1 - The Island Discovered

 

WE were going under easy sail, about three or four knots an hour, with a light, fair breeze, which had held, on and off, the last couple of days. But we did not take advantage of it; for the captain was anxious to give a last chance to our companion ship, the Enterprise of Newhaven, to whom we had given the rendezvous these latitudes, before we bore away for California. So at least, he said; but I had my suspicions about what he might really be intending; and all along, a kind of misgiving the captain eyed me with distrust from time to time, and indeed more every day we sailed.

I looked round for some one with whom I might 'take counsel: but could not tell whom to trust. There was, indeed, an honest fellow named Tom Harvey among us, of whom I shall have enough to say by-and-bye: and I could have spoken to him more freely than to any one of the ship’s company beside. But, then, I did not know how far Tom’s discretion might extend: for my experience of life has taught me how few people there are who can keep a secret. The same applied to some of the others, and I knew even less of them. There was a Spanish priest on board, Don Manuel he was called; who had taken his passage on board with us for San Francisco, whither he was going to establish a mission of his order. More than once I resolved to speak to him: but I don’t know what kind of feeling held me back. I had been bred up a protestant; and though, at that time, indeed, had not much religion of any kind, still I felt unwilling to open my mind to a priest, one of a class of men I had always looked on with suspicion.

This priest, in truth, seemed a quiet man, who had a kind word for every one that came across him, though he did not speak much. He kept a good deal in the cabin, and was a hard reader, when he was not sea-sick.   He would come up and walk a little on deck, reading his book attentively, and speaking to himself. I thought, as I looked at him, he was saying his prayers; and I used to wonder how any man, priest or layman, could bear to say so many prayers in the course of the day. Once or twice he asked me some questions on medical subjects; chiefly on the treatment of wounds and fevers, and the use of herbs in their cure: and I could easily see he had studied those subjects a good deal. Well, notwithstanding our few conversations, the long and short of it was, I had never spoken to a priest before, and would not make up my mind to tell my thoughts to him.

Things were going on in this way, when, at about eleven in the forenoon of Monday, August the twenty-third, the man in the top suddenly sang out: Land on the larboard bow!” and a refreshing cry it was to us, who had been almost three weeks (including some calms), without seeing anything to break the everlasting sea-line all round us. Up we were at once in the shrouds, in the rigging, out upon the yards, at least the more active, sure-footed ones, all eyes straining to larboard. As for me, who was as eager as the rest, not whether this accident (as we did not expect land) would bring any change to the condition I was in, I made my way up to the mizen-top, with my own glass, and a very clear one it was, and proved a faithful companion to me afterwards, where I did not expect to keep it so long as it and I stayed together.

When I got into the top, I could see, plain enough, and without my glass, a haze stretching away to east-south-east of our course, like a thin bank of fog, and nothing more. It lay some ten or twelve miles from us, but so faint, I never should have taken it for a sign of land. The man on the watch was right, however, as it proved. We were sailing, as I have said, under a light breeze, three or four points from where it lay, our course being almost due south. But the captain now put the ship about, and we stood right in for it.

As we drew nearer, I could observe this haze, or heat, gradually melt away from the land, and leave it clear. But the first thing to be seen in the way of land was the peak of a mountain that seemed pretty near the center of the island (for an island we judged it to be), but nearer to its northernmost end. This ran up out of the mist before we could see the coast and lower grounds. It was in the form of a sugar-loaf, something like the Peak of Teneriffe, Spain's tallest peak and an active volcano, though so much smaller; only that it was somewhat flattened at the top. About halfway up, it was clothed with trees, as far as we could judge at our distance, and this was better seen the nearer we sailed. But all the upper part looked bare, with streaks down the sides of a greyish color: whence I concluded it to be a volcano, or burning mountain, and that those were streams of old lava, or melted rock, that had burst from the top of the mountain, and flowed down the sides, only hardened by cooling, perhaps ages ago. For the rest of the island, as we sailed in, it appeared green and wooded, well enough. We could see some small savannahs, or meadow-lands, very fresh and green, opening out among the woods: whence we judged the place must be furnished with fresh running water; or the heat, for we were now well within the tropics, would surely have burned them brown.

So strange a desire now possessed me, that I must needs go and visit this island, if it were possible, and explore some of those green valleys, to see what they contained, and where they led to. I wished also to have a nearer view of the mountain, having always taken much interest in reading of volcanoes, and tracing out the forms of some I had met with in different parts, though they had long ceased to burn, and had become overgrown with wood. In short, it was of no use for me to reason against myself: I was determined that if there should be a landing-party from the ship, go I would, and see what was to be seen.

Turning my glass from it at length, when I had scanned it over and over again from end to end, from the top of the sugar-loaf to a reef of low rocks that ran out south-west from its base, over which a strong surf was running, I gave a glance down upon deck. There stood the captain in earnest conversation with the first mate, of which I will have more to say.

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2 - The Landing

 

So, when preparations were, making to get ready the long-boat for shore, coming down upon deck again, I walked straightways to the captain, where he stood talking in a low voice with the mate, and asked that I might be of the party to land.

And here I must make a very natural reflection on the two things which this settled desire of mine may be taken in proof of: as, firstly, the little foresight we can have of what is to befall us; nay, sometimes the very moment before it will happen: as may be seen in a thousand unexpected turns, both for good and ill, in the progress of this changeful life. The other is, though I considered it not at the time, to see how the providence of our heavenly Father orders all for the best; overruling, aye, the most untoward events, and in the way we should least have expected or (sometimes) desired, to work our good in spite of ourselves. Here was I, a youngster, it might be said, compared with many of the crew, starting in life with fairer prospects than several of my betters have done; and now, blind mortal that I was, I came forward to get leave for a few hours that was not to expire for many years, and pronounce against myself, with my own lips, a sentence of banishment on a savage island! And yet, this very thing that I was now about to do against myself, as it seemed, was the means of my preservation, together with that of others. For I make no doubt, had I remained in the ship, both I and five more of us had found a watery, aye, and a bloody grave. She soon after turned pirate, as I have related, with all hands on board; and we, if we had been there, would have had the choice of joining them on their cruise of robbery, or have paid the forfeit of refusing.

