to some of their friends, and there came t,o ,omen, and bro#ght a
great vessel made of earth, and b#rnt, as $ s#((osed, in the s#n, this they set do,n to me, as
before, and $ sent I#ry on shore ,ith my !ars, and filled them all three% The ,omen ,ere as
na'ed as the men%
$ ,as no, f#rnished ,ith roots and corn, s#ch as it ,as, and ,ater3 and leaving my friendly
negroes, $ made for,ard for abo#t eleven days more, ,itho#t offering to go near the shore, till $
sa, the land r#n o#t a great length into the sea, at abo#t the distance of fo#r or five leag#es
before me3 and the sea being very calm, $ 'e(t a large offing to ma'e this (oint% 2t length,
do#bling the (oint, at abo#t t,o leag#es from the land, $ sa, (lainly land on the other side, to
sea,ard3 then $ concl#ded, as it ,as most certain indeed, that this ,as the Ca(e de Verde, and
those the islands called, from thence, Ca(e de Verde $slands% 0o,ever, they ,ere at a great
distance, and $ co#ld not ,ell tell ,hat $ had best to do3 for if $ sho#ld be ta'en ,ith a fresh of
,ind, $ might neither reach one or other%
$n this dilemma, as $ ,as very (ensive, $ ste((ed into the cabin and sat do,n, I#ry having the
helm3 ,hen, on a s#dden, the boy cried o#t, A1aster, master, a shi( ,ith a sail@A and the foolish
boy ,as frighted o#t of his ,its, thin'ing it m#st needs be some of his master=s shi(s sent to
(#rs#e #s, b#t $ 'ne, ,e ,ere far eno#gh o#t of their reach% $ !#m(ed o#t of the cabin, and
immediately sa,, not only the shi(, b#t that it ,as a ort#g#ese shi(3 and, as $ tho#ght, ,as
bo#nd to the coast of "#inea, for negroes% 8#t, ,hen $ observed the co#rse she steered, $ ,as
soon convinced they ,ere bo#nd some other ,ay, and did not design to come any nearer to the
shore3 #(on ,hich $ stretched o#t to sea as m#ch as $ co#ld, resolving to s(ea' ,ith them if
(ossible%
4ith all the sail $ co#ld ma'e, $ fo#nd $ sho#ld not be able to come in their ,ay, b#t that they
,o#ld be gone by before $ co#ld ma'e any signal to them: b#t after $ had cro,ded to the #tmost,
and began to des(air, they, it seems, sa, by the hel( of their glasses that it ,as some E#ro(ean
boat, ,hich they s#((osed m#st belong to some shi( that ,as lost3 so they shortened sail to let
me come #(% $ ,as enco#raged ,ith this, and as $ had my (atron=s ancient on board, $ made a
,aft of it to them, for a signal of distress, and fired a g#n, both ,hich they sa,3 for they told me
they sa, the smo'e, tho#gh they did not hear the g#n% U(on these signals they very 'indly
bro#ght to, and lay by for me3 and in abo#t three ho#rs3 time $ came #( ,ith them%
They as'ed me ,hat $ ,as, in ort#g#ese, and in /(anish, and in <rench, b#t $ #nderstood
none of them3 b#t at last a /cotch sailor, ,ho ,as on board, called to me: and $ ans,ered him,
and told him $ ,as an Englishman, that $ had made my esca(e o#t of slavery from the 1oors, at
/allee3 they then bade me come on board, and very 'indly too' me in, and all my goods%
$t ,as an inex(ressible !oy to me, ,hich any one ,ill believe, that $ ,as th#s delivered, as $
esteemed it, from s#ch a miserable and almost ho(eless condition as $ ,as in3 and $ immediately
offered all $ had to the ca(tain of the shi(, as a ret#rn for my deliverance3 b#t he genero#sly told
me he ,o#ld ta'e nothing from me, b#t that all $ had sho#ld be delivered safe to me ,hen $ came
to the 8ra;ils% A<or,A says he, A$ have saved yo#r life on no other terms than $ ,o#ld be glad to be
saved myself: and it may, one time or other, be my lot to be ta'en #( in the same condition%
8esides,A said he, A,hen $ carry yo# to the 8ra;ils, so great a ,ay from yo#r o,n co#ntry, if $
sho#ld ta'e from yo# ,hat yo# have, yo# ,ill be starved there, and then $ only ta'e a,ay that life
5*
$ have given% .o, no,A says he: A/eignior $ngleseA C1r% EnglishmanD, A$ ,ill carry yo# thither in
charity, and those things ,ill hel( to b#y yo#r s#bsistence there, and yo#r (assage home again%A
2s he ,as charitable in this (ro(osal, so he ,as !#st in the (erformance to a tittle3 for he
ordered the seamen that none sho#ld to#ch anything that $ had: then he too' everything into his
o,n (ossession, and gave me bac' an exact inventory of them, that $ might have them, even to
my three earthen !ars%
2s to my boat, it ,as a very good one3 and that he sa,, and told me he ,o#ld b#y it of me for
his shi(=s #se3 and as'ed me ,hat $ ,o#ld have for it? $ told him he had been so genero#s to me
in everything that $ co#ld not offer to ma'e any (rice of the boat, b#t left it entirely to him: #(on
,hich he told me he ,o#ld give me a note of hand to (ay me eighty (ieces of eight for it at
8ra;il3 and ,hen it came there, if any one offered to give more, he ,o#ld ma'e it #(% 0e offered
me also sixty (ieces of eight more for my boy I#ry, ,hich $ ,as loth to ta'e3 not that $ ,as
#n,illing to let the ca(tain have him, b#t $ ,as very loth to sell the (oor boy=s liberty, ,ho had
assisted me so faithf#lly in (roc#ring my o,n% 0o,ever, ,hen $ let him 'no, my reason, he
o,ned it to be !#st, and offered me this medi#m, that he ,o#ld give the boy an obligation to set
him free in ten years, if he t#rned Christian: #(on this, and I#ry saying he ,as ,illing to go to
him, $ let the ca(tain have him%
4e had a very good voyage to the 8ra;ils, and $ arrived in the 8ay de Todos los /antos, or 2ll
/aints= 8ay, in abo#t t,enty-t,o days after% 2nd no, $ ,as once more delivered from the most
miserable of all conditions of life3 and ,hat to do next ,ith myself $ ,as to consider%
The genero#s treatment the ca(tain gave me $ can never eno#gh remember: he ,o#ld ta'e
nothing of me for my (assage, gave me t,enty d#cats for the leo(ard=s s'in, and forty for the
lion=s s'in, ,hich $ had in my boat, and ca#sed everything $ had in the shi( to be (#nct#ally
delivered to me3 and ,hat $ ,as ,illing to sell he bo#ght of me, s#ch as the case of bottles, t,o
of my g#ns, and a (iece of the l#m( of bees,ax-for $ had made candles of the rest: in a ,ord, $
made abo#t t,o h#ndred and t,enty (ieces of eight of all my cargo3 and ,ith this stoc' $ ,ent on
shore in the 8ra;ils%
$ had not been long here before $ ,as recommended to the ho#se of a good honest man li'e
himself, ,ho had an ingenio, as they call it Cthat is, a (lantation and a s#gar-ho#seD% $ lived ,ith
him some time, and ac>#ainted myself by that means ,ith the manner of (lanting and ma'ing of
s#gar3 and seeing ho, ,ell the (lanters lived, and ho, they got rich s#ddenly, $ resolved, if $
co#ld get a licence to settle there, $ ,o#ld t#rn (lanter among them: resolving in the meantime to
find o#t some ,ay to get my money, ,hich $ had left in London, remitted to me% To this (#r(ose,
getting a 'ind of letter of nat#ralisation, $ (#rchased as m#ch land that ,as #nc#red as my money
,o#ld reach, and formed a (lan for my (lantation and settlement3 s#ch a one as might be s#itable
to the stoc' ,hich $ (ro(osed to myself to receive from England%
$ had a neighbo#r, a ort#g#ese, of Lisbon, b#t born of English (arents, ,hose name ,as
4ells, and in m#ch s#ch circ#mstances as $ ,as% $ call him my neighbo#r, beca#se his (lantation
lay next to mine, and ,e ,ent on very sociably together% 1y stoc' ,as b#t lo,, as ,ell as his3
and ,e rather (lanted for food than anything else, for abo#t t,o years% 0o,ever, ,e began to
increase, and o#r land began to come into order3 so that the third year ,e (lanted some tobacco,
and made each of #s a large (iece of gro#nd ready for (lanting canes in the year to come% 8#t ,e
both ,anted hel(3 and no, $ fo#nd, more than before, $ had done ,rong in (arting ,ith my boy
I#ry%
8#t, alas@ for me to do ,rong that never did right, ,as no great ,onder% $ hail no remedy b#t to
go on: $ had got into an em(loyment >#ite remote to my geni#s, and directly contrary to the life $
delighted in, and for ,hich $ forsoo' my father=s ho#se, and bro'e thro#gh all his good advice%
5)
.ay, $ ,as coming into the very middle station, or #((er degree of lo, life, ,hich my father
advised me to before, and ,hich, if $ resolved to go on ,ith, $ might as ,ell have stayed at home,
and never have fatig#ed myself in the ,orld as $ had done3 and $ #sed often to say to myself, $
co#ld have done this as ,ell in England, among my friends, as have gone five tho#sand miles off
to do it among strangers and savages, in a ,ilderness, and at s#ch a distance as never to hear from
any (art of the ,orld that had the least 'no,ledge of me%
$n this manner $ #sed to loo' #(on my condition ,ith the #tmost regret% $ had nobody to
converse ,ith, b#t no, and then this neighbo#r3 no ,or' to be done, b#t by the labo#r of my
hands3 and $ #sed to say, $ lived !#st li'e a man cast a,ay #(on some desolate island, that had
nobody there b#t himself% 8#t ho, !#st has it been-and ho, sho#ld all men reflect, that ,hen
they com(are their (resent conditions ,ith others that are ,orse, 0eaven may oblige them to
ma'e the exchange, and be convinced of their former felicity by their ex(erience-$ say, ho, !#st
has it been, that the tr#ly solitary life $ reflected on, in an island of mere desolation, sho#ld be my
lot, ,ho had so often #n!#stly com(ared it ,ith the life ,hich $ then led, in ,hich, had $
contin#ed, $ had in all (robability been exceeding (ros(ero#s and rich%
$ ,as in some degree settled in my meas#res for carrying on the (lantation before my 'ind
friend, the ca(tain of the shi( that too' me #( at sea, ,ent bac'-for the shi( remained there, in
(roviding his lading and (re(aring for his voyage, nearly three months-,hen telling him ,hat
little stoc' $ had left behind me in London, he gave me this friendly and sincere advice:-A/eignior
$nglese,A says he Cfor so he al,ays called meD, Aif yo# ,ill give me letters, and a (roc#ration in
form to me, ,ith orders to the (erson ,ho has yo#r money in London to send yo#r effects to
Lisbon, to s#ch (ersons as $ shall direct, and in s#ch goods as are (ro(er for this co#ntry, $ ,ill
bring yo# the (rod#ce of them, "od ,illing, at my ret#rn3 b#t, since h#man affairs are all s#b!ect
to changes and disasters, $ ,o#ld have yo# give orders b#t for one h#ndred (o#nds sterling,
,hich, yo# say, is half yo#r stoc', and let the ha;ard be r#n for the first3 so that, if it come safe,
yo# may order the rest the same ,ay, and, if it miscarry, yo# may have the other half to have
reco#rse to for yo#r s#((ly%A
This ,as so ,holesome advice, and loo'ed so friendly, that $ co#ld not b#t be convinced it ,as
the best co#rse $ co#ld ta'e3 so $ accordingly (re(ared letters to the gentle,oman ,ith ,hom $
had left my money, and a (roc#ration to the ort#g#ese ca(tain, as he desired%
$ ,rote the English ca(tain=s ,ido, a f#ll acco#nt of all my advent#res-my slavery, esca(e,
and ho, $ had met ,ith the ort#g#ese ca(tain at sea, the h#manity of his behavio#r, and ,hat
condition $ ,as no, in, ,ith all other necessary directions for my s#((ly3 and ,hen this honest
ca(tain came to Lisbon, he fo#nd means, by some of the English merchants there, to send over,
not the order only, b#t a f#ll acco#nt of my story to a merchant in London, ,ho re(resented it
effect#ally to her3 ,here#(on she not only delivered the money, b#t o#t of her o,n (oc'et sent
the ort#gal ca(tain a very handsome (resent for his h#manity and charity to me%
The merchant in London, vesting this h#ndred (o#nds in English goods, s#ch as the ca(tain
had ,ritten for, sent them directly to him at Lisbon, and he bro#ght them all safe to me to the
8ra;ils3 among ,hich, ,itho#t my direction Cfor $ ,as too yo#ng in my b#siness to thin' of
themD, he had ta'en care to have all sorts of tools, iron,or', and #tensils necessary for my
(lantation, and ,hich ,ere of great #se to me%
4hen this cargo arrived $ tho#ght my fort#ne made, for $ ,as s#r(rised ,ith the !oy of it3 and
my stood ste,ard, the ca(tain, had laid o#t the five (o#nds, ,hich my friend had sent him for a
(resent for himself, to (#rchase and bring me over a servant, #nder bond for six years= service,
and ,o#ld not acce(t of any consideration, exce(t a little tobacco, ,hich $ ,o#ld have him
acce(t, being of my o,n (rod#ce%
5F
.either ,as this all3 for my goods being all English man#fact#re, s#ch as cloths, st#ffs, bai;e,
and things (artic#larly val#able and desirable in the co#ntry, $ fo#nd means to sell them to a very
great advantage3 so that $ might say $ had more than fo#r times the val#e of my first cargo, and
,as no, infinitely beyond my (oor neighbo#r-$ mean in the advancement of my (lantation3 for
the first thing $ did, $ bo#ght me a negro slave, and an E#ro(ean servant also-$ mean another
besides that ,hich the ca(tain bro#ght me from Lisbon%
8#t as ab#sed (ros(erity is oftentimes made the very means of o#r greatest adversity, so it ,as
,ith me% $ ,ent on the next year ,ith great s#ccess in my (lantation: $ raised fifty great rolls of
tobacco on my o,n gro#nd, more than $ had dis(osed of for necessaries among my neighbo#rs3
and these fifty rolls, being each of above a h#ndred,eight, ,ere ,ell c#red, and laid by against
the ret#rn of the fleet from Lisbon: and no, increasing in b#siness and ,ealth, my head began to
be f#ll of (ro!ects and #nderta'ings beyond my reach3 s#ch as are, indeed, often the r#in of the
best heads in b#siness% 0ad $ contin#ed in the station $ ,as no, in, $ had room for all the ha((y
things to have yet befallen me for ,hich my father so earnestly recommended a >#iet, retired life,
and of ,hich he had so sensibly described the middle station of life to be f#ll of3 b#t other things
attended me, and $ ,as still to be the ,ilf#l agent of all my o,n miseries3 and (artic#larly, to
increase my fa#lt, and do#ble the reflections #(on myself, ,hich in my f#t#re sorro,s $ sho#ld
have leis#re to ma'e, all these miscarriages ,ere (roc#red by my a((arent obstinate adhering to
my foolish inclination of ,andering abroad, and (#rs#ing that inclination, in contradiction to the
clearest vie,s of doing myself good in a fair and (lain (#rs#it of those (ros(ects, and those
meas#res of life, ,hich nat#re and rovidence conc#rred to (resent me ,ith, and to ma'e my
d#ty%
2s $ had once done th#s in my brea'ing a,ay from my (arents, so $ co#ld not be content no,,
b#t $ m#st go and leave the ha((y vie, $ had of being a rich and thriving man in my ne,
(lantation, only to (#rs#e a rash and immoderate desire of rising faster than the nat#re of the
thing admitted3 and th#s $ cast myself do,n again into the dee(est g#lf of h#man misery that ever
man fell into, or (erha(s co#ld be consistent ,ith life and a state of health in the ,orld%
To come, then, by the !#st degrees to the (artic#lars of this (art of my story% 7o# may s#((ose,
that having no, lived almost fo#r years in the 8ra;ils, and beginning to thrive and (ros(er very
,ell #(on my (lantation, $ had not only learned the lang#age, b#t had contracted ac>#aintance
and friendshi( among my fello,-(lanters, as ,ell as among the merchants at /t% /alvador, ,hich
,as o#r (ort3 and that, in my disco#rses among them, $ had fre>#ently given them an acco#nt of
my t,o voyages to the coast of "#inea: the manner of trading ,ith the negroes there, and ho,
easy it ,as to (#rchase #(on the coast for trifles-s#ch as beads, toys, 'nives, scissors, hatchets,
bits of glass, and the li'e-not only gold-d#st, "#inea grains, ele(hants= teeth, Kc%, b#t negroes, for
the service of the 8ra;ils, in great n#mbers%
They listened al,ays very attentively to my disco#rses on these heads, b#t es(ecially to that
(art ,hich related to the b#ying of negroes, ,hich ,as a trade at that time, not only not far
entered into, b#t, as far as it ,as, had been carried on by assientos, or (ermission of the 'ings of
/(ain and ort#gal, and engrossed in the (#blic stoc': so that fe, negroes ,ere bo#ght, and these
excessively dear%
$t ha((ened, being in com(any ,ith some merchants and (lanters of my ac>#aintance, and
tal'ing of those things very earnestly, three of them came to me next morning, and told me they
had been m#sing very m#ch #(on ,hat $ had disco#rsed ,ith them of the last night, and they
came to ma'e a secret (ro(osal to me3 and, after en!oining me to secrecy, they told me that they
had a mind to fit o#t a shi( to go to "#inea3 that they had all (lantations as ,ell as $, and ,ere
straitened for nothing so m#ch as servants3 that as it ,as a trade that co#ld not be carried on,
5G
beca#se they co#ld not (#blicly sell the negroes ,hen they came home, so they desired to ma'e
b#t one voyage, to bring the negroes on shore (rivately, and divide them among their o,n
(lantations3 and, in a ,ord, the >#estion ,as ,hether $ ,o#ld go their s#(ercargo in the shi(, to
manage the trading (art #(on the coast of "#inea3 and they offered me that $ sho#ld have my
e>#al share of the negroes, ,itho#t (roviding any (art of the stoc'%
This ,as a fair (ro(osal, it m#st be confessed, had it been made to any one that had not had a
settlement and a (lantation of his o,n to loo' after, ,hich ,as in a fair ,ay of coming to be very
considerable, and ,ith a good stoc' #(on it3 b#t for me, that ,as th#s entered and established,
and had nothing to do b#t to go on as $ had beg#n, for three or fo#r years more, and to have sent
for the other h#ndred (o#nds from England3 and ,ho in that time, and ,ith that little addition,
co#ld scarce have failed of being ,orth three or fo#r tho#sand (o#nds sterling, and that
increasing too-for me to thin' of s#ch a voyage ,as the most (re(ostero#s thing that ever man in
s#ch circ#mstances co#ld be g#ilty of%
8#t $, that ,as born to be my o,n destroyer, co#ld no more resist the offer than $ co#ld restrain
my first rambling designs ,hen my father= good co#nsel ,as lost #(on me% $n a ,ord, $ told them
$ ,o#ld go ,ith all my heart, if they ,o#ld #nderta'e to loo' after my (lantation in my absence,
and ,o#ld dis(ose of it to s#ch as $ sho#ld direct, if $ miscarried% This they all engaged to do, and
entered into ,ritings or covenants to do so3 and $ made a formal ,ill, dis(osing of my (lantation
and effects in case of my death, ma'ing the ca(tain of the shi( that had saved my life, as before,
my #niversal heir, b#t obliging him to dis(ose of my effects as $ had directed in my ,ill3 one half
of the (rod#ce being to himself, and the other to be shi((ed to England%
$n short, $ too' all (ossible ca#tion to (reserve my effects and to 'ee( #( my (lantation% 0ad $
#sed half as m#ch (r#dence to have loo'ed into my o,n interest, and have made a !#dgment of
,hat $ o#ght to have done and not to have done, $ had certainly never gone a,ay from so
(ros(ero#s an #nderta'ing, leaving all the (robable vie,s of a thriving circ#mstance, and gone
#(on a voyage to sea, attended ,ith all its common ha;ards, to say nothing of the reasons $ had to
ex(ect (artic#lar misfort#nes to myself%
8#t $ ,as h#rried on, and obeyed blindly the dictates of my fancy rather than my reason3 and,
accordingly, the shi( being fitted o#t, and the cargo f#rnished, and all things done, as by
agreement, by my (artners in the voyage, $ ,ent on board in an evil ho#r, the 5st /e(tember
5)*H, being the same day eight years that $ ,ent from my father and mother at 0#ll, in order to
act the rebel to their a#thority, and the fool to my o,n interests%
J#r shi( ,as abo#t one h#ndred and t,enty tons b#rden, carried six g#ns and fo#rteen men,
besides the master, his boy, and myself% 4e had on board no large cargo of goods, exce(t of s#ch
toys as ,ere fit for o#r trade ,ith the negroes, s#ch as beads, bits of glass, shells, and other
trifles, es(ecially little loo'ing-glasses, 'nives, scissors, hatchets, and the li'e%
The same day $ ,ent on board ,e set sail, standing a,ay to the north,ard #(on o#r o,n coast,
,ith design to stretch over for the 2frican coast ,hen ,e came abo#t ten or t,elve degrees of
northern latit#de, ,hich, it seems, ,as the manner of co#rse in those days% 4e had very good
,eather, only excessively hot, all the ,ay #(on o#r o,n coast, till ,e came to the height of Ca(e
/t% 2#g#stino3 from ,hence, 'ee(ing f#rther off at sea, ,e lost sight of land, and steered as if ,e
,ere bo#nd for the isle <ernando de .oronha, holding o#r co#rse .%E% by .%, and leaving those
isles on the east% $n this co#rse ,e (assed the line in abo#t t,elve days= time, and ,ere, by o#r
last observation, in seven degrees t,enty-t,o min#tes northern latit#de, ,hen a violent tornado,
or h#rricane, too' #s >#ite o#t of o#r 'no,ledge% $t began from the so#th-east, came abo#t to the
north-,est, and then settled in the north-east3 from ,hence it ble, in s#ch a terrible manner, that
for t,elve days together ,e co#ld do nothing b#t drive, and, sc#dding a,ay before it, let it carry
5H
#s ,hither fate and the f#ry of the ,inds directed3 and, d#ring these t,elve days, $ need not say
that $ ex(ected every day to be s,allo,ed #(3 nor, indeed, did any in the shi( ex(ect to save their
lives%
$n this distress ,e had, besides the terror of the storm, one of o#r men die of the calent#re, and
one man and the boy ,ashed overboard% 2bo#t the t,elfth day, the ,eather abating a little, the
master made an observation as ,ell as he co#ld, and fo#nd that he ,as in abo#t eleven degrees
north latit#de, b#t that he ,as t,enty-t,o degrees of longit#de difference ,est from Ca(e /t%
2#g#stino3 so that he fo#nd he ,as #(on the coast of "#iana, or the north (art of 8ra;il, beyond
the river 2ma;on, to,ard that of the river Jrinoco, commonly called the "reat 9iver3 and began
to cons#lt ,ith me ,hat co#rse he sho#ld ta'e, for the shi( ,as lea'y, and very m#ch disabled,
and he ,as going directly bac' to the coast of 8ra;il%
$ ,as (ositively against that3 and loo'ing over the charts of the sea-coast of 2merica ,ith him,
,e concl#ded there ,as no inhabited co#ntry for #s to have reco#rse to till ,e came ,ithin the
circle of the Caribbee $slands, and therefore resolved to stand a,ay for 8arbadoes3 ,hich, by
'ee(ing off at sea, to avoid the indraft of the 8ay or "#lf of 1exico, ,e might easily (erform, as
,e ho(ed, in abo#t fifteen days= sail3 ,hereas ,e co#ld not (ossibly ma'e o#r voyage to the coast
of 2frica ,itho#t some assistance both to o#r shi( and to o#rselves%
4ith this design ,e changed o#r co#rse, and steered a,ay .%4% by 4%, in order to reach some
of o#r English islands, ,here $ ho(ed for relief% 8#t o#r voyage ,as other,ise determined3 for,
being in the latit#de of t,elve degrees eighteen min#tes, a second storm came #(on #s, ,hich
carried #s a,ay ,ith the same im(et#osity ,est,ard, and drove #s so o#t of the ,ay of all h#man
commerce, that, had all o#r lives been saved as to the sea, ,e ,ere rather in danger of being
devo#red by savages than ever ret#rning to o#r o,n co#ntry%
$n this distress, the ,ind still blo,ing very hard, one of o#r men early in the morning cried o#t,
ALand@A and ,e had no sooner r#n o#t of the cabin to loo' o#t, in ho(es of seeing ,hereabo#ts in
the ,orld ,e ,ere, than the shi( str#c' #(on a sand, and in a moment her motion being so
sto((ed, the sea bro'e over her in s#ch a manner that ,e ex(ected ,e sho#ld all have (erished
immediately3 and ,e ,ere immediately driven into o#r close >#arters, to shelter #s from the very
foam and s(ray of the sea%
$t is not easy for any one ,ho has not been in the li'e condition to describe or conceive the
consternation of men in s#ch circ#mstances% 4e 'ne, nothing ,here ,e ,ere, or #(on ,hat land
it ,as ,e ,ere driven-,hether an island or the main, ,hether inhabited or not inhabited% 2s the
rage of the ,ind ,as still great, tho#gh rather less than at first, ,e co#ld not so m#ch as ho(e to
have the shi( hold many min#tes ,itho#t brea'ing into (ieces, #nless the ,inds, by a 'ind of
miracle, sho#ld t#rn immediately abo#t% $n a ,ord, ,e sat loo'ing #(on one another, and
ex(ecting death every moment, and every man, accordingly, (re(aring for another ,orld3 for
there ,as little or nothing more for #s to do in this% That ,hich ,as o#r (resent comfort, and all
the comfort ,e had, ,as that, contrary to o#r ex(ectation, the shi( did not brea' yet, and that the
master said the ,ind began to abate%
.o,, tho#gh ,e tho#ght that the ,ind did a little abate, yet the shi( having th#s str#c' #(on
the sand, and stic'ing too fast for #s to ex(ect her getting off, ,e ,ere in a dreadf#l condition
indeed, and had nothing to do b#t to thin' of saving o#r lives as ,ell as ,e co#ld% 4e had a boat
at o#r stern !#st before the storm, b#t she ,as first staved by dashing against the shi(=s r#dder,
and in the next (lace she bro'e a,ay, and either s#n' or ,as driven off to sea3 so there ,as no
ho(e from her% 4e had another boat on board, b#t ho, to get her off into the sea ,as a do#btf#l
thing% 0o,ever, there ,as no time to debate, for ,e fancied that the shi( ,o#ld brea' in (ieces
every min#te, and some told #s she ,as act#ally bro'en already%
&-
$n this distress the mate of o#r vessel laid hold of the boat, and ,ith the hel( of the rest of the
men got her sl#ng over the shi(=s side3 and getting all into her, let go, and committed o#rselves,
being eleven in n#mber, to "od=s mercy and the ,ild sea3 for tho#gh the storm ,as abated
considerably, yet the sea ran dreadf#lly high #(on the shore, and might be ,ell called den ,ild
;ee, as the D#tch call the sea in a storm%
2nd no, o#r case ,as very dismal indeed3 for ,e all sa, (lainly that the sea ,ent so high that
the boat co#ld not live, and that ,e sho#ld be inevitably dro,ned% 2s to ma'ing sail, ,e had
none, nor if ,e had co#ld ,e have done anything ,ith it3 so ,e ,or'ed at the oar to,ards the
land, tho#gh ,ith heavy hearts, li'e men going to exec#tion3 for ,e all 'ne, that ,hen the boat
came near the shore she ,o#ld be dashed in a tho#sand (ieces by the breach of the sea% 0o,ever,
,e committed o#r so#ls to "od in the most earnest manner3 and the ,ind driving #s to,ards the
shore, ,e hastened o#r destr#ction ,ith o#r o,n hands, (#lling as ,ell as ,e co#ld to,ards land%
4hat the shore ,as, ,hether roc' or sand, ,hether stee( or shoal, ,e 'ne, not% The only ho(e
that co#ld rationally give #s the least shado, of ex(ectation ,as, if ,e might find some bay or
g#lf, or the mo#th of some river, ,here by great chance ,e might have r#n o#r boat in, or got
#nder the lee of the land, and (erha(s made smooth ,ater% 8#t there ,as nothing li'e this
a((eared3 b#t as ,e made nearer and nearer the shore, the land loo'ed more frightf#l than the sea%
2fter ,e had ro,ed, or rather driven abo#t a leag#e and a half, as ,e rec'oned it, a raging
,ave, mo#ntain-li'e, came rolling astern of #s, and (lainly bade #s ex(ect the co#( de grace% $t
too' #s ,ith s#ch a f#ry, that it overset the boat at once3 and se(arating #s as ,ell from the boat
as from one another, gave #s no time to say, AJ "od@A for ,e ,ere all s,allo,ed #( in a moment%
.othing can describe the conf#sion of tho#ght ,hich $ felt ,hen $ san' into the ,ater3 for
tho#gh $ s,am very ,ell, yet $ co#ld not deliver myself from the ,aves so as to dra, breath, till
that ,ave having driven me, or rather carried me, a vast ,ay on to,ards the shore, and having
s(ent itself, ,ent bac', and left me #(on the land almost dry, b#t half dead ,ith the ,ater $ too'
in% $ had so m#ch (resence of mind, as ,ell as breath left, that seeing myself nearer the mainland
than $ ex(ected, $ got #(on my feet, and endeavo#red to ma'e on to,ards the land as fast as $
co#ld before another ,ave sho#ld ret#rn and ta'e me #( again3 b#t $ soon fo#nd it ,as
im(ossible to avoid it3 for $ sa, the sea come after me as high as a great hill, and as f#rio#s as an
enemy, ,hich $ had no means or strength to contend ,ith: my b#siness ,as to hold my breath,
and raise myself #(on the ,ater if $ co#ld3 and so, by s,imming, to (reserve my breathing, and
(ilot myself to,ards the shore, if (ossible, my greatest concern no, being that the sea, as it
,o#ld carry me a great ,ay to,ards the shore ,hen it came on, might not carry me bac' again
,ith it ,hen it gave bac' to,ards the sea%
The ,ave that came #(on me again b#ried me at once t,enty or thirty feet dee( in its o,n
body, and $ co#ld feel myself carried ,ith a mighty force and s,iftness to,ards the shore-a very
great ,ay3 b#t $ held my breath, and assisted myself to s,im still for,ard ,ith all my might% $
,as ready to b#rst ,ith holding my breath, ,hen, as $ felt myself rising #(, so, to my immediate
relief, $ fo#nd my head and hands shoot o#t above the s#rface of the ,ater3 and tho#gh it ,as not
t,o seconds of time that $ co#ld 'ee( myself so, yet it relieved me greatly, gave me breath, and
ne, co#rage% $ ,as covered again ,ith ,ater a good ,hile, b#t not so long b#t $ held it o#t3 and
finding the ,ater had s(ent itself, and began to ret#rn, $ str#c' for,ard against the ret#rn of the
,aves, and felt gro#nd again ,ith my feet% $ stood still a fe, moments to recover breath, and till
the ,aters ,ent from me, and then too' to my heels and ran ,ith ,hat strength $ had f#rther
to,ards the shore% 8#t neither ,o#ld this deliver me from the f#ry of the sea, ,hich came
(o#ring in after me again3 and t,ice more $ ,as lifted #( by the ,aves and carried for,ard as
before, the shore being very flat%
&5
The last time of these t,o had ,ell-nigh been fatal to me, for the sea having h#rried me along
as before, landed me, or rather dashed me, against a (iece of roc', and that ,ith s#ch force, that it
left me senseless, and indeed hel(less, as to my o,n deliverance3 for the blo, ta'ing my side and
breast, beat the breath as it ,ere >#ite o#t of my body3 and had it ret#rned again immediately, $
m#st have been strangled in the ,ater3 b#t $ recovered a little before the ret#rn of the ,aves, and
seeing $ sho#ld be covered again ,ith the ,ater, $ resolved to hold fast by a (iece of the roc', and
so to hold my breath, if (ossible, till the ,ave ,ent bac'% .o,, as the ,aves ,ere not so high as
at first, being nearer land, $ held my hold till the ,ave abated, and then fetched another r#n,
,hich bro#ght me so near the shore that the next ,ave, tho#gh it ,ent over me, yet did not so
s,allo, me #( as to carry me a,ay3 and the next r#n $ too', $ got to the mainland, ,here, to my
great comfort, $ clambered #( the cliffs of the shore and sat me do,n #(on the grass, free from
danger and >#ite o#t of the reach of the ,ater%
$ ,as no, landed and safe on shore, and began to loo' #( and than' "od that my life ,as
saved, in a case ,herein there ,as some min#tes before scarce any room to ho(e% $ believe it is
im(ossible to ex(ress, to the life, ,hat the ecstasies and trans(orts of the so#l are, ,hen it is so
saved, as $ may say, o#t of the very grave: and $ do not ,onder no, at the c#stom, ,hen a
malefactor, ,ho has the halter abo#t his nec', is tied #(, and !#st going to be t#rned off, and has a
re(rieve bro#ght to him-$ say, $ do not ,onder that they bring a s#rgeon ,ith it, to let him blood
that very moment they tell him of it, that the s#r(rise may not drive the animal s(irits from the
heart and over,helm him%

A<or s#dden !oys, li'e griefs, confo#nd at first%A
$ ,al'ed abo#t on the shore lifting #( my hands, and my ,hole being, as $ may say, ,ra((ed
#( in a contem(lation of my deliverance3 ma'ing a tho#sand gest#res and motions, ,hich $
cannot describe3 reflecting #(on all my comrades that ,ere dro,ned, and that there sho#ld not be
one so#l saved b#t myself3 for, as for them, $ never sa, them after,ards, or any sign of them,
exce(t three of their hats, one ca(, and t,o shoes that ,ere not fello,s%
$ cast my eye to the stranded vessel, ,hen, the breach and froth of the sea being so big, $ co#ld
hardly see it, it lay so far of3 and considered, Lord@ ho, ,as it (ossible $ co#ld get on shore
2fter $ had solaced my mind ,ith the comfortable (art of my condition, $ began to loo' ro#nd
me, to see ,hat 'ind of (lace $ ,as in, and ,hat ,as next to be done3 and $ soon fo#nd my
comforts abate, and that, in a ,ord, $ had a dreadf#l deliverance3 for $ ,as ,et, had no clothes to
shift me, nor anything either to eat or drin' to comfort me3 neither did $ see any (ros(ect before
me b#t that of (erishing ,ith h#nger or being devo#red by ,ild beasts3 and that ,hich ,as
(artic#larly afflicting to me ,as, that $ had no ,ea(on, either to h#nt and 'ill any creat#re for my
s#stenance, or to defend myself against any other creat#re that might desire to 'ill me for theirs%
$n a ,ord, $ had nothing abo#t me b#t a 'nife, a tobacco-(i(e, and a little tobacco in a box% This
,as all my (rovisions3 and this thre, me into s#ch terrible agonies of mind, that for a ,hile $ ran
abo#t li'e a madman% .ight coming #(on me, $ began ,ith a heavy heart to consider ,hat ,o#ld
be my lot if there ,ere any raveno#s beasts in that co#ntry, as at night they al,ays come abroad
for their (rey%
2ll the remedy that offered to my tho#ghts at that time ,as to get #( into a thic' b#shy tree
li'e a fir, b#t thorny, ,hich gre, near me, and ,here $ resolved to sit all night, and consider the
next day ,hat death $ sho#ld die, for as yet $ sa, no (ros(ect of life% $ ,al'ed abo#t a f#rlong
from the shore, to see if $ co#ld find any fresh ,ater to drin', ,hich $ did, to my great !oy3 and
having dran', and (#t a little tobacco into my mo#th to (revent h#nger, $ ,ent to the tree, and
getting #( into it, endeavo#red to (lace myself so that if $ sho#ld slee( $ might not fall% 2nd
&&
having c#t me a short stic', li'e a tr#ncheon, for my defence, $ too' #( my lodging3 and having
been excessively fatig#ed, $ fell fast aslee(, and sle(t as comfortably as, $ believe, fe, co#ld have
done in my condition, and fo#nd myself more refreshed ,ith it than, $ thin', $ ever ,as on s#ch
an occasion%
Cha(ter B
C02TE9 $V-<$9/T 4EE:/ J. T0E $/L2.D
40E. $ ,a'ed it ,as broad day, the ,eather clear, and the storm abated, so that the sea did
not rage and s,ell as before% 8#t that ,hich s#r(rised me most ,as, that the shi( ,as lifted off in
the night from the sand ,here she lay by the s,elling of the tide, and ,as driven #( almost as far
as the roc' ,hich $ at first mentioned, ,here $ had been so br#ised by the ,ave dashing me
against it% This being ,ithin abo#t a mile from the shore ,here $ ,as, and the shi( seeming to
stand #(right still, $ ,ished myself on board, that at least $ might save some necessary things for
my #se%
4hen $ came do,n from my a(artment in the tree, $ loo'ed abo#t me again, and the first thing
$ fo#nd ,as the boat, ,hich lay, as the ,ind and the sea had tossed her #(, #(on the land, abo#t
t,o miles on my right hand% $ ,al'ed as far as $ co#ld #(on the shore to have got to her3 b#t
fo#nd a nec' or inlet of ,ater bet,een me and the boat ,hich ,as abo#t half a mile broad3 so $
came bac' for the (resent, being more intent #(on getting at the shi(, ,here $ ho(ed to find
something for my (resent s#bsistence%
2 little after noon $ fo#nd the sea very calm, and the tide ebbed so far o#t that $ co#ld come
,ithin a >#arter of a mile of the shi(% 2nd here $ fo#nd a fresh rene,ing of my grief3 for $ sa,
evidently that if ,e had 'e(t on board ,e had been all safe-that is to say, ,e had all got safe on
shore, and $ had not been so miserable as to be left entirety destit#te of all comfort and com(any
as $ no, ,as% This forced tears to my eyes again3 b#t as there ,as little relief in that, $ resolved, if
(ossible, to get to the shi(3 so $ (#lled off my clothes-for the ,eather ,as hot to extremity-and
too' the ,ater% 8#t ,hen $ came to the shi( my diffic#lty ,as still greater to 'no, ho, to get on
board3 for, as she lay agro#nd, and high o#t of the ,ater, there ,as nothing ,ithin my reach to
lay hold of% $ s,am ro#nd her t,ice, and the second time $ s(ied a small (iece of ro(e, ,hich $
,ondered $ did not see at first, h#ng do,n by the fore-chains so lo,, as that ,ith great diffic#lty $
got hold of it, and by the hel( of that ro(e $ got #( into the forecastle of the shi(% 0ere $ fo#nd
that the shi( ,as b#lged, and had a great deal of ,ater in her hold, b#t that she lay so on the side
of a ban' of hard sand, or, rather earth, that her stern lay lifted #( #(on the ban', and her head
lo,, almost to the ,ater% 8y this means all her >#arter ,as free, and all that ,as in that (art ,as
dry3 for yo# may be s#re my first ,or' ,as to search, and to see ,hat ,as s(oiled and ,hat ,as
free% 2nd, first, $ fo#nd that all the shi(=s (rovisions ,ere dry and #nto#ched by the ,ater, and
being very ,ell dis(osed to eat, $ ,ent to the bread room and filled my (oc'ets ,ith bisc#it, and
ate it as $ ,ent abo#t other things, for $ had no time to lose% $ also fo#nd some r#m in the great
cabin, of ,hich $ too' a large dram, and ,hich $ had, indeed, need eno#gh of to s(irit me for
,hat ,as before me% .o, $ ,anted nothing b#t a boat to f#rnish myself ,ith many things ,hich
$ foresa, ,o#ld be very necessary to me%
$t ,as in vain to sit still and ,ish for ,hat ,as not to be had3 and this extremity ro#sed my
a((lication% 4e had several s(are yards, and t,o or three large s(ars of ,ood, and a s(are
to(mast or t,o in the shi(3 $ resolved to fall to ,or' ,ith these, and $ fl#ng as many of them
overboard as $ co#ld manage for their ,eight, tying every one ,ith a ro(e, that they might not
drive a,ay% 4hen this ,as done $ ,ent do,n the shi(=s side, and (#lling them to me, $ tied fo#r
of them together at both ends as ,ell as $ co#ld, in the form of a raft, and laying t,o or three
short (ieces of (lan' #(on them cross,ays, $ fo#nd $ co#ld ,al' #(on it very ,ell, b#t that it ,as
&6
not able to bear any great ,eight, the (ieces being too light% /o $ ,ent to ,or', and ,ith a
car(enter=s sa, $ c#t a s(are to(mast into three lengths, and added them to my raft, ,ith a great
deal of labo#r and (ains% 8#t the ho(e of f#rnishing myself ,ith necessaries enco#raged me to go
beyond ,hat $ sho#ld have been able to have done #(on another occasion%
1y raft ,as no, strong eno#gh to bear any reasonable ,eight% 1y next care ,as ,hat to load
it ,ith, and ho, to (reserve ,hat $ laid #(on it from the s#rf of the sea3 b#t $ ,as not long
considering this% $ first laid all the (lan's or boards #(on it that $ co#ld get, and having
considered ,ell ,hat $ most ,anted, $ got three of the seamen=s chests, ,hich $ had bro'en o(en,
and em(tied, and lo,ered them do,n #(on my raft3 the first of these $ filled ,ith (rovisions-vi;%
bread, rice, three D#tch cheeses, five (ieces of dried goat=s flesh C,hich ,e lived m#ch #(onD,
and a little remainder of E#ro(ean corn, ,hich had been laid by for some fo,ls ,hich ,e
bro#ght to sea ,ith #s, b#t the fo,ls ,ere 'illed% There had been some barley and ,heat together3
b#t, to my great disa((ointment, $ fo#nd after,ards that the rats had eaten or s(oiled it all% 2s for
li>#ors, $ fo#nd several, cases of bottles belonging to o#r s'i((er, in ,hich ,ere some cordial
,aters3 and, in all, abo#t five or six gallons of rac'% These $ sto,ed by themselves, there being no
need to (#t them into the chest, nor any room for them% 4hile $ ,as doing this, $ fo#nd the tide
begin to flo,, tho#gh very calm3 and $ had the mortification to see my coat, shirt, and ,aistcoat,
,hich $ had left on the shore, #(on the sand, s,im a,ay% 2s for my breeches, ,hich ,ere only
linen, and o(en-'need, $ s,am on board in them and my stoc'ings% 0o,ever, this set me on
r#mmaging for clothes, of ,hich $ fo#nd eno#gh, b#t too' no more than $ ,anted for (resent #se,
for $ had others things ,hich my eye ,as more #(on-as, first, tools to ,or' ,ith on shore% 2nd it
,as after long searching that $ fo#nd o#t the car(enter=s chest, ,hich ,as, indeed, a very #sef#l
(ri;e to me, and m#ch more val#able than a shi(load of gold ,o#ld have been at that time% $ got
it do,n to my raft, ,hole as it ,as, ,itho#t losing time to loo' into it, for $ 'ne, in general ,hat
it contained%
1y next care ,as for some amm#nition and arms% There ,ere t,o very good fo,ling-(ieces in
the great cabin, and t,o (istols% These $ sec#red first, ,ith some (o,der-horns and a small bag of
shot, and t,o old r#sty s,ords% $ 'ne, there ,ere three barrels of (o,der in the shi(, b#t 'ne,
not ,here o#r g#nner had sto,ed them3 b#t ,ith m#ch search $ fo#nd them, t,o of them dry and
good, the third had ta'en ,ater% Those t,o $ got to my raft ,ith the arms% 2nd no, $ tho#ght
myself (retty ,ell freighted, and began to thin' ho, $ sho#ld get to shore ,ith them, having
neither sail, oar, nor r#dder3 and the least ca(f#l of ,ind ,o#ld have overset all my navigation%
$ had three enco#ragements-5st, a smooth, calm sea3 &ndly, the tide rising, and setting in to the
shore3 6rdly, ,hat little ,ind there ,as ble, me to,ards the land% 2nd th#s, having fo#nd t,o or
three bro'en oars belonging to the boat-and, besides the tools ,hich ,ere in the chest, $ fo#nd
t,o sa,s, an axe, and a hammer3 ,ith this cargo $ (#t to sea% <or a mile or thereabo#ts my raft
,ent very ,ell, only that $ fo#nd it drive a little distant from the (lace ,here $ had landed before3
by ,hich $ (erceived that there ,as some indraft of the ,ater, and conse>#ently $ ho(ed to find
some cree' or river there, ,hich $ might ma'e #se of as a (ort to get to land ,ith my cargo%
2s $ imagined, so it ,as% There a((eared before me a little o(ening of the land, and $ fo#nd a
strong c#rrent of the tide set into it3 so $ g#ided my raft as ,ell as $ co#ld, to 'ee( in the middle
of the stream%
8#t here $ had li'e to have s#ffered a second shi(,rec', ,hich, if $ had, $ thin' verily ,o#ld
have bro'en my heart3 for, 'no,ing nothing of the coast, my raft ran agro#nd at one end of it
#(on a shoal, and not being agro#nd at the other end, it ,anted b#t a little that all my cargo had
sli((ed off to,ards the end that ,as afloat, and to fallen into the ,ater% $ did my #tmost, by
setting my bac' against the chests, to 'ee( them in their (laces, b#t co#ld not thr#st off the raft
&B
,ith all my strength3 neither d#rst $ stir from the (ost#re $ ,as in3 b#t holding #( the chests ,ith
all my might, $ stood in that manner near half-an-ho#r, in ,hich time the rising of the ,ater
bro#ght me a little more #(on a level3 and a little after, the ,ater still-rising, my raft floated
again, and $ thr#st her off ,ith the oar $ had into the channel, and then driving #( higher, $ at
length fo#nd myself in the mo#th of a little river, ,ith land on both sides, and a strong c#rrent of
tide r#nning #(% $ loo'ed on both sides for a (ro(er (lace to get to shore, for $ ,as not ,illing to
be driven too high #( the river: ho(ing in time to see some shi(s at sea, and therefore resolved to
(lace myself as near the coast as $ co#ld%
2t length $ s(ied a little cove on the right shore of the cree', to ,hich ,ith great (ain and
diffic#lty $ g#ided my raft, and at last got so near that, reaching gro#nd ,ith my oar, $ co#ld
thr#st her directly in% 8#t here $ had li'e to have di((ed all my cargo into the sea again3 for that
shore lying (retty stee(-that is to say slo(ing-there ,as no (lace to land, b#t ,here one end of my
float, if it ran on shore, ,o#ld lie so high, and the other sin' lo,er, as before, that it ,o#ld
endanger my cargo again% 2ll that $ co#ld do ,as to ,ait till the tide ,as at the highest, 'ee(ing
the raft ,ith my oar li'e an anchor, to hold the side of it fast to the shore, near a flat (iece of
gro#nd, ,hich $ ex(ected the ,ater ,o#ld flo, over3 and so it did% 2s soon as $ fo#nd ,ater
eno#gh- for my raft dre, abo#t a foot of ,ater-$ thr#st her #(on that flat (iece of gro#nd, and
there fastened or moored her, by stic'ing my t,o bro'en oars into the gro#nd, one on one side
near one end, and one on the other side near the other end3 and th#s $ lay till the ,ater ebbed
a,ay, and left my raft and all my cargo safe on shore%
1y next ,or' ,as to vie, the co#ntry, and see' a (ro(er (lace for my habitation, and ,here to
sto, my goods to sec#re them from ,hatever might ha((en% 4here $ ,as, $ yet 'ne, not3
,hether on the continent or on an island3 ,hether inhabited or not inhabited3 ,hether in danger
of ,ild beasts or not% There ,as a hill not above a mile from me, ,hich rose #( very stee( and
high, and ,hich seemed to overto( some other hills, ,hich lay as in a ridge from it north,ard% $
too' o#t one of the fo,ling-(ieces, and one of the (istols, and a horn of (o,der3 and th#s armed,
$ travelled for discovery #( to the to( of that hill, ,here, after $ had ,ith great labo#r and
diffic#lty got to the to(, $ sa, any fate, to my great affliction-vi;% that $ ,as in an island
environed every ,ay ,ith the sea: no land to be seen exce(t some roc's, ,hich lay a great ,ay
off3 and t,o small islands, less than this, ,hich lay abo#t three leag#es to the ,est%
$ fo#nd also that the island $ ,as in ,as barren, and, as $ sa, good reason to believe,
#ninhabited exce(t by ,ild beasts, of ,hom, ho,ever, $ sa, none% 7et $ sa, ab#ndance of fo,ls,
b#t 'ne, not their 'inds3 neither ,hen $ 'illed them co#ld $ tell ,hat ,as fit for food, and ,hat
not% 2t my coming bac', $ shot at a great bird ,hich $ sa, sitting #(on a tree on the side of a
great ,ood% $ believe it ,as the first g#n that had been fired there since the creation of the ,orld%
$ had no sooner fired, than from all (arts of the ,ood there arose an inn#merable n#mber of
fo,ls, of many sorts, ma'ing a conf#sed screaming and crying, and every one according to his
#s#al note, b#t not one of them of any 'ind that $ 'ne,% 2s for the creat#re $ 'illed, $ too' it to be
a 'ind of ha,', its colo#r and bea' resembling it, b#t it had no talons or cla,s more than
common% $ts flesh ,as carrion, and fit for nothing%
Contented ,ith this discovery, $ came bac' to my raft, and fell to ,or' to bring my cargo on
shore, ,hich too' me #( the rest of that day% 4hat to do ,ith myself at night $ 'ne, not, nor
indeed ,here to rest, for $ ,as afraid to lie do,n on the gro#nd, not 'no,ing b#t some ,ild beast
might devo#r me, tho#gh, as $ after,ards fo#nd, there ,as really no need for those fears%
0o,ever, as ,ell as $ co#ld, $ barricaded myself ro#nd ,ith the chest and boards that $ had
bro#ght on shore, and made a 'ind of h#t for that night=s lodging% 2s for food, $ yet sa, not
&*
,hich ,ay to s#((ly myself, exce(t that $ had seen t,o or three creat#res li'e hares r#n o#t of the
,ood ,here $ shot the fo,l%
$ no, began to consider that $ might yet get a great many things o#t of the shi( ,hich ,o#ld
be #sef#l to me, and (artic#larly some of the rigging and sails, and s#ch other things as might
come to land3 and $ resolved to ma'e another voyage on board the vessel, if (ossible% 2nd as $
'ne, that the first storm that ble, m#st necessarily brea' her all in (ieces, $ resolved to set all
other things a(art till $ had got everything o#t of the shi( that $ co#ld get% Then $ called a co#ncil-
that is to say in my tho#ghts- ,hether $ sho#ld ta'e bac' the raft3 b#t this a((eared im(racticable:
so $ resolved to go as before, ,hen the tide ,as do,n3 and $ did so, only that $ stri((ed before $
,ent from my h#t, having nothing on b#t my che>#ered shirt, a (air of linen dra,ers, and a (air
of (#m(s on my feet%
$ got on board the shi( as before, and (re(ared a second raft3 and, having had ex(erience of the
first, $ neither made this so #n,ieldy, nor loaded it so hard, b#t yet $ bro#ght a,ay several things
very #sef#l to me3 as first, in the car(enters stores $ fo#nd t,o or three bags f#ll of nails and
s(i'es, a great scre,-!ac', a do;en or t,o of hatchets, and, above all, that most #sef#l thing
called a grindstone% 2ll these $ sec#red, together ,ith several things belonging to the g#nner,
(artic#larly t,o or three iron cro,s, and t,o barrels of m#s'et b#llets, seven m#s'ets, another
fo,ling-(iece, ,ith some small >#antity of (o,der more3 a large bagf#l of small shot, and a great
roll of sheet-lead3 b#t this last ,as so heavy, $ co#ld not hoist it #( to get it over the shi(=s side%
8esides these things, $ too' all the men=s clothes that $ co#ld find, and a s(are fore-to(sail, a
hammoc', and some bedding3 and ,ith this $ loaded my second raft, and bro#ght them all safe on
shore, to my very great comfort%
$ ,as #nder some a((rehension, d#ring my absence from the land, that at least my (rovisions
might be devo#red on shore: b#t ,hen $ came bac' $ fo#nd no sign of any visitor3 only there sat a
creat#re li'e a ,ild cat #(on one of the chests, ,hich, ,hen $ came to,ards it, ran a,ay a little
distance, and then stood still% /he sat very com(osed and #nconcerned, and loo'ed f#ll in my
face, as if she had a mind to be ac>#ainted ,ith me% $ (resented my g#n at her, b#t, as she did not
#nderstand it, she ,as (erfectly #nconcerned at it, nor did she offer to stir a,ay3 #(on ,hich $
tossed her a bit of bisc#it, tho#gh by the ,ay, $ ,as not very free of it, for my store ,as not great:
ho,ever, $ s(ared her a bit, $ say, and she ,ent to it, smelled at it, and ate it, and loo'ed Cas if
(leasedD for more3 b#t $ than'ed her, and co#ld s(are no more: so she marched off%
0aving got my second cargo on shore-tho#gh $ ,as fain to o(en the barrels of (o,der, and
bring them by (arcels, for they ,ere too heavy, being large cas's-$ ,ent to ,or' to ma'e me a
little tent ,ith the sail and some (oles ,hich $ c#t for that (#r(ose: and into this tent $ bro#ght
everything that $ 'ne, ,o#ld s(oil either ,ith rain or s#n3 and $ (iled all the em(ty chests and
cas's #( in a circle ro#nd the tent, to fortify it from any s#dden attem(t, either from man or beast%
4hen $ had done this, $ bloc'ed #( the door of the tent ,ith some boards ,ithin, and an em(ty
chest set #( on end ,itho#t3 and s(reading one of the beds #(on the gro#nd, laying my t,o
(istols !#st at my head, and my g#n at length by me, $ ,ent to bed for the first time, and sle(t
very >#ietly all night, for $ ,as very ,eary and heavy3 for the night before $ had sle(t little, and
had labo#red very hard all day to fetch all those things from the shi(, and to get them on shore%
$ had the biggest maga;ine of all 'inds no, that ever ,as laid #(, $ believe, for one man: b#t $
,as not satisfied still, for ,hile the shi( sat #(right in that (ost#re, $ tho#ght $ o#ght to get
everything o#t of her that $ co#ld3 so every day at lo, ,ater $ ,ent on board, and bro#ght a,ay
something or other3 b#t (artic#larly the third time $ ,ent $ bro#ght a,ay as m#ch of the rigging
as $ co#ld, as also all the small ro(es and ro(e-t,ine $ co#ld get, ,ith a (iece of s(are canvas,
,hich ,as to mend the sails #(on occasion, and the barrel of ,et g#n(o,der% $n a ,ord, $
&)
bro#ght a,ay all the sails, first and last3 only that $ ,as fain to c#t them in (ieces, and bring as
m#ch at a time as $ co#ld, for they ,ere no more #sef#l to be sails, b#t as mere canvas only%
8#t that ,hich comforted me more still, ,as, that last of all, after $ had made five or six s#ch
voyages as these, and tho#ght $ had nothing more to ex(ect from the shi( that ,as ,orth my
meddling ,ith-$ say, after all this, $ fo#nd a great hogshead of bread, three large r#nlets of r#m, or
s(irits, a box of s#gar, and a barrel of fine flo#r3 this ,as s#r(rising to me, beca#se $ had given
over ex(ecting any more (rovisions, exce(t ,hat ,as s(oiled by the ,ater% $ soon em(tied the
hogshead of the bread, and ,ra((ed it #(, (arcel by (arcel, in (ieces of the sails, ,hich $ c#t o#t3
and, in a ,ord, $ got all this safe on shore also%
The next day $ made another voyage, and no,, having (l#ndered the shi( of ,hat ,as (ortable
and fit to hand o#t, $ began ,ith the cables% C#tting the great cable into (ieces, s#ch as $ co#ld
move, $ got t,o cables and a ha,ser on shore, ,ith all the iron,or' $ co#ld get3 and having c#t
do,n the s(ritsail-yard, and the mi;;en-yard, and everything $ co#ld, to ma'e a large raft, $
loaded it ,ith all these heavy goods, and came a,ay% 8#t my good l#c' began no, to leave me3
for this raft ,as so #n,ieldy, and so overladen, that, after $ had entered the little cove ,here $ had
landed the rest of my goods, not being able to g#ide it so handily as $ did the other, it overset, and
thre, me and all my cargo into the ,ater% 2s for myself, it ,as no great harm, for $ ,as near the
shore3 b#t as to my cargo, it ,as a great (art of it lost, es(ecially the iron, ,hich $ ex(ected ,o#ld
have been of great #se to me3 ho,ever, ,hen the tide ,as o#t, $ got most of the (ieces of the
cable ashore, and some of the iron, tho#gh ,ith infinite labo#r3 for $ ,as fain to di( for it into the
,ater, a ,or' ,hich fatig#ed me very m#ch% 2fter this, $ ,ent every day on board, and bro#ght
a,ay ,hat $ co#ld get%
$ had been no, thirteen days on shore, and had been eleven times on board the shi(, in ,hich
time $ had bro#ght a,ay all that one (air of hands co#ld ,ell be s#((osed ca(able to bring3
tho#gh $ believe verily, had the calm ,eather held, $ sho#ld have bro#ght a,ay the ,hole shi(,
(iece by (iece% 8#t (re(aring the t,elfth time to go on board, $ fo#nd the ,ind began to rise:
ho,ever, at lo, ,ater $ ,ent on board, and tho#gh $ tho#ght $ had r#mmaged the cabin so
effect#ally that nothing more co#ld be fo#nd, yet $ discovered a loc'er ,ith dra,ers in it, in one
of ,hich $ fo#nd t,o or three ra;ors, and one (air of large scissors, ,ith some ten or a do;en of
good 'nives and for's: in another $ fo#nd abo#t thirty-six (o#nds val#e in money-some E#ro(ean
coin, some 8ra;il, some (ieces of eight, some gold, and some silver%
$ smiled to myself at the sight of this money: AJ dr#g@A said $, alo#d, A,hat art tho# good for?
Tho# art not ,orth to me-no, not the ta'ing off the gro#nd3 one of those 'nives is ,orth all this
hea(3 $ have no manner of #se for thee-e=en remain ,here tho# art, and go to the bottom as a
creat#re ,hose life is not ,orth saying%A 0o,ever, #(on second tho#ghts $ too' it a,ay3 and
,ra((ing all this in a (iece of canvas, $ began to thin' of ma'ing another raft3 b#t ,hile $ ,as
(re(aring this, $ fo#nd the s'y overcast, and the ,ind began to rise, and in a >#arter of an ho#r it
ble, a fresh gale from the shore% $t (resently occ#rred to me that it ,as in vain to (retend to
ma'e a raft ,ith the ,ind offshore3 and that it ,as my b#siness to be gone before the tide of
flood began, other,ise $ might not be able to reach the shore at all% 2ccordingly, $ let myself
do,n into the ,ater, and s,am across the channel, ,hich lay bet,een the shi( and the sands, and
even that ,ith diffic#lty eno#gh, (artly ,ith the ,eight of the things $ had abo#t me, and (artly
the ro#ghness of the ,ater3 for the ,ind rose very hastily, and before it ,as >#ite high ,ater it
ble, a storm%
8#t $ had got home to my little tent, ,here $ lay, ,ith all my ,ealth abo#t me, very sec#re% $t
ble, very hard all night, and in the morning, ,hen $ loo'ed o#t, behold, no more shi( ,as to be
seen@ $ ,as a little s#r(rised, b#t recovered myself ,ith the satisfactory reflection that $ had lost
&F
no time, nor abated any diligence, to get everything o#t of her that co#ld be #sef#l to me3 and
that, indeed, there ,as little left in her that $ ,as able to bring a,ay, if $ had had more time%
$ no, gave over any more tho#ghts of the shi(, or of anything o#t of her, exce(t ,hat might
drive on shore from her ,rec'3 as, indeed, divers (ieces of her after,ards did3 b#t those things
,ere of small #se to me%
1y tho#ghts ,ere no, ,holly em(loyed abo#t sec#ring myself against either savages, if any
sho#ld a((ear, or ,ild beasts, if any ,ere in the island3 and $ had many tho#ghts of the method
ho, to do this, and ,hat 'ind of d,elling to ma'e-,hether $ sho#ld ma'e me a cave in the earth,
or a tent #(on the earth3 and, in short, $ resolved #(on both3 the manner and descri(tion of ,hich,
it may not be im(ro(er to give an acco#nt of%
$ soon fo#nd the (lace $ ,as in ,as not fit for my settlement, beca#se it ,as #(on a lo,,
moorish gro#nd, near the sea, and $ believed it ,o#ld not be ,holesome, and more (artic#larly
beca#se there ,as no fresh ,ater near it3 so $ resolved to find a more healthy and more
convenient s(ot of gro#nd%
$ cons#lted several things in my sit#ation, ,hich $ fo#nd ,o#ld he (ro(er for me: 5st, health
and fresh ,ater, $ !#st no, mentioned3 &ndly, shelter from the heat of the s#n3 6rdly, sec#rity
from raveno#s creat#res, ,hether man or beast3 Bthly, a vie, to the sea, that if "od sent any shi(
in sight, $ might not lose any advantage for my deliverance, of ,hich $ ,as not ,illing to banish
all my ex(ectation yet%
$n search of a (lace (ro(er for this, $ fo#nd a little (lain on the side of a rising hill, ,hose front
to,ards this little (lain ,as stee( as a ho#se-side, so that nothing co#ld come do,n #(on me
from the to(% Jn the one side of the roc' there ,as a hollo, (lace, ,orn a little ,ay in, li'e the
entrance or door of a cave b#t there ,as not really any cave or ,ay into the roc' at all%
Jn the flat of the green, !#st before this hollo, (lace, $ resolved to (itch my tent% This (lain
,as not above a h#ndred yards broad, and abo#t t,ice as long, and lay li'e a green before my
door3 and, at the end of it, descended irreg#larly every ,ay do,n into the lo, gro#nd by the
seaside% $t ,as on the .%.%4% side of the hill3 so that it ,as sheltered from the heat every day, till
it came to a 4% and by /% s#n, or thereabo#ts, ,hich, in those co#ntries, is near the setting%
8efore $ set #( my tent $ dre, a half-circle before the hollo, (lace, ,hich too' in abo#t ten
yards in its semi-diameter from the roc', and t,enty yards in its diameter from its beginning and
ending%
$n this half-circle $ (itched t,o ro,s of strong sta'es, driving them into the gro#nd till they
stood very firm li'e (iles, the biggest end being o#t of the gro#nd above five feet and a half, and
shar(ened on the to(% The t,o ro,s did not stand above six inches from one another%
Then $ too' the (ieces of cable ,hich $ had c#t in the shi(, and laid them in ro,s, one #(on
another, ,ithin the circle, bet,een these t,o ro,s of sta'es, #( to the to(, (lacing other sta'es in
the inside, leaning against them, abo#t t,o feet and a half high, li'e a s(#r to a (ost3 and this
fence ,as so strong, that neither man nor beast co#ld get into it or over it% This cost me a great
deal of time and labo#r, es(ecially to c#t the (iles in the ,oods, bring them to the (lace, and drive
them into the earth%
The entrance into this (lace $ made to be, not by a door, b#t by a short ladder to go over the
to(3 ,hich ladder, ,hen $ ,as in, $ lifted over after me3 and so $ ,as com(letely fenced in and
fortified, as $ tho#ght, from all the ,orld, and conse>#ently sle(t sec#re in the night, ,hich
other,ise $ co#ld not have done3 tho#gh, as it a((eared after,ards, there ,as no need of all this
ca#tion from the enemies that $ a((rehended danger from%
$nto this fence or fortress, ,ith infinite labo#r, $ carried all my riches, all my (rovisions,
amm#nition, and stores, of ,hich yo# have the acco#nt above3 and $ made a large tent, ,hich to
&G
(reserve me from the rains that in one (art of the year are very violent there, $ made do#ble-one
smaller tent ,ithin, and one larger tent above it3 and covered the #((ermost ,ith a large
tar(a#lin, ,hich $ had saved among the sails%
2nd no, $ lay no more for a ,hile in the bed ,hich $ had bro#ght on shore, b#t in a hammoc',
,hich ,as indeed a very good one, and belonged to the mate of the shi(%
$nto this tent $ bro#ght all my (rovisions, and everything that ,o#ld s(oil by the ,et3 and
having th#s enclosed all my goods, $ made #( the entrance, ,hich till no, $ had left o(en, and so
(assed and re(assed, as $ said, by a short ladder%
4hen $ had done this, $ began to ,or' my ,ay into the roc', and bringing all the earth and
stones that $ d#g do,n o#t thro#gh my tent, $ laid them #( ,ithin my fence, in the nat#re of a
terrace, so that it raised the gro#nd ,ithin abo#t a foot and a half3 and th#s $ made me a cave, !#st
behind my tent, ,hich served me li'e a cellar to my ho#se%
$t cost me m#ch labo#r and many days before all these things ,ere bro#ght to (erfection3 and
therefore $ m#st go bac' to some other things ,hich too' #( some of my tho#ghts% 2t the same
time it ha((ened, after $ had laid my scheme for the setting #( my tent, and ma'ing the cave, that
a storm of rain falling from a thic', dar' clo#d, a s#dden flash of lightning ha((ened, and after
that a great cla( of th#nder, as is nat#rally the effect of it% $ ,as not so m#ch s#r(rised ,ith the
lightning as $ ,as ,ith the tho#ght ,hich darted into my mind as s,ift as the lightning itself-Jh,
my (o,der@ 1y very heart san' ,ithin me ,hen $ tho#ght that, at one blast, all my (o,der might
be destroyed3 on ,hich, not my defence only, b#t the (roviding my food, as $ tho#ght, entirely
de(ended% $ ,as nothing near so anxio#s abo#t my o,n danger, tho#gh, had the (o,der too' fire,
$ sho#ld never have 'no,n ,ho had h#rt me%
/#ch im(ression did this ma'e #(on me, that after the storm ,as over $ laid aside all my
,or's, my b#ilding and fortifying, and a((lied myself to ma'e bags and boxes, to se(arate the
(o,der, and to 'ee( it a little and a little in a (arcel, in the ho(e that, ,hatever might come, it
might not all ta'e fire at once3 and to 'ee( it so a(art that it sho#ld not be (ossible to ma'e one
(art fire another% $ finished this ,or' in abo#t a fortnight3 and $ thin' my (o,der, ,hich in all
,as abo#t t,o h#ndred and forty (o#nds ,eight, ,as divided in not less than a h#ndred (arcels%
2s to the barrel that had been ,et, $ did not a((rehend any danger from that3 so $ (laced it in my
ne, cave, ,hich, in my fancy, $ called my 'itchen3 and the rest $ hid #( and do,n in holes among
the roc's, so that no ,et might come to it, mar'ing very caref#lly ,here $ laid it%
$n the interval of time ,hile this ,as doing, $ ,ent o#t once at least every day ,ith my g#n, as
,ell to divert myself as to see if $ co#ld 'ill anything fit for food3 and, as near as $ co#ld, to
ac>#aint myself ,ith ,hat the island (rod#ced% The first time $ ,ent o#t, $ (resently discovered
that there ,ere goats in the island, ,hich ,as a great satisfaction to me3 b#t then it ,as attended
,ith this misfort#ne to me-vi;% that they ,ere so shy, so s#btle, and so s,ift of foot, that it ,as
the most diffic#lt thing in the ,orld to come at them3 b#t $ ,as not disco#raged at this, not
do#bting b#t $ might no, and then shoot one, as it soon ha((ened3 for after $ had fo#nd their
ha#nts a little, $ laid ,ait in this manner for them: $ observed if they sa, me in the valleys,
tho#gh they ,ere #(on the roc's, they ,o#ld r#n a,ay, as in a terrible fright3 b#t if they ,ere
feeding in the valleys, and $ ,as #(on the roc's, they too' no notice of me3 from ,hence $
concl#ded that, by the (osition of their o(tics, their sight ,as so directed do,n,ard that they did
not readily see ob!ects that ,ere above them3 so after,ards $ too' this method-$ al,ays climbed
the roc's first, to get above them, and then had fre>#ently a fair mar'%
The first shot $ made among these creat#res, $ 'illed a she-goat, ,hich had a little 'id by her,
,hich she gave s#c' to, ,hich grieved me heartily3 for ,hen the old one fell, the 'id stood stoc'
still by her, till $ came and too' her #(3 and not only so, b#t ,hen $ carried the old one ,ith me,
&H
#(on my sho#lders, the 'id follo,ed me >#ite to my enclos#re3 #(on ,hich $ laid do,n the dam,
and too' the 'id in my arms, and carried it over my (ale, in ho(es to have bred it #( tame3 b#t it
,o#ld not eat3 so $ ,as forced to 'ill it and eat it myself% These t,o s#((lied me ,ith flesh a
great ,hile, for $ ate s(aringly, and saved my (rovisions, my bread es(ecially, as m#ch as
(ossibly $ co#ld%
0aving no, fixed my habitation, $ fo#nd it absol#tely necessary to (rovide a (lace to ma'e a
fire in, and f#el to b#rn: and ,hat $ did for that, and also ho, $ enlarged my cave, and ,hat
conveniences $ made, $ shall give a f#ll acco#nt of in its (lace3 b#t $ m#st no, give some little
acco#nt of myself, and of my tho#ghts abo#t living, ,hich, it may ,ell be s#((osed, ,ere not a
fe,%
$ had a dismal (ros(ect of my condition3 for as $ ,as not cast a,ay #(on that island ,itho#t
being driven, as is said, by a violent storm, >#ite o#t of the co#rse of o#r intended voyage, and a
great ,ay, vi;% some h#ndreds of leag#es, o#t of the ordinary co#rse of the trade of man'ind, $
had great reason to consider it as a determination of 0eaven, that in this desolate (lace, and in
this desolate manner, $ sho#ld end my life% The tears ,o#ld r#n (lentif#lly do,n my face ,hen $
made these reflections3 and sometimes $ ,o#ld ex(ost#late ,ith myself ,hy rovidence sho#ld
th#s com(letely r#in 0is creat#res, and render them so absol#tely miserable3 so ,itho#t hel(,
abandoned, so entirely de(ressed, that it co#ld hardly be rational to be than'f#l for s#ch a life%
8#t something al,ays ret#rned s,ift #(on me to chec' these tho#ghts, and to re(rove me3 and
(artic#larly one day, ,al'ing ,ith my g#n in my hand by the seaside, $ ,as very (ensive #(on
the s#b!ect of my (resent condition, ,hen reason, as it ,ere, ex(ost#lated ,ith me the other ,ay,
th#s: A4ell, yo# are in a desolate condition, it is tr#e3 b#t, (ray remember, ,here are the rest of
yo#? Did not yo# come, eleven of yo# in the boat? 4here are the ten? 4hy ,ere they not saved,
and yo# lost? 4hy ,ere yo# singled o#t? $s it better to be here or there?A 2nd then $ (ointed to
the sea% 2ll evils are to be considered ,ith the good that is in them, and ,ith ,hat ,orse attends
them%
Then it occ#rred to me again, ho, ,ell $ ,as f#rnished for my s#bsistence, and ,hat ,o#ld
have been my case if it had not ha((ened C,hich ,as a h#ndred tho#sand to oneD that the shi(
floated from the (lace ,here she first str#c', and ,as driven so near to the shore that $ had time
to get all these things o#t of her3 ,hat ,o#ld have been my case, if $ had been forced to have
lived in the condition in ,hich $ at first came on shore, ,itho#t necessaries of life, or necessaries
to s#((ly and (roc#re them? Aartic#larly,A said $, alo#d Ctho#gh to myselfD, A,hat sho#ld $ have
done ,itho#t a g#n, ,itho#t amm#nition, ,itho#t any tools to ma'e anything, or to ,or' ,ith,
,itho#t clothes, bedding, a tent, or any manner of covering?A and that no, $ had all these to
s#fficient >#antity, and ,as in a fair ,ay to (rovide myself in s#ch a manner as to live ,itho#t
my g#n, ,hen my amm#nition ,as s(ent: so that $ had a tolerable vie, of s#bsisting, ,itho#t any
,ant, as long as $ lived3 for $ considered from the beginning ho, $ ,o#ld (rovide for the
accidents that might ha((en, and for the time that ,as to come, even not only after my
amm#nition sho#ld be s(ent, b#t even after my health and strength sho#ld decay%
$ confess $ had not entertained any notion of my amm#nition being destroyed at one blast-$
mean my (o,der being blo,n #( by lightning3 and this made the tho#ghts of it so s#r(rising to
me, ,hen it lightened and th#ndered, as $ observed !#st no,%
2nd no, being abo#t to enter into a melancholy relation of a scene of silent life, s#ch, (erha(s,
as ,as never heard of in the ,orld before, $ shall ta'e it from its beginning, and contin#e it in its
order% $t ,as by my acco#nt the 6-th of /e(tember, ,hen, in the manner as above said, $ first set
foot #(on this horrid island3 ,hen the s#n, being to #s in its a#t#mnal e>#inox, ,as almost over
6-
my head3 for $ rec'oned myself, by observation, to be in the latit#de of nine degrees t,enty-t,o
min#tes north of the line%
2fter $ had been there abo#t ten or t,elve days, it came into my tho#ghts that $ sho#ld lose my
rec'oning of time for ,ant of boo's, and (en and in', and sho#ld even forget the /abbath days3
b#t to (revent this, $ c#t ,ith my 'nife #(on a large (ost, in ca(ital letters-and ma'ing it into a
great cross, $ set it #( on the shore ,here $ first landed-A$ came on shore here on the 6-th
/e(tember 5)*H%A
U(on the sides of this s>#are (ost $ c#t every day a notch ,ith my 'nife, and every seventh
notch ,as as long again as the rest, and every first day of the month as long again as that long
one3 and th#s $ 'e(t my calendar, or ,ee'ly, monthly, and yearly rec'oning of time%
$n the next (lace, ,e are to observe that among the many things ,hich $ bro#ght o#t of the
shi(, in the several voyages ,hich, as above mentioned, $ made to it, $ got several things of less
val#e, b#t not at all less #sef#l to me, ,hich $ omitted setting do,n before3 as, in (artic#lar, (ens,
in', and (a(er, several (arcels in the ca(tain=s, mate=s, g#nner=s and car(enter=s 'ee(ing3 three or
fo#r com(asses, some mathematical instr#ments, dials, (ers(ectives, charts, and boo's of
navigation, all ,hich $ h#ddled together, ,hether $ might ,ant them or no3 also, $ fo#nd three
very good 8ibles, ,hich came to me in my cargo from England, and ,hich $ had (ac'ed #(
among my things3 some ort#g#ese boo's also3 and among them t,o or three o(ish (rayer-
boo's, and several other boo's, all ,hich $ caref#lly sec#red% 2nd $ m#st not forget that ,e had
in the shi( a dog and t,o cats, of ,hose eminent history $ may have occasion to say something in
its (lace3 for $ carried both the cats ,ith me3 and as for the dog, he !#m(ed o#t of the shi( of
himself, and s,am on shore to me the day after $ ,ent on shore ,ith my first cargo, and ,as a
tr#sty servant to me many years3 $ ,anted nothing that he co#ld fetch me, nor any com(any that
he co#ld ma'e #( to me3 $ only ,anted to have him tal' to me, b#t that ,o#ld not do% 2s $
observed before, $ fo#nd (ens, in', and (a(er, and $ h#sbanded them to the #tmost3 and $ shall
sho, that ,hile my in' lasted, $ 'e(t things very exact, b#t after that ,as gone $ co#ld not, for $
co#ld not ma'e any in' by any means that $ co#ld devise%
2nd this (#t me in mind that $ ,anted many things not,ithstanding all that $ had amassed
together3 and of these, in' ,as one3 as also a s(ade, (ic'axe, and shovel, to dig or remove the
earth3 needles, (ins, and thread3 as for linen, $ soon learned to ,ant that ,itho#t m#ch diffic#lty%
This ,ant of tools made every ,or' $ did go on heavily3 and it ,as near a ,hole year before $
had entirely finished my little (ale, or s#rro#nded my habitation% The (iles, or sta'es, ,hich ,ere
as heavy as $ co#ld ,ell lift, ,ere a long time in c#tting and (re(aring in the ,oods, and more, by
far, in bringing home3 so that $ s(ent sometimes t,o days in c#tting and bringing home one of
those (osts, and a third day in driving it into the gro#nd3 for ,hich (#r(ose $ got a heavy (iece of
,ood at first, b#t at last betho#ght myself of one of the iron cro,s3 ,hich, ho,ever, tho#gh $
fo#nd it, made driving those (osts or (iles very laborio#s and tedio#s ,or'% 8#t ,hat need $ have
been concerned at the tedio#sness of anything $ had to do, seeing $ had time eno#gh to do it in?
nor had $ any other em(loyment, if that had been over, at least that $ co#ld foresee, exce(t the
ranging the island to see' for food, ,hich $ did, more or less, every day%
$ no, began to consider serio#sly my condition, and the circ#mstances $ ,as red#ced to3 and $
dre, #( the state of my affairs in ,riting, not so m#ch to leave them to any that ,ere to come
after me-for $ ,as li'ely to have b#t fe, heirs-as to deliver my tho#ghts from daily (oring over
them, and afflicting my mind3 and as my reason began no, to master my des(ondency, $ began to
comfort myself as ,ell as $ co#ld, and to set the good against the evil, that $ might have
something to disting#ish my case from ,orse3 and $ stated very im(artially, li'e debtor and
creditor, the comforts $ en!oyed against the miseries $ s#ffered, th#s:-
65
Evil
: $ am cast #(on a horrible, desolate island, void of all ho(e of recovery%
"ood
: 8#t $ am alive3 and not dro,ned, as all my shi(=s com(any ,ere%
Evil
: $ am singled o#t and se(arated, as it ,ere, from all the ,orld, to be miserable%
"ood
: 8#t $ am singled o#t, too, from all the shi(=s cre,, to be s(ared from death3 and 0e that
mirac#lo#sly saved me from death can deliver me from this condition%
Evil
: $ am divided from man'ind-a solitaire3 one banished from h#man society%
"ood
: 8#t $ am not starved, and (erishing on a barren (lace, affording no s#stenance%
Evil
: $ have no clothes to cover me%
"ood
: 8#t $ am in a hot climate, ,here, if $ had clothes, $ co#ld hardly ,ear them%
Evil
: $ am ,itho#t any defence, or means to resist any violence of man or beast%
"ood
: 8#t $ am cast on an island ,here $ see no ,ild beasts to h#rt me, as $ sa, on the coast of
2frica3 and ,hat if $ had been shi(,rec'ed there?
