the rigging and fitting my mast and sails; and indeed they were nicely
done, having made a small stay and a sail, or a foresail to it, to
assist, if we should turn to the westward; and what is still more, I
fixed a rudder to the stern of her, to steer with; and though I was but
a very indifferent shipwright, yet, as I was sensible of the great
usefulness and absolute necessity of a thing like this, I applied myself
to it with such a confident application, that at last I accomplished my
design; but what with the many dull contrivances I had about it, and the
failure of many things, it cost me as much pains in ordering as in
making the boat. Besides when all this was done, I had my man to teach
what belonged to its navigation; for though he very well understood how
to paddle a canoe along, he was an utter stranger to a sail and a
rudder, and was amazed when he saw me work the boat to and again in the
sea, by them, and how the sail gibbed and filled this way or that way,
as the course we sailed changed. After some time and a little use, I
made all these things very familiar to him, so that he became an expert
sailor, except in relation to the compass, and that I could make him
understand but little of. But, as it happened, there was seldom occasion
for it, there being but little cloudy weather, and scarce any fog in
those parts; the stars were always visible in the night, and the shore
perspicuous by day, except in the rainy season, which confined every one
to his habitation. Thus entered in the seven and twentieth year of my
reign, or captivity, which you please, (the last three of which blessed
with the company of my man Friday, ought not to be reckoned) I kept the
anniversary of my landing here with the same thankfulness to God, for
his tender mercies, as I did before; and certainly, as I had great
cause for a thankful acknowledgement for my deliverance at first, I had
much greater now for such singular and additional testimonies of the
care of Providence over me, in all my distress of both body and mind,
and the great hopes I had of being effectually and speedily delivered;
for I had a strong impression upon my mind, that I should not be another
year in this island. But, however, I still continued on with my
husbandry, digging, planting, and fencing, as usual; gathering and
curing my grapes, and doing all other things that were necessary.
And now the rainy season beginning to come on, obliged me to keep the
longer within doors; but before this I brought my new vessel into the
creek, where I had landed my rafts from the ship, and haling her up to
the shore, I ordered my man Friday to dig a dock sufficient to hold her
in, and deep enough to give her water, wherein she might float; and then
when the tide was out, we made a strong dam cross the end of it, to keep
out the water; by which means she lay dry, as to the tide from the sea;
and to keep the rain from her, we thatched her over, as it were, with
boughs of trees, like a house, so we waited for the months of November
and December, in which I designed to venture over the ocean.
No sooner did the seasonable weather begin to draw near, but so much was
I elevated with this new designed adventure, that I daily prepared for
the voyage. The first thing I thought on was, to lay by a certain
quantity of provisions, as a sufficient store for such an expedition,
intending in a week or fortnight's time to open the dock, and to launch
out the boat for that purpose. But one morning as I was very busy upon
something necessary for this occasion, I called Friday to me, and bid
him go to the seashore, and see if he could find a turtle or tortoise, a
thing which we commonly had once a week, as much upon account of the
eggs, as for the sake of the flesh. He had not been long gone, but he
came running back, as though he was pursued for life, and as if it were
flew over my outer-wall, or fence, like one that felt not the ground, or
steps he set his feet on; and before I had time to enquire the reason of
this precipitation, he cries out, _O dear master, O sorrow, sorrow! Bad!
O bad!_ 'Why, what's the matter Friday,' said I. _O yonder, yonder!_
said he; _there be one, two, or three canoes! two three!_ Surely,
thought I, there must be six, by my man's way of reckoning; but on a
stricter inquiry, I found there were but three. 'Well Friday,' said I,
'don't be terrified, I warrant you we will not only defend ourselves
against them, but kill the most of these cruel savages.' But though I
comforted him in the best manner I could, the poor creature trembled so,
that I scarce knew what to do with him:--_O master_, said he, _they come
look Friday, cut pieces Friday, cut a me up_. 'Why Friday,' said I,
'they will eat me up as well as you, and my danger is as great as
yours. But since it is so, we must resolve to fight for our lives. What
say you? Can you fight Friday? _Yes,(said he, very faintly) me shoot, me
kill what I can, but there come a great many number._'That's no matter,'
said I again, 'our guns will terrify those that we do not kill: I am
very willing to stand by you to the last drop of my blood. Now tell me
if you will do the like by me, and, obey my orders in whatsoever I
command?' Friday then answered, _O master, me loses life for you, me die
when you bid die._ Thus concluding all questions concerning his
fidelity, immediately I fetched him a good dram of rum, (of which I had
been a very good husband) and gave it him to comfort his heart. After he
had drank it, I ordered him to take the two-fowling pieces, which we
always carried, and load them with large swan-shot, as big as small
pistol bullets; then I took four muskets, and loaded them with two slugs
and five small bullets each; charging my two pistols each with a brace;
I hung my great sword, as customary, naked to my side, and gave Friday
his hatchet, as a most excellent weapon for defence.