Often, since then, have I lifted up hands and eyes to heaven, even with the want of all things, and on our desert island, that I had not long since been tied, neck and heels, with a twelve-pound shot to my feet, or sown up in a hammock, to be heaved overboard, or made to walk the plank, as the Spanish buccaneers treat the prisoners they sentence to drowning. For all these things I afterwards represented to my imagination, adding to it (though, you may be sure, in a secondary degree) the murder of Don Manuel, Tom Harvey, and the rest who were saved with myself. And this I used as a sovereign remedy against such fits of dejection, and almost despair, as came over me in the course of the years I am about to give some account of; when things were so bad with us, that we were fain to bear up against them by considering how they might have been worse.

But to make this short, let me come back to the day with which our troubles began. When I asked to go ashore, I was surprised, from some experience of our captain’s surly temper, how readily he granted my request. There was a look in his eye, and I did not understand it; nor indeed (and still less) did I understand the meaning of his words. “We shall not be long before this island”, said he; “but time enough for you to collect some of your rare plants: for that, I judge is what you are after; so there need be no hurrying back to the ship”.

By this, the long-boat was ready, and fitted with her sail as well as oars. While the men were lowering down two large jars for fresh water, and stowing away our day’s rations, together with some fowling-pieces, two muskets, and ammunition (for we were to be provided against wild beasts, as well as have means of killing some luxury in the way of an antelope, or a goat or two; and no small treat that would be to men who had tasted nothing for some weeks but salted meat), I ran down the companion-ladder for Don Manuel, our Spanish priest, to ask him to come ashore and see what the island furnished in the way of strange plants and herbs. I found him prepared; for he, too, had spoken to the captain, and got leave as readily as I. He had with him a large portfolio of sheets of blank paper, to preserve such plants in as would wither in the hand; a pruning knife to cut them; and a small case of writing materials, to note anything worthy of observation in his way of remark. These, with his prayer-book (his Breviary, he called it), that was scarce ever out of his hand; a staff shod with iron, for climbing, or pushing through the bush; and a large cloak with sleeves, such as he told me the priests of his country wear on their journeys, made up all his preparations.

For my part, I hastily laid hands on some things I thought I should want; as, my faithful companion, the telescope, which I slung across my shoulders; a rifle that had been my father’s, and would carry a great distance, though now somewhat worn; a bag of rifle-balls and large horn of powder, a cutlass or hanger, and a strong, serviceable clasp-knife in my pocket. This last, together with a ball of twine, I took for the sake of any collection of plants I might be able to make during our rambles. I know not by what providence it was, but surely from the whisper of some good and friendly spirit in mine ear, that I handed down into the boat my fishing-rod and tackle: as, namely, a leathern pouch, containing two or three reels of strong fishing-lines, and a book of artificial flies for casting at salmon and trout. These I had myself carefully tied, to beguile the tediousness of the voyage, having been well used to the fishing of the streams in my native Welsh mountains.

The ship was by this time hove-to, a mile and a half from the island; for they were afraid to venture further in, owing to the many small coral-islets, and jags of rock, that lay dotting the sea all about, as well as the dangerous reefs, some of which we could see beneath us, the water being very clear. Into the long-boat we got; seven seamen, besides Don Manuel and myself: pushed off at once, and spread our sail, which was of the kind they call a shoulder-of-mutton sail. The wind became less steady as we neared the shore; and indeed there came, now and then, little puffs or flaws of wind from the valleys, that were very refreshing; and we could perceive the moist, fresh scent of the trees cast to seaward, so delightful as none can tell who have never known a long sea voyage. 

And now we had some ado to keep clear of the reefs, which seemed to run out in all directions from this island. Tis true, that which I had observed from the ship’s top appeared the most considerable and dangerous, and the surf beat over it violently, though there was so little wind stirring. Yet I noticed others too, some above the water and more beneath, so that we grounded once or twice, and had like to have been stopped altogether.

We were forced to take down our sail, and trust to our oars, that the boat might answer more readily to her helm. As I looked over the gunwale upon the reefs below (the water being, as I said, exceedingly clear), they seemed to be of two kinds, which I could distinguish from each other. The one darker, and not coming so near the level of the sea; and these stretched away in lines, some very broad, from the island. This kind I took to be streams of rock, once melted, and flowing down, ages ago, from the top of the sugar-loaf cone: for that, I felt sure, was an old burning mountain, though its fires had been quenched, aye, perhaps some hundreds of years, or more. The other sort of reefs looked as if they grew up from the first kind, and these came near to the surface, and sometimes quite, but never much above it. Some were bright in color, both white and red, or yellow, by which, and their growth, I knew them for rocks of coral. In places, they branched out under the sea, like the specimens that are brought home to Europe, only much larger: others were so decked and grown over with sea- weeds, such as they have in the tropics, that there were, I may say, two whole forests growing under us, plainly to be seen through the water, the forest of rock and the forest of weeds.

But the end of all this was, we had a difficult passage towards land; and were glad enough to find, after some trials, a sort of winding channel, between two of the dark ledges of rock that came shelving down from the mountain and dipped at an angle quite into the sea. These rocky walls (for they stood pretty high) sheltered us from the surf, which we heard breaking loud on other parts of the shore. Only, indeed, a roller, as they call it, came once and again after us from the open sea, and caught the boat’s stern with some violence; sending us along the channel we had found, swifter than we would. And, had not our steersman been a nimble fellow, and well up to his business, we had most likely been stalled against the rocks before we got further on our adventures. This afforded him ground, with two of the men, to swear he would not take the boat further than a corner which we turned just after it happened. Here we found a little natural harbor, worn in the rock, as it seemed, by the high tides, when the sea was swollen by the wind from south-by-west. These men now said, plain and rough, they were in trust of the boat, and would not risk staving her, or getting her back to the ship in bad condition. They bade us take out our fowling-pieces, with the jars for fresh water; and explore the island as much as we would, if only we might reach the ship again by the time all hands were piped to hammocks. For themselves, they said, they were content to stay there with the boat, or ramble about the rocks, and try their luck with fishing (for they had brought some reels with them, as well as tinder to strike a light), or to catch fresh crabs and other shell-fish, enough to make a broil of, in the pools below high-water mark.

I make no doubt, in looking back upon all this, that they parted thus readily with the firearms, to take away any suspicions we might have of what they intended. Nor were we, on our side (we, I mean, who landed and left the three men there) so simple as would appear at first sight: for their proposal came so reasonable, and was made with such seamanlike frankness, that no ground appeared to entertain any thoughts against them. However; be it that we were wise or foolish (for ’tis of small use now to determine), sure I am we were heartily glad to find our feet, on land, and thought of little else. As to the priest, he did not half understand what they said, so could make no great objection. For though he spoke English pretty well, yet it was like one who had learned it out of books, as indeed (he told me afterwards) was the case. And there were many of the sea-phrases in use among the crew which, to be sure, were not found in his books: so that he, who of the whole party was like to have made a calm judgment on our proceeding, chanced to be the one who least understood it.