Evil
: $ have no so#l to s(ea' to or relieve me%
"ood
: 8#t "od ,onderf#lly sent the shi( in near eno#gh to the shore, that $ have got o#t as many
necessary things as ,ill either s#((ly my ,ants or enable me to s#((ly myself, even as long as $
live%
U(on the ,hole, here ,as an #ndo#bted testimony that there ,as scarce any condition in the
,orld so miserable b#t there ,as something negative or something (ositive to be than'f#l for in
it3 and let this stand as a direction from the ex(erience of the most miserable of all conditions in
this ,orld: that ,e may al,ays find in it something to comfort o#rselves from, and to set, in the
descri(tion of good and evil, on the credit side of the acco#nt%
6&
0aving no, bro#ght my mind a little to relish my condition, and given over loo'ing o#t to sea,
to see if $ co#ld s(y a shi(-$ say, giving over these things, $ beg#n to a((ly myself to arrange my
,ay of living, and to ma'e things as easy to me as $ co#ld%
$ have already described my habitation, ,hich ,as a tent #nder the side of a roc', s#rro#nded
,ith a strong (ale of (osts and cables: b#t $ might no, rather call it a ,all, for $ raised a 'ind of
,all #( against it of t#rfs, abo#t t,o feet thic' on the o#tside3 and after some time C$ thin' it ,as
a year and a halfD $ raised rafters from it, leaning to the roc', and thatched or covered it ,ith
bo#ghs of trees, and s#ch things as $ co#ld get, to 'ee( o#t the rain3 ,hich $ fo#nd at some times
of the year very violent%
$ have already observed ho, $ bro#ght all my goods into this (ale, and into the cave ,hich $
had made behind me% 8#t $ m#st observe, too, that at first this ,as a conf#sed hea( of goods,
,hich, as they lay in no order, so they too' #( all my (lace3 $ had no room to t#rn myself: so $ set
myself to enlarge my cave, and ,or' farther into the earth3 for it ,as a loose sandy roc', ,hich
yielded easily to the labo#r $ besto,ed on it: and so ,hen $ fo#nd $ ,as (retty safe as to beasts of
(rey, $ ,or'ed side,ays, to the right hand, into the roc'3 and then, t#rning to the right again,
,or'ed >#ite o#t, and made me a door to come o#t on the o#tside of my (ale or fortification% This
gave me not only egress and regress, as it ,as a bac' ,ay to my tent and to my storeho#se, b#t
gave me room to store my goods%
2nd no, $ began to a((ly myself to ma'e s#ch necessary things as $ fo#nd $ most ,anted,
(artic#larly a chair and a table3 for ,itho#t these $ ,as not able to en!oy the fe, comforts $ had in
the ,orld3 $ co#ld not ,rite or eat, or do several things, ,ith so m#ch (leas#re ,itho#t a table: so
$ ,ent to ,or'% 2nd here $ m#st needs observe, that as reason is the s#bstance and origin of the
mathematics, so by stating and s>#aring everything by reason, and by ma'ing the most rational
!#dgment of things, every man may be, in time, master of every mechanic art% $ had never
handled a tool in my life3 and yet, in time, by labo#r, a((lication, and contrivance, $ fo#nd at last
that $ ,anted nothing b#t $ co#ld have made it, es(ecially if $ had had tools% 0o,ever, $ made
ab#ndance of things, even ,itho#t tools3 and some ,ith no more tools than an ad;e and a hatchet,
,hich (erha(s ,ere never made that ,ay before, and that ,ith infinite labo#r% <or exam(le, if $
,anted a board, $ had no other ,ay b#t to c#t do,n a tree, set it on an edge before me, and he, it
flat on either side ,ith my axe, till $ bro#ght it to be thin as a (lan', and then d#b it smooth ,ith
my ad;e% $t is tr#e, by this method $ co#ld ma'e b#t one board o#t of a ,hole tree3 b#t this $ had
no remedy for b#t (atience, any more than $ had for the (rodigio#s deal of time and labo#r ,hich
it too' me #( to ma'e a (lan' or board: b#t my time or labo#r ,as little ,orth, and so it ,as as
,ell em(loyed one ,ay as another%
0o,ever, $ made me a table and a chair, as $ observed above, in the first (lace3 and this $ did
o#t of the short (ieces of boards that $ bro#ght on my raft from the shi(% 8#t ,hen $ had ,ro#ght
o#t some boards as above, $ 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,or' on3 and, in a ,ord,
to se(arate everything at large into their (laces, that $ might come easily at them% $ 'noc'ed
(ieces into the ,all of the roc' to hang my g#ns and all things that ,o#ld hang #(3 so that, had
my cave been to be seen, it loo'ed li'e a general maga;ine of all necessary things3 and had
everything so ready at my hand, that it ,as a great (leas#re to me to see all my goods in s#ch
order, and es(ecially to find my stoc' of all necessaries so great%
2nd no, it ,as that $ began to 'ee( a !o#rnal of every day=s em(loyment3 for, indeed, at first $
,as in too m#ch h#rry, and not only h#rry as to labo#r, b#t in too m#ch discom(os#re of mind3
and my !o#rnal ,o#ld have been f#ll of many d#ll things3 for exam(le, $ m#st have said th#s:
A6-T0%-2fter $ had got to shore, and esca(ed dro,ning, instead of being than'f#l to "od for my
66
deliverance, having first vomited, ,ith the great >#antity of salt ,ater ,hich had got into my
stomach, and recovering myself a little, $ ran abo#t the shore ,ringing my hands and beating my
head and face, exclaiming at my misery, and crying o#t, =$ ,as #ndone, #ndone@= till, tired and
faint, $ ,as forced to lie do,n on the gro#nd to re(ose, b#t d#rst not slee( for fear of being
devo#red%A
/ome days after this, and after $ had been on board the shi(, and got all that $ co#ld o#t of her,
yet $ co#ld not forbear getting #( to the to( of a little mo#ntain and loo'ing o#t to sea, in ho(es of
seeing a shi(3 then fancy at a vast distance $ s(ied a sail, (lease myself ,ith the ho(es of it, and
then after loo'ing steadily, till $ ,as almost blind, lose it >#ite, and sit do,n and ,ee( li'e a
child, and th#s increase my misery by my folly%
8#t having gotten over these things in some meas#re, and having settled my ho#sehold staff
and habitation, made me a table and a chair, and all as handsome abo#t me as $ co#ld, $ began to
'ee( my !o#rnal3 of ,hich $ shall here give yo# the co(y Ctho#gh in it ,ill be told all these
(artic#lars over againD as long as it lasted3 for having no more in', $ ,as forced to leave it off%
Cha(ter *
C02TE9 V-8U$LD/ 2 0JU/E -T0E EJU9.2L
/ETE18E9 6-, 5)*H% -$, (oor miserable 9obinson Cr#soe, being shi(,rec'ed d#ring a
dreadf#l storm in the offing, came on shore on this dismal, #nfort#nate island, ,hich $ called
AThe $sland of Des(airA3 all the rest of the shi(=s com(any being dro,ned, and myself almost
dead%
2ll the rest of the day $ s(ent in afflicting myself at the dismal circ#mstances $ ,as bro#ght to-
vi;% $ had neither food, ho#se, clothes, ,ea(on, nor (lace to fly to3 and in des(air of any relief,
sa, nothing b#t death before me-either that $ sho#ld be devo#red by ,ild beasts, m#rdered by
savages, or starved to death for ,ant of food% 2t the a((roach of night $ sle(t in a tree, for fear of
,ild creat#res3 b#t sle(t so#ndly, tho#gh it rained all night%
JCTJ8E9 5% -$n the morning $ sa,, to my great s#r(rise, the shi( had floated ,ith the high
tide, and ,as driven on shore again m#ch nearer the island3 ,hich, as it ,as some comfort, on
one hand- for, seeing her set #(right, and not bro'en to (ieces, $ ho(ed, if the ,ind abated, $
might get on board, and get some food and necessaries o#t of her for my relief-so, on the other
hand, it rene,ed my grief at the loss of my comrades, ,ho, $ imagined, if ,e had all stayed on
board, might have saved the shi(, or, at least, that they ,o#ld not have been all dro,ned as they
,ere3 and that, had the men been saved, ,e might (erha(s have b#ilt #s a boat o#t of the r#ins of
the shi( to have carried #s to some other (art of the ,orld% $ s(ent great (art of this day in
(er(lexing myself on these things3 b#t at length, seeing the shi( almost dry, $ ,ent #(on the sand
as near as $ co#ld, and then s,am on board% This day also it contin#ed raining, tho#gh ,ith no
,ind at all%
<9J1 T0E 5/T J< JCTJ8E9 TJ T0E &BT0%-2ll these days entirely s(ent in many several
voyages to get all $ co#ld o#t of the shi(, ,hich $ bro#ght on shore every tide of flood #(on rafts%
1#ch rain also in the days, tho#gh ,ith some intervals of fair ,eather3 b#t it seems this ,as the
rainy season%
JCT% &-% -$ overset my raft, and all the goods $ had got #(on it3 b#t, being in shoal ,ater, and
the things being chiefly heavy, $ recovered many of them ,hen the tide ,as o#t%
JCT% &*% -$t rained all night and all day, ,ith some g#sts of ,ind3 d#ring ,hich time the shi(
bro'e in (ieces, the ,ind blo,ing a little harder than before, and ,as no more to be seen, exce(t
the ,rec' of her, and that only at lo, ,ater% $ s(ent this day in covering and sec#ring the goods
,hich $ had saved, that the rain might not s(oil them%
6B
JCT% &)% -$ ,al'ed abo#t the shore almost all day, to find o#t a (lace to fix my habitation,
greatly concerned to sec#re myself from any attac' in the night, either from ,ild beasts or men%
To,ards night, $ fixed #(on a (ro(er (lace, #nder a roc', and mar'ed o#t a semicircle for my
encam(ment3 ,hich $ resolved to strengthen ,ith a ,or', ,all, or fortification, made of do#ble
(iles, lined ,ithin ,ith cables, and ,itho#t ,ith t#rf%
<rom the &)th to the 6-th $ ,or'ed very hard in carrying all my goods to my ne, habitation,
tho#gh some (art of the time it rained exceedingly hard%
The 65st, in the morning, $ ,ent o#t into the island ,ith my g#n, to see' for some food, and
discover the co#ntry3 ,hen $ 'illed a she-goat, and her 'id follo,ed me home, ,hich $ after,ards
'illed also, beca#se it ,o#ld not feed%
.JVE18E9 5% -$ set #( my tent #nder a roc', and lay there for the first night3 ma'ing it as
large as $ co#ld, ,ith sta'es driven in to s,ing my hammoc' #(on%
.JV% &% -$ set #( all my chests and boards, and the (ieces of timber ,hich made my rafts, and
,ith them formed a fence ro#nd me, a little ,ithin the (lace $ had mar'ed o#t for my
fortification%
.JV% 6% -$ ,ent o#t ,ith my g#n, and 'illed t,o fo,ls li'e d#c's, ,hich ,ere very good food%
$n the afternoon ,ent to ,or' to ma'e me a table%
.JV% B% -This morning $ began to order my times of ,or', of going o#t ,ith my g#n, time of
slee(, and time of diversion-vi;% every morning $ ,al'ed o#t ,ith my g#n for t,o or three ho#rs,
if it did not rain3 then em(loyed myself to ,or' till abo#t eleven o=cloc'3 then eat ,hat $ had to
live on3 and from t,elve to t,o $ lay do,n to slee(, the ,eather being excessively hot3 and then,
in the evening, to ,or' again% The ,or'ing (art of this day and of the next ,ere ,holly
em(loyed in ma'ing my table, for $ ,as yet b#t a very sorry ,or'man, tho#gh time and necessity
made me a com(lete nat#ral mechanic soon after, as $ believe they ,o#ld do any one else%
.JV% *% -This day ,ent abroad ,ith my g#n and my dog, and 'illed a ,ild cat3 her s'in (retty
soft, b#t her flesh good for nothing3 every creat#re that $ 'illed $ too' of the s'ins and (reserved
them% Coming bac' by the sea-shore, $ sa, many sorts of sea-fo,ls, ,hich $ did not #nderstand3
b#t ,as s#r(rised, and almost frightened, ,ith t,o or three seals, ,hich, ,hile $ ,as ga;ing at,
not ,ell 'no,ing ,hat they ,ere, got into the sea, and esca(ed me for that time%
.JV% )% -2fter my morning ,al' $ ,ent to ,or' ,ith my table again, and finished it, tho#gh
not to my li'ing3 nor ,as it long before $ learned to mend it%
.JV% F% -.o, it began to be settled fair ,eather% The Fth, Gth, Hth, 5-th, and (art of the 5&th
Cfor the 55th ,as /#ndayD $ too' ,holly #( to ma'e me a chair, and ,ith m#ch ado bro#ght it to a
tolerable sha(e, b#t never to (lease me3 and even in the ma'ing $ (#lled it in (ieces several times%
.JTE%-$ soon neglected my 'ee(ing /#ndays3 for, omitting my mar' for them on my (ost, $
forgot ,hich ,as ,hich%
.JV% 56% -This day it rained, ,hich refreshed me exceedingly, and cooled the earth3 b#t it ,as
accom(anied ,ith terrible th#nder and lightning, ,hich frightened me dreadf#lly, for fear of my
(o,der% 2s soon as it ,as over, $ resolved to se(arate my stoc' of (o,der into as many little
(arcels as (ossible, that it might not be in danger%
.JV% 5B, 5*, 5)% -These three days $ s(ent in ma'ing little s>#are chests, or boxes, ,hich
might hold abo#t a (o#nd, or t,o (o#nds at most, of (o,der3 and so, (#tting the (o,der in, $
sto,ed it in (laces as sec#re and remote from one another as (ossible% Jn one of these three days
$ 'illed a large bird that ,as good to eat, b#t $ 'ne, not ,hat to call it%
.JV% 5F% -This day $ began to dig behind my tent into the roc', to ma'e room for my f#rther
conveniency%
6*
.JTE%-Three things $ ,anted exceedingly for this ,or'-vi;% a (ic'axe, a shovel, and a
,heelbarro, or bas'et3 so $ desisted from my ,or', and began to consider ho, to s#((ly that
,ant, and ma'e me some tools% 2s for the (ic'axe, $ made #se of the iron cro,s, ,hich ,ere
(ro(er eno#gh, tho#gh heavy3 b#t the next thing ,as a shovel or s(ade3 this ,as so absol#tely
necessary, that, indeed, $ co#ld do nothing effect#ally ,itho#t it3 b#t ,hat 'ind of one to ma'e $
'ne, not%
.JV% 5G% -The next day, in searching the ,oods, $ fo#nd a tree of that ,ood, or li'e it, ,hich
in the 8ra;ils they call the iron-tree, for its exceeding hardness% Jf this, ,ith great labo#r, and
almost s(oiling my axe, $ c#t a (iece, and bro#ght it home, too, ,ith diffic#lty eno#gh, for it ,as
exceeding heavy% The excessive hardness of the ,ood, and my having no other ,ay, made me a
long ,hile #(on this machine, for $ ,or'ed it effect#ally by little and little into the form of a
shovel or s(ade3 the handle exactly sha(ed li'e o#rs in England, only that the board (art having
no iron shod #(on it at bottom, it ,o#ld not last me so long3 ho,ever, it served ,ell eno#gh for
the #ses ,hich $ had occasion to (#t it to3 b#t never ,as a shovel, $ believe, made after that
fashion, or so long in ma'ing%
$ ,as still deficient, for $ ,anted a bas'et or a ,heelbarro,% 2 bas'et $ co#ld not ma'e by any
means, having no s#ch things as t,igs that ,o#ld bend to ma'e ,ic'er-,are-at least, none yet
fo#nd o#t3 and as to a ,heelbarro,, $ fancied $ co#ld ma'e all b#t the ,heel3 b#t that $ had no
notion of3 neither did $ 'no, ho, to go abo#t it3 besides, $ had no (ossible ,ay to ma'e the iron
g#dgeons for the s(indle or axis of the ,heel to r#n in3 so $ gave it over, and so, for carrying
a,ay the earth ,hich $ d#g o#t of the cave, $ made me a thing li'e a hod ,hich the labo#rers
carry mortar in ,hen they serve the bric'layers% This ,as not so diffic#lt to me as the ma'ing the
shovel: and yet this and the shovel, and the attem(t ,hich $ made in vain to ma'e a ,heelbarro,,
too' me #( no less than fo#r days-$ mean al,ays exce(ting my morning ,al' ,ith my g#n,
,hich $ seldom failed, and very seldom failed also bringing home something fit to eat%
.JV% &6% -1y other ,or' having no, stood still, beca#se of my ma'ing these tools, ,hen they
,ere finished $ ,ent on, and ,or'ing every day, as my strength and time allo,ed, $ s(ent
eighteen days entirely in ,idening and dee(ening my cave, that it might hold my goods
commodio#sly%
.JTE%-D#ring all this time $ ,or'ed to ma'e this room or cave s(acio#s eno#gh to
accommodate me as a ,areho#se or maga;ine, a 'itchen, a dining-room, and a cellar% 2s for my
lodging, $ 'e(t to the tent3 exce(t that sometimes, in the ,et season of the year, it rained so hard
that $ co#ld not 'ee( myself dry, ,hich ca#sed me after,ards to cover all my (lace ,ithin my
(ale ,ith long (oles, in the form of rafters, leaning against the roc', and load them ,ith flags and
large leaves of trees, li'e a thatch%
DECE18E9 5-% -$ began no, to thin' my cave or va#lt finished, ,hen on a s#dden Cit seems
$ had made it too largeD a great >#antity of earth fell do,n from the to( on one side3 so m#ch that,
in short, it frighted me, and not ,itho#t reason, too, for if $ had been #nder it, $ had never ,anted
a gravedigger% $ had no, a great deal of ,or' to do over again, for $ had the loose earth to carry
o#t3 and, ,hich ,as of more im(ortance, $ had the ceiling to (ro( #(, so that $ might be s#re no
more ,o#ld come do,n%
DEC% 55% -This day $ ,ent to ,or' ,ith it accordingly, and got t,o shores or (osts (itched
#(right to the to(, ,ith t,o (ieces of boards across over each (ost3 this $ finished the next day3
and setting more (osts #( ,ith boards, in abo#t a ,ee' more $ had the roof sec#red, and the
(osts, standing in ro,s, served me for (artitions to (art off the ho#se%
DEC% 5F% -<rom this day to the &-th $ (laced shelves, and 'noc'ed #( nails on the (osts, to
hang everything #( that co#ld be h#ng #(3 and no, $ began to be in some order ,ithin doors%
6)
DEC% &-% -.o, $ carried everything into the cave, and began to f#rnish my ho#se, and set #(
some (ieces of boards li'e a dresser, to order my vict#als #(on3 b#t boards began to be very
scarce ,ith me3 also, $ made me another table%
DEC% &B% -1#ch rain all night and all day% .o stirring o#t%
DEC% &*% -9ain all day%
DEC% &)% -.o rain, and the earth m#ch cooler than before, and (leasanter%
DEC% &F% -:illed a yo#ng goat, and lamed another, so that $ ca#ght it and led it home in a
string3 ,hen $ had it at home, $ bo#nd and s(lintered #( its leg, ,hich ,as bro'e%
.%8%-$ too' s#ch care of it that it lived, and the leg gre, ,ell and as strong as ever3 b#t, by my
n#rsing it so long, it gre, tame, and fed #(on the little green at my door, and ,o#ld not go a,ay%
This ,as the first time that $ entertained a tho#ght of breeding #( some tame creat#res, that $
might have food ,hen my (o,der and shot ,as all s(ent%
DEC% &G,&H,6-,65% -"reat heats, and no bree;e, so that there ,as no stirring abroad, exce(t in
the evening, for food3 this time $ s(ent in (#tting all my things in order ,ithin doors%
E2.U297 5% -Very hot still: b#t $ ,ent abroad early and late ,ith my g#n, and lay still in the
middle of the day% This evening, going farther into the valleys ,hich lay to,ards the centre of the
island, $ fo#nd there ,ere (lenty of goats, tho#gh exceedingly shy, and hard to come at3 ho,ever,
$ resolved to try if $ co#ld not bring my dog to h#nt them do,n%
E2.% &% -2ccordingly, the next day $ ,ent o#t ,ith my dog, and set him #(on the goats, b#t $
,as mista'en, for they all faced abo#t #(on the dog, and he 'ne, his danger too ,ell, for he
,o#ld not come near them%
E2.% 6% -$ began my fence or ,all3 ,hich, being still !ealo#s of my being attac'ed by
somebody, $ resolved to ma'e very thic' and strong%
.%8%-This ,all being described before, $ (#r(osely omit ,hat ,as said in the !o#rnal3 it is
s#fficient to observe, that $ ,as no less time than from the &nd of Ean#ary to the 5Bth of 2(ril
,or'ing, finishing, and (erfecting this ,all, tho#gh it ,as no more than abo#t t,enty-fo#r yards
in length, being a half-circle from one (lace in the roc' to another (lace, abo#t eight yards from
it, the door of the cave being in the centre behind it%
2ll this time $ ,or'ed very hard, the rains hindering me many days, nay, sometimes ,ee's
together3 b#t $ tho#ght $ sho#ld never be (erfectly sec#re till this ,all ,as finished3 and it is
scarce credible ,hat inex(ressible labo#r everything ,as done ,ith, es(ecially the bringing (iles
o#t of the ,oods and driving them into the gro#nd3 for $ made them m#ch bigger than $ needed to
have done%
4hen this ,all ,as finished, and the o#tside do#ble fenced, ,ith a t#rf ,all raised #( close to
it, $ (erceived myself that if any (eo(le ,ere to come on shore there, they ,o#ld not (erceive
anything li'e a habitation3 and it ,as very ,ell $ did so, as may be observed hereafter, #(on a
very remar'able occasion%
D#ring this time $ made my ro#nds in the ,oods for game every day ,hen the rain (ermitted
me, and made fre>#ent discoveries in these ,al's of something or other to my advantage3
(artic#larly, $ fo#nd a 'ind of ,ild (igeons, ,hich b#ild, not as ,ood-(igeons in a tree, b#t rather
as ho#se-(igeons, in the holes of the roc's3 and ta'ing some yo#ng ones, $ endeavo#red to breed
them #( tame, and did so3 b#t ,hen they gre, older they fle, a,ay, ,hich (erha(s ,as at first
for ,ant of feeding them, for $ had nothing to give them3 ho,ever, $ fre>#ently fo#nd their nests,
and got their yo#ng ones, ,hich ,ere very good meat% 2nd no,, in the managing my ho#sehold
affairs, $ fo#nd myself ,anting in many things, ,hich $ tho#ght at first it ,as im(ossible for me
to ma'e3 as, indeed, ,ith some of them it ,as: for instance, $ co#ld never ma'e a cas' to be
hoo(ed% $ had a small r#nlet or t,o, as $ observed before3 b#t $ co#ld never arrive at the ca(acity
6F
of ma'ing one by them, tho#gh $ s(ent many ,ee's abo#t it3 $ co#ld neither (#t in the heads, or
!oin the staves so tr#e to one another as to ma'e them hold ,ater3 so $ gave that also over% $n the
next (lace, $ ,as at a great loss for candles3 so that as soon as ever it ,as dar', ,hich ,as
generally by seven o=cloc', $ ,as obliged to go to bed% $ remembered the l#m( of bees,ax ,ith
,hich $ made candles in my 2frican advent#re3 b#t $ had none of that no,3 the only remedy $ had
,as, that ,hen $ had 'illed a goat $ saved the tallo,, and ,ith a little dish made of clay, ,hich $
ba'ed in the s#n, to ,hich $ added a ,ic' of some oa'#m, $ made me a lam(3 and this gave me
light, tho#gh not a clear, steady light, li'e a candle% $n the middle of all my labo#rs it ha((ened
that, r#mmaging my things, $ fo#nd a little bag ,hich, as $ hinted before, had been filled ,ith
corn for the feeding of (o#ltry-not for this voyage, b#t before, as $ s#((ose, ,hen the shi( came
from Lisbon% The little remainder of corn that had been in the bag ,as all devo#red by the rats,
and $ sa, nothing in the bag b#t h#s's and d#st3 and being ,illing to have the bag for some other
#se C$ thin' it ,as to (#t (o,der in, ,hen $ divided it for fear of the lightning, or some s#ch #seD,
$ shoo' the h#s's of corn o#t of it on one side of my fortification, #nder the roc'%
$t ,as a little before the great rains !#st no, mentioned that $ thre, this st#ff a,ay, ta'ing no
notice, and not so m#ch as remembering that $ had thro,n anything there, ,hen, abo#t a month
after, or thereabo#ts, $ sa, some fe, stal's of something green shooting o#t of the gro#nd, ,hich
$ fancied might be some (lant $ had not seen3 b#t $ ,as s#r(rised, and (erfectly astonished, ,hen,
after a little longer time, $ sa, abo#t ten or t,elve ears come o#t, ,hich ,ere (erfect green
barley, of the same 'ind as o#r E#ro(ean-nay, as o#r English barley%
$t is im(ossible to ex(ress the astonishment and conf#sion of my tho#ghts on this occasion% $
had hitherto acted #(on no religio#s fo#ndation at all3 indeed, $ had very fe, notions of religion
in my head, nor had entertained any sense of anything that had befallen me other,ise than as
chance, or, as ,e lightly say, ,hat (leases "od, ,itho#t so m#ch as in>#iring into the end of
rovidence in these things, or 0is order in governing events for the ,orld% 8#t after $ sa, barley
gro, there, in a climate ,hich $ 'ne, ,as not (ro(er for corn, and es(ecially that $ 'ne, not
ho, it came there, it startled me strangely, and $ began to s#ggest that "od had mirac#lo#sly
ca#sed 0is grain to gro, ,itho#t any hel( of seed so,n, and that it ,as so directed (#rely for my
s#stenance on that ,ild, miserable (lace%
This to#ched my heart a little, and bro#ght tears o#t of my eyes, and $ began to bless myself
that s#ch a (rodigy of nat#re sho#ld ha((en #(on my acco#nt3 and this ,as the more strange to
me, beca#se $ sa, near it still, all along by the side of the roc', some other straggling stal's,
,hich (roved to be stal's of rice, and ,hich $ 'ne,, beca#se $ had seen it gro, in 2frica ,hen $
,as ashore there%
$ not only tho#ght these the (#re (rod#ctions of rovidence for my s#((ort, b#t not do#bting
that there ,as more in the (lace, $ ,ent all over that (art of the island, ,here $ had been before,
(eering in every corner, and #nder every roc', to see for more of it, b#t $ co#ld not find any% 2t
last it occ#rred to my tho#ghts that $ shoo' a bag of chic'ens= meat o#t in that (lace3 and then the
,onder began to cease3 and $ m#st confess my religio#s than'f#lness to "od=s (rovidence began
to abate, too, #(on the discovering that all this ,as nothing b#t ,hat ,as common3 tho#gh $
o#ght to have been as than'f#l for so strange and #nforeseen a (rovidence as if it had been
mirac#lo#s3 for it ,as really the ,or' of rovidence to me, that sho#ld order or a((oint that ten
or t,elve grains of corn sho#ld remain #ns(oiled, ,hen the rats had destroyed all the rest, as if it
had been dro((ed from heaven3 as also, that $ sho#ld thro, it o#t in that (artic#lar (lace, ,here,
it being in the shade of a high roc', it s(rang #( immediately3 ,hereas, if $ had thro,n it
any,here else at that time, it had been b#rnt #( and destroyed%
6G
$ caref#lly saved the ears of this corn, yo# may be s#re, in their season, ,hich ,as abo#t the
end of E#ne3 and, laying #( every corn, $ resolved to so, them all again, ho(ing in time to have
some >#antity s#fficient to s#((ly me ,ith bread% 8#t it ,as not till the fo#rth year that $ co#ld
allo, myself the least grain of this corn to eat, and even then b#t s(aringly, as $ shall say
after,ards, in its order3 for $ lost all that $ so,ed the first season by not observing the (ro(er
time3 for $ so,ed it !#st before the dry season, so that it never came #( at all, at least not as it
,o#ld have done3 of ,hich in its (lace%
8esides this barley, there ,ere, as above, t,enty or thirty stal's of rice, ,hich $ (reserved ,ith
the same care and for the same #se, or to the same (#r(ose-to ma'e me bread, or rather food3 for
$ fo#nd ,ays to coo' it ,itho#t ba'ing, tho#gh $ did that also after some time%
8#t to ret#rn to my Eo#rnal%
$ ,or'ed excessive hard these three or fo#r months to get my ,all done3 and the 5Bth of 2(ril $
closed it #(, contriving to go into it, not by a door b#t over the ,all, by a ladder, that there might
be no sign on the o#tside of my habitation%
29$L 5)% -$ finished the ladder3 so $ ,ent #( the ladder to the to(, and then (#lled it #( after
me, and let it do,n in the inside% This ,as a com(lete enclos#re to me3 for ,ithin $ had room
eno#gh, and nothing co#ld come at me from ,itho#t, #nless it co#ld first mo#nt my ,all%
The very next day after this ,all ,as finished $ had almost had all my labo#r overthro,n at
once, and myself 'illed% The case ,as th#s: 2s $ ,as b#sy in the inside, behind my tent, !#st at
the entrance into my cave, $ ,as terribly frighted ,ith a most dreadf#l, s#r(rising thing indeed3
for all on a s#dden $ fo#nd the earth come cr#mbling do,n from the roof of my cave, and from
the edge of the hill over my head, and t,o of the (osts $ had set #( in the cave crac'ed in a
frightf#l manner% $ ,as heartily scared3 b#t tho#ght nothing of ,hat ,as really the ca#se, only
thin'ing that the to( of my cave ,as fallen in, as some of it had done before: and for fear $ sho#ld
be b#ried in it $ ran for,ard to my ladder, and not thin'ing myself safe there neither, $ got over
my ,all for fear of the (ieces of the hill, ,hich $ ex(ected might roll do,n #(on me% $ had no
sooner ste((ed do gro#nd, than $ (lainly sa, it ,as a terrible earth>#a'e, for the gro#nd $ stood
on shoo' three times at abo#t eight min#tes= distance, ,ith three s#ch shoc's as ,o#ld have
overt#rned the strongest b#ilding that co#ld be s#((osed to have stood on the earth3 and a great
(iece of the to( of a roc' ,hich stood abo#t half a mile from me next the sea fell do,n ,ith s#ch
a terrible noise as $ never heard in all my life% $ (erceived also the very sea ,as (#t into violent
motion by it3 and $ believe the shoc's ,ere stronger #nder the ,ater than on the island%
$ ,as so m#ch ama;ed ,ith the thing itself, having never felt the li'e, nor disco#rsed ,ith any
one that had, that $ ,as li'e one dead or st#(efied3 and the motion of the earth made my stomach
sic', li'e one that ,as tossed at sea3 b#t the noise of the falling of the roc' a,a'ened me, as it
,ere, and ro#sing me from the st#(efied condition $ ,as in, filled me ,ith horror3 and $ tho#ght
of nothing then b#t the hill falling #(on my tent and all my ho#sehold goods, and b#rying all at
once3 and this s#n' my very so#l ,ithin me a second time%
2fter the third shoc' ,as over, and $ felt no more for some time, $ began to ta'e co#rage3 and
yet $ had not heart eno#gh to go over my ,all again, for fear of being b#ried alive, b#t sat still
#(on the gro#nd greatly cast do,n and disconsolate, not 'no,ing ,hat to do% 2ll this ,hile $ had
not the least serio#s religio#s tho#ght3 nothing b#t the common ALord have mercy #(on me@A and
,hen it ,as over that ,ent a,ay too%
4hile $ sat th#s, $ fo#nd the air overcast and gro, clo#dy, as if it ,o#ld rain% /oon after that
the ,ind arose by little and little, so that in less than half-an-ho#r it ble, a most dreadf#l
h#rricane3 the sea ,as all on a s#dden covered over ,ith foam and froth3 the shore ,as covered
,ith the breach of the ,ater, the trees ,ere torn #( by the roots, and a terrible storm it ,as% This
6H
held abo#t three ho#rs, and then began to abate3 and in t,o ho#rs more it ,as >#ite calm, and
began to rain very hard% 2ll this ,hile $ sat #(on the gro#nd very m#ch terrified and de!ected3
,hen on a s#dden it came into my tho#ghts, that these ,inds and rain being the conse>#ences of
the earth>#a'e, the earth>#a'e itself ,as s(ent and over, and $ might vent#re into my cave again%
4ith this tho#ght my s(irits began to revive3 and the rain also hel(ing to (ers#ade me, $ ,ent in
and sat do,n in my tent% 8#t the rain ,as so violent that my tent ,as ready to be beaten do,n
,ith it3 and $ ,as forced to go into my cave, tho#gh very m#ch afraid and #neasy, for fear it
sho#ld fall on my head% This violent rain forced me to a ne, ,or'-vi;% to c#t a hole thro#gh my
ne, fortification, li'e a sin', to let the ,ater go o#t, ,hich ,o#ld else have flooded my cave%
2fter $ had been in my cave for some time, and fo#nd still no more shoc's of the earth>#a'e
follo,, $ began to be more com(osed% 2nd no,, to s#((ort my s(irits, ,hich indeed ,anted it
very m#ch, $ ,ent to my little store, and too' a small s#( of r#m3 ,hich, ho,ever, $ did then and
al,ays very s(aringly, 'no,ing $ co#ld have no more ,hen that ,as gone% $t contin#ed raining
all that night and great (art of the next day, so that $ co#ld not stir abroad3 b#t my mind being
more com(osed, $ began to thin' of ,hat $ had best do3 concl#ding that if the island ,as s#b!ect
to these earth>#a'es, there ,o#ld be no living for me in a cave, b#t $ m#st consider of b#ilding a
little h#t in an o(en (lace ,hich $ might s#rro#nd ,ith a ,all, as $ had done here, and so ma'e
myself sec#re from ,ild beasts or men3 for $ concl#ded, if $ stayed ,here $ ,as, $ sho#ld
certainly one time or other be b#ried alive%
4ith these tho#ghts, $ resolved to remove my tent from the (lace ,here it stood, ,hich ,as
!#st #nder the hanging (reci(ice of the hill3 and ,hich, if it sho#ld be sha'en again, ,o#ld
certainly fall #(on my tent3 and $ s(ent the t,o next days, being the 5Hth and &-th of 2(ril, in
contriving ,here and ho, to remove my habitation% The fear of being s,allo,ed #( alive made
me that $ never sle(t in >#iet3 and yet the a((rehension of lying abroad ,itho#t any fence ,as
almost e>#al to it3 b#t still, ,hen $ loo'ed abo#t, and sa, ho, everything ,as (#t in order, ho,
(leasantly concealed $ ,as, and ho, safe from danger, it made me very loath to remove% $n the
meantime, it occ#rred to me that it ,o#ld re>#ire a vast deal of time for me to do this, and that $
m#st be contented to vent#re ,here $ ,as, till $ had formed a cam( for myself, and had sec#red it
so as to remove to it% /o ,ith this resol#tion $ com(osed myself for a time, and resolved that $
,o#ld go to ,or' ,ith all s(eed to b#ild me a ,all ,ith (iles and cables, Kc%, in a circle, as
before, and set my tent #( in it ,hen it ,as finished3 b#t that $ ,o#ld vent#re to stay ,here $ ,as
till it ,as finished, and fit to remove% This ,as the &5st%
29$L &&% -The next morning $ begin to consider of means to (#t this resolve into exec#tion3
b#t $ ,as at a great loss abo#t my tools% $ had three large axes, and ab#ndance of hatchets Cfor ,e
carried the hatchets for traffic ,ith the $ndiansD3 b#t ,ith m#ch cho((ing and c#tting 'notty hard
,ood, they ,ere all f#ll of notches, and d#ll3 and tho#gh $ had a grindstone, $ co#ld not t#rn it
and grind my tools too% This cost me as m#ch tho#ght as a statesman ,o#ld have besto,ed #(on
a grand (oint of (olitics, or a !#dge #(on the life and death of a man% 2t length $ contrived a
,heel ,ith a string, to t#rn it ,ith my foot, that $ might have both my hands at liberty%
.JTE%-$ had never seen any s#ch thing in England, or at least, not to ta'e notice ho, it ,as
done, tho#gh since $ have observed, it is very common there3 besides that, my grindstone ,as
very large and heavy% This machine cost me a f#ll ,ee'=s ,or' to bring it to (erfection%
29$L &G, &H% -These t,o ,hole days $ too' #( in grinding my tools, my machine for t#rning
my grindstone (erforming very ,ell%
29$L 6-% -0aving (erceived my bread had been lo, a great ,hile, no, $ too' a s#rvey of it,
and red#ced myself to one bisc#it ca'e a day, ,hich made my heart very heavy%
B-
127 5% -$n the morning, loo'ing to,ards the sea side, the tide being lo,, $ sa, something lie
on the shore bigger than ordinary, and it loo'ed li'e a cas'3 ,hen $ came to it, $ fo#nd a small
barrel, and t,o or three (ieces of the ,rec' of the shi(, ,hich ,ere driven on shore by the late
h#rricane3 and loo'ing to,ards the ,rec' itself, $ tho#ght it seemed to lie higher o#t of the ,ater
than it #sed to do% $ examined the barrel ,hich ,as driven on shore, and soon fo#nd it ,as a
barrel of g#n(o,der3 b#t it had ta'en ,ater, and the (o,der ,as ca'ed as hard as a stone3
ho,ever, $ rolled it farther on shore for the (resent, and ,ent on #(on the sands, as near as $
co#ld to the ,rec' of the shi(, to loo' for more%
Cha(ter )
C02TE9 V$-$LL 2.D CJ./C$E.CE-/T9$C:E.
40E. $ came do,n to the shi( $ fo#nd it strangely removed% The forecastle, ,hich lay before
b#ried in sand, ,as heaved #( at least six feet, and the stern, ,hich ,as bro'e in (ieces and
(arted from the rest by the force of the sea, soon after $ had left r#mmaging her, ,as tossed as it
,ere #(, and cast on one side3 and the sand ,as thro,n so high on that side next her stern, that
,hereas there ,as a great (lace of ,ater before, so that $ co#ld not come ,ithin a >#arter of a
mile of the ,rec' ,itho#t s,imming $ co#ld no, ,al' >#ite #( to her ,hen the tide ,as o#t% $
,as s#r(rised ,ith this at first, b#t soon concl#ded it m#st be done by the earth>#a'e3 and as by
this violence the shi( ,as more bro'e o(en than formerly, so many things came daily on shore,
,hich the sea had loosened, and ,hich the ,inds and ,ater rolled by degrees to the land%
This ,holly diverted my tho#ghts from the design of removing my habitation, and $ b#sied
myself mightily, that day es(ecially, in searching ,hether $ co#ld ma'e any ,ay into the shi(3 b#t
$ fo#nd nothing ,as to be ex(ected of that 'ind, for all the inside of the shi( ,as cho'ed #( ,ith
sand% 0o,ever, as $ had learned not to des(air of anything, $ resolved to (#ll everything to (ieces
that $ co#ld of the shi(, concl#ding that everything $ co#ld get from her ,o#ld be of some #se or
other to me%
127 6% -$ began ,ith my sa,, and c#t a (iece of a beam thro#gh, ,hich $ tho#ght held some
of the #((er (art or >#arter-dec' together, and ,hen $ had c#t it thro#gh, $ cleared a,ay the sand
as ,ell as $ co#ld from the side ,hich lay highest3 b#t the tide coming in, $ ,as obliged to give
over for that time%
127 B% -$ ,ent a-fishing, b#t ca#ght not one fish that $ d#rst eat of, till $ ,as ,eary of my
s(ort3 ,hen, !#st going to leave off, $ ca#ght a yo#ng dol(hin% $ had made me a long line of some
ro(e-yarn, b#t $ had no hoo's3 yet $ fre>#ently ca#ght fish eno#gh, as m#ch as $ cared to eat3 all
,hich $ dried in the s#n, and ate them dry%
127 *% -4or'ed on the ,rec'3 c#t another beam as#nder, and bro#ght three great fir (lan's
off from the dec's, ,hich $ tied together, and made to float on shore ,hen the tide of flood came
on%
127 )% -4or'ed on the ,rec'3 got several iron bolts o#t of her and other (ieces of iron,or'%
4or'ed very hard, and came home very m#ch tired, and had tho#ghts of giving it over%
127 F% -4ent to the ,rec' again, not ,ith an intent to ,or', b#t fo#nd the ,eight of the
,rec' had bro'e itself do,n, the beams being c#t3 that several (ieces of the shi( seemed to lie
loose, and the inside of the hold lay so o(en that $ co#ld see into it3 b#t it ,as almost f#ll of ,ater
and sand%
127 G% -4ent to the ,rec', and carried an iron cro, to ,rench #( the dec', ,hich lay no,
>#ite clear of the ,ater or sand% $ ,renched o(en t,o (lan's, and bro#ght them on shore also
,ith the tide% $ left the iron cro, in the ,rec' for next day%
B5
127 H% -4ent to the ,rec', and ,ith the cro, made ,ay into the body of the ,rec', and felt
several cas's, and loosened them ,ith the cro,, b#t co#ld not brea' them #(% $ felt also a roll of
English lead, and co#ld stir it, b#t it ,as too heavy to remove%
127 5 -5B%-4ent every day to the ,rec'3 and got a great many (ieces of timber, and boards,
or (lan', and t,o or three h#ndred,eight of iron%
127 5*% -$ carried t,o hatchets, to try if $ co#ld not c#t a (iece off the roll of lead by (lacing
the edge of one hatchet and driving it ,ith the other3 b#t as it lay abo#t a foot and a half in the
,ater, $ co#ld not ma'e any blo, to drive the hatchet%
127 5)% -$t had blo,n hard in the night, and the ,rec' a((eared more bro'en by the force of
the ,ater3 b#t $ stayed so long in the ,oods, to get (igeons for food, that the tide (revented my
going to the ,rec' that day%
127 5F% -$ sa, some (ieces of the ,rec' blo,n on shore, at a great distance, near t,o miles
off me, b#t resolved to see ,hat they ,ere, and fo#nd it ,as a (iece of the head, b#t too heavy
for me to bring a,ay%
127 &B% -Every day, to this day, $ ,or'ed on the ,rec'3 and ,ith hard labo#r $ loosened some
things so m#ch ,ith the cro,, that the first flo,ing tide several cas's floated o#t, and t,o of the
seamen=s chests3 b#t the ,ind blo,ing from the shore, nothing came to land that day b#t (ieces of
timber, and a hogshead, ,hich had some 8ra;il (or' in it3 b#t the salt ,ater and the sand had
s(oiled it% $ contin#ed this ,or' every day to the 5*th of E#ne, exce(t the time necessary to get
food, ,hich $ al,ays a((ointed, d#ring this (art of my em(loyment, to be ,hen the tide ,as #(,
that $ might be ready ,hen it ,as ebbed o#t3 and by this time $ had got timber and (lan' and
iron,or' eno#gh to have b#ilt a good boat, if $ had 'no,n ho,3 and also $ got, at several times
and in several (ieces, near one h#ndred,eight of the sheet lead%
EU.E 5)% -"oing do,n to the seaside, $ fo#nd a large tortoise or t#rtle% This ,as the first $ had
seen, ,hich, it seems, ,as only my misfort#ne, not any defect of the (lace, or scarcity3 for had $
ha((ened to be on the other side of the island, $ might have had h#ndreds of them every day, as $
fo#nd after,ards3 b#t (erha(s had (aid dear eno#gh for them%
EU.E 5F% -$ s(ent in coo'ing the t#rtle% $ fo#nd in her three-score eggs3 and her flesh ,as to
me, at that time, the most savo#ry and (leasant that ever $ tasted in my life, having had no flesh,
b#t of goats and fo,ls, since $ landed in this horrid (lace%
EU.E 5G% -9ained all day, and $ stayed ,ithin% $ tho#ght at this time the rain felt cold, and $
,as something chilly3 ,hich $ 'ne, ,as not #s#al in that latit#de%
EU.E 5H% -Very ill, and shivering, as if the ,eather had been cold%
EU.E &-% -.o rest all night3 violent (ains in my head, and feverish%
EU.E &5% -Very ill3 frighted almost to death ,ith the a((rehensions of my sad condition-to be
sic', and no hel(% rayed to "od, for the first time since the storm off 0#ll, b#t scarce 'ne, ,hat
$ said, or ,hy, my tho#ghts being all conf#sed%
EU.E &&% -2 little better3 b#t #nder dreadf#l a((rehensions of sic'ness%
EU.E &&% -Very bad again3 cold and shivering, and then a violent headache%
EU.E &B% -1#ch better%
EU.E &*% -2n ag#e very violent3 the fit held me seven ho#rs3 cold fit and hot, ,ith faint s,eats
after it%
EU.E &)% -8etter3 and having no vict#als to eat, too' my g#n, b#t fo#nd myself very ,ea'%
0o,ever, $ 'illed a she-goat, and ,ith m#ch diffic#lty got it home, and broiled some of it, and
ate, $ ,o#ld fain have ste,ed it, and made some broth, b#t had no (ot%
EU.E &F% -The ag#e again so violent that $ lay a-bed all day, and neither ate nor dran'% $ ,as
ready to (erish for thirst3 b#t so ,ea', $ had not strength to stand #(, or to get myself any ,ater to
B&
drin'% rayed to "od again, b#t ,as light-headed3 and ,hen $ ,as not, $ ,as so ignorant that $
'ne, not ,hat to say3 only $ lay and cried, ALord, loo' #(on me@ Lord, (ity me@ Lord, have
mercy #(on me@A $ s#((ose $ did nothing else for t,o or three ho#rs3 till, the fit ,earing off, $ fell
aslee(, and did not ,a'e till far in the night% 4hen $ a,o'e, $ fo#nd myself m#ch refreshed, b#t
,ea', and exceeding thirsty% 0o,ever, as $ had no ,ater in my habitation, $ ,as forced to lie till
morning, and ,ent to slee( again% $n this second slee( $ had this terrible dream: $ tho#ght that $
,as sitting on the gro#nd, on the o#tside of my ,all, ,here $ sat ,hen the storm ble, after the
earth>#a'e, and that $ sa, a man descend from a great blac' clo#d, in a bright flame of fire, and
light #(on the gro#nd% 0e ,as all over as bright as a flame, so that $ co#ld b#t !#st bear to loo'
to,ards him3 his co#ntenance ,as most inex(ressibly dreadf#l, im(ossible for ,ords to describe%
4hen he ste((ed #(on the gro#nd ,ith his feet, $ tho#ght the earth trembled, !#st as it had done
before in the earth>#a'e, and all the air loo'ed, to my a((rehension, as if it had been filled ,ith
flashes of fire% 0e ,as no sooner landed #(on the earth, b#t he moved for,ard to,ards me, ,ith
a long s(ear or ,ea(on in his hand, to 'ill me3 and ,hen he came to a rising gro#nd, at some
distance, he s(o'e to me-or $ heard a voice so terrible that it is im(ossible to ex(ress the terror of
it% 2ll that $ can say $ #nderstood ,as this: A/eeing all these things have not bro#ght thee to
re(entance, no, tho# shalt die3A at ,hich ,ords, $ tho#ght he lifted #( the s(ear that ,as in his
hand to 'ill me%
.o one that shall ever read this acco#nt ,ill ex(ect that $ sho#ld be able to describe the horrors
of my so#l at this terrible vision% $ mean, that even ,hile it ,as a dream, $ even dreamed of those
horrors% .or is it any more (ossible to describe the im(ression that remained #(on my mind ,hen
$ a,a'ed, and fo#nd it ,as b#t a dream%
$ had, alas@ no divine 'no,ledge% 4hat $ had received by the good instr#ction of my father ,as
then ,orn o#t by an #ninterr#(ted series, for eight years, of seafaring ,ic'edness, and a constant
conversation ,ith none b#t s#ch as ,ere, li'e myself, ,ic'ed and (rofane to the last degree% $ do
not remember that $ had, in all that time, one tho#ght that so m#ch as tended either to loo'ing
#(,ards to,ards "od, or in,ards to,ards a reflection #(on my o,n ,ays3 b#t a certain st#(idity
of so#l, ,itho#t desire of good, or conscience of evil, had entirely over,helmed me3 and $ ,as all
that the most hardened, #nthin'ing, ,ic'ed creat#re among o#r common sailors can be s#((osed
to be3 not having the least sense, either of the fear of "od in danger, or of than'f#lness to "od in
deliverance%
$n the relating ,hat is already (ast of my story, this ,ill be the more easily believed ,hen $
shall add, that thro#gh all the variety of miseries that had to this day befallen me, $ never had so
m#ch as one tho#ght of it being the hand of "od, or that it ,as a !#st (#nishment for my sin-my
rebellio#s behavio#r against my father- or my (resent sins, ,hich ,ere great-or so m#ch as a
(#nishment for the general co#rse of my ,ic'ed life% 4hen $ ,as on the des(erate ex(edition on
the desert shores of 2frica, $ never had so m#ch as one tho#ght of ,hat ,o#ld become of me, or
one ,ish to "od to direct me ,hither $ sho#ld go, or to 'ee( me from the danger ,hich
a((arently s#rro#nded me, as ,ell from voracio#s creat#res as cr#el savages% 8#t $ ,as merely
tho#ghtless of a "od or a rovidence, acted li'e a mere br#te, from the (rinci(les of nat#re, and
by the dictates of common sense only, and, indeed, hardly that% 4hen $ ,as delivered and ta'en
#( at sea by the ort#gal ca(tain, ,ell #sed, and dealt !#stly and hono#rably ,ith, as ,ell as
charitably, $ had not the least than'f#lness in my tho#ghts% 4hen, again, $ ,as shi(,rec'ed,
r#ined, and in danger of dro,ning on this island, $ ,as as far from remorse, or loo'ing on it as a
!#dgment% $ only said to myself often, that $ ,as an #nfort#nate dog, and born to be al,ays
miserable%
B6
$t is tr#e, ,hen $ got on shore first here, and fo#nd all my shi(=s cre, dro,ned and myself
s(ared, $ ,as s#r(rised ,ith a 'ind of ecstasy, and some trans(orts of so#l, ,hich, had the grace
of "od assisted, might have come #( to tr#e than'f#lness3 b#t it ended ,here it began, in a mere
common flight of !oy, or, as $ may say, being glad $ ,as alive, ,itho#t the least reflection #(on
the disting#ished goodness of the hand ,hich had (reserved me, and had singled me o#t to be
(reserved ,hen all the rest ,ere destroyed, or an in>#iry ,hy rovidence had been th#s mercif#l
#nto me% Even !#st the same common sort of !oy ,hich seamen generally have, after they are got
safe ashore from a shi(,rec', ,hich they dro,n all in the next bo,l of (#nch, and forget almost
as soon as it is over3 and all the rest of my life ,as li'e it% Even ,hen $ ,as after,ards, on d#e
consideration, made sensible of my condition, ho, $ ,as cast on this dreadf#l (lace, o#t of the
reach of h#man 'ind, o#t of all ho(e of relief, or (ros(ect of redem(tion, as soon as $ sa, b#t a
(ros(ect of living and that $ sho#ld not starve and (erish for h#nger, all the sense of my affliction
,ore off3 and $ began to be very easy, a((lied myself to the ,or's (ro(er for my (reservation and
s#((ly, and ,as far eno#gh from being afflicted at my condition, as a !#dgment from heaven, or
as the hand of "od against me: these ,ere tho#ghts ,hich very seldom entered my head%
The gro,ing #( of the corn, as is hinted in my Eo#rnal, had at first some little infl#ence #(on
me, and began to affect me ,ith serio#sness, as long as $ tho#ght it had something mirac#lo#s in
it3 b#t as soon as ever that (art of the tho#ght ,as removed, all the im(ression that ,as raised
from it ,ore off also, as $ have noted already% Even the earth>#a'e, tho#gh nothing co#ld be more
terrible in its nat#re, or more immediately directing to the invisible o,er ,hich alone directs
s#ch things, yet no sooner ,as the first fright over, b#t the im(ression it had made ,ent off also% $
had no more sense of "od or 0is !#dgments-m#ch less of the (resent affliction of my
circ#mstances being from 0is hand- than if $ had been in the most (ros(ero#s condition of life%
8#t no,, ,hen $ began to be sic', and a leis#rely vie, of the miseries of death came to (lace
itself before me3 ,hen my s(irits began to sin' #nder the b#rden of a strong distem(er, and nat#re
,as exha#sted ,ith the violence of the fever3 conscience, that had sle(t so long, began to a,a'e,
and $ began to re(roach myself ,ith my (ast life, in ,hich $ had so evidently, by #ncommon
,ic'edness, (rovo'ed the !#stice of "od to lay me #nder #ncommon stro'es, and to deal ,ith me
in so vindictive a manner% These reflections o((ressed me for the second or third day of my
distem(er3 and in the violence, as ,ell of the fever as of the dreadf#l re(roaches of my
conscience, extorted some ,ords from me li'e (raying to "od, tho#gh $ cannot say they ,ere
either a (rayer attended ,ith desires or ,ith ho(es: it ,as rather the voice of mere fright and
distress% 1y tho#ghts ,ere conf#sed, the convictions great #(on my mind, and the horror of
dying in s#ch a miserable condition raised va(o#rs into my head ,ith the mere a((rehensions3
and in these h#rries of my so#l $ 'ne, not ,hat my tong#e might ex(ress% 8#t it ,as rather
exclamation, s#ch as, ALord, ,hat a miserable creat#re am $@ $f $ sho#ld be sic', $ shall certainly
die for ,ant of hel(3 and ,hat ,ill become of me@A Then the tears b#rst o#t of my eyes, and $
co#ld say no more for a good ,hile% $n this interval the good advice of my father came to my
mind, and (resently his (rediction, ,hich $ mentioned at the beginning of this story-vi;% that if $
did ta'e this foolish ste(, "od ,o#ld not bless me, and $ ,o#ld have leis#re hereafter to reflect
#(on having neglected his co#nsel ,hen there might be none to assist in my recovery% A.o,,A
said $, alo#d, Amy dear father=s ,ords are come to (ass3 "od=s !#stice has overta'en me, and $
have none to hel( or hear me% $ re!ected the voice of rovidence, ,hich had mercif#lly (#t me in
a (ost#re or station of life ,herein $ might have been ha((y and easy3 b#t $ ,o#ld neither see it
myself nor learn to 'no, the blessing of it from my (arents% $ left them to mo#rn over my folly,
and no, $ am left to mo#rn #nder the conse>#ences of it% $ ab#sed their hel( and assistance, ,ho
,o#ld have lifted me in the ,orld, and ,o#ld have made everything easy to me3 and no, $ have
BB
diffic#lties to str#ggle ,ith, too great for even nat#re itself to s#((ort, and no assistance, no hel(,
no comfort, no advice%A Then $ cried o#t, ALord, be my hel(, for $ am in great distress%A This ,as
the first (rayer, if $ may call it so, that $ had made for many years%
8#t to ret#rn to my Eo#rnal%
EU.E &G% -0aving been some,hat refreshed ,ith the slee( $ had had, and the fit being entirely
off, $ got #(3 and tho#gh the fright and terror of my dream ,as very great, yet $ considered that
the fit of the ag#e ,o#ld ret#rn again the next day, and no, ,as my time to get something to
refresh and s#((ort myself ,hen $ sho#ld be ill3 and the first thing $ did, $ filled a large s>#are
case-bottle ,ith ,ater, and set it #(on my table, in reach of my bed3 and to ta'e off the chill or
ag#ish dis(osition of the ,ater, $ (#t abo#t a >#arter of a (int of r#m into it, and mixed them
together% Then $ got me a (iece of the goat=s flesh and broiled it on the coals, b#t co#ld eat very
little% $ ,al'ed abo#t, b#t ,as very ,ea', and ,ithal very sad and heavy-hearted #nder a sense of
my miserable condition, dreading, the ret#rn of my distem(er the next day% 2t night $ made my
s#((er of three of the t#rtle=s eggs, ,hich $ roasted in the ashes, and ate, as ,e call it, in the shell,
and this ,as the first bit of meat $ had ever as'ed "od=s blessing to, that $ co#ld remember, in my
,hole life% 2fter $ had eaten $ tried to ,al', b#t fo#nd myself so ,ea' that $ co#ld hardly carry a
g#n, for $ never ,ent o#t ,itho#t that3 so $ ,ent b#t a little ,ay, and sat do,n #(on the gro#nd,
loo'ing o#t #(on the sea, ,hich ,as !#st before me, and very calm and smooth% 2s $ sat here
some s#ch tho#ghts as these occ#rred to me: 4hat is this earth and sea, of ,hich $ have seen so
m#ch? 4hence is it (rod#ced? 2nd ,hat am $, and all the other creat#res ,ild and tame, h#man
and br#tal? 4hence are ,e? /#re ,e are all made by some secret o,er, ,ho formed the earth
and sea, the air and s'y% 2nd ,ho is that? Then it follo,ed most nat#rally, it is "od that has made
all% 4ell, b#t then it came on strangely, if "od has made all these things, 0e g#ides and governs
them all, and all things that concern them3 for the o,er that co#ld ma'e all things m#st certainly
have (o,er to g#ide and direct them% $f so, nothing can ha((en in the great circ#it of 0is ,or's,
either ,itho#t 0is 'no,ledge or a((ointment%
2nd if nothing ha((ens ,itho#t 0is 'no,ledge, 0e 'no,s that $ am here, and am in this
dreadf#l condition3 and if nothing ha((ens ,itho#t 0is a((ointment, 0e has a((ointed all this to
befall me% .othing occ#rred to my tho#ght to contradict any of these concl#sions, and therefore it
rested #(on me ,ith the greater force, that it m#st needs be that "od had a((ointed all this to
befall me3 that $ ,as bro#ght into this miserable circ#mstance by 0is direction, 0e having the
sole (o,er, not of me only, b#t of everything that ha((ened in the ,orld% $mmediately it
follo,ed: 4hy has "od done this to me? 4hat have $ done to be th#s #sed? 1y conscience
(resently chec'ed me in that in>#iry, as if $ had blas(hemed, and metho#ght it s(o'e to me li'e a
voice: A4retch@ dost tho# as' ,hat tho# hast done? Loo' bac' #(on a dreadf#l miss(ent life, and
as' thyself ,hat tho# hast not done? 2s', ,hy is it that tho# ,ert not long ago destroyed? 4hy
,ert tho# not dro,ned in 7armo#th 9oads3 'illed in the fight ,hen the shi( ,as ta'en by the
/allee man-of-,ar3 devo#red by the ,ild beasts on the coast of 2frica3 or dro,ned here, ,hen all
the cre, (erished b#t thyself? Dost tho# as', ,hat have $ done?A $ ,as str#c' d#mb ,ith these
reflections, as one astonished, and had not a ,ord to say- no, not to ans,er to myself, b#t rose #(
(ensive and sad, ,al'ed bac' to my retreat, and ,ent #( over my ,all, as if $ had been going to
bed3 b#t my tho#ghts ,ere sadly dist#rbed, and $ had no inclination to slee(3 so $ sat do,n in my
chair, and lighted my lam(, for it began to be dar'% .o,, as the a((rehension of the ret#rn of my
distem(er terrified me very m#ch, it occ#rred to my tho#ght that the 8ra;ilians ta'e no (hysic b#t
their tobacco for almost all distem(ers, and $ had a (iece of a roll of tobacco in one of the chests,
,hich ,as >#ite c#red, and some also that ,as green, and not >#ite c#red%
B*
$ ,ent, directed by 0eaven no do#bt3 for in this chest $ fo#nd a c#re both for so#l and body% $
o(ened the chest, and fo#nd ,hat $ loo'ed for, the tobacco3 and as the fe, boo's $ had saved lay
there too, $ too' o#t one of the 8ibles ,hich $ mentioned before, and ,hich to this time $ had not
fo#nd leis#re or inclination to loo' into% $ say, $ too' it o#t, and bro#ght both that and the tobacco
,ith me to the table% 4hat #se to ma'e of the tobacco $ 'ne, not, in my distem(er, or ,hether it
,as good for it or no: b#t $ tried several ex(eriments ,ith it, as if $ ,as resolved it sho#ld hit one
,ay or other% $ first too' a (iece of leaf, and che,ed it in my mo#th, ,hich, indeed, at first almost
st#(efied my brain, the tobacco being green and strong, and that $ had not been m#ch #sed to%
Then $ too' some and stee(ed it an ho#r or t,o in some r#m, and resolved to ta'e a dose of it
,hen $ lay do,n3 and lastly%, $ b#rnt some #(on a (an of coals, and held my nose close over the
smo'e of it as long as $ co#ld bear it, as ,ell for the heat as almost for s#ffocation% $n the interval
of this o(eration $ too' #( the 8ible and began to read3 b#t my head ,as too m#ch dist#rbed ,ith
the tobacco to bear reading, at least at that time3 only, having o(ened the boo' cas#ally, the first
,ords that occ#rred to me ,ere these, ACall on 1e in the day of tro#ble, and $ ,ill deliver thee,
and tho# shalt glorify 1e%A These ,ords ,ere very a(t to my case, and made some im(ression
#(on my tho#ghts at the time of reading them, tho#gh not so m#ch as they did after,ards3 for, as
for being delivered, the ,ord had no so#nd, as $ may say, to me3 the thing ,as so remote, so
im(ossible in my a((rehension of things, that $ began to say, as the children of $srael did ,hen
they ,ere (romised flesh to eat, ACan "od s(read a table in the ,ilderness?A so $ began to say,
ACan "od 0imself deliver me from this (lace?A 2nd as it ,as not for many years that any ho(es
a((eared, this (revailed very often #(on my tho#ghts3 b#t, ho,ever, the ,ords made a great
im(ression #(on me, and $ m#sed #(on them very often% $t gre, no, late, and the tobacco had, as
$ said, do;ed my head so m#ch that $ inclined to slee(3 so $ left my lam( b#rning in the cave, lest
$ sho#ld ,ant anything in the night, and ,ent to bed% 8#t before $ lay do,n, $ did ,hat $ never
had done in all my life-$ 'neeled do,n, and (rayed to "od to f#lfil the (romise to me, that if $
called #(on 0im in the day of tro#ble, 0e ,o#ld deliver me% 2fter my bro'en and im(erfect
(rayer ,as over, $ dran' the r#m in ,hich $ had stee(ed the tobacco, ,hich ,as so strong and
ran' of the tobacco that $ co#ld scarcely get it do,n3 immediately #(on this $ ,ent to bed% $ fo#nd
(resently it fle, #( into my head violently3 b#t $ fell into a so#nd slee(, and ,a'ed no more till,
by the s#n, it m#st necessarily be near three o=cloc' in the afternoon the next day-nay, to this ho#r
$ am (artly of o(inion that $ sle(t all the next day and night, and till almost three the day after3 for
other,ise $ 'no, not ho, $ sho#ld lose a day o#t of my rec'oning in the days of the ,ee', as it
a((eared some years after $ had done3 for if $ had lost it by crossing and recrossing the line, $
sho#ld have lost more than one day3 b#t certainly $ lost a day in my acco#nt, and never 'ne,
,hich ,ay% 8e that, ho,ever, one ,ay or the other, ,hen $ a,a'ed $ fo#nd myself exceedingly
refreshed, and my s(irits lively and cheerf#l3 ,hen $ got #( $ ,as stronger than $ ,as the day
before, and my stomach better, for $ ,as h#ngry3 and, in short, $ had no fit the next day, b#t
contin#ed m#ch altered for the better% This ,as the &Hth%
The 6-th ,as my ,ell day, of co#rse, and $ ,ent abroad ,ith my g#n, b#t did not care to travel
too far% $ 'illed a sea-fo,l or t,o, something li'e a brandgoose, and bro#ght them home, b#t ,as
not very for,ard to eat them3 so $ ate some more of the t#rtle=s eggs, ,hich ,ere very good% This
evening $ rene,ed the medicine, ,hich $ had s#((osed did me good the day before-the tobacco
stee(ed in r#m3 only $ did not ta'e so m#ch as before, nor did $ che, any of the leaf, or hold my
head over the smo'e3 ho,ever, $ ,as not so ,ell the next day, ,hich ,as the first of E#ly, as $
ho(ed $ sho#ld have been3 for $ had a little s(ice of the cold fit, b#t it ,as not m#ch%
EUL7 &% -$ rene,ed the medicine all the three ,ays3 and dosed myself ,ith it as at first, and
do#bled the >#antity ,hich $ dran'%
B)
EUL7 6% -$ missed the fit for good and all, tho#gh $ did not recover my f#ll strength for some
,ee's after% 4hile $ ,as th#s gathering strength, my tho#ghts ran exceedingly #(on this
/cri(t#re, A$ ,ill deliver theeA3 and the im(ossibility of my deliverance lay m#ch #(on my mind,
in bar of my ever ex(ecting it3 b#t as $ ,as disco#raging myself ,ith s#ch tho#ghts, it occ#rred to
my mind that $ (ored so m#ch #(on my deliverance from the main affliction, that $ disregarded
the deliverance $ had received, and $ ,as as it ,ere made to as' myself s#ch >#estions as these-
vi;% 0ave $ not been delivered, and ,onderf#lly too, from sic'ness- from the most distressed
condition that co#ld be, and that ,as so frightf#l to me? and ,hat notice had $ ta'en of it? 0ad $
done my (art? "od had delivered me, b#t $ had not glorified 0im-that is to say, $ had not o,ned
and been than'f#l for that as a deliverance3 and ho, co#ld $ ex(ect greater deliverance? This
to#ched my heart very m#ch3 and immediately $ 'nelt do,n and gave "od than's alo#d for my
recovery from my sic'ness%
EUL7 B% -$n the morning $ too' the 8ible3 and beginning at the .e, Testament, $ began
serio#sly to read it, and im(osed #(on myself to read a ,hile every morning and every night3 not
tying myself to the n#mber of cha(ters, b#t long as my tho#ghts sho#ld engage me% $t ,as not
long after $ set serio#sly to this ,or' till $ fo#nd my heart more dee(ly and sincerely affected
,ith the ,ic'edness of my (ast life% The im(ression of my dream revived3 and the ,ords, A2ll
these things have not bro#ght thee to re(entance,A ran serio#sly thro#gh my tho#ghts% $ ,as
earnestly begging of "od to give me re(entance, ,hen it ha((ened (rovidentially, the very day,
that, reading the /cri(t#re, $ came to these ,ords: A0e is exalted a rince and a /avio#r, to give
re(entance and to give remission%A $ thre, do,n the boo'3 and ,ith my heart as ,ell as my hands
lifted #( to heaven, in a 'ind of ecstasy of !oy, $ cried o#t alo#d, AEes#s, tho# son of David@ Ees#s,
tho# exalted rince and /avio#r@ give me re(entance@A This ,as the first time $ co#ld say, in the
tr#e sense of the ,ords, that $ (rayed in all my life3 for no, $ (rayed ,ith a sense of my
condition, and a tr#e /cri(t#re vie, of ho(e, fo#nded on the enco#ragement of the 4ord of "od3
and from this time, $ may say, $ began to ho(e that "od ,o#ld hear me%
.o, $ began to constr#e the ,ords mentioned above, ACall on 1e, and $ ,ill deliver thee,A in a
different sense from ,hat $ had ever done before3 for then $ had no notion of anything being
called deliverance, b#t my being delivered from the ca(tivity $ ,as in3 for tho#gh $ ,as indeed at
large in the (lace, yet the island ,as certainly a (rison to me, and that in the ,orse sense in the
,orld% 8#t no, $ learned to ta'e it in another sense: no, $ loo'ed bac' #(on my (ast life ,ith
s#ch horror, and my sins a((eared so dreadf#l, that my so#l so#ght nothing of "od b#t
deliverance from the load of g#ilt that bore do,n all my comfort% 2s for my solitary life, it ,as
nothing% $ did not so m#ch as (ray to be delivered from it or thin' of it3 it ,as all of no
consideration in com(arison to this% 2nd $ add this (art here, to hint to ,hoever shall read it, that
,henever they come to a tr#e sense of things, they ,ill find deliverance from sin a m#ch greater
blessing than deliverance from affliction%
8#t, leaving this (art, $ ret#rn to my Eo#rnal%
1y condition began no, to be, tho#gh not less miserable as to my ,ay of living, yet m#ch
easier to my mind: and my tho#ghts being directed, by a constant reading the /cri(t#re and
(raying to "od, to things of a higher nat#re, $ had a great deal of comfort ,ithin, ,hich till no, $
'ne, nothing of3 also, my health and strength ret#rned, $ bestirred myself to f#rnish myself ,ith
everything that $ ,anted, and ma'e my ,ay of living as reg#lar as $ co#ld%
<rom the Bth of E#ly to the 5Bth $ ,as chiefly em(loyed in ,al'ing abo#t ,ith my g#n in my
hand, a little and a little at a time, as a man that ,as gathering #( his strength after a fit of
sic'ness3 for it is hardly to be imagined ho, lo, $ ,as, and to ,hat ,ea'ness $ ,as red#ced% The
a((lication ,hich $ made #se of ,as (erfectly ne,, and (erha(s ,hich had never c#red an ag#e
BF
before3 neither can $ recommend it to any to (ractise, by this ex(eriment: and tho#gh it did carry
off the fit, yet it rather contrib#ted to ,ea'ening me3 for $ had fre>#ent conv#lsions in my nerves
and limbs for some time% $ learned from it also this, in (artic#lar, that being abroad in the rainy
season ,as the most (ernicio#s thing to my health that co#ld be, es(ecially in those rains ,hich
came attended ,ith storms and h#rricanes of ,ind3 for as the rain ,hich came in the dry season
,as almost al,ays accom(anied ,ith s#ch storms, so $ fo#nd that rain ,as m#ch more dangero#s
than the rain ,hich fell in /e(tember and Jctober%
Cha(ter F
C02TE9 V$$-2"9$CULTU92L EIE9$E.CE
$ 02D no, been in this #nha((y island above ten months% 2ll (ossibility of deliverance from
this condition seemed to be entirely ta'en from me3 and $ firmly believe that no h#man sha(e had
ever set foot #(on that (lace% 0aving no, sec#red my habitation, as $ tho#ght, f#lly to my mind, $
had a great desire to ma'e a more (erfect discovery of the island, and to see ,hat other
(rod#ctions $ might find, ,hich $ yet 'ne, nothing of%
$t ,as on the 5*th of E#ly that $ began to ta'e a more (artic#lar s#rvey of the island itself% $
,ent #( the cree' first, ,here, as $ hinted, $ bro#ght my rafts on shore% $ fo#nd after $ came abo#t
t,o miles #(, that the tide did not flo, any higher, and that it ,as no more than a little broo' of
r#nning ,ater, very fresh and good3 b#t this being the dry season, there ,as hardly any ,ater in
some (arts of it-at least not eno#gh to r#n in any stream, so as it co#ld be (erceived% Jn the ban's
of this broo' $ fo#nd many (leasant savannahs or meado,s, (lain, smooth, and covered ,ith
grass3 and on the rising (arts of them, next to the higher gro#nds, ,here the ,ater, as might be
s#((osed, never overflo,ed, $ fo#nd a great deal of tobacco, green, and gro,ing to a great and
very strong stal'% There ,ere divers other (lants, ,hich $ had no notion of or #nderstanding
abo#t, that might, (erha(s, have virt#es of their o,n, ,hich $ co#ld not find o#t% $ searched for
the cassava root, ,hich the $ndians, in all that climate, ma'e their bread of, b#t $ co#ld find none%
$ sa, large (lants of aloes, b#t did not #nderstand them% $ sa, several s#gar-canes, b#t ,ild, and,
for ,ant of c#ltivation, im(erfect% $ contented myself ,ith these discoveries for this time, and
came bac', m#sing ,ith myself ,hat co#rse $ might ta'e to 'no, the virt#e and goodness of any
of the fr#its or (lants ,hich $ sho#ld discover, b#t co#ld bring it to no concl#sion3 for, in short, $
had made so little observation ,hile $ ,as in the 8ra;ils, that $ 'ne, little of the (lants in the
field3 at least, very little that might serve to any (#r(ose no, in my distress%
The next day, the sixteenth, $ ,ent #( the same ,ay again3 and after going something f#rther
than $ had gone the day before, $ fo#nd the broo' and the savannahs cease, and the co#ntry
become more ,oody than before% $n this (art $ fo#nd different fr#its, and (artic#larly $ fo#nd
melons #(on the gro#nd, in great ab#ndance, and gra(es #(on the trees% The vines had s(read,
indeed, over the trees, and the cl#sters of gra(es ,ere !#st no, in their (rime, very ri(e and rich%
This ,as a s#r(rising discovery, and $ ,as exceeding glad of them3 b#t $ ,as ,arned by my
ex(erience to eat s(aringly of them3 remembering that ,hen $ ,as ashore in 8arbary, the eating
of gra(es 'illed several of o#r Englishmen, ,ho ,ere slaves there, by thro,ing them into fl#xes
and fevers% 8#t $ fo#nd an excellent #se for these gra(es3 and that ,as, to c#re or dry them in the
s#n, and 'ee( them as dried gra(es or raisins are 'e(t, ,hich $ tho#ght ,o#ld be, as indeed they
,ere, ,holesome and agreeable to eat ,hen no gra(es co#ld be had%
$ s(ent all that evening there, and ,ent not bac' to my habitation3 ,hich, by the ,ay, ,as the
first night, as $ might say, $ had lain from home% $n the night, $ too' my first contrivance, and got
#( in a tree, ,here $ sle(t ,ell3 and the next morning (roceeded #(on my discovery3 travelling
nearly fo#r miles, as $ might !#dge by the length of the valley, 'ee(ing still d#e north, ,ith a
ridge of hills on the so#th and north side of me% 2t the end of this march $ came to an o(ening
BG
,here the co#ntry seemed to descend to the ,est3 and a little s(ring of fresh ,ater, ,hich iss#ed
o#t of the side of the hill by me, ran the other ,ay, that is, d#e east3 and the co#ntry a((eared so
fresh, so green, so flo#rishing, everything being in a constant verd#re or flo#rish of s(ring that it
loo'ed li'e a (lanted garden% $ descended a little on the side of that delicio#s vale, s#rveying it
,ith a secret 'ind of (leas#re, tho#gh mixed ,ith my other afflicting tho#ghts, to thin' that this
,as all my o,n3 that $ ,as 'ing and lord of all this co#ntry indefensibly, and had a right of
(ossession3 and if $ co#ld convey it, $ might have it in inheritance as com(letely as any lord of a
manor in England% $ sa, here ab#ndance of cocoa trees, orange, and lemon, and citron trees3 b#t
all ,ild, and very fe, bearing any fr#it, at least not then% 0o,ever, the green limes that $
gathered ,ere not only (leasant to eat, b#t very ,holesome3 and $ mixed their !#ice after,ards
,ith ,ater, ,hich made it very ,holesome, and very cool and refreshing% $ fo#nd no, $ had
b#siness eno#gh to gather and carry home3 and $ resolved to lay #( a store as ,ell of gra(es as
limes and lemons, to f#rnish myself for the ,et season, ,hich $ 'ne, ,as a((roaching% $n order
to do this, $ gathered a great hea( of gra(es in one (lace, a lesser hea( in another (lace, and a
great (arcel of limes and lemons in another (lace3 and ta'ing a fe, of each ,ith me, $ travelled
home,ards3 resolving to come again, and bring a bag or sac', or ,hat $ co#ld ma'e, to carry the
rest home% 2ccordingly, having s(ent three days in this !o#rney, $ came home Cso $ m#st no, call
my tent and my caveD3 b#t before $ got thither the gra(es ,ere s(oiled3 the richness of the fr#it
and the ,eight of the !#ice having bro'en them and br#ised them, they ,ere good for little or
nothing3 as to the limes, they ,ere good, b#t $ co#ld bring b#t a fe,%
The next day, being the nineteenth, $ ,ent bac', having made me t,o small bags to bring home
my harvest3 b#t $ ,as s#r(rised, ,hen coming to my hea( of gra(es, ,hich ,ere so rich and fine
,hen $ gathered them, to find them all s(read abo#t, trod to (ieces, and dragged abo#t, some
here, some there, and ab#ndance eaten and devo#red% 8y this $ concl#ded there ,ere some ,ild
creat#res thereabo#ts, ,hich had done this3 b#t ,hat they ,ere $ 'ne, not% 0o,ever, as $ fo#nd
there ,as no laying them #( on hea(s, and no carrying them a,ay in a sac', b#t that one ,ay
they ,o#ld be destroyed, and the other ,ay they ,o#ld be cr#shed ,ith their o,n ,eight, $ too'
another co#rse3 for $ gathered a large >#antity of the gra(es, and h#ng them trees, that they might
c#re and dry in the s#n3 and as for the limes and lemons, $ carried as many bac' as $ co#ld ,ell
stand #nder%
4hen $ came home from this !o#rney, $ contem(lated ,ith great (leas#re the fr#itf#lness of
that valley, and the (leasantness of the sit#ation3 the sec#rity from storms on that side of the
,ater, and the ,ood: and concl#ded that $ had (itched #(on a (lace to fix my abode ,hich ,as
by far the ,orst (art of the co#ntry% U(on the ,hole, $ began to consider of removing my
habitation, and loo'ing o#t for a (lace e>#ally safe as ,here no, $ ,as sit#ate, if (ossible, in that
(leasant, fr#itf#l (art of the island%
This tho#ght ran long in my head, and $ ,as exceeding fond of it for some time, the
(leasantness of the (lace tem(ting me3 b#t ,hen $ came to a nearer vie, of it, $ considered that $
,as no, by the seaside, ,here it ,as at least (ossible that something might ha((en to my
advantage, and, by the same ill fate that bro#ght me hither might bring some other #nha((y
,retches to the same (lace3 and tho#gh it ,as scarce (robable that any s#ch thing sho#ld ever
ha((en, yet to enclose myself among the hills and ,oods in the centre of the island ,as to
antici(ate my bondage, and to render s#ch an affair not only im(robable, b#t im(ossible3 and that
therefore $ o#ght not by any means to remove% 0o,ever, $ ,as so enamo#red of this (lace, that $
s(ent m#ch of my time there for the ,hole of the remaining (art of the month of E#ly3 and tho#gh
#(on second tho#ghts, $ resolved not to remove, yet $ b#ilt me a little 'ind of a bo,er, and
s#rro#nded it at a distance ,ith a strong fence, being a do#ble hedge, as high as $ co#ld reach,
BH
,ell sta'ed and filled bet,een ,ith br#sh,ood3 and here $ lay very sec#re, sometimes t,o or
three nights together3 al,ays going over it ,ith a ladder3 so that $ fancied no, $ had my co#ntry
ho#se and my sea-coast ho#se3 and this ,or' too' me #( to the beginning of 2#g#st%
$ had b#t ne,ly finished my fence, and began to en!oy my labo#r, ,hen the rains came on, and
made me stic' close to my first habitation3 for tho#gh $ had made me a tent li'e the other, ,ith a
(iece of a sail, and s(read it very ,ell, yet $ had not the shelter of a hill to 'ee( me from storms,
nor a cave behind me to retreat into ,hen the rains ,ere extraordinary%
2bo#t the beginning of 2#g#st, as $ said, $ had finished my bo,er, and began to en!oy myself%
The 6rd of 2#g#st, $ fo#nd the gra(es $ had h#ng #( (erfectly dried, and, indeed, ,ere excellent
good raisins of the s#n3 so $ began to ta'e them do,n from the trees, and it ,as very ha((y that $
did so, for the rains ,hich follo,ed ,o#ld have s(oiled them, and $ had lost the best (art of my
,inter food3 for $ had above t,o h#ndred large b#nches of them% .o sooner had $ ta'en them all
do,n, and carried the most of them home to my cave, than it began to rain3 and from hence,
,hich ,as the 5Bth of 2#g#st, it rained, more or less, every day till the middle of Jctober3 and
sometimes so violently, that $ co#ld not stir o#t of my cave for several days%
$n this season $ ,as m#ch s#r(rised ,ith the increase of my family3 $ had been concerned for
the loss of one of my cats, ,ho ran a,ay from me, or, as $ tho#ght, had been dead, and $ heard no
more tidings of her till, to my astonishment, she came home abo#t the end of 2#g#st ,ith three
'ittens% This ,as the more strange to me beca#se, tho#gh $ had 'illed a ,ild cat, as $ called it,
,ith my g#n, yet $ tho#ght it ,as >#ite a different 'ind from o#r E#ro(ean cats3 b#t the yo#ng
cats ,ere the same 'ind of ho#se-breed as the old one3 and both my cats being females, $ tho#ght
it very strange% 8#t from these three cats $ after,ards came to be so (estered ,ith cats that $ ,as
forced to 'ill them li'e vermin or ,ild beasts, and to drive them from my ho#se as m#ch as
(ossible%
<rom the 5Bth of 2#g#st to the &)th, incessant rain, so that $ co#ld not stir, and ,as no, very
caref#l not to be m#ch ,et% $n this confinement, $ began to be straitened for food: b#t vent#ring
o#t t,ice, $ one day 'illed a goat3 and the last day, ,hich ,as the &)th, fo#nd a very large
tortoise, ,hich ,as a treat to me, and my food ,as reg#lated th#s: $ ate a b#nch of raisins for my
brea'fast3 a (iece of the goat=s flesh, or of the t#rtle, for my dinner, broiled-for, to my great
misfort#ne, $ had no vessel to boil or ste, anything3 and t,o or three of the t#rtle=s eggs for my
s#((er%
D#ring this confinement in my cover by the rain, $ ,or'ed daily t,o or three ho#rs at
enlarging my cave, and by degrees ,or'ed it on to,ards one side, till $ came to the o#tside of the
hill, and made a door or ,ay o#t, ,hich came beyond my fence or ,all3 and so $ came in and o#t
this ,ay% 8#t $ ,as not (erfectly easy at lying so o(en3 for, as $ had managed myself before, $ ,as
in a (erfect enclos#re3 ,hereas no, $ tho#ght $ lay ex(osed, and o(en for anything to come in
#(on me3 and yet $ co#ld not (erceive that there ,as any living thing to fear, the biggest creat#re
that $ had yet seen #(on the island being a goat%
/ET% 6-% -$ ,as no, come to the #nha((y anniversary of my landing% $ cast #( the notches on
my (ost, and fo#nd $ had been on shore three h#ndred and sixty-five days% $ 'e(t this day as a
solemn fast, setting it a(art for religio#s exercise, (rostrating myself on the gro#nd ,ith the most
serio#s h#miliation, confessing my sins to "od, ac'no,ledging 0is righteo#s !#dgments #(on
me, and (raying to 0im to have mercy on me thro#gh Ees#s Christ3 and not having tasted the least
refreshment for t,elve ho#rs, even till the going do,n of the s#n, $ then ate a bisc#it-ca'e and a
b#nch of gra(es, and ,ent to bed, finishing the day as $ began it% $ had all this time observed no
/abbath day3 for as at first $ had no sense of religion #(on my mind, $ had, after some time,
omitted to disting#ish the ,ee's, by ma'ing a longer notch than ordinary for the /abbath day,
*-
and so did not really 'no, ,hat any of the days ,ere3 b#t no,, having cast #( the days as above,
$ fo#nd $ had been there a year3 so $ divided it into ,ee's, and set a(art every seventh day for a
/abbath3 tho#gh $ fo#nd at the end of my acco#nt $ had lost a day or t,o in my rec'oning% 2 little
after this, my in' began to fail me, and so $ contented myself to #se it more s(aringly, and to
,rite do,n only the most remar'able events of my life, ,itho#t contin#ing a daily memorand#m
of other things%
The rainy season and the dry season began no, to a((ear reg#lar to me, and $ learned to divide
them so as to (rovide for them accordingly3 b#t $ bo#ght all my ex(erience before $ had it, and
this $ am going to relate ,as one of the most disco#raging ex(eriments that $ made%
$ have mentioned that $ had saved the fe, ears of barley and rice, ,hich $ had so s#r(risingly
fo#nd s(ring #(, as $ tho#ght, of themselves, and $ believe there ,ere abo#t thirty stal's of rice,
and abo#t t,enty of barley3 and no, $ tho#ght it a (ro(er time to so, it, after the rains, the s#n
being in its so#thern (osition, going from me% 2ccordingly, $ d#g #( a (iece of gro#nd as ,ell as
$ co#ld ,ith my ,ooden s(ade, and dividing it into t,o (arts, $ so,ed my grain3 b#t as $ ,as
so,ing, it cas#ally occ#rred to my tho#ghts that $ ,o#ld not so, it all at first, beca#se $ did not
'no, ,hen ,as the (ro(er time for it, so $ so,ed abo#t t,o-thirds of the seed, leaving abo#t a
handf#l of each% $t ,as a great comfort to me after,ards that $ did so, for not one grain of ,hat $
so,ed this time came to anything: for the dry months follo,ing, the earth having had no rain
after the seed ,as so,n, it had no moist#re to assist its gro,th, and never came #( at all till the
,et season had come again, and then it gre, as if it had been b#t ne,ly so,n% <inding my first
seed did not gro,, ,hich $ easily imagined ,as by the dro#ght, $ so#ght for a moister (iece of
gro#nd to ma'e another trial in, and $ d#g #( a (iece of gro#nd near my ne, bo,er, and so,ed
the rest of my seed in <ebr#ary, a little before the vernal e>#inox3 and this having the rainy
months of 1arch and 2(ril to ,ater it, s(r#ng #( very (leasantly, and yielded a very good cro(3
b#t having (art of the seed left only, and not daring to so, all that $ had, $ had b#t a small
>#antity at last, my ,hole cro( not amo#nting to above half a (ec' of each 'ind% 8#t by this
ex(eriment $ ,as made master of my b#siness, and 'ne, exactly ,hen the (ro(er season ,as to
so,, and that $ might ex(ect t,o seed-times and t,o harvests every year%
4hile this corn ,as gro,ing $ made a little discovery, ,hich ,as of #se to me after,ards% 2s
soon as the rains ,ere over, and the ,eather began to settle, ,hich ,as abo#t the month of
.ovember, $ made a visit #( the co#ntry to my bo,er, ,here, tho#gh $ had not been some
months, yet $ fo#nd all things !#st as $ left them% The circle or do#ble hedge that $ had made ,as
not only firm and entire, b#t the sta'es ,hich $ had c#t o#t of some trees that gre, thereabo#ts
,ere all shot o#t and gro,n ,ith long branches, as m#ch as a ,illo,-tree #s#ally shoots the first
year after lo((ing its head% $ co#ld not tell ,hat tree to call it that these sta'es ,ere c#t from% $
,as s#r(rised, and yet very ,ell (leased, to see the yo#ng trees gro,3 and $ (r#ned them, and led
them #( to gro, as m#ch ali'e as $ co#ld3 and it is scarce credible ho, bea#tif#l a fig#re they
gre, into in three years3 so that tho#gh the hedge made a circle of abo#t t,enty-five yards in
diameter, yet the trees, for s#ch $ might no, call them, soon covered it, and it ,as a com(lete
shade, s#fficient to lodge #nder all the dry season% This made me resolve to c#t some more sta'es,
and ma'e me a hedge li'e this, in a semi-circle ro#nd my ,all C$ mean that of my first d,ellingD,
,hich $ did3 and (lacing the trees or sta'es in a do#ble ro,, at abo#t eight yards distance from my
first fence, they gre, (resently, and ,ere at first a fine cover to my habitation, and after,ards
served for a defence also, as $ shall observe in its order%
$ fo#nd no, that the seasons of the year might generally be divided, not into s#mmer and
,inter, as in E#ro(e, b#t into the rainy seasons and the dry seasons, ,hich ,ere generally th#s:-
*5
The half of <ebr#ary, the ,hole of 1arch, and the half of 2(ril- rainy, the s#n being then on or
near the e>#inox%
The half of 2(ril, the ,hole of 1ay, E#ne, and E#ly, and the half of 2#g#st-dry, the s#n being
then to the north of the line%
The half of 2#g#st, the ,hole of /e(tember, and the half of Jctober -rainy, the s#n being then
come bac'%
The half of Jctober, the ,hole of .ovember, December, and Ean#ary, and the half of <ebr#ary-
dry, the s#n being then to the so#th of the line%
The rainy seasons sometimes held longer or shorter as the ,inds ha((ened to blo,, b#t this
,as the general observation $ made% 2fter $ had fo#nd by ex(erience the ill conse>#ences of
being abroad in the rain, $ too' care to f#rnish myself ,ith (rovisions beforehand, that $ might
not be obliged to go o#t, and $ sat ,ithin doors as m#ch as (ossible d#ring the ,et months% This
time $ fo#nd m#ch em(loyment, and very s#itable also to the time, for $ fo#nd great occasion for
many things ,hich $ had no ,ay to f#rnish myself ,ith b#t by hard labo#r and constant
a((lication3 (artic#larly $ tried many ,ays to ma'e myself a bas'et, b#t all the t,igs $ co#ld get
for the (#r(ose (roved so brittle that they ,o#ld do nothing% $t (roved of excellent advantage to
me no,, that ,hen $ ,as a boy, $ #sed to ta'e great delight in standing at a bas'et-ma'er=s, in the
to,n ,here my father lived, to see them ma'e their ,ic'er-,are3 and being, as boys #s#ally are,
very officio#s to hel(, and a great observer of the manner in ,hich they ,or'ed those things, and
sometimes lending a hand, $ had by these means f#ll 'no,ledge of the methods of it, and $
,anted nothing b#t the materials, ,hen it came into my mind that the t,igs of that tree from
,hence $ c#t my sta'es that gre, might (ossibly be as to#gh as the sallo,s, ,illo,s, and osiers
in England, and $ resolved to try% 2ccordingly, the next day $ ,ent to my co#ntry ho#se, as $
called it, and c#tting some of the smaller t,igs, $ fo#nd them to my (#r(ose as m#ch as $ co#ld
desire3 ,here#(on $ came the next time (re(ared ,ith a hatchet to c#t do,n a >#antity, ,hich $
soon fo#nd, for there ,as great (lenty of them% These $ set #( to dry ,ithin my circle or hedge,
and ,hen they ,ere fit for #se $ carried them to my cave3 and here, d#ring the next season, $
em(loyed myself in ma'ing, as ,ell as $ co#ld, a great many bas'ets, both to carry earth or to
carry or lay #( anything, as $ had occasion3 and tho#gh $ did not finish them very handsomely, yet
$ made them s#fficiently serviceable for my (#r(ose3 th#s, after,ards, $ too' care never to be
,itho#t them3 and as my ,ic'er-,are decayed, $ made more, es(ecially strong, dee( bas'ets to
(lace my corn in, instead of sac's, ,hen $ sho#ld come to have any >#antity of it%
0aving mastered this diffic#lty, and em(loyed a ,orld of time abo#t it, $ bestirred myself to
see, if (ossible, ho, to s#((ly t,o ,ants% $ had no vessels to hold anything that ,as li>#id,
exce(t t,o r#nlets, ,hich ,ere almost f#ll of r#m, and some glass bottles -some of the common
si;e, and others ,hich ,ere case bottles, s>#are, for the holding of ,ater, s(irits, Kc% $ had not so
m#ch as a (ot to boil anything, exce(t a great 'ettle, ,hich $ saved o#t of the shi(, and ,hich ,as
too big for s#ch as $ desired it-vi;% to ma'e broth, and ste, a bit of meat by itself% The second
thing $ fain ,o#ld have had ,as a tobacco-(i(e, b#t it ,as im(ossible to me to ma'e one3
ho,ever, $ fo#nd a contrivance for that, too, at last% $ em(loyed myself in (lanting my second
ro,s of sta'es or (iles, and in this ,ic'er-,or'ing all the s#mmer or dry season, ,hen another
b#siness too' me #( more time than it co#ld be imagined $ co#ld s(are%
Cha(ter G
C02TE9 V$$$-/U9VE7/ 0$/ J/$T$J.
