evident to me; how mere natural notions will guide reasonable creatures
to the knowledge of a Deity, and to the homage due to the Supreme Being
of God; but, however, nothing but divine revelation can form the
knowledge of Jesus Christ, and of a redemption purchased for us, of the
mediator of the new covenant, and of an intercessor at the footstool of
God's throne; and, therefore, the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ; that is, the word and Spirit of God, promised for the guide and
the sanctifier of his people, are the most necessary instructors of the
souls of men, in the saving knowledge of the Almighty, and the means to
attain eternal happiness.
And now I found it necessary to put an end to this discourse between my
man and me; for which purpose I rose up hastily, and made as if I had
some occasion to go out, sending Friday for something that was a good
way off, I then fell on my knees, and beseeched God that he would
inspire me so far as to guide this poor savage in the knowledge of
Christ, to answer his questions more clearly, that his conscience might
be convinced, his eyes opened, and his soul saved. When he returned
again, I entered into a very long discourse with him, upon the subject
of the world's redemption by the Saviour of it, and the doctrine of
repentance preached from heaven, together with an holy faith of our
blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ; and then I proceeded to explain to him,
according to my weak capacity, the reason why our Saviour took not on
him the nature of angels, but rather the seed of Abraham; and how the
fallen angels had no benefit by that redemption; and, lastly, that he
came only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and the like. God
knows I had more sincerity than knowledge in all the ways I took for the
poor Indian's instruction; and, I must acknowledge what I believe, every
body that acts upon the same principle will find, that in laying
heavenly truths open before him, I informed and instructed myself in
many things that either I did not know, or had not perfectly considered
before: so that, however, this poor creature might be improved by my
instructions, certain it is, that I myself had great reason to be
thankful to Providence for sending him to me. His company allayed my
grief, and made my habitation comfortable; and when I reflected that the
solitary life to which I had been so long confined, had made me to look
further towards Heaven, by making me the instrument under Providence, to
save the life, and for ought I know, the soul of this poor savage, by
bringing him to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, it caused a secret joy to
spread through every part of my soul; and I frequently rejoiced, that
ever I was brought to this place, which I once thought the most
miserable part of the world.
In this thankful frame of mind did I afterwards continue, while I abode
on the island, and for three years did my man and I live in the greatest
enjoyment of happiness. Indeed, I believe the savage was as good a
Christian as I; and I hope we were equally penitent; and such penitents
as were comforted and restored by God's Holy Spirit; for now we had the
word of the Lord to instruct us in the right way, as much as if we had
been on the English shore.
By the constant application I made to the Scriptures, as I read them to
my man Friday, I earnestly endeavoured to make him understand every part
of it, as much as lay in my power. He also, on the other hand, by his
very serious questions and inquiries, made me a much better proficient
in Scripture knowledge, than I should have been by my own private
reading and study. I must not omit another thing, proceeding from the
experience I had in my retirement: It was that infinite and
inexpressible blessing, the knowledge of God through Jesus Christ, which
was so plain and easy to be understood, as immediately to direct me to
carry on the great work of sincere repentance for my sins, and laying
hold of a Saviour for eternal life, to a practical stated reformation,
and obedience to all God's institutions, without the assistance of a
reverend and orthodox divine; and especially by this same instruction,
so to enlighten this savage creature, as to make him so good a
Christian, as very few could exceed him. And there was only this great
thing wanting, that I had no authority to administer the Holy Sacrament,
that heavenly participation of Christ's body and blood; yet, however, we
rested ourselves content; that God would accept our desires, and
according to our faith, have mercy on us.
But what we wanted one way, was made up in another, and that was
universal peace in our little church. We had no disputes and wrangling
about the nature and equality of the holy, blessed, and undivided
Trinity, no niceties in doctrine, or schemes of church government; no
sour or morale dissenters to impose more sublimated notions upon us; no
pedant sophisters to confound us with unintelligible mysteries: but,
instead of all this, we enjoyed the most certain guide to Heaven; that
is, the word of God: besides which, we had the comfortable views of his
Spirit leading us to the truth, and making us both willing and obedient
to the instruction of his word. As the knowledge and practice of this
are the principal means of salvation, I cannot see what it avails any
christian church, or man in the world, to amuse himself with
speculations and opinions, except it be to display their particular
vanity and affectation.