Well, we scrambled up the rocks, as best we might; not without slips and bruises, for the seaweed was thickly grown hereabout, and slippery as ice. It was well for us we escaped without sprains, or worse, which might, as we afterwards found ourselves, have proved a serious matter to us. But when we got above high-water mark (and that we did with no small trouble), our travelling was easier, upon one of those streaks or pathways of rock leading up towards the mountain: like a sort of road up-hill, only rough on the surface, so that soon it would have worn out our shoes.

Before we left the little harbor where the boat lay, one of the three men came up with our fowling-pieces: as to my rifle, I managed to carry that with me. He also threw us the ends of two ropes worked into a noose, and passed round each of the water-jars, so that we easily hauled these jars up the rock after us. Then they all bade us not be overtaken by night on the island and promised (with many oaths) they would stay for us where they were. So we turned away with light hearts for our expedition — and never saw them on shore again. 

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3 - We Sart For a Ramble

 

Twenty steps, or thereabouts, brought us off this rough rock; and then we found ourselves treading over a thick, soft carpet of mossy meadow, kept fresh by a little runnel of pure, sweet water, that found its way down to the sea through the same shaded valley that was leading us up into the interior of the island. Over our heads, the trees arched and met one another, lacing their branches across, to form a natural bower, which the rays of the sun could not penetrate, or very dimly. And many of them were such trees as we had never seen, though I had read of them often; with ferns and reeds, from ten to eighteen feet high. For, as we had come from a colder latitude, and had not touched land before, this was our first acquaintance with the vegetation of the tropics.

The change from our confinement on ship-board, together with the freshness and perfume of the avenue through which our line of march lay, and which you might have supposed was planted and kept in order on purpose for our benefit, with the knowledge, too, that we had some hours before us on this delightful island (so it now seemed) to do what we would and range where we pleased; all these things did so raise our spirits, that I, for my part, could scarce keep from racing along the avenue: and Harvey and another of the seamen broke out into singing snatches of their rude sea songs. Even Don Manuel appeared more excited than was common with him: and the whole party kept laughing and talking, some saying one thing, some another, but all merry and contented: till on a sudden I stopped, and bade them remember, we were all in an unknown land, and knew not, as yet, what we might have to encounter. It might, I said, be savages, or it might be wild beasts. “ Please God, it may be neither”, said the priest, and crossed himself. “I hope so too, sir”, added I; “ but no one of us can tell: and the part of prudence is, to guard against whatever may come”. 
So we agreed to keep all close together, and march in some sort of order. I volunteered to lead the vanguard, and told them the reason; not that I claimed any authority over them, (men being jealous enough about that, where each reckoned himself as good as his fellow), but because I was better armed with my rifle, and wished to take a full share of the danger, whatever it might be. After me, came the three men with fowling-pieces: the muskets had been left in the boat, as seemed only reasonable, for defence of those who stayed in her.
And here is a place, as good as any, for giving a list of our party as we stood there, and loaded our arms for our ramble up the country.
First, I place Tom Harvey at the head of the list; for a more active, honest, cheerful fellow I believe never sailed. He became my right-hand man, always ready to second me in whatever was for good order and good feeling among our party.
Then comes Edward Hilton; a well-disposed lad enough in himself, but easily led by others of a firmer character than he; and one that gave me some trouble afterwards, on that very score.
These two completed, in my mind, the brighter side of the picture: for as to the other couple of seamen, Richard Prodgers, and Harry Gill, I had not so much trust in them; though indeed they were not quite the black sheep of the vessel’s crew, neither.
For Don Manuel, I knew not as yet what place to give him in my thoughts. As I have said, he was a Catholic priest, and I knew no Catholics at all. What I had seen of him was quiet and harmless: but I had my opinion still to form; and, on the whole, rather a prejudice against him, except when we conversed on the subjects we had in common, botany and medicine.

Lastly, as to the three we had left in the boat, they were among the very worst of the. crew, though the most in the captain’s confidence: and I was heartily glad when I found they were to be none of our party.

But now, our first care was to fill the jars with fresh water: and this was soon done, by placing them in the channel of the little stream that was running swiftly by us. We scooped out with our hands so much of its bed as to sink them to half their depth in the gravel and stones; then built up the stones we had displaced, into a kind of wall, or dyke, on both sides of the jars, till the water rose towards their brims. So we left them ; knowing they would both be filled within a quarter of an hour.

After this, the important matter was, to decide upon the plan of our campaign. I summoned a council of war; told them, as our time was not long (about four or five hours, at the most, for it was now past three), we should consider how best to explore the island, and the mountain, which seemed the most remarkable part of it, while our leave of absence lasted. That we had come for a ramble, and a ramble we would have; for I supposed none of them wished to lie down under the trees, and sleep away their time — a thing they might do as well under the shade of a sail on board ship. At this they all laughed, and declared for an active bout of it till they must go aboard again. Then, said I, my proposal is, to make a circuit under the base of yonder mountain, following its bend, but still keeping in the valley, for plants and game. In this we may spend a couple of hours, or thereabouts: then double back, and return to this spot over a part of the mountain itself, yet not to ascend too high. Our return will take from two hours and a half to three hours, allowing for the ruggedness of the travelling we may expect to find on the mountain. And thus, what with our progress through the lowlands, what with the elevation of our homeward journey, we shall have seen what the island produces, had a view of both sides of it (for to all appearance it cannot extend far beyond the mountain), and may chance to meet with some wild game on the way.

Such was my plan, and I heard no voice raised against it. Indeed, as is often to be remarked, where there is no point started which touches their self-love, or interest, the ninetenths of mankind are only too glad to have their plans laid down for them, or anything to save them the trouble of thinking for themselves. This was just the case now. No one amongst us had anything better to propose, so they all agreed, and we started. First, I led the way, by general consent: my rifle ready slung for immediate use, and my hanger at my side. Next, very naturally, for we had our specimens to collect, and were the most suited companions, came the Spanish priest, armed with such a staff as they use in going over the Alps, and his long cloak gathered over his shoulders for more easy walking. Then Prodgers, Harvey, and Gill, with their fowling-pieces. Lastly, Ned Hilton brought up the rear with a marlin-spike which he had borrowed out of the boat ; for, being an easy fellow, he let himself be over-persuaded by the rest, though I afterwards found he could shoot with the best of them, and indeed better than Prodgers, by a good deal. However, in this world (we all know), things are carried away, not by the most able, but by the most determined, to use them.