$ 1E.T$J.ED before that $ had a great mind to see the ,hole island, and that $ had travelled
#( the broo', and so on to ,here $ b#ilt my bo,er, and ,here $ had an o(ening >#ite to the sea,
on the other side of the island% $ no, resolved to travel >#ite across to the sea-shore on that side3
*&
so, ta'ing my g#n, a hatchet, and my dog, and a larger >#antity of (o,der and shot than #s#al,
,ith t,o bisc#it-ca'es and a great b#nch of raisins in my (o#ch for my store, $ began my !o#rney%
4hen $ had (assed the vale ,here my bo,er stood, as above, $ came ,ithin vie, of the sea to the
,est, and it being a very clear day, $ fairly descried land-,hether an island or a continent $ co#ld
not tell3 b#t it lay very high, extending from the 4% to the 4%/%4% at a very great distance3 by my
g#ess it co#ld not be less than fifteen or t,enty leag#es off%
$ co#ld not tell ,hat (art of the ,orld this might be, other,ise than that $ 'ne, it m#st be (art
of 2merica, and, as $ concl#ded by all my observations, m#st be near the /(anish dominions, and
(erha(s ,as all inhabited by savages, ,here, if $ had landed, $ had been in a ,orse condition than
$ ,as no,3 and therefore $ ac>#iesced in the dis(ositions of rovidence, ,hich $ began no, to
o,n and to believe ordered everything for the best3 $ say $ >#ieted my mind ,ith this, and left off
afflicting myself ,ith fr#itless ,ishes of being there%
8esides, after some tho#ght #(on this affair, $ considered that if this land ,as the /(anish
coast, $ sho#ld certainly, one time or other, see some vessel (ass or re(ass one ,ay or other3 b#t if
not, then it ,as the savage coast bet,een the /(anish co#ntry and 8ra;ils, ,here are fo#nd the
,orst of savages3 for they are cannibals or men-eaters, and fail not to m#rder and devo#r all the
h#man bodies that fall into their hands%
4ith these considerations, $ ,al'ed very leis#rely for,ard% $ fo#nd that side of the island
,here $ no, ,as m#ch (leasanter than mine-the o(en or savannah fields s,eet, adorned ,ith
flo,ers and grass, and f#ll of very fine ,oods% $ sa, ab#ndance of (arrots, and fain $ ,o#ld have
ca#ght one, if (ossible, to have 'e(t it to be tame, and ta#ght it to s(ea' to me% $ did, after some
(ainsta'ing, catch a yo#ng (arrot, for $ 'noc'ed it do,n ,ith a stic', and having recovered it, $
bro#ght it home3 b#t it ,as some years before $ co#ld ma'e him s(ea'3 ho,ever, at last $ ta#ght
him to call me by name very familiarly% 8#t the accident that follo,ed, tho#gh it be a trifle, ,ill
be very diverting in its (lace%
$ ,as exceedingly diverted ,ith this !o#rney% $ fo#nd in the lo, gro#nds hares Cas $ tho#ght
them to beD and foxes3 b#t they differed greatly from all the other 'inds $ had met ,ith, nor co#ld
$ satisfy myself to eat them, tho#gh $ 'illed several% 8#t $ had no need to be vent#ro#s, for $ had
no ,ant of food, and of that ,hich ,as very good too, es(ecially these three sorts, vi;% goats,
(igeons, and t#rtle, or tortoise, ,hich added to my gra(es, Leadenhall mar'et co#ld not have
f#rnished a table better than $, in (ro(ortion to the com(any3 and tho#gh my case ,as de(lorable
eno#gh, yet $ had great ca#se for than'f#lness that $ ,as not driven to any extremities for food,
b#t had rather (lenty, even to dainties%
$ never travelled in this !o#rney above t,o miles o#tright in a day, or thereabo#ts3 b#t $ too' so
many t#rns and re-t#rns to see ,hat discoveries $ co#ld ma'e, that $ came ,eary eno#gh to the
(lace ,here $ resolved to sit do,n all night3 and then $ either re(osed myself in a tree, or
s#rro#nded myself ,ith a ro, of sta'es set #(right in the gro#nd, either from one tree to another,
or so as no ,ild creat#re co#ld come at me ,itho#t ,a'ing me%
2s soon as $ came to the sea-shore, $ ,as s#r(rised to see that $ had ta'en #( my lot on the
,orst side of the island, for here, indeed, the shore ,as covered ,ith inn#merable t#rtles,
,hereas on the other side $ had fo#nd b#t three in a year and a half% 0ere ,as also an infinite
n#mber of fo,ls of many 'inds, some ,hich $ had seen, and some ,hich $ had not seen before,
and many of them very good meat, b#t s#ch as $ 'ne, not the names of, exce(t those called
(eng#ins%
$ co#ld have shot as many as $ (leased, b#t ,as very s(aring of my (o,der and shot, and
therefore had more mind to 'ill a she-goat if $ co#ld, ,hich $ co#ld better feed on3 and tho#gh
there ,ere many goats here, more than on my side the island, yet it ,as ,ith m#ch more
*6
diffic#lty that $ co#ld come near them, the co#ntry being flat and even, and they sa, me m#ch
sooner than ,hen $ ,as on the hills%
$ confess this side of the co#ntry ,as m#ch (leasanter than mine3 b#t yet $ had not the least
inclination to remove, for as $ ,as fixed in my habitation it became nat#ral to me, and $ seemed
all the ,hile $ ,as here to be as it ,ere #(on a !o#rney, and from home% 0o,ever, $ travelled
along the shore of the sea to,ards the east, $ s#((ose abo#t t,elve miles, and then setting #( a
great (ole #(on the shore for a mar', $ concl#ded $ ,o#ld go home again, and that the next
!o#rney $ too' sho#ld be on the other side of the island east from my d,elling, and so ro#nd till $
came to my (ost again%
$ too' another ,ay to come bac' than that $ ,ent, thin'ing $ co#ld easily 'ee( all the island so
m#ch in my vie, that $ co#ld not miss finding my first d,elling by vie,ing the co#ntry3 b#t $
fo#nd myself mista'en, for being come abo#t t,o or three miles, $ fo#nd myself descended into a
very large valley, b#t so s#rro#nded ,ith hills, and those hills covered ,ith ,ood, that $ co#ld not
see ,hich ,as my ,ay by any direction b#t that of the s#n, nor even then, #nless $ 'ne, very
,ell the (osition of the s#n at that time of the day% $t ha((ened, to my f#rther misfort#ne, that the
,eather (roved ha;y for three or fo#r days ,hile $ ,as in the valley, and not being able to see the
s#n, $ ,andered abo#t very #ncomfortably, and at last ,as obliged to find the seaside, loo' for
my (ost, and come bac' the same ,ay $ ,ent: and then, by easy !o#rneys, $ t#rned home,ard, the
,eather being exceeding hot, and my g#n, amm#nition, hatchet, and other things very heavy%
$n this !o#rney my dog s#r(rised a yo#ng 'id, and sei;ed #(on it3 and $, r#nning in to ta'e hold
of it, ca#ght it, and saved it alive from the dog% $ had a great mind to bring it home if $ co#ld, for $
had often been m#sing ,hether it might not be (ossible to get a 'id or t,o, and so raise a breed
of tame goats, ,hich might s#((ly me ,hen my (o,der and shot sho#ld be all s(ent% $ made a
collar for this little creat#re, and ,ith a string, ,hich $ made of some ro(e-yam, ,hich $ al,ays
carried abo#t me, $ led him along, tho#gh ,ith some diffic#lty, till $ came to my bo,er, and there
$ enclosed him and left him, for $ ,as very im(atient to be at home, from ,hence $ had been
absent above a month%
$ cannot ex(ress ,hat a satisfaction it ,as to me to come into my old h#tch, and lie do,n in
my hammoc'-bed% This little ,andering !o#rney, ,itho#t settled (lace of abode, had been so
#n(leasant to me, that my o,n ho#se, as $ called it to myself, ,as a (erfect settlement to me
com(ared to that3 and it rendered everything abo#t me so comfortable, that $ resolved $ ,o#ld
never go a great ,ay from it again ,hile it sho#ld be my lot to stay on the island%
$ re(osed myself here a ,ee', to rest and regale myself after my long !o#rney3 d#ring ,hich
most of the time ,as ta'en #( in the ,eighty affair of ma'ing a cage for my oll, ,ho began no,
to be a mere domestic, and to be ,ell ac>#ainted ,ith me% Then $ began to thin' of the (oor 'id
,hich $ had (enned in ,ithin my little circle, and resolved to go and fetch it home, or give it
some food3 accordingly $ ,ent, and fo#nd it ,here $ left it, for indeed it co#ld not get o#t, b#t
,as almost starved for ,ant of food% $ ,ent and c#t bo#ghs of trees, and branches of s#ch shr#bs
as $ co#ld find, and thre, it over, and having fed it, $ tied it as $ did before, to lead it a,ay3 b#t it
,as so tame ,ith being h#ngry, that $ had no need to have tied it, for it follo,ed me li'e a dog:
and as $ contin#ally fed it, the creat#re became so loving, so gentle, and so fond, that it became
from that time one of my domestics also, and ,o#ld never leave me after,ards%
The rainy season of the a#t#mnal e>#inox ,as no, come, and $ 'e(t the 6-th of /e(tember in
the same solemn manner as before, being the anniversary of my landing on the island, having
no, been there t,o years, and no more (ros(ect of being delivered than the first day $ came
there, $ s(ent the ,hole day in h#mble and than'f#l ac'no,ledgments of the many ,onderf#l
mercies ,hich my solitary condition ,as attended ,ith, and ,itho#t ,hich it might have been
*B
infinitely more miserable% $ gave h#mble and hearty than's that "od had been (leased to discover
to me that it ,as (ossible $ might be more ha((y in this solitary condition than $ sho#ld have
been in the liberty of society, and in all the (leas#res of the ,orld3 that 0e co#ld f#lly ma'e #( to
me the deficiencies of my solitary state, and the ,ant of h#man society, by 0is (resence and the
comm#nications of 0is grace to my so#l3 s#((orting, comforting, and enco#raging me to de(end
#(on 0is (rovidence here, and ho(e for 0is eternal (resence hereafter%
$t ,as no, that $ began sensibly to feel ho, m#ch more ha((y this life $ no, led ,as, ,ith all
its miserable circ#mstances, than the ,ic'ed, c#rsed, abominable life $ led all the (ast (art of my
days3 and no, $ changed both my sorro,s and my !oys3 my very desires altered, my affections
changed their g#sts, and my delights ,ere (erfectly ne, from ,hat they ,ere at my first coming,
or, indeed, for the t,o years (ast%
8efore, as $ ,al'ed abo#t, either on my h#nting or for vie,ing the co#ntry, the ang#ish of my
so#l at my condition ,o#ld brea' o#t #(on me on a s#dden, and my very heart ,o#ld die ,ithin
me, to thin' of the ,oods, the mo#ntains, the deserts $ ,as in, and ho, $ ,as a (risoner, loc'ed
#( ,ith the eternal bars and bolts of the ocean, in an #ninhabited ,ilderness, ,itho#t redem(tion%
$n the midst of the greatest com(os#re of my mind, this ,o#ld brea' o#t #(on me li'e a storm,
and ma'e me ,ring my hands and ,ee( li'e a child% /ometimes it ,o#ld ta'e me in the middle
of my ,or', and $ ,o#ld immediately sit do,n and sigh, and loo' #(on the gro#nd for an ho#r or
t,o together3 and this ,as still ,orse to me, for if $ co#ld b#rst o#t into tears, or vent myself by
,ords, it ,o#ld go off, and the grief, having exha#sted itself, ,o#ld abate%
8#t no, $ began to exercise myself ,ith ne, tho#ghts: $ daily read the ,ord of "od, and
a((lied all the comforts of it to my (resent state% Jne morning, being very sad, $ o(ened the 8ible
#(on these ,ords, A$ ,ill never, never leave thee, nor forsa'e thee%A $mmediately it occ#rred that
these ,ords ,ere to me3 ,hy else sho#ld they be directed in s#ch a manner, !#st at the moment
,hen $ ,as mo#rning over my condition, as one forsa'en of "od and man? A4ell, then,A said $,
Aif "od does not forsa'e me, of ,hat ill conse>#ence can it be, or ,hat matters it, tho#gh the
,orld sho#ld all forsa'e me, seeing on the other hand, if $ had all the ,orld, and sho#ld lose the
favo#r and blessing of "od, there ,o#ld be no com(arison in the loss?A
<rom this moment $ began to concl#de in my mind that it ,as (ossible for me to be more
ha((y in this forsa'en, solitary condition than it ,as (robable $ sho#ld ever have been in any
other (artic#lar state in the ,orld3 and ,ith this tho#ght $ ,as going to give than's to "od for
bringing me to this (lace% $ 'no, not ,hat it ,as, b#t something shoc'ed my mind at that
tho#ght, and $ d#rst not s(ea' the ,ords% A0o, canst tho# become s#ch a hy(ocrite,A said $, even
a#dibly, Ato (retend to be than'f#l for a condition ,hich, ho,ever tho# mayest endeavo#r to be
contented ,ith, tho# ,o#ldst rather (ray heartily to be delivered from?A /o $ sto((ed there3 b#t
tho#gh $ co#ld not say $ than'ed "od for being there, yet $ sincerely gave than's to "od for
o(ening my eyes, by ,hatever afflicting (rovidences, to see the former condition of my life, and
to mo#rn for my ,ic'edness, and re(ent% $ never o(ened the 8ible, or sh#t it, b#t my very so#l
,ithin me blessed "od for directing my friend in England, ,itho#t any order of mine, to (ac' it
#( among my goods, and for assisting me after,ards to save it o#t of the ,rec' of the shi(%
Th#s, and in this dis(osition of mind, $ began my third year3 and tho#gh $ have not given the
reader the tro#ble of so (artic#lar an acco#nt of my ,or's this year as the first, yet in general it
may be observed that $ ,as very seldom idle, b#t having reg#larly divided my time according to
the several daily em(loyments that ,ere before me, s#ch as: first, my d#ty to "od, and the
reading the /cri(t#res, ,hich $ constantly set a(art some time for thrice every day3 secondly, the
going abroad ,ith my g#n for food, ,hich generally too' me #( three ho#rs in every morning,
,hen it did not rain3 thirdly, the ordering, c#tting, (reserving, and coo'ing ,hat $ had 'illed or
**
ca#ght for my s#((ly3 these too' #( great (art of the day% 2lso, it is to be considered, that in the
middle of the day, ,hen the s#n ,as in the ;enith, the violence of the heat ,as too great to stir
o#t3 so that abo#t fo#r ho#rs in the evening ,as all the time $ co#ld be s#((osed to ,or' in, ,ith
this exce(tion, that sometimes $ changed my ho#rs of h#nting and ,or'ing, and ,ent to ,or' in
the morning, and abroad ,ith my g#n in the afternoon%
To this short time allo,ed for labo#r $ desire may be added the exceeding laborio#sness of my
,or'3 the many ho#rs ,hich, for ,ant of tools, ,ant of hel(, and ,ant of s'ill, everything $ did
too' #( o#t of my time% <or exam(le, $ ,as f#ll t,o and forty days in ma'ing a board for a long
shelf, ,hich $ ,anted in my cave3 ,hereas, t,o sa,yers, ,ith their tools and a sa,-(it, ,o#ld
have c#t six of them o#t of the same tree in half a day%
1y case ,as this: it ,as to be a large tree ,hich ,as to be c#t do,n, beca#se my board ,as to
be a broad one% This tree $ ,as three days in c#tting do,n, and t,o more c#tting off the bo#ghs,
and red#cing it to a log or (iece of timber% 4ith inex(ressible hac'ing and he,ing $ red#ced both
the sides of it into chi(s till it began to be light eno#gh to move3 then $ t#rned it, and made one
side of it smooth and flat as a board from end to end3 then, t#rning that side do,n,ard, c#t the
other side til $ bro#ght the (lan' to be abo#t three inches thic', and smooth on both sides% 2ny
one may !#dge the labo#r of my hands in s#ch a (iece of ,or'3 b#t labo#r and (atience carried
me thro#gh that, and many other things% $ only observe this in (artic#lar, to sho, the reason ,hy
so m#ch of my time ,ent a,ay ,ith so little ,or'-vi;% that ,hat might be a little to be done ,ith
hel( and tools, ,as a vast labo#r and re>#ired a (rodigio#s time to do alone, and by hand% 8#t
not,ithstanding this, ,ith (atience and labo#r $ got thro#gh everything that my circ#mstances
made necessary to me to do, as ,ill a((ear by ,hat follo,s%
$ ,as no,, in the months of .ovember and December, ex(ecting my cro( of barley and rice%
The gro#nd $ had man#red and d#g #( for them ,as not great3 for, as $ observed, my seed of each
,as not above the >#antity of half a (ec', for $ had lost one ,hole cro( by so,ing in the dry
season% 8#t no, my cro( (romised very ,ell, ,hen on a s#dden $ fo#nd $ ,as in danger of losing
it all again by enemies of several sorts, ,hich it ,as scarcely (ossible to 'ee( from it3 as, first,
the goats, and ,ild creat#res ,hich $ called hares, ,ho, tasting the s,eetness of the blade, lay in
it night and day, as soon as it came #(, and eat it so close, that it co#ld get no time to shoot #(
into stal'%
This $ sa, no remedy for b#t by ma'ing an enclos#re abo#t it ,ith a hedge3 ,hich $ did ,ith a
great deal of toil, and the more, beca#se it re>#ired s(eed% 0o,ever, as my arable land ,as b#t
small, s#ited to my cro(, $ got it totally ,ell fenced in abo#t three ,ee's= time3 and shooting
some of the creat#res in the daytime, $ set my dog to g#ard it in the night, tying him #( to a sta'e
at the gate, ,here he ,o#ld stand and bar' all night long3 so in a little time the enemies forsoo'
the (lace, and the corn gre, very strong and ,ell, and began to ri(en a(ace%
8#t as the beasts r#ined me before, ,hile my corn ,as in the blade, so the birds ,ere as li'ely
to r#in me no,, ,hen it ,as in the ear3 for, going along by the (lace to see ho, it throve, $ sa,
my little cro( s#rro#nded ,ith fo,ls, of $ 'no, not ho, many sorts, ,ho stood, as it ,ere,
,atching till $ sho#ld be gone% $ immediately let fly among them, for $ al,ays had my g#n ,ith
me% $ had no sooner shot, b#t there rose #( a little clo#d of fo,ls, ,hich $ had not seen at all,
from among the corn itself%
This to#ched me sensibly, for $ foresa, that in a fe, days they ,o#ld devo#r all my ho(es3
that $ sho#ld be starved, and never be able to raise a cro( at all3 and ,hat to do $ co#ld not tell3
ho,ever, $ resolved not to lose my corn, if (ossible, tho#gh $ sho#ld ,atch it night and day% $n the
first (lace, $ ,ent among it to see ,hat damage ,as already done, and fo#nd they had s(oiled a
*)
good deal of it3 b#t that as it ,as yet too green for them, the loss ,as not so great b#t that the
remainder ,as li'ely to be a good cro( if it co#ld be saved%
$ stayed by it to load my g#n, and then coming a,ay, $ co#ld easily see the thieves sitting #(on
all the trees abo#t me, as if they only ,aited till $ ,as gone a,ay, and the event (roved it to be
so3 for as $ ,al'ed off, as if $ ,as gone, $ ,as no sooner o#t of their sight than they dro((ed
do,n one by one into the corn again% $ ,as so (rovo'ed, that $ co#ld not have (atience to stay till
more came on, 'no,ing that every grain that they ate no, ,as, as it might be said, a (ec'-loaf to
me in the conse>#ence3 b#t coming #( to the hedge, $ fired again, and 'illed three of them% This
,as ,hat $ ,ished for3 so $ too' them #(, and served them as ,e serve notorio#s thieves in
England-hanged them in chains, for a terror to of them% $t is im(ossible to imagine that this
sho#ld have s#ch an effect as it had, for the fo,ls ,o#ld not only not come at the corn, b#t, in
short, they forsoo' all that (art of the island, and $ co#ld never see a bird near the (lace as long as
my scarecro,s h#ng there% This $ ,as very glad of, yo# may be s#re, and abo#t the latter end of
December, ,hich ,as o#r second harvest of the year, $ rea(ed my corn%
$ ,as sadly (#t to it for a scythe or sic'le to c#t it do,n, and all $ co#ld do ,as to ma'e one, as
,ell as $ co#ld, o#t of one of the broads,ords, or c#tlasses, ,hich $ saved among the arms o#t of
the shi(% 0o,ever, as my first cro( ,as b#t small, $ had no great diffic#lty to c#t it do,n3 in
short, $ rea(ed it in my ,ay, for $ c#t nothing off b#t the ears, and carried it a,ay in a great bas'et
,hich $ had made, and so r#bbed it o#t ,ith my hands3 and at the end of all my harvesting, $
fo#nd that o#t of my half-(ec' of seed $ had near t,o b#shels of rice, and abo#t t,o b#shels and
a half of barley3 that is to say, by my g#ess, for $ had no meas#re at that time%
0o,ever, this ,as a great enco#ragement to me, and $ foresa, that, in time, it ,o#ld (lease
"od to s#((ly me ,ith bread% 2nd yet here $ ,as (er(lexed again, for $ neither 'ne, ho, to
grind or ma'e meal of my corn, or indeed ho, to clean it and (art it3 nor, if made into meal, ho,
to ma'e bread of it3 and if ho, to ma'e it, yet $ 'ne, not ho, to ba'e it% These things being
added to my desire of having a good >#antity for store, and to sec#re a constant s#((ly, $ resolved
not to taste any of this cro( b#t to (reserve it all for seed against the next season3 and in the
meantime to em(loy all my st#dy and ho#rs of ,or'ing to accom(lish this great ,or' of
(roviding myself ,ith corn and bread%
$t might be tr#ly said, that no, $ ,or'ed for my bread% $ believe fe, (eo(le have tho#ght m#ch
#(on the strange m#ltit#de of little things necessary in the (roviding, (rod#cing, c#ring, dressing,
ma'ing, and finishing this one article of bread%
$, that ,as red#ced to a mere state of nat#re, fo#nd this to my daily disco#ragement3 and ,as
made more sensible of it every ho#r, even after $ had got the first handf#l of seed-corn, ,hich, as
$ have said, came #( #nex(ectedly, and indeed to a s#r(rise%
<irst, $ had no (lo#gh to t#rn #( the earth-no s(ade or shovel to dig it% 4ell, this $ con>#ered
by ma'ing me a ,ooden s(ade, as $ observed before3 b#t this did my ,or' b#t in a ,ooden
manner3 and tho#gh it cost me a great many days to ma'e it, yet, for ,ant of iron, it not only
,ore o#t soon, b#t made my ,or' the harder, and made it be (erformed m#ch ,orse% 0o,ever,
this $ bore ,ith, and ,as content to ,or' it o#t ,ith (atience, and bear ,ith the badness of the
(erformance% 4hen the corn ,as so,n, $ had no harro,, b#t ,as forced to go over it myself, and
drag a great heavy bo#gh of a tree over it, to scratch it, as it may be called, rather than ra'e or
harro, it% 4hen it ,as gro,ing, and gro,n, $ have observed already ho, many things $ ,anted
to fence it, sec#re it, mo, or rea( it, c#re and carry it home, thrash, (art it from the chaff, and
save it% Then $ ,anted a mill to grind it sieves to dress it, yeast and salt to ma'e it into bread, and
an oven to ba'e it3 b#t all these things $ did ,itho#t, as shall be observed3 and yet the corn ,as an
inestimable comfort and advantage to me too% 2ll this, as $ said, made everything laborio#s and
*F
tedio#s to me3 b#t that there ,as no hel( for% .either ,as my time so m#ch loss to me, beca#se,
as $ had divided it, a certain (art of it ,as every day a((ointed to these ,or's3 and as $ had
resolved to #se none of the corn for bread till $ had a greater >#antity by me, $ had the next six
months to a((ly myself ,holly, by labo#r and invention, to f#rnish myself ,ith #tensils (ro(er
for the (erforming all the o(erations necessary for ma'ing the corn, ,hen $ had it, fit for my #se%
Cha(ter H
C02TE9 $I-2 8J2T
8UT first $ ,as to (re(are more land, for $ had no, seed eno#gh to so, above an acre of
gro#nd% 8efore $ did this, $ had a ,ee'=s ,or' at least to ma'e me a s(ade, ,hich, ,hen it ,as
done, ,as b#t a sorry one indeed, and very heavy, and re>#ired do#ble labo#r to ,or' ,ith it%
0o,ever, $ got thro#gh that, and so,ed my seed in t,o large flat (ieces of gro#nd, as near my
ho#se as $ co#ld find them to my mind, and fenced them in ,ith a good hedge, the sta'es of
,hich ,ere all c#t off that ,ood ,hich $ had set before, and 'ne, it ,o#ld gro,3 so that, in a
year=s time, $ 'ne, $ sho#ld have a >#ic' or living hedge, that ,o#ld ,ant b#t little re(air% This
,or' did not ta'e me #( less than three months, beca#se a great (art of that time ,as the ,et
season, ,hen $ co#ld not go abroad% 4ithin-doors, that is ,hen it rained and $ co#ld not go o#t, $
fo#nd em(loyment in the follo,ing occ#(ations-al,ays observing, that all the ,hile $ ,as at
,or' $ diverted myself ,ith tal'ing to my (arrot, and teaching him to s(ea'3 and $ >#ic'ly ta#ght
him to 'no, his o,n name, and at last to s(ea' it o#t (retty lo#d, Aoll,A ,hich ,as the first
,ord $ ever heard s(o'en in the island by any mo#th b#t my o,n% This, therefore, ,as not my
,or', b#t an assistance to my ,or'3 for no,, as $ said, $ had a great em(loyment #(on my hands,
as follo,s: $ had long st#died to ma'e, by some means or other, some earthen vessels, ,hich,
indeed, $ ,anted sorely, b#t 'ne, not ,here to come at them% 0o,ever, considering the heat of
the climate, $ did not do#bt b#t if $ co#ld find o#t any clay, $ might ma'e some (ots that might,
being dried in the s#n, be hard eno#gh and strong eno#gh to bear handling, and to hold anything
that ,as dry, and re>#ired to be 'e(t so3 and as this ,as necessary in the (re(aring corn, meal,
Kc%, ,hich ,as the thing $ ,as doing, $ resolved to ma'e some as large as $ co#ld, and fit only to
stand li'e !ars, to hold ,hat sho#ld be (#t into them%
$t ,o#ld ma'e the reader (ity me, or rather la#gh at me, to tell ho, many a,',ard ,ays $ too'
to raise this (aste3 ,hat odd, missha(en, #gly things $ made3 ho, many of them fell in and ho,
many fell o#t, the clay not being stiff eno#gh to bear its o,n ,eight3 ho, many crac'ed by the
over-violent heat of the s#n, being set o#t too hastily3 and ho, many fell in (ieces ,ith only
removing, as ,ell before as after they ,ere dried3 and, in a ,ord, ho,, after having labo#red hard
to find the clay-to dig it, to tem(er it, to bring it home, and ,or' it-$ co#ld not ma'e above t,o
large earthen #gly things C$ cannot call them !arsD in abo#t t,o months= labo#r%
0o,ever, as the s#n ba'ed these t,o very dry and hard, $ lifted them very gently #(, and set
them do,n again in t,o great ,ic'er bas'ets, ,hich $ had made on (#r(ose for them, that they
might not brea'3 and as bet,een the (ot and the bas'et there ,as a little room to s(are, $ st#ffed it
f#ll of the rice and barley stra,3 and these t,o (ots being to stand al,ays dry $ tho#ght ,o#ld
hold my dry corn, and (erha(s the meal, ,hen the corn ,as br#ised%
Tho#gh $ miscarried so m#ch in my design for large (ots, yet $ made several smaller things
,ith better s#ccess3 s#ch as little ro#nd (ots, flat dishes, (itchers, and (i('ins, and any things my
hand t#rned to3 and the heat of the s#n ba'ed them >#ite hard%
8#t all this ,o#ld not ans,er my end, ,hich ,as to get an earthen (ot to hold ,hat ,as li>#id,
and bear the fire, ,hich none of these co#ld do% $t ha((ened after some time, ma'ing a (retty
large fire for coo'ing my meat, ,hen $ ,ent to (#t it o#t after $ had done ,ith it, $ fo#nd a bro'en
(iece of one of my earthen,are vessels in the fire, b#rnt as hard as a stone, and red as a tile% $ ,as
*G
agreeably s#r(rised to see it, and said to myself, that certainly they might be made to b#rn ,hole,
if they ,o#ld b#rn bro'en%
This set me to st#dy ho, to order my fire, so as to ma'e it b#rn some (ots% $ had no notion of a
'iln, s#ch as the (otters b#rn in, or of gla;ing them ,ith lead, tho#gh $ had some lead to do it
,ith3 b#t $ (laced three large (i('ins and t,o or three (ots in a (ile, one #(on another, and (laced
my fire,ood all ro#nd it, ,ith a great hea( of embers #nder them% $ (lied the fire ,ith fresh f#el
ro#nd the o#tside and #(on the to(, till $ sa, the (ots in the inside red-hot >#ite thro#gh, and
observed that they did not crac' at all% 4hen $ sa, them clear red, $ let them stand in that heat
abo#t five or six ho#rs, till $ fo#nd one of them, tho#gh it did not crac', did melt or r#n3 for the
sand ,hich ,as mixed ,ith the clay melted by the violence of the heat, and ,o#ld have r#n into
glass if $ had gone on3 so $ slac'ed my fire grad#ally till the (ots began to abate of the red colo#r3
and ,atching them all night, that $ might not let the fire abate too fast, in the morning $ had three
very good C$ ,ill not say handsomeD (i('ins, and t,o other earthen (ots, as hard b#rnt as co#ld
be desired, and one of them (erfectly gla;ed ,ith the r#nning of the sand%
2fter this ex(eriment, $ need not say that $ ,anted no sort of earthen,are for my #se3 b#t $
m#st needs say as to the sha(es of them, they ,ere very indifferent, as any one may s#((ose,
,hen $ had no ,ay of ma'ing them b#t as the children ma'e dirt (ies, or as a ,oman ,o#ld ma'e
(ies that never learned to raise (aste%
.o !oy at a thing of so mean a nat#re ,as ever e>#al to mine, ,hen $ fo#nd $ had made an
earthen (ot that ,o#ld bear the fire3 and $ had hardly (atience to stay till they ,ere cold before $
set one on the fire again ,ith some ,ater in it to boil me some meat, ,hich it did admirably ,ell3
and ,ith a (iece of a 'id $ made some very good broth, tho#gh $ ,anted oatmeal, and several
other ingredients re>#isite to ma'e it as good as $ ,o#ld have had it been%
1y next concern ,as to get me a stone mortar to stam( or beat some corn in3 for as to the mill,
there ,as no tho#ght of arriving at that (erfection of art ,ith one (air of hands% To s#((ly this
,ant, $ ,as at a great loss3 for, of all the trades in the ,orld, $ ,as as (erfectly #n>#alified for a
stone-c#tter as for any ,hatever3 neither had $ any tools to go abo#t it ,ith% $ s(ent many a day to
find o#t a great stone big eno#gh to c#t hollo,, and ma'e fit for a mortar, and co#ld find none at
all, exce(t ,hat ,as in the solid roc', and ,hich $ had no ,ay to dig or c#t o#t3 nor indeed ,ere
the roc's in the island of hardness s#fficient, b#t ,ere all of a sandy, cr#mbling stone, ,hich
neither ,o#ld bear the ,eight of a heavy (estle, nor ,o#ld brea' the corn ,itho#t filling it ,ith
sand% /o, after a great deal of time lost in searching for a stone, $ gave it over, and resolved to
loo' o#t for a great bloc' of hard ,ood, ,hich $ fo#nd, indeed, m#ch easier3 and getting one as
big as $ had strength to stir, $ ro#nded it, and formed it on the o#tside ,ith my axe and hatchet,
and then ,ith the hel( of fire and infinite labo#r, made a hollo, (lace in it, as the $ndians in
8ra;il ma'e their canoes% 2fter this, $ made a great heavy (estle or beater of the ,ood called the
iron-,ood3 and this $ (re(ared and laid by against $ had my next cro( of corn, ,hich $ (ro(osed
to myself to grind, or rather (o#nd into meal to ma'e bread%
1y next diffic#lty ,as to ma'e a sieve or searce, to dress my meal, and to (art it from the bran
and the h#s'3 ,itho#t ,hich $ did not see it (ossible $ co#ld have any bread% This ,as a most
diffic#lt thing even to thin' on, for to be s#re $ had nothing li'e the necessary thing to ma'e it-$
mean fine thin canvas or st#ff to searce the meal thro#gh% 2nd here $ ,as at a f#ll sto( for many
months3 nor did $ really 'no, ,hat to do% Linen $ had none left b#t ,hat ,as mere rags3 $ had
goat=s hair, b#t neither 'ne, ho, to ,eave it or s(in it3 and had $ 'no,n ho,, here ,ere no tools
to ,or' it ,ith% 2ll the remedy that $ fo#nd for this ,as, that at last $ did remember $ had, among
the seamen=s clothes ,hich ,ere saved o#t of the shi(, some nec'cloths of calico or m#slin3 and
*H
,ith some (ieces of these $ made three small sieves (ro(er eno#gh for the ,or'3 and th#s $ made
shift for some years: ho, $ did after,ards, $ shall sho, in its (lace%
The ba'ing (art ,as the next thing to be considered, and ho, $ sho#ld ma'e bread ,hen $
came to have corn3 for first, $ had no yeast% 2s to that (art, there ,as no s#((lying the ,ant, so $
did not concern myself m#ch abo#t it% 8#t for an oven $ ,as indeed in great (ain% 2t length $
fo#nd o#t an ex(eriment for that also, ,hich ,as this: $ made some earthen-vessels very broad
b#t not dee(, that is to say, abo#t t,o feet diameter, and not above nine inches dee(% These $
b#rned in the fire, as $ had done the other, and laid them by3 and ,hen $ ,anted to ba'e, $ made a
great fire #(on my hearth, ,hich $ had (aved ,ith some s>#are tiles of my o,n ba'ing and
b#rning also3 b#t $ sho#ld not call them s>#are%
4hen the fire,ood ,as b#rned (retty m#ch into embers or live coals, $ dre, them for,ard
#(on this hearth, so as to cover it all over, and there $ let them lie till the hearth ,as very hot%
Then s,ee(ing a,ay all the embers, $ set do,n my loaf or loaves, and ,helming do,n the
earthen (ot #(on them, dre, the embers all ro#nd the o#tside of the (ot, to 'ee( in and add to the
heat3 and th#s as ,ell as in the best oven in the ,orld, $ ba'ed my barley-loaves, and became in
little time a good (astrycoo' into the bargain3 for $ made myself several ca'es and (#ddings of
the rice3 b#t $ made no (ies, neither had $ anything to (#t into them s#((osing $ had, exce(t the
flesh either of fo,ls or goats%
$t need not be ,ondered at if all these things too' me #( most (art of the third year of my
abode here3 for it is to be observed that in the intervals of these things $ had my ne, harvest and
h#sbandry to manage3 for $ rea(ed my corn in its season, and carried it home as ,ell as $ co#ld,
and laid it #( in the ear, in my large bas'ets, till $ had time to r#b it o#t, for $ had no floor to
thrash it on, or instr#ment to thrash it ,ith%
2nd no,, indeed, my stoc' of corn increasing, $ really ,anted to b#ild my barns bigger3 $
,anted a (lace to lay it #( in, for the increase of the corn no, yielded me so m#ch, that $ had of
the barley abo#t t,enty b#shels, and of the rice as m#ch or more3 insom#ch that no, $ resolved
to begin to #se it freely3 for my bread had been >#ite gone a great ,hile3 also $ resolved to see
,hat >#antity ,o#ld be s#fficient for me a ,hole year, and to so, b#t once a year%
U(on the ,hole, $ fo#nd that the forty b#shels of barley and rice ,ere m#ch more than $ co#ld
cons#me in a year3 so $ resolved to so, !#st the same >#antity every year that $ so,ed the last, in
ho(es that s#ch a >#antity ,o#ld f#lly (rovide me ,ith bread, Kc%
2ll the ,hile these things ,ere doing, yo# may be s#re my tho#ghts ran many times #(on the
(ros(ect of land ,hich $ had seen from the other side of the island3 and $ ,as not ,itho#t secret
,ishes that $ ,ere on shore there, fancying that, seeing the mainland, and an inhabited co#ntry, $
might find some ,ay or other to convey myself f#rther, and (erha(s at last find some means of
esca(e%
8#t all this ,hile $ made no allo,ance for the dangers of s#ch an #nderta'ing, and ho, $ might
fall into the hands of savages, and (erha(s s#ch as $ might have reason to thin' far ,orse than the
lions and tigers of 2frica: that if $ once came in their (o,er, $ sho#ld r#n a ha;ard of more than a
tho#sand to one of being 'illed, and (erha(s of being eaten3 for $ had heard that the (eo(le of the
Caribbean coast ,ere cannibals or man-eaters, and $ 'ne, by the latit#de that $ co#ld not be far
from that shore% Then, s#((osing they ,ere not cannibals, yet they might 'ill me, as many
E#ro(eans ,ho had fallen into their hands had been served, even ,hen they had been ten or
t,enty together-m#ch more $, that ,as b#t one, and co#ld ma'e little or no defence3 all these
things, $ say, ,hich $ o#ght to have considered ,ell3 and did come into my tho#ghts after,ards,
yet gave me no a((rehensions at first, and my head ran mightily #(on the tho#ght of getting over
to the shore%
)-
.o, $ ,ished for my boy I#ry, and the long-boat ,ith sho#lder-of-m#tton sail, ,ith ,hich $
sailed above a tho#sand miles on the coast of 2frica3 b#t this ,as in vain: then $ tho#ght $ ,o#ld
go and loo' at o#r shi(=s boat, ,hich, as $ have said, ,as blo,n #( #(on the shore a great ,ay, in
the storm, ,hen ,e ,ere first cast a,ay% /he lay almost ,here she did at first, b#t not >#ite3 and
,as t#rned, by the force of the ,aves and the ,inds, almost bottom #(,ard, against a high ridge
of beachy, ro#gh sand, b#t no ,ater abo#t her% $f $ had had hands to have refitted her, and to have
la#nched her into the ,ater, the boat ,o#ld have done ,ell eno#gh, and $ might have gone bac'
into the 8ra;ils ,ith her easily eno#gh3 b#t $ might have foreseen that $ co#ld no more t#rn her
and set her #(right #(on her bottom than $ co#ld remove the island3 ho,ever, $ ,ent to the
,oods, and c#t levers and rollers, and bro#ght them to the boat resolving to try ,hat $ co#ld do3
s#ggesting to myself that if $ co#ld b#t t#rn her do,n, $ might re(air the damage she had
received, and she ,o#ld be a very good boat, and $ might go to sea in her very easily%
$ s(ared no (ains, indeed, in this (iece of fr#itless toil, and s(ent, $ thin', three or fo#r ,ee's
abo#t it3 at last finding it im(ossible to heave it #( ,ith my little strength, $ fell to digging a,ay
the sand, to #ndermine it, and so to ma'e it fall do,n, setting (ieces of ,ood to thr#st and g#ide
it right in the fall%
8#t ,hen $ had done this, $ ,as #nable to stir it #( again, or to get #nder it, m#ch less to move
it for,ard to,ards the ,ater3 so $ ,as forced to give it over3 and yet, tho#gh $ gave over the
ho(es of the boat, my desire to vent#re over for the main increased, rather than decreased, as the
means for it seemed im(ossible%
This at length (#t me #(on thin'ing ,hether it ,as not (ossible to ma'e myself a canoe, or
(eriag#a, s#ch as the natives of those climates ma'e, even ,itho#t tools, or, as $ might say,
,itho#t hands, of the tr#n' of a great tree% This $ not only tho#ght (ossible, b#t easy, and (leased
myself extremely ,ith the tho#ghts of ma'ing it, and ,ith my having m#ch more convenience
for it than any of the negroes or $ndians3 b#t not at all considering the (artic#lar inconveniences
,hich $ lay #nder more than the $ndians did-vi;% ,ant of hands to move it, ,hen it ,as made,
into the ,ater-a diffic#lty m#ch harder for me to s#rmo#nt than all the conse>#ences of ,ant of
tools co#ld be to them3 for ,hat ,as it to me, if ,hen $ had chosen a vast tree in the ,oods, and
,ith m#ch tro#ble c#t it do,n, if $ had been able ,ith my tools to he, and d#b the o#tside into
the (ro(er sha(e of a boat, and b#rn or c#t o#t the inside to ma'e it hollo,, so as to ma'e a boat
of it-if, after all this, $ m#st leave it !#st there ,here $ fo#nd it, and not be able to la#nch it into
the ,ater?
Jne ,o#ld have tho#ght $ co#ld not have had the least reflection #(on my mind of my
circ#mstances ,hile $ ,as ma'ing this boat, b#t $ sho#ld have immediately tho#ght ho, $ sho#ld
get it into the sea3 b#t my tho#ghts ,ere so intent #(on my voyage over the sea in it, that $ never
once considered ho, $ sho#ld get it off the land: and it ,as really, in its o,n nat#re, more easy
for me to g#ide it over forty-five miles of sea than abo#t forty-five fathoms of land, ,here it lay,
to set it afloat in the ,ater%
$ ,ent to ,or' #(on this boat the most li'e a fool that ever man did ,ho had any of his senses
a,a'e% $ (leased myself ,ith the design, ,itho#t determining ,hether $ ,as ever able to
#nderta'e it3 not b#t that the diffic#lty of la#nching my boat came often into my head3 b#t $ (#t a
sto( to my in>#iries into it by this foolish ans,er ,hich $ gave myself-ALet me first ma'e it3 $
,arrant $ ,ill find some ,ay or other to get it along ,hen it is done%A
This ,as a most (re(ostero#s method3 b#t the eagerness of my fancy (revailed, and to ,or' $
,ent% $ felled a cedar-tree, and $ >#estion m#ch ,hether /olomon ever had s#ch a one for the
b#ilding of the Tem(le of Eer#salem3 it ,as five feet ten inches diameter at the lo,er (art next the
st#m(, and fo#r feet eleven inches diameter at the end of t,enty-t,o feet3 after ,hich it lessened
)5
for a ,hile, and then (arted into branches% $t ,as not ,itho#t infinite labo#r that $ felled this tree3
$ ,as t,enty days hac'ing and he,ing at it at the bottom3 $ ,as fo#rteen more getting the
branches and limbs and the vast s(reading head c#t off, ,hich $ hac'ed and he,ed thro#gh ,ith
axe and hatchet, and inex(ressible labo#r3 after this, it cost me a month to sha(e it and d#b it to a
(ro(ortion, and to something li'e the bottom of a boat, that it might s,im #(right as it o#ght to
do% $t cost me near three months more to clear the inside, and ,or' it o#t so as to ma'e an exact
boat of it3 this $ did, indeed, ,itho#t fire, by mere mallet and chisel, and by the dint of hard
labo#r, till $ had bro#ght it to be a very handsome (eriag#a, and big eno#gh to have carried six-
and-t,enty men, and conse>#ently big eno#gh to have carried me and all my cargo%
4hen $ had gone thro#gh this ,or' $ ,as extremely delighted ,ith it% The boat ,as really
m#ch bigger than ever $ sa, a canoe or (eriag#a, that ,as made of one tree, in my life% 1any a
,eary stro'e it had cost, yo# may be s#re3 and had $ gotten it into the ,ater, $ ma'e no >#estion,
b#t $ sho#ld have beg#n the maddest voyage, and the most #nli'ely to be (erformed, that ever
,as #nderta'en%
8#t all my devices to get it into the ,ater failed me3 tho#gh they cost me infinite labo#r too% $t
lay abo#t one h#ndred yards from the ,ater, and not more3 b#t the first inconvenience ,as, it ,as
#( hill to,ards the cree'% 4ell, to ta'e a,ay this disco#ragement, $ resolved to dig into the
s#rface of the earth, and so ma'e a declivity: this $ began, and it cost me a (rodigio#s deal of
(ains Cb#t ,ho gr#dge (ains ,ho have their deliverance in vie,?D3 b#t ,hen this ,as ,or'ed
thro#gh, and this diffic#lty managed, it ,as still m#ch the same, for $ co#ld no more stir the
canoe than $ co#ld the other boat% Then $ meas#red the distance of gro#nd, and resolved to c#t a
doc' or canal, to bring the ,ater #( to the canoe, seeing $ co#ld not bring the canoe do,n to the
,ater% 4ell, $ began this ,or'3 and ,hen $ began to enter #(on it, and calc#late ho, dee( it ,as
to be d#g, ho, broad, ho, the st#ff ,as to be thro,n o#t, $ fo#nd that, by the n#mber of hands $
had, being none b#t my o,n, it m#st have been ten or t,elve years before $ co#ld have gone
thro#gh ,ith it3 for the shore lay so high, that at the #((er end it m#st have been at least t,enty
feet dee(3 so at length, tho#gh ,ith great rel#ctancy, $ gave this attem(t over also%
This grieved me heartily3 and no, $ sa,, tho#gh too late, the folly of beginning a ,or' before
,e co#nt the cost, and before ,e !#dge rightly of o#r o,n strength to go thro#gh ,ith it%
$n the middle of this ,or' $ finished my fo#rth year in this (lace, and 'e(t my anniversary ,ith
the same devotion, and ,ith as m#ch comfort as ever before3 for, by a constant st#dy and serio#s
a((lication to the 4ord of "od, and by the assistance of 0is grace, $ gained a different
'no,ledge from ,hat $ had before% $ entertained different notions of things% $ loo'ed no, #(on
the ,orld as a thing remote, ,hich $ had nothing to do ,ith, no ex(ectations from, and, indeed,
no desires abo#t: in a ,ord, $ had nothing indeed to do ,ith it, nor ,as ever li'ely to have, so $
tho#ght it loo'ed, as ,e may (erha(s loo' #(on it hereafter-vi;% as a (lace $ had lived in, b#t ,as
come o#t of it3 and ,ell might $ say, as <ather 2braham to Dives, A8et,een me and thee is a
great g#lf fixed%A
$n the first (lace, $ ,as removed from all the ,ic'edness of the ,orld here3 $ had neither the
l#sts of the flesh, the l#sts of the eye, nor the (ride of life% $ had nothing to covet, for $ had all that
$ ,as no, ca(able of en!oying3 $ ,as lord of the ,hole manor3 or, if $ (leased, $ might call myself
'ing or em(eror over the ,hole co#ntry ,hich $ had (ossession of: there ,ere no rivals3 $ had no
com(etitor, none to dis(#te sovereignty or command ,ith me: $ might have raised shi(-loadings
of corn, b#t $ had no #se for it3 so $ let as little gro, as $ tho#ght eno#gh for my occasion% $ had
tortoise or t#rtle eno#gh, b#t no, and then one ,as as m#ch as $ co#ld (#t to any #se: $ had
timber eno#gh to have b#ilt a fleet of shi(s3 and $ had gra(es eno#gh to have made ,ine, or to
have c#red into raisins, to have loaded that fleet ,hen it had been b#ilt%
)&
8#t all $ co#ld ma'e #se of ,as all that ,as val#able: $ had eno#gh to eat and s#((ly my
,ants, and ,hat ,as all the rest to me? $f $ 'illed more flesh than $ co#ld eat, the dog m#st eat it,
or vermin3 if $ so,ed more corn than $ co#ld eat, it m#st be s(oiled3 the trees that $ c#t do,n ,ere
lying to rot on the gro#nd3 $ co#ld ma'e no more #se of them b#t for f#el, and that $ had no
occasion for b#t to dress my food%
$n a ,ord, the nat#re and ex(erience of things dictated to me, #(on !#st reflection, that all the
good things of this ,orld are no farther good to #s than they are for o#r #se3 and that, ,hatever
,e may hea( #( to give others, ,e en!oy !#st as m#ch as ,e can #se, and no more% The most
coveto#s, gri(ing miser in the ,orld ,o#ld have been c#red of the vice of coveto#sness if he had
been in my case3 for $ (ossessed infinitely more than $ 'ne, ,hat to do ,ith% $ had no room for
desire, exce(t it ,as of things ,hich $ had not, and they ,ere b#t trifles, tho#gh, indeed, of great
#se to me% $ had, as $ hinted before, a (arcel of money, as ,ell gold as silver, abo#t thirty-six
(o#nds sterling% 2las@ there the sorry, #seless st#ff lay3 $ had no more manner of b#siness for it3
and often tho#ght ,ith myself that $ ,o#ld have given a handf#l of it for a gross of tobacco-
(i(es3 or for a hand-mill to grind my corn3 nay, $ ,o#ld have given it all for a six(enny-,orth of
t#rni( and carrot seed o#t of England, or for a handf#l of (eas and beans, and a bottle of in'% 2s it
,as, $ had not the least advantage by it or benefit from it3 b#t there it lay in a dra,er, and gre,
mo#ldy ,ith the dam( of the cave in the ,et seasons3 and if $ had had the dra,er f#ll of
diamonds, it had been the same case-they had been of no manner of val#e to me, beca#se of no
#se%
$ had no, bro#ght my state of life to be m#ch easier in itself than it ,as at first, and m#ch
easier to my mind, as ,ell as to my body% $ fre>#ently sat do,n to meat ,ith than'f#lness, and
admired the hand of "od=s (rovidence, ,hich had th#s s(read my table in the ,ilderness% $
learned to loo' more #(on the bright side of my condition, and less #(on the dar' side, and to
consider ,hat $ en!oyed rather than ,hat $ ,anted3 and this gave me sometimes s#ch secret
comforts, that $ cannot ex(ress them3 and ,hich $ ta'e notice of here, to (#t those discontented
(eo(le in mind of it, ,ho cannot en!oy comfortably ,hat "od has given them, beca#se they see
and covet something that 0e has not given them% 2ll o#r discontents abo#t ,hat ,e ,ant
a((eared to me to s(ring from the ,ant of than'f#lness for ,hat ,e have%
2nother reflection ,as of great #se to me, and do#btless ,o#ld be so to any one that sho#ld
fall into s#ch distress as mine ,as3 and this ,as, to com(are my (resent condition ,ith ,hat $ at
first ex(ected it ,o#ld be3 nay, ,ith ,hat it ,o#ld certainly have been, if the good (rovidence of
"od had not ,onderf#lly ordered the shi( to be cast #( nearer to the shore, ,here $ not only
co#ld come at her, b#t co#ld bring ,hat $ got o#t of her to the shore, for my relief and comfort3
,itho#t ,hich, $ had ,anted for tools to ,or', ,ea(ons for defence, and g#n(o,der and shot for
getting my food%
$ s(ent ,hole ho#rs, $ may say ,hole days, in re(resenting to myself, in the most lively
colo#rs, ho, $ m#st have acted if $ had got nothing o#t of the shi(% 0o, $ co#ld not have so
m#ch as got any food, exce(t fish and t#rtles3 and that, as it ,as long before $ fo#nd any of them,
$ m#st have (erished first3 that $ sho#ld have lived, if $ had not (erished, li'e a mere savage3 that
if $ had 'illed a goat or a fo,l, by any contrivance, $ had no ,ay to flay or o(en it, or (art the
flesh from the s'in and the bo,els, or to c#t it #(3 b#t m#st gna, it ,ith my teeth, and (#ll it
,ith my cla,s, li'e a beast%
These reflections made me very sensible of the goodness of rovidence to me, and very
than'f#l for my (resent condition, ,ith all its hardshi(s and misfort#nes3 and this (art also $
cannot b#t recommend to the reflection of those ,ho are a(t, in their misery, to say, A$s any
)6
affliction li'e mine?A Let them consider ho, m#ch ,orse the cases of some (eo(le are, and their
case might have been, if rovidence had tho#ght fit%
$ had another reflection, ,hich assisted me also to comfort my mind ,ith ho(es3 and this ,as
com(aring my (resent sit#ation ,ith ,hat $ had deserved, and had therefore reason to ex(ect
from the hand of rovidence% $ had lived a dreadf#l life, (erfectly destit#te of the 'no,ledge and
fear of "od% $ had been ,ell instr#cted by father and mother3 neither had they been ,anting to me
in their early endeavo#rs to inf#se a religio#s a,e of "od into my mind, a sense of my d#ty, and
,hat the nat#re and end of my being re>#ired of me% 8#t, alas@ falling early into the seafaring
life, ,hich of all lives is the most destit#te of the fear of "od, tho#gh 0is terrors are al,ays
before them3 $ say, falling early into the seafaring life, and into seafaring com(any, all that little
sense of religion ,hich $ had entertained ,as la#ghed o#t of me by my messmates3 by a hardened
des(ising of dangers, and the vie,s of death, ,hich gre, habit#al to me by my long absence
from all manner of o((ort#nities to converse ,ith anything b#t ,hat ,as li'e myself, or to hear
anything that ,as good or tended to,ards it%
/o void ,as $ of everything that ,as good, or the least sense of ,hat $ ,as, or ,as to be, that,
in the greatest deliverances $ en!oyed-s#ch as my esca(e from /allee3 my being ta'en #( by the
ort#g#ese master of the shi(3 my being (lanted so ,ell in the 8ra;ils3 my receiving the cargo
from England, and the li'e-$ never had once the ,ords AThan' "od@A so m#ch as on my mind, or
in my mo#th3 nor in the greatest distress had $ so m#ch as a tho#ght to (ray to 0im, or so m#ch
as to say, ALord, have mercy #(on me@A no, nor to mention the name of "od, #nless it ,as to
s,ear by, and blas(heme it%
$ had terrible reflections #(on my mind for many months, as $ have already observed, on
acco#nt of my ,ic'ed and hardened life (ast3 and ,hen $ loo'ed abo#t me, and considered ,hat
(artic#lar (rovidences had attended me since my coming into this (lace, and ho, "od had dealt
bo#ntif#lly ,ith me-had not only (#nished me less than my ini>#ity had deserved, b#t had so
(lentif#lly (rovided for me-this gave me great ho(es that my re(entance ,as acce(ted, and that
"od had yet mercy in store for me%
4ith these reflections $ ,or'ed my mind #(, not only to a resignation to the ,ill of "od in the
(resent dis(osition of my circ#mstances, b#t even to a sincere than'f#lness for my condition3 and
that $, ,ho ,as yet a living man, o#ght not to com(lain, seeing $ had not the d#e (#nishment of
my sins3 that $ en!oyed so many mercies ,hich $ had no reason to have ex(ected in that (lace3
that $ o#ght never more to re(ine at my condition, b#t to re!oice, and to give daily than's for that
daily bread, ,hich nothing b#t a cro,d of ,onders co#ld have bro#ght3 that $ o#ght to consider $
had been fed even by a miracle, even as great as that of feeding Eli!ah by ravens, nay, by a long
series of miracles3 and that $ co#ld hardly have named a (lace in the #ninhabitable (art of the
,orld ,here $ co#ld have been cast more to my advantage3 a (lace ,here, as $ had no society,
,hich ,as my affliction on one hand, so $ fo#nd no raveno#s beasts, no f#rio#s ,olves or tigers,
to threaten my life3 no venomo#s creat#res, or (oisons, ,hich $ might feed on to my h#rt3 no
savages to m#rder and devo#r me% $n a ,ord, as my life ,as a life of sorro, one ,ay, so it ,as a
life of mercy another3 and $ ,anted nothing to ma'e it a life of comfort b#t to be able to ma'e my
sense of "od=s goodness to me, and care over me in this condition, be my daily consolation3 and
after $ did ma'e a !#st im(rovement on these things, $ ,ent a,ay, and ,as no more sad% $ had
no, been here so long that many things ,hich $ had bro#ght on shore for my hel( ,ere either
>#ite gone, or very m#ch ,asted and near s(ent%
1y in', as $ observed, had been gone some time, all b#t a very little, ,hich $ e'ed o#t ,ith
,ater, a little and a little, till it ,as so (ale, it scarce left any a((earance of blac' #(on the (a(er%
2s long as it lasted $ made #se of it to min#te do,n the days of the month on ,hich any
)B
remar'able thing ha((ened to me3 and first, by casting #( times (ast, $ remembered that there
,as a strange conc#rrence of days in the vario#s (rovidences ,hich befell me, and ,hich, if $ had
been s#(erstitio#sly inclined to observe days as fatal or fort#nate, $ might have had reason to
have loo'ed #(on ,ith a great deal of c#riosity%
<irst, $ had observed that the same day that $ bro'e a,ay from my father and friends and ran
a,ay to 0#ll, in order to go to sea, the same day after,ards $ ,as ta'en by the /allee man-of-
,ar, and made a slave3 the same day of the year that $ esca(ed o#t of the ,rec' of that shi( in
7armo#th 9oads, that same day-year after,ards $ made my esca(e from /allee in a boat3 the
same day of the year $ ,as born on-vi;% the 6-th of /e(tember, that same day $ had my life so
mirac#lo#sly saved t,enty-six years after, ,hen $ ,as cast on shore in this island3 so that my
,ic'ed life and my solitary life began both on a day%
The next thing to my in' being ,asted ,as that of my bread-$ mean the bisc#it ,hich $ bro#ght
o#t of the shi(3 this $ had h#sbanded to the last degree, allo,ing myself b#t one ca'e of bread a-
day for above a year3 and yet $ ,as >#ite ,itho#t bread for near a year before $ got any corn of
my o,n, and great reason $ had to be than'f#l that $ had any at all, the getting it being, as has
been already observed, next to mirac#lo#s%
1y clothes, too, began to decay3 as to linen, $ had had none a good ,hile, exce(t some
che>#ered shirts ,hich $ fo#nd in the chests of the other seamen, and ,hich $ caref#lly (reserved3
beca#se many times $ co#ld bear no other clothes on b#t a shirt3 and it ,as a very great hel( to
me that $ had, among all the men=s clothes of the shi(, almost three do;en of shirts% There ,ere
also, indeed, several thic' ,atch-coats of the seamen=s ,hich ,ere left, b#t they ,ere too hot to
,ear3 and tho#gh it is tr#e that the ,eather ,as so violently hot that there ,as no need of clothes,
yet $ co#ld not go >#ite na'ed-no, tho#gh $ had been inclined to it, ,hich $ ,as not -nor co#ld $
abide the tho#ght of it, tho#gh $ ,as alone% The reason ,hy $ co#ld not go na'ed ,as, $ co#ld not
bear the heat of the s#n so ,ell ,hen >#ite na'ed as ,ith some clothes on3 nay, the very heat
fre>#ently blistered my s'in: ,hereas, ,ith a shirt on, the air itself made some motion, and
,histling #nder the shirt, ,as t,ofold cooler than ,itho#t it% .o more co#ld $ ever bring myself
to go o#t in the heat of the s#n ,itho#t a ca( or a hat3 the heat of the s#n, beating ,ith s#ch
violence as it does in that (lace, ,o#ld give me the headache (resently, by darting so directly on
my head, ,itho#t a ca( or hat on, so that $ co#ld not bear it3 ,hereas, if $ (#t on my hat it ,o#ld
(resently go a,ay%
U(on these vie,s $ began to consider abo#t (#tting the fe, rags $ had, ,hich $ called clothes,
into some order3 $ had ,orn o#t all the ,aistcoats $ had, and my b#siness ,as no, to try if $
co#ld not ma'e !ac'ets o#t of the great ,atch-coats ,hich $ had by me, and ,ith s#ch other
materials as $ had3 so $ set to ,or', tailoring, or rather, indeed, botching, for $ made most (iteo#s
,or' of it% 0o,ever, $ made shift to ma'e t,o or three ne, ,aistcoats, ,hich $ ho(ed ,o#ld
serve me a great ,hile: as for breeches or dra,ers, $ made b#t a very sorry shift indeed till
after,ards%
$ have mentioned that $ saved the s'ins of all the creat#res that $ 'illed, $ mean fo#r-footed
ones, and $ had them h#ng #(, stretched o#t ,ith stic's in the s#n, by ,hich means some of them
,ere so dry and hard that they ,ere fit for little, b#t others ,ere very #sef#l% The first thing $
made of these ,as a great ca( for my head, ,ith the hair on the o#tside, to shoot off the rain3 and
this $ (erformed so ,ell, that after $ made me a s#it of clothes ,holly of these s'ins-that is to say,
a ,aistcoat, and breeches o(en at the 'nees, and both loose, for they ,ere rather ,anting to 'ee(
me cool than to 'ee( me ,arm% $ m#st not omit to ac'no,ledge that they ,ere ,retchedly made3
for if $ ,as a bad car(enter, $ ,as a ,orse tailor% 0o,ever, they ,ere s#ch as $ made very good
)*
shift ,ith, and ,hen $ ,as o#t, if it ha((ened to rain, the hair of my ,aistcoat and ca( being
o#termost, $ ,as 'e(t very dry%
2fter this, $ s(ent a great deal of time and (ains to ma'e an #mbrella3 $ ,as, indeed, in great
,ant of one, and had a great mind to ma'e one3 $ had seen them made in the 8ra;ils, ,here they
are very #sef#l in the great heats there, and $ felt the heats every !ot as great here, and greater too,
being nearer the e>#inox3 besides, as $ ,as obliged to be m#ch abroad, it ,as a most #sef#l thing
to me, as ,ell for the rains as the heats% $ too' a ,orld of (ains ,ith it, and ,as a great ,hile
before $ co#ld ma'e anything li'ely to hold: nay, after $ had tho#ght $ had hit the ,ay, $ s(oiled
t,o or three before $ made one to my mind: b#t at last $ made one that ans,ered indifferently
,ell: the main diffic#lty $ fo#nd ,as to ma'e it let do,n% $ co#ld ma'e it s(read, b#t if it did not
let do,n too, and dra, in, it ,as not (ortable for me any ,ay b#t !#st over my head, ,hich
,o#ld not do% 0o,ever, at last, as $ said, $ made one to ans,er, and covered it ,ith s'ins, the hair
#(,ards, so that it cast off the rain li'e a (ent-ho#se, and 'e(t off the s#n so effect#ally, that $
co#ld ,al' o#t in the hottest of the ,eather ,ith greater advantage than $ co#ld before in the
coolest, and ,hen $ had no need of it co#ld close it, and carry it #nder my arm
Th#s $ lived mighty comfortably, my mind being entirely com(osed by resigning myself to the
,ill of "od, and thro,ing myself ,holly #(on the dis(osal of 0is (rovidence% This made my life
better than sociable, for ,hen $ began to regret the ,ant of conversation $ ,o#ld as' myself,
,hether th#s conversing m#t#ally ,ith my o,n tho#ghts, and Cas $ ho(e $ may sayD ,ith even
"od 0imself, by e!ac#lations, ,as not better than the #tmost en!oyment of h#man society in the
,orld?