You may well suppose, that, by the frequent discourse we had together,
my man and I became most intimately acquainted, and that their was but
very little that I could say, but what Friday understood; and, indeed,
he spoke very fluently, though it was but broken English. I now took a
particular pleasure in relating all my adventures, especially those that
occurred since my being cast on this island. I made him understand that
wonderful mystery, as he conceived, of gunpowder and bullet, and taught
him how to shoot. I also presented to him a knife, which pleased him
exceedingly, making him a belt, with a frog hanging thereto, like those
in which we wear hangers in England; and, instead of a hanger to put in
the frog, I gave him a hatchet, which was not only as good, but even a
better weapon upon many occasions. In a word, my man thus accoutred,
looked upon himself as great as Don Quixote, when that celebrated
champion went to combat the windmill.
I next gave him a very particular description of the territories of
Europe, and in a particular manner of Old England, the place of my
nativity. I laid, before him the manner of our worshipping God, our
behaviour one to another, and how we trade in ships to every part of the
universe. I then told him my misfortunes in being shipwrecked, showing
him, as near as I could the place where the ship lay, which had been
gone long before; but I brought him to the ruins of my boat which before
my whole strength could not move, but now was a most rotten, and fallen
to pieces. I observed my man Friday to view this boat with uncommon
curiosity; which, when he had done, he stood pondering a great while,
and said nothing. At last, said I, "Friday, what makes you ponder so
much?" He replied, _O master, me see like boat come to place at
my nation_.
It was some time, indeed, before I understood what my man meant; but
examining strictly into it, I plainly found, that such another boat
resembling mine, had come up on the country where he dwelt: that is to
say, by his farther explanation, that the boat was driven there through
stress of weather. It then came into my mind that some European ship
having been cast away, the poor distressed creatures were forced to have
recourse to the boat to save their lives; and being all, as I thought
drowned, I never concerned my self to ask any thing concerning, them,
but my only inquiry was about the boat, and what description my man
could give of it.
Indeed Friday answered my demands very well; making everything very
plain to my understanding: but beyond measure was I satisfied, when he
told me with great warmth and ardour. _O master, we save white mans from
drown;_ upon which I immediately asked him, If there were any white
mans, as he called them in the boat? _Yes, yes_, said he, _the boat
full, very full of white mans_ "How many, Friday?" said I. Hereupon he
numbered his fingers, and counted seventeen. And when I asked him what
became of them all, and whether they lived or not? he replied, _Yes
master, they all live, they be live among my nation._ This information
put fresh thoughts into my head, that these must be those very men who
before I concluded had been swallowed up in the ocean, after they had
left the ship that had struck upon the rocks of my kingdom, and after
escaping the fury of the deep, landed upon the wild shore, and committed
themselves to the fury of the devouring Indians.
The manner of their cruelties to one another, which consequently, as I
thought, must be acted with greater barbarity to strangers, created in
me a great anxiety, and made me still more curious to ask Friday
concerning them. He told me, he was sure they still lived there, having
resided among them above four years, and that the savages gave them
victuals to live upon: "But pray, Friday," said I, "whence proceeded all
this good nature and generosity? How came it to pass that they did not
kill and eat them, to please their devouring appetites, and occasion to
splendid an entertainment among them?" _No, no,_ said Friday, _they not
kilt 'em, they make brothers with 'em_; by which I understood there was
a truce between them. And then I had a more favourable opinion of the
Indians, upon Friday uttering these words, _My nation, t'other nation no
eat man, but when mans, make war fight:_ as though he had said, that
neither those of his kingdom, nor any other nations that he knew of,
ever ate their fellow-creatures, but such as their law of arms allowed
to be devoured; that is, those miserable captives, whose misfortune it
should be to be made prisoners of war.
