Robinson Crusoe (Penguin ed.)

by Daniel Defoe

  I employ’d myself in planting my second rows of stakes or piles, and in this wicker working all the summer, or dry season, when another business took me up more time than it could be imagin’d I could spare.

  I mention’d before, that I had a great mind to see the whole island, and that I had travell’d up the brook, and so on to where I built my bower, and where I had an opening quite to the sea on the other side of the island; I now resolv’d to travel quite cross to the sea-shore on that side; so taking my gun, a hatchet, and my dog, and a larger quantity of powder and shot than usual, with two bisket cakes, and a great bunch of raisins in my pouch for my store, I began my journey; when I had pass’d the vale where my bower stood, as above, I came within view of the sea, to the west, and it being a very clear day, I fairly descry’d land, whether an island or a continent, I could not tell; but it lay very high, extending from the west to the w. s. w. at a very great distance; by my guess it could not be less than fifteen or twenty leagues off.

  I could not tell what part of the world this might be, otherwise than that I know it must be part of America, and as I concluded by all my observations, must be near the Spanish dominions, and perhaps was all inhabited by savages, where if I should have landed, I had been in a worse condition than I was now; and therefore I acquiesced in the dispositions of Providence, which I began now to own, and to believe, order’d every thing for the best; I say, I quieted my mind with this, and left afflicting myself with fruitless wishes of being there.

  Besides, after some pause upon this affair, I consider’d, that if this land was the Spanish coast, I should certainly, one time or other, see some vessel pass or re-pass one way or other; but if not, then it was the savage coast between the Spanish country and Brasils, which are indeed the worst of savages; for they are cannibals, or men-eaters, and fail not to murther and devour all the human bodies that fall into their hands.

  With these considerations I walk’d very leisurely forward. I found that side of the island where I now was, much pleasanter than mine, the open or savanna fields sweet, adorn’d with flowers and grass, and full of very fine woods. I saw abundance of parrots, and fain I would have caught one, if possible, to have kept it to be tame, and taught it to speak to me. I did, after some pains taking, catch a young parrot, for I knock’d it down with a stick, and having recover’d it, I brought it home; but it was some years before I could make him speak: However, at last I taught him to call me by my name very familiarly: But the accident that follow’d, tho’ it be a trifle, will be very diverting in its place.

  I was exceedingly diverted with this journey: I found in the low grounds hares, as I thought them to be, and foxes, but they differ’d greatly from all the other kinds I had met with; nor could I satisfy my self to eat them, tho’ I kill’d several: But I had no need to be venturous; for I had no want of food, and of that which was very good too; especially these three sorts, viz. goats, pidgeons, and turtle or tortoise; which, added to my grapes, Leaden-hall market31 could not have furnish’d a table better than I, in proportion to the company; and tho’ my case was deplorable enough, yet I had great cause for thankfulness, that I was not driven to any extremities for food; but rather plenty, even to dainties.

  I never travell’d in this journey above two miles outright in a day, or thereabouts; but I took so many turns and returns to see what discoveries I could make, that I came weary enough to the place where I resolved to sit down for all night; and then I either repos’d myself in a tree, or surrounded myself with a row of stakes set upright in the ground, either from one tree to another, or so as no wild creature could come at me, without waking me.

  As soon as I came to the sea shore, I was surprised to see that I had taken up my lot on the worst side of the island; for here indeed the shore was cover’d with innumerable turtles, whereas on the other side I had found but three in a year and half. Here was also an infinite number of fowls, of many kinds, some which I had seen, and some which I had not seen of before, and many of them very good meat; but such as I knew not the names of, except those call’d penguins.

  I could have shot as many as I pleas’d, but was very sparing of my powder and shot; and therefore had more mind to kill a she goat, if I could, which I could better feed on; and though there were many goats here more than on my side the island, yet it was with much more difficulty that I could come near them, the country being flat and even, and they saw me much sooner than when I was on the hill.