Cha(ter 5-
C02TE9 I-T21E/ "J2T/
$ C2..JT say that after this, for five years, any extraordinary thing ha((ened to me, b#t $
lived on in the same co#rse, in the same (ost#re and (lace, as before3 the chief things $ ,as
em(loyed in, besides my yearly labo#r of (lanting my barley and rice, and c#ring my raisins, of
both ,hich $ al,ays 'e(t #( !#st eno#gh to have s#fficient stoc' of one year=s (rovisions
beforehand3 $ say, besides this yearly labo#r, and my daily (#rs#it of going o#t ,ith my g#n, $
had one labo#r, to ma'e a canoe, ,hich at last $ finished: so that, by digging a canal to it of six
feet ,ide and fo#r feet dee(, $ bro#ght it into the cree', almost half a mile% 2s for the first, ,hich
,as so vastly big, for $ made it ,itho#t considering beforehand, as $ o#ght to have done, ho, $
sho#ld be able to la#nch it, so, never being able to bring it into the ,ater, or bring the ,ater to it,
$ ,as obliged to let it lie ,here it ,as as a memorand#m to teach me to be ,iser the next time:
indeed, the next time, tho#gh $ co#ld not get a tree (ro(er for it, and ,as in a (lace ,here $ co#ld
not get the ,ater to it at any less distance than, as $ have said, near half a mile, yet, as $ sa, it ,as
(racticable at last, $ never gave it over3 and tho#gh $ ,as near t,o years abo#t it, yet $ never
gr#dged my labo#r, in ho(es of having a boat to go off to sea at last%
0o,ever, tho#gh my little (eriag#a ,as finished, yet the si;e of it ,as not at all ans,erable to
the design ,hich $ had in vie, ,hen $ made the first3 $ mean of vent#ring over to the terra firma,
,here it ,as above forty miles broad3 accordingly, the smallness of my boat assisted to (#t an
end to that design, and no, $ tho#ght no more of it% 2s $ had a boat, my next design ,as to ma'e
a cr#ise ro#nd the island3 for as $ had been on the other side in one (lace, crossing, as $ have
already described it, over the land, so the discoveries $ made in that little !o#rney made me very
eager to see other (arts of the coast3 and no, $ had a boat, $ tho#ght of nothing b#t sailing ro#nd
the island%
<or this (#r(ose, that $ might do everything ,ith discretion and consideration, $ fitted #( a
little mast in my boat, and made a sail too o#t of some of the (ieces of the shi(=s sails ,hich lay
))
in store, and of ,hich $ had a great stoc' by me% 0aving fitted my mast and sail, and tried the
boat, $ fo#nd she ,o#ld sail very ,ell3 then $ made little loc'ers or boxes at each end of my boat,
to (#t (rovisions, necessaries, amm#nition, Kc%, into, to be 'e(t dry, either from rain or the s(ray
of the sea3 and a little, long, hollo, (lace $ c#t in the inside of the boat, ,here $ co#ld lay my
g#n, ma'ing a fla( to hang do,n over it to 'ee( it dry%
$ fixed my #mbrella also in the ste( at the stern, li'e a mast, to stand over my head, and 'ee(
the heat of the s#n off me, li'e an a,ning3 and th#s $ every no, and then too' a little voyage
#(on the sea, b#t never ,ent far o#t, nor far from the little cree'% 2t last, being eager to vie, the
circ#mference of my little 'ingdom, $ resolved #(on my cr#ise3 and accordingly $ vict#alled my
shi( for the voyage, (#tting in t,o do;en of loaves Cca'es $ sho#ld call themD of barley-bread, an
earthen (ot f#ll of (arched rice Ca food $ ate a good deal ofD, a little bottle of r#m, half a goat, and
(o,der and shot for 'illing more, and t,o large ,atch-coats, of those ,hich, as $ mentioned
before, $ had saved o#t of the seamen=s chests3 these $ too', one to lie #(on, and the other to cover
me in the night%
$t ,as the )th of .ovember, in the sixth year of my reign-or my ca(tivity, ,hich yo# (lease-
that $ set o#t on this voyage, and $ fo#nd it m#ch longer than $ ex(ected3 for tho#gh the island
itself ,as not very large, yet ,hen $ came to the east side of it, $ fo#nd a great ledge of roc's lie
o#t abo#t t,o leag#es into the sea, some above ,ater, some #nder it3 and beyond that a shoal of
sand, lying dry half a leag#e more, so that $ ,as obliged to go a great ,ay o#t to sea to do#ble the
(oint%
4hen $ first discovered them, $ ,as going to give over my enter(rise, and come bac' again,
not 'no,ing ho, far it might oblige me to go o#t to sea3 and above all, do#bting ho, $ sho#ld
get bac' again: so $ came to an anchor3 for $ had made a 'ind of an anchor ,ith a (iece of a
bro'en gra((ling ,hich $ got o#t of the shi(%
0aving sec#red my boat, $ too' my g#n and ,ent on shore, climbing #( a hill, ,hich seemed
to overloo' that (oint ,here $ sa, the f#ll extent of it, and resolved to vent#re%
$n my vie,ing the sea from that hill ,here $ stood, $ (erceived a strong, and indeed a most
f#rio#s c#rrent, ,hich ran to the east, and even came close to the (oint3 and $ too' the more
notice of it beca#se $ sa, there might be some danger that ,hen $ came into it $ might be carried
o#t to sea by the strength of it, and not be able to ma'e the island again3 and indeed, had $ not got
first #(on this hill, $ believe it ,o#ld have been so3 for there ,as the same c#rrent on the other
side the island, only that it set off at a f#rther distance, and $ sa, there ,as a strong eddy #nder
the shore3 so $ had nothing to do b#t to get o#t of the first c#rrent, and $ sho#ld (resently be in an
eddy%
$ lay here, ho,ever, t,o days, beca#se the ,ind blo,ing (retty fresh at E/E%, and that being
!#st contrary to the c#rrent, made a great breach of the sea #(on the (oint: so that it ,as not safe
for me to 'ee( too close to the shore for the breach, nor to go too far off, beca#se of the stream%
The third day, in the morning, the ,ind having abated overnight, the sea ,as calm, and $
vent#red: b#t $ am a ,arning to all rash and ignorant (ilots3 for no sooner ,as $ come to the
(oint, ,hen $ ,as not even my boat=s length from the shore, b#t $ fo#nd myself in a great de(th of
,ater, and a c#rrent li'e the sl#ice of a mill3 it carried my boat along ,ith it ,ith s#ch violence
that all $ co#ld do co#ld not 'ee( her so m#ch as on the edge of it3 b#t $ fo#nd it h#rried me
farther and farther o#t from the eddy, ,hich ,as on my left hand% There ,as no ,ind stirring to
hel( me, and all $ co#ld do ,ith my (addles signified nothing: and no, $ began to give myself
over for lost3 for as the c#rrent ,as on both sides of the island, $ 'ne, in a fe, leag#es distance
they m#st !oin again, and then $ ,as irrecoverably gone3 nor did $ see any (ossibility of avoiding
it3 so that $ had no (ros(ect before me b#t of (erishing, not by the sea, for that ,as calm eno#gh,
)F
b#t of starving from h#nger% $ had, indeed, fo#nd a tortoise on the shore, as big almost as $ co#ld
lift, and had tossed it into the boat3 and $ had a great !ar of fresh ,ater, that is to say, one of my
earthen (ots3 b#t ,hat ,as all this to being driven into the vast ocean, ,here, to be s#re, there
,as no shore, no mainland or island, for a tho#sand leag#es at least?
2nd no, $ sa, ho, easy it ,as for the (rovidence of "od to ma'e even the most miserable
condition of man'ind ,orse% .o, $ loo'ed bac' #(on my desolate, solitary island as the most
(leasant (lace in the ,orld and all the ha((iness my heart co#ld ,ish for ,as to be b#t there
again% $ stretched o#t my hands to it, ,ith eager ,ishes-AJ ha((y desert@A said $, A$ shall never
see thee more% J miserable creat#re@ ,hither am going?A Then $ re(roached myself ,ith my
#nthan'f#l tem(er, and that $ had re(ined at my solitary condition3 and no, ,hat ,o#ld $ give to
be on shore there again@ Th#s, ,e never see the tr#e state of o#r condition till it is ill#strated to #s
by its contraries, nor 'no, ho, to val#e ,hat ,e en!oy, b#t by the ,ant of it% $t is scarcely
(ossible to imagine the consternation $ ,as no, in, being driven from my beloved island Cfor so
it a((eared to me no, to beD into the ,ide ocean, almost t,o leag#es, and in the #tmost des(air
of ever recovering it again% 0o,ever, $ ,or'ed hard till, indeed, my strength ,as almost
exha#sted, and 'e(t my boat as m#ch to the north,ard, that is, to,ards the side of the c#rrent
,hich the eddy lay on, as (ossibly $ co#ld3 ,hen abo#t noon, as the s#n (assed the meridian, $
tho#ght $ felt a little bree;e of ,ind in my face, s(ringing #( from //E% This cheered my heart a
little, and es(ecially ,hen, in abo#t half-an-ho#r more, it ble, a (retty gentle gale% 8y this time $
had got at a frightf#l distance from the island, and had the least clo#dy or ha;y ,eather
intervened, $ had been #ndone another ,ay, too3 for $ had no com(ass on board, and sho#ld never
have 'no,n ho, to have steered to,ards the island, if $ had b#t once lost sight of it3 b#t the
,eather contin#ing clear, $ a((lied myself to get #( my mast again, and s(read my sail, standing
a,ay to the north as m#ch as (ossible, to get o#t of the c#rrent%
E#st as $ had set my mast and sail, and the boat began to stretch a,ay, $ sa, even by the
clearness of the ,ater some alteration of the c#rrent ,as near3 for ,here the c#rrent ,as so strong
the ,ater ,as fo#l3 b#t (erceiving the ,ater clear, $ fo#nd the c#rrent abate3 and (resently $ fo#nd
to the east, at abo#t half a mile, a breach of the sea #(on some roc's: these roc's $ fo#nd ca#sed
the c#rrent to (art again, and as the main stress of it ran a,ay more so#therly, leaving the roc's to
the north-east, so the other ret#rned by the re(#lse of the roc's, and made a strong eddy, ,hich
ran bac' again to the north-,est, ,ith a very shar( stream%
They ,ho 'no, ,hat it is to have a re(rieve bro#ght to them #(on the ladder, or to be resc#ed
from thieves !#st going to m#rder them, or ,ho have been in s#ch extremities, may g#ess ,hat
my (resent s#r(rise of !oy ,as, and ho, gladly $ (#t my boat into the stream of this eddy3 and the
,ind also freshening, ho, gladly $ s(read my sail to it, r#nning cheerf#lly before the ,ind, and
,ith a strong tide or eddy #nderfoot%
This eddy carried me abo#t a leag#e on my ,ay bac' again, directly to,ards the island, b#t
abo#t t,o leag#es more to the north,ard than the c#rrent ,hich carried me a,ay at first3 so that
,hen $ came near the island, $ fo#nd myself o(en to the northern shore of it, that is to say, the
other end of the island, o((osite to that ,hich $ ,ent o#t from%
4hen $ had made something more than a leag#e of ,ay by the hel( of this c#rrent or eddy, $
fo#nd it ,as s(ent, and served me no f#rther% 0o,ever, $ fo#nd that being bet,een t,o great
c#rrents- vi;% that on the so#th side, ,hich had h#rried me a,ay, and that on the north, ,hich lay
abo#t a leag#e on the other side3 $ say, bet,een these t,o, in the ,a'e of the island, $ fo#nd the
,ater at least still, and r#nning no ,ay3 and having still a bree;e of ,ind fair for me, $ 'e(t on
steering directly for the island, tho#gh not ma'ing s#ch fresh ,ay as $ did before%
)G
2bo#t fo#r o=cloc' in the evening, being then ,ithin a leag#e of the island, $ fo#nd the (oint of
the roc's ,hich occasioned this disaster stretching o#t, as is described before, to the so#th,ard,
and casting off the c#rrent more so#therly, had, of co#rse, made another eddy to the north3 and
this $ fo#nd very strong, b#t not directly setting the ,ay my co#rse lay, ,hich ,as d#e ,est, b#t
almost f#ll north% 0o,ever, having a fresh gale, $ stretched across this eddy, slanting north-,est3
and in abo#t an ho#r came ,ithin abo#t a mile of the shore, ,here, it being smooth ,ater, $ soon
got to land%
4hen $ ,as on shore, "od $ fell on my 'nees and gave "od than's for my deliverance,
resolving to lay aside all tho#ghts of my deliverance by my boat3 and refreshing myself ,ith s#ch
things as $ had, $ bro#ght my boat close to the shore, in a little cove that $ had s(ied #nder some
trees, and laid me do,n to slee(, being >#ite s(ent ,ith the labo#r and fatig#e of the voyage%
$ ,as no, at a great loss ,hich ,ay to get home ,ith my boat@ $ had r#n so m#ch ha;ard, and
'ne, too m#ch of the case, to thin' of attem(ting it by the ,ay $ ,ent o#t3 and ,hat might be at
the other side C$ mean the ,est sideD $ 'ne, not, nor had $ any mind to r#n any more vent#res3 so
$ resolved on the next morning to ma'e my ,ay ,est,ard along the shore, and to see if there ,as
no cree' ,here $ might lay #( my frigate in safety, so as to have her again if $ ,anted her% $n
abo#t three miles or thereabo#ts, coasting the shore, $ came to a very good inlet or bay, abo#t a
mile over, ,hich narro,ed till it came to a very little riv#let or broo', ,here $ fo#nd a very
convenient harbo#r for my boat, and ,here she lay as if she had been in a little doc' made on
(#r(ose for her% 0ere $ (#t in, and having sto,ed my boat very safe, $ ,ent on shore to loo'
abo#t me, and see ,here $ ,as%
$ soon fo#nd $ had b#t a little (assed by the (lace ,here $ had been before, ,hen $ travelled on
foot to that shore3 so ta'ing nothing o#t of my boat b#t my g#n and #mbrella, for it ,as
exceedingly hot, $ began my march% The ,ay ,as comfortable eno#gh after s#ch a voyage as $
had been #(on, and $ reached my old bo,er in the evening, ,here $ fo#nd everything standing as
$ left it3 for $ al,ays 'e(t it in good order, being, as $ said before, my co#ntry ho#se%
$ got over the fence, and laid me do,n in the shade to rest my limbs, for $ ,as very ,eary, and
fell aslee(3 b#t !#dge yo#, if yo# can, that read my story, ,hat a s#r(rise $ m#st be in ,hen $ ,as
a,a'ed o#t of my slee( by a voice calling me by my name several times, A9obin, 9obin, 9obin
Cr#soe: (oor 9obin Cr#soe@ 4here are yo#, 9obin Cr#soe? 4here are yo#? 4here have yo#
been?A
$ ,as so dead aslee( at first, being fatig#ed ,ith ro,ing, or (art of the day, and ,ith ,al'ing
the latter (art, that $ did not ,a'e thoro#ghly3 b#t do;ing tho#ght $ dreamed that somebody s(o'e
to me3 b#t as the voice contin#ed to re(eat, A9obin Cr#soe, 9obin Cr#soe,A at last $ began to
,a'e more (erfectly, and ,as at first dreadf#lly frightened, and started #( in the #tmost
consternation3 b#t no sooner ,ere my eyes o(en, b#t $ sa, my oll sitting on the to( of the
hedge3 and immediately 'ne, that it ,as he that s(o'e to me3 for !#st in s#ch bemoaning
lang#age $ had #sed to tal' to him and teach him3 and he had learned it so (erfectly that he ,o#ld
sit #(on my finger, and lay his bill close to my face and cry, Aoor 9obin Cr#soe@ 4here are yo#?
4here have yo# been? 0o, came yo# here?A and s#ch things as $ had ta#ght him%
0o,ever, even tho#gh $ 'ne, it ,as the (arrot, and that indeed it co#ld be nobody else, it ,as
a good ,hile before $ co#ld com(ose myself% <irst, $ ,as ama;ed ho, the creat#re got thither3
and then, ho, he sho#ld !#st 'ee( abo#t the (lace, and no,here else3 b#t as $ ,as ,ell satisfied it
co#ld be nobody b#t honest oll, $ got over it3 and holding o#t my hand, and calling him by his
name, Aoll,A the sociable creat#re came to me, and sat #(on my th#mb, as he #sed to do, and
contin#ed tal'ing to me, Aoor 9obin Cr#soe@ and ho, did $ come here? and ,here had $ been?A
!#st as if he had been over!oyed to see me again3 and so $ carried him home along ,ith me%
)H
$ had no, had eno#gh of rambling to sea for some time, and had eno#gh to do for many days
to sit still and reflect #(on the danger $ had been in% $ ,o#ld have been very glad to have had my
boat again on my side of the island3 b#t $ 'ne, not ho, it ,as (racticable to get it abo#t% 2s to
the east side of the island, ,hich $ had gone ro#nd, $ 'ne, ,ell eno#gh there ,as no vent#ring
that ,ay3 my very heart ,o#ld shrin', and my very blood r#n chill, b#t to thin' of it3 and as to
the other side of the island, $ did not 'no, ho, it might be there3 b#t s#((osing the c#rrent ran
,ith the same force against the shore at the east as it (assed by it on the other, $ might r#n the
same ris' of being driven do,n the stream, and carried by the island, as $ had been before of
being carried a,ay from it: so ,ith these tho#ghts, $ contented myself to be ,itho#t any boat,
tho#gh it had been the (rod#ct of so many months= labo#r to ma'e it, and of so many more to get
it into the sea%
$n this government of my tem(er $ remained near a year3 and lived a very sedate, retired life, as
yo# may ,ell s#((ose3 and my tho#ghts being very m#ch com(osed as to my condition, and f#lly
comforted in resigning myself to the dis(ositions of rovidence, $ tho#ght $ lived really very
ha((ily in all things exce(t that of society%
$ im(roved myself in this time in all the mechanic exercises ,hich my necessities (#t me #(on
a((lying myself to3 and $ believe $ sho#ld, #(on occasion, have made a very good car(enter,
es(ecially considering ho, fe, tools $ had%
8esides this, $ arrived at an #nex(ected (erfection in my earthen,are, and contrived ,ell
eno#gh to ma'e them ,ith a ,heel, ,hich $ fo#nd infinitely easier and better3 beca#se $ made
things ro#nd and sha(ed, ,hich before ,ere filthy things indeed to loo' on% 8#t $ thin' $ ,as
never more vain of my o,n (erformance, or more !oyf#l for anything $ fo#nd o#t, than for my
being able to ma'e a tobacco-(i(e3 and tho#gh it ,as a very #gly, cl#msy thing ,hen it ,as done,
and only b#rned red, li'e other earthen,are, yet as it ,as hard and firm, and ,o#ld dra, the
smo'e, $ ,as exceedingly comforted ,ith it, for $ had been al,ays #sed to smo'e3 and there ,ere
(i(es in the shi(, b#t $ forgot them at first, not thin'ing there ,as tobacco in the island3 and
after,ards, ,hen $ searched the shi( again, $ co#ld not come at any (i(es%
$n my ,ic'er-,are also $ im(roved m#ch, and made ab#ndance of necessary bas'ets, as ,ell
as my invention sho,ed me3 tho#gh not very handsome, yet they ,ere s#ch as ,ere very handy
and convenient for laying things #( in, or fetching things home% <or exam(le, if $ 'illed a goat
abroad, $ co#ld hang it #( in a tree, flay it, dress it, and c#t it in (ieces, and bring it home in a
bas'et3 and the li'e by a t#rtle3 $ co#ld c#t it #(, ta'e o#t the eggs and a (iece or t,o of the flesh,
,hich ,as eno#gh for me, and bring them home in a bas'et, and leave the rest behind me% 2lso,
large dee( bas'ets ,ere the receivers of my corn, ,hich $ al,ays r#bbed o#t as soon as it ,as dry
and c#red, and 'e(t it in great bas'ets%
$ began no, to (erceive my (o,der abated considerably3 this ,as a ,ant ,hich it ,as
im(ossible for me to s#((ly, and $ began serio#sly to consider ,hat $ m#st do ,hen $ sho#ld have
no more (o,der3 that is to say, ho, $ sho#ld 'ill any goats% $ had, as is observed in the third year
of my being here, 'e(t a yo#ng 'id, and bred her #( tame, and $ ,as in ho(es of getting a he-
goat3 b#t $ co#ld not by any means bring it to (ass, till my 'id gre, an old goat3 and as $ co#ld
never find in my heart to 'ill her, she died at last of mere age%
8#t being no, in the eleventh year of my residence, and, as $ have said, my amm#nition
gro,ing lo,, $ set myself to st#dy some art to tra( and snare the goats, to see ,hether $ co#ld not
catch some of them alive3 and (artic#larly $ ,anted a she-goat great ,ith yo#ng% <or this (#r(ose
$ made snares to ham(er them3 and $ do believe they ,ere more than once ta'en in them3 b#t my
tac'le ,as not good, for $ had no ,ire, and $ al,ays fo#nd them bro'en and my bait devo#red% 2t
length $ resolved to try a (itfall3 so $ d#g several large (its in the earth, in (laces ,here $ had
F-
observed the goats #sed to feed, and over those (its $ (laced h#rdles of my o,n ma'ing too, ,ith
a great ,eight #(on them3 and several times $ (#t ears of barley and dry rice ,itho#t setting the
tra(3 and $ co#ld easily (erceive that the goats had gone in and eaten #( the corn, for $ co#ld see
the mar's of their feet% 2t length $ set three tra(s in one night, and going the next morning $ fo#nd
them, all standing, and yet the bait eaten and gone3 this ,as very disco#raging% 0o,ever, $ altered
my tra(s3 and not to tro#ble yo# ,ith (artic#lars, going one morning to see my tra(s, $ fo#nd in
one of them a large old he-goat3 and in one of the others three 'ids, a male and t,o females%
2s to the old one, $ 'ne, not ,hat to do ,ith him3 he ,as so fierce $ d#rst not go into the (it to
him3 that is to say, to bring him a,ay alive, ,hich ,as ,hat $ ,anted% $ co#ld have 'illed him,
b#t that ,as not my b#siness, nor ,o#ld it ans,er my end3 so $ even let him o#t, and he ran a,ay
as if he had been frightened o#t of his ,its% 8#t $ did not then 'no, ,hat $ after,ards learned,
that h#nger ,ill tame a lion% $f $ had let him stay three or fo#r days ,itho#t food, and then have
carried him some ,ater to drin' and then a little corn, he ,o#ld have been as tame as one of the
'ids3 for they are mighty sagacio#s, tractable creat#res, ,here they are ,ell #sed%
0o,ever, for the (resent $ let him go, 'no,ing no better at that time: then $ ,ent to the three
'ids, and ta'ing them one by one, $ tied them ,ith strings together, and ,ith some diffic#lty
bro#ght them all home%
$t ,as a good ,hile before they ,o#ld feed3 b#t thro,ing them some s,eet corn, it tem(ted
them, and they began to be tame% 2nd no, $ fo#nd that if $ ex(ected to s#((ly myself ,ith goats=
flesh, ,hen $ had no (o,der or shot left, breeding some #( tame ,as my only ,ay, ,hen,
(erha(s, $ might have them abo#t my ho#se li'e a floc' of shee(% 8#t then it occ#rred to me that $
m#st 'ee( the tame from the ,ild, or else they ,o#ld al,ays r#n ,ild ,hen they gre, #(3 and
the only ,ay for this ,as to have some enclosed (iece of gro#nd, ,ell fenced either ,ith hedge
or (ale, to 'ee( them in so effect#ally, that those ,ithin might not brea' o#t, or those ,itho#t
brea' in%
This ,as a great #nderta'ing for one (air of hands yet, as $ sa, there ,as an absol#te necessity
for doing it, my first ,or' ,as to find o#t a (ro(er (iece of gro#nd, ,here there ,as li'ely to be
herbage for them to eat, ,ater for them to drin', and cover to 'ee( them from the s#n%
Those ,ho #nderstand s#ch enclos#res ,ill thin' $ had very little contrivance ,hen $ (itched
#(on a (lace very (ro(er for all these Cbeing a (lain, o(en (iece of meado, land, or savannah, as
o#r (eo(le call it in the ,estern coloniesD, ,hich had t,o or three little drills of fresh ,ater in it,
and at one end ,as very ,oody- $ say, they ,ill smile at my forecast, ,hen $ shall tell them $
began by enclosing this (iece of gro#nd in s#ch a manner that, my hedge or (ale m#st have been
at least t,o miles abo#t% .or ,as the madness of it so great as to the com(ass, for if it ,as ten
miles abo#t, $ ,as li'e to have time eno#gh to do it in3 b#t $ did not consider that my goats ,o#ld
be as ,ild in so m#ch com(ass as if they had had the ,hole island, and $ sho#ld have so m#ch
room to chase them in that $ sho#ld never catch them%
1y hedge ,as beg#n and carried on, $ believe, abo#t fifty yards ,hen this tho#ght occ#rred to
me3 so $ (resently sto((ed short, and, for the beginning, $ resolved to enclose a (iece of abo#t one
h#ndred and fifty yards in length, and one h#ndred yards in breadth, ,hich, as it ,o#ld maintain
as many as $ sho#ld have in any reasonable time, so, as my stoc' increased, $ co#ld add more
gro#nd to my enclos#re%
This ,as acting ,ith some (r#dence, and $ ,ent to ,or' ,ith co#rage% $ ,as abo#t three
months hedging in the first (iece3 and, till $ had done it, $ tethered the three 'ids in the best (art of
it, and #sed them to feed as near me as (ossible, to ma'e them familiar3 and very often $ ,o#ld
go and carry them some ears of barley, or a handf#l of rice, and feed them o#t of my hand3 so that
F5
after my enclos#re ,as finished and $ let them loose, they ,o#ld follo, me #( and do,n,
bleating after me for a handf#l of corn%
This ans,ered my end, and in abo#t a year and a half $ had a floc' of abo#t t,elve goats, 'ids
and all3 and in t,o years more $ had three-and-forty, besides several that $ too' and 'illed for my
food% 2fter that, $ enclosed five several (ieces of gro#nd to feed them in, ,ith little (ens to drive
them to ta'e them as $ ,anted, and gates o#t of one (iece of gro#nd into another%
8#t this ,as not all3 for no, $ not only had goat=s flesh to feed on ,hen $ (leased, b#t mil' too-
a thing ,hich, indeed, in the beginning, $ did not so m#ch as thin' of, and ,hich, ,hen it came
into my tho#ghts, ,as really an agreeable s#r(rise, for no, $ set #( my dairy, and had sometimes
a gallon or t,o of mil' in a day% 2nd as .at#re, ,ho gives s#((lies of food to every creat#re,
dictates even nat#rally ho, to ma'e #se of it, so $, that had never mil'ed a co,, m#ch less a goat,
or seen b#tter or cheese made only ,hen $ ,as a boy, after a great many essays and miscarriages,
made both b#tter and cheese at last, also salt Ctho#gh $ fo#nd it (artly made to my hand by the
heat of the s#n #(on some of the roc's of the seaD, and never ,anted it after,ards% 0o,
mercif#lly can o#r Creator treat 0is creat#res, even in those conditions in ,hich they seemed to
be over,helmed in destr#ction@ 0o, can 0e s,eeten the bitterest (rovidences, and give #s ca#se
to (raise 0im for d#ngeons and (risons@ 4hat a table ,as here s(read for me in the ,ilderness,
,here $ sa, nothing at first b#t to (erish for h#nger@
Cha(ter 55
C02TE9 I$-<$.D/ 9$.T J< 12.=/ <JJT J. T0E /2.D
$T ,o#ld have made a /toic smile to have seen me and my little family sit do,n to dinner%
There ,as my ma!esty the (rince and lord of the ,hole island3 $ had the lives of all my s#b!ects at
my absol#te command3 $ co#ld hang, dra,, give liberty, and ta'e it a,ay, and no rebels among all
my s#b!ects% Then, to see ho, li'e a 'ing $ dined, too, all alone, attended by my servants@ oll, as
if he had been my favo#rite, ,as the only (erson (ermitted to tal' to me% 1y dog, ,ho ,as no,
gro,n old and cra;y, and had fo#nd no s(ecies to m#lti(ly his 'ind #(on, sat al,ays at my right
hand3 and t,o cats, one on one side of the table and one on the other, ex(ecting no, and then a
bit from my hand, as a mar' of es(ecial favo#r%
8#t these ,ere not the t,o cats ,hich $ bro#ght on shore at first, for they ,ere both of them
dead, and had been interred near my habitation by my o,n hand3 b#t one of them having
m#lti(lied by $ 'no, not ,hat 'ind of creat#re, these ,ere t,o ,hich $ had (reserved tame3
,hereas the rest ran ,ild in the ,oods, and became indeed tro#blesome to me at last, for they
,o#ld often come into my ho#se, and (l#nder me too, till at last $ ,as obliged to shoot them, and
did 'ill a great many3 at length they left me% 4ith this attendance and in this (lentif#l manner $
lived3 neither co#ld $ be said to ,ant anything b#t society3 and of that, some time after this, $ ,as
li'ely to have too m#ch%
$ ,as something im(atient, as $ have observed, to have the #se of my boat, tho#gh very loath to
r#n any more ha;ards3 and therefore sometimes $ sat contriving ,ays to get her abo#t the island,
and at other times $ sat myself do,n contented eno#gh ,itho#t her% 8#t $ had a strange
#neasiness in my mind to go do,n to the (oint of the island ,here, as $ have said in my last
ramble, $ ,ent #( the hill to see ho, the shore lay, and ho, the c#rrent set, that $ might see ,hat
$ had to do: this inclination increased #(on me every day, and at length $ resolved to travel thither
by land, follo,ing the edge of the shore% $ did so3 b#t had any one in England met s#ch a man as $
,as, it m#st either have frightened him, or raised a great deal of la#ghter3 and as $ fre>#ently
stood still to loo' at myself, $ co#ld not b#t smile at the notion of my travelling thro#gh 7or'shire
,ith s#ch an e>#i(age, and in s#ch a dress% 8e (leased to ta'e a s'etch of my fig#re, as follo,s%
F&
$ had a great high sha(eless ca(, made of a goat=s s'in, ,ith a fla( hanging do,n behind, as
,ell to 'ee( the s#n from me as to shoot the rain off from r#nning into my nec', nothing being so
h#rtf#l in these climates as the rain #(on the flesh #nder the clothes%
$ had a short !ac'et of goat=s s'in, the s'irts coming do,n to abo#t the middle of the thighs,
and a (air of o(en-'need breeches of the same3 the breeches ,ere made of the s'in of an old he-
goat, ,hose hair h#ng do,n s#ch a length on either side that, li'e (antaloons, it reached to the
middle of my legs3 stoc'ings and shoes $ had none, b#t had made me a (air of somethings, $
scarce 'ne, ,hat to call them, li'e b#s'ins, to fla( over my legs, and lace on either side li'e
s(atterdashes, b#t of a most barbaro#s sha(e, as indeed ,ere all the rest of my clothes%
$ had on a broad belt of goat=s s'in dried, ,hich $ dre, together ,ith t,o thongs of the same
instead of b#c'les, and in a 'ind of a frog on either side of this, instead of a s,ord and dagger,
h#ng a little sa, and a hatchet, one on one side and one on the other% $ had another belt not so
broad, and fastened in the same manner, ,hich h#ng over my sho#lder, and at the end of it, #nder
my left arm, h#ng t,o (o#ches, both made of goat=s s'in too, in one of ,hich h#ng my (o,der,
in the other my shot% 2t my bac' $ carried my bas'et, and on my sho#lder my g#n, and over my
head a great cl#msy, #gly, goat=s-s'in #mbrella, b#t ,hich, after all, ,as the most necessary thing
$ had abo#t me next to my g#n% 2s for my face, the colo#r of it ,as really not so m#latto-li'e as
one might ex(ect from a man not at all caref#l of it, and living ,ithin nine or ten degrees of the
e>#inox% 1y beard $ had once s#ffered to gro, till it ,as abo#t a >#arter of a yard long3 b#t as $
had both scissors and ra;ors s#fficient, $ had c#t it (retty short, exce(t ,hat gre, on my #((er
li(, ,hich $ had trimmed into a large (air of 1ahometan ,his'ers, s#ch as $ had seen ,orn by
some T#r's at /allee, for the 1oors did not ,ear s#ch, tho#gh the T#r's did3 of these
mo#stachios, or ,his'ers, $ ,ill not say they ,ere long eno#gh to hang my hat #(on them, b#t
they ,ere of a length and sha(e monstro#s eno#gh, and s#ch as in England ,o#ld have (assed
for frightf#l%
8#t all this is by-the-bye3 for as to my fig#re, $ had so fe, to observe me that it ,as of no
manner of conse>#ence, so $ say no more of that% $n this 'ind of dress $ ,ent my ne, !o#rney,
and ,as o#t five or six days% $ travelled first along the sea-shore, directly to the (lace ,here $ first
bro#ght my boat to an anchor to get #(on the roc's3 and having no boat no, to ta'e care of, $
,ent over the land a nearer ,ay to the same height that $ ,as #(on before, ,hen, loo'ing for,ard
to the (oints of the roc's ,hich lay o#t, and ,hich $ ,as obliged to do#ble ,ith my boat, as is
said above, $ ,as s#r(rised to see the sea all smooth and >#iet-no ri((ling, no motion, no c#rrent,
any more there than in other (laces% $ ,as at a strange loss to #nderstand this, and resolved to
s(end some time in the observing it, to see if nothing from the sets of the tide had occasioned it3
b#t $ ,as (resently convinced ho, it ,as-vi;% that the tide of ebb setting from the ,est, and
!oining ,ith the c#rrent of ,aters from some great river on the shore, m#st be the occasion of this
c#rrent, and that, according as the ,ind ble, more forcibly from the ,est or from the north, this
c#rrent came nearer or ,ent farther from the shore3 for, ,aiting thereabo#ts till evening, $ ,ent
#( to the roc' again, and then the tide of ebb being made, $ (lainly sa, the c#rrent again as
before, only that it ran farther off, being near half a leag#e from the shore, ,hereas in my case it
set close #(on the shore, and h#rried me and my canoe along ,ith it, ,hich at another time it
,o#ld not have done%
This observation convinced me that $ had nothing to do b#t to observe the ebbing and the
flo,ing of the tide, and $ might very easily bring my boat abo#t the island again3 b#t ,hen $
began to thin' of (#tting it in (ractice, $ had s#ch terror #(on my s(irits at the remembrance of
the danger $ had been in, that $ co#ld not thin' of it again ,ith any (atience, b#t, on the contrary,
$ too' #( another resol#tion, ,hich ,as more safe, tho#gh more laborio#s- and this ,as, that $
F6
,o#ld b#ild, or rather ma'e, me another (eriag#a or canoe, and so have one for one side of the
island, and one for the other%
7o# are to #nderstand that no, $ had, as $ may call it, t,o (lantations in the island-one my
little fortification or tent, ,ith the ,all abo#t it, #nder the roc', ,ith the cave behind me, ,hich
by this time $ had enlarged into several a(artments or caves, one ,ithin another% Jne of these,
,hich ,as the driest and largest, and had a door o#t beyond my ,all or fortification-that is to say,
beyond ,here my ,all !oined to the roc'-,as all filled #( ,ith the large earthen (ots of ,hich $
have given an acco#nt, and ,ith fo#rteen or fifteen great bas'ets, ,hich ,o#ld hold five or six
b#shels each, ,here $ laid #( my stores of (rovisions, es(ecially my corn, some in the ear, c#t off
short from the stra,, and the other r#bbed o#t ,ith my hand%
2s for my ,all, made, as before, ,ith long sta'es or (iles, those (iles gre, all li'e trees, and
,ere by this time gro,n so big, and s(read so very m#ch, that there ,as not the least a((earance,
to any one=s vie,, of any habitation behind them%
.ear this d,elling of mine, b#t a little farther ,ithin the land, and #(on lo,er gro#nd, lay my
t,o (ieces of corn land, ,hich $ 'e(t d#ly c#ltivated and so,ed, and ,hich d#ly yielded me their
harvest in its season3 and ,henever $ had occasion for more corn, $ had more land ad!oining as fit
as that%
8esides this, $ had my co#ntry seat, and $ had no, a tolerable (lantation there also3 for, first, $
had my little bo,er, as $ called it, ,hich $ 'e(t in re(air-that is to say, $ 'e(t the hedge ,hich
encircled it in constantly fitted #( to its #s#al height, the ladder standing al,ays in the inside% $
'e(t the trees, ,hich at first ,ere no more than sta'es, b#t ,ere no, gro,n very firm and tall,
al,ays c#t, so that they might s(read and gro, thic' and ,ild, and ma'e the more agreeable
shade, ,hich they did effect#ally to my mind% $n the middle of this $ had my tent al,ays standing,
being a (iece of a sail s(read over (oles, set #( for that (#r(ose, and ,hich never ,anted any
re(air or rene,ing3 and #nder this $ had made me a s>#ab or co#ch ,ith the s'ins of the creat#res
$ had 'illed, and ,ith other soft things, and a blan'et laid on them, s#ch as belonged to o#r sea-
bedding, ,hich $ had saved3 and a great ,atch-coat to cover me% 2nd here, ,henever $ had
occasion to be absent from my chief seat, $ too' #( my co#ntry habitation%
2d!oining to this $ had my enclos#res for my cattle, that is to say my goats, and $ had ta'en an
inconceivable deal of (ains to fence and enclose this gro#nd% $ ,as so anxio#s to see it 'e(t
entire, lest the goats sho#ld brea' thro#gh, that $ never left off till, ,ith infinite labo#r, $ had
st#c' the o#tside of the hedge so f#ll of small sta'es, and so near to one another, that it ,as rather
a (ale than a hedge, and there ,as scarce room to (#t a hand thro#gh bet,een them3 ,hich
after,ards, ,hen those sta'es gre,, as they all did in the next rainy season, made the enclos#re
strong li'e a ,all, indeed stronger than any ,all%
This ,ill testify for me that $ ,as not idle, and that $ s(ared no (ains to bring to (ass ,hatever
a((eared necessary for my comfortable s#((ort, for $ considered the 'ee(ing #( a breed of tame
creat#res th#s at my hand ,o#ld be a living maga;ine of flesh, mil', b#tter, and cheese for me as
long as $ lived in the (lace, if it ,ere to be forty years3 and that 'ee(ing them in my reach
de(ended entirely #(on my (erfecting my enclos#res to s#ch a degree that $ might be s#re of
'ee(ing them together3 ,hich by this method, indeed, $ so effect#ally sec#red, that ,hen these
little sta'es began to gro,, $ had (lanted them so very thic' that $ ,as forced to (#ll some of
them #( again%
$n this (lace also $ had my gra(es gro,ing, ,hich $ (rinci(ally de(ended on for my ,inter
store of raisins, and ,hich $ never failed to (reserve very caref#lly, as the best and most agreeable
dainty of my ,hole diet3 and indeed they ,ere not only agreeable, b#t medicinal, ,holesome,
no#rishing, and refreshing to the last degree%
FB
2s this ,as also abo#t half-,ay bet,een my other habitation and the (lace ,here $ had laid #(
my boat, $ generally stayed and lay here in my ,ay thither, for $ #sed fre>#ently to visit my boat3
and $ 'e(t all things abo#t or belonging to her in very good order% /ometimes $ ,ent o#t in her to
divert myself, b#t no more ha;ardo#s voyages ,o#ld $ go, scarcely ever above a stone=s cast or
t,o from the shore, $ ,as so a((rehensive of being h#rried o#t of my 'no,ledge again by the
c#rrents or ,inds, or any other accident% 8#t no, $ come to a ne, scene of my life% $t ha((ened
one day, abo#t noon, going to,ards my boat, $ ,as exceedingly s#r(rised ,ith the (rint of a
man=s na'ed foot on the shore, ,hich ,as very (lain to be seen on the sand% $ stood li'e one
th#nderstr#c', or as if $ had seen an a((arition% $ listened, $ loo'ed ro#nd me, b#t $ co#ld hear
nothing, nor see anything3 $ ,ent #( to a rising gro#nd to loo' farther3 $ ,ent #( the shore and
do,n the shore, b#t it ,as all one3 $ co#ld see no other im(ression b#t that one% $ ,ent to it again
to see if there ,ere any more, and to observe if it might not be my fancy3 b#t there ,as no room
for that, for there ,as exactly the (rint of a foot-toes, heel, and every (art of a foot% 0o, it came
thither $ 'ne, not, nor co#ld $ in the least imagine3 b#t after inn#merable fl#ttering tho#ghts, li'e
a man (erfectly conf#sed and o#t of myself, $ came home to my fortification, not feeling, as ,e
say, the gro#nd $ ,ent on, b#t terrified to the last degree, loo'ing behind me at every t,o or three
ste(s, mista'ing every b#sh and tree, and fancying every st#m( at a distance to be a man% .or is
it (ossible to describe ho, many vario#s sha(es my affrighted imagination re(resented things to
me in, ho, many ,ild ideas ,ere fo#nd every moment in my fancy, and ,hat strange,
#nacco#ntable ,himsies came into my tho#ghts by the ,ay%
4hen $ came to my castle Cfor so $ thin' $ called it ever after thisD, $ fled into it li'e one
(#rs#ed% 4hether $ ,ent over by the ladder, as first contrived, or ,ent in at the hole in the roc',
,hich $ had called a door, $ cannot remember3 no, nor co#ld $ remember the next morning, for
never frightened hare fled to cover, or fox to earth, ,ith more terror of mind than $ to this retreat%
$ sle(t none that night3 the farther $ ,as from the occasion of my fright, the greater my
a((rehensions ,ere, ,hich is something contrary to the nat#re of s#ch things, and es(ecially to
the #s#al (ractice of all creat#res in fear3 b#t $ ,as so embarrassed ,ith my o,n frightf#l ideas of
the thing, that $ formed nothing b#t dismal imaginations to myself, even tho#gh $ ,as no, a great
,ay off% /ometimes $ fancied it m#st be the devil, and reason !oined in ,ith me in this
s#((osition, for ho, sho#ld any other thing in h#man sha(e come into the (lace? 4here ,as the
vessel that bro#ght them? 4hat mar's ,ere there of any other footste(? 2nd ho, ,as it (ossible
a man sho#ld come there? 8#t then, to thin' that /atan sho#ld ta'e h#man sha(e #(on him in
s#ch a (lace, ,here there co#ld be no manner of occasion for it, b#t to leave the (rint of his foot
behind him, and that even for no (#r(ose too, for he co#ld not be s#re $ sho#ld see it-this ,as an
am#sement the other ,ay% $ considered that the devil might have fo#nd o#t ab#ndance of other
,ays to have terrified me than this of the single (rint of a foot3 that as $ lived >#ite on the other
side of the island, he ,o#ld never have been so sim(le as to leave a mar' in a (lace ,here it ,as
ten tho#sand to one ,hether $ sho#ld ever see it or not, and in the sand too, ,hich the first s#rge
of the sea, #(on a high ,ind, ,o#ld have defaced entirely% 2ll this seemed inconsistent ,ith the
thing itself and ,ith all the notions ,e #s#ally entertain of the s#btlety of the devil%
2b#ndance of s#ch things as these assisted to arg#e me o#t of all a((rehensions of its being the
devil3 and $ (resently concl#ded then that it m#st be some more dangero#s creat#re-vi;% that it
m#st be some of the savages of the mainland o((osite ,ho had ,andered o#t to sea in their
canoes, and either driven by the c#rrents or by contrary ,inds, had made the island, and had been
on shore, b#t ,ere gone a,ay again to sea3 being as loath, (erha(s, to have stayed in this desolate
island as $ ,o#ld have been to have had them%
F*
4hile these reflections ,ere rolling in my mind, $ ,as very than'f#l in my tho#ghts that $ ,as
so ha((y as not to be thereabo#ts at that time, or that they did not see my boat, by ,hich they
,o#ld have concl#ded that some inhabitants had been in the (lace, and (erha(s have searched
farther for me% Then terrible tho#ghts rac'ed my imagination abo#t their having fo#nd o#t my
boat, and that there ,ere (eo(le here3 and that, if so, $ sho#ld certainly have them come again in
greater n#mbers and devo#r me3 that if it sho#ld ha((en that they sho#ld not find me, yet they
,o#ld find my enclos#re, destroy all my corn, and carry a,ay all my floc' of tame goats, and $
sho#ld (erish at last for mere ,ant%
Th#s my fear banished all my religio#s ho(e, all that former confidence in "od, ,hich ,as
fo#nded #(on s#ch ,onderf#l ex(erience as $ had had of 0is goodness3 as if 0e that had fed me
by miracle hitherto co#ld not (reserve, by 0is (o,er, the (rovision ,hich 0e had made for me
by 0is goodness% $ re(roached myself ,ith my la;iness, that ,o#ld not so, any more corn one
year than ,o#ld !#st serve me till the next season, as if no accident co#ld intervene to (revent my
en!oying the cro( that ,as #(on the gro#nd3 and this $ tho#ght so !#st a re(roof, that $ resolved
for the f#t#re to have t,o or three years= corn beforehand3 so that, ,hatever might come, $ might
not (erish for ,ant of bread%
0o, strange a che>#er-,or' of rovidence is the life of man@ and by ,hat secret different
s(rings are the affections h#rried abo#t, as different circ#mstances (resent@ To-day ,e love ,hat
to-morro, ,e hate3 to-day ,e see' ,hat to-morro, ,e sh#n3 to-day ,e desire ,hat to-morro,
,e fear, nay, even tremble at the a((rehensions of% This ,as exem(lified in me, at this time, in
the most lively manner imaginable3 for $, ,hose only affliction ,as that $ seemed banished from
h#man society, that $ ,as alone, circ#mscribed by the bo#ndless ocean, c#t off from man'ind,
and condemned to ,hat $ call silent life3 that $ ,as as one ,hom 0eaven tho#ght not ,orthy to be
n#mbered among the living, or to a((ear among the rest of 0is creat#res3 that to have seen one of
my o,n s(ecies ,o#ld have seemed to me a raising me from death to life, and the greatest
blessing that 0eaven itself, next to the s#(reme blessing of salvation, co#ld besto,3 $ say, that $
sho#ld no, tremble at the very a((rehensions of seeing a man, and ,as ready to sin' into the
gro#nd at b#t the shado, or silent a((earance of a man having set his foot in the island%
/#ch is the #neven state of h#man life3 and it afforded me a great many c#rio#s s(ec#lations
after,ards, ,hen $ had a little recovered my first s#r(rise% $ considered that this ,as the station of
life the infinitely ,ise and good (rovidence of "od had determined for me3 that as $ co#ld not
foresee ,hat the ends of Divine ,isdom might be in all this, so $ ,as not to dis(#te 0is
sovereignty3 ,ho, as $ ,as 0is creat#re, had an #ndo#bted right, by creation, to govern and
dis(ose of me absol#tely as 0e tho#ght fit3 and ,ho, as $ ,as a creat#re that had offended 0im,
had li'e,ise a !#dicial right to condemn me to ,hat (#nishment 0e tho#ght fit3 and that it ,as
my (art to s#bmit to bear 0is indignation, beca#se $ had sinned against 0im% $ then reflected, that
as "od, ,ho ,as not only righteo#s b#t omni(otent, had tho#ght fit th#s to (#nish and afflict me,
so 0e ,as able to deliver me: that if 0e did not thin' fit to do so, it ,as my #n>#estioned d#ty to
resign myself absol#tely and entirely to 0is ,ill3 and, on the other hand, it ,as my d#ty also to
ho(e in 0im, (ray to 0im, and >#ietly to attend to the dictates and directions of 0is daily
(rovidence,
These tho#ghts too' me #( many ho#rs, days, nay, $ may say ,ee's and months: and one
(artic#lar effect of my cogitations on this occasion $ cannot omit% Jne morning early, lying in my
bed, and filled ,ith tho#ghts abo#t my danger from the a((earances of savages, $ fo#nd it
discom(osed me very m#ch3 #(on ,hich these ,ords of the /cri(t#re came into my tho#ghts,
ACall #(on 1e in the day of tro#ble, and $ ,ill deliver thee, and tho# shalt glorify 1e%A U(on
this, rising cheerf#lly o#t of my bed, my heart ,as not only comforted, b#t $ ,as g#ided and
F)
enco#raged to (ray earnestly to "od for deliverance: ,hen $ had done (raying $ too' #( my
8ible, and o(ening it to read, the first ,ords that (resented to me ,ere, A4ait on the Lord, and be
of good cheer, and 0e shall strengthen thy heart3 ,ait, $ say, on the Lord%A $t is im(ossible to
ex(ress the comfort this gave me% $n ans,er, $ than'f#lly laid do,n the boo', and ,as no more
sad, at least on that occasion%
$n the middle of these cogitations, a((rehensions, and reflections, it came into my tho#ghts one
day that all this might be a mere chimera of my o,n, and that this foot might be the (rint of my
o,n foot, ,hen $ came on shore from my boat: this cheered me #( a little, too, and $ began to
(ers#ade myself it ,as all a del#sion3 that it ,as nothing else b#t my o,n foot3 and ,hy might $
not come that ,ay from the boat, as ,ell as $ ,as going that ,ay to the boat? 2gain, $ considered
also that $ co#ld by no means tell for certain ,here $ had trod, and ,here $ had not3 and that if, at
last, this ,as only the (rint of my o,n foot, $ had (layed the (art of those fools ,ho try to ma'e
stories of s(ectres and a((aritions, and then are frightened at them more than anybody%
.o, $ began to ta'e co#rage, and to (ee( abroad again, for $ had not stirred o#t of my castle
for three days and nights, so that $ began to starve for (rovisions3 for $ had little or nothing ,ithin
doors b#t some barley-ca'es and ,ater3 then $ 'ne, that my goats ,anted to be mil'ed too,
,hich #s#ally ,as my evening diversion: and the (oor creat#res ,ere in great (ain and
inconvenience for ,ant of it3 and, indeed, it almost s(oiled some of them, and almost dried #(
their mil'% Enco#raging myself, therefore, ,ith the belief that this ,as nothing b#t the (rint of
one of my o,n feet, and that $ might be tr#ly said to start at my o,n shado,, $ began to go
abroad again, and ,ent to my co#ntry ho#se to mil' my floc': b#t to see ,ith ,hat fear $ ,ent
for,ard, ho, often $ loo'ed behind me, ho, $ ,as ready every no, and then to lay do,n my
bas'et and r#n for my life, it ,o#ld have made any one have tho#ght $ ,as ha#nted ,ith an evil
conscience, or that $ had been lately most terribly frightened3 and so, indeed, $ had% 0o,ever, $
,ent do,n th#s t,o or three days, and having seen nothing, $ began to be a little bolder, and to
thin' there ,as really nothing in it b#t my o,n imagination3 b#t $ co#ld not (ers#ade myself f#lly
of this till $ sho#ld go do,n to the shore again, and see this (rint of a foot, and meas#re it by my
o,n, and see if there ,as any similit#de or fitness, that $ might be ass#red it ,as my o,n foot:
b#t ,hen $ came to the (lace, first, it a((eared evidently to me, that ,hen $ laid #( my boat $
co#ld not (ossibly be on shore any,here thereabo#ts3 secondly, ,hen $ came to meas#re the
mar' ,ith my o,n foot, $ fo#nd my foot not so large by a great deal% 8oth these things filled my
head ,ith ne, imaginations, and gave me the va(o#rs again to the highest degree, so that $ shoo'
,ith cold li'e one in an ag#e3 and $ ,ent home again, filled ,ith the belief that some man or men
had been on shore there3 or, in short, that the island ,as inhabited, and $ might be s#r(rised
before $ ,as a,are3 and ,hat co#rse to ta'e for my sec#rity $ 'ne, not%
Jh, ,hat ridic#lo#s resol#tions men ta'e ,hen (ossessed ,ith fear@ $t de(rives them of the #se
of those means ,hich reason offers for their relief% The first thing $ (ro(osed to myself ,as, to
thro, do,n my enclos#res, and t#rn all my tame cattle ,ild into the ,oods, lest the enemy
sho#ld find them, and then fre>#ent the island in (ros(ect of the same or the li'e booty: then the
sim(le thing of digging #( my t,o corn-fields, lest they sho#ld find s#ch a grain there, and still
be (rom(ted to fre>#ent the island: then to demolish my bo,er and tent, that they might not see
any vestiges of habitation, and be (rom(ted to loo' farther, in order to find o#t the (ersons
inhabiting%
These ,ere the s#b!ect of the first night=s cogitations after $ ,as come home again, ,hile the
a((rehensions ,hich had so overr#n my mind ,ere fresh #(on me, and my head ,as f#ll of
va(o#rs% Th#s, fear of danger is ten tho#sand times more terrifying than danger itself, ,hen
a((arent to the eyes3 and ,e find the b#rden of anxiety greater, by m#ch, than the evil ,hich ,e
FF
are anxio#s abo#t: and ,hat ,as ,orse than all this, $ had not that relief in this tro#ble that from
the resignation $ #sed to (ractise $ ho(ed to have% $ loo'ed, $ tho#ght, li'e /a#l, ,ho com(lained
not only that the hilistines ,ere #(on him, b#t that "od had forsa'en him3 for $ did not no, ta'e
d#e ,ays to com(ose my mind, by crying to "od in my distress, and resting #(on 0is
(rovidence, as $ had done before, for my defence and deliverance3 ,hich, if $ had done, $ had at
least been more cheerf#lly s#((orted #nder this ne, s#r(rise, and (erha(s carried thro#gh it ,ith
more resol#tion%
This conf#sion of my tho#ghts 'e(t me a,a'e all night3 b#t in the morning $ fell aslee(3 and
having, by the am#sement of my mind, been as it ,ere tired, and my s(irits exha#sted, $ sle(t
very so#ndly, and ,a'ed m#ch better com(osed than $ had ever been before% 2nd no, $ began to
thin' sedately3 and, #(on debate ,ith myself, $ concl#ded that this island C,hich ,as so
exceedingly (leasant, fr#itf#l, and no farther from the mainland than as $ had seenD ,as not so
entirely abandoned as $ might imagine3 that altho#gh there ,ere no stated inhabitants ,ho lived
on the s(ot, yet that there might sometimes come boats off from the shore, ,ho, either ,ith
design, or (erha(s never b#t ,hen they ,ere driven by cross ,inds, might come to this (lace3
that $ had lived there fifteen years no, and had not met ,ith the least shado, or fig#re of any
(eo(le yet3 and that, if at any time they sho#ld be driven here, it ,as (robable they ,ent a,ay
again as soon as ever they co#ld, seeing they had never tho#ght fit to fix here #(on any occasion3
that the most $ co#ld s#ggest any danger from ,as from any cas#al accidental landing of
straggling (eo(le from the main, ,ho, as it ,as li'ely, if they ,ere driven hither, ,ere here
against their ,ills, so they made no stay here, b#t ,ent off again ,ith all (ossible s(eed3 seldom
staying one night on shore, lest they sho#ld not have the hel( of the tides and daylight bac' again3
and that, therefore, $ had nothing to do b#t to consider of some safe retreat, in case $ sho#ld see
any savages land #(on the s(ot%
.o,, $ began sorely to re(ent that $ had d#g my cave so large as to bring a door thro#gh again,
,hich door, as $ said, came o#t beyond ,here my fortification !oined to the roc': #(on mat#rely
considering this, therefore, $ resolved to dra, me a second fortification, in the manner of a
semicircle, at a distance from my ,all, !#st ,here $ had (lanted a do#ble ro, of trees abo#t
t,elve years before, of ,hich $ made mention: these trees having been (lanted so thic' before,
they ,anted b#t fe, (iles to be driven bet,een them, that they might be thic'er and stronger, and
my ,all ,o#ld be soon finished% /o that $ had no, a do#ble ,all3 and my o#ter ,all ,as
thic'ened ,ith (ieces of timber, old cables, and everything $ co#ld thin' of, to ma'e it strong3
having in it seven little holes, abo#t as big as $ might (#t my arm o#t at% $n the inside of this $
thic'ened my ,all to abo#t ten feet thic' ,ith contin#ally bringing earth o#t of my cave, and
laying it at the foot of the ,all, and ,al'ing #(on it3 and thro#gh the seven holes $ contrived to
(lant the m#s'ets, of ,hich $ too' notice that $ had got seven on shore o#t of the shi(3 these $
(lanted li'e my cannon, and fitted them into frames, that held them li'e a carriage, so that $ co#ld
fire all the seven g#ns in t,o min#tes= time3 this ,all $ ,as many a ,eary month in finishing, and
yet never tho#ght myself safe till it ,as done%
4hen this ,as done $ st#c' all the gro#nd ,itho#t my ,all, for a great length every ,ay, as
f#ll ,ith sta'es or stic's of the osier-li'e ,ood, ,hich $ fo#nd so a(t to gro,, as they co#ld ,ell
stand3 insom#ch that $ believe $ might set in near t,enty tho#sand of them, leaving a (retty large
s(ace bet,een them and my ,all, that $ might have room to see an enemy, and they might have
no shelter from the yo#ng trees, if they attem(ted to a((roach my o#ter ,all%
Th#s in t,o years= time $ had a thic' grove3 and in five or six years= time $ had a ,ood before
my d,elling, gro,ing so monstro#sly thic' and strong that it ,as indeed (erfectly im(assable:
and no men, of ,hat 'ind soever, co#ld ever imagine that there ,as anything beyond it, m#ch
FG
less a habitation% 2s for the ,ay ,hich $ (ro(osed to myself to go in and o#t Cfor $ left no
aven#eD, it ,as by setting t,o ladders, one to a (art of the roc' ,hich ,as lo,, and then bro'e in,
and left room to (lace another ladder #(on that3 so ,hen the t,o ladders ,ere ta'en do,n no
man living co#ld come do,n to me ,itho#t doing himself mischief3 and if they had come do,n,
they ,ere still on the o#tside of my o#ter ,all%
Th#s $ too' all the meas#res h#man (r#dence co#ld s#ggest for my o,n (reservation3 and it
,ill be seen at length that they ,ere not altogether ,itho#t !#st reason3 tho#gh $ foresa, nothing
at that time more than my mere fear s#ggested to me%
Cha(ter 5&
C02TE9 I$$-2 C2VE 9ET9E2T
40$LE this ,as doing, $ ,as not altogether careless of my other affairs3 for $ had a great
concern #(on me for my little herd of goats: they ,ere not only a ready s#((ly to me on every
occasion, and began to be s#fficient for me, ,itho#t the ex(ense of (o,der and shot, b#t also
,itho#t the fatig#e of h#nting after the ,ild ones3 and $ ,as loath to lose the advantage of them,
and to have them all to n#rse #( over again%
<or this (#r(ose, after long consideration, $ co#ld thin' of b#t t,o ,ays to (reserve them: one
,as, to find another convenient (lace to dig a cave #ndergro#nd, and to drive them into it every
night3 and the other ,as to enclose t,o or three little bits of land, remote from one another, and
as m#ch concealed as $ co#ld, ,here $ might 'ee( abo#t half-a-do;en yo#ng goats in each (lace3
so that if any disaster ha((ened to the floc' in general, $ might be able to raise them again ,ith
little tro#ble and time: and this tho#gh it ,o#ld re>#ire a good deal of time and labo#r, $ tho#ght
,as the most rational design%
2ccordingly, $ s(ent some time to find o#t the most retired (arts of the island3 and $ (itched
#(on one, ,hich ,as as (rivate, indeed, as my heart co#ld ,ish: it ,as a little dam( (iece of
gro#nd in the middle of the hollo, and thic' ,oods, ,here, as is observed, $ almost lost myself
once before, endeavo#ring to come bac' that ,ay from the eastern (art of the island% 0ere $
fo#nd a clear (iece of land, near three acres, so s#rro#nded ,ith ,oods that it ,as almost an
enclos#re by nat#re3 at least, it did not ,ant near so m#ch labo#r to ma'e it so as the other (iece
of gro#nd $ had ,or'ed so hard at%
$ immediately ,ent to ,or' ,ith this (iece of gro#nd3 and in less than a month=s time $ had so
fenced it ro#nd that my floc', or herd, call it ,hich yo# (lease, ,hich ,ere not so ,ild no, as at
first they might be s#((osed to be, ,ere ,ell eno#gh sec#red in it: so, ,itho#t any f#rther delay, $
removed ten yo#ng she-goats and t,o he-goats to this (iece, and ,hen they ,ere there $
contin#ed to (erfect the fence till $ had made it as sec#re as the other3 ,hich, ho,ever, $ did at
more leis#re, and it too' me #( more time by a great deal% 2ll this labo#r $ ,as at the ex(ense of,
(#rely from my a((rehensions on acco#nt of the (rint of a man=s foot3 for as yet $ had never seen
any h#man creat#re come near the island3 and $ had no, lived t,o years #nder this #neasiness,
,hich, indeed, made my life m#ch less comfortable than it ,as before, as may be ,ell imagined
by any ,ho 'no, ,hat it is to live in the constant snare of the fear of man% 2nd this $ m#st
observe, ,ith grief, too, that the discom(os#re of my mind had great im(ression also #(on the
religio#s (art of my tho#ghts3 for the dread and terror of falling into the hands of savages and
cannibals lay so #(on my s(irits, that $ seldom fo#nd myself in a d#e tem(er for a((lication to
my 1a'er3 at least, not ,ith the sedate calmness and resignation of so#l ,hich $ ,as ,ont to do:
$ rather (rayed to "od as #nder great affliction and (ress#re of mind, s#rro#nded ,ith danger,
and in ex(ectation every night of being m#rdered and devo#red before morning3 and $ m#st
testify, from my ex(erience, that a tem(er of (eace, than'f#lness, love, and affection, is m#ch the
more (ro(er frame for (rayer than that of terror and discom(os#re: and that #nder the dread of
FH
mischief im(ending, a man is no more fit for a comforting (erformance of the d#ty of (raying to
"od than he is for a re(entance on a sic'-bed3 for these discom(os#res affect the mind, as the
others do the body3 and the discom(os#re of the mind m#st necessarily be as great a disability as
that of the body, and m#ch greater3 (raying to "od being (ro(erly an act of the mind, not of the
body%
8#t to go on% 2fter $ had th#s sec#red one (art of my little living stoc', $ ,ent abo#t the ,hole
island, searching for another (rivate (lace to ma'e s#ch another de(osit3 ,hen, ,andering more
to the ,est (oint of the island than $ had ever done yet, and loo'ing o#t to sea, $ tho#ght $ sa, a
boat #(on the sea, at a great distance% $ had fo#nd a (ers(ective glass or t,o in one of the
seamen=s chests, ,hich $ saved o#t of o#r shi(, b#t $ had it not abo#t me3 and this ,as so remote
that $ co#ld not tell ,hat to ma'e of it, tho#gh $ loo'ed at it till my eyes ,ere not able to hold to
loo' any longer3 ,hether it ,as a boat or not $ do not 'no,, b#t as $ descended from the hill $
co#ld see no more of it, so $ gave it over3 only $ resolved to go no more o#t ,itho#t a (ers(ective
glass in my (oc'et% 4hen $ ,as come do,n the hill to the end of the island, ,here, indeed, $ had
never been before, $ ,as (resently convinced that the seeing the (rint of a man=s foot ,as not
s#ch a strange thing in the island as $ imagined: and b#t that it ,as a s(ecial (rovidence that $ ,as
cast #(on the side of the island ,here the savages never came, $ sho#ld easily have 'no,n that
nothing ,as more fre>#ent than for the canoes from the main, ,hen they ha((ened to be a little
too far o#t at sea, to shoot over to that side of the island for harbo#r: li'e,ise, as they often met
and fo#ght in their canoes, the victors, having ta'en any (risoners, ,o#ld bring them over to this
shore, ,here, according to their dreadf#l c#stoms, being all cannibals, they ,o#ld 'ill and eat
them3 of ,hich hereafter%
4hen $ ,as come do,n the hill to the shore, as $ said above, being the /4% (oint of the island,
$ ,as (erfectly confo#nded and ama;ed3 nor is it (ossible for me to ex(ress the horror of my
mind at seeing the shore s(read ,ith s'#lls, hands, feet, and other bones of h#man bodies3 and
(artic#larly $ observed a (lace ,here there had been a fire made, and a circle d#g in the earth,
li'e a coc'(it, ,here $ s#((osed the savage ,retches had sat do,n to their h#man feastings #(on
the bodies of their fello,-creat#res%
$ ,as so astonished ,ith the sight of these things, that $ entertained no notions of any danger to
myself from it for a long ,hile: all my a((rehensions ,ere b#ried in the tho#ghts of s#ch a (itch
of inh#man, hellish br#tality, and the horror of the degeneracy of h#man nat#re, ,hich, tho#gh $
had heard of it often, yet $ never had so near a vie, of before3 in short, $ t#rned a,ay my face
from the horrid s(ectacle3 my stomach gre, sic', and $ ,as !#st at the (oint of fainting, ,hen
nat#re discharged the disorder from my stomach3 and having vomited ,ith #ncommon violence, $
,as a little relieved, b#t co#ld not bear to stay in the (lace a moment3 so $ got #( the hill again
,ith all the s(eed $ co#ld, and ,al'ed on to,ards my o,n habitation%
4hen $ came a little o#t of that (art of the island $ stood still a,hile, as ama;ed, and then,
recovering myself, $ loo'ed #( ,ith the #tmost affection of my so#l, and, ,ith a flood of tears in
my eyes, gave "od than's, that had cast my first lot in a (art of the ,orld ,here $ ,as
disting#ished from s#ch dreadf#l creat#res as these3 and that, tho#gh $ had esteemed my (resent
condition very miserable, had yet given me so many comforts in it that $ had still more to give
than's for than to com(lain of: and this, above all, that $ had, even in this miserable condition,
been comforted ,ith the 'no,ledge of 0imself, and the ho(e of 0is blessing: ,hich ,as a
felicity more than s#fficiently e>#ivalent to all the misery ,hich $ had s#ffered, or co#ld s#ffer%
$n this frame of than'f#lness $ ,ent home to my castle, and began to be m#ch easier no,, as to
the safety of my circ#mstances, than ever $ ,as before: for $ observed that these ,retches never
came to this island in search of ,hat they co#ld get3 (erha(s not see'ing, not ,anting, or not
G-
ex(ecting anything here3 and having often, no do#bt, been #( the covered, ,oody (art of it
,itho#t finding anything to their (#r(ose% $ 'ne, $ had been here no, almost eighteen years, and
never sa, the least footste(s of h#man creat#re there before3 and $ might be eighteen years more
as entirely concealed as $ ,as no,, if $ did not discover myself to them, ,hich $ had no manner
of occasion to do3 it being my only b#siness to 'ee( myself entirely concealed ,here $ ,as,
#nless $ fo#nd a better sort of creat#res than cannibals to ma'e myself 'no,n to% 7et $ entertained
s#ch an abhorrence of the savage ,retches that $ have been s(ea'ing of, and of the ,retched,
inh#man c#stom of their devo#ring and eating one another #(, that $ contin#ed (ensive and sad,
and 'e(t close ,ithin my o,n circle for almost t,o years after this: ,hen $ say my o,n circle, $
mean by it my three (lantations- vi;% my castle, my co#ntry seat C,hich $ called my bo,erD, and
my enclos#re in the ,oods: nor did $ loo' after this for any other #se than an enclos#re for my
goats3 for the aversion ,hich nat#re gave me to these hellish ,retches ,as s#ch, that $ ,as as
fearf#l of seeing them as of seeing the devil himself% $ did not so m#ch as go to loo' after my
boat all this time, b#t began rather to thin' of ma'ing another3 for $ co#ld not thin' of ever
ma'ing any more attem(ts to bring the other boat ro#nd the island to me, lest $ sho#ld meet ,ith
some of these creat#res at sea3 in ,hich case, if $ had ha((ened to have fallen into their hands, $
'ne, ,hat ,o#ld have been my lot%
Time, ho,ever, and the satisfaction $ had that $ ,as in no danger of being discovered by these
(eo(le, began to ,ear off my #neasiness abo#t them3 and $ began to live !#st in the same
com(osed manner as before, only ,ith this difference, that $ #sed more ca#tion, and 'e(t my eyes
more abo#t me than $ did before, lest $ sho#ld ha((en to be seen by any of them3 and (artic#larly,
$ ,as more ca#tio#s of firing my g#n, lest any of them, being on the island, sho#ld ha((en to hear
it% $t ,as, therefore, a very good (rovidence to me that $ had f#rnished myself ,ith a tame breed
of goats, and that $ had no need to h#nt any more abo#t the ,oods, or shoot at them3 and if $ did
catch any of them after this, it ,as by tra(s and snares, as $ had done before3 so that for t,o years
after this $ believe $ never fired my g#n once off, tho#gh $ never ,ent o#t ,itho#t it3 and ,hat
,as more, as $ had saved three (istols o#t of the shi(, $ al,ays carried them o#t ,ith me, or at
least t,o of them, stic'ing them in my goat-s'in belt% $ also f#rbished #( one of the great
c#tlasses that $ had o#t of the shi(, and made me a belt to hang it on also3 so that $ ,as no, a
most formidable fello, to loo' at ,hen $ ,ent abroad, if yo# add to the former descri(tion of
myself the (artic#lar of t,o (istols, and a broads,ord hanging at my side in a belt, b#t ,itho#t a
scabbard%
Things going on th#s, as $ have said, for some time, $ seemed, exce(ting these ca#tions, to be
red#ced to my former calm, sedate ,ay of living% 2ll these things tended to sho, me more and
more ho, far my condition ,as from being miserable, com(ared to some others3 nay, to many
other (artic#lars of life ,hich it might have (leased "od to have made my lot% $t (#t me #(on
reflecting ho, little re(ining there ,o#ld be among man'ind at any condition of life if (eo(le
,o#ld rather com(are their condition ,ith those that ,ere ,orse, in order to be than'f#l, than be
al,ays com(aring them ,ith those ,hich are better, to assist their m#rm#rings and com(lainings%
2s in my (resent condition there ,ere not really many things ,hich $ ,anted, so indeed $
tho#ght that the frights $ had been in abo#t these savage ,retches, and the concern $ had been in
for my o,n (reservation, had ta'en off the edge of my invention, for my o,n conveniences3 and
$ had dro((ed a good design, ,hich $ had once bent my tho#ghts #(on, and that ,as to try if $
co#ld not ma'e some of my barley into malt, and then try to bre, myself some beer% This ,as
really a ,himsical tho#ght, and $ re(roved myself often for the sim(licity of it: for $ (resently
sa, there ,o#ld be the ,ant of several things necessary to the ma'ing my beer that it ,o#ld be
im(ossible for me to s#((ly3 as, first, cas's to (reserve it in, ,hich ,as a thing that, as $ have
G5
observed already, $ co#ld never com(ass: no, tho#gh $ s(ent not only many days, b#t ,ee's, nay
months, in attem(ting it, b#t to no (#r(ose% $n the next (lace, $ had no ho(s to ma'e it 'ee(, no
yeast to made it ,or', no co((er or 'ettle to ma'e it boil3 and yet ,ith all these things ,anting, $
verily believe, had not the frights and terrors $ ,as in abo#t the savages intervened, $ had
#nderta'en it, and (erha(s bro#ght it to (ass too3 for $ seldom gave anything over ,itho#t
accom(lishing it, ,hen once $ had it in my head to began it% 8#t my invention no, ran >#ite
another ,ay3 for night and day $ co#ld thin' of nothing b#t ho, $ might destroy some of the
monsters in their cr#el, bloody entertainment, and if (ossible save the victim they sho#ld bring
hither to destroy% $t ,o#ld ta'e #( a larger vol#me than this ,hole ,or' is intended to be to set
do,n all the contrivances $ hatched, or rather brooded #(on, in my tho#ghts, for the destroying
these creat#res, or at least frightening them so as to (revent their coming hither any more: b#t all
this ,as abortive3 nothing co#ld be (ossible to ta'e effect, #nless $ ,as to be there to do it
myself: and ,hat co#ld one man do among them, ,hen (erha(s there might be t,enty or thirty of
them together ,ith their darts, or their bo,s and arro,s, ,ith ,hich they co#ld shoot as tr#e to a
mar' as $ co#ld ,ith my g#n?