Some considerable time after, upon a very pleasant day, in most serene
weather, my man and I stood upon the top of a hill, on the east side of
the island, whence I had once before beheld the continent of America. I
could not tell immediately what was the matter, for suddenly Friday fell
a jumping and dancing as if he had been mad, and upon my demanding the
reason of his behaviour, _O joy_! said he, _O glad! there see my
country, there my nation, there live white mans gether_. And indeed such
a rapturous sense of pleasure appeared in his countenance that his eyes
had an uncommon sparkling and brightness, and such a strange eagerness,
as if he had a longing desire to be in his country again. This made me
no so well satisfied with my man Friday as before; for by this
appearance, I made no dispute, but that if he could get back thither
again, he would not only be unmindful of what religion I had taught him,
but likewise of the great obligation he owed me for his wonderful
deliverance; nay, that he would not only inform his countrymen of me,
but accompany hundreds of them to my kingdom, and make me a miserable
sacrifice like those unhappy wretches taken in battle.
Indeed I was very much to blame to have those cruel and unjust
suspicions, and must freely own I wronged the poor creature very much,
who was of a quite contrary temper. And had he had that discerning
acuteness which many Europeans have, he would certainly have perceived
my coldness and indifference, and also have been very much concerned
upon that account; as I was now more circumspect, I had much lessened my
kindness and familiarity with him, and while this jealousy continued, I
used that artful way (now to much in fashion, the occasion of strife and
dissention) of pumping him daily thereby to discover whether he was
deceitful in his thoughts and inclinations; but certainly he had nothing
in him but what was consistent with the best principles, both as a
religious Christian and a grateful friend; and indeed; I found every
thing he said was ingenuous and innocent, that I had no room for
suspicion, and, in spite of all uneasiness, he not only made me entirely
his own again, but also caused me much to lament that I ever conceived
one ill thought of him.
As we were walking up the same hill another day, when the weather was
so hazy at sea, that I could not perceive the continent, "Friday," said
I "don't you wish yourself to be in your own country, your nation, among
your old friends and acquaintances?" _Yes,_ said he, _me much O glad to
be at my own nation._ "And what would you do there, Friday? Would you
turn wild again, eat man's flesh, and be a savage as you were formerly."
_No, no,_ (answered he, full of concern and making his head) _Friday now
tell them to live good, tell them pray God, tell them to eat corn bread,
cattle flesh, milk, no eat man again._ "But surely," replied I, "if you
should offer to do all this, they will kill you; and to manifest their
contempt of such instruction eat you up when they have done." He then
put on a grave, yet innocent and smooth countenance, saying, _No, they
no kill me, they willing love learn_: that is that they would be very
willing to learn: adding withal, _that they had learned much of the
bearded mans that came in the boat_. "Will you," said I "go back again,
Friday?" He smiled at that, and told me, that he could not swim so far.
But said I, I will make a canoe for you. _Yes, Master_ said he, _me go
if you go, me no go if you stay_. "I go, Friday! why would you have them
to eat me up, and devour your kind master?" _No no_, said he, _me make
them not eat master, and me make them much love you_; that is, he would
tell them how I had slain his enemies, and thereby saved his life, for
which reason he would make them love me: and then he related to me, as
well as he was able, how exceedingly kind those his nation were to the
white, or bearded men, as he called them, who, in their great calamity,
were driven into their country.
It was from this time, indeed, I had strong inclinations to venture
over, and use my utmost efforts, if possible, to join these white
bearded men, who undoubtedly were Spaniards or Portuguese; for, thought
I, it must be certainly a better and safer way to escape when there is a
good company, than for me alone, from an island forty miles off the
shore, and without any assistance. Some days, after, Friday and I being
at work, as usual, at the same time diverting ourselves with various
discourses; I told him I had a boat which I would bestow upon him,
whenever he pleased to return to his own nation; and to convince him of
the truth of what I said, I took him with me to the other side of the
island, where my frigate lay, and then taking it from under the water,
(for I always kept it sunk for fear of a discovery) we went both into it
to see how it would manage such an expedition.