4 - Deserted

 

We struck up, then, towards the inland; and at first we followed the channel of this stream, which led us up a ground that sloped away towards the base of the mountain. Here was a kind of mossy lane, over-arched and shaded by groves of various trees, as bananas, plantains, pepul, banians, cocoa-nuts, and palm trees of several kinds, some very tall and feathery, others with a broad spreading leaf, such as they use to thatch their houses in the Havannahs and Philippine Islands. It was, indeed, a sort of alley that any rich owner in those plantations would give a good deal to have near his house; with a swift brook leaping, now to this side, now to that, through all its length; which gathered itself up in little pools of still water, or fell over the stones with a noise that sounded refreshing in the great heat of the day.
We determined not to part company with this stream, so long as it did not take us out of our course; for though at times we had to climb over rough uneven ground, and swing ourselves round the roots of such trees as came too near the brink, as many times, indeed, they did quite overhang it, yet we considered that this way of traveling was easier than to force ourselves through the close thicket on either side, where we might be torn by the prickly shrubs for our pains, and less able for defense against a sudden enemy.
For my own part, I was on the look-out for an occasion of getting up to the higher ground, that so we might be better judges of the whole extent of the island, I believe it was not laid down on any of the ship’s charts: and this, I remark by the way, appeared afterwards to be the reason why Hopkins, the captain, determined with the mate to leave us on it: that he might escape being tried for our murder, yet have us safe where we had little chance of being picked off again, to give evidence against him for his villainy.
Now, however, suspecting no evil, and all in the gayest mood, we judged ourselves to be the first discoverers of the place; and Hilton, taking off his handkerchief and tying it to the top of his pike, struck that into the soil, and took possession (he said) of the island in King George’s name. This made us laugh; as, indeed, a little thing would have made us laugh on that holiday of ours. So, following it up, we fell into some kindly contention how to name our new-discovered island.
I proposed it should be called Manuel’s Island, out of compliment to the priest, whom, as being of another nation, we might consider a sort of guest, claiming hospitality on our ground. But I found at once, by the men’s looks, this was a notion they disliked altogether, though none spoke, except Don Manuel himself. And he at once thanked me, with that courtesy which belongs to his nation, wherein they are rivalled by few, I believe, among all people in the world. “Senor”, says he, (that was his Spanish way of expressing Sir,) with a manner between jest and earnest, “you are too good to think of me on such an occasion. A poor priest has no claim or title to give his name to any spot on this great earth: he is called to spend his strength, or shed his blood, wherever his Master sends him; “tis quite enough”, added he, raising his looks, “if his name be written in heaven”.
“ But”, continued the priest, and his manner as he spoke made us all attend; it was so earnest and natural, withal so courteous to each, that the rough seamen listened to him as if he had dropped among them from the trees, or the skies: — “whether,” says he, “we are really the first who have set foot on this place or not, it must be acknowledged on all hands that we have been led hither by the good providence of God”. ‘And here he bowed his head, lifting his hat as he spoke. “So I propose, gentlemen, that in honor of Him who created all, and has preserved us safe to this moment, we call the island after some of the great truths of that religion He has revealed. And surely”, said he, looking round on us with a cheerful smile, “ we may find something sacred in which we can all agree, whereby to christen the place?”
When he had thus expressed himself, I must candidly own, the men looked at one another as if they had never heard such a proposal before, and what the priest said was the very last thing in their thoughts. I was taken aback, indeed, at the idea of it; for at that time I must confess myself to have been without any serious thought of religion at all: and did not feel to like the priest more for having proposed this.
“Well, Senores”, said he, observing our looks, as we all moved onward again, “ among my countrymen, as you have known in the course of your voyages, a discovery like this would be marked by some title borrowed from the gospel, and the history of the Catholic Church. We should call the island after the Incarnation of the Son of God, that is, the Annunciation; or in honour of the Conception of His most holy Mother; or after all the saints; or the True Cross, or some special saint, Saint Francis, Saint Dominic, Saint Thomas; and these names, with many like them, are familiar to those of you who have touched at the Spanish settlements. Some of those titles could not be expected in this case, since you, Senores, do not admit the thoughts which they express: but why should we not call the place the Isle of the Resurrection?”
“And I propose”, quoth Prodgers, breaking in roughly, “ that we call it No Mans Land; for it belongs to us all equally, and ’t is our property, until the ship fires the evening gun”.
“Or Gill’s Country”, said Harry Gill, “for I first jumped ashore, and set my foot on the island”.
“Aye, and measured it too”, remarked Hilton, “ for I saw you sprawling at full length among the sea-weed”.
So, with one discourse or another, but all good-humoured, we accomplished our ramble for the two hours we had allowed ourselves. We saw game in plenty; chiefly of the hare kind, and a species of peccary or wild hog, with here and there an antelope, rushing through the thicket as we drew near. But we would not load ourselves with them at that time, trusting to a shot or two on our return to the boat. Of birds we saw not many, except some flights of macaws and parrots, very brilliant in colour, and noisy, that flew over our heads.
The wood now grew so thick and pathless, that we nearly lost our reckoning; and quite lost our companion, the stream, though we had tasted of it several times to slake our thirst on this hot, weary march, for so it now became to us. Struggling hard, we scrambled by main force out of this wood; and found, by the rise, we were on the slope of the mountain, turning to our left hand from the direction of our first entrance.
At this point we cried a halt; and sitting down, took out what few provisions we had brought with us, which we divided equally among our number, and made a meal that was too scanty to be a long one.
This done, “Now, my friends”, said I, “a short climb will take us high enough to afford a clear view on both sides; and we shall see out to the leeward of this island: then we must push on smartly for the boat, lest we lose our way in the dark. Remember how suddenly night comes on in these latitudes”. I also told them, though we had hitherto reserved our fire, yet (as we had seen no sign of savages, but plenty of game), when once our faces were turned homewards, or shipwards rather, we would let fly at anything living that came in our way.
This being agreed to, we began the ascent; and disentangling ourselves from the last of the brushwood, soon found we were on the mountain indeed: for it cost us some hard climbing, this side being the steepest, as we afterwards found. The trees here were almost as close as the thicket below, so that we partly lost our way; and bending too much back towards the shore, we had, not a view of the further side of the island, but a sight that did not leave our eyes (our mind’s eye , I mean) for months, and decided our fate for years.
For we came at once on a spot of clearer ground, with an opening left in the trees, that looked straight out to seaward. Whether it had been so cleared by some violent gust of wind, or other natural cause, I know not; but we now saw, in the very middle of the view, the long-boat, using both oars and sail, just within a few strokes of the ship; then the men we left in her, clambering up the vessel’s sides, and at once all sails set for standing out to sea.