/ometimes $ tho#ght if digging a hole #nder the (lace ,here they made their fire, and (#tting
in five or six (o#nds of g#n(o,der, ,hich, ,hen they 'indled their fire, ,o#ld conse>#ently ta'e
fire, and blo, #( all that ,as near it: b#t as, in the first (lace, $ sho#ld be #n,illing to ,aste so
m#ch (o,der #(on them, my store being no, ,ithin the >#antity of one barrel, so neither co#ld $
be s#re of its going off at any certain time, ,hen it might s#r(rise them3 and, at best, that it ,o#ld
do little more than !#st blo, the fire abo#t their ears and fright them, b#t not s#fficient to ma'e
them forsa'e the (lace: so $ laid it aside3 and then (ro(osed that $ ,o#ld (lace myself in amb#sh
in some convenient (lace, ,ith my three g#ns all do#ble-loaded, and in the middle of their
bloody ceremony let fly at them, ,hen $ sho#ld be s#re to 'ill or ,o#nd (erha(s t,o or three at
every shot3 and then falling in #(on them ,ith my three (istols and my s,ord, $ made no do#bt
b#t that, if there ,ere t,enty, $ sho#ld 'ill them all% This fancy (leased my tho#ghts for some
,ee's, and $ ,as so f#ll of it that $ often dreamed of it, and, sometimes, that $ ,as !#st going to
let fly at them in my slee(% $ ,ent so far ,ith it in my imagination that $ em(loyed myself several
days to find o#t (ro(er (laces to (#t myself in amb#scade, as $ said, to ,atch for them, and $ ,ent
fre>#ently to the (lace itself, ,hich ,as no, gro,n more familiar to me3 b#t ,hile my mind ,as
th#s filled ,ith tho#ghts of revenge and a bloody (#tting t,enty or thirty of them to the s,ord, as
$ may call it, the horror $ had at the (lace, and at the signals of the barbaro#s ,retches devo#ring
one another, abetted my malice% 4ell, at length $ fo#nd a (lace in the side of the hill ,here $ ,as
satisfied $ might sec#rely ,ait till $ sa, any of their boats coming3 and might then, even before
they ,o#ld be ready to come on shore, convey myself #nseen into some thic'ets of trees, in one
of ,hich there ,as a hollo, large eno#gh to conceal me entirely3 and there $ might sit and
observe all their bloody doings, and ta'e my f#ll aim at their heads, ,hen they ,ere so close
together as that it ,o#ld be next to im(ossible that $ sho#ld miss my shot, or that $ co#ld fail
,o#nding three or fo#r of them at the first shot% $n this (lace, then, $ resolved to f#lfil my design3
and accordingly $ (re(ared t,o m#s'ets and my ordinary fo,ling-(iece% The t,o m#s'ets $
loaded ,ith a brace of sl#gs each, and fo#r or five smaller b#llets, abo#t the si;e of (istol b#llets3
and the fo,ling-(iece $ loaded ,ith near a handf#l of s,an-shot of the largest si;e3 $ also loaded
my (istols ,ith abo#t fo#r b#llets each3 and, in this (ost#re, ,ell (rovided ,ith amm#nition for a
second and third charge, $ (re(ared myself for my ex(edition%
2fter $ had th#s laid the scheme of my design, and in my imagination (#t it in (ractice, $
contin#ally made my to#r every morning to the to( of the hill, ,hich ,as from my castle, as $
called it, abo#t three miles or more, to see if $ co#ld observe any boats #(on the sea, coming near
G&
the island, or standing over to,ards it3 b#t $ began to tire of this hard d#ty, after $ had for t,o or
three months constantly 'e(t my ,atch, b#t came al,ays bac' ,itho#t any discovery3 there
having not, in all that time, been the least a((earance, not only on or near the shore, b#t on the
,hole ocean, so far as my eye or glass co#ld reach every ,ay%
2s long as $ 'e(t my daily to#r to the hill, to loo' o#t, so long also $ 'e(t #( the vigo#r of my
design, and my s(irits seemed to be all the ,hile in a s#itable frame for so o#trageo#s an
exec#tion as the 'illing t,enty or thirty na'ed savages, for an offence ,hich $ had not at all
entered into any disc#ssion of in my tho#ghts, any farther than my (assions ,ere at first fired by
the horror $ conceived at the #nnat#ral c#stom of the (eo(le of that co#ntry, ,ho, it seems, had
been s#ffered by rovidence, in 0is ,ise dis(osition of the ,orld, to have no other g#ide than
that of their o,n abominable and vitiated (assions3 and conse>#ently ,ere left, and (erha(s had
been so for some ages, to act s#ch horrid things, and receive s#ch dreadf#l c#stoms, as nothing
b#t nat#re, entirely abandoned by 0eaven, and act#ated by some hellish degeneracy, co#ld have
r#n them into% 8#t no,, ,hen, as $ have said, $ began to be ,eary of the fr#itless exc#rsion ,hich
$ had made so long and so far every morning in vain, so my o(inion of the action itself began to
alter3 and $ began, ,ith cooler and calmer tho#ghts, to consider ,hat $ ,as going to engage in3
,hat a#thority or call $ had to (retend to be !#dge and exec#tioner #(on these men as criminals,
,hom 0eaven had tho#ght fit for so many ages to s#ffer #n(#nished to go on, and to be as it
,ere the exec#tioners of 0is !#dgments one #(on another3 ho, far these (eo(le ,ere offenders
against me, and ,hat right $ had to engage in the >#arrel of that blood ,hich they shed
(romisc#o#sly #(on one another% $ debated this very often ,ith myself th#s: A0o, do $ 'no,
,hat "od 0imself !#dges in this (artic#lar case? $t is certain these (eo(le do not commit this as a
crime3 it is not against their o,n consciences re(roving, or their light re(roaching them3 they do
not 'no, it to be an offence, and then commit it in defiance of divine !#stice, as ,e do in almost
all the sins ,e commit% They thin' it no more a crime to 'ill a ca(tive ta'en in ,ar than ,e do to
'ill an ox3 or to eat h#man flesh than ,e do to eat m#tton%A
4hen $ considered this a little, it follo,ed necessarily that $ ,as certainly in the ,rong3 that
these (eo(le ,ere not m#rderers, in the sense that $ had before condemned them in my tho#ghts,
any more than those Christians ,ere m#rderers ,ho often (#t to death the (risoners ta'en in
battle3 or more fre>#ently, #(on many occasions, (#t ,hole troo(s of men to the s,ord, ,itho#t
giving >#arter, tho#gh they thre, do,n their arms and s#bmitted% $n the next (lace, it occ#rred to
me that altho#gh the #sage they gave one another ,as th#s br#tish and inh#man, yet it ,as really
nothing to me: these (eo(le had done me no in!#ry: that if they attem(ted, or $ sa, it necessary,
for my immediate (reservation, to fall #(on them, something might be said for it: b#t that $ ,as
yet o#t of their (o,er, and they really had no 'no,ledge of me, and conse>#ently no design #(on
me3 and therefore it co#ld not be !#st for me to fall #(on them3 that this ,o#ld !#stify the cond#ct
of the /(aniards in all their barbarities (ractised in 2merica, ,here they destroyed millions of
these (eo(le3 ,ho, ho,ever they ,ere idolators and barbarians, and had several bloody and
barbaro#s rites in their c#stoms, s#ch as sacrificing h#man bodies to their idols, ,ere yet, as to
the /(aniards, very innocent (eo(le3 and that the rooting them o#t of the co#ntry is s(o'en of
,ith the #tmost abhorrence and detestation by even the /(aniards themselves at this time, and by
all other Christian nations of E#ro(e, as a mere b#tchery, a bloody and #nnat#ral (iece of cr#elty,
#n!#stifiable either to "od or man3 and for ,hich the very name of a /(aniard is rec'oned to be
frightf#l and terrible, to all (eo(le of h#manity or of Christian com(assion3 as if the 'ingdom of
/(ain ,ere (artic#larly eminent for the (rod#ce of a race of men ,ho ,ere ,itho#t (rinci(les of
tenderness, or the common bo,els of (ity to the miserable, ,hich is rec'oned to be a mar' of
genero#s tem(er in the mind%
G6
These considerations really (#t me to a (a#se, and to a 'ind of a f#ll sto(3 and $ began by little
and little to be off my design, and to concl#de $ had ta'en ,rong meas#res in my resol#tion to
attac' the savages3 and that it ,as not my b#siness to meddle ,ith them, #nless they first attac'ed
me3 and this it ,as my b#siness, if (ossible, to (revent: b#t that, if $ ,ere discovered and attac'ed
by them, $ 'ne, my d#ty% Jn the other hand, $ arg#ed ,ith myself that this really ,as the ,ay not
to deliver myself, b#t entirely to r#in and destroy myself3 for #nless $ ,as s#re to 'ill every one
that not only sho#ld be on shore at that time, b#t that sho#ld ever come on shore after,ards, if
b#t one of them esca(ed to tell their co#ntry-(eo(le ,hat had ha((ened, they ,o#ld come over
again by tho#sands to revenge the death of their fello,s, and $ sho#ld only bring #(on myself a
certain destr#ction, ,hich, at (resent, $ had no manner of occasion for% U(on the ,hole, $
concl#ded that $ o#ght, neither in (rinci(le nor in (olicy, one ,ay or other, to concern myself in
this affair: that my b#siness ,as, by all (ossible means to conceal myself from them, and not to
leave the least sign for them to g#ess by that there ,ere any living creat#res #(on the island-$
mean of h#man sha(e% 9eligion !oined in ,ith this (r#dential resol#tion3 and $ ,as convinced
no,, many ,ays, that $ ,as (erfectly o#t of my d#ty ,hen $ ,as laying all my bloody schemes
for the destr#ction of innocent creat#res-$ mean innocent as to me% 2s to the crimes they ,ere
g#ilty of to,ards one another, $ had nothing to do ,ith them3 they ,ere national, and $ o#ght to
leave them to the !#stice of "od, ,ho is the "overnor of nations, and 'no,s ho,, by national
(#nishments, to ma'e a !#st retrib#tion for national offences, and to bring (#blic !#dgments #(on
those ,ho offend in a (#blic manner, by s#ch ,ays as best (lease 0im% This a((eared so clear to
me no,, that nothing ,as a greater satisfaction to me than that $ had not been s#ffered to do a
thing ,hich $ no, sa, so m#ch reason to believe ,o#ld have been no less a sin than that of
,ilf#l m#rder if $ had committed it3 and $ gave most h#mble than's on my 'nees to "od, that 0e
had th#s delivered me from blood-g#iltiness3 beseeching 0im to grant me the (rotection of 0is
(rovidence, that $ might not fall into the hands of the barbarians, or that $ might not lay my hands
#(on them, #nless $ had a more clear call from 0eaven to do it, in defence of my o,n life%
$n this dis(osition $ contin#ed for near a year after this3 and so far ,as $ from desiring an
occasion for falling #(on these ,retches, that in all that time $ never once ,ent #( the hill to see
,hether there ,ere any of them in sight, or to 'no, ,hether any of them had been on shore there
or not, that $ might not be tem(ted to rene, any of my contrivances against them, or be (rovo'ed
by any advantage that might (resent itself to fall #(on them3 only this $ did: $ ,ent and removed
my boat, ,hich $ had on the other side of the island, and carried it do,n to the east end of the
,hole island, ,here $ ran it into a little cove, ,hich $ fo#nd #nder some high roc's, and ,here $
'ne,, by reason of the c#rrents, the savages d#rst not, at least ,o#ld not, come ,ith their boats
#(on any acco#nt ,hatever% 4ith my boat $ carried a,ay everything that $ had left there
belonging to her, tho#gh not necessary for the bare going thither-vi;% a mast and sail ,hich $ had
made for her, and a thing li'e an anchor, b#t ,hich, indeed, co#ld not be called either anchor or
gra(nel3 ho,ever, it ,as the best $ co#ld ma'e of its 'ind: all these $ removed, that there might
not be the least shado, for discovery, or a((earance of any boat, or of any h#man habitation
#(on the island% 8esides this, $ 'e(t myself, as $ said, more retired than ever, and seldom ,ent
from my cell exce(t #(on my constant em(loyment, to mil' my she-goats, and manage my little
floc' in the ,ood, ,hich, as it ,as >#ite on the other (art of the island, ,as o#t of danger3 for
certain, it is that these savage (eo(le, ,ho sometimes ha#nted this island, never came ,ith any
tho#ghts of finding anything here, and conse>#ently never ,andered off from the coast, and $
do#bt not b#t they might have been several times on shore after my a((rehensions of them had
made me ca#tio#s, as ,ell as before% $ndeed, $ loo'ed bac' ,ith some horror #(on the tho#ghts
of ,hat my condition ,o#ld have been if $ had cho((ed #(on them and been discovered before
GB
that3 ,hen, na'ed and #narmed, exce(t ,ith one g#n, and that loaded often only ,ith small shot,
$ ,al'ed every,here, (ee(ing and (eering abo#t the island, to see ,hat $ co#ld get3 ,hat a
s#r(rise sho#ld $ have been in if, ,hen $ discovered the (rint of a man=s foot, $ had, instead of
that, seen fifteen or t,enty savages, and fo#nd them (#rs#ing me, and by the s,iftness of their
r#nning no (ossibility of my esca(ing them@ The tho#ghts of this sometimes san' my very so#l
,ithin me, and distressed my mind so m#ch that $ co#ld not soon recover it, to thin' ,hat $
sho#ld have done, and ho, $ sho#ld not only have been #nable to resist them, b#t even sho#ld not
have had (resence of mind eno#gh to do ,hat $ might have done3 m#ch less ,hat no,, after so
m#ch consideration and (re(aration, $ might be able to do% $ndeed, after serio#s thin'ing of these
things, $ ,o#ld be melancholy, and sometimes it ,o#ld last a great ,hile3 b#t $ resolved it all at
last into than'f#lness to that rovidence ,hich had delivered me from so many #nseen dangers,
and had 'e(t me from those mischiefs ,hich $ co#ld have no ,ay been the agent in delivering
myself from, beca#se $ had not the least notion of any s#ch thing de(ending, or the least
s#((osition of its being (ossible% This rene,ed a contem(lation ,hich often had come into my
tho#ghts in former times, ,hen first $ began to see the mercif#l dis(ositions of 0eaven, in the
dangers ,e r#n thro#gh in this life3 ho, ,onderf#lly ,e are delivered ,hen ,e 'no, nothing of
it3 ho,, ,hen ,e are in a >#andary as ,e call it, a do#bt or hesitation ,hether to go this ,ay or
that ,ay, a secret hint shall direct #s this ,ay, ,hen ,e intended to go that ,ay: nay, ,hen sense,
o#r o,n inclination, and (erha(s b#siness has called #s to go the other ,ay, yet a strange
im(ression #(on the mind, from ,e 'no, not ,hat s(rings, and by ,e 'no, not ,hat (o,er,
shall overr#le #s to go this ,ay3 and it shall after,ards a((ear that had ,e gone that ,ay, ,hich
,e sho#ld have gone, and even to o#r imagination o#ght to have gone, ,e sho#ld have been
r#ined and lost% U(on these and many li'e reflections $ after,ards made it a certain r#le ,ith me,
that ,henever $ fo#nd those secret hints or (ressings of mind to doing or not doing anything that
(resented, or going this ,ay or that ,ay, $ never failed to obey the secret dictate3 tho#gh $ 'ne,
no other reason for it than s#ch a (ress#re or s#ch a hint h#ng #(on my mind% $ co#ld give many
exam(les of the s#ccess of this cond#ct in the co#rse of my life, b#t more es(ecially in the latter
(art of my inhabiting this #nha((y island3 besides many occasions ,hich it is very li'ely $ might
have ta'en notice of, if $ had seen ,ith the same eyes then that $ see ,ith no,% 8#t it is never too
late to be ,ise3 and $ cannot b#t advise all considering men, ,hose lives are attended ,ith s#ch
extraordinary incidents as mine, or even tho#gh not so extraordinary, not to slight s#ch secret
intimations of rovidence, let them come from ,hat invisible intelligence they ,ill% That $ shall
not disc#ss, and (erha(s cannot acco#nt for3 b#t certainly they are a (roof of the converse of
s(irits, and a secret comm#nication bet,een those embodied and those #nembodied, and s#ch a
(roof as can never be ,ithstood3 of ,hich $ shall have occasion to give some remar'able
instances in the remainder of my solitary residence in this dismal (lace%
$ believe the reader of this ,ill not thin' it strange if $ confess that these anxieties, these
constant dangers $ lived in, and the concern that ,as no, #(on me, (#t an end to all invention,
and to all the contrivances that $ had laid for my f#t#re accommodations and conveniences% $ had
the care of my safety more no, #(on my hands than that of my food% $ cared not to drive a nail,
or cho( a stic' of ,ood no,, for fear the noise $ might ma'e sho#ld be heard: m#ch less ,o#ld $
fire a g#n for the same reason: and above all $ ,as intolerably #neasy at ma'ing any fire, lest the
smo'e, ,hich is visible at a great distance in the day, sho#ld betray me% <or this reason, $
removed that (art of my b#siness ,hich re>#ired fire, s#ch as b#rning of (ots and (i(es, Kc%, into
my ne, a(artment in the ,oods3 ,here, after $ had been some time, $ fo#nd, to my #ns(ea'able
consolation, a mere nat#ral cave in the earth, ,hich ,ent in a vast ,ay, and ,here, $ daresay, no
G*
savage, had he been at the mo#th of it, ,o#ld be so hardy as to vent#re in3 nor, indeed, ,o#ld any
man else, b#t one ,ho, li'e me, ,anted nothing so m#ch as a safe retreat%
The mo#th of this hollo, ,as at the bottom of a great roc', ,here, by mere accident C$ ,o#ld
say, if $ did not see ab#ndant reason to ascribe all s#ch things no, to rovidenceD, $ ,as c#tting
do,n some thic' branches of trees to ma'e charcoal3 and before $ go on $ m#st observe the
reason of my ma'ing this charcoal, ,hich ,as this-$ ,as afraid of ma'ing a smo'e abo#t my
habitation, as $ said before3 and yet $ co#ld not live there ,itho#t ba'ing my bread, coo'ing my
meat, Kc%3 so $ contrived to b#rn some ,ood here, as $ had seen done in England, #nder t#rf, till
it became char' or dry coal: and then (#tting the fire o#t, $ (reserved the coal to carry home, and
(erform the other services for ,hich fire ,as ,anting, ,itho#t danger of smo'e% 8#t this is by-
the-bye% 4hile $ ,as c#tting do,n some ,ood here, $ (erceived that, behind a very thic' branch
of lo, br#sh,ood or #nder,ood, there ,as a 'ind of hollo, (lace: $ ,as c#rio#s to loo' in it3
and getting ,ith diffic#lty into the mo#th of it, $ fo#nd it ,as (retty large, that is to say, s#fficient
for me to stand #(right in it, and (erha(s another ,ith me: b#t $ m#st confess to yo# that $ made
more haste o#t than $ did in, ,hen loo'ing farther into the (lace, and ,hich ,as (erfectly dar', $
sa, t,o broad shining eyes of some creat#re, ,hether devil or man $ 'ne, not, ,hich t,in'led
li'e t,o stars3 the dim light from the cave=s mo#th shining directly in, and ma'ing the reflection%
0o,ever, after some (a#se $ recovered myself, and began to call myself a tho#sand fools, and to
thin' that he that ,as afraid to see the devil ,as not fit to live t,enty years in an island all alone3
and that $ might ,ell thin' there ,as nothing in this cave that ,as more frightf#l than myself%
U(on this, (l#c'ing #( my co#rage, $ too' #( a firebrand, and in $ r#shed again, ,ith the stic'
flaming in my hand: $ had not gone three ste(s in before $ ,as almost as frightened as before3 for
$ heard a very lo#d sigh, li'e that of a man in some (ain, and it ,as follo,ed by a bro'en noise,
as of ,ords half ex(ressed, and then a dee( sigh again% $ ste((ed bac', and ,as indeed str#c'
,ith s#ch a s#r(rise that it (#t me into a cold s,eat, and if $ had had a hat on my head, $ ,ill not
ans,er for it that my hair might not have lifted it off% 8#t still (l#c'ing #( my s(irits as ,ell as $
co#ld, and enco#raging myself a little ,ith considering that the (o,er and (resence of "od ,as
every,here, and ,as able to (rotect me, $ ste((ed for,ard again, and by the light of the
firebrand, holding it #( a little over my head, $ sa, lying on the gro#nd a monstro#s, frightf#l old
he-goat, !#st ma'ing his ,ill, as ,e say, and gas(ing for life, and, dying, indeed, of mere old age%
$ stirred him a little to see if $ co#ld get him o#t, and he essayed to get #(, b#t ,as not able to
raise himself3 and $ tho#ght ,ith myself he might even lie there -for if he had frightened me, so
he ,o#ld certainly fright any of the savages, if any of them sho#ld be so hardy as to come in
there ,hile he had any life in him%
$ ,as no, recovered from my s#r(rise, and began to loo' ro#nd me, ,hen $ fo#nd the cave
,as b#t very small-that is to say, it might be abo#t t,elve feet over, b#t in no manner of sha(e,
neither ro#nd nor s>#are, no hands having ever been em(loyed in ma'ing it b#t those of mere
.at#re% $ observed also that there ,as a (lace at the farther side of it that ,ent in f#rther, b#t ,as
so lo, that it re>#ired me to cree( #(on my hands and 'nees to go into it, and ,hither it ,ent $
'ne, not3 so, having no candle, $ gave it over for that time, b#t resolved to go again the next day
(rovided ,ith candles and a tinder-box, ,hich $ had made of the loc' of one of the m#s'ets, ,ith
some ,ildfire in the (an%
2ccordingly, the next day $ came (rovided ,ith six large candles of my o,n ma'ing Cfor $
made very good candles no, of goat=s tallo,, b#t ,as hard set for candle-,ic', #sing sometimes
rags or ro(e-yarn, and sometimes the dried rind of a ,eed li'e nettlesD3 and going into this lo,
(lace $ ,as obliged to cree( #(on all-fo#rs as $ have said, almost ten yards-,hich, by the ,ay, $
tho#ght ,as a vent#re bold eno#gh, considering that $ 'ne, not ho, far it might go, nor ,hat
G)
,as beyond it% 4hen $ had got thro#gh the strait, $ fo#nd the roof rose higher #(, $ believe near
t,enty feet3 b#t never ,as s#ch a glorio#s sight seen in the island, $ daresay, as it ,as to loo'
ro#nd the sides and roof of this va#lt or cave-the ,all reflected a h#ndred tho#sand lights to me
from my t,o candles% 4hat it ,as in the roc'-,hether diamonds or any other (recio#s stones, or
gold ,hich $ rather s#((osed it to be-$ 'ne, not% The (lace $ ,as in ,as a most delightf#l cavity,
or grotto, tho#gh (erfectly dar'3 the floor ,as dry and level, and had a sort of a small loose gravel
#(on it, so that there ,as no na#seo#s or venomo#s creat#re to be seen, neither ,as there any
dam( or ,et on the sides or roof% The only diffic#lty in it ,as the entrance- ,hich, ho,ever, as it
,as a (lace of sec#rity, and s#ch a retreat as $ ,anted3 $ tho#ght ,as a convenience3 so that $ ,as
really re!oiced at the discovery, and resolved, ,itho#t any delay, to bring some of those things
,hich $ ,as most anxio#s abo#t to this (lace: (artic#larly, $ resolved to bring hither my maga;ine
of (o,der, and all my s(are arms-vi;% t,o fo,ling-(ieces-for $ had three in all-and three m#s'ets
-for of them $ had eight in all3 so $ 'e(t in my castle only five, ,hich stood ready mo#nted li'e
(ieces of cannon on my o#tmost fence, and ,ere ready also to ta'e o#t #(on any ex(edition%
U(on this occasion of removing my amm#nition $ ha((ened to o(en the barrel of (o,der ,hich $
too' #( o#t of the sea, and ,hich had been ,et, and $ fo#nd that the ,ater had (enetrated abo#t
three or fo#r inches into the (o,der on every side, ,hich ca'ing and gro,ing hard, had (reserved
the inside li'e a 'ernel in the shell, so that $ had near sixty (o#nds of very good (o,der in the
centre of the cas'% This ,as a very agreeable discovery to me at that time3 so $ carried all a,ay
thither, never 'ee(ing above t,o or three (o#nds of (o,der ,ith me in my castle, for fear of a
s#r(rise of any 'ind3 $ also carried thither all the lead $ had left for b#llets%
$ fancied myself no, li'e one of the ancient giants ,ho ,ere said to live in caves and holes in
the roc's, ,here none co#ld come at them3 for $ (ers#aded myself, ,hile $ ,as here, that if five
h#ndred savages ,ere to h#nt me, they co#ld never find me o#t-or if they did, they ,o#ld not
vent#re to attac' me here% The old goat ,hom $ fo#nd ex(iring died in the mo#th of the cave the
next day after $ made this discovery3 and $ fo#nd it m#ch easier to dig a great hole there, and
thro, him in and cover him ,ith earth, than to drag him o#t3 so $ interred him there, to (revent
offence to my nose%
Cha(ter 56
C02TE9 I$$$-49EC: J< 2 /2.$/0 /0$
$ 42/ no, in the t,enty-third year of my residence in this island, and ,as so nat#ralised to the
(lace and the manner of living, that, co#ld $ b#t have en!oyed the certainty that no savages ,o#ld
come to the (lace to dist#rb me, $ co#ld have been content to have ca(it#lated for s(ending the
rest of my time there, even to the last moment, till $ had laid me do,n and died, li'e the old goat
in the cave% $ had also arrived to some little diversions and am#sements, ,hich made the time
(ass a great deal more (leasantly ,ith me than it did before-first, $ had ta#ght my oll, as $ noted
before, to s(ea'3 and he did it so familiarly, and tal'ed so artic#lately and (lain, that it ,as very
(leasant to me3 and he lived ,ith me no less than six-and-t,enty years% 0o, long he might have
lived after,ards $ 'no, not, tho#gh $ 'no, they have a notion in the 8ra;ils that they live a
h#ndred years% 1y dog ,as a (leasant and loving com(anion to me for no less than sixteen years
of my time, and then died of mere old age% 2s for my cats, they m#lti(lied, as $ have observed, to
that degree that $ ,as obliged to shoot several of them at first, to 'ee( them from devo#ring me
and all $ had3 b#t at length, ,hen the t,o old ones $ bro#ght ,ith me ,ere gone, and after some
time contin#ally driving them from me, and letting them have no (rovision ,ith me, they all ran
,ild into the ,oods, exce(t t,o or three favo#rites, ,hich $ 'e(t tame, and ,hose yo#ng, ,hen
they had any, $ al,ays dro,ned3 and these ,ere (art of my family% 8esides these $ al,ays 'e(t
t,o or three ho#sehold 'ids abo#t me, ,hom $ ta#ght to feed o#t of my hand3 and $ had t,o more
GF
(arrots, ,hich tal'ed (retty ,ell, and ,o#ld all call A9obin Cr#soe,A b#t none li'e my first3 nor,
indeed, did $ ta'e the (ains ,ith any of them that $ had done ,ith him% $ had also several tame
sea-fo,ls, ,hose name $ 'ne, not, that $ ca#ght #(on the shore, and c#t their ,ings3 and the little
sta'es ,hich $ had (lanted before my castle-,all being no, gro,n #( to a good thic' grove,
these fo,ls all lived among these lo, trees, and bred there, ,hich ,as very agreeable to me3 so
that, as $ said above, $ began to he very ,ell contented ,ith the life $ led, if $ co#ld have been
sec#red from the dread of the savages% 8#t it ,as other,ise directed3 and it may not be amiss for
all (eo(le ,ho shall meet ,ith my story to ma'e this !#st observation from it: 0o, fre>#ently, in
the co#rse of o#r lives, the evil ,hich in itself ,e see' most to sh#n, and ,hich, ,hen ,e are
fallen into, is the most dreadf#l to #s, is oftentimes the very means or door of o#r deliverance, by
,hich alone ,e can be raised again from the affliction ,e are fallen into% $ co#ld give many
exam(les of this in the co#rse of my #nacco#ntable life3 b#t in nothing ,as it more (artic#larly
remar'able than in the circ#mstances of my last years of solitary residence in this island%
$t ,as no, the month of December, as $ said above, in my t,enty-third year3 and this, being
the so#thern solstice Cfor ,inter $ cannot call itD, ,as the (artic#lar time of my harvest, and
re>#ired me to be (retty m#ch abroad in the fields, ,hen, going o#t early in the morning, even
before it ,as thoro#gh daylight, $ ,as s#r(rised ,ith seeing a light of some fire #(on the shore, at
a distance from me of abo#t t,o miles, to,ard that (art of the island ,here $ had observed some
savages had been, as before, and not on the other side3 b#t, to my great affliction, it ,as on my
side of the island%
$ ,as indeed terribly s#r(rised at the sight, and sto((ed short ,ithin my grove, not daring to go
o#t, lest $ might be s#r(rised3 and yet $ had no more (eace ,ithin, from the a((rehensions $ had
that if these savages, in rambling over the island, sho#ld find my corn standing or c#t, or any of
my ,or's or im(rovements, they ,o#ld immediately concl#de that there ,ere (eo(le in the
(lace, and ,o#ld then never rest till they had fo#nd me o#t% $n this extremity $ ,ent bac' directly
to my castle, (#lled #( the ladder after me, and made all things ,itho#t loo' as ,ild and nat#ral
as $ co#ld%
Then $ (re(ared myself ,ithin, (#tting myself in a (ost#re of defence% $ loaded all my cannon,
as $ called them-that is to say, my m#s'ets, ,hich ,ere mo#nted #(on my ne, fortification-and
all my (istols, and resolved to defend myself to the last gas(- not forgetting serio#sly to
commend myself to the Divine (rotection, and earnestly to (ray to "od to deliver me o#t of the
hands of the barbarians% $ contin#ed in this (ost#re abo#t t,o ho#rs, and began to be im(atient
for intelligence abroad, for $ had no s(ies to send o#t% 2fter sitting a ,hile longer, and m#sing
,hat $ sho#ld do in this case, $ ,as not able to bear sitting in ignorance longer3 so setting #( my
ladder to the side of the hill, ,here there ,as a flat (lace, as $ observed before, and then (#lling
the ladder after me, $ set it #( again and mo#nted the to( of the hill, and (#lling o#t my
(ers(ective glass, ,hich $ had ta'en on (#r(ose, $ laid me do,n flat on my belly on the gro#nd,
and began to loo' for the (lace% $ (resently fo#nd there ,ere no less than nine na'ed savages
sitting ro#nd a small fire they had made, not to ,arm them, for they had no need of that, the
,eather being extremely hot, b#t, as $ s#((osed, to dress some of their barbaro#s diet of h#man
flesh ,hich they had bro#ght ,ith them, ,hether alive or dead $ co#ld not tell%
They had t,o canoes ,ith them, ,hich they had ha#led #( #(on the shore3 and as it ,as then
ebb of tide, they seemed to me to ,ait for the ret#rn of the flood to go a,ay again% $t is not easy
to imagine ,hat conf#sion this sight (#t me into, es(ecially seeing them come on my side of the
island, and so near to me3 b#t ,hen $ considered their coming m#st be al,ays ,ith the c#rrent of
the ebb, $ began after,ards to be more sedate in my mind, being satisfied that $ might go abroad
GG
,ith safety all the time of the flood of tide, if they ,ere not on shore before3 and having made
this observation, $ ,ent abroad abo#t my harvest ,or' ,ith the more com(os#re%
2s $ ex(ected, so it (roved3 for as soon as the tide made to the ,est,ard $ sa, them all ta'e
boat and ro, Cor (addle as ,e call itD a,ay% $ sho#ld have observed, that for an ho#r or more
before they ,ent off they ,ere dancing, and $ co#ld easily discern their (ost#res and gest#res by
my glass% $ co#ld not (erceive, by my nicest observation, b#t that they ,ere star' na'ed, and had
not the least covering #(on them3 b#t ,hether they ,ere men or ,omen $ co#ld not disting#ish%
2s soon as $ sa, them shi((ed and gone, $ too' t,o g#ns #(on my sho#lders, and t,o (istols
in my girdle, and my great s,ord by my side ,itho#t a scabbard, and ,ith all the s(eed $ ,as
able to ma'e ,ent a,ay to the hill ,here $ had discovered the first a((earance of all3 and as soon
as $ get thither, ,hich ,as not in less than t,o ho#rs Cfor $ co#ld not go >#ic'ly, being so loaded
,ith arms as $ ,asD, $ (erceived there had been three canoes more of the savages at that (lace3
and loo'ing o#t farther, $ sa, they ,ere all at sea together, ma'ing over for the main% This ,as a
dreadf#l sight to me, es(ecially as, going do,n to the shore, $ co#ld see the mar's of horror
,hich the dismal ,or' they had been abo#t had left behind it-vi;% the blood, the bones, and (art
of the flesh of h#man bodies eaten and devo#red by those ,retches ,ith merriment and s(ort% $
,as so filled ,ith indignation at the sight, that $ no, began to (remeditate the destr#ction of the
next that $ sa, there, let them be ,hom or ho, many soever% $t seemed evident to me that the
visits ,hich they made th#s to this island ,ere not very fre>#ent, for it ,as above fifteen months
before any more of them came on shore there again-that is to say, $ neither sa, them nor any
footste(s or signals of them in all that time3 for as to the rainy seasons, then they are s#re not to
come abroad, at least not so far% 7et all this ,hile $ lived #ncomfortably, by reason of the constant
a((rehensions of their coming #(on me by s#r(rise: from ,hence $ observe, that the ex(ectation
of evil is more bitter than the s#ffering, es(ecially if there is no room to sha'e off that ex(ectation
or those a((rehensions%
D#ring all this time $ ,as in a m#rdering h#mo#r, and s(ent most of my ho#rs, ,hich sho#ld
have been better em(loyed, in contriving ho, to circ#mvent and fall #(on them the very next
time $ sho#ld see them-es(ecially if they sho#ld be divided, as they ,ere the last time, into t,o
(arties3 nor did $ consider at all that if $ 'illed one (arty-s#((ose ten or a do;en-$ ,as still the
next day, or ,ee', or month, to 'ill another, and so another, even ad infinit#m, till $ sho#ld be, at
length, no less a m#rderer than they ,ere in being man-eaters-and (erha(s m#ch more so% $ s(ent
my days no, in great (er(lexity and anxiety of mind, ex(ecting that $ sho#ld one day or other
fall, into the hands of these merciless creat#res3 and if $ did at any time vent#re abroad, it ,as not
,itho#t loo'ing aro#nd me ,ith the greatest care and ca#tion imaginable% 2nd no, $ fo#nd, to
my great comfort, ho, ha((y it ,as that $ had (rovided a tame floc' or herd of goats, for $ d#rst
not #(on any acco#nt fire my g#n, es(ecially near that side of the island ,here they #s#ally came,
lest $ sho#ld alarm the savages3 and if they had fled from me no,, $ ,as s#re to have them come
again ,ith (erha(s t,o or three h#ndred canoes ,ith them in a fe, days, and then $ 'ne, ,hat to
ex(ect% 0o,ever, $ ,ore o#t a year and three months more before $ ever sa, any more of the
savages, and then $ fo#nd them again, as $ shall soon observe% $t is tr#e they might have been
there once or t,ice3 b#t either they made no stay, or at least $ did not see them3 b#t in the month
of 1ay, as near as $ co#ld calc#late, and in my fo#r-and-t,entieth year, $ had a very strange
enco#nter ,ith them3 of ,hich in its (lace%
The (ert#rbation of my mind d#ring this fifteen or sixteen months= interval ,as very great3 $
sle(t #n>#ietly, dreamed al,ays frightf#l dreams, and often started o#t of my slee( in the night%
$n the day great tro#bles over,helmed my mind3 and in the night $ dreamed often of 'illing the
savages and of the reasons ,hy $ might !#stify doing it%
GH
8#t to ,aive all this for a ,hile% $t ,as in the middle of 1ay, on the sixteenth day, $ thin', as
,ell as my (oor ,ooden calendar ,o#ld rec'on, for $ mar'ed all #(on the (ost still3 $ say, it ,as
on the sixteenth of 1ay that it ble, a very great storm of ,ind all day, ,ith a great deal of
lightning and th#nder, and3 a very fo#l night it ,as after it% $ 'ne, not ,hat ,as the (artic#lar
occasion of it, b#t as $ ,as reading in the 8ible, and ta'en #( ,ith very serio#s tho#ghts abo#t
my (resent condition, $ ,as s#r(rised ,ith the noise of a g#n, as $ tho#ght, fired at sea% This ,as,
to be s#re, a s#r(rise >#ite of a different nat#re from any $ had met ,ith before3 for the notions
this (#t into my tho#ghts ,ere >#ite of another 'ind% $ started #( in the greatest haste imaginable3
and, in a trice, cla((ed my ladder to the middle (lace of the roc', and (#lled it after me3 and
mo#nting it the second time, got to the to( of the hill the very moment that a flash of fire bid me
listen for a second g#n, ,hich, accordingly, in abo#t half a min#te $ heard3 and by the so#nd,
'ne, that it ,as from that (art of the sea ,here $ ,as driven do,n the c#rrent in my boat% $
immediately considered that this m#st be some shi( in distress, and that they had some comrade,
or some other shi( in com(any, and fired these for signals of distress, and to obtain hel(% $ had the
(resence of mind at that min#te to thin', that tho#gh $ co#ld not hel( them, it might be that they
might hel( me3 so $ bro#ght together all the dry ,ood $ co#ld get at hand, and ma'ing a good
handsome (ile, $ set it on fire #(on the hill% The ,ood ,as dry, and bla;ed freely3 and, tho#gh the
,ind ble, very hard, yet it b#rned fairly o#t3 so that $ ,as certain, if there ,as any s#ch thing as
a shi(, they m#st needs see it% 2nd no do#bt they did3 for as soon as ever my fire bla;ed #(, $
heard another g#n, and after that several others, all from the same >#arter% $ (lied my fire all night
long, till daybrea': and ,hen it ,as broad day, and the air cleared #(, $ sa, something at a great
distance at sea, f#ll east of the island, ,hether a sail or a h#ll $ co#ld not disting#ish-no, not ,ith
my glass: the distance ,as so great, and the ,eather still something ha;y also3 at least, it ,as so
o#t at sea%
$ loo'ed fre>#ently at it all that day, and soon (erceived that it did not move3 so $ (resently
concl#ded that it ,as a shi( at anchor3 and being eager, yo# may be s#re, to be satisfied, $ too'
my g#n in my hand, and ran to,ards the so#th side of the island to the roc's ,here $ had
formerly been carried a,ay by the c#rrent3 and getting #( there, the ,eather by this time being
(erfectly clear, $ co#ld (lainly see, to my great sorro,, the ,rec' of a shi(, cast a,ay in the night
#(on those concealed roc's ,hich $ fo#nd ,hen $ ,as o#t in my boat3 and ,hich roc's, as they
chec'ed the violence of the stream, and made a 'ind of co#nter-stream, or eddy, ,ere the
occasion of my recovering from the most des(erate, ho(eless condition that ever $ had been in in
all my life% Th#s, ,hat is one man=s safety is another man=s destr#ction3 for it seems these men,
,hoever they ,ere, being o#t of their 'no,ledge, and the roc's being ,holly #nder ,ater, had
been driven #(on them in the night, the ,ind blo,ing hard at E.E% 0ad they seen the island, as $
m#st necessarily s#((ose they did not, they m#st, as $ tho#ght, have endeavo#red to have saved
themselves on shore by the hel( of their boat3 b#t their firing off g#ns for hel(, es(ecially ,hen
they sa,, as $ imagined, my fire, filled me ,ith many tho#ghts% <irst, $ imagined that #(on seeing
my light they might have (#t themselves into their boat, and endeavo#red to ma'e the shore: b#t
that the sea r#nning very high, they might have been cast a,ay% Jther times $ imagined that they
might have lost their boat before, as might be the case many ,ays3 (artic#larly by the brea'ing of
the sea #(on their shi(, ,hich many times obliged men to stave, or ta'e in (ieces, their boat, and
sometimes to thro, it overboard ,ith their o,n hands% Jther times $ imagined they had some
other shi( or shi(s in com(any, ,ho, #(on the signals of distress they made, had ta'en them #(,
and carried them off% Jther times $ fancied they ,ere all gone off to sea in their boat, and being
h#rried a,ay by the c#rrent that $ had been formerly in, ,ere carried o#t into the great ocean,
H-
,here there ,as nothing b#t misery and (erishing: and that, (erha(s, they might by this time
thin' of starving, and of being in a condition to eat one another%
2s all these ,ere b#t con!ect#res at best, so, in the condition $ ,as in, $ co#ld do no more than
loo' on #(on the misery of the (oor men, and (ity them3 ,hich had still this good effect #(on my
side, that it gave me more and more ca#se to give than's to "od, ,ho had so ha((ily and
comfortably (rovided for me in my desolate condition3 and that of t,o shi(s= com(anies, ,ho
,ere no, cast a,ay #(on this (art of the ,orld, not one life sho#ld be s(ared b#t mine% $ learned
here again to observe, that it is very rare that the (rovidence of "od casts #s into any condition so
lo,, or any misery so great, b#t ,e may see something or other to be than'f#l for, and may see
others in ,orse circ#mstances than o#r o,n% /#ch certainly ,as the case of these men, of ,hom $
co#ld not so m#ch as see room to s#((ose any ,ere saved3 nothing co#ld ma'e it rational so
m#ch as to ,ish or ex(ect that they did not all (erish there, exce(t the (ossibility only of their
being ta'en #( by another shi( in com(any3 and this ,as b#t mere (ossibility indeed, for $ sa,
not the least sign or a((earance of any s#ch thing% $ cannot ex(lain, by any (ossible energy of
,ords, ,hat a strange longing $ felt in my so#l #(on this sight, brea'ing o#t sometimes th#s: AJh
that there had been b#t one or t,o, nay, or b#t one so#l saved o#t of this shi(, to have esca(ed to
me, that $ might b#t have had one com(anion, one fello,-creat#re, to have s(o'en to me and to
have conversed ,ith@A $n all the time of my solitary life $ never felt so earnest, so strong a desire
after the society of my fello,-creat#res, or so dee( a regret at the ,ant of it%
There are some secret s(rings in the affections ,hich, ,hen they are set a-going by some
ob!ect in vie,, or, tho#gh not in vie,, yet rendered (resent to the mind by the (o,er of
imagination, that motion carries o#t the so#l, by its im(et#osity, to s#ch violent, eager
embracings of the ob!ect, that the absence of it is ins#((ortable% /#ch ,ere these earnest ,ishings
that b#t one man had been saved% $ believe $ re(eated the ,ords, AJh that it had been b#t one@A a
tho#sand times3 and my desires ,ere so moved by it, that ,hen $ s(o'e the ,ords my hands
,o#ld clinch together, and my fingers ,o#ld (ress the (alms of my hands, so that if $ had had
any soft thing in my hand $ sho#ld have cr#shed it invol#ntarily3 and the teeth in my head ,o#ld
stri'e together, and set against one another so strong, that for some time $ co#ld not (art them
again% Let the nat#ralists ex(lain these things, and the reason and manner of them% 2ll $ can do is
to describe the fact, ,hich ,as even s#r(rising to me ,hen $ fo#nd it, tho#gh $ 'ne, not from
,hence it (roceeded3 it ,as do#btless the effect of ardent ,ishes, and of strong ideas formed in
my mind, realising the comfort ,hich the conversation of one of my fello,-Christians ,o#ld
have been to me% 8#t it ,as not to be3 either their fate or mine, or both, forbade it3 for, till the last
year of my being on this island, $ never 'ne, ,hether any ,ere saved o#t of that shi( or no3 and
had only the affliction, some days after, to see the cor(se of a dro,ned boy come on shore at the
end of the island ,hich ,as next the shi(,rec'% 0e had no clothes on b#t a seaman=s ,aistcoat, a
(air of o(en-'need linen dra,ers, and a bl#e linen shirt3 b#t nothing to direct me so m#ch as to
g#ess ,hat nation he ,as of% 0e had nothing in his (oc'ets b#t t,o (ieces of eight and a tobacco
(i(e- the last ,as to me of ten times more val#e than the first%
$t ,as no, calm, and $ had a great mind to vent#re o#t in my boat to this ,rec', not do#bting
b#t $ might find something on board that might be #sef#l to me% 8#t that did not altogether (ress
me so m#ch as the (ossibility that there might be yet some living creat#re on board, ,hose life $
might not only save, b#t might, by saving that life, comfort my o,n to the last degree3 and this
tho#ght cl#ng so to my heart that $ co#ld not be >#iet night or day, b#t $ m#st vent#re o#t in my
boat on board this ,rec'3 and committing the rest to "od=s (rovidence, $ tho#ght the im(ression
,as so strong #(on my mind that it co#ld not be resisted-that it m#st come from some invisible
direction, and that $ sho#ld be ,anting to myself if $ did not go%
H5
Under the (o,er of this im(ression, $ hastened bac' to my castle, (re(ared everything for my
voyage, too' a >#antity of bread, a great (ot of fresh ,ater, a com(ass to steer by, a bottle of r#m
Cfor $ had still a great deal of that leftD, and a bas'et of raisins3 and th#s, loading myself ,ith
everything necessary% $ ,ent do,n to my boat, got the ,ater o#t of her, got her afloat, loaded all
my cargo in her, and then ,ent home again for more% 1y second cargo ,as a great bag of rice,
the #mbrella to set #( over my head for a shade, another large (ot of ,ater, and abo#t t,o do;en
of small loaves, or barley ca'es, more than before, ,ith a bottle of goat=s mil' and a cheese3 all
,hich ,ith great labo#r and s,eat $ carried to my boat3 and (raying to "od to direct my voyage,
$ (#t o#t, and ro,ing or (addling the canoe along the shore, came at last to the #tmost (oint of
the island on the north-east side% 2nd no, $ ,as to la#nch o#t into the ocean, and either to
vent#re or not to vent#re% $ loo'ed on the ra(id c#rrents ,hich ran constantly on both sides of the
island at a distance, and ,hich ,ere very terrible to me from the remembrance of the ha;ard $ had
been in before, and my heart began to fail me3 for $ foresa, that if $ ,as driven into either of
those c#rrents, $ sho#ld be carried a great ,ay o#t to sea, and (erha(s o#t of my reach or sight of
the island again3 and that then, as my boat ,as b#t small, if any little gale of ,ind sho#ld rise, $
sho#ld be inevitably lost%
These tho#ghts so o((ressed my mind that $ began to give over my enter(rise3 and having
ha#led my boat into a little cree' on the shore, $ ste((ed o#t, and sat do,n #(on a rising bit of
gro#nd, very (ensive and anxio#s, bet,een fear and desire, abo#t my voyage3 ,hen, as $ ,as
m#sing, $ co#ld (erceive that the tide ,as t#rned, and the flood come on3 #(on ,hich my going
,as im(racticable for so many ho#rs% U(on this, (resently it occ#rred to me that $ sho#ld go #( to
the highest (iece of gro#nd $ co#ld find, and observe, if $ co#ld, ho, the sets of the tide or
c#rrents lay ,hen the flood came in, that $ might !#dge ,hether, if $ ,as driven one ,ay o#t, $
might not ex(ect to be driven another ,ay home, ,ith the same ra(idity of the c#rrents% This
tho#ght ,as no sooner in my head than $ cast my eye #(on a little hill ,hich s#fficiently
overloo'ed the sea both ,ays, and from ,hence $ had a clear vie, of the c#rrents or sets of the
tide, and ,hich ,ay $ ,as to g#ide myself in my ret#rn% 0ere $ fo#nd, that as the c#rrent of ebb
set o#t close by the so#th (oint of the island, so the c#rrent of the flood set in close by the shore
of the north side3 and that $ had nothing to do b#t to 'ee( to the north side of the island in my
ret#rn, and $ sho#ld do ,ell eno#gh%
Enco#raged by this observation, $ resolved the next morning to set o#t ,ith the first of the tide3
and re(osing myself for the night in my canoe, #nder the ,atch-coat $ mentioned, $ la#nched o#t%
$ first made a little o#t to sea, f#ll north, till $ began to feel the benefit of the c#rrent, ,hich set
east,ard, and ,hich carried me at a great rate3 and yet did not so h#rry me as the c#rrent on the
so#th side had done before, so as to ta'e from me all government of the boat3 b#t having a strong
steerage ,ith my (addle, $ ,ent at a great rate directly for the ,rec', and in less than t,o ho#rs $
came #( to it% $t ,as a dismal sight to loo' at3 the shi(, ,hich by its b#ilding ,as /(anish, st#c'
fast, !ammed in bet,een t,o roc's% 2ll the stern and >#arter of her ,ere beaten to (ieces by the
sea3 and as her forecastle, ,hich st#c' in the roc's, had r#n on ,ith great violence, her mainmast
and foremast ,ere bro#ght by the board-that is to say, bro'en short off3 b#t her bo,s(rit ,as
so#nd, and the head and bo, a((eared firm% 4hen $ came close to her, a dog a((eared #(on her,
,ho, seeing me coming, yel(ed and cried3 and as soon as $ called him, !#m(ed into the sea to
come to me% $ too' him into the boat, b#t fo#nd him almost dead ,ith h#nger and thirst% $ gave
him a ca'e of my bread, and he devo#red it li'e a raveno#s ,olf that had been starving a
fortnight in the sno,3 $ then gave the (oor creat#re some fresh ,ater, ,ith ,hich, if $ ,o#ld have
let him, he ,o#ld have b#rst himself% 2fter this $ ,ent on board3 b#t the first sight $ met ,ith ,as
t,o men dro,ned in the coo'-room, or forecastle of the shi(, ,ith their arms fast abo#t one
H&
another% $ concl#ded, as is indeed (robable, that ,hen the shi( str#c', it being in a storm, the sea
bro'e so high and so contin#ally over her, that the men ,ere not able to bear it, and ,ere
strangled ,ith the constant r#shing in of the ,ater, as m#ch as if they had been #nder ,ater%
8esides the dog, there ,as nothing left in the shi( that had life3 nor any goods, that $ co#ld see,
b#t ,hat ,ere s(oiled by the ,ater% There ,ere some cas's of li>#or, ,hether ,ine or brandy $
'ne, not, ,hich lay lo,er in the hold, and ,hich, the ,ater being ebbed o#t, $ co#ld see3 b#t
they ,ere too big to meddle ,ith% $ sa, several chests, ,hich $ believe belonged to some of the
seamen3 and $ got t,o of them into the boat, ,itho#t examining ,hat ,as in them% 0ad the stern
of the shi( been fixed, and the fore(art bro'en off, $ am (ers#aded $ might have made a good
voyage3 for by ,hat $ fo#nd in those t,o chests $ had room to s#((ose the shi( had a great deal
of ,ealth on board3 and, if $ may g#ess from the co#rse she steered, she m#st have been bo#nd
from 8#enos 2yres, or the 9io de la lata, in the so#th (art of 2merica, beyond the 8ra;ils to the
0avannah, in the "#lf of 1exico, and so (erha(s to /(ain% /he had, no do#bt, a great treas#re in
her, b#t of no #se, at that time, to anybody3 and ,hat became of the cre, $ then 'ne, not%
$ fo#nd, besides these chests, a little cas' f#ll of li>#or, of abo#t t,enty gallons, ,hich $ got
into my boat ,ith m#ch diffic#lty% There ,ere several m#s'ets in the cabin, and a great (o,der-
horn, ,ith abo#t fo#r (o#nds of (o,der in it3 as for the m#s'ets, $ had no occasion for them, so $
left them, b#t too' the (o,der-horn% $ too' a fire-shovel and tongs, ,hich $ ,anted extremely, as
also t,o little brass 'ettles, a co((er (ot to ma'e chocolate, and a gridiron3 and ,ith this cargo,
and the dog, $ came a,ay, the tide beginning to ma'e home again-and the same evening, abo#t an
ho#r ,ithin night, $ reached the island again, ,eary and fatig#ed to the last degree% $ re(osed that
night in the boat and in the morning $ resolved to harbo#r ,hat $ had got in my ne, cave, and not
carry it home to my castle% 2fter refreshing myself, $ got all my cargo on shore, and began to
examine the (artic#lars% The cas' of li>#or $ fo#nd to be a 'ind of r#m, b#t not s#ch as ,e had at
the 8ra;ils3 and, in a ,ord, not at all good3 b#t ,hen $ came to o(en the chests, $ fo#nd several
things of great #se to me-for exam(le, $ fo#nd in one a fine case of bottles, of an extraordinary
'ind, and filled ,ith cordial ,aters, fine and very good3 the bottles held abo#t three (ints each,
and ,ere ti((ed ,ith silver% $ fo#nd t,o (ots of very good s#ccades, or s,eetmeats, so fastened
also on the to( that the salt-,ater had not h#rt them3 and t,o more of the same, ,hich the ,ater
had s(oiled% $ fo#nd some very good shirts, ,hich ,ere very ,elcome to me3 and abo#t a do;en
and a half of ,hite linen hand'erchiefs and colo#red nec'cloths3 the former ,ere also very
,elcome, being exceedingly refreshing to ,i(e my face in a hot day% 8esides this, ,hen $ came
to the till in the chest, $ fo#nd there three great bags of (ieces of eight, ,hich held abo#t eleven
h#ndred (ieces in all3 and in one of them, ,ra((ed #( in a (a(er, six do#bloons of gold, and some
small bars or ,edges of gold3 $ s#((ose they might all ,eigh near a (o#nd% $n the other chest
,ere some clothes, b#t of little val#e3 b#t, by the circ#mstances, it m#st have belonged to the
g#nner=s mate3 tho#gh there ,as no (o,der in it, exce(t t,o (o#nds of fine gla;ed (o,der, in
three flas's, 'e(t, $ s#((ose, for charging their fo,ling-(ieces on occasion% U(on the ,hole, $ got
very little by this voyage that ,as of any #se to me3 for, as to the money, $ had no manner of
occasion for it3 it ,as to me as the dirt #nder my feet, and $ ,o#ld have given it all for three or
fo#r (air of English shoes and stoc'ings, ,hich ,ere things $ greatly ,anted, b#t had had none
on my feet for many years% $ had, indeed, got t,o (air of shoes no,, ,hich $ too' off the feet of
t,o dro,ned men ,hom $ sa, in the ,rec', and $ fo#nd t,o (air more in one of the chests,
,hich ,ere very ,elcome to me3 b#t they ,ere not li'e o#r English shoes, either for ease or
service, being rather ,hat ,e call (#m(s than shoes% $ fo#nd in this seaman=s chest abo#t fifty
(ieces of eight, in rials, b#t no gold: $ s#((osed this belonged to a (oorer man than the other,
,hich seemed to belong to some officer% 4ell, ho,ever, $ l#gged this money home to my cave,
H6
and laid it #(, as $ had done that before ,hich $ had bro#ght from o#r o,n shi(3 b#t it ,as a great
(ity, as $ said, that the other (art of this shi( had not come to my share: for $ am satisfied $ might
have loaded my canoe several times over ,ith money3 and, tho#ght $, if $ ever esca(e to England,
it might lie here safe eno#gh till $ come again and fetch it%
Cha(ter 5B
C02TE9 I$V-2 D9E21 9E2L$/ED
02V$." no, bro#ght all my things on shore and sec#red them, $ ,ent bac' to my boat, and
ro,ed or (addled her along the shore to her old harbo#r, ,here $ laid her #(, and made the best of
my ,ay to my old habitation, ,here $ fo#nd everything safe and >#iet% $ began no, to re(ose
myself, live after my old fashion, and ta'e care of my family affairs3 and for a ,hile $ lived easy
eno#gh, only that $ ,as more vigilant than $ #sed to be, loo'ed o#t oftener, and did not go abroad
so m#ch3 and if at any time $ did stir ,ith any freedom, it ,as al,ays to the east (art of the
island, ,here $ ,as (retty ,ell satisfied the savages never came, and ,here $ co#ld go ,itho#t so
many (reca#tions, and s#ch a load of arms and amm#nition as $ al,ays carried ,ith me if $ ,ent
the other ,ay% $ lived in this condition near t,o years more3 b#t my #nl#c'y head, that ,as
al,ays to let me 'no, it ,as born to ma'e my body miserable, ,as all these t,o years filled ,ith
(ro!ects and designs ho,, if it ,ere (ossible, $ might get a,ay from this island: for sometimes $
,as for ma'ing another voyage to the ,rec', tho#gh my reason told me that there ,as nothing
left there ,orth the ha;ard of my voyage3 sometimes for a ramble one ,ay, sometimes another-
and $ believe verily, if $ had had the boat that $ ,ent from /allee in, $ sho#ld have vent#red to sea,
bo#nd any,here, $ 'ne, not ,hither% $ have been, in all my circ#mstances, a memento to those
,ho are to#ched ,ith the general (lag#e of man'ind, ,hence, for a#ght $ 'no,, one half of their
miseries flo,: $ mean that of not being satisfied ,ith the station ,herein "od and .at#re hath
(laced them-for, not to loo' bac' #(on my (rimitive condition, and the excellent advice of my
father, the o((osition to ,hich ,as, as $ may call it, my original sin, my s#bse>#ent mista'es of
the same 'ind had been the means of my coming into this miserable condition3 for had that
rovidence ,hich so ha((ily seated me at the 8ra;ils as a (lanter blessed me ,ith confined
desires, and $ co#ld have been contented to have gone on grad#ally, $ might have been by this
time-$ mean in the time of my being in this island-one of the most considerable (lanters in the
8ra;ils-nay, $ am (ers#aded, that by the im(rovements $ had made in that little time $ lived there,
and the increase $ sho#ld (robably have made if $ had remained, $ might have been ,orth a
h#ndred tho#sand moidores-and ,hat b#siness had $ to leave a settled fort#ne, a ,ell-stoc'ed
(lantation, im(roving and increasing, to t#rn s#(ercargo to "#inea to fetch negroes, ,hen
(atience and time ,o#ld have so increased o#r stoc' at home, that ,e co#ld have bo#ght them at
o#r o,n door from those ,hose b#siness it ,as to fetch them? and tho#gh it had cost #s
something more, yet the difference of that (rice ,as by no means ,orth saving at so great a
ha;ard% 8#t as this is #s#ally the fate of yo#ng heads, so reflection #(on the folly of it is as
commonly the exercise of more years, or of the dear-bo#ght ex(erience of time-so it ,as ,ith me
no,3 and yet so dee( had the mista'e ta'en root in my tem(er, that $ co#ld not satisfy myself in
my station, b#t ,as contin#ally (oring #(on the means and (ossibility of my esca(e from this
(lace3 and that $ may, ,ith greater (leas#re to the reader, bring on the remaining (art of my story,
it may not be im(ro(er to give some acco#nt of my first conce(tions on the s#b!ect of this foolish
scheme for my esca(e, and ho,, and #(on ,hat fo#ndation, $ acted%
$ am no, to be s#((osed retired into my castle, after my late voyage to the ,rec', my frigate
laid #( and sec#red #nder ,ater, as #s#al, and my condition restored to ,hat it ,as before: $ had
more ,ealth, indeed, than $ had before, b#t ,as not at all the richer3 for $ had no more #se for it
than the $ndians of er# had before the /(aniards came there%
HB
$t ,as one of the nights in the rainy season in 1arch, the fo#r-and-t,entieth year of my first
setting foot in this island of solit#de, $ ,as lying in my bed or hammoc', a,a'e, very ,ell in
health, had no (ain, no distem(er, no #neasiness of body, nor any #neasiness of mind more than
ordinary, b#t co#ld by no means close my eyes, that is, so as to slee(3 no, not a ,in' all night
long, other,ise than as follo,s: $t is im(ossible to set do,n the inn#merable cro,d of tho#ghts
that ,hirled thro#gh that great thoro#ghfare of the brain, the memory, in this night=s time% $ ran
over the ,hole history of my life in miniat#re, or by abridgment, as $ may call it, to my coming to
this island, and also of that (art of my life since $ came to this island% $n my reflections #(on the
state of my case since $ came on shore on this island, $ ,as com(aring the ha((y (ost#re of my
affairs in the first years of my habitation here, ,ith the life of anxiety, fear, and care ,hich $ had
lived in ever since $ had seen the (rint of a foot in the sand% .ot that $ did not believe the savages
had fre>#ented the island even all the ,hile, and might have been several h#ndreds of them at
times on shore there3 b#t $ had never 'no,n it, and ,as inca(able of any a((rehensions abo#t it3
my satisfaction ,as (erfect, tho#gh my danger ,as the same, and $ ,as as ha((y in not 'no,ing
my danger as if $ had never really been ex(osed to it% This f#rnished my tho#ghts ,ith many very
(rofitable reflections, and (artic#larly this one: 0o, infinitely good that rovidence is, ,hich has
(rovided, in its government of man'ind, s#ch narro, bo#nds to his sight and 'no,ledge of
things3 and tho#gh he ,al's in the midst of so many tho#sand dangers, the sight of ,hich, if
discovered to him, ,o#ld distract his mind and sin' his s(irits, he is 'e(t serene and calm, by
having the events of things hid from his eyes, and 'no,ing nothing of the dangers ,hich
s#rro#nd him%
2fter these tho#ghts had for some time entertained me, $ came to reflect serio#sly #(on the real
danger $ had been in for so many years in this very island, and ho, $ had ,al'ed abo#t in the
greatest sec#rity, and ,ith all (ossible tran>#illity, even ,hen (erha(s nothing b#t the bro, of a
hill, a great tree, or the cas#al a((roach of night, had been bet,een me and the ,orst 'ind of
destr#ction-vi;% that of falling into the hands of cannibals and savages, ,ho ,o#ld have sei;ed on
me ,ith the same vie, as $ ,o#ld on a goat or t#rtle3 and have tho#ght it no more crime to 'ill
and devo#r me than $ did of a (igeon or a c#rle,% $ ,o#ld #n!#stly slander myself if $ sho#ld say $
,as not sincerely than'f#l to my great reserver, to ,hose sing#lar (rotection $ ac'no,ledged,
,ith great h#manity, all these #n'no,n deliverances ,ere d#e, and ,itho#t ,hich $ m#st
inevitably have fallen into their merciless hands%
4hen these tho#ghts ,ere over, my head ,as for some time ta'en #( in considering the nat#re
of these ,retched creat#res, $ mean the savages, and ho, it came to (ass in the ,orld that the
,ise "overnor of all things sho#ld give #( any of 0is creat#res to s#ch inh#manity-nay, to
something so m#ch belo, even br#tality itself -as to devo#r its o,n 'ind: b#t as this ended in
some Cat that timeD fr#itless s(ec#lations, it occ#rred to me to in>#ire ,hat (art of the ,orld these
,retches lived in? ho, far off the coast ,as from ,hence they came? ,hat they vent#red over so
far from home for? ,hat 'ind of boats they had? and ,hy $ might not order myself and my
b#siness so that $ might be able to go over thither, as they ,ere to come to me?
