by Daniel Defoe
was about the month of November, I made a visit up thecountry to my bower; where, though I had not been some months, yet Ifound all things just as I left them. The circle or double hedge that Ihad made was not only firm and entire, but the stakes which I had cutout of some trees that grew thereabouts, were all shot out, and grownwith long branches, as much as a willow-tree usually shoots the firstyear after lopping its head; but I could not tell what tree to call itthat these stakes were cut from. I was surprised, and yet very wellpleased, to see the young trees grow; and I pruned them, and led them togrow as much alike as I could: and it is scarce credible how beautiful afigure they grew into in three years: so that, though the hedge made acircle of about twenty-five yards in diameter, yet the trees, for such Imight now call them, soon covered it, and it was a complete shade,sufficient to lodge under all the dry season. This made me resolve tocut some more stakes, and make me a hedge like this, in a semi-circleround my wall (I mean that of my first dwelling,) which I did; andplacing the trees or stakes in a double row, at about eight yardsdistance from my first fence, they grew presently; and were at first afine cover to my habitation, and afterwards served for a defence also;as I shall observe in its order.
I found now that the seasons of the year might generally be divided, notinto summer and winter, as in Europe, but into the rainy seasons and thedry seasons, which were generally thus: From the middle of February tothe middle of April, rainy; the sun being then on or near the equinox.From the middle of April till the middle of August, dry; the sun beingthen north of the line. From the middle of August till the middle ofOctober, rainy; the sun being then come back to the line. From themiddle of October till the middle of February, dry; the sun being thento the south of the line.
The rainy seasons held sometimes longer and sometimes shorter, as thewinds happened to blow; but this was the general observation I made.After I had found, by experience, the ill consequences of being abroadin the rain, I took care to furnish myself with provisions beforehand,that I might not be obliged to go out: and I sat within doors as much aspossible during the wet months. In this time I found much employment,and very suitable also to the time; for I found great occasion for manythings which I had no way to furnish myself with, but by hard labour andconstant application: particularly, I tried many ways to make myself abasket: but all the twigs I could get for the purpose proved so brittle,that they would do nothing. It proved of excellent advantage to me now,that when I was a boy, I used to take great delight in standing at abasketmaker's in the town where my father lived, to see them make theirwicker-ware; and being, as boys usually are, very officious to help, anda great observer of the manner how they worked those things, andsometimes lending a hand, I had by these means full knowledge of themethods of it, so that I wanted nothing but the materials; when it cameinto my mind, that the twigs of that tree from whence I cut my stakesthat grew might possibly be as tough as the sallows, willows, andosiers, in England; and I resolved to try. Accordingly, the next day, Iwent to my country house, as I called it; and cutting some of thesmaller twigs, I found them to my purpose as much as I could desire:whereupon I came the next time prepared with a hatchet to cut down aquantity, which I soon found, for there was great plenty of them. TheseI set up to dry within my circle or hedge; and when they were fit foruse, I carried them to my cave: and here, during the next season, Iemployed myself in making, as well as I could, several baskets; both tocarry earth, or to carry or lay up any thing as I had occasion for.Though I did not finish them very handsomely, yet I made themsufficiently serviceable for my purpose: and thus, afterwards, I tookcare never to be without them; and as my wicker-ware decayed, I mademore; especially strong deep baskets, to place my corn in, instead ofsacks, when I should come to have any quantity of it.
Having mastered this difficulty, and employed a world of time about it,I bestirred myself to see, if possible, how to supply two other wants. Ihad no vessel to hold any thing that was liquid, except two runlets,which were almost full of rum; and some glass bottles, some of thecommon size, and others (which were case-bottles) square, for theholding of waters, spirits, &c. I had not so much as a pot to boilanything; except a great kettle, which I saved out of the ship, andwhich was too big for such use as I desired it, viz. to make broth, andstew a bit of meat by itself. The second thing I would fain have had,was a tobacco-pipe; but it was impossible for me to make one; however, Ifound a contrivance for that too at last. I employed myself in plantingmy second row of stakes or piles, and also in this wicker-working, allthe summer or dry season; when another business took me up more timethan it could be imagined I could spare.