5 - It Might Have Been Worse

 

If you have seen anyone on whom a sudden, great misfortune has fallen, in the first transports of his grief and raging despair, trample the ground, tear his hair wildly, fling his clenched hands abroad, seek for someone on whom to revenge himself, and by a thousand violent actions give vent to the extremity of his passionate sorrow, you may have some picture of the conduct of these men and myself, when this most woeful sight burst on us. We ran about, up and down the rocks, stamping, yelling like madmen out of Bedlam. We glared at each other like wild beasts; and I know not why some of us did not fling ourselves down the sides of the mountain, in bitter grief, to die in the gullies below.
Then, at times again we would pause, and look eagerly towards the ship, as fain to persuade ourselves that all was but a rude sailor’s jest, intended merely to fright us. We said to one another, fiercely, with vehemence, trying to believe what we said, that we should see the long-boat with her sail set, tacking back for us against the breeze, which now blew off shore. But truly, we might have waited long for such a chance; and all this dreadful suspense was ended when we saw the ship fill her sails, and stand steadily off on her former course. At the moment she veered we saw a puff of smoke; and then came the report of one of her guns, fired wantonly by way of heaping insult on our wretchedness; which gave us to understand, all hope was over for us. At the sight of such a token of savage cruelty on the part of the crew, the men broke out anew into such curses, ravings, and passionate laments, as were more fit for those transported beside themselves, than for reasonable creatures, who should gather their spirits and courage to make the best of a bad case.
But indeed reason was, at that time, the last thing to be found among us; and we did but add to each other’s grief: for when one, exhausted by his violence, would be silent for a while, another would take it up, as though he had never lamented before; and thus set all off again by the contagion of his voice and looks. So that I believe there has seldom been shown a more lively image of the rage and despairing lamentations of those who are lost for ever, than in us five who then found ourselves left on the island.
I say, us five; for we had no thought of the priest all this while, nor leisure so much as to observe how he bore himself in the common misfortune that involved us. We knew what we had lost, and were fully occupied with that: as for him, we knew not, and cared not, either what he had lost, or what he possessed. He had been our companion in our ramble, and pleasant enough we had found him; but when anything more than a mere pastime engaged us, we turned inward on ourselves, or looked on each other only, thinking no more about him than if he inhabited another world, or (to come closer), another island of desolation. At length, wearied out with our long march, and exhausted by all this raving, partly too by want of food, we sank into a kind of stupid and settled despair, casting ourselves down on the place where we had stood. There would one seaman lie, burying his face in his hands, and weeping even like a child. Another would sit, clasping his knees, and turning his face towards heaven, but without uttering a prayer. A third man, with his teeth set, and his features awry, more like a savage or a maniac, would watch the sails of the ship, as they came between us and the setting sun; then shake his clenched hand at her while she glided away, muttering somewhat most dreadful to listen to. As for me, I cannot indeed boast that my angry passions were more under command than theirs, or much more, to signify; yet reason sooner came to the rescue with me, and I saw the need of not giving way, but thinking for the rest. While I sat, and rested my head on my hand, I began to cast about with myself what was best to advise under our unhappy condition. After a while, chancing to turn my eyes aside, I noticed Don Manuel, some thirty paces from us, kneeling on the rock, with his hands clasped; and he was plainly deep in prayer.
I watched him for some minutes; but he did not stir, nor indeed did he see me at all. Then I rose, and went softly to him, touching him on the shoulder. As he looked up, I could perceive the traces of tears on his cheeks; this, I now confess, was what first disposed me more kindly towards him, to see him grieve in our common misfortune, though he had taken it to heart in so different a way from the rest.
“You Sir”, said I, with as much calmness as I could, “ it behoves us, in these unhappy affairs, to consult as well for ourselves as for those who are nearly beside their wits with grief, or rage, which you will: and, as night will soon come upon us, no time is to be lost in preparing (since needs we must) to camp without shelter upon this island”.
He rose at once, looked at me in a friendly way; then, with the manner of a prince, yet quite simple and humble too, he motioned me to a seat beside him on the rock, and taking my hand with much kindness, said:
“Senor, we have all suffered a great misfortune together; or rather let me say”, and he crossed himself devoutly, “we have been the objects of a great deliverance. Nothing of this has taken me entirely by surprise: for I have, this while past, seen somewhat to be wrong with the crew, and that they would soon be rid of some they had on board. So we will give thanks to God, and bear our lot with equal mind. We are, indeed, ill provided even with things necessary to continue our lives on this place; but, though I much desired to give you a hint before leaving the ship, I could neither do that without being suspected by the captain, nor myself take anything away with me. True, I have little in this world but my cloak and a few books, for which, I confess, I grieve; yet I grieve more for you. But Providence has shielded us hitherto, and will shield us still”.
“Courage”, then said he, rising, and still holding my hand; “ let us go to these poor men; let us try to console them, and make our preparations all together”.