$ never so m#ch as tro#bled myself to consider ,hat $ sho#ld do ,ith myself ,hen $ ,ent
thither3 ,hat ,o#ld become of me if $ fell into the hands of these savages3 or ho, $ sho#ld esca(e
them if they attac'ed me3 no, nor so m#ch as ho, it ,as (ossible for me to reach the coast, and
not to be attac'ed by some or other of them, ,itho#t any (ossibility of delivering myself: and if $
sho#ld not fall into their hands, ,hat $ sho#ld do for (rovision, or ,hither $ sho#ld bend my
co#rse: none of these tho#ghts, $ say, so m#ch as came in my ,ay3 b#t my mind ,as ,holly bent
#(on the notion of my (assing over in my boat to the mainland% $ loo'ed #(on my (resent
condition as the most miserable that co#ld (ossibly be3 that $ ,as not able to thro, myself into
H*
anything b#t death, that co#ld be called ,orse3 and if $ reached the shore of the main $ might
(erha(s meet ,ith relief, or $ might coast along, as $ did on the 2frican shore, till $ came to some
inhabited co#ntry, and ,here $ might find some relief3 and after all, (erha(s $ might fall in ,ith
some Christian shi( that might ta'e me in: and if the ,orst came to the ,orst, $ co#ld b#t die,
,hich ,o#ld (#t an end to all these miseries at once% ray note, all this ,as the fr#it of a
dist#rbed mind, an im(atient tem(er, made des(erate, as it ,ere, by the long contin#ance of my
tro#bles, and the disa((ointments $ had met in the ,rec' $ had been on board of, and ,here $ had
been so near obtaining ,hat $ so earnestly longed for-somebody to s(ea' to, and to learn some
'no,ledge from them of the (lace ,here $ ,as, and of the (robable means of my deliverance% $
,as agitated ,holly by these tho#ghts3 all my calm of mind, in my resignation to rovidence, and
,aiting the iss#e of the dis(ositions of 0eaven, seemed to be s#s(ended3 and $ had as it ,ere no
(o,er to t#rn my tho#ghts to anything b#t to the (ro!ect of a voyage to the main, ,hich came
#(on me ,ith s#ch force, and s#ch an im(et#osity of desire, that it ,as not to be resisted%
4hen this had agitated my tho#ghts for t,o ho#rs or more, ,ith s#ch violence that it set my
very blood into a ferment, and my (#lse beat as if $ had been in a fever, merely ,ith the
extraordinary fervo#r of my mind abo#t it, .at#re-as if $ had been fatig#ed and exha#sted ,ith
the very tho#ghts of it-thre, me into a so#nd slee(% Jne ,o#ld have tho#ght $ sho#ld have
dreamed of it, b#t $ did not, nor of anything relating to it, b#t $ dreamed that as $ ,as going o#t in
the morning as #s#al from my castle, $ sa, #(on the shore t,o canoes and eleven savages
coming to land, and that they bro#ght ,ith them another savage ,hom they ,ere going to 'ill in
order to eat him3 ,hen, on a s#dden, the savage that they ,ere going to 'ill !#m(ed a,ay, and ran
for his life3 and $ tho#ght in my slee( that he came r#nning into my little thic' grove before my
fortification, to hide himself3 and that $ seeing him alone, and not (erceiving that the others
so#ght him that ,ay, sho,ed myself to him, and smiling #(on him, enco#raged him: that he
'neeled do,n to me, seeming to (ray me to assist him3 #(on ,hich $ sho,ed him my ladder,
made him go #(, and carried him into my cave, and he became my servant3 and that as soon as $
had got this man, $ said to myself, A.o, $ may certainly vent#re to the mainland, for this fello,
,ill serve me as a (ilot, and ,ill tell me ,hat to do, and ,hither to go for (rovisions, and ,hither
not to go for fear of being devo#red3 ,hat (laces to vent#re into, and ,hat to sh#n%A $ ,a'ed ,ith
this tho#ght3 and ,as #nder s#ch inex(ressible im(ressions of !oy at the (ros(ect of my esca(e in
my dream, that the disa((ointments ,hich $ felt #(on coming to myself, and finding that it ,as
no more than a dream, ,ere e>#ally extravagant the other ,ay, and thre, me into a very great
de!ection of s(irits%
U(on this, ho,ever, $ made this concl#sion: that my only ,ay to go abo#t to attem(t an esca(e
,as, to endeavo#r to get a savage into my (ossession: and, if (ossible, it sho#ld be one of their
(risoners, ,hom they had condemned to be eaten, and sho#ld bring hither to 'ill% 8#t these
tho#ghts still ,ere attended ,ith this diffic#lty: that it ,as im(ossible to effect this ,itho#t
attac'ing a ,hole caravan of them, and 'illing them all3 and this ,as not only a very des(erate
attem(t, and might miscarry, b#t, on the other hand, $ had greatly scr#(led the la,f#lness of it to
myself3 and my heart trembled at the tho#ghts of shedding so m#ch blood, tho#gh it ,as for my
deliverance% $ need not re(eat the arg#ments ,hich occ#rred to me against this, they being the
same mentioned before3 b#t tho#gh $ had other reasons to offer no,-vi;% that those men ,ere
enemies to my life, and ,o#ld devo#r me if they co#ld3 that it ,as self-(reservation, in the
highest degree, to deliver myself from this death of a life, and ,as acting in my o,n defence as
m#ch as if they ,ere act#ally assa#lting me, and the li'e3 $ say tho#gh these things arg#ed for it,
yet the tho#ghts of shedding h#man blood for my deliverance ,ere very terrible to me, and s#ch
as $ co#ld by no means reconcile myself to for a great ,hile% 0o,ever, at last, after many secret
H)
dis(#tes ,ith myself, and after great (er(lexities abo#t it Cfor all these arg#ments, one ,ay and
another, str#ggled in my head a long timeD, the eager (revailing desire of deliverance at length
mastered all the rest3 and $ resolved, if (ossible, to get one of these savages into my hands, cost
,hat it ,o#ld% 1y next thing ,as to contrive ho, to do it, and this, indeed, ,as very diffic#lt to
resolve on3 b#t as $ co#ld (itch #(on no (robable means for it, so $ resolved to (#t myself #(on
the ,atch, to see them ,hen they came on shore, and leave the rest to the event3 ta'ing s#ch
meas#res as the o((ort#nity sho#ld (resent, let ,hat ,o#ld be%
4ith these resol#tions in my tho#ghts, $ set myself #(on the sco#t as often as (ossible, and
indeed so often that $ ,as heartily tired of it3 for it ,as above a year and a half that $ ,aited3 and
for great (art of that time ,ent o#t to the ,est end, and to the so#th-,est corner of the island
almost every day, to loo' for canoes, b#t none a((eared% This ,as very disco#raging, and began
to tro#ble me m#ch, tho#gh $ cannot say that it did in this case Cas it had done some time beforeD
,ear off the edge of my desire to the thing3 b#t the longer it seemed to be delayed, the more eager
$ ,as for it: in a ,ord, $ ,as not at first so caref#l to sh#n the sight of these savages, and avoid
being seen by them, as $ ,as no, eager to be #(on them% 8esides, $ fancied myself able to
manage one, nay, t,o or three savages, if $ had them, so as to ma'e them entirely slaves to me, to
do ,hatever $ sho#ld direct them, and to (revent their being able at any time to do me any h#rt% $t
,as a great ,hile that $ (leased myself ,ith this affair3 b#t nothing still (resented itself3 all my
fancies and schemes came to nothing, for no savages came near me for a great ,hile%
2bo#t a year and a half after $ entertained these notions Cand by long m#sing had, as it ,ere,
resolved them all into nothing, for ,ant of an occasion to (#t them into exec#tionD, $ ,as
s#r(rised one morning by seeing no less than five canoes all on shore together on my side the
island, and the (eo(le ,ho belonged to them all landed and o#t of my sight% The n#mber of them
bro'e all my meas#res3 for seeing so many, and 'no,ing that they al,ays came fo#r or six, or
sometimes more in a boat, $ co#ld not tell ,hat to thin' of it, or ho, to ta'e my meas#res to
attac' t,enty or thirty men single-handed3 so lay still in my castle, (er(lexed and discomforted%
0o,ever, $ (#t myself into the same (osition for an attac' that $ had formerly (rovided, and ,as
!#st ready for action, if anything had (resented% 0aving ,aited a good ,hile, listening to hear if
they made any noise, at length, being very im(atient, $ set my g#ns at the foot of my ladder,
and %clambered #( to the to( of the hill, by my t,o stages, as #s#al3 standing so, ho,ever, that my
head did not a((ear above the hill, so that they co#ld not (erceive me by any means% 0ere $
observed, by the hel( of my (ers(ective glass, that they ,ere no less than thirty in n#mber3 that
they had a fire 'indled, and that they had meat dressed% 0o, they had coo'ed it $ 'ne, not, or
,hat it ,as3 b#t they ,ere all dancing, in $ 'no, not ho, many barbaro#s gest#res and fig#res,
their o,n ,ay, ro#nd the fire%
4hile $ ,as th#s loo'ing on them, $ (erceived, by my (ers(ective, t,o miserable ,retches
dragged from the boats, ,here, it seems, they ,ere laid by, and ,ere no, bro#ght o#t for the
sla#ghter% $ (erceived one of them immediately fall3 being 'noc'ed do,n, $ s#((ose, ,ith a cl#b
or ,ooden s,ord, for that ,as their ,ay3 and t,o or three others ,ere at ,or' immediately,
c#tting him o(en for their coo'ery, ,hile the other victim ,as left standing by himself, till they
sho#ld be ready for him% $n that very moment this (oor ,retch, seeing himself a little at liberty
and #nbo#nd, .at#re ins(ired him ,ith ho(es of life, and he started a,ay from them, and ran
,ith incredible s,iftness along the sands, directly to,ards me3 $ mean to,ards that (art of the
coast ,here my habitation ,as% $ ,as dreadf#lly frightened, $ m#st ac'no,ledge, ,hen $
(erceived him r#n my ,ay3 and es(ecially ,hen, as $ tho#ght, $ sa, him (#rs#ed by the ,hole
body: and no, $ ex(ected that (art of my dream ,as coming to (ass, and that he ,o#ld certainly
ta'e shelter in my grove3 b#t $ co#ld not de(end, by any means, #(on my dream, that the other
HF
savages ,o#ld not (#rs#e him thither and find him there% 0o,ever, $ 'e(t my station, and my
s(irits began to recover ,hen $ fo#nd that there ,as not above three men that follo,ed him3 and
still more ,as $ enco#raged, ,hen $ fo#nd that he o#tstri((ed them exceedingly in r#nning, and
gained gro#nd on them3 so that, if he co#ld b#t hold o#t for half-an-ho#r, $ sa, easily he ,o#ld
fairly get a,ay from them all%
There ,as bet,een them and my castle the cree', ,hich $ mentioned often in the first (art of
my story, ,here $ landed my cargoes o#t of the shi(3 and this $ sa, (lainly he m#st necessarily
s,im over, or the (oor ,retch ,o#ld be ta'en there3 b#t ,hen the savage esca(ing came thither,
he made nothing of it, tho#gh the tide ,as then #(3 b#t (l#nging in, s,am thro#gh in abo#t thirty
stro'es, or thereabo#ts, landed, and ran ,ith exceeding strength and s,iftness% 4hen the three
(ersons came to the cree', $ fo#nd that t,o of them co#ld s,im, b#t the third co#ld not, and that,
standing on the other side, he loo'ed at the others, b#t ,ent no farther, and soon after ,ent softly
bac' again3 ,hich, as it ha((ened, ,as very ,ell for him in the end% $ observed that the t,o ,ho
s,am ,ere yet more than t,ice as strong s,imming over the cree' as the fello, ,as that fled
from them% $t came very ,armly #(on my tho#ghts, and indeed irresistibly, that no, ,as the time
to get me a servant, and, (erha(s, a com(anion or assistant3 and that $ ,as (lainly called by
rovidence to save this (oor creat#re=s life% $ immediately ran do,n the ladders ,ith all (ossible
ex(edition, fetched my t,o g#ns, for they ,ere both at the foot of the ladders, as $ observed
before, and getting #( again ,ith the same haste to the to( of the hill, $ crossed to,ards the sea3
and having a very short c#t, and all do,n hill, (laced myself in the ,ay bet,een the (#rs#ers and
the (#rs#ed, hallo,ing alo#d to him that fled, ,ho, loo'ing bac', ,as at first (erha(s as m#ch
frightened at me as at them3 b#t $ bec'oned ,ith my hand to him to come bac'3 and, in the
meantime, $ slo,ly advanced to,ards the t,o that follo,ed3 then r#shing at once #(on the
foremost, $ 'noc'ed him do,n ,ith the stoc' of my (iece% $ ,as loath to fire, beca#se $ ,o#ld
not have the rest hear3 tho#gh, at that distance, it ,o#ld not have been easily heard, and being o#t
of sight of the smo'e, too, they ,o#ld not have 'no,n ,hat to ma'e of it% 0aving 'noc'ed this
fello, do,n, the other ,ho (#rs#ed him sto((ed, as if he had been frightened, and $ advanced
to,ards him: b#t as $ came nearer, $ (erceived (resently he had a bo, and arro,, and ,as fitting
it to shoot at me: so $ ,as then obliged to shoot at him first, ,hich $ did, and 'illed him at the
first shot% The (oor savage ,ho fled, b#t had sto((ed, tho#gh he sa, both his enemies fallen and
'illed, as he tho#ght, yet ,as so frightened ,ith the fire and noise of my (iece that he stood stoc'
still, and neither came for,ard nor ,ent bac',ard, tho#gh he seemed rather inclined still to fly
than to come on% $ hallooed again to him, and made signs to come for,ard, ,hich he easily
#nderstood, and came a little ,ay3 then sto((ed again, and then a little farther, and sto((ed again3
and $ co#ld then (erceive that he stood trembling, as if he had been ta'en (risoner, and had !#st
been to be 'illed, as his t,o enemies ,ere% $ bec'oned to him again to come to me, and gave him
all the signs of enco#ragement that $ co#ld thin' of3 and he came nearer and nearer, 'neeling
do,n every ten or t,elve ste(s, in to'en of ac'no,ledgment for saving his life% $ smiled at him,
and loo'ed (leasantly, and bec'oned to him to come still nearer3 at length he came close to me3
and then he 'neeled do,n again, 'issed the gro#nd, and laid his head #(on the gro#nd, and ta'ing
me by the foot, set my foot #(on his head3 this, it seems, ,as in to'en of s,earing to be my slave
for ever% $ too' him #( and made m#ch of him, and enco#raged him all $ co#ld% 8#t there ,as
more ,or' to do yet3 for $ (erceived the savage ,hom $ had 'noc'ed do,n ,as not 'illed, b#t
st#nned ,ith the blo,, and began to come to himself: so $ (ointed to him, and sho,ed him the
savage, that he ,as not dead3 #(on this he s(o'e some ,ords to me, and tho#gh $ co#ld not
#nderstand them, yet $ tho#ght they ,ere (leasant to hear3 for they ,ere the first so#nd of a man=s
voice that $ had heard, my o,n exce(ted, for above t,enty-five years% 8#t there ,as no time for
HG
s#ch reflections no,3 the savage ,ho ,as 'noc'ed do,n recovered himself so far as to sit #(
#(on the gro#nd, and $ (erceived that my savage began to be afraid3 b#t ,hen $ sa, that, $
(resented my other (iece at the man, as if $ ,o#ld shoot him: #(on this my savage, for so $ call
him no,, made a motion to me to lend him my s,ord, ,hich h#ng na'ed in a belt by my side,
,hich $ did% 0e no sooner had it, b#t he r#ns to his enemy, and at one blo, c#t off his head so
cleverly, no exec#tioner in "ermany co#ld have done it sooner or better3 ,hich $ tho#ght very
strange for one ,ho, $ had reason to believe, never sa, a s,ord in his life before, exce(t their
o,n ,ooden s,ords: ho,ever, it seems, as $ learned after,ards, they ma'e their ,ooden s,ords
so shar(, so heavy, and the ,ood is so hard, that they ,ill even c#t off heads ,ith them, ay, and
arms, and that at one blo,, too% 4hen he had done this, he comes la#ghing to me in sign of
tri#m(h, and bro#ght me the s,ord again, and ,ith ab#ndance of gest#res ,hich $ did not
#nderstand, laid it do,n, ,ith the head of the savage that he had 'illed, !#st before me% 8#t that
,hich astonished him most ,as to 'no, ho, $ 'illed the other $ndian so far off3 so, (ointing to
him, he made signs to me to let him go to him3 and $ bade him go, as ,ell as $ co#ld% 4hen he
came to him, he stood li'e one ama;ed, loo'ing at him, t#rning him first on one side, then on the
other3 loo'ed at the ,o#nd the b#llet had made, ,hich it seems ,as !#st in his breast, ,here it
had made a hole, and no great >#antity of blood had follo,ed3 b#t he had bled in,ardly, for he
,as >#ite dead% 0e too' #( his bo, and arro,s, and came bac'3 so $ t#rned to go a,ay, and
bec'oned him to follo, me, ma'ing signs to him that more might come after them% U(on this he
made signs to me that he sho#ld b#ry them ,ith sand, that they might not be seen by the rest, if
they follo,ed3 and so $ made signs to him again to do so% 0e fell to ,or'3 and in an instant he
had scra(ed a hole in the sand ,ith his hands big eno#gh to b#ry the first in, and then dragged
him into it, and covered him3 and did so by the other also3 $ believe he had him b#ried them both
in a >#arter of an ho#r% Then, calling a,ay, $ carried him, not to my castle, b#t >#ite a,ay to my
cave, on the farther (art of the island: so $ did not let my dream come to (ass in that (art, that he
came into my grove for shelter% 0ere $ gave him bread and a b#nch of raisins to eat, and a dra#ght
of ,ater, ,hich $ fo#nd he ,as indeed in great distress for, from his r#nning: and having
refreshed him, $ made signs for him to go and lie do,n to slee(, sho,ing him a (lace ,here $ had
laid some rice-stra,, and a blan'et #(on it, ,hich $ #sed to slee( #(on myself sometimes3 so the
(oor creat#re lay do,n, and ,ent to slee(%
0e ,as a comely, handsome fello,, (erfectly ,ell made, ,ith straight, strong limbs, not too
large3 tall, and ,ell-sha(ed3 and, as $ rec'on, abo#t t,enty-six years of age% 0e had a very good
co#ntenance, not a fierce and s#rly as(ect, b#t seemed to have something very manly in his face3
and yet he had all the s,eetness and softness of a E#ro(ean in his co#ntenance, too, es(ecially
,hen he smiled% 0is hair ,as long and blac', not c#rled li'e ,ool3 his forehead very high and
large3 and a great vivacity and s(ar'ling shar(ness in his eyes% The colo#r of his s'in ,as not
>#ite blac', b#t very ta,ny3 and yet not an #gly, yello,, na#seo#s ta,ny, as the 8ra;ilians and
Virginians, and other natives of 2merica are, b#t of a bright 'ind of a d#n olive-colo#r, that had
in it something very agreeable, tho#gh not very easy to describe% 0is face ,as ro#nd and (l#m(3
his nose small, not flat, li'e the negroes3 a very good mo#th, thin li(s, and his fine teeth ,ell set,
and as ,hite as ivory%
2fter he had sl#mbered, rather than sle(t, abo#t half-an-ho#r, he a,o'e again, and came o#t of
the cave to me: for $ had been mil'ing my goats ,hich $ had in the enclos#re !#st by: ,hen he
es(ied me he came r#nning to me, laying himself do,n again #(on the gro#nd, ,ith all the
(ossible signs of an h#mble, than'f#l dis(osition, ma'ing a great many antic gest#res to sho, it%
2t last he lays his head flat #(on the gro#nd, close to my foot, and sets my other foot #(on his
head, as he had done before3 and after this made all the signs to me of s#b!ection, servit#de, and
HH
s#bmission imaginable, to let me 'no, ho, he ,o#ld serve me so long as he lived% $ #nderstood
him in many things, and let him 'no, $ ,as very ,ell (leased ,ith him% $n a little time $ began to
s(ea' to him3 and teach him to s(ea' to me: and first, $ let him 'no, his name sho#ld be <riday,
,hich ,as the day $ saved his life: $ called him so for the memory of the time% $ li'e,ise ta#ght
him to say 1aster3 and then let him 'no, that ,as to be my name: $ li'e,ise ta#ght him to say
7es and .o and to 'no, the meaning of them% $ gave him some mil' in an earthen (ot, and let
him see me drin' it before him, and so( my bread in it3 and gave him a ca'e of bread to do the
li'e, ,hich he >#ic'ly com(lied ,ith, and made signs that it ,as very good for him% $ 'e(t there
,ith him all that night3 b#t as soon as it ,as day $ bec'oned to him to come ,ith me, and let him
'no, $ ,o#ld give him some clothes3 at ,hich he seemed very glad, for he ,as star' na'ed% 2s
,e ,ent by the (lace ,here he had b#ried the t,o men, he (ointed exactly to the (lace, and
sho,ed me the mar's that he had made to find them again, ma'ing signs to me that ,e sho#ld
dig them #( again and eat them% 2t this $ a((eared very angry, ex(ressed my abhorrence of it,
made as if $ ,o#ld vomit at the tho#ghts of it, and bec'oned ,ith my hand to him to come a,ay,
,hich he did immediately, ,ith great s#bmission% $ then led him #( to the to( of the hill, to see if
his enemies ,ere gone3 and (#lling o#t my glass $ loo'ed, and sa, (lainly the (lace ,here they
had been, b#t no a((earance of them or their canoes3 so that it ,as (lain they ,ere gone, and had
left their t,o comrades behind them, ,itho#t any search after them%
8#t $ ,as not content ,ith this discovery3 b#t having no, more co#rage, and conse>#ently
more c#riosity, $ too' my man <riday ,ith me, giving him the s,ord in his hand, ,ith the bo,
and arro,s at his bac', ,hich $ fo#nd he co#ld #se very dextero#sly, ma'ing him carry one g#n
for me, and $ t,o for myself3 and a,ay ,e marched to the (lace ,here these creat#res had been3
for $ had a mind no, to get some f#rther intelligence of them% 4hen $ came to the (lace my very
blood ran chill in my veins, and my heart s#n' ,ithin me, at the horror of the s(ectacle3 indeed, it
,as a dreadf#l sight, at least it ,as so to me, tho#gh <riday made nothing of it% The (lace ,as
covered ,ith h#man bones, the gro#nd dyed ,ith their blood, and great (ieces of flesh left here
and there, half-eaten, mangled, and scorched3 and, in short, all the to'ens of the tri#m(hant feast
they had been ma'ing there, after a victory over their enemies% $ sa, three s'#lls, five hands, and
the bones of three or fo#r legs and feet, and ab#ndance of other (arts of the bodies3 and <riday, by
his signs, made me #nderstand that they bro#ght over fo#r (risoners to feast #(on3 that three of
them ,ere eaten #(, and that he, (ointing to himself, ,as the fo#rth3 that there had been a great
battle bet,een them and their next 'ing, of ,hose s#b!ects, it seems, he had been one, and that
they had ta'en a great n#mber of (risoners3 all ,hich ,ere carried to several (laces by those ,ho
had ta'en them in the fight, in order to feast #(on them, as ,as done here by these ,retches #(on
those they bro#ght hither%
$ ca#sed <riday to gather all the s'#lls, bones, flesh, and ,hatever remained, and lay them
together in a hea(, and ma'e a great fire #(on it, and b#rn them all to ashes% $ fo#nd <riday had
still a han'ering stomach after some of the flesh, and ,as still a cannibal in his nat#re3 b#t $
sho,ed so m#ch abhorrence at the very tho#ghts of it, and at the least a((earance of it, that he
d#rst not discover it: for $ had, by some means, let him 'no, that $ ,o#ld 'ill him if he offered it%
4hen he had done this, ,e came bac' to o#r castle3 and there $ fell to ,or' for my man
<riday3 and first of all, $ gave him a (air of linen dra,ers, ,hich $ had o#t of the (oor g#nner=s
chest $ mentioned, ,hich $ fo#nd in the ,rec', and ,hich, ,ith a little alteration, fitted him very
,ell3 and then $ made him a !er'in of goat=s s'in, as ,ell as my s'ill ,o#ld allo, Cfor $ ,as no,
gro,n a tolerably good tailorD3 and $ gave him a ca( ,hich $ made of hare=s s'in, very
convenient, and fashionable eno#gh3 and th#s he ,as clothed, for the (resent, tolerably ,ell, and
,as mighty ,ell (leased to see himself almost as ,ell clothed as his master% $t is tr#e he ,ent
5--
a,',ardly in these clothes at first: ,earing the dra,ers ,as very a,',ard to him, and the
sleeves of the ,aistcoat galled his sho#lders and the inside of his arms3 b#t a little easing them
,here he com(lained they h#rt him, and #sing himself to them, he too' to them at length very
,ell%
The next day, after $ came home to my h#tch ,ith him, $ began to consider ,here $ sho#ld
lodge him: and that $ might do ,ell for him and yet be (erfectly easy myself, $ made a little tent
for him in the vacant (lace bet,een my t,o fortifications, in the inside of the last, and in the
o#tside of the first% 2s there ,as a door or entrance there into my cave, $ made a formal framed
door-case, and a door to it, of boards, and set it #( in the (assage, a little ,ithin the entrance3 and,
ca#sing the door to o(en in the inside, $ barred it #( in the night, ta'ing in my ladders, too3 so that
<riday co#ld no ,ay come at me in the inside of my innermost ,all, ,itho#t ma'ing so m#ch
noise in getting over that it m#st needs a,a'en me3 for my first ,all had no, a com(lete roof
over it of long (oles, covering all my tent, and leaning #( to the side of the hill3 ,hich ,as again
laid across ,ith smaller stic's, instead of laths, and then thatched over a great thic'ness ,ith the
rice-stra,, ,hich ,as strong, li'e reeds3 and at the hole or (lace ,hich ,as left to go in or o#t by
the ladder $ had (laced a 'ind of tra(-door, ,hich, if it had been attem(ted on the o#tside, ,o#ld
not have o(ened at all, b#t ,o#ld have fallen do,n and made a great noise-as to ,ea(ons, $ too'
them all into my side every night% 8#t $ needed none of all this (reca#tion3 for never man had a
more faithf#l, loving, sincere servant than <riday ,as to me: ,itho#t (assions, s#llenness, or
designs, (erfectly obliged and engaged3 his very affections ,ere tied to me, li'e those of a child
to a father3 and $ daresay he ,o#ld have sacrificed his life to save mine #(on any occasion
,hatsoever-the many testimonies he gave me of this (#t it o#t of do#bt, and soon convinced me
that $ needed to #se no (reca#tions for my safety on his acco#nt%
This fre>#ently gave me occasion to observe, and that ,ith ,onder, that ho,ever it had
(leased "od in 0is (rovidence, and in the government of the ,or's of 0is hands, to ta'e from so
great a (art of the ,orld of 0is creat#res the best #ses to ,hich their fac#lties and the (o,ers of
their so#ls are ada(ted, yet that 0e has besto,ed #(on them the same (o,ers, the same reason,
the same affections, the same sentiments of 'indness and obligation, the same (assions and
resentments of ,rongs, the same sense of gratit#de, sincerity, fidelity, and all the ca(acities of
doing good and receiving good that 0e has given to #s3 and that ,hen 0e (leases to offer them
occasions of exerting these, they are as ready, nay, more ready, to a((ly them to the right #ses for
,hich they ,ere besto,ed than ,e are% This made me very melancholy sometimes, in reflecting,
as the several occasions (resented, ho, mean a #se ,e ma'e of all these, even tho#gh ,e have
these (o,ers enlightened by the great lam( of instr#ction, the /(irit of "od, and by the
'no,ledge of 0is ,ord added to o#r #nderstanding3 and ,hy it has (leased "od to hide the li'e
saving 'no,ledge from so many millions of so#ls, ,ho, if $ might !#dge by this (oor savage,
,o#ld ma'e a m#ch better #se of it than ,e did% <rom hence $ sometimes ,as led too far, to
invade the sovereignty of rovidence, and, as it ,ere, arraign the !#stice of so arbitrary a
dis(osition of things, that sho#ld hide that sight from some, and reveal it- to others, and yet
ex(ect a li'e d#ty from both3 b#t $ sh#t it #(, and chec'ed my tho#ghts ,ith this concl#sion: first,
that ,e did not 'no, by ,hat light and la, these sho#ld be condemned3 b#t that as "od ,as
necessarily, and by the nat#re of 0is being, infinitely holy and !#st, so it co#ld not be, b#t if these
creat#res ,ere all sentenced to absence from 0imself, it ,as on acco#nt of sinning against that
light ,hich, as the /cri(t#re says, ,as a la, to themselves, and by s#ch r#les as their consciences
,o#ld ac'no,ledge to be !#st, tho#gh the fo#ndation ,as not discovered to #s3 and secondly, that
still as ,e all are the clay in the hand of the (otter, no vessel co#ld say to him, A4hy hast tho#
formed me th#s?A
5-5
8#t to ret#rn to my ne, com(anion% $ ,as greatly delighted ,ith him, and made it my b#siness
to teach him everything that ,as (ro(er to ma'e him #sef#l, handy, and hel(f#l3 b#t es(ecially to
ma'e him s(ea', and #nderstand me ,hen $ s(o'e3 and he ,as the a(test scholar that ever ,as3
and (artic#larly ,as so merry, so constantly diligent, and so (leased ,hen he co#ld b#t
#nderstand me, or ma'e me #nderstand him, that it ,as very (leasant for me to tal' to him% .o,
my life began to be so easy that $ began to say to myself that co#ld $ b#t have been safe from
more savages, $ cared not if $ ,as never to remove from the (lace ,here $ lived%
Cha(ter 5*
C02TE9 IV-<9$D27=/ EDUC2T$J.
2<TE9 $ had been t,o or three days ret#rned to my castle, $ tho#ght that, in order to bring
<riday off from his horrid ,ay of feeding, and from the relish of a cannibal=s stomach, $ o#ght to
let him taste other flesh3 so $ too' him o#t ,ith me one morning to the ,oods% $ ,ent, indeed,
intending to 'ill a 'id o#t of my o,n floc'3 and bring it home and dress it3 b#t as $ ,as going $
sa, a she-goat lying do,n in the shade, and t,o yo#ng 'ids sitting by her% $ catched hold of
<riday% A0old,A said $, Astand still3A and made signs to him not to stir: immediately $ (resented my
(iece, shot, and 'illed one of the 'ids% The (oor creat#re, ,ho had at a distance, indeed, seen me
'ill the savage, his enemy, b#t did not 'no,, nor co#ld imagine ho, it ,as done, ,as sensibly
s#r(rised, trembled, and shoo', and loo'ed so ama;ed that $ tho#ght he ,o#ld have s#n' do,n%
0e did not see the 'id $ shot at, or (erceive $ had 'illed it, b#t ri((ed #( his ,aistcoat to feel
,hether he ,as not ,o#nded3 and, as $ fo#nd (resently, tho#ght $ ,as resolved to 'ill him: for he
came and 'neeled do,n to me, and embracing my 'nees, said a great many things $ did not
#nderstand3 b#t $ co#ld easily see the meaning ,as to (ray me not to 'ill him%
$ soon fo#nd a ,ay to convince him that $ ,o#ld do him no harm3 and ta'ing him #( by the
hand, la#ghed at him, and (ointing to the 'id ,hich $ had 'illed, bec'oned to him to r#n and fetch
it, ,hich he did: and ,hile he ,as ,ondering, and loo'ing to see ho, the creat#re ,as 'illed, $
loaded my g#n again% 8y-and-by $ sa, a great fo,l, li'e a ha,', sitting #(on a tree ,ithin shot3
so, to let <riday #nderstand a little ,hat $ ,o#ld do, $ called him to me again, (ointed at the fo,l,
,hich ,as indeed a (arrot, tho#gh $ tho#ght it had been a ha,'3 $ say, (ointing to the (arrot, and
to my g#n, and to the gro#nd #nder the (arrot, to let him see $ ,o#ld ma'e it fall, $ made him
#nderstand that $ ,o#ld shoot and 'ill that bird3 accordingly, $ fired, and bade him loo', and
immediately he sa, the (arrot fall% 0e stood li'e one frightened again, not,ithstanding all $ had
said to him3 and $ fo#nd he ,as the more ama;ed, beca#se he did not see me (#t anything into the
g#n, b#t tho#ght that there m#st be some ,onderf#l f#nd of death and destr#ction in that thing,
able to 'ill man, beast, bird, or anything near or far off3 and the astonishment this created in him
,as s#ch as co#ld not ,ear off for a long time3 and $ believe, if $ ,o#ld have let him, he ,o#ld
have ,orshi((ed me and my g#n% 2s for the g#n itself, he ,o#ld not so m#ch as to#ch it for
several days after3 b#t he ,o#ld s(ea' to it and tal' to it, as if it had ans,ered him, ,hen he ,as
by himself3 ,hich, as $ after,ards learned of him, ,as to desire it not to 'ill him% 4ell, after his
astonishment ,as a little over at this, $ (ointed to him to r#n and fetch the bird $ had shot, ,hich
he did, b#t stayed some time3 for the (arrot, not being >#ite dead, had fl#ttered a,ay a good
distance from the (lace ,here she fell: ho,ever, he fo#nd her, too' her #(, and bro#ght her to
me3 and as $ had (erceived his ignorance abo#t the g#n before, $ too' this advantage to charge the
g#n again, and not to let him see me do it, that $ might be ready for any other mar' that might
(resent3 b#t nothing more offered at that time: so $ bro#ght home the 'id, and the same evening $
too' the s'in off, and c#t it o#t as ,ell as $ co#ld3 and having a (ot fit for that (#r(ose, $ boiled or
ste,ed some of the flesh, and made some very good broth% 2fter $ had beg#n to eat some $ gave
some to my man, ,ho seemed very glad of it, and li'ed it very ,ell3 b#t that ,hich ,as strangest
5-&
to him ,as to see me eat salt ,ith it% 0e made a sign to me that the salt ,as not good to eat3 and
(#tting a little into his o,n mo#th, he seemed to na#seate it, and ,o#ld s(it and s(#tter at it,
,ashing his mo#th ,ith fresh ,ater after it: on the other hand, $ too' some meat into my mo#th
,itho#t salt, and $ (retended to s(it and s(#tter for ,ant of salt, as m#ch as he had done at the
salt3 b#t it ,o#ld not do3 he ,o#ld never care for salt ,ith meat or in his broth3 at least, not for a
great ,hile, and then b#t a very little%
0aving th#s fed him ,ith boiled meat and broth, $ ,as resolved to feast him the next day by
roasting a (iece of the 'id: this $ did by hanging it before the fire on a string, as $ had seen many
(eo(le do in England, setting t,o (oles #(, one on each side of the fire, and one across the to(,
and tying the string to the cross stic', letting the meat t#rn contin#ally% This <riday admired very
m#ch3 b#t ,hen he came to taste the flesh, he too' so many ,ays to tell me ho, ,ell he li'ed it,
that $ co#ld not b#t #nderstand him: and at last he told me, as ,ell as he co#ld, he ,o#ld never
eat man=s flesh any more, ,hich $ ,as very glad to hear%
The next day $ set him to ,or' beating some corn o#t, and sifting it in the manner $ #sed to do,
as $ observed before3 and he soon #nderstood ho, to do it as ,ell as $, es(ecially after he had
seen ,hat the meaning of it ,as, and that it ,as to ma'e bread of3 for after that $ let him see me
ma'e my bread, and ba'e it too3 and in a little time <riday ,as able to do all the ,or' for me as
,ell as $ co#ld do it myself%
$ began no, to consider, that having t,o mo#ths to feed instead of one, $ m#st (rovide more
gro#nd for my harvest, and (lant a larger >#antity of corn than $ #sed to do3 so $ mar'ed o#t a
larger (iece of land, and began the fence in the same manner as before, in ,hich <riday ,or'ed
not only very ,illingly and very hard, b#t did it very cheerf#lly: and $ told him ,hat it ,as for3
that it ,as for corn to ma'e more bread, beca#se he ,as no, ,ith me, and that $ might have
eno#gh for him and myself too% 0e a((eared very sensible of that (art, and let me 'no, that he
tho#ght $ had m#ch more labo#r #(on me on his acco#nt than $ had for myself3 and that he ,o#ld
,or' the harder for me if $ ,o#ld tell him ,hat to do%
This ,as the (leasantest year of all the life $ led in this (lace% <riday began to tal' (retty ,ell,
and #nderstand the names of almost everything $ had occasion to call for, and of every (lace $ had
to send him to, and tal'ed a great deal to me3 so that, in short, $ began no, to have some #se for
my tong#e again, ,hich, indeed, $ had very little occasion for before% 8esides the (leas#re of
tal'ing to him, $ had a sing#lar satisfaction in the fello, himself: his sim(le, #nfeigned honesty
a((eared to me more and more every day, and $ began really to love the creat#re3 and on his side
$ believe he loved me more than it ,as (ossible for him ever to love anything before%
$ had a mind once to try if he had any inclination for his o,n co#ntry again3 and having ta#ght
him English so ,ell that he co#ld ans,er me almost any >#estion, $ as'ed him ,hether the nation
that he belonged to never con>#ered in battle? 2t ,hich he smiled, and said-A7es, yes, ,e al,ays
fight the better3A that is, he meant al,ays get the better in fight3 and so ,e began the follo,ing
disco#rse:-
12/TE9
%-7o# al,ays fight the better3 ho, came yo# to be ta'en (risoner, then, <riday?
<9$D27
-1y nation beat m#ch for all that%
12/TE9
%-0o, beat? $f yo#r nation beat them, ho, came yo# to be ta'en?
5-6
<9$D27
-They more many than my nation, in the (lace ,here me ,as3 they ta'e one, t,o, three, and
me: my nation over-beat them in the yonder (lace, ,here me no ,as3 there my nation ta'e one,
t,o, great tho#sand%
12/TE9
%-8#t ,hy did not yo#r side recover yo# from the hands of yo#r enemies, then?
<9$D27
-They r#n, one, t,o, three, and me, and ma'e go in the canoe3 my nation have no canoe that
time%
12/TE9
%-4ell, <riday, and ,hat does yo#r nation do ,ith the men they ta'e? Do they carry them a,ay
and eat them, as these did?
<9$D27
-7es, my nation eat mans too3 eat all #(%
12/TE9
%-4here do they carry them?
<9$D27
-"o to other (lace, ,here they thin'%
12/TE9
%-Do they come hither?
<9$D27
-7es, yes, they come hither3 come other else (lace%
12/TE9
%-0ave yo# been here ,ith them?
<9$D27
-7es, $ have been here C(oints to the .4% side of the island, ,hich, it seems, ,as their sideD%
8y this $ #nderstood that my man <riday had formerly been among the savages ,ho #sed to
come on shore on the farther (art of the island, on the same man-eating occasions he ,as no,
bro#ght for3 and some time after, ,hen $ too' the co#rage to carry him to that side, being the
same $ formerly mentioned, he (resently 'ne, the (lace, and told me he ,as there once, ,hen
they ate #( t,enty men, t,o ,omen, and one child3 he co#ld not tell t,enty in English, b#t he
n#mbered them by laying so many stones in a ro,, and (ointing to me to tell them over%
$ have told this (assage, beca#se it introd#ces ,hat follo,s: that after this disco#rse $ had ,ith
him, $ as'ed him ho, far it ,as from o#r island to the shore, and ,hether the canoes ,ere not
often lost% 0e told me there ,as no danger, no canoes ever lost: b#t that after a little ,ay o#t to
sea, there ,as a c#rrent and ,ind, al,ays one ,ay in the morning, the other in the afternoon%
5-B
This $ #nderstood to be no more than the sets of the tide, as going o#t or coming in3 b#t $
after,ards #nderstood it ,as occasioned by the great draft and refl#x of the mighty river
Jrinoco, in the mo#th or g#lf of ,hich river, as $ fo#nd after,ards, o#r island lay3 and that this
land, ,hich $ (erceived to be 4% and .4%, ,as the great island Trinidad, on the north (oint of the
mo#th of the river% $ as'ed <riday a tho#sand >#estions abo#t the co#ntry, the inhabitants, the sea,
the coast, and ,hat nations ,ere near3 he told me all he 'ne, ,ith the greatest o(enness
imaginable% $ as'ed him the names of the several nations of his sort of (eo(le, b#t co#ld get no
other name than Caribs3 from ,hence $ easily #nderstood that these ,ere the Caribbees, ,hich
o#r ma(s (lace on the (art of 2merica ,hich reaches from the mo#th of the river Jrinoco to
"#iana, and on,ards to /t% 1artha% 0e told me that #( a great ,ay beyond the moon, that ,as
beyond the setting of the moon, ,hich m#st be ,est from their co#ntry, there d,elt ,hite
bearded men, li'e me, and (ointed to my great ,his'ers, ,hich $ mentioned before3 and that they
had 'illed m#ch mans, that ,as his ,ord: by all ,hich $ #nderstood he meant the /(aniards,
,hose cr#elties in 2merica had been s(read over the ,hole co#ntry, and ,ere remembered by all
the nations from father to son%
$ in>#ired if he co#ld tell me ho, $ might go from this island, and get among those ,hite men%
0e told me, A7es, yes, yo# may go in t,o canoe%A $ co#ld not #nderstand ,hat he meant, or ma'e
him describe to me ,hat he meant by t,o canoe, till at last, ,ith great diffic#lty, $ fo#nd he
meant it m#st be in a large boat, as big as t,o canoes% This (art of <riday=s disco#rse $ began to
relish very ,ell3 and from this time $ entertained some ho(es that, one time or other, $ might find
an o((ort#nity to ma'e my esca(e from this (lace, and that this (oor savage might be a means to
hel( me%
D#ring the long time that <riday had no, been ,ith me, and that he began to s(ea' to me, and
#nderstand me, $ ,as not ,anting to lay a fo#ndation of religio#s 'no,ledge in his mind3
(artic#larly $ as'ed him one time, ,ho made him% The creat#re did not #nderstand me at all, b#t
tho#ght $ had as'ed ,ho ,as his father-b#t $ too' it #( by another handle, and as'ed him ,ho
made the sea, the gro#nd ,e ,al'ed on, and the hills and ,oods% 0e told me, A$t ,as one
8enam#c'ee, that lived beyond all3A he co#ld describe nothing of this great (erson, b#t that he
,as very old, Am#ch older,A he said, Athan the sea or land, than the moon or the stars%A $ as'ed
him then, if this old (erson had made all things, ,hy did not all things ,orshi( him? 0e loo'ed
very grave, and, ,ith a (erfect loo' of innocence, said, A2ll things say J to him%A $ as'ed him if
the (eo(le ,ho die in his co#ntry ,ent a,ay any,here? 0e said, A7es3 they all ,ent to
8enam#c'ee%A Then $ as'ed him ,hether those they eat #( ,ent thither too% 0e said, A7es%A
<rom these things, $ began to instr#ct him in the 'no,ledge of the tr#e "od3 $ told him that the
great 1a'er of all things lived #( there, (ointing #( to,ards heaven3 that 0e governed the ,orld
by the same (o,er and (rovidence by ,hich 0e made it3 that 0e ,as omni(otent, and co#ld do
everything for #s, give everything to #s, ta'e everything from #s3 and th#s, by degrees, $ o(ened
his eyes% 0e listened ,ith great attention, and received ,ith (leas#re the notion of Ees#s Christ
being sent to redeem #s3 and of the manner of ma'ing o#r (rayers to "od, and 0is being able to
hear #s, even in heaven% 0e told me one day, that if o#r "od co#ld hear #s, #( beyond the s#n, he
m#st needs be a greater "od than their 8enam#c'ee, ,ho lived b#t a little ,ay off, and yet co#ld
not hear till they ,ent #( to the great mo#ntains ,here he d,elt to s(ea' to them% $ as'ed him if
ever he ,ent thither to s(ea' to him% 0e said, A.o3 they never ,ent that ,ere yo#ng men3 none
,ent thither b#t the old men,A ,hom he called their Jo,o'a'ee3 that is, as $ made him ex(lain to
me, their religio#s, or clergy3 and that they ,ent to say J Cso he called saying (rayersD, and then
came bac' and told them ,hat 8enam#c'ee said% 8y this $ observed, that there is (riestcraft even
among the most blinded, ignorant (agans in the ,orld3 and the (olicy of ma'ing a secret of
5-*
religion, in order to (reserve the veneration of the (eo(le to the clergy, not only to be fo#nd in the
9oman, b#t, (erha(s, among all religions in the ,orld, even among the most br#tish and
barbaro#s savages%
$ endeavo#red to clear #( this fra#d to my man <riday3 and told him that the (retence of their
old men going #( to the mo#ntains to say J to their god 8enam#c'ee ,as a cheat3 and their
bringing ,ord from thence ,hat he said ,as m#ch more so3 that if they met ,ith any ans,er, or
s(a'e ,ith any one there, it m#st be ,ith an evil s(irit3 and then $ entered into a long disco#rse
,ith him abo#t the devil, the origin of him, his rebellion against "od, his enmity to man, the
reason of it, his setting himself #( in the dar' (arts of the ,orld to be ,orshi((ed instead of "od,
and as "od, and the many stratagems he made #se of to del#de man'ind to their r#in3 ho, he had
a secret access to o#r (assions and to o#r affections, and to ada(t his snares to o#r inclinations, so
as to ca#se #s even to be o#r o,n tem(ters, and r#n #(on o#r destr#ction by o#r o,n choice%
$ fo#nd it ,as not so easy to im(rint right notions in his mind abo#t the devil as it ,as abo#t
the being of a "od% .at#re assisted all my arg#ments to evidence to him even the necessity of a
great <irst Ca#se, an overr#ling, governing o,er, a secret directing rovidence, and of the
e>#ity and !#stice of (aying homage to 0im that made #s, and the li'e3 b#t there a((eared
nothing of this 'ind in the notion of an evil s(irit, of his origin, his being, his nat#re, and above
all, of his inclination to do evil, and to dra, #s in to do so too3 and the (oor creat#re (#;;led me
once in s#ch a manner, by a >#estion merely nat#ral and innocent, that $ scarce 'ne, ,hat to say
to him% $ had been tal'ing a great deal to him of the (o,er of "od, 0is omni(otence, 0is aversion
to sin, 0is being a cons#ming fire to the ,or'ers of ini>#ity3 ho,, as 0e had made #s all, 0e
co#ld destroy #s and all the ,orld in a moment3 and he listened ,ith great serio#sness to me all
the ,hile% 2fter this $ had been telling him ho, the devil ,as "od=s enemy in the hearts of men,
and #sed all his malice and s'ill to defeat the good designs of rovidence, and to r#in the
'ingdom of Christ in the ,orld, and the li'e% A4ell,A says <riday, Ab#t yo# say "od is so strong,
so great3 is 0e not m#ch strong, m#ch might as the devil?A A7es, yes,A says $, A<riday3 "od is
stronger than the devil-"od is above the devil, and therefore ,e (ray to "od to tread him do,n
#nder o#r feet, and enable #s to resist his tem(tations and >#ench his fiery darts%A A8#t,A says he
again, Aif "od m#ch stronger, m#ch might as the ,ic'ed devil, ,hy "od no 'ill the devil, so
ma'e him no more do ,ic'ed?A $ ,as strangely s#r(rised at this >#estion3 and, after all, tho#gh $
,as no, an old man, yet $ ,as b#t a yo#ng doctor, and ill >#alified for a cas#ist or a solver of
diffic#lties3 and at first $ co#ld not tell ,hat to say3 so $ (retended not to hear him, and as'ed him
,hat he said3 b#t he ,as too earnest for an ans,er to forget his >#estion, so that he re(eated it in
the very same bro'en ,ords as above% 8y this time $ had recovered myself a little, and $ said,
A"od ,ill at last (#nish him severely3 he is reserved for the !#dgment, and is to be cast into the
bottomless (it, to d,ell ,ith everlasting fire%A This did not satisfy <riday3 b#t he ret#rns #(on me,
re(eating my ,ords, A=9eserve at last@= me no #nderstand-b#t ,hy not 'ill the devil no,3 not 'ill
great ago?A A7o# may as ,ell as' me,A said $, A,hy "od does not 'ill yo# or me, ,hen ,e do
,ic'ed things here that offend 0im-,e are (reserved to re(ent and be (ardoned%A 0e m#sed
some time on this% A4ell, ,ell,A says he, mighty affectionately, Athat ,ell-so yo#, $, devil, all
,ic'ed, all (reserve, re(ent, "od (ardon all%A 0ere $ ,as r#n do,n again by him to the last
degree3 and it ,as a testimony to me, ho, the mere notions of nat#re, tho#gh they ,ill g#ide
reasonable creat#res to the 'no,ledge of a "od, and of a ,orshi( or homage d#e to the s#(reme
being of "od, as the conse>#ence of o#r nat#re, yet nothing b#t divine revelation can form the
'no,ledge of Ees#s Christ, and of redem(tion (#rchased for #s3 of a 1ediator of the ne,
covenant, and of an $ntercessor at the footstool of "od=s throne3 $ say, nothing b#t a revelation
from 0eaven can form these in the so#l3 and that, therefore, the gos(el of o#r Lord and /avio#r
5-)
Ees#s Christ, $ mean the 4ord of "od, and the /(irit of "od, (romised for the g#ide and
sanctifier of 0is (eo(le, are the absol#tely necessary instr#ctors of the so#ls of men in the saving
'no,ledge of "od and the means of salvation%
$ therefore diverted the (resent disco#rse bet,een me and my man, rising #( hastily, as #(on
some s#dden occasion of going o#t3 then sending him for something a good ,ay off, $ serio#sly
(rayed to "od that 0e ,o#ld enable me to instr#ct savingly this (oor savage3 assisting, by 0is
/(irit, the heart of the (oor ignorant creat#re to receive the light of the 'no,ledge of "od in
Christ, reconciling him to 0imself, and ,o#ld g#ide me so to s(ea' to him from the 4ord of "od
that his conscience might be convinced, his eyes o(ened, and his so#l saved% 4hen he came again
to me, $ entered into a long disco#rse ,ith him #(on the s#b!ect of the redem(tion of man by the
/avio#r of the ,orld, and of the doctrine of the gos(el (reached from 0eaven, vi;% of re(entance
to,ards "od, and faith in o#r blessed Lord Ees#s% $ then ex(lained to him as ,ell as $ co#ld ,hy
o#r blessed 9edeemer too' not on 0im the nat#re of angels b#t the seed of 2braham3 and ho,,
for that reason, the fallen angels had no share in the redem(tion3 that 0e came only to the lost
shee( of the ho#se of $srael, and the li'e%
$ had, "od 'no,s, more sincerity than 'no,ledge in all the methods $ too' for this (oor
creat#re=s instr#ction, and m#st ac'no,ledge, ,hat $ believe all that act #(on the same (rinci(le
,ill find, that in laying things o(en to him, $ really informed and instr#cted myself in many
things that either $ did not 'no, or had not f#lly considered before, b#t ,hich occ#rred nat#rally
to my mind #(on searching into them, for the information of this (oor savage3 and $ had more
affection in my in>#iry after things #(on this occasion than ever $ felt before: so that, ,hether
this (oor ,ild ,retch ,as better for me or no, $ had great reason to be than'f#l that ever he came
to me3 my grief sat lighter, #(on me3 my habitation gre, comfortable to me beyond meas#re: and
,hen $ reflected that in this solitary life ,hich $ have been confined to, $ had not only been
moved to loo' #( to heaven myself, and to see' the 0and that had bro#ght me here, b#t ,as no,
to be made an instr#ment, #nder rovidence, to save the life, and, for a#ght $ 'ne,, the so#l of a
(oor savage, and bring him to the tr#e 'no,ledge of religion and of the Christian doctrine, that he
might 'no, Christ Ees#s, in ,hom is life eternal3 $ say, ,hen $ reflected #(on all these things, a
secret !oy ran thro#gh every (art of 1y so#l, and $ fre>#ently re!oiced that ever $ ,as bro#ght to
this (lace, ,hich $ had so often tho#ght the most dreadf#l of all afflictions that co#ld (ossibly
have befallen me%
$ contin#ed in this than'f#l frame all the remainder of my time3 and the conversation ,hich
em(loyed the ho#rs bet,een <riday and me ,as s#ch as made the three years ,hich ,e lived
there together (erfectly and com(letely ha((y, if any s#ch thing as com(lete ha((iness can be
formed in a s#bl#nary state% This savage ,as no, a good Christian, a m#ch better than $3 tho#gh $
have reason to ho(e, and bless "od for it, that ,e ,ere e>#ally (enitent, and comforted, restored
(enitents% 4e had here the 4ord of "od to read, and no farther off from 0is /(irit to instr#ct than
if ,e had been in England% $ al,ays a((lied myself, in reading the /cri(t#re, to let him 'no,, as
,ell as $ co#ld, the meaning of ,hat $ read3 and he again, by his serio#s in>#iries and
>#estionings, made me, as $ said before, a m#ch better scholar in the /cri(t#re 'no,ledge than $
sho#ld ever have been by my o,n mere (rivate reading% 2nother thing $ cannot refrain from
observing here also, from ex(erience in this retired (art of my life, vi;% ho, infinite and
inex(ressible a blessing it is that the 'no,ledge of "od, and of the doctrine of salvation by Christ
Ees#s, is so (lainly laid do,n in the 4ord of "od, so easy to be received and #nderstood, that, as
the bare reading the /cri(t#re made me ca(able of #nderstanding eno#gh of my d#ty to carry me
directly on to the great ,or' of sincere re(entance for my sins, and laying hold of a /avio#r for
life and salvation, to a stated reformation in (ractice, and obedience to all "od=s commands, and
5-F
this ,itho#t any teacher or instr#ctor, $ mean h#man3 so the same (lain instr#ction s#fficiently
served to the enlightening this savage creat#re, and bringing him to be s#ch a Christian as $ have
'no,n fe, e>#al to him in my life%
2s to all the dis(#tes, ,rangling, strife, and contention ,hich have ha((ened in the ,orld
abo#t religion, ,hether niceties in doctrines or schemes of ch#rch government, they ,ere all
(erfectly #seless to #s, and, for a#ght $ can yet see, they have been so to the rest of the ,orld% 4e
had the s#re g#ide to heaven, vi;% the 4ord of "od3 and ,e had, blessed be "od, comfortable
vie,s of the /(irit of "od teaching and instr#cting by 0is ,ord, leading #s into all tr#th, and
ma'ing #s both ,illing and obedient to the instr#ction of 0is ,ord% 2nd $ cannot see the least #se
that the greatest 'no,ledge of the dis(#ted (oints of religion, ,hich have made s#ch conf#sion in
the ,orld, ,o#ld have been to #s, if ,e co#ld have obtained it% 8#t $ m#st go on ,ith the
historical (art of things, and ta'e every (art in its order%
2fter <riday and $ became more intimately ac>#ainted, and that he co#ld #nderstand almost all
$ said to him, and s(ea' (retty fl#ently, tho#gh in bro'en English, to me, $ ac>#ainted him ,ith
my o,n history, or at least so m#ch of it as related to my coming to this (lace: ho, $ had lived
there, and ho, long3 $ let him into the mystery, for s#ch it ,as to him, of g#n(o,der and b#llet,
and ta#ght him ho, to shoot% $ gave him a 'nife, ,hich he ,as ,onderf#lly delighted ,ith3 and $
made him a belt, ,ith a frog hanging to it, s#ch as in England ,e ,ear hangers in3 and in the
frog, instead of a hanger, $ gave him a hatchet, ,hich ,as not only as good a ,ea(on in some
cases, b#t m#ch more #sef#l #(on other occasions%
$ described to him the co#ntry of E#ro(e, (artic#larly England, ,hich $ came from3 ho, ,e
lived, ho, ,e ,orshi((ed "od, ho, ,e behaved to one another, and ho, ,e traded in shi(s to
all (arts of the ,orld% $ gave him an acco#nt of the ,rec' ,hich $ had been on board of, and
sho,ed him, as near as $ co#ld, the (lace ,here she lay3 b#t she ,as all beaten in (ieces before,
and gone% $ sho,ed him the r#ins of o#r boat, ,hich ,e lost ,hen ,e esca(ed, and ,hich $ co#ld
not stir ,ith my ,hole strength then3 b#t ,as no, fallen almost all to (ieces% U(on seeing this
boat, <riday stood, m#sing a great ,hile, and said nothing% $ as'ed him ,hat it ,as he st#died
#(on% 2t last says he, A1e see s#ch boat li'e come to (lace at my nation%A $ did not #nderstand
him a good ,hile3 b#t at last, ,hen $ had examined f#rther into it, $ #nderstood by him that a
boat, s#ch as that had been, came on shore #(on the co#ntry ,here he lived: that is, as he
ex(lained it, ,as driven thither by stress of ,eather% $ (resently imagined that some E#ro(ean
shi( m#st have been cast a,ay #(on their coast, and the boat might get loose and drive ashore3
b#t ,as so d#ll that $ never once tho#ght of men ma'ing their esca(e from a ,rec' thither, m#ch
less ,hence they might come: so $ only in>#ired after a descri(tion of the boat%
<riday described the boat to me ,ell eno#gh3 b#t bro#ght me better to #nderstand him ,hen he
added ,ith some ,armth, A4e save the ,hite mans from dro,n%A Then $ (resently as'ed if there
,ere any ,hite mans, as he called them, in the boat% A7es,A he said3 Athe boat f#ll of ,hite mans%A
$ as'ed him ho, many% 0e told #(on his fingers seventeen% $ as'ed him then ,hat became of
them% 0e told me, AThey live, they d,ell at my nation%A
This (#t ne, tho#ghts into my head3 for $ (resently imagined that these might be the men
belonging to the shi( that ,as cast a,ay in the sight of my island, as $ no, called it3 and ,ho,
after the shi( ,as str#c' on the roc', and they sa, her inevitably lost, had saved themselves in
their boat, and ,ere landed #(on that ,ild shore among the savages% U(on this $ in>#ired of him
more critically ,hat ,as become of them% 0e ass#red me they lived still there3 that they had been
there abo#t fo#r years3 that the savages left them alone, and gave them vict#als to live on% $ as'ed
him ho, it came to (ass they did not 'ill them and eat them% 0e said, A.o, they ma'e brother
,ith them3A that is, as $ #nderstood him, a tr#ce3 and then he added, AThey no eat mans b#t ,hen
5-G
ma'e the ,ar fight3A that is to say, they never eat any men b#t s#ch as come to fight ,ith them
and are ta'en in battle%
$t ,as after this some considerable time, that being #(on the to( of the hill at the east side of
the island, from ,hence, as $ have said, $ had, in a clear day, discovered the main or continent of
2merica, <riday, the ,eather being very serene, loo's very earnestly to,ards the mainland, and,
in a 'ind of s#r(rise, falls a !#m(ing and dancing, and calls o#t to me, for $ ,as at some distance
from him% $ as'ed him ,hat ,as the matter% AJh, !oy@A says he3 AJh, glad@ there see my co#ntry,
there my nation@A $ observed an extraordinary sense of (leas#re a((eared in his face, and his eyes
s(ar'led, and his co#ntenance discovered a strange eagerness, as if he had a mind to be in his
o,n co#ntry again% This observation of mine (#t a great many tho#ghts into me, ,hich made me
at first not so easy abo#t my ne, man <riday as $ ,as before3 and $ made no do#bt b#t that, if
<riday co#ld get bac' to his o,n nation again, he ,o#ld not only forget all his religion b#t all his
obligation to me, and ,o#ld be for,ard eno#gh to give his co#ntrymen an acco#nt of me, and
come bac', (erha(s ,ith a h#ndred or t,o of them, and ma'e a feast #(on me, at ,hich he might
be as merry as he #sed to be ,ith those of his enemies ,hen they ,ere ta'en in ,ar% 8#t $
,ronged the (oor honest creat#re very m#ch, for ,hich $ ,as very sorry after,ards% 0o,ever, as
my !ealo#sy increased, and held some ,ee's, $ ,as a little more circ#ms(ect, and not so familiar
and 'ind to him as before: in ,hich $ ,as certainly ,rong too3 the honest, gratef#l creat#re
having no tho#ght abo#t it b#t ,hat consisted ,ith the best (rinci(les, both as a religio#s
Christian and as a gratef#l friend, as a((eared after,ards to my f#ll satisfaction%
4hile my !ealo#sy of him lasted, yo# may be s#re $ ,as every day (#m(ing him to see if he
,o#ld discover any of the ne, tho#ghts ,hich $ s#s(ected ,ere in him3 b#t $ fo#nd everything he
said ,as so honest and so innocent, that $ co#ld find nothing to no#rish my s#s(icion3 and in s(ite
of all my #neasiness, he made me at last entirely his o,n again3 nor did he in the least (erceive
that $ ,as #neasy, and therefore $ co#ld not s#s(ect him of deceit%
Jne day, ,al'ing #( the same hill, b#t the ,eather being ha;y at sea, so that ,e co#ld not see
the continent, $ called to him, and said, A<riday, do not yo# ,ish yo#rself in yo#r o,n co#ntry,
yo#r o,n nation?A A7es,A he said, A$ be m#ch J glad to be at my o,n nation%A A4hat ,o#ld yo#
do there?A said $% A4o#ld yo# t#rn ,ild again, eat men=s flesh again, and be a savage as yo# ,ere
before?A 0e loo'ed f#ll of concern, and sha'ing his head, said, A.o, no, <riday tell them to live
good3 tell them to (ray "od3 tell them to eat corn-bread, cattle flesh, mil'3 no eat man again%A
A4hy, then,A said $ to him, Athey ,ill 'ill yo#%A 0e loo'ed grave at that, and then said, A.o, no,
they no 'ill me, they ,illing love learn%A 0e meant by this, they ,o#ld be ,illing to learn% 0e
added, they learned m#ch of the bearded mans that came in the boat% Then $ as'ed him if he
,o#ld go bac' to them% 0e smiled at that, and told me that he co#ld not s,im so far% $ told him $
,o#ld ma'e a canoe for him% 0e told me he ,o#ld go if $ ,o#ld go ,ith him% A$ go@A says $3
A,hy, they ,ill eat me if $ come there%A A.o, no,A says he, Ame ma'e they no eat yo#3 me ma'e
they m#ch love yo#%A 0e meant, he ,o#ld tell them ho, $ had 'illed his enemies, and saved his
life, and so he ,o#ld ma'e them love me% Then he told me, as ,ell as he co#ld, ho, 'ind they
,ere to seventeen ,hite men, or bearded men, as he called them ,ho came on shore there in
distress%
<rom this time, $ confess, $ had a mind to vent#re over, and see if $ co#ld (ossibly !oin ,ith
those bearded men, ,ho $ made no do#bt ,ere /(aniards and ort#g#ese3 not do#bting b#t, if $
co#ld, ,e might find some method to esca(e from thence, being #(on the continent, and a good
com(any together, better than $ co#ld from an island forty miles off the shore, alone and ,itho#t
hel(% /o, after some days, $ too' <riday to ,or' again by ,ay of disco#rse, and told him $ ,o#ld
give him a boat to go bac' to his o,n nation3 and, accordingly, $ carried him to my frigate, ,hich
5-H
lay on the other side of the island, and having cleared it of ,ater Cfor $ al,ays 'e(t it s#n' in
,aterD, $ bro#ght it o#t, sho,ed it him, and ,e both ,ent into it% $ fo#nd he ,as a most dextero#s
fello, at managing it, and ,o#ld ma'e it go almost as s,ift again as $ co#ld% /o ,hen he ,as in,
$ said to him, A4ell, no,, <riday, shall ,e go to yo#r nation?A 0e loo'ed very d#ll at my saying
so3 ,hich it seems ,as beca#se he tho#ght the boat ,as too small to go so far% $ then told him $
had a bigger3 so the next day $ ,ent to the (lace ,here the first boat lay ,hich $ had made, b#t
,hich $ co#ld not get into the ,ater% 0e said that ,as big eno#gh3 b#t then, as $ had ta'en no care
of it, and it had lain t,o or three and t,enty years there, the s#n had so s(lit and dried it, that it
,as rotten% <riday told me s#ch a boat ,o#ld do very ,ell, and ,o#ld carry Am#ch eno#gh vittle,
drin', bread3A this ,as his ,ay of tal'ing%
Cha(ter 5)
C02TE9 IV$-9E/CUE J< 9$/J.E9/ <9J1 C2..$82L/
UJ. the ,hole, $ ,as by this time so fixed #(on my design of going over ,ith him to the
continent that $ told him ,e ,o#ld go and ma'e one as big as that, and he sho#ld go home in it%
0e ans,ered not one ,ord, b#t loo'ed very grave and sad% $ as'ed him ,hat ,as the matter ,ith
him% 0e as'ed me again, A4hy yo# angry mad ,ith <riday?-,hat me done?A $ as'ed him ,hat he
meant% $ told him $ ,as not angry ,ith him at all% A.o angry@A says he, re(eating the ,ords
several times3 A,hy send <riday home a,ay to my nation?A A4hy,A says $, A<riday, did not yo#
say yo# ,ished yo# ,ere there?A A7es, yes,A says he, A,ish ,e both there3 no ,ish <riday there,
no master there%A $n a ,ord, he ,o#ld not thin' of going there ,itho#t me% A$ go there, <riday?A
says $3 A,hat shall $ do there?A 0e t#rned very >#ic' #(on me at this% A7o# do great deal m#ch
good,A says he3 Ayo# teach ,ild mans be good, sober, tame mans3 yo# tell them 'no, "od, (ray
"od, and live ne, life%A A2las, <riday@A says $, Atho# 'no,est not ,hat tho# sayest3 $ am b#t an
ignorant man myself%A A7es, yes,A says he, Ayo# teachee me good, yo# teachee them good%A A.o,
no, <riday,A says $, Ayo# shall go ,itho#t me3 leave me here to live by myself, as $ did before%A
0e loo'ed conf#sed again at that ,ord3 and r#nning to one of the hatchets ,hich he #sed to ,ear,
he ta'es it #( hastily, and gives it to me% A4hat m#st $ do ,ith this?A says $ to him% A7o# ta'e 'ill
<riday,A says he% A4hat m#st 'ill yo# for?A said $ again% 0e ret#rns very >#ic'-A4hat yo# send
<riday a,ay for? Ta'e 'ill <riday, no send <riday a,ay%A This he s(o'e so earnestly that $ sa,
tears stand in his eyes% $n a ,ord, $ so (lainly discovered the #tmost affection in him to me, and a
firm resol#tion in him, that $ told him then and often after, that $ ,o#ld never send him a,ay
from me if he ,as ,illing to stay ,ith me%
U(on the ,hole, as $ fo#nd by all his disco#rse a settled affection to me, and that nothing co#ld
(art him from me, so $ fo#nd all the fo#ndation of his desire to go to his o,n co#ntry ,as laid in
his ardent affection to the (eo(le, and his ho(es of my doing them good3 a thing ,hich, as $ had
no notion of myself, so $ had not the least tho#ght or intention, or desire of #nderta'ing it% 8#t
still $ fo#nd a strong inclination to attem(ting my esca(e, fo#nded on the s#((osition gathered
from the disco#rse, that there ,ere seventeen bearded men there3 and therefore, ,itho#t any more
delay, $ ,ent to ,or' ,ith <riday to find o#t a great tree (ro(er to fell, and ma'e a large (eriag#a,
or canoe, to #nderta'e the voyage% There ,ere trees eno#gh in the island to have b#ilt a little
fleet, not of (eriag#as or canoes, b#t even of good, large vessels3 b#t the main thing $ loo'ed at
,as, to get one so near the ,ater that ,e might la#nch it ,hen it ,as made, to avoid the mista'e $
committed at first% 2t last <riday (itched #(on a tree3 for $ fo#nd he 'ne, m#ch better than $ ,hat
'ind of ,ood ,as fittest for it3 nor can $ tell to this day ,hat ,ood to call the tree ,e c#t do,n,
exce(t that it ,as very li'e the tree ,e call f#stic, or bet,een that and the .icarag#a ,ood, for it
,as m#ch of the same colo#r and smell% <riday ,ished to b#rn the hollo, or cavity of this tree
o#t, to ma'e it for a boat, b#t $ sho,ed him ho, to c#t it ,ith tools3 ,hich, after $ had sho,ed
55-
him ho, to #se, he did very handily3 and in abo#t a month=s hard labo#r ,e finished it and made
it very handsome3 es(ecially ,hen, ,ith o#r axes, ,hich $ sho,ed him ho, to handle, ,e c#t and
he,ed the o#tside into the tr#e sha(e of a boat% 2fter this, ho,ever, it cost #s near a fortnight=s
time to get her along, as it ,ere inch by inch, #(on great rollers into the ,ater3 b#t ,hen she ,as
in, she ,o#ld have carried t,enty men ,ith great ease%
4hen she ,as in the ,ater, tho#gh she ,as so big, it ama;ed me to see ,ith ,hat dexterity and
ho, s,ift my man <riday co#ld manage her, t#rn her, and (addle her along% /o $ as'ed him if he
,o#ld, and if ,e might vent#re over in her% A7es,A he said, A,e vent#re over in her very ,ell,
tho#gh great blo, ,ind%A 0o,ever $ had a f#rther design that he 'ne, nothing of, and that ,as,
to ma'e a mast and a sail, and to fit her ,ith an anchor and cable% 2s to a mast, that ,as easy
eno#gh to get3 so $ (itched #(on a straight yo#ng cedar-tree, ,hich $ fo#nd near the (lace, and
,hich there ,ere great (lenty of in the island, and $ set <riday to ,or' to c#t it do,n, and gave
him directions ho, to sha(e and order it% 8#t as to the sail, that ,as my (artic#lar care% $ 'ne, $
had old sails, or rather (ieces of old sails, eno#gh3 b#t as $ had had them no, six-and-t,enty
years by me, and had not been very caref#l to (reserve them, not imagining that $ sho#ld ever
have this 'ind of #se for them, $ did not do#bt b#t they ,ere all rotten3 and, indeed, most of them
,ere so% 0o,ever, $ fo#nd t,o (ieces ,hich a((eared (retty good, and ,ith these $ ,ent to ,or'3
and ,ith a great deal of (ains, and a,',ard stitching, yo# may be s#re, for ,ant of needles, $ at
length made a three-cornered #gly thing, li'e ,hat ,e call in England a sho#lder-of-m#tton sail,
to go ,ith a boom at bottom, and a little short s(rit at the to(, s#ch as #s#ally o#r shi(s= long-
boats sail ,ith, and s#ch as $ best 'ne, ho, to manage, as it ,as s#ch a one as $ had to the boat
in ,hich $ made my esca(e from 8arbary, as related in the first (art of my story%
$ ,as near t,o months (erforming this last ,or', vi;% rigging and fitting my masts and sails3
for $ finished them very com(lete, ma'ing a small stay, and a sail, or foresail, to it, to assist if ,e
sho#ld t#rn to ,ind,ard3 and, ,hat ,as more than all, $ fixed a r#dder to the stern of her to steer
,ith% $ ,as b#t a b#ngling shi(,right, yet as $ 'ne, the #sef#lness and even necessity of s#ch a
thing, $ a((lied myself ,ith so m#ch (ains to do it, that at last $ bro#ght it to (ass3 tho#gh,
considering the many d#ll contrivances $ had for it that failed, $ thin' it cost me almost as m#ch
labo#r as ma'ing the boat%
2fter all this ,as done, $ had my man <riday to teach as to ,hat belonged to the navigation of
my boat3 tho#gh he 'ne, very ,ell ho, to (addle a canoe, he 'ne, nothing of ,hat belonged to
a sail and a r#dder3 and ,as the most ama;ed ,hen he sa, me ,or' the boat to and again in the
sea by the r#dder, and ho, the sail !ibed, and filled this ,ay or that ,ay as the co#rse ,e sailed
changed3 $ say ,hen he sa, this he stood li'e one astonished and ama;ed% 0o,ever, ,ith a little
#se, $ made all these things familiar to him, and he became an ex(ert sailor, exce(t that of the
com(ass $ co#ld ma'e him #nderstand very little% Jn the other hand, as there ,as very little
clo#dy ,eather, and seldom or never any fogs in those (arts, there ,as the less occasion for a
com(ass, seeing the stars ,ere al,ays to be seen by night, and the shore by day, exce(t in the
rainy seasons, and then nobody cared to stir abroad either by land or sea%
$ ,as no, entered on the seven-and-t,entieth year of my ca(tivity in this (lace3 tho#gh the
three last years that $ had this creat#re ,ith me o#ght rather to be left o#t of the acco#nt, my
habitation being >#ite of another 'ind than in all the rest of the time% $ 'e(t the anniversary of my
landing here ,ith the same than'f#lness to "od for 0is mercies as at first: and if $ had s#ch ca#se
of ac'no,ledgment at first, $ had m#ch more so no,, having s#ch additional testimonies of the
care of rovidence over me, and the great ho(es $ had of being effect#ally and s(eedily delivered3
for $ had an invincible im(ression #(on my tho#ghts that my deliverance ,as at hand, and that $
sho#ld not be another year in this (lace% $ ,ent on, ho,ever, ,ith my h#sbandry3 digging,
555
(lanting, and fencing as #s#al% $ gathered and c#red my gra(es, and did every necessary thing as
before%
The rainy season ,as in the meantime #(on me, ,hen $ 'e(t more ,ithin doors than at other
times% 4e had sto,ed o#r ne, vessel as sec#re as ,e co#ld, bringing her #( into the cree',
,here, as $ said in the beginning, $ landed my rafts from the shi(3 and ha#ling her #( to the shore
at high-,ater mar', $ made my man <riday dig a little doc', !#st big eno#gh to hold her, and !#st
dee( eno#gh to give her ,ater eno#gh to float in3 and then, ,hen the tide ,as o#t, ,e made a
strong dam across the end of it, to 'ee( the ,ater o#t3 and so she lay, dry as to the tide from the
sea: and to 'ee( the rain off ,e laid a great many bo#ghs of trees, so thic' that she ,as as ,ell
thatched as a ho#se3 and th#s ,e ,aited for the months of .ovember and December, in ,hich $
designed to ma'e my advent#re%
4hen the settled season began to come in, as the tho#ght of my design ret#rned ,ith the fair
,eather, $ ,as (re(aring daily for the voyage% 2nd the first thing $ did ,as to lay by a certain
>#antity of (rovisions, being the stores for o#r voyage3 and intended in a ,ee' or a fortnight=s
time to o(en the doc', and la#nch o#t o#r boat% $ ,as b#sy one morning #(on something of this
'ind, ,hen $ called to <riday, and bid him to go to the sea-shore and see if he co#ld find a t#rtle
or a tortoise, a thing ,hich ,e generally got once a ,ee', for the sa'e of the eggs as ,ell as the
flesh% <riday had not been long gone ,hen he came r#nning bac', and fle, over my o#ter ,all or
fence, li'e one that felt not the gro#nd or the ste(s he set his foot on3 and before $ had time to
s(ea' to him he cries o#t to me, AJ master@ J master@ J sorro,@ J bad@A-A4hat=s the matter,
<riday?A says $% AJ yonder there,A says he, Aone, t,o, three canoes3 one, t,o, three@A 8y this ,ay
of s(ea'ing $ concl#ded there ,ere six3 b#t on in>#iry $ fo#nd there ,ere b#t three% A4ell,
<riday,A says $, Ado not be frightened%A /o $ heartened him #( as ,ell as $ co#ld% 0o,ever, $ sa,
the (oor fello, ,as most terribly scared, for nothing ran in his head b#t that they ,ere come to
loo' for him, and ,o#ld c#t him in (ieces and eat him3 and the (oor fello, trembled so that $
scarcely 'ne, ,hat to do ,ith him% $ comforted him as ,ell as $ co#ld, and told him $ ,as in as
m#ch danger as he, and that they ,o#ld eat me as ,ell as him% A8#t,A says $, A<riday, ,e m#st
resolve to fight them% Can yo# fight, <riday?A A1e shoot,A says he, Ab#t there come many great
n#mber%A A.o matter for that,A said $ again3 Ao#r g#ns ,ill fright them that ,e do not 'ill%A /o $
as'ed him ,hether, if $ resolved to defend him, he ,o#ld defend me, and stand by me, and do
!#st as $ bid him% 0e said, A1e die ,hen yo# bid die, master%A /o $ ,ent and fetched a good dram
of r#m and gave him3 for $ had been so good a h#sband of my r#m that $ had a great deal left%
4hen ,e had dr#n' it, $ made him ta'e the t,o fo,ling-(ieces, ,hich ,e al,ays carried, and
loaded them ,ith large s,an-shot, as big as small (istol-b#llets% Then $ too' fo#r m#s'ets, and
loaded them ,ith t,o sl#gs and five small b#llets each3 and my t,o (istols $ loaded ,ith a brace
of b#llets each% $ h#ng my great s,ord, as #s#al, na'ed by my side, and gave <riday his hatchet%
4hen $ had th#s (re(ared myself, $ too' my (ers(ective glass, and ,ent #( to the side of the hill,
to see ,hat $ co#ld discover3 and $ fo#nd >#ic'ly by my glass that there ,ere one-and-t,enty
savages, three (risoners, and three canoes3 and that their ,hole b#siness seemed to be the
tri#m(hant ban>#et #(on these three h#man bodies: a barbaro#s feast, indeed@ b#t nothing more
than, as $ had observed, ,as #s#al ,ith them% $ observed also that they had landed, not ,here
they had done ,hen <riday made his esca(e, b#t nearer to my cree', ,here the shore ,as lo,,
and ,here a thic' ,ood came almost close do,n to the sea% This, ,ith the abhorrence of the
inh#man errand these ,retches came abo#t, filled me ,ith s#ch indignation that $ came do,n
again to <riday, and told him $ ,as resolved to go do,n to them and 'ill them all3 and as'ed him
if he ,o#ld stand by me% 0e had no, got over his fright, and his s(irits being a little raised ,ith
55&
the dram $ had given him, he ,as very cheerf#l, and told me, as before, he ,o#ld die ,hen $ bid
die%
$n this fit of f#ry $ divided the arms ,hich $ had charged, as before, bet,een #s3 $ gave <riday
one (istol to stic' in his girdle, and three g#ns #(on his sho#lder, and $ too' one (istol and the
other three g#ns myself3 and in this (ost#re ,e marched o#t% $ too' a small bottle of r#m in my
(oc'et, and gave <riday a large bag ,ith more (o,der and b#llets3 and as to orders, $ charged
him to 'ee( close behind me, and not to stir, or shoot, or do anything till $ bid him, and in the
meantime not to s(ea' a ,ord% $n this (ost#re $ fetched a com(ass to my right hand of near a
mile, as ,ell to get over the cree' as to get into the ,ood, so that $ co#ld come ,ithin shot of
them before $ sho#ld be discovered, ,hich $ had seen by my glass it ,as easy to do%
4hile $ ,as ma'ing this march, my former tho#ghts ret#rning, $ began to abate my resol#tion:
$ do not mean that $ entertained any fear of their n#mber, for as they ,ere na'ed, #narmed