I mentioned before, that I had a great mind to see the whole island; andthat I had travelled up the brook, and so on to where I had built mybower, and where I had an opening quite to the sea, on the other side ofthe island. I now resolved to travel quite across to the sea-shore, onthat side: so taking my gun, a hatchet, and my dog, and a largerquantity of powder and shot than usual; with two biscuit-cakes, and agreat bunch of raisins in my pouch, for my store; I began my journey.When I had passed the vale where my bower stood, as above, I came withinview of the sea, to the west; and it being a very clear day, I fairlydescried land, whether an island or continent I could not tell; but itlay very high, extending from W. to W.S.W. at a very great distance; bymy 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 thanthat I knew it must be part of America; and, as I concluded, by all myobservations, must be near the Spanish dominions; and perhaps was allinhabited by savages, where, if I should have landed, I had been in aworse condition than I was now. I therefore acquiesced in thedispositions of Providence, which I began now to own and to believeordered every thing for the best; I say, I quieted my mind with this,and left off afflicting myself with fruitless wishes of being there.
Besides, after some pause upon this affair, I considered that if thisland was the Spanish coast, I should certainly, one time or other, seesome vessel pass or repass one way or other; but if not, then it was thesavage coast between the Spanish country and the Brazils, whoseinhabitants are indeed the worst of savages; for they are cannibals, ormen-eaters, and fail not to murder and devour all human beings that fallinto their hands.
With these considerations, walking very leisurely forward, I found thisside of the island, where I now was, much pleasanter than mine; the openor savannah fields sweetly adorned with flowers and grass, and full ofvery fine woods. I saw abundance of parrots; and fain would have caughtone, if possible, to have kept it to be tame, and taught it to speak tome. I did, after taking some pains, catch a young parrot: for I knockedit down with a stick, and, having recovered it, I brought it home: butit was some years before I could make him speak; however, at last Itaught him to call me by my name very familiarly. But the accident thatfollowed, though it be a trifle, will be very diverting in its place.
I was exceedingly amused with this journey. I found in the low groundshares, as I thought them to be, and foxes: but they differed greatlyfrom all the other kinds I had met with; nor could I satisfy myself toeat them, though I killed 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, pigeons, and turtle, ortortoise. With these, added to my grapes, Leadenhall-Market could nothave furnished a table better than I, in proportion to the company; andthough my case was deplorable enough, yet I had great cause forthankfulness; as I was not driven to any extremities for food; but hadrather plenty, even to dainties.
I never travelled on this journey above two miles outright in a day, orthereabouts; but I took so many turns and returns, to see whatdiscoveries I could make, that I came weary enough to the place where Iresolved to sit down for the night; and then I either reposed myself ina tree, or surrounded myself with a row of stakes, set upright in theground, either from one tree to another, or so as no wild creature couldcome at me without waking me.
As soon as I came to the s
ea-shore, I was surprised to see that I hadtaken up my lot on the worst side of the island: for here indeed theshore was covered with innumerable turtles; whereas, on the other side,I had found but three in a year and a half. Here was also an infinitenumber of fowls of many kinds; some of which I had seen, and some ofwhich I had not seen before, and many of them very good meat; but suchas I knew not the names of, except those called Penguins.
I could have shot as many as I pleased, but was very sparing of mypowder and shot; and therefore had more mind to kill a she-goat, if Icould, which I could better feed on. But though there were many goatshere, more than on my side the island, yet it was with much moredifficulty that I could come near them; the country being flat and even,and they saw me much sooner than when I was upon a hill.
I confess this side of the country was much pleasanter than mine; yet Ihad not the least inclination to remove; for as I was fixed in myhabitation, it became natural to me, and I seemed
