by Daniel Defoe
part of it ever gave me leave so much asto hope for.
Any one would think, that in this state of complicated good fortune, Iwas past running any more hazards, and so indeed I had been, if othercircumstances had concurred: but I was inured to a wandering life, hadno family, nor many relations; nor, however rich, had I contracted muchacquaintance; and though I had sold my estate in the Brazils, yet Icould not keep that country out of my head, and had a great mind to beupon the wing again; especially I could not resist the stronginclination I had to see my island, and to know if the poor Spaniardswere in being there. My true friend, the widow, earnestly dissuaded mefrom it, and so far prevailed with me, that, for almost seven years, sheprevented my running abroad; during which time I took my two nephews,the children of one of my brothers, into my care: the eldest havingsomething of his own, I bred up as a gentleman, and gave him asettlement of some addition to his estate, after my decease. The other Iput out to a captain of a ship: and after five years, finding him asensible, bold, enterprising young fellow, I put him into a good ship,and sent him to sea: and this young fellow afterwards drew me in, as oldas I was, to farther adventures myself.
In the mean time, I in part settled myself here; for, first of all, Imarried, and that not either to my disadvantage or dissatisfaction, andhad three children, two sons and one daughter; but my wife dying, and mynephew coming home with good success from a voyage to Spain, myinclination to go abroad, and his importunity, prevailed, and engagedme to go in his ship as a private trader to the East Indies: this was inthe year 1694.
In this voyage I visited my new colony in the island, saw my successorsthe Spaniards, had the whole story of their lives, and of the villains Ileft there; how at first they insulted the poor Spaniards, how theyafterwards agreed, disagreed, united, separated, and how at last theSpaniards were obliged to use violence with them; how they weresubjected to the Spaniards; how honestly the Spaniards used them; anhistory, if it were entered into, as full of variety and wonderfulaccidents as my own part: particularly also as to their battles with theCaribbeans, who landed several times upon the island, and as to theimprovement they made upon the island itself; and how five of them madean attempt upon the main land, and brought away eleven men and fivewomen prisoners; by which, at my coming, I found about twenty youngchildren on the island.
Here I stayed about twenty days; left them supplies of all necessarythings, and particularly of arms, powder, shot, clothes, tools, and twoworkmen, which I brought from England with me; viz. a carpenter anda smith.
Besides this, I shared the lands into parts with them, reserved tomyself the property of the whole, but gave them such parts respectively,as they agreed on; and, having settled all things with them, and engagedthem not to leave the place, I left them there.
From thence I touched at the Brazils, from whence I sent a bark, whichI bought there, with more people, to the island; and in it, besidesother supplies, I sent seven women, being such as I found proper forservice, or for wives to such as would take them. As to the Englishmen,I promised them to send them some women from England, with a good cargoof necessaries, if they would apply themselves to planting; which Iafterwards could not perform: the fellows proved very honest anddiligent, after they were mastered, and had their properties set apartfor them. I sent them also from the Brazils five cows, three of thembeing big with calf, some sheep, and some hogs, which, when I came againwere considerably increased.
But all these things, with an account how three hundred Caribbees cameand invaded them, and ruined their plantations, and how they fought withthat whole number twice, and were at first defeated and one of themkilled; but at last a storm destroying their enemies canoes, theyfamished or destroyed almost all the rest, and renewed and recovered thepossession of their plantation, and still lived upon the island.
All these things, with some very surprising incidents in some newadventures of my own, for ten years more, I shall give a farther accountof in another volume.
END OF, VOL.I.