So, stepping to the rest, he addressed them in a few simple words. He was sure (he said), as brave seamen, they would bear up against their misfortune: that when a sailor leaves port, he commits himself to wind and weather, and a thousand chances; he is never certain how he will live, nor how he will die, nor where he will be buried. But we had reason, he said, to be thankful to God that our lot was not a worse one. We might have been boarded by pirates, massacred, or sold as slaves, or kidnapped for the plantations; the ship might have been burnt at sea, and we swamped in the boats, or perishing of hunger. We might all have foundered together in deep water, or suffered shipwreck, and been cast by the fury of the waves on some inhospitable coast with nothing in our hands, and perhaps a defenseless prey to cannibal savages. It was the part of brave men therefore not to be cast down so long as a hope remained of repairing their fortunes; that the preservation of our lives was an instinct implanted in us by the Author of our being; and finally, that our business for the moment was, to establish ourselves in safety for the night upon this island, and leave all further deliberation for the morrow.
In short, though I do not pretend that he expressed himself in these terms with great readiness, seeing he was forced to translate his thoughts into our language; yet he made us so moving a little discourse, and so persuasive, partly from the words themselves, partly from his manner of delivering them, that it was plain to see the poor men were strengthened and encouraged by it to a great degree. And having so far succeeded, he directed them to search in the thickets for the driest and fittest brushwood to kindle a fire. With the help of my hanger and the seamen’s clasp-knives, it was soon done as he advised; and a space found on the rock, that seemed like a natural hearth, hollowed by no hand of man into a kind of shallow basin. This we cleared of its earth and moss, and disposed our brushwood there for our bonfire. We laid aside another large heap of brush, and a quantity of dry turf, which we pulled up in large clods from the soil, enough altogether to feed our fire through the few hours of dark. Then, by Don Manuel’s advice, each one looked carefully to the priming of his piece, and freshened it, lest the powder might take injury by the night dews, and so render us defenceless against any attack. For the same reason, they were reminded to keep the locks of their fowling-pieces carefully covered while they lay down to sleep. But Tom Harvey volunteered to keep watch over us all, and not to lie down through the night. I offered to share this duty with him, turn and turn about, in the manner of dog-watches on board ship: but he said cheerfully, it should be my turn the next night, if I would; that he would rather stay awake one night and have full rest another, than have broken rest for two in succession; which indeed is the hardest part of all sea service.
For beds we were at no loss: there was moss all about, and dry leaves in abundance, very fragrant, as was the wood also which we burned on the fire. Don Manuel stepped a little aside to finish his prayers, as I could well perceive by the firelight; for now, the sun being down, the darkness of the tropics was upon us at once. But we, without any prayers at all, like ungrateful heathen wretches that we were, cast ourselves on these couches of leaves, with our feet to the fire, and so all was still.

6 - Night & Morning

HOW the others got through that first night of our exile, I scarce knew at the time; only that all was quiet, and Harvey with his gun going to and fro, near to our fire, feeding the blaze from time to time with fresh armfuls of the dry brushwood that he had drawn together in a heap. This, I felt sure, would keep off any wild animals that might be prowling in our neighbourhood; it being well known by all hunters, and such as have occasion to camp in the woods, that even the fiercest tigers of the Indian jungles, unless they are pressed by great hunger, will not so much as approach a fire by night.
Being made easy then on that point, and indeed on that only, I fell to considering our unhappy deserted lot, which did little improve for being thought upon. For though, tis true, no one of us was cast ashore alone and solitary, some others have been, yet the benefit of mutual society by no means outweighed the destitute state we were in, unprovided with anything but our fire-arms only.  “How”, I reflected, “ shall we build, or plant here? how even burrow out dwellings for ourselves in the earth or the rocks, like some savage tribes? How shall we so much as cut down a tree, or smooth a plank, or snare the birds and animals of the island, to tame them? By what means can we supply ourselves with clothes, or defend our lives against the violent monsoons and rainy seasons of the tropics? And when our small stock of ammunition is once spent in coming at our daily necessary food, with what contrivances are we to purvey to ourselves any living from that time onward?”
To these questions I found no comfortable answer in my thoughts; and, as if I had turned Job’s comforter against myself, I went on further to consider thus: “You are”, said I, addressing myself inwardly, “surrounded indeed by companions in misfortune, who have all one common interest with your own; to wit, mutual assistance and kindliness in bettering their sad condition. But who shall warrant that they will view it thus? For men, in the very blindness of a selfish desire to have their way, are prone to run counter every day to their true interest and that of others with them. Or, if things begin well, yet with such rude materials as you have about you, how long .will they continue so? And what authority can you establish among them, for the benefit of each and all?”
In short, after tormenting my thoughts, as many another has done, with the prospect of future ills, and inventing a multitude of possible and imaginary ones, as, attacks from cannibal savages and wild beasts, poison from venomous reptiles or unknown, noxious herbs, and I know not what other forebodings of harm, I gave way to exhaustion like the rest, and fell asleep till morning. One thing I did not forget; and that was, to wind up my watch, as I well knew mine to be the only time-piece in our whole colony. “Yet what matters time to us”, I asked myself, with much sadness, now that we are commencing the life of savages here? It will be enough for us to see the sun rise and set, to know another day is added to our misery. And for the seasons, we shall feel when it is warm and cold, wet and dry, until we feel nothing further”. Thinking in this way, I did indeed know nothing more, till I was awoke by the sun through the trees, and the screaming of the parrots over my head.
It was a wonder I had not awoke before this; for two guns had been fired, and with some success, to procure us our first breakfast on the island. One of these was Harvey’s piece, and the other Gill’s. When I shook off my sleep, and came to where they were seated round the fire, I found they had brought in some game: for Tom had shot (at least wounded, and then secured by some hard running) a peccary, such as we had seen the day before; and Harry Gill had brought down a bird like a bustard, that he had sprung in a piece of marshy ground, about a quarter of a mile from our encampment.
Though I considered it imprudent in a high degree to let off fire-arms when, as yet, we knew so little of the island, still, the thing being now done, and so much remaining to be settled when breakfast was over, I said nothing, but bade them good morning as cheerfully as I could, and set to work to help in the cooking of our meat. Here was indeed a difficulty for us; for though several of our number (like most practised seamen) were tolerable cooks, as far as a plain boil or stew on board ship went, yet what will the best cook do, when he has nothing but his meat and his fire to work with? Here were we, with no sign of a kettle, or pan, not so much as a dripping ladle to prevent our meat burning at the fire; plenty of material, but no way of making it useful to us. And though the proverb says, too many cooks spoil the broth, I believe there have been seldom collected so many cooks together, with so little chance of having any broth at all among them.
There was abundant proof of the difference in men’s characters as we all stood around the fire, and looked at the game we could find no means to dress. Some grumbled and swore, some laughed at their own perplexity, some set about devising first one thing, then another. Prodgers was chief among the surly ones, as Tom Harvey among the jokers. As to Hilton, being (as I said) one of those who take their cue too much from others, he now swore with Prodgers, and then laughed with honest Tom. However, for want of anything better, we cut us some sharp straight reeds from a thicket, of a kind of bamboo, to serve for spits; we skinned the animal and plucked our bustard, then spitted them, and prepared to roast.
But who should come to our help, and show us a better way? The last person, except a wild Indian, we could ever guess at. Don Manuel had been, up to this, walking slowly at a little distance from us, reading his book, as usual. He now closed it, and drew near; and in his cheerful, courteous way: “A fair morning to you”, says he, “Senores and brothers in misfortune: let me try and contribute my small efforts for our common good”. And then he explained, that he had heard of some natives of such islands as abound in hogs and goats, who had an ingenious way of cooking, or baking their meat. They make, says he, a hole in the earth, line it with stones red-hot from the fire, to serve as a kind of rude oven; then put in the meat, covering it carefully with several layers of broad leaves, and overlay the whole with earth and stones. “So now, if you will”, continued he, “we will take a hint from the savages, until we find out some better method for ourselves”.
We thanked him heartily, and with some surprise, at discovering that he knew anything about such matters. But he said, with a smile, a priest who left his own country upon foreign missions was obliged to be 

Soldier or sailor,

Joiner or tailor,

Gentleman, apothecary,

Whitesmith, and all! 