And really never could any be more dexterous in rowing than my faithful
servant, making the boat go as fast again as I could. "Well now,
Friday", said I, "shall we now go to your so much admired nation." But
instead of meeting with that cheerfulness I expected, he looked very
dull and melancholy at my saying so; which indeed at first surprised
me, till he made me sensible, that his concern was about the boat's
being too small to go so far a voyage. Upon which I let him understand I
had a much bigger; and accordingly, the next day went to the place where
the first boat lay, which I had made, when all the strength I had or art
I could use failed me in my attempt to get it into the water: but now it
having lain in the sun two and twenty years, and no care being taken of
it all that while, it became in a manner rotten. My man told me, that
such a boat would do very well for the purpose, sufficient to carry
_enough vittle, drink, bread_, for that was his manner of talking. In
short, my mind being strongly fixed upon my design of going over with
him to the Continent, I very plainly told him that we would both go and
make a boat full as big, and more proportionable than that, wherein he
might safely return to his own nation.
These words made Friday look so very pensive that I thought he would
have fallen at my feet. It was some time before he could speak a word,
which made me ask him, what was the matter with him? He replied in a
very soft and moving tone, _What has poor Friday done? why are you angry
mad with poor servant? What me done, O what me done?_ "Friday," said I,
"you never yet have offended me, what makes you think I am angry with
you, when I am not angry at all." _You no angry, no angry,_ said he
several times, _if you be no angry, why den send Friday over great water
to my own nation?_ "Why from a mountain you beheld the place where you
was born, and is it not to satisfy your desires that I am willing to
give you leave to return thither?" _Yes, yes_, said Friday, _me wish to
be there sure enough, but then me with master there too: no wish Friday
there, no master there._ In short, he could not endure the thoughts of
going there without me. "I go there! Friday," said I, "what shall I do
there?" He answered very quickly, _O master you do great deal much good,
you teach all de wild mans to be good tame mans: you learn dem to be
sober, life good live, to know God, and pray God._ "Alas! poor Friday,"
said I, "what can I do against their priests of _Benamuckee_, or indeed
what good can I make your nation sensible of, when I myself am but a
poor ignorant man?" _No, no, master,_ said he, _you be no ignorant, you
teachee me good, you teachee dem good._ "You shall go without me,
Friday," said I, "for I don't care to accompany you thither; I would
rather live in this solitude than venture among such inhuman savages.
_Go your way since you desire it, and leave me alone by myself as I was
before I saved your life_."
Never was any creature more thunderstruck than Friday was at these
words. _Go me away, leave master away, (said he after a long silence,)
no, no, Friday die, Friday live not master gone_, as though he had
said, I neither can nor will live, if my master sends me from him. And
here I cannot but take notice of the strong ties of friendship, which
many times surpass those of consanguinity: For often we find a great
disagreement among kindred; and when there is any seeming regard for
each other, it is very seldom true, and scarce ever lasting, if powerful
interest does not bear the sway; and that alone is often the occasion of
the greatest hatred in the world, which is to desire the death of
parents and relations, for the sake of acquiring their fortunes. But
there was no such thing between my servant and me; instead of which
there was the greatest gratitude and the most sincere love; he found me
not only his deliverer, but his preserver and comforter; not a severe
and cruel tyrant, but a kind, loving, and affable friend. He wanted for
no manner of sustenance; and when he was ill or out of order, I was his
physician, not only for his body but his soul; and therefore no wonder
was it, that such an innocent creature long since divested of his former
natural cruelty, should have an uncommon concern at so cruel a
seperation from me, which pierced him to the very soul, and made him
desire even to die, rather than live without me..
After I had told Friday, in a very careless manner, that he should be at
his liberty as soon as the boat was made, the language of his eyes
expressed all imaginable confusion; when, immediately running to one of
his hatchets, which he used to wear as a defensive weapon, he gives it
into my hand, with a heart so full, that he could scarcely speak.