,retches, it is certain $ ,as s#(erior to them-nay, tho#gh $ had been alone% 8#t it occ#rred to my
tho#ghts, ,hat call, ,hat occasion, m#ch less ,hat necessity $ ,as in to go and di( my hands in
blood, to attac' (eo(le ,ho had neither done or intended me any ,rong? ,ho, as to me, ,ere
innocent, and ,hose barbaro#s c#stoms ,ere their o,n disaster, being in them a to'en, indeed, of
"od=s having left them, ,ith the other nations of that (art of the ,orld, to s#ch st#(idity, and to
s#ch inh#man co#rses, b#t did not call me to ta'e #(on me to be a !#dge of their actions, m#ch
less an exec#tioner of 0is !#stice-that ,henever 0e tho#ght fit 0e ,o#ld ta'e the ca#se into 0is
o,n hands, and by national vengeance (#nish them as a (eo(le for national crimes, b#t that, in
the meantime, it ,as none of my b#siness-that it ,as tr#e <riday might !#stify it, beca#se he ,as
a declared enemy and in a state of ,ar ,ith those very (artic#lar (eo(le, and it ,as la,f#l for
him to attac' them-b#t $ co#ld not say the same ,ith regard to myself% These things ,ere so
,armly (ressed #(on my tho#ghts all the ,ay as $ ,ent, that $ resolved $ ,o#ld only go and (lace
myself near them that $ might observe their barbaro#s feast, and that $ ,o#ld act then as "od
sho#ld direct3 b#t that #nless something offered that ,as more a call to me than yet $ 'ne, of, $
,o#ld not meddle ,ith them%
4ith this resol#tion $ entered the ,ood, and, ,ith all (ossible ,ariness and silence, <riday
follo,ing close at my heels, $ marched till $ came to the s'irts of the ,ood on the side ,hich ,as
next to them, only that one corner of the ,ood lay bet,een me and them% 0ere $ called softly to
<riday, and sho,ing him a great tree ,hich ,as !#st at the corner of the ,ood, $ bade him go to
the tree, and bring me ,ord if he co#ld see there (lainly ,hat they ,ere doing% 0e did so, and
came immediately bac' to me, and told me they might be (lainly vie,ed there-that they ,ere all
abo#t their fire, eating the flesh of one of their (risoners, and that another lay bo#nd #(on the
sand a little from them, ,hom he said they ,o#ld 'ill next3 and this fired the very so#l ,ithin me%
0e told me it ,as not one of their nation, b#t one of the bearded men he had told me of, that
came to their co#ntry in the boat% $ ,as filled ,ith horror at the very naming of the ,hite bearded
man3 and going to the tree, $ sa, (lainly by my glass a ,hite man, ,ho lay #(on the beach of the
sea ,ith his hands and his feet tied ,ith flags, or things li'e r#shes, and that he ,as an E#ro(ean,
and had clothes on%
There ,as another tree and a little thic'et beyond it, abo#t fifty yards nearer to them than the
(lace ,here $ ,as, ,hich, by going a little ,ay abo#t, $ sa, $ might come at #ndiscovered, and
that then $ sho#ld be ,ithin half a shot of them3 so $ ,ithheld my (assion, tho#gh $ ,as indeed
enraged to the highest degree3 and going bac' abo#t t,enty (aces, $ got behind some b#shes,
,hich held all the ,ay till $ came to the other tree, and then came to a little rising gro#nd, ,hich
gave me a f#ll vie, of them at the distance of abo#t eighty yards%
556
$ had no, not a moment to lose, for nineteen of the dreadf#l ,retches sat #(on the gro#nd, all
close h#ddled together, and had !#st sent the other t,o to b#tcher the (oor Christian, and bring
him (erha(s limb by limb to their fire, and they ,ere stoo(ing do,n to #ntie the bands at his feet%
$ t#rned to <riday% A.o,, <riday,A said $, Ado as $ bid thee%A <riday said he ,o#ld% AThen, <riday,A
says $, Ado exactly as yo# see me do3 fail in nothing%A /o $ set do,n one of the m#s'ets and the
fo,ling-(iece #(on the gro#nd, and <riday did the li'e by his, and ,ith the other m#s'et $ too'
my aim at the savages, bidding him to do the li'e3 then as'ing him if he ,as ready, he said,
A7es%A AThen fire at them,A said $3 and at the same moment $ fired also%
<riday too' his aim so m#ch better than $, that on the side that he shot he 'illed t,o of them,
and ,o#nded three more3 and on my side $ 'illed one, and ,o#nded t,o% They ,ere, yo# may be
s#re, in a dreadf#l consternation: and all of them that ,ere not h#rt !#m(ed #(on their feet, b#t
did not immediately 'no, ,hich ,ay to r#n, or ,hich ,ay to loo', for they 'ne, not from
,hence their destr#ction came% <riday 'e(t his eyes close #(on me, that, as $ had bid him, he
might observe ,hat $ did3 so, as soon as the first shot ,as made, $ thre, do,n the (iece, and too'
#( the fo,ling-(iece, and <riday did the li'e3 he sa, me coc' and (resent3 he did the same again%
A2re yo# ready, <riday?A said $% A7es,A says he% ALet fly, then,A says $, Ain the name of "od@A and
,ith that $ fired again among the ama;ed ,retches, and so did <riday3 and as o#r (ieces ,ere
no, loaded ,ith ,hat $ call s,an-shot, or small (istol-b#llets, ,e fo#nd only t,o dro(3 b#t so
many ,ere ,o#nded that they ran abo#t yelling and screaming li'e mad creat#res, all bloody, and
most of them miserably ,o#nded3 ,hereof three more fell >#ic'ly after, tho#gh not >#ite dead%
A.o,, <riday,A says $, laying do,n the discharged (ieces, and ta'ing #( the m#s'et ,hich ,as
yet loaded, Afollo, me,A ,hich he did ,ith a great deal of co#rage3 #(on ,hich $ r#shed o#t of
the ,ood and sho,ed myself, and <riday close at my foot% 2s soon as $ (erceived they sa, me, $
sho#ted as lo#d as $ co#ld, and bade <riday do so too, and r#nning as fast as $ co#ld, ,hich, by
the ,ay, ,as not very fast, being loaded ,ith arms as $ ,as, $ made directly to,ards the (oor
victim, ,ho ,as, as $ said, lying #(on the beach or shore, bet,een the (lace ,here they sat and
the sea% The t,o b#tchers ,ho ,ere !#st going to ,or' ,ith him had left him at the s#r(rise of
o#r first fire, and fled in a terrible fright to the seaside, and had !#m(ed into a canoe, and three
more of the rest made the same ,ay% $ t#rned to <riday, and bade him ste( for,ards and fire at
them3 he #nderstood me immediately, and r#nning abo#t forty yards, to be nearer them, he shot at
them3 and $ tho#ght he had 'illed them all, for $ sa, them all fall of a hea( into the boat, tho#gh $
sa, t,o of them #( again >#ic'ly3 ho,ever, he 'illed t,o of them, and ,o#nded the third, so that
he lay do,n in the bottom of the boat as if he had been dead%
4hile my man <riday fired at them, $ (#lled o#t my 'nife and c#t the flags that bo#nd the (oor
victim3 and loosing his hands and feet, $ lifted him #(, and as'ed him in the ort#g#ese tong#e
,hat he ,as% 0e ans,ered in Latin, Christian#s3 b#t ,as so ,ea' and faint that he co#ld scarce
stand or s(ea'% $ too' my bottle o#t of my (oc'et and gave it him, ma'ing signs that he sho#ld
drin', ,hich he did3 and $ gave him a (iece of bread, ,hich he ate% Then $ as'ed him ,hat
co#ntryman he ,as: and he said, Es(agniole3 and being a little recovered, let me 'no,, by all the
signs he co#ld (ossibly ma'e, ho, m#ch he ,as in my debt for his deliverance% A/eignior,A said
$, ,ith as m#ch /(anish as $ co#ld ma'e #(, A,e ,ill tal' after,ards, b#t ,e m#st fight no,: if
yo# have any strength left, ta'e this (istol and s,ord, and lay abo#t yo#%A 0e too' them very
than'f#lly3 and no sooner had he the arms in his hands, b#t, as if they had (#t ne, vigo#r into
him, he fle, #(on his m#rderers li'e a f#ry, and had c#t t,o of them in (ieces in an instant3 for
the tr#th is, as the ,hole ,as a s#r(rise to them, so the (oor creat#res ,ere so m#ch frightened
,ith the noise of o#r (ieces that they fell do,n for mere ama;ement and fear, and had no more
(o,er to attem(t their o,n esca(e than their flesh had to resist o#r shot3 and that ,as the case of
55B
those five that <riday shot at in the boat3 for as three of them fell ,ith the h#rt they received, so
the other t,o fell ,ith the fright%
$ 'e(t my (iece in my hand still ,itho#t firing, being ,illing to 'ee( my charge ready, beca#se
$ had given the /(aniard my (istol and s,ord: so $ called to <riday, and bade him r#n #( to the
tree from ,hence ,e first fired, and fetch the arms ,hich lay there that had been discharged,
,hich he did ,ith great s,iftness3 and then giving him my m#s'et, $ sat do,n myself to load all
the rest again, and bade them come to me ,hen they ,anted% 4hile $ ,as loading these (ieces,
there ha((ened a fierce engagement bet,een the /(aniard and one of the savages, ,ho made at
him ,ith one of their great ,ooden s,ords, the ,ea(on that ,as to have 'illed him before, if $
had not (revented it% The /(aniard, ,ho ,as as bold and brave as co#ld be imagined, tho#gh
,ea', had fo#ght the $ndian a good ,hile, and had c#t t,o great ,o#nds on his head3 b#t the
savage being a sto#t, l#sty fello,, closing in ,ith him, had thro,n him do,n, being faint, and
,as ,ringing my s,ord o#t of his hand3 ,hen the /(aniard, tho#gh #ndermost, ,isely >#itting
the s,ord, dre, the (istol from his girdle, shot the savage thro#gh the body, and 'illed him #(on
the s(ot, before $, ,ho ,as r#nning to hel( him, co#ld come near him%
<riday, being no, left to his liberty, (#rs#ed the flying ,retches, ,ith no ,ea(on in his hand
b#t his hatchet: and ,ith that he des(atched those three ,ho as $ said before, ,ere ,o#nded at
first, and fallen, and all the rest he co#ld come #( ,ith: and the /(aniard coming to me for a g#n,
$ gave him one of the fo,ling-(ieces, ,ith ,hich he (#rs#ed t,o of the savages, and ,o#nded
them both3 b#t as he ,as not able to r#n, they both got from him into the ,ood, ,here <riday
(#rs#ed them, and 'illed one of them, b#t the other ,as too nimble for him3 and tho#gh he ,as
,o#nded, yet had (l#nged himself into the sea, and s,am ,ith all his might off to those t,o ,ho
,ere left in the canoe3 ,hich three in the canoe, ,ith one ,o#nded, that ,e 'ne, not ,hether he
died or no, ,ere all that esca(ed o#r hands of one-and-t,enty% The acco#nt of the ,hole is as
follo,s: Three 'illed at o#r first shot from the tree3 t,o 'illed at the next shot3 t,o 'illed by
<riday in the boat3 t,o 'illed by <riday of those at first ,o#nded3 one 'illed by <riday in the
,ood3 three 'illed by the /(aniard3 fo#r 'illed, being fo#nd dro((ed here and there, of the
,o#nds, or 'illed by <riday in his chase of them3 fo#r esca(ed in the boat, ,hereof one ,o#nded,
if not dead-t,enty-one in all%
Those that ,ere in the canoe ,or'ed hard to get o#t of g#n-shot, and tho#gh <riday made t,o
or three shots at them, $ did not find that he hit any of them% <riday ,o#ld fain have had me ta'e
one of their canoes, and (#rs#e them3 and indeed $ ,as very anxio#s abo#t their esca(e, lest,
carrying the ne,s home to their (eo(le, they sho#ld come bac' (erha(s ,ith t,o or three
h#ndred of the canoes and devo#r #s by mere m#ltit#de3 so $ consented to (#rs#e them by sea,
and r#nning to one of their canoes, $ !#m(ed in and bade <riday follo, me: b#t ,hen $ ,as in the
canoe $ ,as s#r(rised to find another (oor creat#re lie there, bo#nd hand and foot, as the /(aniard
,as, for the sla#ghter, and almost dead ,ith fear, not 'no,ing ,hat ,as the matter3 for he had
not been able to loo' #( over the side of the boat, he ,as tied so hard nec' and heels, and had
been tied so long that he had really b#t little life in him%
$ immediately c#t the t,isted flags or r#shes ,hich they had bo#nd him ,ith, and ,o#ld have
hel(ed him #(3 b#t he co#ld not stand or s(ea', b#t groaned most (iteo#sly, believing, it seems,
still, that he ,as only #nbo#nd in order to be 'illed% 4hen <riday came to him $ bade him s(ea'
to him, and tell him of his deliverance3 and (#lling o#t my bottle, made him give the (oor ,retch
a dram, ,hich, ,ith the ne,s of his being delivered, revived him, and he sat #( in the boat% 8#t
,hen <riday came to hear him s(ea', and loo' in his face, it ,o#ld have moved any one to tears
to have seen ho, <riday 'issed him, embraced him, h#gged him, cried, la#ghed, hallooed,
!#m(ed abo#t, danced, sang3 then cried again, ,r#ng his hands, beat his o,n face and head3 and
55*
then sang and !#m(ed abo#t again li'e a distracted creat#re% $t ,as a good ,hile before $ co#ld
ma'e him s(ea' to me or tell me ,hat ,as the matter3 b#t ,hen he came a little to himself he told
me that it ,as his father%
$t is not easy for me to ex(ress ho, it moved me to see ,hat ecstasy and filial affection had
,or'ed in this (oor savage at the sight of his father, and of his being delivered from death3 nor
indeed can $ describe half the extravagances of his affection after this: for he ,ent into the boat
and o#t of the boat a great many times: ,hen he ,ent in to him he ,o#ld sit do,n by him, o(en
his breast, and hold his father=s head close to his bosom for many min#tes together, to no#rish it3
then he too' his arms and an'les, ,hich ,ere n#mbed and stiff ,ith the binding, and chafed and
r#bbed them ,ith his hands3 and $, (erceiving ,hat the case ,as, gave him some r#m o#t of my
bottle to r#b them ,ith, ,hich did them a great deal of good%
This affair (#t an end to o#r (#rs#it of the canoe ,ith the other savages, ,ho ,ere no, almost
o#t of sight3 and it ,as ha((y for #s that ,e did not, for it ble, so hard ,ithin t,o ho#rs after,
and before they co#ld be got a >#arter of their ,ay, and contin#ed blo,ing so hard all night, and
that from the north-,est, ,hich ,as against them, that $ co#ld not s#((ose their boat co#ld live,
or that they ever reached their o,n coast%
8#t to ret#rn to <riday3 he ,as so b#sy abo#t his father that $ co#ld not find in my heart to ta'e
him off for some time3 b#t after $ tho#ght he co#ld leave him a little, $ called him to me, and he
came !#m(ing and la#ghing, and (leased to the highest extreme: then $ as'ed him if he had given
his father any bread% 0e shoo' his head, and said, A.one3 #gly dog eat all #( self%A $ then gave
him a ca'e of bread o#t of a little (o#ch $ carried on (#r(ose3 $ also gave him a dram for himself3
b#t he ,o#ld not taste it, b#t carried it to his father% $ had in my (oc'et t,o or three b#nches of
raisins, so $ gave him a handf#l of them for his father% 0e had no sooner given his father these
raisins b#t $ sa, him come o#t of the boat, and r#n a,ay as if he had been be,itched, for he ,as
the s,iftest fello, on his feet that ever $ sa,: $ say, he ran at s#ch a rate that he ,as o#t of sight,
as it ,ere, in an instant3 and tho#gh $ called, and hallooed o#t too after him, it ,as all one- a,ay
he ,ent3 and in a >#arter of an ho#r $ sa, him come bac' again, tho#gh not so fast as he ,ent3
and as he came nearer $ fo#nd his (ace slac'er, beca#se he had something in his hand% 4hen he
came #( to me $ fo#nd he had been >#ite home for an earthen !#g or (ot, to bring his father some
fresh ,ater, and that he had got t,o more ca'es or loaves of bread: the bread he gave me, b#t the
,ater he carried to his father3 ho,ever, as $ ,as very thirsty too, $ too' a little of it% The ,ater
revived his father more than all the r#m or s(irits $ had given him, for he ,as fainting ,ith thirst%
4hen his father had dr#n', $ called to him to 'no, if there ,as any ,ater left% 0e said, A7esA3
and $ bade him give it to the (oor /(aniard, ,ho ,as in as m#ch ,ant of it as his father3 and $
sent one of the ca'es that <riday bro#ght to the /(aniard too, ,ho ,as indeed very ,ea', and
,as re(osing himself #(on a green (lace #nder the shade of a tree3 and ,hose limbs ,ere also
very stiff, and very m#ch s,elled ,ith the r#de bandage he had been tied ,ith% 4hen $ sa, that
#(on <riday=s coming to him ,ith the ,ater he sat #( and dran', and too' the bread and began to
eat, $ ,ent to him and gave him a handf#l of raisins% 0e loo'ed #( in my face ,ith all the to'ens
of gratit#de and than'f#lness that co#ld a((ear in any co#ntenance3 b#t ,as so ,ea',
not,ithstanding he had so exerted himself in the fight, that he co#ld not stand #( #(on his feet-he
tried to do it t,o or three times, b#t ,as really not able, his an'les ,ere so s,elled and so (ainf#l
to him3 so $ bade him sit still, and ca#sed <riday to r#b his an'les, and bathe them ,ith r#m, as he
had done his father=s%
$ observed the (oor affectionate creat#re, every t,o min#tes, or (erha(s less, all the ,hile he
,as here, t#rn his head abo#t to see if his father ,as in the same (lace and (ost#re as he left him
sitting3 and at last he fo#nd he ,as not to be seen3 at ,hich he started #(, and, ,itho#t s(ea'ing a
55)
,ord, fle, ,ith that s,iftness to him that one co#ld scarce (erceive his feet to to#ch the gro#nd
as he ,ent3 b#t ,hen he came, he only fo#nd he had laid himself do,n to ease his limbs, so
<riday came bac' to me (resently3 and then $ s(o'e to the /(aniard to let <riday hel( him #( if he
co#ld, and lead him to the boat, and then he sho#ld carry him to o#r d,elling, ,here $ ,o#ld ta'e
care of him% 8#t <riday, a l#sty, strong fello,, too' the /(aniard #(on his bac', and carried him
a,ay to the boat, and set him do,n softly #(on the side or g#nnel of the canoe, ,ith his feet in
the inside of it3 and then lifting him >#ite in, he set him close to his father3 and (resently ste((ing
o#t again, la#nched the boat off, and (addled it along the shore faster than $ co#ld ,al', tho#gh
the ,ind ble, (retty hard too3 so he bro#ght them both safe into o#r cree', and leaving them in
the boat, ran a,ay to fetch the other canoe% 2s he (assed me $ s(o'e to him, and as'ed him
,hither he ,ent% 0e told me, A"o fetch more boat3A so a,ay he ,ent li'e the ,ind, for s#re never
man or horse ran li'e him3 and he had the other canoe in the cree' almost as soon as $ got to it by
land3 so he ,afted me over, and then ,ent to hel( o#r ne, g#ests o#t of the boat, ,hich he did3
b#t they ,ere neither of them able to ,al'3 so that (oor <riday 'ne, not ,hat to do%
To remedy this, $ ,ent to ,or' in my tho#ght, and calling to <riday to bid them sit do,n on the
ban' ,hile he came to me, $ soon made a 'ind of hand-barro, to lay them on, and <riday and $
carried them both #( together #(on it bet,een #s%
8#t ,hen ,e got them to the o#tside of o#r ,all, or fortification, ,e ,ere at a ,orse loss than
before, for it ,as im(ossible to get them over, and $ ,as resolved not to brea' it do,n3 so $ set to
,or' again, and <riday and $, in abo#t t,o ho#rs= time, made a very handsome tent, covered ,ith
old sails, and above that ,ith bo#ghs of trees, being in the s(ace ,itho#t o#r o#t,ard fence and
bet,een that and the grove of yo#ng ,ood ,hich $ had (lanted3 and here ,e made them t,o beds
of s#ch things as $ had-vi;% of good rice-stra,, ,ith blan'ets laid #(on it to lie on, and another to
cover them, on each bed%
1y island ,as no, (eo(led, and $ tho#ght myself very rich in s#b!ects3 and it ,as a merry
reflection, ,hich $ fre>#ently made, ho, li'e a 'ing $ loo'ed% <irst of all, the ,hole co#ntry ,as
my o,n (ro(erty, so that $ had an #ndo#bted right of dominion% /econdly, my (eo(le ,ere
(erfectly s#b!ected-$ ,as absol#tely lord and la,giver-they all o,ed their lives to me, and ,ere
ready to lay do,n their lives, if there had been occasion for it, for me% $t ,as remar'able, too, $
had b#t three s#b!ects, and they ,ere of three different religions-my man <riday ,as a rotestant,
his father ,as a agan and a cannibal, and the /(aniard ,as a a(ist% 0o,ever, $ allo,ed liberty
of conscience thro#gho#t my dominions% 8#t this is by the ,ay%
2s soon as $ had sec#red my t,o ,ea', resc#ed (risoners, and given them shelter, and a (lace
to rest them #(on, $ began to thin' of ma'ing some (rovision for them3 and the first thing $ did, $
ordered <riday to ta'e a yearling goat, bet,ixt a 'id and a goat, o#t of my (artic#lar floc', to be
'illed3 ,hen $ c#t off the hinder->#arter, and cho((ing it into small (ieces, $ set <riday to ,or' to
boiling and ste,ing, and made them a very good dish, $ ass#re yo#, of flesh and broth3 and as $
coo'ed it ,itho#t doors, for $ made no fire ,ithin my inner ,all, so $ carried it all into the ne,
tent, and having set a table there for them, $ sat do,n, and ate my o,n dinner also ,ith them,
and, as ,ell as $ co#ld, cheered them and enco#raged them% <riday ,as my inter(reter, es(ecially
to his father, and, indeed, to the /(aniard too3 for the /(aniard s(o'e the lang#age of the savages
(retty ,ell%
2fter ,e had dined, or rather s#((ed, $ ordered <riday to ta'e one of the canoes, and go and
fetch o#r m#s'ets and other firearms, ,hich, for ,ant of time, ,e had left #(on the (lace of
battle3 and the next day $ ordered him to go and b#ry the dead bodies of the savages, ,hich lay
o(en to the s#n, and ,o#ld (resently be offensive% $ also ordered him to b#ry the horrid remains
of their barbaro#s feast, ,hich $ co#ld not thin' of doing myself3 nay, $ co#ld not bear to see them
55F
if $ ,ent that ,ay3 all ,hich he (#nct#ally (erformed, and effaced the very a((earance of the
savages being there3 so that ,hen $ ,ent again, $ co#ld scarce 'no, ,here it ,as, other,ise than
by the corner of the ,ood (ointing to the (lace%
$ then began to enter into a little conversation ,ith my t,o ne, s#b!ects3 and, first, $ set <riday
to in>#ire of his father ,hat he tho#ght of the esca(e of the savages in that canoe, and ,hether
,e might ex(ect a ret#rn of them, ,ith a (o,er too great for #s to resist% 0is first o(inion ,as,
that the savages in the boat never co#ld live o#t the storm ,hich ble, that night they ,ent off,
b#t m#st of necessity be dro,ned, or driven so#th to those other shores, ,here they ,ere as s#re
to be devo#red as they ,ere to be dro,ned if they ,ere cast a,ay3 b#t, as to ,hat they ,o#ld do
if they came safe on shore, he said he 'ne, not3 b#t it ,as his o(inion that they ,ere so
dreadf#lly frightened ,ith the manner of their being attac'ed, the noise, and the fire, that he
believed they ,o#ld tell the (eo(le they ,ere all 'illed by th#nder and lightning, not by the hand
of man3 and that the t,o ,hich a((eared -vi;% <riday and $-,ere t,o heavenly s(irits, or f#ries,
come do,n to destroy them, and not men ,ith ,ea(ons% This, he said, he 'ne,3 beca#se he heard
them all cry o#t so, in their lang#age, one to another3 for it ,as im(ossible for them to conceive
that a man co#ld dart fire, and s(ea' th#nder, and 'ill at a distance, ,itho#t lifting #( the hand, as
,as done no,: and this old savage ,as in the right3 for, as $ #nderstood since, by other hands, the
savages never attem(ted to go over to the island after,ards, they ,ere so terrified ,ith the
acco#nts given by those fo#r men Cfor it seems they did esca(e the seaD, that they believed
,hoever ,ent to that enchanted island ,o#ld be destroyed ,ith fire from the gods% This,
ho,ever, $ 'ne, not3 and therefore ,as #nder contin#al a((rehensions for a good ,hile, and 'e(t
al,ays #(on my g#ard, ,ith all my army: for, as there ,ere no, fo#r of #s, $ ,o#ld have
vent#red #(on a h#ndred of them, fairly in the o(en field, at any time%
Cha(ter 5F
C02TE9 IV$$-V$/$T J< 1UT$.EE9/
$. a little time, ho,ever, no more canoes a((earing, the fear of their coming ,ore off3 and $
began to ta'e my former tho#ghts of a voyage to the main into consideration3 being li'e,ise
ass#red by <riday=s father that $ might de(end #(on good #sage from their nation, on his acco#nt,
if $ ,o#ld go% 8#t my tho#ghts ,ere a little s#s(ended ,hen $ had a serio#s disco#rse ,ith the
/(aniard, and ,hen $ #nderstood that there ,ere sixteen more of his co#ntrymen and ort#g#ese,
,ho having been cast a,ay and made their esca(e to that side, lived there at (eace, indeed, ,ith
the savages, b#t ,ere very sore (#t to it for necessaries, and, indeed, for life% $ as'ed him all the
(artic#lars of their voyage, and fo#nd they ,ere a /(anish shi(, bo#nd from the 9io de la lata to
the 0avanna, being directed to leave their loading there, ,hich ,as chiefly hides and silver, and
to bring bac' ,hat E#ro(ean goods they co#ld meet ,ith there3 that they had five ort#g#ese
seamen on board, ,hom they too' o#t of another ,rec'3 that five of their o,n men ,ere
dro,ned ,hen first the shi( ,as lost, and that these esca(ed thro#gh infinite dangers and ha;ards,
and arrived, almost starved, on the cannibal coast, ,here they ex(ected to have been devo#red
every moment% 0e told me they had some arms ,ith them, b#t they ,ere (erfectly #seless, for
that they had neither (o,der nor ball, the ,ashing of the sea having s(oiled all their (o,der b#t a
little, ,hich they #sed at their first landing to (rovide themselves ,ith some food%
$ as'ed him ,hat he tho#ght ,o#ld become of them there, and if they had formed any design
of ma'ing their esca(e% 0e said they had many cons#ltations abo#t it3 b#t that having neither
vessel nor tools to b#ild one, nor (rovisions of any 'ind, their co#ncils al,ays ended in tears and
des(air% $ as'ed him ho, he tho#ght they ,o#ld receive a (ro(osal from me, ,hich might tend
to,ards an esca(e3 and ,hether, if they ,ere all here, it might not be done% $ told him ,ith
freedom, $ feared mostly their treachery and ill-#sage of me, if $ (#t my life in their hands3 for
55G
that gratit#de ,as no inherent virt#e in the nat#re of man, nor did men al,ays s>#are their
dealings by the obligations they had received so m#ch as they did by the advantages they
ex(ected% $ told him it ,o#ld be very hard that $ sho#ld be made the instr#ment of their
deliverance, and that they sho#ld after,ards ma'e me their (risoner in .e, /(ain, ,here an
Englishman ,as certain to be made a sacrifice, ,hat necessity or ,hat accident soever bro#ght
him thither3 and that $ had rather be delivered #( to the savages, and be devo#red alive, than fall
into the merciless cla,s of the (riests, and be carried into the $n>#isition% $ added that, other,ise,
$ ,as (ers#aded, if they ,ere all here, ,e might, ,ith so many hands, b#ild a bar>#e large
eno#gh to carry #s all a,ay, either to the 8ra;ils so#th,ard, or to the islands or /(anish coast
north,ard3 b#t that if, in re>#ital, they sho#ld, ,hen $ had (#t ,ea(ons into their hands, carry me
by force among their o,n (eo(le, $ might be ill-#sed for my 'indness to them, and ma'e my case
,orse than it ,as before%
0e ans,ered, ,ith a great deal of cando#r and ingen#o#sness, that their condition ,as so
miserable, and that they ,ere so sensible of it, that he believed they ,o#ld abhor the tho#ght of
#sing any man #n'indly that sho#ld contrib#te to their deliverance3 and that, if $ (leased, he
,o#ld go to them ,ith the old man, and disco#rse ,ith them abo#t it, and ret#rn again and bring
me their ans,er3 that he ,o#ld ma'e conditions ,ith them #(on their solemn oath, that they
sho#ld be absol#tely #nder my direction as their commander and ca(tain3 and they sho#ld s,ear
#(on the holy sacraments and gos(el to be tr#e to me, and go to s#ch Christian co#ntry as $
sho#ld agree to, and no other3 and to be directed ,holly and absol#tely by my orders till they
,ere landed safely in s#ch co#ntry as $ intended, and that he ,o#ld bring a contract from them,
#nder their hands, for that (#r(ose% Then he told me he ,o#ld first s,ear to me himself that he
,o#ld never stir from me as long as he lived till $ gave him orders3 and that he ,o#ld ta'e my
side to the last dro( of his blood, if there sho#ld ha((en the least breach of faith among his
co#ntrymen% 0e told me they ,ere all of them very civil, honest men, and they ,ere #nder the
greatest distress imaginable, having neither ,ea(ons nor clothes, nor any food, b#t at the mercy
and discretion of the savages3 o#t of all ho(es of ever ret#rning to their o,n co#ntry3 and that he
,as s#re, if $ ,o#ld #nderta'e their relief, they ,o#ld live and die by me%
U(on these ass#rances, $ resolved to vent#re to relieve them, if (ossible, and to send the old
savage and this /(aniard over to them to treat% 8#t ,hen ,e had got all things in readiness to go,
the /(aniard himself started an ob!ection, ,hich had so m#ch (r#dence in it on one hand, and so
m#ch sincerity on the other hand, that $ co#ld not b#t be very ,ell satisfied in it3 and, by his
advice, (#t off the deliverance of his comrades for at least half a year% The case ,as th#s: he had
been ,ith #s no, abo#t a month, d#ring ,hich time $ had let him see in ,hat manner $ had
(rovided, ,ith the assistance of rovidence, for my s#((ort3 and he sa, evidently ,hat stoc' of
corn and rice $ had laid #(3 ,hich, tho#gh it ,as more than s#fficient for myself, yet it ,as not
s#fficient, ,itho#t good h#sbandry, for my family, no, it ,as increased to fo#r3 b#t m#ch less
,o#ld it be s#fficient if his co#ntrymen, ,ho ,ere, as he said, sixteen, still alive, sho#ld come
over3 and least of all ,o#ld it be s#fficient to vict#al o#r vessel, if ,e sho#ld b#ild one, for a
voyage to any of the Christian colonies of 2merica3 so he told me he tho#ght it ,o#ld be more
advisable to let him and the other t,o dig and c#ltivate some more land, as m#ch as $ co#ld s(are
seed to so,, and that ,e sho#ld ,ait another harvest, that ,e might have a s#((ly of corn for his
co#ntrymen, ,hen they sho#ld come3 for ,ant might be a tem(tation to them to disagree, or not
to thin' themselves delivered, other,ise than o#t of one diffic#lty into another% A7o# 'no,,A says
he, Athe children of $srael, tho#gh they re!oiced at first for their being delivered o#t of Egy(t, yet
rebelled even against "od 0imself, that delivered them, ,hen they came to ,ant bread in the
,ilderness%A
55H
0is ca#tion ,as so seasonable, and his advice so good, that $ co#ld not b#t be very ,ell
(leased ,ith his (ro(osal, as ,ell as $ ,as satisfied ,ith his fidelity3 so ,e fell to digging, all
fo#r of #s, as ,ell as the ,ooden tools ,e ,ere f#rnished ,ith (ermitted3 and in abo#t a month=s
time, by the end of ,hich it ,as seed-time, ,e had got as m#ch land c#red and trimmed #( as ,e
so,ed t,o-and-t,enty b#shels of barley on, and sixteen !ars of rice, ,hich ,as, in short, all the
seed ,e had to s(are: indeed, ,e left o#rselves barely s#fficient, for o#r o,n food for the six
months that ,e had to ex(ect o#r cro(3 that is to say rec'oning from the time ,e set o#r seed
aside for so,ing3 for it is not to be s#((osed it is six months in the gro#nd in that co#ntry%
0aving no, society eno#gh, and o#r n#mbers being s#fficient to (#t #s o#t of fear of the
savages, if they had come, #nless their n#mber had been very great, ,e ,ent freely all over the
island, ,henever ,e fo#nd occasion3 and as ,e had o#r esca(e or deliverance #(on o#r tho#ghts,
it ,as im(ossible, at least for me, to have the means of it o#t of mine% <or this (#r(ose $ mar'ed
o#t several trees, ,hich $ tho#ght fit for o#r ,or', and $ set <riday and his father to c#t them
do,n3 and then $ ca#sed the /(aniard, to ,hom $ im(arted my tho#ghts on that affair, to oversee
and direct their ,or'% $ sho,ed them ,ith ,hat indefatigable (ains $ had he,ed a large tree into
single (lan's, and $ ca#sed them to do the li'e, till they made abo#t a do;en large (lan's, of good
oa', near t,o feet broad, thirty-five feet long, and from t,o inches to fo#r inches thic': ,hat
(rodigio#s labo#r it too' #( any one may imagine%
2t the same time $ contrived to increase my little floc' of tame goats as m#ch as $ co#ld3 and
for this (#r(ose $ made <riday and the /(aniard go o#t one day, and myself ,ith <riday the next
day Cfor ,e too' o#r t#rnsD, and by this means ,e got abo#t t,enty yo#ng 'ids to breed #( ,ith
the rest3 for ,henever ,e shot the dam, ,e saved the 'ids, and added them to o#r floc'% 8#t
above all, the season for c#ring the gra(es coming on, $ ca#sed s#ch a (rodigio#s >#antity to be
h#ng #( in the s#n, that, $ believe, had ,e been at 2licant, ,here the raisins of the s#n are c#red,
,e co#ld have filled sixty or eighty barrels3 and these, ,ith o#r bread, formed a great (art of o#r
food-very good living too, $ ass#re yo#, for they are exceedingly no#rishing%
$t ,as no, harvest, and o#r cro( in good order: it ,as not the most (lentif#l increase $ had
seen in the island, b#t, ho,ever, it ,as eno#gh to ans,er o#r end3 for from t,enty-t,o b#shels of
barley ,e bro#ght in and thrashed o#t above t,o h#ndred and t,enty b#shels3 and the li'e in
(ro(ortion of the rice3 ,hich ,as store eno#gh for o#r food to the next harvest, tho#gh all the
sixteen /(aniards had been on shore ,ith me3 or, if ,e had been ready for a voyage, it ,o#ld
very (lentif#lly have vict#alled o#r shi( to have carried #s to any (art of the ,orld3 that is to say,
any (art of 2merica% 4hen ,e had th#s ho#sed and sec#red o#r maga;ine of corn, ,e fell to
,or' to ma'e more ,ic'er-,are, vi;% great bas'ets, in ,hich ,e 'e(t it3 and the /(aniard ,as
very handy and dextero#s at this (art, and often blamed me that $ did not ma'e some things for
defence of this 'ind of ,or'3 b#t $ sa, no need of it%
2nd no,, having a f#ll s#((ly of food for all the g#ests $ ex(ected, $ gave the /(aniard leave to
go over to the main, to see ,hat he co#ld do ,ith those he had left behind him there% $ gave him a
strict charge not to bring any man ,ho ,o#ld not first s,ear in the (resence of himself and the
old savage that he ,o#ld in no ,ay in!#re, fight ,ith, or attac' the (erson he sho#ld find in the
island, ,ho ,as so 'ind as to send for them in order to their deliverance3 b#t that they ,o#ld
stand by him and defend him against all s#ch attem(ts, and ,herever they ,ent ,o#ld be entirely
#nder and s#b!ected to his command3 and that this sho#ld be (#t in ,riting, and signed in their
hands% 0o, they ,ere to have done this, ,hen $ 'ne, they had neither (en nor in', ,as a
>#estion ,hich ,e never as'ed% Under these instr#ctions, the /(aniard and the old savage, the
father of <riday, ,ent a,ay in one of the canoes ,hich they might be said to have come in, or
rather ,ere bro#ght in, ,hen they came as (risoners to be devo#red by the savages% $ gave each
5&-
of them a m#s'et, ,ith a fireloc' on it, and abo#t eight charges of (o,der and ball, charging
them to be very good h#sbands of both, and not to #se either of them b#t #(on #rgent occasions%
This ,as a cheerf#l ,or', being the first meas#res #sed by me in vie, of my deliverance for
no, t,enty-seven years and some days% $ gave them (rovisions of bread and of dried gra(es,
s#fficient for themselves for many days, and s#fficient for all the /(aniards- for abo#t eight days=
time3 and ,ishing them a good voyage, $ sa, them go, agreeing ,ith them abo#t a signal they
sho#ld hang o#t at their ret#rn, by ,hich $ sho#ld 'no, them again ,hen they came bac', at a
distance, before they came on shore% They ,ent a,ay ,ith a fair gale on the day that the moon
,as at f#ll, by my acco#nt in the month of Jctober3 b#t as for an exact rec'oning of days, after $
had once lost it $ co#ld never recover it again3 nor had $ 'e(t even the n#mber of years so
(#nct#ally as to be s#re $ ,as right3 tho#gh, as it (roved ,hen $ after,ards examined my acco#nt,
$ fo#nd $ had 'e(t a tr#e rec'oning of years%
$t ,as no less than eight days $ had ,aited for them, ,hen a strange and #nforeseen accident
intervened, of ,hich the li'e has not, (erha(s, been heard of in history% $ ,as fast aslee( in my
h#tch one morning, ,hen my man <riday came r#nning in to me, and called alo#d, A1aster,
master, they are come, they are come@A $ !#m(ed #(, and regardless of danger $ ,ent, as soon as $
co#ld get my clothes on, thro#gh my little grove, ,hich, by the ,ay, ,as by this time gro,n to be
a very thic' ,ood3 $ say, regardless of danger $ ,ent ,itho#t my arms, ,hich ,as not my c#stom
to do3 b#t $ ,as s#r(rised ,hen, t#rning my eyes to the sea, $ (resently sa, a boat at abo#t a
leag#e and a half distance, standing in for the shore, ,ith a sho#lder-of-m#tton sail, as they call
it, and the ,ind blo,ing (retty fair to bring them in: also $ observed, (resently, that they did not
come from that side ,hich the shore lay on, b#t from the so#thernmost end of the island% U(on
this $ called <riday in, and bade him lie close, for these ,ere not the (eo(le ,e loo'ed for, and
that ,e might not 'no, yet ,hether they ,ere friends or enemies% $n the next (lace $ ,ent in to
fetch my (ers(ective glass to see ,hat $ co#ld ma'e of them3 and having ta'en the ladder o#t, $
climbed #( to the to( of the hill, as $ #sed to do ,hen $ ,as a((rehensive of anything, and to ta'e
my vie, the (lainer ,itho#t being discovered% $ had scarce set my foot #(on the hill ,hen my
eye (lainly discovered a shi( lying at anchor, at abo#t t,o leag#es and a half distance from me,
//E%, b#t not above a leag#e and a half from the shore% 8y my observation it a((eared (lainly to
be an English shi(, and the boat a((eared to be an English long-boat%
$ cannot ex(ress the conf#sion $ ,as in, tho#gh the !oy of seeing a shi(, and one that $ had
reason to believe ,as manned by my o,n co#ntrymen, and conse>#ently friends, ,as s#ch as $
cannot describe3 b#t yet $ had some secret do#bts h#ng abo#t me-$ cannot tell from ,hence they
came-bidding me 'ee( #(on my g#ard% $n the first (lace, it occ#rred to me to consider ,hat
b#siness an English shi( co#ld have in that (art of the ,orld, since it ,as not the ,ay to or from
any (art of the ,orld ,here the English had any traffic3 and $ 'ne, there had been no storms to
drive them in there in distress3 and that if they ,ere really English it ,as most (robable that they
,ere here #(on no good design3 and that $ had better contin#e as $ ,as than fall into the hands of
thieves and m#rderers%
Let no man des(ise the secret hints and notices of danger ,hich sometimes are given him
,hen he may thin' there is no (ossibility of its being real% That s#ch hints and notices are given
#s $ believe fe, that have made any observation of things can deny3 that they are certain
discoveries of an invisible ,orld, and a converse of s(irits, ,e cannot do#bt3 and if the tendency
of them seems to be to ,arn #s of danger, ,hy sho#ld ,e not s#((ose they are from some
friendly agent C,hether s#(reme, or inferior and s#bordinate, is not the >#estionD, and that they
are given for o#r good?
5&5
The (resent >#estion ab#ndantly confirms me in the !#stice of this reasoning3 for had $ not
been made ca#tio#s by this secret admonition, come it from ,hence it ,ill, $ had been done
inevitably, and in a far ,orse condition than before, as yo# ,ill see (resently% $ had not 'e(t
myself long in this (ost#re till $ sa, the boat dra, near the shore, as if they loo'ed for a cree' to
thr#st in at, for the convenience of landing3 ho,ever, as they did not come >#ite far eno#gh, they
did not see the little inlet ,here $ formerly landed my rafts, b#t ran their boat on shore #(on the
beach, at abo#t half a mile from me, ,hich ,as very ha((y for me3 for other,ise they ,o#ld
have landed !#st at my door, as $ may say, and ,o#ld soon have beaten me o#t of my castle, and
(erha(s have (l#ndered me of all $ had% 4hen they ,ere on shore $ ,as f#lly satisfied they ,ere
Englishmen, at least most of them3 one or t,o $ tho#ght ,ere D#tch, b#t it did not (rove so3 there
,ere in all eleven men, ,hereof three of them $ fo#nd ,ere #narmed and, as $ tho#ght, bo#nd3
and ,hen the first fo#r or five of them ,ere !#m(ed on shore, they too' those three o#t of the
boat as (risoners: one of the three $ co#ld (erceive #sing the most (assionate gest#res of entreaty,
affliction, and des(air, even to a 'ind of extravagance3 the other t,o, $ co#ld (erceive, lifted #(
their hands sometimes, and a((eared concerned indeed, b#t not to s#ch a degree as the first% $ ,as
(erfectly confo#nded at the sight, and 'ne, not ,hat the meaning of it sho#ld be% <riday called
o#t to me in English, as ,ell as he co#ld, AJ master@ yo# see English mans eat (risoner as ,ell as
savage mans%A A4hy, <riday,A says $, Ado yo# thin' they are going to eat them, then?A A7es,A says
<riday, Athey ,ill eat them%A A.o no,A says $, A<riday3 $ am afraid they ,ill m#rder them, indeed3
b#t yo# may be s#re they ,ill not eat them%A
2ll this ,hile $ had no tho#ght of ,hat the matter really ,as, b#t stood trembling ,ith the
horror of the sight, ex(ecting every moment ,hen the three (risoners sho#ld be 'illed3 nay, once
$ sa, one of the villains lift #( his arm ,ith a great c#tlass, as the seamen call it, or s,ord, to
stri'e one of the (oor men3 and $ ex(ected to see him fall every moment3 at ,hich all the blood in
my body seemed to r#n chill in my veins% $ ,ished heartily no, for the /(aniard, and the savage
that had gone ,ith him, or that $ had any ,ay to have come #ndiscovered ,ithin shot of them,
that $ might have sec#red the three men, for $ sa, no firearms they had among them3 b#t it fell
o#t to my mind another ,ay% 2fter $ had observed the o#trageo#s #sage of the three men by the
insolent seamen, $ observed the fello,s r#n scattering abo#t the island, as if they ,anted to see
the co#ntry% $ observed that the three other men had liberty to go also ,here they (leased3 b#t
they sat do,n all three #(on the gro#nd, very (ensive, and loo'ed li'e men in des(air% This (#t
me in mind of the first time ,hen $ came on shore, and began to loo' abo#t me3 ho, $ gave
myself over for lost3 ho, ,ildly $ loo'ed ro#nd me3 ,hat dreadf#l a((rehensions $ had3 and ho,
$ lodged in the tree all night for fear of being devo#red by ,ild beasts% 2s $ 'ne, nothing that
night of the s#((ly $ ,as to receive by the (rovidential driving of the shi( nearer the land by the
storms and tide, by ,hich $ have since been so long no#rished and s#((orted3 so these three (oor
desolate men 'ne, nothing ho, certain of deliverance and s#((ly they ,ere, ho, near it ,as to
them, and ho, effect#ally and really they ,ere in a condition of safety, at the same time that they
tho#ght themselves lost and their case des(erate% /o little do ,e see before #s in the ,orld, and so
m#ch reason have ,e to de(end cheerf#lly #(on the great 1a'er of the ,orld, that 0e does not
leave 0is creat#res so absol#tely destit#te, b#t that in the ,orst circ#mstances they have al,ays
something to be than'f#l for, and sometimes are nearer deliverance than they imagine3 nay, are
even bro#ght to their deliverance by the means by ,hich they seem to be bro#ght to their
destr#ction%
$t ,as !#st at high-,ater ,hen these (eo(le came on shore3 and ,hile they rambled abo#t to
see ,hat 'ind of a (lace they ,ere in, they had carelessly stayed till the tide ,as s(ent, and the
,ater ,as ebbed considerably a,ay, leaving their boat agro#nd% They had left t,o men in the
5&&
boat, ,ho, as $ fo#nd after,ards, having dr#n' a little too m#ch brandy, fell aslee(3 ho,ever, one
of them ,a'ing a little sooner than the other and finding the boat too fast agro#nd for him to stir
it, hallooed o#t for the rest, ,ho ,ere straggling abo#t: #(on ,hich they all soon came to the
boat: b#t it ,as (ast all their strength to la#nch her, the boat being very heavy, and the shore on
that side being a soft oo;y sand, almost li'e a >#ic'sand% $n this condition, li'e tr#e seamen, ,ho
are, (erha(s, the least of all man'ind given to foretho#ght, they gave it over, and a,ay they
strolled abo#t the co#ntry again3 and $ heard one of them say alo#d to another, calling them off
from the boat, A4hy, let her alone, Eac', can=t yo#? she=ll float next tide3A by ,hich $ ,as f#lly
confirmed in the main in>#iry of ,hat co#ntrymen they ,ere% 2ll this ,hile $ 'e(t myself very
close, not once daring to stir o#t of my castle any farther than to my (lace of observation near the
to( of the hill: and very glad $ ,as to thin' ho, ,ell it ,as fortified% $ 'ne, it ,as no less than
ten ho#rs before the boat co#ld float again, and by that time it ,o#ld be dar', and $ might be at
more liberty to see their motions, and to hear their disco#rse, if they had any% $n the meantime $
fitted myself #( for a battle as before, tho#gh ,ith more ca#tion, 'no,ing $ had to do ,ith
another 'ind of enemy than $ had at first% $ ordered <riday also, ,hom $ had made an excellent
mar'sman ,ith his g#n, to load himself ,ith arms% $ too' myself t,o fo,ling-(ieces, and $ gave
him three m#s'ets% 1y fig#re, indeed, ,as very fierce3 $ had my formidable goat-s'in coat on,
,ith the great ca( $ have mentioned, a na'ed s,ord by my side, t,o (istols in my belt, and a g#n
#(on each sho#lder%
$t ,as my design, as $ said above, not to have made any attem(t till it ,as dar'3 b#t abo#t t,o
o=cloc', being the heat of the day, $ fo#nd that they ,ere all gone straggling into the ,oods, and,
as $ tho#ght, laid do,n to slee(% The three (oor distressed men, too anxio#s for their condition to
get any slee(, had, ho,ever, sat do,n #nder the shelter of a great tree, at abo#t a >#arter of a mile
from me, and, as $ tho#ght, o#t of sight of any of the rest% U(on this $ resolved to discover myself
to them, and learn something of their condition3 immediately $ marched as above, my man <riday
at a good distance behind me, as formidable for his arms as $, b#t not ma'ing >#ite so staring a
s(ectre-li'e fig#re as $ did% $ came as near them #ndiscovered as $ co#ld, and then, before any of
them sa, me, $ called alo#d to them in /(anish, A4hat are ye, gentlemen?A They started #( at the
noise, b#t ,ere ten times more confo#nded ,hen they sa, me, and the #nco#th fig#re that $
made% They made no ans,er at all, b#t $ tho#ght $ (erceived them !#st going to fly from me,
,hen $ s(o'e to them in English% A"entlemen,A said $, Ado not be s#r(rised at me3 (erha(s yo#
may have a friend near ,hen yo# did not ex(ect it%A A0e m#st be sent directly from heaven then,A
said one of them very gravely to me, and (#lling off his hat at the same time to me3 Afor o#r
condition is (ast the hel( of man%A A2ll hel( is from heaven, sir,A said $, Ab#t can yo# (#t a
stranger in the ,ay to hel( yo#? for yo# seem to be in some great distress% $ sa, yo# ,hen yo#
landed3 and ,hen yo# seemed to ma'e a((lication to the br#tes that came ,ith yo#, $ sa, one of
them lift #( his s,ord to 'ill yo#%A
The (oor man, ,ith tears r#nning do,n his face, and trembling, loo'ing li'e one astonished,
ret#rned, A2m $ tal'ing to "od or man? $s it a real man or an angel?A A8e in no fear abo#t that,
sir,A said $3 Aif "od had sent an angel to relieve yo#, he ,o#ld have come better clothed, and
armed after another manner than yo# see me3 (ray lay aside yo#r fears3 $ am a man, an
Englishman, and dis(osed to assist yo#3 yo# see $ have one servant only3 ,e have arms and
amm#nition3 tell #s freely, can ,e serve yo#? 4hat is yo#r case?A AJ#r case, sir,A said he, Ais too
long to tell yo# ,hile o#r m#rderers are so near #s3 b#t, in short, sir, $ ,as commander of that
shi(-my men have m#tinied against me3 they have been hardly (revailed on not to m#rder me,
and, at last, have set me on shore in this desolate (lace, ,ith these t,o men ,ith me- one my
mate, the other a (assenger-,here ,e ex(ected to (erish, believing the (lace to be #ninhabited,
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and 'no, not yet ,hat to thin' of it%A A4here are these br#tes, yo#r enemies?A said $3 Ado yo#
'no, ,here they are gone? There they lie, sir,A said he, (ointing to a thic'et of trees3 Amy heart
trembles for fear they have seen #s and heard yo# s(ea'3 if they have, they ,ill certainly m#rder
#s all%A A0ave they any firearms?A said $% 0e ans,ered, AThey had only t,o (ieces, one of ,hich
they left in the boat%A A4ell, then,A said $, Aleave the rest to me3 $ see they are all aslee(3 it is an
easy thing to 'ill them all3 b#t shall ,e rather ta'e them (risoners?A 0e told me there ,ere t,o
des(erate villains among them that it ,as scarce safe to sho, any mercy to3 b#t if they ,ere
sec#red, he believed all the rest ,o#ld ret#rn to their d#ty% $ as'ed him ,hich they ,ere% 0e told
me he co#ld not at that distance disting#ish them, b#t he ,o#ld obey my orders in anything $
,o#ld direct% A4ell,A says $, Alet #s retreat o#t of their vie, or hearing, lest they a,a'e, and ,e
,ill resolve f#rther%A /o they ,illingly ,ent bac' ,ith me, till the ,oods covered #s from them%
ALoo' yo#, sir,A said $, Aif $ vent#re #(on yo#r deliverance, are yo# ,illing to ma'e t,o
conditions ,ith me?A 0e antici(ated my (ro(osals by telling me that both he and the shi(, if
recovered, sho#ld be ,holly directed and commanded by me in everything3 and if the shi( ,as
not recovered, he ,o#ld live and die ,ith me in ,hat (art of the ,orld soever $ ,o#ld send him3
and the t,o other men said the same% A4ell,A says $, Amy conditions are b#t t,o3 first, that ,hile
yo# stay in this island ,ith me, yo# ,ill not (retend to any a#thority here3 and if $ (#t arms in
yo#r hands, yo# ,ill, #(on all occasions, give them #( to me, and do no (re!#dice to me or mine
#(on this island, and in the meantime be governed by my orders3 secondly, that if the shi( is or
may be recovered, yo# ,ill carry me and my man to England (assage free%A
0e gave me all the ass#rances that the invention or faith of man co#ld devise that he ,o#ld
com(ly ,ith these most reasonable demands, and besides ,o#ld o,e his life to me, and
ac'no,ledge it #(on all occasions as long as he lived% A4ell, then,A said $, Ahere are three
m#s'ets for yo#, ,ith (o,der and ball3 tell me next ,hat yo# thin' is (ro(er to be done%A 0e
sho,ed all the testimonies of his gratit#de that he ,as able, b#t offered to be ,holly g#ided by
me% $ told him $ tho#ght it ,as very hard vent#ring anything3 b#t the best method $ co#ld thin' of
,as to fire on them at once as they lay, and if any ,ere not 'illed at the first volley, and offered to
s#bmit, ,e might save them, and so (#t it ,holly #(on "od=s (rovidence to direct the shot% 0e
said, very modestly, that he ,as loath to 'ill them if he co#ld hel( it3 b#t that those t,o ,ere
incorrigible villains, and had been the a#thors of all the m#tiny in the shi(, and if they esca(ed,
,e sho#ld be #ndone still, for they ,o#ld go on board and bring the ,hole shi(=s com(any, and
destroy #s all% A4ell, then,A says $, Anecessity legitimates my advice, for it is the only ,ay to save
o#r lives%A 0o,ever, seeing him still ca#tio#s of shedding blood, $ told him they sho#ld go
themselves, and manage as they fo#nd convenient%
$n the middle of this disco#rse ,e heard some of them a,a'e, and soon after ,e sa, t,o of
them on their feet% $ as'ed him if either of them ,ere the heads of the m#tiny? 0e said, A.o%A
A4ell, then,A said $, Ayo# may let them esca(e3 and rovidence seems to have a,a'ened them on
(#r(ose to save themselves% .o,,A says $, Aif the rest esca(e yo#, it is yo#r fa#lt%A 2nimated ,ith
this, he too' the m#s'et $ had given him in his hand, and a (istol in his belt, and his t,o
comrades ,ith him, ,ith each a (iece in his hand3 the t,o men ,ho ,ere ,ith him going first
made some noise, at ,hich one of the seamen ,ho ,as a,a'e t#rned abo#t, and seeing them
coming, cried o#t to the rest3 b#t ,as too late then, for the moment he cried o#t they fired-$ mean
the t,o men, the ca(tain ,isely reserving his o,n (iece% They had so ,ell aimed their shot at the
men they 'ne,, that one of them ,as 'illed on the s(ot, and the other very m#ch ,o#nded3 b#t
not being dead, he started #( on his feet, and called eagerly for hel( to the other3 b#t the ca(tain
ste((ing to him, told him it ,as too late to cry for hel(, he sho#ld call #(on "od to forgive his
villainy, and ,ith that ,ord 'noc'ed him do,n ,ith the stoc' of his m#s'et, so that he never
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s(o'e more3 there ,ere three more in the com(any, and one of them ,as slightly ,o#nded% 8y
this time $ ,as come3 and ,hen they sa, their danger, and that it ,as in vain to resist, they
begged for mercy% The ca(tain told them he ,o#ld s(are their lives if they ,o#ld give him an
ass#rance of their abhorrence of the treachery they had been g#ilty of, and ,o#ld s,ear to be
faithf#l to him in recovering the shi(, and after,ards in carrying her bac' to Eamaica, from
,hence they came% They gave him all the (rotestations of their sincerity that co#ld be desired3
and he ,as ,illing to believe them, and s(are their lives, ,hich $ ,as not against, only that $
obliged him to 'ee( them bo#nd hand and foot ,hile they ,ere on the island%
4hile this ,as doing, $ sent <riday ,ith the ca(tain=s mate to the boat ,ith orders to sec#re
her, and bring a,ay the oars and sails, ,hich they did3 and by-and-by three straggling men, that
,ere Cha((ily for themD (arted from the rest, came bac' #(on hearing the g#ns fired3 and seeing
the ca(tain, ,ho ,as before their (risoner, no, their con>#eror, they s#bmitted to be bo#nd also3
and so o#r victory ,as com(lete%
$t no, remained that the ca(tain and $ sho#ld in>#ire into one another=s circ#mstances% $ began
first, and told him my ,hole history, ,hich he heard ,ith an attention even to ama;ement-and
(artic#larly at the ,onderf#l manner of my being f#rnished ,ith (rovisions and amm#nition3
and, indeed, as my story is a ,hole collection of ,onders, it affected him dee(ly% 8#t ,hen he
reflected from thence #(on himself, and ho, $ seemed to have been (reserved there on (#r(ose to
save his life, the tears ran do,n his face, and he co#ld not s(ea' a ,ord more% 2fter this
comm#nication ,as at an end, $ carried him and his t,o men into my a(artment, leading them in
!#st ,here $ came o#t, vi;% at the to( of the ho#se, ,here $ refreshed them ,ith s#ch (rovisions as
$ had, and sho,ed them all the contrivances $ had made d#ring my long, long inhabiting that
(lace%
2ll $ sho,ed them, all $ said to them, ,as (erfectly ama;ing3 b#t above all, the ca(tain admired
my fortification, and ho, (erfectly $ had concealed my retreat ,ith a grove of trees, ,hich
having been no, (lanted nearly t,enty years, and the trees gro,ing m#ch faster than in England,
,as become a little ,ood, so thic' that it ,as im(assable in any (art of it b#t at that one side
,here $ had reserved my little ,inding (assage into it% $ told him this ,as my castle and my
residence, b#t that $ had a seat in the co#ntry, as most (rinces have, ,hither $ co#ld retreat #(on
occasion, and $ ,o#ld sho, him that too another time3 b#t at (resent o#r b#siness ,as to consider
ho, to recover the shi(% 0e agreed ,ith me as to that, b#t told me he ,as (erfectly at a loss ,hat
meas#res to ta'e, for that there ,ere still six-and-t,enty hands on board, ,ho, having entered
into a c#rsed cons(iracy, by ,hich they had all forfeited their lives to the la,, ,o#ld be hardened
in it no, by des(eration, and ,o#ld carry it on, 'no,ing that if they ,ere s#bd#ed they ,o#ld be
bro#ght to the gallo,s as soon as they came to England, or to any of the English colonies, and
that, therefore, there ,o#ld be no attac'ing them ,ith so small a n#mber as ,e ,ere%
$ m#sed for some time on ,hat he had said, and fo#nd it ,as a very rational concl#sion, and
that therefore something ,as to be resolved on s(eedily, as ,ell to dra, the men on board into
some snare for their s#r(rise as to (revent their landing #(on #s, and destroying #s% U(on this, it
(resently occ#rred to me that in a little ,hile the shi(=s cre,, ,ondering ,hat ,as become of
their comrades and of the boat, ,o#ld certainly come on shore in their other boat to loo' for
them, and that then, (erha(s, they might come armed, and be too strong for #s: this he allo,ed to
be rational% U(on this, $ told him the first thing ,e had to do ,as to stave the boat ,hich lay #(on
the beach, so that they might not carry her of, and ta'ing everything o#t of her, leave her so far
#seless as not to be fit to s,im% 2ccordingly, ,e ,ent on board, too' the arms ,hich ,ere left on
board o#t of her, and ,hatever else ,e fo#nd there-,hich ,as a bottle of brandy, and another of
r#m, a fe, bisc#it-ca'es, a horn of (o,der, and a great l#m( of s#gar in a (iece of canvas Cthe
5&*
s#gar ,as five or six (o#ndsD: all ,hich ,as very ,elcome to me, es(ecially the brandy and
s#gar, of ,hich $ had had none left for many years%
4hen ,e had carried all these things on shore Cthe oars, mast, sail, and r#dder of the boat ,ere
carried a,ay beforeD, ,e 'noc'ed a great hole in her bottom, that if they had come strong eno#gh
to master #s, yet they co#ld not carry off the boat% $ndeed, it ,as not m#ch in my tho#ghts that ,e
co#ld be able to recover the shi(3 b#t my vie, ,as, that if they ,ent a,ay ,itho#t the boat, $ did
not m#ch >#estion to ma'e her again fit to carry as to the Lee,ard $slands, and call #(on o#r
friends the /(aniards in my ,ay, for $ had them still in my tho#ghts%
Cha(ter 5G
C02TE9 IV$$$-T0E /0$ 9ECJVE9ED
40$LE ,e ,ere th#s (re(aring o#r designs, and had first, by main strength, heaved the boat
#(on the beach, so high that the tide ,o#ld not float her off at high-,ater mar', and besides, had
bro'e a hole in her bottom too big to be >#ic'ly sto((ed, and ,ere set do,n m#sing ,hat ,e
sho#ld do, ,e heard the shi( fire a g#n, and ma'e a ,aft ,ith her ensign as a signal for the boat
to come on board-b#t no boat stirred3 and they fired several times, ma'ing other signals for the
boat% 2t last, ,hen all their signals and firing (roved fr#itless, and they fo#nd the boat did not
stir, ,e sa, them, by the hel( of my glasses, hoist another boat o#t and ro, to,ards the shore3
and ,e fo#nd, as they a((roached, that there ,ere no less than ten men in her, and that they had
firearms ,ith them%
2s the shi( lay almost t,o leag#es from the shore, ,e had a f#ll vie, of them as the came, and
a (lain sight even of their faces3 beca#se the tide having set them a little to the east of the other
boat, they ro,ed #( #nder shore, to come to the same (lace ,here the other had landed, and
,here the boat lay3 by this means, $ say, ,e had a f#ll vie, of them, and the ca(tain 'ne, the
(ersons and characters of all the men in the boat, of ,hom, he said, there ,ere three very honest
fello,s, ,ho, he ,as s#re, ,ere led into this cons(iracy by the rest, being over-(o,ered and
frightened3 b#t that as for the boats,ain, ,ho it seems ,as the chief officer among them, and all
the rest, they ,ere as o#trageo#s as any of the shi(=s cre,, and ,ere no do#bt made des(erate in
their ne, enter(rise3 and terribly a((rehensive he ,as that they ,o#ld be too (o,erf#l for #s% $
smiled at him, and told him that men in o#r circ#mstances ,ere (ast the o(eration of fear3 that
seeing almost every condition that co#ld be ,as better than that ,hich ,e ,ere s#((osed to be
in, ,e o#ght to ex(ect that the conse>#ence, ,hether death or life, ,o#ld be s#re to be a
deliverance% $ as'ed him ,hat he tho#ght of the circ#mstances of my life, and ,hether a
deliverance ,ere not ,orth vent#ring for? A2nd ,here, sir,A said $, Ais yo#r belief of my being
(reserved here on (#r(ose to save yo#r life, ,hich elevated yo# a little ,hile ago? <or my (art,A
said $, Athere seems to be b#t one thing amiss in all the (ros(ect of it%A A4hat is that?A say she%
A4hy,A said $, Ait is, that as yo# say there are three or fo#r honest fello,s among them ,hich
sho#ld be s(ared, had they been all of the ,ic'ed (art of the cre, $ sho#ld have tho#ght "od=s
(rovidence had singled them o#t to deliver them into yo#r hands3 for de(end #(on it, every man
that comes ashore is o#r o,n, and shall die or live as they behave to #s%A 2s $ s(o'e this ,ith a
raised voice and cheerf#l co#ntenance, $ fo#nd it greatly enco#raged him3 so ,e set vigoro#sly to
o#r b#siness%
4e had, #(on the first a((earance of the boat=s coming from the shi(, considered of se(arating
o#r (risoners3 and ,e had, indeed, sec#red them effect#ally% T,o of them, of ,hom the ca(tain
,as less ass#red than ordinary, $ sent ,ith <riday, and one of the three delivered men, to my cave,
,here they ,ere remote eno#gh, and o#t of danger of being heard or discovered, or of finding
their ,ay o#t of the ,oods if they co#ld have delivered themselves% 0ere they left them bo#nd,
b#t gave them (rovisions3 and (romised them, if they contin#ed there >#ietly, to give them their
5&)
liberty in a day or t,o3 b#t that if they attem(ted their esca(e they sho#ld be (#t to death ,itho#t
mercy% They (romised faithf#lly to bear their confinement ,ith (atience, and ,ere very than'f#l
that they had s#ch good #sage as to have (rovisions and light left them3 for <riday gave them
candles Cs#ch as ,e made o#rselvesD for their comfort3 and they did not 'no, b#t that he stood
sentinel over them at the entrance%
The other (risoners had better #sage3 t,o of them ,ere 'e(t (inioned, indeed, beca#se the
ca(tain ,as not able to tr#st them3 b#t the other t,o ,ere ta'en into my service, #(on the
ca(tain=s recommendation, and #(on their solemnly engaging to live and die ,ith #s3 so ,ith
them and the three honest men ,e ,ere seven men, ,ell armed3 and $ made no do#bt ,e sho#ld
be able to deal ,ell eno#gh ,ith the ten that ,ere coming, considering that the ca(tain had said
there ,ere three or fo#r honest men among them also% 2s soon as they got to the (lace ,here
their other boat lay, they ran their boat into the beach and came all on shore, ha#ling the boat #(
after them, ,hich $ ,as glad to see, for $ ,as afraid they ,o#ld rather have left the boat at an
anchor some distance from the shore, ,ith some hands in her to g#ard her, and so ,e sho#ld not
be able to sei;e the boat% 8eing on shore, the first thing they did, they ran all to their other boat3
and it ,as easy to see they ,ere #nder a great s#r(rise to find her stri((ed, as above, of all that
,as in her, and a great hole in her bottom% 2fter they had m#sed a ,hile #(on this, they set #(
t,o or three great sho#ts, hallooing ,ith all their might, to try if they co#ld ma'e their
com(anions hear3 b#t all ,as to no (#r(ose% Then they came all close in a ring, and fired a volley
of their small arms, ,hich indeed ,e heard, and the echoes made the ,oods ring% 8#t it ,as all
one3 those in the cave, ,e ,ere s#re, co#ld not hear3 and those in o#r 'ee(ing, tho#gh they heard
it ,ell eno#gh, yet d#rst give no ans,er to them% They ,ere so astonished at the s#r(rise of this,
that, as they told #s after,ards, they resolved to go all on board again to their shi(, and let them
'no, that the men ,ere all m#rdered, and the long-boat staved3 accordingly, they immediately
la#nched their boat again, and got all of them on board%
The ca(tain ,as terribly ama;ed, and even confo#nded, at this, believing they ,o#ld go on
board the shi( again and set sail, giving their comrades over for lost, and so he sho#ld still lose
the shi(, ,hich he ,as in ho(es ,e sho#ld have recovered3 b#t he ,as >#ic'ly as m#ch
frightened the other ,ay%
They had not been long (#t off ,ith the boat, ,hen ,e (erceived them all coming on shore
again3 b#t ,ith this ne, meas#re in their cond#ct, ,hich it seems they cons#lted together #(on,
vi;% to leave three men in the boat, and the rest to go on shore, and go #( into the co#ntry to loo'
for their fello,s% This ,as a great disa((ointment to #s, for no, ,e ,ere at a loss ,hat to do, as
o#r sei;ing those seven men on shore ,o#ld be no advantage to #s if ,e let the boat esca(e3
beca#se they ,o#ld ro, a,ay to the shi(, and then the rest of them ,o#ld be s#re to ,eigh and
set sail, and so o#r recovering the shi( ,o#ld be lost% 0o,ever ,e had no remedy b#t to ,ait and
see ,hat the iss#e of things might (resent% The seven men came on shore, and the three ,ho
remained in the boat (#t her off to a good distance from the shore, and came to an anchor to ,ait
for them3 so that it ,as im(ossible for #s to come at them in the boat% Those that came on shore
'e(t close together, marching to,ards the to( of the little hill #nder ,hich my habitation lay3 and
,e co#ld see them (lainly, tho#gh they co#ld not (erceive #s% 4e sho#ld have been very glad if
they ,o#ld have come nearer #s, so that ,e might have fired at them, or that they ,o#ld have
gone farther off, that ,e might come abroad% 8#t ,hen they ,ere come to the bro, of the hill
,here they co#ld see a great ,ay into the valleys and ,oods, ,hich lay to,ards the north-east
(art, and ,here the island lay lo,est, they sho#ted and hallooed till they ,ere ,eary3 and not
caring, it seems, to vent#re far from the shore, nor far from one another, they sat do,n together
#nder a tree to consider it% 0ad they tho#ght fit to have gone to slee( there, as the other (art of
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them had done, they had done the !ob for #s3 b#t they ,ere too f#ll of a((rehensions of danger to
vent#re to go to slee(, tho#gh they co#ld not tell ,hat the danger ,as they had to fear%
The ca(tain made a very !#st (ro(osal to me #(on this cons#ltation of theirs, vi;% that (erha(s
they ,o#ld all fire a volley again, to endeavo#r to ma'e their fello,s hear, and that ,e sho#ld all
sally #(on them !#st at the !#nct#re ,hen their (ieces ,ere all discharged, and they ,o#ld
certainly yield, and ,e sho#ld have them ,itho#t bloodshed% $ li'ed this (ro(osal, (rovided it
,as done ,hile ,e ,ere near eno#gh to come #( to them before they co#ld load their (ieces
again% 8#t this event did not ha((en3 and ,e lay still a long time, very irresol#te ,hat co#rse to
ta'e% 2t length $ told them there ,o#ld be nothing done, in my o(inion, till night3 and then, if
they did not ret#rn to the boat, (erha(s ,e might find a ,ay to get bet,een them and the shore,
and so might #se some stratagem ,ith them in the boat to get them on shore% 4e ,aited a great
,hile, tho#gh very im(atient for their removing3 and ,ere very #neasy ,hen, after long
cons#ltation, ,e sa, them all start #( and march do,n to,ards the sea3 it seems they had s#ch
dreadf#l a((rehensions of the danger of the (lace that they resolved to go on board the shi(
again, give their com(anions over for lost, and so go on ,ith their intended voyage ,ith the shi(%
2s soon as $ (erceived them go to,ards the shore, $ imagined it to be as it really ,as that they
had given over their search, and ,ere going bac' again3 and the ca(tain, as soon as $ told him my
tho#ghts, ,as ready to sin' at the a((rehensions of it3 b#t $ (resently tho#ght of a stratagem to
fetch them bac' again, and ,hich ans,ered my end to a tittle% $ ordered <riday and the ca(tain=s
mate to go over the little cree' ,est,ard, to,ards the (lace ,here the savages came on shore,
,hen <riday ,as resc#ed, and so soon as they came to a little rising ro#nd, at abo#t half a mile
distant, $ bid them halloo o#t, as lo#d as they co#ld, and ,ait till they fo#nd the seamen heard
them3 that as soon as ever they heard the seamen ans,er them, they sho#ld ret#rn it again3 and
then, 'ee(ing o#t of sight, ta'e a ro#nd, al,ays ans,ering ,hen the others hallooed, to dra,
them as far into the island and among the ,oods as (ossible, and then ,heel abo#t again to me by
s#ch ,ays as $ directed them%
They ,ere !#st going into the boat ,hen <riday and the mate hallooed3 and they (resently
heard them, and ans,ering, ran along the shore ,est,ard, to,ards the voice they heard, ,hen
they ,ere sto((ed by the cree', ,here the ,ater being #(, they co#ld not get over, and called for
the boat to come #( and set them over3 as, indeed, $ ex(ected% 4hen they had set themselves
over, $ observed that the boat being gone a good ,ay into the cree', and, as it ,ere, in a harbo#r
,ithin the land, they too' one of the three men o#t of her, to go along ,ith them, and left only
t,o in the boat, having fastened her to the st#m( of a little tree on the shore% This ,as ,hat $
,ished for3 and immediately leaving <riday and the ca(tain=s mate to their b#siness, $ too' the
rest ,ith me3 and, crossing the cree' o#t of their sight, ,e s#r(rised the t,o men before they
,ere a,are-one of them lying on the shore, and the other being in the boat% The fello, on shore
,as bet,een slee(ing and ,a'ing, and going to start #(3 the ca(tain, ,ho ,as foremost, ran in
#(on him, and 'noc'ed him do,n3 and then called o#t to him in the boat to yield, or he ,as a
dead man% They needed very fe, arg#ments to (ers#ade a single man to yield, ,hen he sa, five
men #(on him and his comrade 'noc'ed do,n: besides, this ,as, it seems, one of the three ,ho
,ere not so hearty in the m#tiny as the rest of the cre,, and therefore ,as easily (ers#aded not
only to yield, b#t after,ards to !oin very sincerely ,ith #s% $n the meantime, <riday and the
ca(tain=s mate so ,ell managed their b#siness ,ith the rest that they dre, them, by hallooing and
ans,ering, from one hill to another, and from one ,ood to another, till they not only heartily tired
them, b#t left them ,here they ,ere, very s#re they co#ld not reach bac' to the boat before it ,as
dar'3 and, indeed, they ,ere heartily tired themselves also, by the time they came bac' to #s%
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4e had nothing no, to do b#t to ,atch for them in the dar', and to fall #(on them, so as to
ma'e s#re ,or' ,ith them% $t ,as several ho#rs after <riday came bac' to me before they came
bac' to their boat3 and ,e co#ld hear the foremost of them, long before they came >#ite #(,
calling to those behind to come along3 and co#ld also hear them ans,er, and com(lain ho, lame
and tired they ,ere, and not able to come any faster: ,hich ,as very ,elcome ne,s to #s% 2t
length they came #( to the boat: b#t it is im(ossible to ex(ress their conf#sion ,hen they fo#nd
the boat fast agro#nd in the cree', the tide ebbed o#t, and their t,o men gone% 4e co#ld hear
them call one to another in a most lamentable manner, telling one another they ,ere got into an
enchanted island3 that either there ,ere inhabitants in it, and they sho#ld all be m#rdered, or else
there ,ere devils and s(irits in it, and they sho#ld be all carried a,ay and devo#red% They
hallooed again, and called their t,o comrades by their names a great many times3 b#t no ans,er%
2fter some time ,e co#ld see them, by the little light there ,as, r#n abo#t, ,ringing their hands
li'e men in des(air, and sometimes they ,o#ld go and sit do,n in the boat to rest themselves:
then come ashore again, and ,al' abo#t again, and so the same thing over again% 1y men ,o#ld
fain have had me give them leave to fall #(on them at once in the dar'3 b#t $ ,as ,illing to ta'e
them at some advantage, so as to s(are them, and 'ill as fe, of them as $ co#ld3 and es(ecially $
,as #n,illing to ha;ard the 'illing of any of o#r men, 'no,ing the others ,ere very ,ell armed%
$ resolved to ,ait, to see if they did not se(arate3 and therefore, to ma'e s#re of them, $ dre, my
amb#scade nearer, and ordered <riday and the ca(tain to cree( #(on their hands and feet, as close
to the gro#nd as they co#ld, that they might not be discovered, and get as near them as they co#ld
(ossibly before they offered to fire%
They had not been long in that (ost#re ,hen the boats,ain, ,ho ,as the (rinci(al ringleader
of the m#tiny, and had no, sho,n himself the most de!ected and dis(irited of all the rest, came
,al'ing to,ards them, ,ith t,o more of the cre,3 the ca(tain ,as so eager at having this
(rinci(al rog#e so m#ch in his (o,er, that he co#ld hardly have (atience to let him come so near
as to be s#re of him, for they only heard his tong#e before: b#t ,hen they came nearer, the
ca(tain and <riday, starting #( on their feet, let fly at them% The boats,ain ,as 'illed #(on the
s(ot: the next man ,as shot in the body, and fell !#st by him, tho#gh he did not die till an ho#r or
t,o after3 and the third ran for it% 2t the noise of the fire $ immediately advanced ,ith my ,hole
army, ,hich ,as no, eight men, vi;% myself, generalissimo3 <riday, my lie#tenant-general3 the
ca(tain and his t,o men, and the three (risoners of ,ar ,hom ,e had tr#sted ,ith arms% 4e
came #(on them, indeed, in the dar', so that they co#ld not see o#r n#mber3 and $ made the man
they had left in the boat, ,ho ,as no, one of #s, to call them by name, to try if $ co#ld bring
them to a (arley, and so (erha(s might red#ce them to terms3 ,hich fell o#t !#st as ,e desired:
for indeed it ,as easy to thin', as their condition then ,as, they ,o#ld be very ,illing to
ca(it#late% /o he calls o#t as lo#d as he co#ld to one of them, ATom /mith@ Tom /mith@A Tom
/mith ans,ered immediately, A$s that 9obinson?A for it seems he 'ne, the voice% The other
ans,ered, A2y, ay3 for "od=s sa'e, Tom /mith, thro, do,n yo#r arms and yield, or yo# are all
dead men this moment%A A4ho m#st ,e yield to? 4here are they?A says /mith again% A0ere they
are,A says he3 Ahere=s o#r ca(tain and fifty men ,ith him, have been h#nting yo# these t,o ho#rs3
the boats,ain is 'illed3 4ill <ry is ,o#nded, and $ am a (risoner3 and if yo# do not yield yo# are
all lost%A A4ill they give #s >#arter, then?A says Tom /mith, Aand ,e ,ill yield%A A$=ll go and as',
if yo# (romise to yield,A said 9obinson: so he as'ed the ca(tain, and the ca(tain himself then
calls o#t, A7o#, /mith, yo# 'no, my voice3 if yo# lay do,n yo#r arms immediately and s#bmit,
yo# shall have yo#r lives, all b#t 4ill 2t'ins%A
U(on this 4ill 2t'ins cried o#t, A<or "od=s sa'e, ca(tain, give me >#arter3 ,hat have $ done?