  I confess this side of the country was much pleasanter than mine, but yet I had not the least inclination to remove; for as I was fix’d in my habitation, it became natural to me, and I seem’d all the while I was here, to be as it were upon a journey, and from home: However, I travell’d along the shore of the sea, towards the east, I suppose about twelve miles; and then setting up a great pole upon the shore for a mark, I concluded I would go home again; and that the next journey I took should be on the other side of the island, east from my dwelling, and so round till I came to my post again: Of which in its place.

  I took another way to come back than that I went, thinking I could easily keep all the island so much in my view, that I could not miss finding my first dwelling by viewing the country; but I found myself mistaken; for being come about two or three miles, I found myself descended into a very large valley; but so surrounded with hills, and those hills covered with wood, that I could not see which was my way by any direction but that of the sun, nor even then, unless I knew very well the position of the sun at that time of the day.

  It happen’d, to my farther misfortune, that the weather prov’d hazy for three or four days, while I was in this valley; and not being able to see the sun, I wander’d about very uncomfortably, and at last was obliged to find out the sea side, look for my post, and come back the same way I went; and then by easy journies I turn’d homeward, the weather being exceeding hot, and my gun, ammunition, hatchet, and other things very heavy.

  In this journey my dog surpris’d a young kid, and seiz’d upon it, and I running in to take hold of it, caught it, and sav’d it alive from the dog: I had a great mind to bring it home if I could; for I had often been musing, whether it might not be possible to get a kid or two, and so raise a breed of tame goats, which might supply me when my powder and shot should be all spent.

  I made a collar to this little creature, and with a string which I made of some rope-yarn which I always carry’d about me, I led him along, tho’ with some difficulty, till I came to my bower, and there I enclos’d him, and left him; for I was very impatient to be at home, from whence I had been absent above a month.

  I cannot express what a satisfaction it was to me, to come into my old hutch, and lye down in my hamock-bed: This little wandring journey, without settled place of abode, had been so unpleasant to me, that my own house, as I call’d it to myself, was a perfect settlement to me, compar’d to that; and it render’d every thing about me so comfortable, that I resolv’d I would never go a great way from it again, while it should be my lot to stay on the island.

  I repos’d myself here a week, to rest and regale myself after my long journey; during which, most of the time was taken up in the weighty affair of making a cage for my Poll, who began now to be a meer domestick, and to be mighty well acquainted with me. Then I began to think of the poor kid, which I had penn’d in within my little circle, and resolv’d to go and fetch it home, or give it some food; accordingly I went, and found it where I left it; for indeed it could not get out; but almost starv’d for want of food: I went and cut bows of trees, and branches of such shrubs as I could find, and threw it over, and having fed it, I ty’d it as I did before, to lead it away; but it was so tame with being hungry, that I had no need to have ty’d it; for it follow’d me like a dog; and as I continually fed it, the creature became so loving, so gentle, and so fond, that it became from that time one of my domesticks also; and would never leave me afterwards.

  The rainy season of the Autumnal Equinox was now come, and I kept the 30th of Se
ptember in the same solemn manner as before, being the anniversary of my landing on the island, having now been there two years, and no more prospect of being deliver’d than the first day I came there. I spent the whole day in humble and thankful acknowledgments of the many wonderful mercies which my solitary condition was attended with, and without which it might have been infinitely more miserable. I gave humble and hearty thanks that God had been pleas’d to discover to me, even that it was possible I might be more happy in this solitary condition, than I should have been in a liberty of society, and in all the pleasures of the world. That he could fully make up to me, the deficiencies of my solitary state, and the want of human society by his presence, and the communications of his grace to my soul, supporting, comforting, and encouraging me to depend upon his Providence here, and hope for his eternal presence hereafter.