Where he had picked up those odd lines I cannot guess; but I know that his cheerful, friendly manner did more to comfort us under our hard lot, and put us in good humour with ourselves and each other, than anything else at that moment could have done. Every one began to feel a sort of confidence in following his directions; and the prospect of a
good breakfast quickened our motions. So, having understood his plan, we bustled about merrily to follow it. Some went in search of stones of the proper size and shape to heat in the fire; and these were put into the hottest of the flame. Others got a heap of dry brushwood to freshen the fire itself, which soon blazed out more fiercely than we could well stand to. One went in search of leaves to lay upon the meat when the hot stones were ready to put round it ; and a fourth cut a sharp stake or two from the thicket, to make shift for spades. With these we turned up enough of earth to bank over our oven. All being now ready, we waited a short time till Don Manuel (from whom we took evety direction without questioning) told us the fire had heated the earth and stones to the right pitch, and that we might clear away the embers to build our oven on the rock.

7 - The First Meal, and the First Parliament

 

“Moreover gentlemen”, said the priest, pointing with his hand to a tree that grew perhaps fifty yards from our fire; “see if a merciful Providence hath not sent us bread as well as meat! Truly we should be doubly ungrateful not to thank Him with all our hearts”. The men looked at him with wonder, doubting what he spoke of. Only, sure were they, from his manner, that he was not jesting now. “I am much mistaken”, added Don Manuel, turning to me, “ if yonder be not one of the bread-fruit trees we have read of; and the first”, added he in his cheerful way, “who brings us some of the fruit, will be a herald of good news to our colony.”
No sooner said than done: for Harvey started off, and Hilton with him, after this new bread; while we stood laughing at their race, cheering them with our voices, and clapping of hands. They reached the tree nearly together, and began shaking it, one on either side, to make the fruit fall into their hands. But the trunk was too stout for that, so that they did but lose their labour; and the fruit itself, which grew in a kind of large apple, or gourd, the size of a good penny loaf, was so high out of their reach that, do what they would, there was no getting at it, no, not by jumping their best. “I see”, said Don Manuel, “I must be baker’s man as well as cook;” and he moved towards them with his long staff. But Harry Gill was now beforehand with him; for, seizing the marlinspike, he made off at the top of his speed, and before the other two could pick off a single apple with stones, he had brought half a dozen of them to the ground.
Don Manuel met them half way. “It is indeed the bread-fruit tree!” exclaimed he, when he had examined the fruit. “Give thanks, my friends, for a great boon from heaven; as I doubt not you have given thanks for your deliverance out of the ship. If this be not a solitary tree, which is very unlikely, and if it be the kind that will grow from slips or cuttings, we shall have enough of excellent bread, and to spare. So, let us first pay our tribute to the great Giver.”
Seeing that none of us stirred or assented (I am ashamed to record it against ourselves), he then solemnly took off his hat, laid it at his feet, and holding one of the fruits in either hand, uttered, with a loud, clear voice, something in Latin, which, though I was not used to his mode of pronouncing the language, I took to be a short form of praise. Having spoken this with his eyes raised to heaven, he kissed the fruit, as though he had received it straight from thence: then, turning to us, said; “And now, Senores, it is high time to look after our breakfast.”
I know not by what magic this man seemed at once to have gained such an ascendant over our minds. Every one of us went hither and thither, and just did this or that, because he so recommended it; yet there was nothing of authority in his words, which indeed would at that time have revolted our wills against him: but all was quiet and gentle, in the extreme. But I greatly believe this influence he exercised upon us arose from our clearly perceiving him to have no ends of his own to serve in what he proposed to be done; also because he was ever willing cheerfully to bear his part in every fatigue and inconvenience that affected us: in which disposition no one came up to him, except only Tom Harvey, and this we felt the more, as time went on and we were better acquainted.
But now, to return to our breakfast, or the preparations for it; Don Manuel, to our great satisfaction, promised us some excellent toasted bread with our pork: and though the men scarce knew how this was to be purveyed, for they had never seen or heard of the bread-fruit before, they put such trust in what he promised as to believe it would, somehow, be as he said. So, by his directions, the hollow slab of rock where we had kindled our fire over-night, was now swept clear of the burning wood; and the stones, which by this were redhot, ranged around by the help of our gun-barrels and sticks, so that an open space was left, large enough to hold the game we had killed. When we had placed our peccary and bustard on this heated rock, and surrounded them with the stones, whereon we likewise placed our bread-fruits to bake, by and bye such a savory smell arose, as almost tempted us to fall-to without waiting for any further cookery.
Prodgers, in particular, who was the most self-willed, or the hungriest among us, or both, began to insist on having his portion at once. But he was out-voted by the rest; and we covered the meat quickly with the palms and plantain leaves we had gathered: over these, again, we laid other stones, and made all tight by strewing on the top a layer or two of earth and rocky sand.
“A short half-hour, gentlemen,” then said Don Manuel, “will complete our arrangements: and I propose that in the meantime, we make an expedition to the rocks on shore, to see after a few dishes and spoons”.
We looked again at one another, doubtful what he could mean; but he soon explained himself, saying that as we came along the rocks the day before, at that part of our island where we first landed, he had observed a bed of largish oysters that lay within reach of any active cliffs-man among us. The shells of these, he said, or, however, the larger ones, would supply our table (our rock, rather) with a rude kind of crockery-ware, till we had learned to furnish ourselves better in some other way. “And so, my friends”, added he, “the fish and the dish, you see, are sent to us together; and both from One source:” then he looked upward and smiled cheerfully. This priest seemed to have his thoughts continually on God; on whom our thoughts were, I may say, never. But it was out of the abundance of his heart that he was speaking in this manner; for nothing was further from him than any attempt to preach to us, to whom, tis true, he seemed to look to us for some correspondence with his grateful feelings, and not finding it, he went on all the same, to himself, as it were, in his expressions of thankfulness and trust.
With all our hardness of heart, at least we felt cheered about the oyster beds he spoke of; to find, on our first settlement, that these new possessions of ours were likely to be so well stocked as to place us beyond immediate want. But before we started that way, or sent any of our party on the errand, we reckoned that, take what short cut we might to the place, we should only get back to find our meat and bread-fruits burned to a cinder. So we gave up that enterprise for the present; and prepared to take our breakfast with sticks, as the Chinaman will pick up the smallest grain of rice with two chop-sticks instead of a fork or spoon. Well, we took the lid off our oven, and found everything done passably well, for a party of famished sailors who were not over-nice. But Don Manuel, after saying grace, which he never omitted at any meal we ever partook of with him, told us pleasantly, had we been less hungry or more patient, our feast on taking possession of the country would have been worthier the occasion.