They have all been as bad as $:A ,hich, by the ,ay, ,as not tr#e3 for it seems this 4ill 2t'ins ,as
5&H
the first man that laid hold of the ca(tain ,hen they first m#tinied, and #sed him barbaro#sly in
tying his hands and giving him in!#rio#s lang#age% 0o,ever, the ca(tain told him he m#st lay
do,n his arms at discretion, and tr#st to the governor=s mercy: by ,hich he meant me, for they all
called me governor% $n a ,ord, they all laid do,n their arms and begged their lives3 and $ sent the
man that had (arleyed ,ith them, and t,o more, ,ho bo#nd them all3 and then my great army of
fifty men, ,hich, ,ith those three, ,ere in all b#t eight, came #( and sei;ed #(on them, and #(on
their boat3 only that $ 'e(t myself and one more o#t of sight for reasons of state%
J#r next ,or' ,as to re(air the boat, and thin' of sei;ing the shi(: and as for the ca(tain, no,
he had leis#re to (arley ,ith them, he ex(ost#lated ,ith them #(on the villainy of their (ractices
,ith him, and #(on the f#rther ,ic'edness of their design, and ho, certainly it m#st bring them
to misery and distress in the end, and (erha(s to the gallo,s% They all a((eared very (enitent, and
begged hard for their lives% 2s for that, he told them they ,ere not his (risoners, b#t the
commander=s of the island3 that they tho#ght they had set him on shore in a barren, #ninhabited
island3 b#t it had (leased "od so to direct them that it ,as inhabited, and that the governor ,as
an Englishman3 that he might hang them all there, if he (leased3 b#t as he had given them all
>#arter, he s#((osed he ,o#ld send them to England, to be dealt ,ith there as !#stice re>#ired,
exce(t 2t'ins, ,hom he ,as commanded by the governor to advise to (re(are for death, for that
he ,o#ld be hanged in the morning%
Tho#gh this ,as all b#t a fiction of his o,n, yet it had its desired effect3 2t'ins fell #(on his
'nees to beg the ca(tain to intercede ,ith the governor for his life3 and all the rest begged of him,
for "od=s sa'e, that they might not be sent to England%
$t no, occ#rred to me that the time of o#r deliverance ,as come, and that it ,o#ld be a most
easy thing to bring these fello,s in to be hearty in getting (ossession of the shi(3 so $ retired in
the dar' from them, that they might not see ,hat 'ind of a governor they had, and called the
ca(tain to me3 ,hen $ called, at a good distance, one of the men ,as ordered to s(ea' again, and
say to the ca(tain, ACa(tain, the commander calls for yo#3A and (resently the ca(tain re(lied,
ATell his excellency $ am !#st coming%A This more (erfectly ama;ed them, and they all believed
that the commander ,as !#st by, ,ith his fifty men% U(on the ca(tain coming to me, $ told him
my (ro!ect for sei;ing the shi(, ,hich he li'ed ,onderf#lly ,ell, and resolved to (#t it in
exec#tion the next morning% 8#t, in order to exec#te it ,ith more art, and to be sec#re of s#ccess,
$ told him ,e m#st divide the (risoners, and that he sho#ld go and ta'e 2t'ins, and t,o more of
the ,orst of them, and send them (inioned to the cave ,here the others lay% This ,as committed
to <riday and the t,o men ,ho came on shore ,ith the ca(tain% They conveyed them to the cave
as to a (rison: and it ,as, indeed, a dismal (lace, es(ecially to men in their condition% The others
$ ordered to my bo,er, as $ called it, of ,hich $ have given a f#ll descri(tion: and as it ,as fenced
in, and they (inioned, the (lace ,as sec#re eno#gh, considering they ,ere #(on their behavio#r%
To these in the morning $ sent the ca(tain, ,ho ,as to enter into a (arley ,ith them3 in a ,ord,
to try them, and tell me ,hether he tho#ght they might be tr#sted or not to go on board and
s#r(rise the shi(% 0e tal'ed to them of the in!#ry done him, of the condition they ,ere bro#ght to,
and that tho#gh the governor had given them >#arter for their lives as to the (resent action, yet
that if they ,ere sent to England they ,o#ld all be hanged in chains3 b#t that if they ,o#ld !oin in
so !#st an attem(t as to recover the shi(, he ,o#ld have the governor=s engagement for their
(ardon%
2ny one may g#ess ho, readily s#ch a (ro(osal ,o#ld be acce(ted by men in their condition3
they fell do,n on their 'nees to the ca(tain, and (romised, ,ith the dee(est im(recations, that
they ,o#ld be faithf#l to him to the last dro(, and that they sho#ld o,e their lives to him, and
,o#ld go ,ith him all over the ,orld3 that they ,o#ld o,n him as a father to them as long as
56-
they lived% A4ell,A says the ca(tain, A$ m#st go and tell the governor ,hat yo# say, and see ,hat $
can do to bring him to consent to it%A /o he bro#ght me an acco#nt of the tem(er he fo#nd them
in, and that he verily believed they ,o#ld be faithf#l% 0o,ever, that ,e might be very sec#re, $
told him he sho#ld go bac' again and choose o#t those five, and tell them, that they might see he
did not ,ant men, that he ,o#ld ta'e o#t those five to be his assistants, and that the governor
,o#ld 'ee( the other t,o, and the three that ,ere sent (risoners to the castle Cmy caveD, as
hostages for the fidelity of those five3 and that if they (roved #nfaithf#l in the exec#tion, the five
hostages sho#ld be hanged in chains alive on the shore% This loo'ed severe, and convinced them
that the governor ,as in earnest3 ho,ever, they had no ,ay left them b#t to acce(t it3 and it ,as
no, the b#siness of the (risoners, as m#ch as of the ca(tain, to (ers#ade the other five to do their
d#ty%
J#r strength ,as no, th#s ordered for the ex(edition: first, the ca(tain, his mate, and
(assenger3 second, the t,o (risoners of the first gang, to ,hom, having their character from the
ca(tain, $ had given their liberty, and tr#sted them ,ith arms3 third, the other t,o that $ had 'e(t
till no, in my bo,er, (inioned, b#t on the ca(tain=s motion had no, released3 fo#rth, these five
released at last3 so that there ,ere t,elve in all, besides five ,e 'e(t (risoners in the cave for
hostages%
$ as'ed the ca(tain if he ,as ,illing to vent#re ,ith these hands on board the shi(3 b#t as for
me and my man <riday, $ did not thin' it ,as (ro(er for #s to stir, having seven men left behind3
and it ,as em(loyment eno#gh for #s to 'ee( them as#nder, and s#((ly them ,ith vict#als% 2s to
the five in the cave, $ resolved to 'ee( them fast, b#t <riday ,ent in t,ice a day to them, to
s#((ly them ,ith necessaries3 and $ made the other t,o carry (rovisions to a certain distance,
,here <riday ,as to ta'e them%
4hen $ sho,ed myself to the t,o hostages, it ,as ,ith the ca(tain, ,ho told them $ ,as the
(erson the governor had ordered to loo' after them3 and that it ,as the governor=s (leas#re they
sho#ld not stir any,here b#t by my direction3 that if they did, they ,o#ld be fetched into the
castle, and be laid in irons: so that as ,e never s#ffered them to see me as governor, $ no,
a((eared as another (erson, and s(o'e of the governor, the garrison, the castle, and the li'e, #(on
all occasions%
The ca(tain no, had no diffic#lty before him, b#t to f#rnish his t,o boats, sto( the breach of
one, and man them% 0e made his (assenger ca(tain of one, ,ith fo#r of the men3 and himself, his
mate, and five more, ,ent in the other3 and they contrived their b#siness very ,ell, for they came
#( to the shi( abo#t midnight% 2s soon as they came ,ithin call of the shi(, he made 9obinson
hail them, and tell them they had bro#ght off the men and the boat, b#t that it ,as a long time
before they had fo#nd them, and the li'e, holding them in a chat till they came to the shi(=s side3
,hen the ca(tain and the mate entering first ,ith their arms, immediately 'noc'ed do,n the
second mate and car(enter ,ith the b#tt-end of their m#s'ets, being very faithf#lly seconded by
their men3 they sec#red all the rest that ,ere #(on the main and >#arter dec's, and began to
fasten the hatches, to 'ee( them do,n that ,ere belo,3 ,hen the other boat and their men,
entering at the forechains, sec#red the forecastle of the shi(, and the sc#ttle ,hich ,ent do,n
into the coo'-room, ma'ing three men they fo#nd there (risoners% 4hen this ,as done, and all
safe #(on dec', the ca(tain ordered the mate, ,ith three men, to brea' into the ro#nd-ho#se,
,here the ne, rebel ca(tain lay, ,ho, having ta'en the alarm, had got #(, and ,ith t,o men and
a boy had got firearms in their hands3 and ,hen the mate, ,ith a cro,, s(lit o(en the door, the
ne, ca(tain and his men fired boldly among them, and ,o#nded the mate ,ith a m#s'et ball,
,hich bro'e his arm, and ,o#nded t,o more of the men, b#t 'illed nobody% The mate, calling for
hel(, r#shed, ho,ever, into the ro#nd-ho#se, ,o#nded as he ,as, and, ,ith his (istol, shot the
565
ne, ca(tain thro#gh the head, the b#llet entering at his mo#th, and came o#t again behind one of
his ears, so that he never s(o'e a ,ord more: #(on ,hich the rest yielded, and the shi( ,as ta'en
effect#ally, ,itho#t any more lives lost%
2s soon as the shi( ,as th#s sec#red, the ca(tain ordered seven g#ns to be fired, ,hich ,as the
signal agreed #(on ,ith me to give me notice of his s#ccess, ,hich, yo# may be s#re, $ ,as very
glad to hear, having sat ,atching #(on the shore for it till near t,o o=cloc' in the morning%
0aving th#s heard the signal (lainly, $ laid me do,n3 and it having been a day of great fatig#e to
me, $ sle(t very so#nd, till $ ,as s#r(rised ,ith the noise of a g#n3 and (resently starting #(, $
heard a man call me by the name of A"overnor@ "overnor@A and (resently $ 'ne, the ca(tain=s
voice3 ,hen, climbing #( to the to( of the hill, there he stood, and, (ointing to the shi(, he
embraced me in his arms, A1y dear friend and deliverer,A says he, Athere=s yo#r shi(3 for she is all
yo#rs, and so are ,e, and all that belong to her%A $ cast my eyes to the shi(, and there she rode,
,ithin little more than half a mile of the shore3 for they had ,eighed her anchor as soon as they
,ere masters of her, and, the ,eather being fair, had bro#ght her to an anchor !#st against the
mo#th of the little cree'3 and the tide being #(, the ca(tain had bro#ght the (innace in near the
(lace ,here $ had first landed my rafts, and so landed !#st at my door% $ ,as at first ready to sin'
do,n ,ith the s#r(rise3 for $ sa, my deliverance, indeed, visibly (#t into my hands, all things
easy, and a large shi( !#st ready to carry me a,ay ,hither $ (leased to go% 2t first, for some time,
$ ,as not able to ans,er him one ,ord3 b#t as he had ta'en me in his arms $ held fast by him, or $
sho#ld have fallen to the gro#nd% 0e (erceived the s#r(rise, and immediately (#lled a bottle o#t
of his (oc'et and gave me a dram of cordial, ,hich he had bro#ght on (#r(ose for me% 2fter $ had
dr#n' it, $ sat do,n #(on the gro#nd3 and tho#gh it bro#ght me to myself, yet it ,as a good ,hile
before $ co#ld s(ea' a ,ord to him% 2ll this time the (oor man ,as in as great an ecstasy as $,
only not #nder any s#r(rise as $ ,as3 and he said a tho#sand 'ind and tender things to me, to
com(ose and bring me to myself3 b#t s#ch ,as the flood of !oy in my breast, that it (#t all my
s(irits into conf#sion: at last it bro'e o#t into tears, and in a little ,hile after $ recovered my
s(eech3 $ then too' my t#rn, and embraced him as my deliverer, and ,e re!oiced together% $ told
him $ loo'ed #(on him as a man sent by 0eaven to deliver me, and that the ,hole transaction
seemed to be a chain of ,onders3 that s#ch things as these ,ere the testimonies ,e had of a secret
hand of rovidence governing the ,orld, and an evidence that the eye of an infinite o,er co#ld
search into the remotest corner of the ,orld, and send hel( to the miserable ,henever 0e (leased%
$ forgot not to lift #( my heart in than'f#lness to 0eaven3 and ,hat heart co#ld forbear to bless
0im, ,ho had not only in a mirac#lo#s manner (rovided for me in s#ch a ,ilderness, and in s#ch
a desolate condition, b#t from ,hom every deliverance m#st al,ays be ac'no,ledged to (roceed%
4hen ,e had tal'ed a ,hile, the ca(tain told me he had bro#ght me some little refreshment,
s#ch as the shi( afforded, and s#ch as the ,retches that had been so long his masters had not
(l#ndered him of% U(on this, he called alo#d to the boat, and bade his men bring the things ashore
that ,ere for the governor3 and, indeed, it ,as a (resent as if $ had been one that ,as not to be
carried a,ay ,ith them, b#t as if $ had been to d,ell #(on the island still% <irst, he had bro#ght
me a case of bottles f#ll of excellent cordial ,aters, six large bottles of 1adeira ,ine Cthe bottles
held t,o >#arts eachD, t,o (o#nds of excellent good tobacco, t,elve good (ieces of the shi(=s
beef, and six (ieces of (or', ,ith a bag of (eas, and abo#t a h#ndred-,eight of bisc#it3 he also
bro#ght me a box of s#gar, a box of flo#r, a bag f#ll of lemons, and t,o bottles of lime-!#ice, and
ab#ndance of other things% 8#t besides these, and ,hat ,as a tho#sand times more #sef#l to me,
he bro#ght me six ne, clean shirts, six very good nec'cloths, t,o (air of gloves, one (air of
shoes, a hat, and one (air of stoc'ings, ,ith a very good s#it of clothes of his o,n, ,hich had
been ,orn b#t very little: in a ,ord, he clothed me from head to foot% $t ,as a very 'ind and
56&
agreeable (resent, as any one may imagine, to one in my circ#mstances, b#t never ,as anything
in the ,orld of that 'ind so #n(leasant, a,',ard, and #neasy as it ,as to me to ,ear s#ch clothes
at first%
2fter these ceremonies ,ere (ast, and after all his good things ,ere bro#ght into my little
a(artment, ,e began to cons#lt ,hat ,as to be done ,ith the (risoners ,e had3 for it ,as ,orth
considering ,hether ,e might vent#re to ta'e them ,ith #s or no, es(ecially t,o of them, ,hom
he 'ne, to be incorrigible and refractory to the last degree3 and the ca(tain said he 'ne, they
,ere s#ch rog#es that there ,as no obliging them, and if he did carry them a,ay, it m#st be in
irons, as malefactors, to be delivered over to !#stice at the first English colony he co#ld come to3
and $ fo#nd that the ca(tain himself ,as very anxio#s abo#t it% U(on this, $ told him that, if he
desired it, $ ,o#ld #nderta'e to bring the t,o men he s(o'e of to ma'e it their o,n re>#est that
he sho#ld leave them #(on the island% A$ sho#ld be very glad of that,A says the ca(tain, A,ith all
my heart%A A4ell,A says $, A$ ,ill send for them #( and tal' ,ith them for yo#%A /o $ ca#sed
<riday and the t,o hostages, for they ,ere no, discharged, their comrades having (erformed
their (romise3 $ say, $ ca#sed them to go to the cave, and bring #( the five men, (inioned as they
,ere, to the bo,er, and 'ee( them there till $ came% 2fter some time, $ came thither dressed in my
ne, habit3 and no, $ ,as called governor again% 8eing all met, and the ca(tain ,ith me, $ ca#sed
the men to be bro#ght before me, and $ told them $ had got a f#ll acco#nt of their villaino#s
behavio#r to the ca(tain, and ho, they had r#n a,ay ,ith the shi(, and ,ere (re(aring to commit
f#rther robberies, b#t that rovidence had ensnared them in their o,n ,ays, and that they ,ere
fallen into the (it ,hich they had d#g for others% $ let them 'no, that by my direction the shi(
had been sei;ed3 that she lay no, in the road3 and they might see by-and-by that their ne,
ca(tain had received the re,ard of his villainy, and that they ,o#ld see him hanging at the yard-
arm3 that, as to them, $ ,anted to 'no, ,hat they had to say ,hy $ sho#ld not exec#te them as
(irates ta'en in the fact, as by my commission they co#ld not do#bt b#t $ had a#thority so to do%
Jne of them ans,ered in the name of the rest, that they had nothing to say b#t this, that ,hen
they ,ere ta'en the ca(tain (romised them their lives, and they h#mbly im(lored my mercy% 8#t
$ told them $ 'ne, not ,hat mercy to sho, them3 for as for myself, $ had resolved to >#it the
island ,ith all my men, and had ta'en (assage ,ith the ca(tain to go to England3 and as for the
ca(tain, he co#ld not carry them to England other than as (risoners in irons, to be tried for m#tiny
and r#nning a,ay ,ith the shi(3 the conse>#ence of ,hich, they m#st needs 'no,, ,o#ld be the
gallo,s3 so that $ co#ld not tell ,hat ,as best for them, #nless they had a mind to ta'e their fate
in the island% $f they desired that, as $ had liberty to leave the island, $ had some inclination to
give them their lives, if they tho#ght they co#ld shift on shore% They seemed very than'f#l for it,
and said they ,o#ld m#ch rather vent#re to stay there than be carried to England to be hanged% /o
$ left it on that iss#e%
0o,ever, the ca(tain seemed to ma'e some diffic#lty of it, as if he d#rst not leave them there%
U(on this $ seemed a little angry ,ith the ca(tain, and told him that they ,ere my (risoners, not
his3 and that seeing $ had offered them so m#ch favo#r, $ ,o#ld be as good as my ,ord3 and that
if he did not thin' fit to consent to it $ ,o#ld set them at liberty, as $ fo#nd them: and if he did not
li'e it he might ta'e them again if he co#ld catch them% U(on this they a((eared very than'f#l,
and $ accordingly set them at liberty, and bade them retire into the ,oods, to the (lace ,hence
they came, and $ ,o#ld leave them some firearms, some amm#nition, and some directions ho,
they sho#ld live very ,ell if they tho#ght fit% U(on this $ (re(ared to go on board the shi(3 b#t
told the ca(tain $ ,o#ld stay that night to (re(are my things, and desired him to go on board in
the meantime, and 'ee( all right in the shi(, and send the boat on shore next day for me3 ordering
566
him, at all events, to ca#se the ne, ca(tain, ,ho ,as 'illed, to be hanged at the yard-arm, that
these men might see him%
4hen the ca(tain ,as gone $ sent for the men #( to me to my a(artment, and entered serio#sly
into disco#rse ,ith them on their circ#mstances% $ told them $ tho#ght they had made a right
choice3 that if the ca(tain had carried them a,ay they ,o#ld certainly be hanged% $ sho,ed them
the ne, ca(tain hanging at the yard-arm of the shi(, and told them they had nothing less to
ex(ect%
4hen they had all declared their ,illingness to stay, $ then told them $ ,o#ld let them into the
story of my living there, and (#t them into the ,ay of ma'ing it easy to them% 2ccordingly, $ gave
them the ,hole history of the (lace, and of my coming to it3 sho,ed them my fortifications, the
,ay $ made my bread, (lanted my corn, c#red my gra(es3 and, in a ,ord, all that ,as necessary
to ma'e them easy% $ told them the story also of the seventeen /(aniards that ,ere to be ex(ected,
for ,hom $ left a letter, and made them (romise to treat them in common ,ith themselves% 0ere it
may be noted that the ca(tain, ,ho had in' on board, ,as greatly s#r(rised that $ never hit #(on a
,ay of ma'ing in' of charcoal and ,ater, or of something else, as $ had done things m#ch more
diffic#lt%
$ left them my firearms-vi;% five m#s'ets, three fo,ling-(ieces, and three s,ords% $ had above
a barrel and a half of (o,der left3 for after the first year or t,o $ #sed b#t little, and ,asted none%
$ gave them a descri(tion of the ,ay $ managed the goats, and directions to mil' and fatten them,
and to ma'e both b#tter and cheese% $n a ,ord, $ gave them every (art of my o,n story3 and told
them $ sho#ld (revail ,ith the ca(tain to leave them t,o barrels of g#n(o,der more, and some
garden-seeds, ,hich $ told them $ ,o#ld have been very glad of% 2lso, $ gave them the bag of
(eas ,hich the ca(tain had bro#ght me to eat, and bade them be s#re to so, and increase them%
Cha(ter 5H
C02TE9 I$I-9ETU9. TJ E."L2.D
02V$." done all this $ left them the next day, and ,ent on board the shi(% 4e (re(ared
immediately to sail, b#t did not ,eigh that night% The next morning early, t,o of the five men
came s,imming to the shi(=s side, and ma'ing the most lamentable com(laint of the other three,
begged to be ta'en into the shi( for "od=s sa'e, for they sho#ld be m#rdered, and begged the
ca(tain to ta'e them on board, tho#gh he hanged them immediately% U(on this the ca(tain
(retended to have no (o,er ,itho#t me3 b#t after some diffic#lty, and after their solemn (romises
of amendment, they ,ere ta'en on board, and ,ere, some time after, so#ndly ,hi((ed and
(ic'led3 after ,hich they (roved very honest and >#iet fello,s%
/ome time after this, the boat ,as ordered on shore, the tide being #(, ,ith the things (romised
to the men3 to ,hich the ca(tain, at my intercession, ca#sed their chests and clothes to be added,
,hich they too', and ,ere very than'f#l for% $ also enco#raged them, by telling them that if it lay
in my (o,er to send any vessel to ta'e them in, $ ,o#ld not forget them%
4hen $ too' leave of this island, $ carried on board, for relics, the great goat-s'in ca( $ had
made, my #mbrella, and one of my (arrots3 also, $ forgot not to ta'e the money $ formerly
mentioned, ,hich had lain by me so long #seless that it ,as gro,n r#sty or tarnished, and co#ld
hardly (ass for silver till it had been a little r#bbed and handled, as also the money $ fo#nd in the
,rec' of the /(anish shi(% 2nd th#s $ left the island, the 5Hth of December, as $ fo#nd by the
shi(=s acco#nt, in the year 5)G), after $ had been #(on it eight-and-t,enty years, t,o months, and
nineteen days3 being delivered from this second ca(tivity the same day of the month that $ first
made my esca(e in the long-boat from among the 1oors of /allee% $n this vessel, after a long
voyage, $ arrived in England the 55th of E#ne, in the year 5)GF, having been thirty-five years
absent%
56B
4hen $ came to England $ ,as as (erfect a stranger to all the ,orld as if $ had never been
'no,n there% 1y benefactor and faithf#l ste,ard, ,hom $ had left my money in tr#st ,ith, ,as
alive, b#t had had great misfort#nes in the ,orld3 ,as become a ,ido, the second time, and very
lo, in the ,orld% $ made her very easy as to ,hat she o,ed me, ass#ring her $ ,o#ld give her no
tro#ble3 b#t, on the contrary, in gratit#de for her former care and faithf#lness to me, $ relieved her
as my little stoc' ,o#ld afford3 ,hich at that time ,o#ld, indeed, allo, me to do b#t little for her3
b#t $ ass#red her $ ,o#ld never forget her former 'indness to me3 nor did $ forget her ,hen $ had
s#fficient to hel( her, as shall be observed in its (ro(er (lace% $ ,ent do,n after,ards into
7or'shire3 b#t my father ,as dead, and my mother and all the family extinct, exce(t that $ fo#nd
t,o sisters, and t,o of the children of one of my brothers3 and as $ had been long ago given over
for dead, there had been no (rovision made for me3 so that, in a ,ord, $ fo#nd nothing to relieve
or assist me3 and that the little money $ had ,o#ld not do m#ch for me as to settling in the ,orld%
$ met ,ith one (iece of gratit#de indeed, ,hich $ did not ex(ect3 and this ,as, that the master
of the shi(, ,hom $ had so ha((ily delivered, and by the same means saved the shi( and cargo,
having given a very handsome acco#nt to the o,ners of the manner ho, $ had saved the lives of
the men and the shi(, they invited me to meet them and some other merchants concerned, and all
together made me a very handsome com(liment #(on the s#b!ect, and a (resent of almost &--
(o#nds sterling%
8#t after ma'ing several reflections #(on the circ#mstances of my life, and ho, little ,ay this
,o#ld go to,ards settling me in the ,orld, $ resolved to go to Lisbon, and see if $ might not come
at some information of the state of my (lantation in the 8ra;ils, and of ,hat ,as become of my
(artner, ,ho, $ had reason to s#((ose, had some years (ast given me over for dead% 4ith this
vie, $ too' shi((ing for Lisbon, ,here $ arrived in 2(ril follo,ing, my man <riday
accom(anying me very honestly in all these ramblings, and (roving a most faithf#l servant #(on
all occasions% 4hen $ came to Lisbon, $ fo#nd o#t, by in>#iry, and to my (artic#lar satisfaction,
my old friend, the ca(tain of the shi( ,ho first too' me #( at sea off the shore of 2frica% 0e ,as
no, gro,n old, and had left off going to sea, having (#t his son, ,ho ,as far from a yo#ng man,
into his shi(, and ,ho still #sed the 8ra;il trade% The old man did not 'no, me, and indeed $
hardly 'ne, him% 8#t $ soon bro#ght him to my remembrance, and as soon bro#ght myself to his
remembrance, ,hen $ told him ,ho $ ,as%
2fter some (assionate ex(ressions of the old ac>#aintance bet,een #s, $ in>#ired, yo# may he
s#re, after my (lantation and my (artner% The old man told me he had not been in the 8ra;ils for
abo#t nine years3 b#t that he co#ld ass#re me that ,hen he came a,ay my (artner ,as living, b#t
the tr#stees ,hom $ had !oined ,ith him to ta'e cognisance of my (art ,ere both dead: that,
ho,ever, he believed $ ,o#ld have a very good acco#nt of the im(rovement of the (lantation3 for
that, #(on the general belief of my being cast a,ay and dro,ned, my tr#stees had given in the
acco#nt of the (rod#ce of my (art of the (lantation to the (roc#rator-fiscal, ,ho had a((ro(riated
it, in case $ never came to claim it, one-third to the 'ing, and t,o-thirds to the monastery of /t%
2#g#stine, to be ex(ended for the benefit of the (oor, and for the conversion of the $ndians to the
Catholic faith: b#t that, if $ a((eared, or any one for me, to claim the inheritance, it ,o#ld be
restored3 only that the im(rovement, or ann#al (rod#ction, being distrib#ted to charitable #ses,
co#ld not be restored: b#t he ass#red me that the ste,ard of the 'ing=s reven#e from lands, and
the (rovidore, or ste,ard of the monastery, had ta'en great care all along that the inc#mbent, that
is to say my (artner, gave every year a faithf#l acco#nt of the (rod#ce, of ,hich they had d#ly
received my moiety% $ as'ed him if he 'ne, to ,hat height of im(rovement he had bro#ght the
(lantation, and ,hether he tho#ght it might be ,orth loo'ing after3 or ,hether, on my going
thither, $ sho#ld meet ,ith any obstr#ction to my (ossessing my !#st right in the moiety% 0e told
56*
me he co#ld not tell exactly to ,hat degree the (lantation ,as im(roved3 b#t this he 'ne,, that
my (artner ,as gro,n exceeding rich #(on the en!oying his (art of it3 and that, to the best of his
remembrance, he had heard that the 'ing=s third of my (art, ,hich ,as, it seems, granted a,ay to
some other monastery or religio#s ho#se, amo#nted to above t,o h#ndred moidores a year: that
as to my being restored to a >#iet (ossession of it, there ,as no >#estion to be made of that, my
(artner being alive to ,itness my title, and my name being also enrolled in the register of the
co#ntry3 also he told me that the s#rvivors of my t,o tr#stees ,ere very fair, honest (eo(le, and
very ,ealthy3 and he believed $ ,o#ld not only have their assistance for (#tting me in (ossession,
b#t ,o#ld find a very considerable s#m of money in their hands for my acco#nt, being the
(rod#ce of the farm ,hile their fathers held the tr#st, and before it ,as given #(, as above3 ,hich,
as he remembered, ,as for abo#t t,elve years%
$ sho,ed myself a little concerned and #neasy at this acco#nt, and in>#ired of the old ca(tain
ho, it came to (ass that the tr#stees sho#ld th#s dis(ose of my effects, ,hen he 'ne, that $ had
made my ,ill, and had made him, the ort#g#ese ca(tain, my #niversal heir, Kc%
0e told me that ,as tr#e3 b#t that as there ,as no (roof of my being dead, he co#ld not act as
exec#tor #ntil some certain acco#nt sho#ld come of my death3 and, besides, he ,as not ,illing to
intermeddle ,ith a thing so remote: that it ,as tr#e he had registered my ,ill, and (#t in his
claim3 and co#ld he have given any acco#nt of my being dead or alive, he ,o#ld have acted by
(roc#ration, and ta'en (ossession of the ingenio Cso they call the s#gar-ho#seD, and have given
his son, ,ho ,as no, at the 8ra;ils, orders to do it% A8#t,A says the old man, A$ have one (iece of
ne,s to tell yo#, ,hich (erha(s may not be so acce(table to yo# as the rest3 and that is, believing
yo# ,ere lost, and all the ,orld believing so also, yo#r (artner and tr#stees did offer to acco#nt
,ith me, in yo#r name, for the first six or eight years= (rofits, ,hich $ received% There being at
that time great disb#rsements for increasing the ,or's, b#ilding an ingenio, and b#ying slaves, it
did not amo#nt to near so m#ch as after,ards it (rod#ced3 ho,ever,A says the old man, A$ shall
give yo# a tr#e acco#nt of ,hat $ have received in all, and ho, $ have dis(osed of it%A
2fter a fe, days= f#rther conference ,ith this ancient friend, he bro#ght me an acco#nt of the
first six years= income of my (lantation, signed by my (artner and the merchant-tr#stees, being
al,ays delivered in goods, vi;% tobacco in roll, and s#gar in chests, besides r#m, molasses, Kc%,
,hich is the conse>#ence of a s#gar-,or'3 and $ fo#nd by this acco#nt, that every year the
income considerably increased3 b#t, as above, the disb#rsements being large, the s#m at first ,as
small: ho,ever, the old man let me see that he ,as debtor to me fo#r h#ndred and seventy
moidores of gold, besides sixty chests of s#gar and fifteen do#ble rolls of tobacco, ,hich ,ere
lost in his shi(3 he having been shi(,rec'ed coming home to Lisbon, abo#t eleven years after my
having the (lace% The good man then began to com(lain of his misfort#nes, and ho, he had been
obliged to ma'e #se of my money to recover his losses, and b#y him a share in a ne, shi(%
A0o,ever, my old friend,A says he, Ayo# shall not ,ant a s#((ly in yo#r necessity3 and as soon as
my son ret#rns yo# shall be f#lly satisfied%A U(on this he (#lls o#t an old (o#ch, and gives me
one h#ndred and sixty ort#gal moidores in gold3 and giving the ,ritings of his title to the shi(,
,hich his son ,as gone to the 8ra;ils in, of ,hich he ,as >#arter-(art o,ner, and his son
another, he (#ts them both into my hands for sec#rity of the rest%
$ ,as too m#ch moved ,ith the honesty and 'indness of the (oor man to be able to bear this3
and remembering ,hat he had done for me, ho, he had ta'en me #( at sea, and ho, genero#sly
he had #sed me on all occasions, and (artic#larly ho, sincere a friend he ,as no, to me, $ co#ld
hardly refrain ,ee(ing at ,hat he had said to me3 therefore $ as'ed him if his circ#mstances
admitted him to s(are so m#ch money at that time, and if it ,o#ld not straiten him? 0e told me
56)
he co#ld not say b#t it might straiten him a little3 b#t, ho,ever, it ,as my money, and $ might
,ant it more than he%
Everything the good man said ,as f#ll of affection, and $ co#ld hardly refrain from tears ,hile
he s(o'e3 in short, $ too' one h#ndred of the moidores, and called for a (en and in' to give him a
recei(t for them: then $ ret#rned him the rest, and told him if ever $ had (ossession of the
(lantation $ ,o#ld ret#rn the other to him also Cas, indeed, $ after,ards didD3 and that as to the bill
of sale of his (art in his son=s shi(, $ ,o#ld not ta'e it by any means3 b#t that if $ ,anted the
money, $ fo#nd he ,as honest eno#gh to (ay me3 and if $ did not, b#t came to receive ,hat he
gave me reason to ex(ect, $ ,o#ld never have a (enny more from him%
4hen this ,as (ast, the old man as'ed me if he sho#ld (#t me into a method to ma'e my claim
to my (lantation% $ told him $ tho#ght to go over to it myself% 0e said $ might do so if $ (leased,
b#t that if $ did not, there ,ere ,ays eno#gh to sec#re my right, and immediately to a((ro(riate
the (rofits to my #se: and as there ,ere shi(s in the river of Lisbon !#st ready to go a,ay to
8ra;il, he made me enter my name in a (#blic register, ,ith his affidavit, affirming, #(on oath,
that $ ,as alive, and that $ ,as the same (erson ,ho too' #( the land for the (lanting the said
(lantation at first% This being reg#larly attested by a notary, and a (roc#ration affixed, he directed
me to send it, ,ith a letter of his ,riting, to a merchant of his ac>#aintance at the (lace3 and then
(ro(osed my staying ,ith him till an acco#nt came of the ret#rn%
.ever ,as anything more hono#rable than the (roceedings #(on this (roc#ration3 for in less
than seven months $ received a large (ac'et from the s#rvivors of my tr#stees, the merchants, for
,hose acco#nt $ ,ent to sea, in ,hich ,ere the follo,ing, (artic#lar letters and (a(ers enclosed:-
<irst, there ,as the acco#nt-c#rrent of the (rod#ce of my farm or (lantation, from the year
,hen their fathers had balanced ,ith my old ort#gal ca(tain, being for six years3 the balance
a((eared to be one tho#sand one h#ndred and seventy-fo#r moidores in my favo#r%
/econdly, there ,as the acco#nt of fo#r years more, ,hile they 'e(t the effects in their hands,
before the government claimed the administration, as being the effects of a (erson not to be
fo#nd, ,hich they called civil death3 and the balance of this, the val#e of the (lantation
increasing, amo#nted to nineteen tho#sand fo#r h#ndred and forty-six cr#sadoes, being abo#t
three tho#sand t,o h#ndred and forty moidores%
Thirdly, there ,as the rior of /t% 2#g#stine=s acco#nt, ,ho had received the (rofits for above
fo#rteen years3 b#t not being able to acco#nt for ,hat ,as dis(osed of by the hos(ital, very
honestly declared he had eight h#ndred and seventy-t,o moidores not distrib#ted, ,hich he
ac'no,ledged to my acco#nt: as to the 'ing=s (art, that ref#nded nothing%
There ,as a letter of my (artner=s, congrat#lating me very affectionately #(on my being alive,
giving me an acco#nt ho, the estate ,as im(roved, and ,hat it (rod#ced a year3 ,ith the
(artic#lars of the n#mber of s>#ares, or acres that it contained, ho, (lanted, ho, many slaves
there ,ere #(on it: and ma'ing t,o-and-t,enty crosses for blessings, told me he had said so
many 2ve 1arias to than' the 8lessed Virgin that $ ,as alive3 inviting me very (assionately to
come over and ta'e (ossession of my o,n, and in the meantime to give him orders to ,hom he
sho#ld deliver my effects if $ did not come myself3 concl#ding ,ith a hearty tender of his
friendshi(, and that of his family3 and sent me as a (resent seven fine leo(ards= s'ins, ,hich he
had, it seems, received from 2frica, by some other shi( that he had sent thither, and ,hich, it
seems, had made a better voyage than $% 0e sent me also five chests of excellent s,eetmeats, and
a h#ndred (ieces of gold #ncoined, not >#ite so large as moidores% 8y the same fleet my t,o
merchant-tr#stees shi((ed me one tho#sand t,o h#ndred chests of s#gar, eight h#ndred rolls of
tobacco, and the rest of the ,hole acco#nt in gold%
56F
$ might ,ell say no,, indeed, that the latter end of Eob ,as better than the beginning% $t is
im(ossible to ex(ress the fl#tterings of my very heart ,hen $ fo#nd all my ,ealth abo#t me3 for
as the 8ra;il shi(s come all in fleets, the same shi(s ,hich bro#ght my letters bro#ght my goods:
and the effects ,ere safe in the river before the letters came to my hand% $n a ,ord, $ t#rned (ale,
and gre, sic'3 and, had not the old man r#n and fetched me a cordial, $ believe the s#dden
s#r(rise of !oy had overset nat#re, and $ had died #(on the s(ot: nay, after that $ contin#ed very
ill, and ,as so some ho#rs, till a (hysician being sent for, and something of the real ca#se of my
illness being 'no,n, he ordered me to be let blood3 after ,hich $ had relief, and gre, ,ell: b#t $
verify believe, if $ had not been eased by a vent given in that manner to the s(irits, $ sho#ld have
died%
$ ,as no, master, all on a s#dden, of above five tho#sand (o#nds sterling in money, and had
an estate, as $ might ,ell call it, in the 8ra;ils, of above a tho#sand (o#nds a year, as s#re as an
estate of lands in England: and, in a ,ord, $ ,as in a condition ,hich $ scarce 'ne, ho, to
#nderstand, or ho, to com(ose myself for the en!oyment of it% The first thing $ did ,as to
recom(ense my original benefactor, my good old ca(tain, ,ho had been first charitable to me in
my distress, 'ind to me in my beginning, and honest to me at the end% $ sho,ed him all that ,as
sent to me3 $ told him that, next to the (rovidence of 0eaven, ,hich dis(osed all things, it ,as
o,ing to him3 and that it no, lay on me to re,ard him, ,hich $ ,o#ld do a h#ndred-fold: so $
first ret#rned to him the h#ndred moidores $ had received of him3 then $ sent for a notary, and
ca#sed him to dra, #( a general release or discharge from the fo#r h#ndred and seventy
moidores, ,hich he had ac'no,ledged he o,ed me, in the f#llest and firmest manner (ossible%
2fter ,hich $ ca#sed a (roc#ration to be dra,n, em(o,ering him to be the receiver of the ann#al
(rofits of my (lantation: and a((ointing my (artner to acco#nt ,ith him, and ma'e the ret#rns, by
the #s#al fleets, to him in my name3 and by a cla#se in the end, made a grant of one h#ndred
moidores a year to him d#ring his life, o#t of the effects, and fifty moidores a year to his son after
him, for his life: and th#s $ re>#ited my old man%
$ had no, to consider ,hich ,ay to steer my co#rse next, and ,hat to do ,ith the estate that
rovidence had th#s (#t into my hands3 and, indeed, $ had more care #(on my head no, than $
had in my state of life in the island ,here $ ,anted nothing b#t ,hat $ had, and had nothing b#t
,hat $ ,anted3 ,hereas $ had no, a great charge #(on me, and my b#siness ,as ho, to sec#re it%
$ had not a cave no, to hide my money in, or a (lace ,here it might lie ,itho#t loc' or 'ey, till it
gre, mo#ldy and tarnished before anybody ,o#ld meddle ,ith it3 on the contrary, $ 'ne, not
,here to (#t it, or ,hom to tr#st ,ith it% 1y old (atron, the ca(tain, indeed, ,as honest, and that
,as the only ref#ge $ had% $n the next (lace, my interest in the 8ra;ils seemed to s#mmon me
thither3 b#t no, $ co#ld not tell ho, to thin' of going thither till $ had settled my affairs, and left
my effects in some safe hands behind me% 2t first $ tho#ght of my old friend the ,ido,, ,ho $
'ne, ,as honest, and ,o#ld be !#st to me3 b#t then she ,as in years, and b#t (oor, and, for a#ght
$ 'ne,, might be in debt: so that, in a ,ord, $ had no ,ay b#t to go bac' to England myself and
ta'e my effects ,ith me%
$t ,as some months, ho,ever, before $ resolved #(on this3 and, therefore, as $ had re,arded
the old ca(tain f#lly, and to his satisfaction, ,ho had been my former benefactor, so $ began to
thin' of the (oor ,ido,, ,hose h#sband had been my first benefactor, and she, ,hile it ,as in
her (o,er, my faithf#l ste,ard and instr#ctor% /o, the first thing $ did, $ got a merchant in Lisbon
to ,rite to his corres(ondent in London, not only to (ay a bill, b#t to go find her o#t, and carry
her, in money, a h#ndred (o#nds from me, and to tal' ,ith her, and comfort her in her (overty, by
telling her she sho#ld, if $ lived, have a f#rther s#((ly: at the same time $ sent my t,o sisters in
the co#ntry a h#ndred (o#nds each, they being, tho#gh not in ,ant, yet not in very good
56G
circ#mstances3 one having been married and left a ,ido,3 and the other having a h#sband not so
'ind to her as he sho#ld be% 8#t among all my relations or ac>#aintances $ co#ld not yet (itch
#(on one to ,hom $ d#rst commit the gross of my stoc', that $ might go a,ay to the 8ra;ils, and
leave things safe behind me3 and this greatly (er(lexed me%
$ had once a mind to have gone to the 8ra;ils and have settled myself there, for $ ,as, as it
,ere, nat#ralised to the (lace3 b#t $ had some little scr#(le in my mind abo#t religion, ,hich
insensibly dre, me bac'% 0o,ever, it ,as not religion that 'e(t me from going there for the
(resent3 and as $ had made no scr#(le of being o(enly of the religion of the co#ntry all the ,hile $
,as among them, so neither did $ yet3 only that, no, and then, having of late tho#ght more of it
than formerly, ,hen $ began to thin' of living and dying among them, $ began to regret having
(rofessed myself a a(ist, and tho#ght it might not be the best religion to die ,ith%
8#t, as $ have said, this ,as not the main thing that 'e(t me from going to the 8ra;ils, b#t that
really $ did not 'no, ,ith ,hom to leave my effects behind me3 so $ resolved at last to go to
England, ,here, if $ arrived, $ concl#ded that $ sho#ld ma'e some ac>#aintance, or find some
relations, that ,o#ld be faithf#l to me3 and, accordingly, $ (re(ared to go to England ,ith all my
,ealth%
$n order to (re(are things for my going home, $ first Cthe 8ra;il fleet being !#st going a,ayD
resolved to give ans,ers s#itable to the !#st and faithf#l acco#nt of things $ had from thence3 and,
first, to the rior of /t% 2#g#stine $ ,rote a letter f#ll of than's for his !#st dealings, and the offer
of the eight h#ndred and seventy-t,o moidores ,hich ,ere #ndis(osed of, ,hich $ desired might
be given, five h#ndred to the monastery, and three h#ndred and seventy-t,o to the (oor, as the
(rior sho#ld direct3 desiring the good (adre=s (rayers for me, and the li'e% $ ,rote next a letter of
than's to my t,o tr#stees, ,ith all the ac'no,ledgment that so m#ch !#stice and honesty called
for: as for sending them any (resent, they ,ere far above having any occasion of it% Lastly, $
,rote to my (artner, ac'no,ledging his ind#stry in the im(roving the (lantation, and his integrity
in increasing the stoc' of the ,or's3 giving him instr#ctions for his f#t#re government of my
(art, according to the (o,ers $ had left ,ith my old (atron, to ,hom $ desired him to send
,hatever became d#e to me, till he sho#ld hear from me more (artic#larly3 ass#ring him that it
,as my intention not only to come to him, b#t to settle myself there for the remainder of my life%
To this $ added a very handsome (resent of some $talian sil's for his ,ife and t,o da#ghters, for
s#ch the ca(tain=s son informed me he had3 ,ith t,o (ieces of fine English broadcloth, the best $
co#ld get in Lisbon, five (ieces of blac' bai;e, and some <landers lace of a good val#e%
0aving th#s settled my affairs, sold my cargo, and t#rned all my effects into good bills of
exchange, my next diffic#lty ,as ,hich ,ay to go to England: $ had been acc#stomed eno#gh to
the sea, and yet $ had a strange aversion to go to England by the sea at that time, and yet $ co#ld
give no reason for it, yet the diffic#lty increased #(on me so m#ch, that tho#gh $ had once
shi((ed my baggage in order to go, yet $ altered my mind, and that not once b#t t,o or three
times%
$t is tr#e $ had been very #nfort#nate by sea, and this might be one of the reasons3 b#t let no
man slight the strong im(#lses of his o,n tho#ghts in cases of s#ch moment: t,o of the shi(s
,hich $ had singled o#t to go in, $ mean more (artic#larly singled o#t than any other, having (#t
my things on board one of them, and in the other having agreed ,ith the ca(tain3 $ say t,o of
these shi(s miscarried% Jne ,as ta'en by the 2lgerines, and the other ,as lost on the /tart, near
Torbay, and all the (eo(le dro,ned exce(t three3 so that in either of those vessels $ had been
made miserable%
0aving been th#s harassed in my tho#ghts, my old (ilot, to ,hom $ comm#nicated everything,
(ressed me earnestly not to go by sea, b#t either to go by land to the "royne, and cross over the
56H
8ay of 8iscay to 9ochelle, from ,hence it ,as b#t an easy and safe !o#rney by land to aris, and
so to Calais and Dover3 or to go #( to 1adrid, and so all the ,ay by land thro#gh <rance% $n a
,ord, $ ,as so (re(ossessed against my going by sea at all, exce(t from Calais to Dover, that $
resolved to travel all the ,ay by land3 ,hich, as $ ,as not in haste, and did not val#e the charge,
,as by m#ch the (leasanter ,ay: and to ma'e it more so, my old ca(tain bro#ght an English
gentleman, the son of a merchant in Lisbon, ,ho ,as ,illing to travel ,ith me3 after ,hich ,e
(ic'ed #( t,o more English merchants also, and t,o yo#ng ort#g#ese gentlemen, the last going
to aris only3 so that in all there ,ere six of #s and five servants3 the t,o merchants and the t,o
ort#g#ese, contenting themselves ,ith one servant bet,een t,o, to save the charge3 and as for
me, $ got an English sailor to travel ,ith me as a servant, besides my man <riday, ,ho ,as too
m#ch a stranger to be ca(able of s#((lying the (lace of a servant on the road%
$n this manner $ set o#t from Lisbon3 and o#r com(any being very ,ell mo#nted and armed,
,e made a little troo(, ,hereof they did me the hono#r to call me ca(tain, as ,ell beca#se $ ,as
the oldest man, as beca#se $ had t,o servants, and, indeed, ,as the origin of the ,hole !o#rney%
2s $ have tro#bled yo# ,ith none of my sea !o#rnals, so $ shall tro#ble yo# no, ,ith none of
my land !o#rnals3 b#t some advent#res that ha((ened to #s in this tedio#s and diffic#lt !o#rney $
m#st not omit%
4hen ,e came to 1adrid, ,e, being all of #s strangers to /(ain, ,ere ,illing to stay some
time to see the co#rt of /(ain, and ,hat ,as ,orth observing3 b#t it being the latter (art of the
s#mmer, ,e hastened a,ay, and set o#t from 1adrid abo#t the middle of Jctober3 b#t ,hen ,e
came to the edge of .avarre, ,e ,ere alarmed, at several to,ns on the ,ay, ,ith an acco#nt that
so m#ch sno, ,as falling on the <rench side of the mo#ntains, that several travellers ,ere
obliged to come bac' to am(el#na, after having attem(ted at an extreme ha;ard to (ass on%
4hen ,e came to am(el#na itself, ,e fo#nd it so indeed3 and to me, that had been al,ays
#sed to a hot climate, and to co#ntries ,here $ co#ld scarce bear any clothes on, the cold ,as
ins#fferable3 nor, indeed, ,as it more (ainf#l than s#r(rising to come b#t ten days before o#t of
Jld Castile, ,here the ,eather ,as not only ,arm b#t very hot, and immediately to feel a ,ind
from the yrenean 1o#ntains so very 'een, so severely cold, as to be intolerable and to endanger
ben#mbing and (erishing of o#r fingers and toes%
oor <riday ,as really frightened ,hen he sa, the mo#ntains all covered ,ith sno,, and felt
cold ,eather, ,hich he had never seen or felt before in his life% To mend the matter, ,hen ,e
came to am(el#na it contin#ed sno,ing ,ith so m#ch violence and so long, that the (eo(le said
,inter ,as come before its time3 and the roads, ,hich ,ere diffic#lt before, ,ere no, >#ite
im(assable3 for, in a ,ord, the sno, lay in some (laces too thic' for #s to travel, and being not
hard fro;en, as is the case in the northern co#ntries, there ,as no going ,itho#t being in danger
of being b#ried alive every ste(% 4e stayed no less than t,enty days at am(el#na3 ,hen Cseeing
the ,inter coming on, and no li'elihood of its being better, for it ,as the severest ,inter all over
E#ro(e that had been 'no,n in the memory of manD $ (ro(osed that ,e sho#ld go a,ay to
<ontarabia, and there ta'e shi((ing for 8ordea#x, ,hich ,as a very little voyage% 8#t, ,hile $
,as considering this, there came in fo#r <rench gentlemen, ,ho, having been sto((ed on the
<rench side of the (asses, as ,e ,ere on the /(anish, had fo#nd o#t a g#ide, ,ho, traversing the
co#ntry near the head of Lang#edoc, had bro#ght them over the mo#ntains by s#ch ,ays that
they ,ere not m#ch incommoded ,ith the sno,3 for ,here they met ,ith sno, in any >#antity,
they said it ,as fro;en hard eno#gh to bear them and their horses% 4e sent for this g#ide, ,ho
told #s he ,o#ld #nderta'e to carry #s the same ,ay, ,ith no ha;ard from the sno,, (rovided ,e
,ere armed s#fficiently to (rotect o#rselves from ,ild beasts3 for, he said, in these great sno,s it
,as fre>#ent for some ,olves to sho, themselves at the foot of the mo#ntains, being made
5B-
raveno#s for ,ant of food, the gro#nd being covered ,ith sno,% 4e told him ,e ,ere ,ell
eno#gh (re(ared for s#ch creat#res as they ,ere, if he ,o#ld ins#re #s from a 'ind of t,o-legged
,olves, ,hich ,e ,ere told ,e ,ere in most danger from, es(ecially on the <rench side of the
mo#ntains% 0e satisfied #s that there ,as no danger of that 'ind in the ,ay that ,e ,ere to go3 so
,e readily agreed to follo, him, as did also t,elve other gentlemen ,ith their servants, some
<rench, some /(anish, ,ho, as $ said, had attem(ted to go, and ,ere obliged to come bac' again%
2ccordingly, ,e set o#t from am(el#na ,ith o#r g#ide on the 5*th of .ovember3 and indeed $
,as s#r(rised ,hen, instead of going for,ard, he came directly bac' ,ith #s on the same road
that ,e came from 1adrid, abo#t t,enty miles3 ,hen, having (assed t,o rivers, and come into
the (lain co#ntry, ,e fo#nd o#rselves in a ,arm climate again, ,here the co#ntry ,as (leasant,
and no sno, to be seen3 b#t, on a s#dden, t#rning to his left, he a((roached the mo#ntains
another ,ay3 and tho#gh it is tr#e the hills and (reci(ices loo'ed dreadf#l, yet he made so many
to#rs, s#ch meanders, and led #s by s#ch ,inding ,ays, that ,e insensibly (assed the height of
the mo#ntains ,itho#t being m#ch enc#mbered ,ith the sno,3 and all on a s#dden he sho,ed #s
the (leasant and fr#itf#l (rovinces of Lang#edoc and "ascony, all green and flo#rishing, tho#gh
at a great distance, and ,e had some ro#gh ,ay to (ass still%
4e ,ere a little #neasy, ho,ever, ,hen ,e fo#nd it sno,ed one ,hole day and a night so fast
that ,e co#ld not travel3 b#t he bid #s be easy3 ,e sho#ld soon be (ast it all: ,e fo#nd, indeed,
that ,e began to descend every day, and to come more north than before3 and so, de(ending #(on
o#r g#ide, ,e ,ent on%
$t ,as abo#t t,o ho#rs before night ,hen, o#r g#ide being something before #s, and not !#st in
sight, o#t r#shed three monstro#s ,olves, and after them a bear, from a hollo, ,ay ad!oining to a
thic' ,ood3 t,o of the ,olves made at the g#ide, and had he been far before #s, he ,o#ld have
been devo#red before ,e co#ld have hel(ed him3 one of them fastened #(on his horse, and the
other attac'ed the man ,ith s#ch violence, that he had not time, or (resence of mind eno#gh, to
dra, his (istol, b#t hallooed and cried o#t to #s most l#stily% 1y man <riday being next me, $
bade him ride #( and see ,hat ,as the matter% 2s soon as <riday came in sight of the man, he
hallooed o#t as lo#d as the other, AJ master@ J master@A b#t li'e a bold fello,, rode directly #( to
the (oor man, and ,ith his (istol shot the ,olf in the head that attac'ed him%
$t ,as ha((y for the (oor man that it ,as my man <riday3 for, having been #sed to s#ch
creat#res in his co#ntry, he had no fear #(on him, b#t ,ent close #( to him and shot him3
,hereas, any other of #s ,o#ld have fired at a farther distance, and have (erha(s either missed
the ,olf or endangered shooting the man%
8#t it ,as eno#gh to have terrified a bolder man than $3 and, indeed, it alarmed all o#r
com(any, ,hen, ,ith the noise of <riday=s (istol, ,e heard on both sides the most dismal ho,ling
of ,olves3 and the noise, redo#bled by the echo of the mo#ntains, a((eared to #s as if there had
been a (rodigio#s n#mber of them3 and (erha(s there ,as not s#ch a fe, as that ,e had no ca#se
of a((rehension: ho,ever, as <riday had 'illed this ,olf, the other that had fastened #(on the
horse left him immediately, and fled, ,itho#t doing him any damage, having ha((ily fastened
#(on his head, ,here the bosses of the bridle had st#c' in his teeth% 8#t the man ,as most h#rt3
for the raging creat#re had bit him t,ice, once in the arm, and the other time a little above his
'nee3 and tho#gh he had made some defence, he ,as !#st t#mbling do,n by the disorder of his
horse, ,hen <riday came #( and shot the ,olf%
$t is easy to s#((ose that at the noise of <riday=s (istol ,e all mended o#r (ace, and rode #( as
fast as the ,ay, ,hich ,as very diffic#lt, ,o#ld give #s leave, to see ,hat ,as the matter% 2s
soon as ,e came clear of the trees, ,hich blinded #s before, ,e sa, clearly ,hat had been the
5B5
case, and ho, <riday had disengaged the (oor g#ide, tho#gh ,e did not (resently discern ,hat
'ind of creat#re it ,as he had 'illed%
Cha(ter &-
C02TE9 II-<$"0T 8ET4EE. <9$D27 2.D 2 8E29
8UT never ,as a fight managed so hardily, and in s#ch a s#r(rising manner as that ,hich
follo,ed bet,een <riday and the bear, ,hich gave #s all, tho#gh at first ,e ,ere s#r(rised and
afraid for him, the greatest diversion imaginable% 2s the bear is a heavy, cl#msy creat#re, and
does not gallo( as the ,olf does, ,ho is s,ift and light, so he has t,o (artic#lar >#alities, ,hich
generally are the r#le of his actions3 first, as to men, ,ho are not his (ro(er (rey Che does not
#s#ally attem(t them, exce(t they first attac' him, #nless he be excessively h#ngry, ,hich it is
(robable might no, be the case, the gro#nd being covered ,ith sno,D, if yo# do not meddle ,ith
him, he ,ill not meddle ,ith yo#3 b#t then yo# m#st ta'e care to be very civil to him, and give
him the road, for he is a very nice gentleman3 he ,ill not go a ste( o#t of his ,ay for a (rince3
nay, if yo# are really afraid, yo#r best ,ay is to loo' another ,ay and 'ee( going on3 for
sometimes if yo# sto(, and stand still, and loo' steadfastly at him, he ta'es it for an affront3 b#t if
yo# thro, or toss anything at him, tho#gh it ,ere b#t a bit of stic' as big as yo#r finger, he thin's
himself ab#sed, and sets all other b#siness aside to (#rs#e his revenge, and ,ill have satisfaction
in (oint of hono#r-that is his first >#ality: the next is, if he be once affronted, he ,ill never leave
yo#, night or day, till he has his revenge, b#t follo,s at a good ro#nd rate till he overta'es yo#%
1y man <riday had delivered o#r g#ide, and ,hen ,e came #( to him he ,as hel(ing him off
his horse, for the man ,as both h#rt and frightened, ,hen on a s#dden ,e es(ied the bear come
o#t of the ,ood3 and a monstro#s one it ,as, the biggest by far that ever $ sa,% 4e ,ere all a
little s#r(rised ,hen ,e sa, him3 b#t ,hen <riday sa, him, it ,as easy to see !oy and co#rage in
the fello,=s co#ntenance% AJ@ J@ J@A says <riday, three times, (ointing to him3 AJ master, yo#
give me te leave, me sha'ee te hand ,ith him3 me ma'ee yo# good la#gh%A
$ ,as s#r(rised to see the fello, so ,ell (leased% A7o# fool,A says $, Ahe ,ill eat yo#
#(%A-AEatee me #(@ eatee me #(@A says <riday, t,ice over again3 Ame eatee him #(3 me ma'ee
yo# good la#gh3 yo# all stay here, me sho, yo# good la#gh%A /o do,n he sits, and gets off his
boots in a moment, and (#ts on a (air of (#m(s Cas ,e call the flat shoes they ,ear, and ,hich he
had in his (oc'etD, gives my other servant his horse, and ,ith his g#n a,ay he fle,, s,ift li'e the
,ind%
The bear ,as ,al'ing softly on, and offered to meddle ,ith nobody, till <riday coming (retty
near, calls to him, as if the bear co#ld #nderstand him% A0ar' ye, har' ye,A says <riday, Ame
s(ea'ee ,ith yo#%A 4e follo,ed at a distance, for no, being do,n on the "ascony side of the
mo#ntains, ,e ,ere entered a vast forest, ,here the co#ntry ,as (lain and (retty o(en, tho#gh it
had many trees in it scattered here and there% <riday, ,ho had, as ,e say, the heels of the bear,
came #( ,ith him >#ic'ly, and too' #( a great stone, and thre, it at him, and hit him !#st on the
head, b#t did him no more harm than if he had thro,n it against a ,all3 b#t it ans,ered <riday=s
end, for the rog#e ,as so void of fear that he did it (#rely to ma'e the bear follo, him, and sho,
#s some la#gh as he called it% 2s soon as the bear felt the blo,, and sa, him, he t#rns abo#t and
comes after him, ta'ing very long strides, and sh#ffling on at a strange rate, so as ,o#ld have (#t
a horse to a middling gallo(3 a,ay reins <riday, and ta'es his co#rse as if he ran to,ards #s for
hel(3 so ,e all resolved to fire at once #(on the bear, and deliver my man3 tho#gh $ ,as angry at
him for bringing the bear bac' #(on #s, ,hen he ,as going abo#t his o,n b#siness another ,ay3
and es(ecially $ ,as angry that he had t#rned the bear #(on #s, and then ran a,ay3 and $ called
o#t, A7o# dog@ is this yo#r ma'ing #s la#gh? Come a,ay, and ta'e yo#r horse, that ,e may shoot
the creat#re%A 0e heard me, and cried o#t, A.o shoot, no shoot3 stand still, and yo# get m#ch
5B&
la#gh:A and as the nimble creat#re ran t,o feet for the bear=s one, he t#rned on a s#dden on one
side of #s, and seeing a great oa'-tree fit for his (#r(ose, he bec'oned to #s to follo,3 and
do#bling his (ace, he got nimbly #( the tree, laying his g#n do,n #(on the gro#nd, at abo#t five
or six yards from the bottom of the tree% The bear soon came to the tree, and ,e follo,ed at a
distance: the first thing he did he sto((ed at the g#n, smelt at it, b#t let it lie, and #( he scrambles
into the tree, climbing li'e a cat, tho#gh so monstro#s heavy% $ ,as ama;ed at the folly, as $
tho#ght it, of my man, and co#ld not for my life see anything to la#gh at, till seeing the bear get
#( the tree, ,e all rode near to him%
4hen ,e came to the tree, there ,as <riday got o#t to the small end of a large branch, and the
bear got abo#t half-,ay to him% 2s soon as the bear got o#t to that (art ,here the limb of the tree
,as ,ea'er, A0a@A says he to #s, Ano, yo# see me teachee the bear dance:A so he began !#m(ing
and sha'ing the bo#gh, at ,hich the bear began to totter, b#t stood still, and began to loo' behind
him, to see ho, he sho#ld get bac'3 then, indeed, ,e did la#gh heartily% 8#t <riday had not done
,ith him by a great deal3 ,hen seeing him stand still, he called o#t to him again, as if he had
s#((osed the bear co#ld s(ea' English, A4hat, yo# come no farther? (ray yo# come farther3A so
he left !#m(ing and sha'ing the tree3 and the bear, !#st as if he #nderstood ,hat he said, did come
a little farther3 then he began !#m(ing again, and the bear sto((ed again% 4e tho#ght no, ,as a
good time to 'noc' him in the head, and called to <riday to stand still and ,e sho#ld shoot the
bear: b#t he cried o#t earnestly, AJh, (ray@ Jh, (ray@ no shoot, me shoot by and then:A he ,o#ld
have said by-and-by% 0o,ever, to shorten the story, <riday danced so m#ch, and the bear stood so
tic'lish, that ,e had la#ghing eno#gh, b#t still co#ld not imagine ,hat the fello, ,o#ld do: for
first ,e tho#ght he de(ended #(on sha'ing the bear off3 and ,e fo#nd the bear ,as too c#nning
for that too3 for he ,o#ld not go o#t far eno#gh to be thro,n do,n, b#t cl#ng fast ,ith his great
broad cla,s and feet, so that ,e co#ld not imagine ,hat ,o#ld be the end of it, and ,hat the !est
,o#ld be at last% 8#t <riday (#t #s o#t of do#bt >#ic'ly: for seeing the bear cling fast to the
bo#gh, and that he ,o#ld not be (ers#aded to come any farther, A4ell, ,ell,A says <riday, Ayo#
no come farther, me go3 yo# no come to me, me come to yo#3A and #(on this he ,ent o#t to the
smaller end, ,here it ,o#ld bend ,ith his ,eight, and gently let himself do,n by it, sliding do,n
the bo#gh till he came near eno#gh to !#m( do,n on his feet, and a,ay he ran to his g#n, too' it
#(, and stood still% A4ell,A said $ to him, A<riday, ,hat ,ill yo# do no,? 4hy don=t yo# shoot
him?A A.o shoot,A says <riday, Ano yet3 me shoot no,, me no 'ill3 me stay, give yo# one more
la#gh:A and, indeed, so he did3 for ,hen the bear sa, his enemy gone, he came bac' from the
bo#gh, ,here he stood, b#t did it very ca#tio#sly, loo'ing behind him every ste(, and coming
bac',ard till he got into the body of the tree, then, ,ith the same hinder end foremost, he came
do,n the tree, gras(ing it ,ith his cla,s, and moving one foot at a time, very leis#rely% 2t this
!#nct#re, and !#st before he co#ld set his hind foot on the gro#nd, <riday ste((ed #( close to him,
cla((ed the m#;;le of his (iece into his ear, and shot him dead% Then the rog#e t#rned abo#t to
see if ,e did not la#gh3 and ,hen he sa, ,e ,ere (leased by o#r loo's, he began to la#gh very
lo#d% A/o ,e 'ill bear in my co#ntry,A says <riday% A/o yo# 'ill them?A says $3 A,hy, yo# have no
g#ns%A- A.o,A says he, Ano g#n, b#t shoot great m#ch long arro,%A This ,as a good diversion to
#s3 b#t ,e ,ere still in a ,ild (lace, and o#r g#ide very m#ch h#rt, and ,hat to do ,e hardly
'ne,3 the ho,ling of ,olves ran m#ch in my head3 and, indeed, exce(t the noise $ once heard on
the shore of 2frica, of ,hich $ have said something already, $ never heard anything that filled me
,ith so m#ch horror%
These things, and the a((roach of night, called #s off, or else, as <riday ,o#ld have had #s, ,e
sho#ld certainly have ta'en the s'in of this monstro#s creat#re off, ,hich ,as ,orth saving3 b#t
5B6
,e had near three leag#es to go, and o#r g#ide hastened #s3 so ,e left him, and ,ent for,ard on
o#r !o#rney%
The gro#nd ,as still covered ,ith sno,, tho#gh not so dee( and dangero#s as on the
mo#ntains3 and the raveno#s creat#res, as ,e heard after,ards, ,ere come do,n into the forest
and (lain co#ntry, (ressed by h#nger, to see' for food, and had done a great deal of mischief in
the villages, ,here they s#r(rised the co#ntry (eo(le, 'illed a great many of their shee( and
horses, and some (eo(le too% 4e had one dangero#s (lace to (ass, and o#r g#ide told #s if there
,ere more ,olves in the co#ntry ,e sho#ld find them there3 and this ,as a small (lain,
s#rro#nded ,ith ,oods on every side, and a long, narro, defile, or lane, ,hich ,e ,ere to (ass
to get thro#gh the ,ood, and then ,e sho#ld come to the village ,here ,e ,ere to lodge% $t ,as
,ithin half-an-ho#r of s#nset ,hen ,e entered the ,ood, and a little after s#nset ,hen ,e came
into the (lain: ,e met ,ith nothing in the first ,ood, exce(t that in a little (lain ,ithin the ,ood,
,hich ,as not above t,o f#rlongs over, ,e sa, five great ,olves cross the road, f#ll s(eed, one
after another, as if they had been in chase of some (rey, and had it in vie,3 they too' no notice of
#s, and ,ere gone o#t of sight in a fe, moments% U(on this, o#r g#ide, ,ho, by the ,ay, ,as b#t
a fainthearted fello,, bid #s 'ee( in a ready (ost#re, for he believed there ,ere more ,olves a-
coming% 4e 'e(t o#r arms ready, and o#r eyes abo#t #s3 b#t ,e sa, no more ,olves till ,e came
thro#gh that ,ood, ,hich ,as near half a leag#e, and entered the (lain% 2s soon as ,e came into
the (lain, ,e had occasion eno#gh to loo' abo#t #s% The first ob!ect ,e met ,ith ,as a dead
horse3 that is to say, a (oor horse ,hich the ,olves had 'illed, and at least a do;en of them at
,or', ,e co#ld not say eating him, b#t (ic'ing his bones rather3 for they had eaten #( all the
flesh before% 4e did not thin' fit to dist#rb them at their feast, neither did they ta'e m#ch notice
of #s% <riday ,o#ld have let fly at them, b#t $ ,o#ld not s#ffer him by any means3 for $ fo#nd ,e
,ere li'e to have more b#siness #(on o#r hands than ,e ,ere a,are of% 4e had not gone half
over the (lain ,hen ,e began to hear the ,olves ho,l in the ,ood on o#r left in a frightf#l
manner, and (resently after ,e sa, abo#t a h#ndred coming on directly to,ards #s, all in a body,
and most of them in a line, as reg#larly as an army dra,n #( by ex(erienced officers% $ scarce
'ne, in ,hat manner to receive them, b#t fo#nd to dra, o#rselves in a close line ,as the only
,ay3 so ,e formed in a moment3 b#t that ,e might not have too m#ch interval, $ ordered that
only every other man sho#ld fire, and that the others, ,ho had not fired, sho#ld stand ready to
give them a second volley immediately, if they contin#ed to advance #(on #s3 and then that those
that had fired at first sho#ld not (retend to load their f#sees again, b#t stand ready, every one ,ith
a (istol, for ,e ,ere all armed ,ith a f#see and a (air of (istols each man3 so ,e ,ere, by this
method, able to fire six volleys, half of #s at a time3 ho,ever, at (resent ,e had no necessity3 for
#(on firing the first volley, the enemy made a f#ll sto(, being terrified as ,ell ,ith the noise as
,ith the fire% <o#r of them being shot in the head, dro((ed3 several others ,ere ,o#nded, and
,ent bleeding off, as ,e co#ld see by the sno,% $ fo#nd they sto((ed, b#t did not immediately
retreat3 ,here#(on, remembering that $ had been told that the fiercest creat#res ,ere terrified at
the voice of a man, $ ca#sed all the com(any to halloo as lo#d as they co#ld3 and $ fo#nd the
notion not altogether mista'en3 for #(on o#r sho#t they began to retire and t#rn abo#t% $ then
ordered a second volley to be fired in their rear, ,hich (#t them to the gallo(, and a,ay they
,ent to the ,oods% This gave #s leis#re to charge o#r (ieces again3 and that ,e might lose no
time, ,e 'e(t going3 b#t ,e had b#t little more than loaded o#r f#sees, and (#t o#rselves in
readiness, ,hen ,e heard a terrible noise in the same ,ood on o#r left, only that it ,as farther
on,ard, the same ,ay ,e ,ere to go%
The night ,as coming on, and the light began to be d#s'y, ,hich made it ,orse on o#r side3
b#t the noise increasing, ,e co#ld easily (erceive that it ,as the ho,ling and yelling of those
5BB
hellish creat#res3 and on a s#dden ,e (erceived three troo(s of ,olves, one on o#r left, one
behind #s, and one in o#r front, so that ,e seemed to be s#rro#nded ,ith them: ho,ever, as they
did not fall #(on #s, ,e 'e(t o#r ,ay for,ard, as fast as ,e co#ld ma'e o#r horses go, ,hich, the
,ay being very ro#gh, ,as only a good hard trot% $n this manner, ,e came in vie, of the entrance
of a ,ood, thro#gh ,hich ,e ,ere to (ass, at the farther side of the (lain3 b#t ,e ,ere greatly
s#r(rised, ,hen coming nearer the lane or (ass, ,e sa, a conf#sed n#mber of ,olves standing
!#st at the entrance% Jn a s#dden, at another o(ening of the ,ood, ,e heard the noise of a g#n,
and loo'ing that ,ay, o#t r#shed a horse, ,ith a saddle and a bridle on him, flying li'e the ,ind,
and sixteen or seventeen ,olves after him, f#ll s(eed: the horse had the advantage of them3 b#t as
,e s#((osed that he co#ld not hold it at that rate, ,e do#bted not b#t they ,o#ld get #( ,ith him
at last: no >#estion b#t they did%
8#t here ,e had a most horrible sight3 for riding #( to the entrance ,here the horse came o#t,
,e fo#nd the carcasses of another horse and of t,o men, devo#red by the raveno#s creat#res3 and
one of the men ,as no do#bt the same ,hom ,e heard fire the g#n, for there lay a g#n !#st by
him fired off3 b#t as to the man, his head and the #((er (art of his body ,as eaten #(% This filled
#s ,ith horror, and ,e 'ne, not ,hat co#rse to ta'e3 b#t the creat#res resolved #s soon, for they
gathered abo#t #s (resently, in ho(es of (rey3 and $ verily believe there ,ere three h#ndred of
them% $t ha((ened, very m#ch to o#r advantage, that at the entrance into the ,ood, b#t a little ,ay
from it, there lay some large timber-trees, ,hich had been c#t do,n the s#mmer before, and $
s#((ose lay there for carriage% $ dre, my little troo( in among those trees, and (lacing o#rselves
in a line behind one long tree, $ advised them all to alight, and 'ee(ing that tree before #s for a
breast,or', to stand in a triangle, or three fronts, enclosing o#r horses in the centre% 4e did so,
and it ,as ,ell ,e did3 for never ,as a more f#rio#s charge than the creat#res made #(on #s in
this (lace% They came on ,ith a gro,ling 'ind of noise, and mo#nted the (iece of timber, ,hich,
as $ said, ,as o#r breast,or', as if they ,ere only r#shing #(on their (rey3 and this f#ry of theirs,
it seems, ,as (rinci(ally occasioned by their seeing o#r horses behind #s% $ ordered o#r men to
fire as before, every other man3 and they too' their aim so s#re that they 'illed several of the
,olves at the first volley3 b#t there ,as a necessity to 'ee( a contin#al firing, for they came on
li'e devils, those behind (#shing on those before%
4hen ,e had fired a second volley of o#r f#sees, ,e tho#ght they sto((ed a little, and $ ho(ed
they ,o#ld have gone off, b#t it ,as b#t a moment, for others came for,ard again3 so ,e fired
t,o volleys of o#r (istols3 and $ believe in these fo#r firings ,e had 'illed seventeen or eighteen
of them, and lamed t,ice as many, yet they came on again% $ ,as loth to s(end o#r shot too
hastily3 so $ called my servant, not my man <riday, for he ,as better em(loyed, for, ,ith the
greatest dexterity imaginable, he had charged my f#see and his o,n ,hile ,e ,ere engaged-b#t,
as $ said, $ called my other man, and giving him a horn of (o,der, $ had him lay a train all along
the (iece of timber, and let it be a large train% 0e did so, and had b#t !#st time to get a,ay, ,hen
the ,olves came #( to it, and some got #(on it, ,hen $, sna((ing an #nchanged (istol close to the
(o,der, set it on fire3 those that ,ere #(on the timber ,ere scorched ,ith it, and six or seven of
them fell3 or rather !#m(ed in among #s ,ith the force and fright of the fire3 ,e des(atched these
in an instant, and the rest ,ere so frightened ,ith the light, ,hich the night-for it ,as no, very
near dar'- made more terrible that they dre, bac' a little3 #(on ,hich $ ordered o#r last (istols to
be fired off in one volley, and after that ,e gave a sho#t3 #(on this the ,olves t#rned tail, and ,e
sallied immediately #(on near t,enty lame ones that ,e fo#nd str#ggling on the gro#nd, and fell
to c#tting them ,ith o#r s,ords, ,hich ans,ered o#r ex(ectation, for the crying and ho,ling
they made ,as better #nderstood by their fello,s3 so that they all fled and left #s%
5B*
4e had, first and last, 'illed abo#t threescore of them, and had it been daylight ,e had 'illed
many more% The field of battle being th#s cleared, ,e made for,ard again, for ,e had still near a
leag#e to go% 4e heard the raveno#s creat#res ho,l and yell in the ,oods as ,e ,ent several
times, and sometimes ,e fancied ,e sa, some of them3 b#t the sno, da;;ling o#r eyes, ,e ,ere
not certain% $n abo#t an ho#r more ,e came to the to,n ,here ,e ,ere to lodge, ,hich ,e fo#nd
in a terrible fright and all in arms3 for, it seems, the night before the ,olves and some bears had
bro'en into the village, and (#t them in s#ch terror that they ,ere obliged to 'ee( g#ard night and
day, b#t es(ecially in the night, to (reserve their cattle, and indeed their (eo(le%
The next morning o#r g#ide ,as so ill, and his limbs s,elled so m#ch ,ith the ran'ling of his
t,o ,o#nds, that he co#ld go no farther3 so ,e ,ere obliged to ta'e a ne, g#ide here, and go to
To#lo#se, ,here ,e fo#nd a ,arm climate, a fr#itf#l, (leasant co#ntry, and no sno,, no ,olves,
nor anything li'e them3 b#t ,hen ,e told o#r story at To#lo#se, they told #s it ,as nothing b#t
,hat ,as ordinary in the great forest at the foot of the mo#ntains, es(ecially ,hen the sno, lay
on the gro#nd3 b#t they in>#ired m#ch ,hat 'ind of g#ide ,e had got ,ho ,o#ld vent#re to bring
#s that ,ay in s#ch a severe season, and told #s it ,as s#r(rising ,e ,ere not all devo#red% 4hen
,e told them ho, ,e (laced o#rselves and the horses in the middle, they blamed #s exceedingly,
and told #s it ,as fifty to one b#t ,e had been all destroyed, for it ,as the sight of the horses
,hich made the ,olves so f#rio#s, seeing their (rey, and that at other times they are really afraid
of a g#n3 b#t being excessively h#ngry, and raging on that acco#nt, the eagerness to come at the
horses had made them senseless of danger, and that if ,e had not by the contin#al fire, and at last
by the stratagem of the train of (o,der, mastered them, it had been great odds b#t that ,e had
been torn to (ieces3 ,hereas, had ,e been content to have sat still on horsebac', and fired as
horsemen, they ,o#ld not have ta'en the horses so m#ch for their o,n, ,hen men ,ere on their
bac's, as other,ise3 and ,ithal, they told #s that at last, if ,e had stood altogether, and left o#r
horses, they ,o#ld have been so eager to have devo#red them, that ,e might have come off safe,
es(ecially having o#r firearms in o#r hands, being so many in n#mber% <or my (art, $ ,as never
so sensible of danger in my life3 for, seeing above three h#ndred devils come roaring and o(en-
mo#thed to devo#r #s, and having nothing to shelter #s or retreat to, $ gave myself over for lost3
and, as it ,as, $ believe $ shall never care to cross those mo#ntains again: $ thin' $ ,o#ld m#ch
rather go a tho#sand leag#es by sea, tho#gh $ ,as s#re to meet ,ith a storm once a-,ee'%
$ have nothing #ncommon to ta'e notice of in my (assage thro#gh <rance-nothing b#t ,hat
other travellers have given an acco#nt of ,ith m#ch more advantage than $ can% $ travelled from
To#lo#se to aris, and ,itho#t any considerable stay came to Calais, and landed safe at Dover the
5Bth of Ean#ary, after having had a severe cold season to travel in%
$ ,as no, come to the centre of my travels, and had in a little time all my ne,-discovered
estate safe abo#t me, the bills of exchange ,hich $ bro#ght ,ith me having been c#rrently (aid%
1y (rinci(al g#ide and (rivy-co#nsellor ,as my good ancient ,ido,, ,ho, in gratit#de for the
money $ had sent her, tho#ght no (ains too m#ch nor care too great to em(loy for me3 and $
tr#sted her so entirely that $ ,as (erfectly easy as to the sec#rity of my effects3 and, indeed, $ ,as
very ha((y from the beginning, and no, to the end, in the #ns(otted integrity of this good
gentle,oman%
2nd no,, having resolved to dis(ose of my (lantation in the 8ra;ils, $ ,rote to my old friend
at Lisbon, ,ho, having offered it to the t,o merchants, the s#rvivors of my tr#stees, ,ho lived in
the 8ra;ils, they acce(ted the offer, and remitted thirty-three tho#sand (ieces of eight to a
corres(ondent of theirs at Lisbon to (ay for it%
$n ret#rn, $ signed the instr#ment of sale in the form ,hich they sent from Lisbon, and sent it to
my old man, ,ho sent me the bills of exchange for thirty-t,o tho#sand eight h#ndred (ieces of
5B)
eight for the estate, reserving the (ayment of one h#ndred moidores a year to him Cthe old manD
d#ring his life, and fifty moidores after,ards to his son for his life, ,hich $ had (romised them,
and ,hich the (lantation ,as to ma'e good as a rent-charge% 2nd th#s $ have given the first (art
of a life of fort#ne and advent#re-a life of rovidence=s che>#er-,or', and of a variety ,hich the
,orld ,ill seldom be able to sho, the li'e of3 beginning foolishly, b#t closing m#ch more
ha((ily than any (art of it ever gave me leave so m#ch as to ho(e for%
2ny one ,o#ld thin' that in this state of com(licated good fort#ne $ ,as (ast r#nning any
more ha;ards-and so, indeed, $ had been, if other circ#mstances had conc#rred3 b#t $ ,as in#red
to a ,andering life, had no family, nor many relations3 nor, ho,ever rich, had $ contracted fresh
ac>#aintance3 and tho#gh $ had sold my estate in the 8ra;ils, yet $ co#ld not 'ee( that co#ntry o#t
of my head, and had a great mind to be #(on the ,ing again3 es(ecially $ co#ld not resist the
strong inclination $ had to see my island, and to 'no, if the (oor /(aniards ,ere in being there%
1y tr#e friend, the ,ido,, earnestly diss#aded me from it, and so far (revailed ,ith me, that for
almost seven years she (revented my r#nning abroad, d#ring ,hich time $ too' my t,o ne(he,s,
the children of one of my brothers, into my care3 the eldest, having something of his o,n, $ bred
#( as a gentleman, and gave him a settlement of some addition to his estate after my decease% The
other $ (laced ,ith the ca(tain of a shi(3 and after five years, finding him a sensible, bold,
enter(rising yo#ng fello,, $ (#t him into a good shi(, and sent him to sea3 and this yo#ng fello,
after,ards dre, me in, as old as $ ,as, to f#rther advent#res myself%
$n the meantime, $ in (art settled myself here3 for, first of all, $ married, and that not either to
my disadvantage or dissatisfaction, and had three children, t,o sons and one da#ghter3 b#t my
,ife dying, and my ne(he, coming home ,ith good s#ccess from a voyage to /(ain, my
inclination to go abroad, and his im(ort#nity, (revailed, and engaged me to go in his shi( as a
(rivate trader to the East $ndies3 this ,as in the year 5)HB%
$n this voyage $ visited my ne, colony in the island, sa, my s#ccessors the /(aniards, had the
old story of their lives and of the villains $ left there3 ho, at first they ins#lted the (oor /(aniards,
ho, they after,ards agreed, disagreed, #nited, se(arated, and ho, at last the /(aniards ,ere
obliged to #se violence ,ith them3 ho, they ,ere s#b!ected to the /(aniards, ho, honestly the
/(aniards #sed them-a history, if it ,ere entered into, as f#ll of variety and ,onderf#l accidents
as my o,n (art- (artic#larly, also, as to their battles ,ith the Caribbeans, ,ho landed several
times #(on the island, and as to the im(rovement they made #(on the island itself, and ho, five
of them made an attem(t #(on the mainland, and bro#ght a,ay eleven men and five ,omen
(risoners, by ,hich, at my coming, $ fo#nd abo#t t,enty yo#ng children on the island%
0ere $ stayed abo#t t,enty days, left them s#((lies of all necessary things, and (artic#larly of
arms, (o,der, shot, clothes, tools, and t,o ,or'men, ,hich $ had bro#ght from England ,ith me,
vi;% a car(enter and a smith%
8esides this, $ shared the lands into (arts ,ith them, reserved to myself the (ro(erty of the
,hole, b#t gave them s#ch (arts res(ectively as they agreed on3 and having settled all things ,ith
them, and engaged them not to leave the (lace, $ left them there%
<rom thence $ to#ched at the 8ra;ils, from ,hence $ sent a bar', ,hich $ bo#ght there, ,ith
more (eo(le to the island3 and in it, besides other s#((lies, $ sent seven ,omen, being s#ch as $
fo#nd (ro(er for service, or for ,ives to s#ch as ,o#ld ta'e them% 2s to the Englishmen, $
(romised to send them some ,omen from England, ,ith a good cargo of necessaries, if they
,o#ld a((ly themselves to (lanting-,hich $ after,ards co#ld not (erform% The fello,s (roved
very honest and diligent after they ,ere mastered and had their (ro(erties set a(art for them% $
sent them, also, from the 8ra;ils, five co,s, three of them being big ,ith calf, some shee(, and
some hogs, ,hich ,hen $ came again ,ere considerably increased%
5BF
8#t all these things, ,ith an acco#nt ho, three h#ndred Caribbees came and invaded them, and
r#ined their (lantations, and ho, they fo#ght ,ith that ,hole n#mber t,ice, and ,ere at first
defeated, and one of them 'illed3 b#t at last, a storm destroying their enemies= canoes, they
famished or destroyed almost all the rest, and rene,ed and recovered the (ossession of their
(lantation, and still lived #(on the island%
2ll these things, ,ith some very s#r(rising incidents in some ne, advent#res of my o,n, for
ten years more, $ shall give a farther acco#nt of in the /econd art of my /tory%
5BG