  It was now that I began sensibly to feel how much more happy this life I now led was, with all its miserable circumstances, than the wicked, cursed, abominable life I led all the past part of my days; and now I chang’d both my sorrows and my joys; my very desires alter’d, my affections changed their gusts, and my delights were perfectly new, from what they were at my first coming, or indeed for the two years past.

  Before, as I walk’d about, either on my hunting, or for viewing the country; the anguish of my soul at my condition, would break out upon me on a sudden, and my very heart would die within me, to think of the woods, the mountains, the desarts I was in; and how I was a prisoner lock’d up with the eternal bars and bolts of the ocean, in an uninhabited wilderness, without redemption: In the midst of the greatest composures of my mind, this would break out upon me like a storm, and make me wring my hands, and weep like a child: Sometimes it would take me in the middle of my work, and I would immediately sit down and sigh, and look upon the ground for an hour or two together; and this was still worse to me; for if I could burst out into tears, or vent myself by words, it would go off, and the grief having exhausted itself, would abate.

  But now I began to exercise my self with new thoughts; I daily read the word of God, and apply’d all the comforts of it to my present state: One morning being very sad, I open’d the Bible upon these words, I will never, never leave thee, nor forsake thee;32 immediately it occurr’d, that these words were to me. Why else should they be directed in such a manner, just at the moment when I was mourning over my condition, as one forsaken of God and man? Well then, said I, if God does not forsake me, of what ill consequence can it be, or what matters it, tho’ the world should all forsake me, seeing on the other hand, if I had all the world, and should lose the favour and blessing of God, there wou’d be no comparison in the loss.

  From this moment I began to conclude in my mind, that it was possible for me to be more happy in this forsaken solitary condition, than it was probable I should ever have been in any other particular state in the world; and with this thought I was going to give thanks to God for bringing me to this place.

  I know not what it was, but something shock’d my mind at that thought, and I durst not speak the words: How canst thou be such a hypocrite, (said I, even audibly) to pretend to be thankful for a condition, which however thou may’st endeavour to be contented with, thou would’st rather pray heartily to be deliver’d from; so I stopp’d there: But tho’ I could not say, I thank’d God for being there; yet I sincerely gave thanks to God for opening my eyes, by whatever afflicting Providences, to see the former condition of my life, and to mourn for my wickedness, and repent. I never open’d the Bible, or shut it, but my very soul within me bless’d God for directing my friend in England, without any order of mine, to pack it up among my goods; and for assisting me afterwards to save it out of the wreck of the ship.

  Thus, and in this disposition of mind, I began my third year; and tho’ I have not given the reader the trouble of so particular account of my works this year as the first; yet in general it may be observ’d, that I was very seldom idle; but having regularly divided my time, according to the several daily employments that were before me, such as, first, my duty to God, and the reading the Scriptures, which I constantly set apart some time for thrice every day. Secondly, the going abroad with my gun for food, which generally took me up three hours in every morning, when it did not rain. Thirdly, the ordering, curing, preserving, and cooking what I had kill’d or catch’d for my supply; these took up great part of the day; also it is to be consider’d that the middle of the day when the sun was in the zenith, the violence of the heat was too great to stir out; so that about four hours in the evening was all the time I could be suppos’d to work in; with this exception, that sometimes I chang’d my hours of hunting and working, and went to work in the morning, and abroad with my gun in the afternoon.

  To this short time allow’d for labour, I desire may be added the exceeding laboriousness of my work; the many hours which for want of tools, want of help, and want of skill, every thing I did, took up out of my time: For example, I was full two and forty days making me a board for a long shelf, which I wanted in my cave; whereas two sawyers with their tools, and a saw-pit, would have cut six of them out of the same tree in half a day.