This whole time, I was turning in my thoughts how I should address our party on some things very needful to be said. If some order and rules were not established amongst us from the first, then, I saw clearly, we should lie exposed to the unrestrained violence of several wills here present, that boded us no good. By this, I had seen enough of Don Manuel to feel a confidence in consulting him; but I lacked opportunity, for the thing had to be done at once, and before our first joint act was undertaken, whatever that might be. Hastily gathering my thoughts into the best shape I could, while we were all employed in cutting up our game with hanger and knives, and helping ourselves to the slices with bamboo-sticks, I ran over in my mind the characters of those I had to deal with, and what I would have them lend a hearing to. When our meal was ended (and they, poor fellows, were in no hurry about it), feeling that if ever they would be disposed to listen, it was likely to be now, I begged their attention for a few minutes only.
So, getting upon a little ledge of rock which offered a natural platform to speak from, I delivered myself as follows:
“Gentlemen”, said I, “as we are so strangely cast into society with each other, and that for such a time as we cannot foresee its end, you have to consider, in the first place, whether you will still remain in community, or separate in different quarters of the place where we are, and live alone and independent. For my part, I am ready to adopt whichever plan may seem good to the greater number of us; and I call upon you to decide.”
Here they interrupted me at once, and cried out, each for himself, that to disperse over the island was a thing not to be thought of. We shall be devoured, said they, by wild beasts, if any are here: we shall fall, singly and defenseless, into the hands of savages who may inhabit the place, or visit it. Then, to live alone, they declared, was a savage, unnatural state of existence; and they would become barbarians, little better than the wild animals themselves, who still, for the most part, go in herd. In short, never was anything so concluded as that, come what would, we must still consort together.
“Very well, my friends”, I continued, “ and that is my own wish, too. I felt I should put both before you, and think you have decided right. But then, see what follows upon this. If we live together, we must have some kind of government established among us”.
When I had made that announcement, which I did with a resolute manner and voice, I observed some change in the countenances of a part of our small number. They had no idea, it seems, of living by any law but their own wills; and they seemed to think that to talk of government was to introduce tyranny into our little society, even in its infant days. Richard Prodgers at once showed himself displeased by a surly look; and swaying to and fro with a dissatisfied air, was going to interrupt me, when I went on:
“ Nay”, said I, giving the thing a jesting turn, to persuade them the more heartily, “ do not suppose that any one is going to set up for a king here. We will have no standing army to drain our pockets: for we are all, indeed, the militia volunteers of the place, ready to turn out at a moment’s notice, and fight our enemies without pay. We will have no taxes levied throughout the whole island: and if the taxgatherer do but dare show his face, we’ll warn him off the premises in a twinkling. Our friend, Don Manuel here,” and I made the priest a little side bow as I spoke, “will collect no tithes, but with our own free will. And I hope even, we shall do without any police, or summonses, or quarter-sessions; no lawyers, no big-wigs, no juries, no prisoners at the bar, no treadmill; not a yellow-jacket to be seen amongst us, nor a workhouse, nor anything in that way to annoy us”.
At this, they could not avoid laughing, do what they would: even Prodgers was forced to it with the rest. And having secured their good-will, I explained, that the kind of government I spoke of, was only that each should bind himself to conform to some plain, simple regulations for his own good and that of all: and that one should be appointed by general vote, to see them carried out. When they heard this, they were well content; and after a little discussing among themselves, they begged me to tell them how such rules should be framed.
“First, then”, I continued, “we may look upon ourselves as the lords and masters of this whole place, for everything that appears to the contrary. If it prove so, we must portion out to each man a certain measure of land, to be chosen by lot; and every one must engage to help his neighbours to build something of a hut, or however you may please to call our habitations, and afterwards dwell at peace with them, in mutual service and good will. But, before all things else, we must needs discover whether there be any other inhabitants in this little kingdom of ours: wherefore let us bind ourselves to stand by one another to the last, and unite in an exploring party to search the island.”
This proposal was very much to their mind, and they would have set about the thing at once. But I was desirous, while they were in so favourable humour, to impress on them some points to us all needful; so, begging them to wait yet a moment, I then laid before them the necessity of attending to the following particulars:
1. That we had no real government as yet; and hoped to do without so much as naming the word punishment, which would be no less than the ruin of our small society, and set every man’s hand against his brother: and it was therefore of exceeding need that each one should keep strict guard over himself, his temper and his words, to avoid all occasion of offence.
2. That whatever we possessed, which after all was little enough, should be looked upon from the first as common property; to be distributed, or used by each for the good of our society as well as his own: namely, the three fowling-pieces we had brought with us from the ship, together with the ammunition; our clasp-knives, the jars for water, and all our small store of rope-twine. To give an example, I threw my rifle and hanger into the common stock. Later, I said, when we had gained some experience of what turn things would take, we could portion out different offices according to each one’s capacity. But in the mean time, as every man was to be moderate in his demands, so no one was to be refused any reasonable use of' this our common property.
At any other time, I could have smiled at making so much of a common seaman’s clasp-knife, and an earthen pitcher. But the circumstances we are placed in, quite alter our value of things: and we were now in a state of life much like that of the savages, who will give away their gold dust, their ostrich feathers, and pearls, or whatever has most price in the European markets, for a knife, and even an old hoop of iron, or a few nails.
They all agreed readily to these proposals: and indeed, the thing was reasonable, and to the advantage of all: let them be as self-willed as they might, they could scarce do otherwise. I was satisfied with this beginning; though I foresaw what difficulties would arise if I set about to control and keep together such rude spirits, who were only in order under the captain’s eye, and with the fear of the lash before them; and who on shore were accustomed to do just as they pleased. “Well”, said I in my own mind, though with not much spirit of religion about me, “the morrow shall take care for the things of itself; and we will live for the day”.