'Friday,' said I, 'what is it you mean? What must I do with this?' _Only
kill Friday_, said he, _Friday care not live long._' 'But what must I
kill you for? replied I again, _Ah! dear master, what made you Friday
save from eat a me up, so keep long Friday, make Friday love God, and
love not Benamuckee, and now Friday send away; never see Friday more._
As though the poor creature had said, Alas! my dearest kind master, how
comes it to pass, that after having ventured your precious life to save
me from the jaws of devouring cannibals, like myself, after such a
tender regard to provide for me such a comfortable nourishment, and
continuing so long a kind master, and a most sincere friend; and after
making me forsake the false notion of an Indian Deity, and worship the
true God in spirit and in truth; and after all this how comes it now,
that you are willing to send me away to my former course of living, by
which means undoubtedly we shall be dead to each other; but greater must
be my misfortune, that I shall never behold my best friend I have in the
world any more. And this undoubtedly, though he could not express
himself so clearly, must be his sentiments; for the tears ran down his
cheeks in such a plentiful manner, that I had much ado to refrain from
weeping also, when I beheld the poor creature's affection; so that I was
forced to comfort him in the best manner I could, which I did, by
telling him, if he was content to abide with me, I should be ever
willing to keep him.
After Friday's grief was something abated, more fully to convince me of
his affection, he said, _O master, me not care to be in my nation, leave
you here; me desire nation learn good, that's all;_ meaning, that his
desire was for the conversion of that barbarous people. But as I had no
apostolic mission, nor any concern about their salvation; so I had not
the least intention or desire of undertaking it; and the strength of my
inclination, in order to escape, proceeded chiefly from my late
discourse with Friday, about these seventeen white bearded men, that had
been driven upon the Barbarian coast; whom I designed to join, as the
only means to further our escape. To which intent my man and I went to
search for a proper tree to fell, whereof we might make a large perigua
or canoe, to undertake the voyage; and, indeed, we were not long in
finding one fit for our purpose, there being enough of wood in the
island to have built a fleet of large vessels, but the thing we
principally wanted was to get one so near the water, that we might
launch it after it was finished, and not commit so horrid a mistake as I
had once done before.
Well, after a great search for what was best and most convenient,
Friday, at last, whose judgment in such affairs was much superior to
mine, pitches upon a kind of wood the most fitting for it. To this day I
cannot tell the name of the tree, nor describe it any other way, than
only by saying, that it is like what we call _fustic_, or between that
and the Niacaragua wood, being much of the same colour and smell. But
though my man exceeded me in the knowledge of the most proper tree, yet
I shewed him a much better and clearer way to make a canoe than ever he
knew before; for he was for burning the hollow or cavity of the tree, in
order to make this boat; but I then told him how he might do it with
tools, learning him at the same time how to use them, which indeed he
did very dexterously; so that in a month's time we finished it, making
it very handsome, by cutting the outside in the true shape of a boat.
After this it took us a full fortnight before we could get her into the
water, which we did as it were inch by inch, upon great rollers; but
when she was in, she would have carried twenty men, with all the ease
imaginable.
As I was very well pleased, you may be sure at the launching of this man
of war of mine, I was no less amazed to behold with what dexterity my
man would manage her, turn her, and paddle her along. 'Well Friday,'
said I, 'what do you think of it now? Do you think this will carry us
over? _Yes, master_, said he, _me venture over well, though great blow
wind_. But my design was yet farther, which he was insensible of; and
that was to make a mast and a sail, and to provide her with an anchor
and cable. As to a mast, that was no difficult thing at all to procure:
so I fixed upon a strait young cedar-tree; which I found near the place,
great plenty of it abounding in the island; and setting Friday to cut it
down, I gave him particular directions how to shape and order it; but as
to the sail, that I managed myself. I very well knew I had some old
ones, or pieces of sails enough, which had lain six and twenty years by
me; but not being careful to preserve them, as thinking I should have no
occasion to use them any more, when I came to overlook them I found them
almost all rotten, except two; and with these I went to work, and after
a great deal of pains and aukward tedious stitching for want of needles,
at length I finished a three-cornered ugly thing, like those which our
long boats use, and which I very well knew how to manage, especially
since it was like that which I had in my patron's fishing boat, when,
with my boy Xury, I made my escape from the Barbarian shore.