  My case was this; it was to be a large tree, which was to be cut down, because my board was to be a broad one. This tree I was three days a cutting down, and two more cutting off the bows, and reducing it to a log, or piece of timber. With inexpressible hacking and hewing I reduced both the sides of it into chips, till it begun to be light enough to move; then I turn’d it, and made one side of it smooth, and flat, as a board from end to end; then turning that side downward, cut the other side, till I brought the plank to be about three inches thick, and smooth on both sides. Any one may judge the labour of my hands in such a piece of work; but labour and patience carry’d me thro’ that and many other things: I only observe this in particular, to shew the reason why so much of my time went away with so little work, viz. that what might be a little to be done with help and tools, was a vast labour, and requir’d a prodigious time to do alone, and by hand.

  But notwithstanding this, with patience and labour I went thro’ many things; and indeed every thing that my circumstances made necessary to me to do, as will appear by what follows.

  I was now, in the months of November and December, expecting my crop of barley and rice. The ground I had manur’d or dug up for them was not great; for as I observ’d, my seed of each was not above the quantity of half a peck; for I had lost one whole crop by sowing in the dry season; but now my crop promis’d very well, when on a sudden I found I was in danger of losing it all again by enemies of several sorts, which it was scarce possible to keep from it; as first, the goats, and wild creatures which I call’d hares, who tasting the sweetness of the blade, lay in it night and day, as soon as it came up, and eat it so close, that it could get no time to shoot up into stalk.

  This I saw no remedy for, but by making an enclosure about it with a hedge, which I did with a great deal of toil; and the more, because it requir’d speed. However, as my arable land was but small, suited to my crop, I got it totally well fenced in about three weeks time; and shooting some of the creatures in the day time, I set my dog to guard it in the night, tying him up to a stake at the gate, where he would stand and bark all night long; so in a little time the enemies forsook the place, and the corn grew very strong, and well, and began to ripen apace.

  But as the beasts ruined me before, while my corn was in the blade; so the birds were as likely to ruin me now, when it was in the ear; for going along by the place to see how it throve, I saw my little crop surrounded with fowls of I know not how many sorts, who stood as it were watching till I should be gone: I immediately let fly among them (for I always had my gun with me.) I had no sooner shot but there rose up a little cloud of fowls, which I had not seen at all, from among the corn it self.

  This touch’d me sensibly, for I foresaw, that in a few days they would devour all my hopes, that I should be starv’d, and never be able to raise a crop at all, and what to d
o I could not tell: However, I resolv’d not to lose my corn, if possible, tho’ I should watch it night and day. In the first place, I went among it to see what damage was already done, and found they had spoil’d a good deal of it; but that as it was yet too green for them, the loss was not so great, but that the remainder was like to be a good crop if it could be sav’d.

  I staid by it to load my gun, and then coming away I could easily see the thieves sitting upon all the trees about me, as if they only waited till I was gone away, and the event proved it to be so; for as I walk’d off as if I was gone, I was no sooner out of their sight, but they dropt down one by one into the corn again. I was so provok’d that I could not have patience to stay till more came on, knowing that every grain that they eat now, was, as it might be said, a peck-loaf to me in the consequence; but coming up to the hedge, I fir’d again, and kill’d three of them. This was what I wish’d for; so I took them up, and serv’d them as we serve notorious thieves in England, (viz.) hang’d them in chains for a terror to others; it is impossible to imagine almost, that this should have such an effect as it had; for the fowls wou’d not only not come at the corn, but in short they forsook all that part of the island, and I could never see a bird near the place as long as my scare-crows hung there.

  This I was very glad of, you may be sure, and about the latter end of December, which was our second harvest of the year, I reap’d my crop.

  I was sadly put to it for a scythe or a sicle to cut it down, and all I could do was to make one as well as I could out of one of the broad swords or cutlasses, which I sav’d among the arms out of the ship. However, as my first crop was but small I had no great difficulty to cut it down; in short, I reap’d it my way, for I cut nothing off but the ears, and carry’d it away in a great basket which I had made, and so rubb’d it out with my hands; and at the end of all my harvesting, I found that out of my half peck of seed, I had near two bushels of rice, and above two bushels and half of barley, that is to say, by my guess, for I had no measure at that time.