Thus prepared, I thought as well of myself, as any knight errant that
ever handled a sword and spear. I took my perspective glass and went up
to the side of the hill, to see what I could discover; and I perceived
very soon, by my glass, that there were one and twenty savages, three
prisoners, and three canoes, and that their chief concern seemed to be
the triumphant banquet upon the three poor human bodies, a thing which
by this time I had observed was very common with them. I also remarked,
that they did not land at that place from whence Friday made his escape,
but nearer to the creek, where the shore was low, and where a thick wood
came very close to the sea. My soul was then filled with indignation and
abhorrence at such inhuman wretches, which put a period to all my former
thoughts in their vindication, neither would I give myself time to
consider their right of conquest, as I had done before: but descending
from the mountain, I came down to Friday, and told him, I was resolved
to go speedily to them, and kill them all; asking him again in the same
breath, if he would stand by me; when by this time being recovered from
his fright, and his spirits much cheered with the dram I had given him,
he was very pleasant, yet seriously telling me, as he did before, _When
I bid die, he would die_.
And now it was, having fixed my resolution in so strong a manner, that
nothing could divest my breast of its uncommon fury. I immediately
divided the loaded arms betwixt us. To my man Friday I gave a pistol to
stick in his girdle, with three guns upon his shoulder, a weight too
great, I confess, to bear but what must a poor king do, who has but one
soldier in the world? But to show I made him bear no more than what I
would lay on myself, I stuck the other pistol in my girdle, and the
other three guns upon my shoulders; nay, something more, but that was
like Aesop's burden, a small bottle of rum, which was soon lightened to
our exceeding refreshment. Thus we marched out, under a ponderous load
of armour, like two invincible champions, with a quantity of powder and
bullets to stand our battle, and load again, when the pieces were
discharged. And now my orders being to be obeyed, I charged Friday to
keep close behind me, and not to stir, or shoot, or attempt anything
till I commanded him; and in the interim, not to speak so much as one
word. It was in this order I fetched a compass to the right hand, of
near a mile, as well to get over the creek, as to attain the wood; and
by this, I thought to come within shot of them before I could be
discerned, as I found by my glass, would not be difficult to accomplish.
But how fickle and wavering is the mind of man, even in our greatest
fury and strongest inclinations. For while I was taking this march, my
resolution began to abate, not through fear of their numbers, who were a
parcel of naked unarmed wretches, but those reflections occurred to my
thoughts: _what power was I commissioned with, or what occasion or
necessity had I to go and imbrue my hands in human blood, and murder
people that had neither done nor intended to do me any wrong? They were
innocent in particular as to me: and their barbarous custom was not only
their misfortune but a sign that God had left them in the most immense
stupidity; but yet did not warrant me to be a judge of their actions,
much less an executioner of his righteous judgments? That, on the
contrary, whenever he thought fit, he would take vengeance on them
himself, and punish them in a national way, according to their national
crimes; but this was nothing at all to me, who had no concern with them.
Indeed my man Friday might justify himself, because they were his
declared enemies, of that very same nation that went to sacrifice him
before; and indeed it was lawful for him to attack them, which I could
not say was so with respect to me,_--So warmly did these things press
upon my thoughts all the way I went, that I only resolved to place
myself so as to behold their bloody entertainment, without falling upon
them, except something more than ordinary, by God's special direction,
should oblige me thereto.
Thus fixed in my resolution, I entered into the thick wood, (my man
Friday following me close behind) when with all possible wariness and
silence, I marched till I came close to the skirt of it, on that side
which was the nearest to them; for only one end of the wood interposed
between me and them. Upon which I called very softly to Friday, and
shewing him a great tree, that was just at the corner of the wood, I
ordered him to repair thither, and bring me word, if he could plainly
perceive their actions; accordingly he did as I commanded him, and came
back with this melancholy story, _that they were all about their fire,
eating the flesh of one of their prisoners; and that another lay bound
upon the sands at a little distance from them, which they designed for
the next sacrifice, and this, he told me was not one of their nation,
but one of those very bearded men, who were driven by a storm into their
country, and of whom he had so often talked to me about_--You may be
sure, that upon hearing this, my soul was ready to sink within me: when
ascending into a tree, I saw plainly, by my glass, a white man, who lay
upon the beach of the sea, with his hands and feet tied with flags, or
things resembling rushes, being covered with clothes, and seemed to be
an European. From the tree where I took this prospect I perceived
another tree and a thicket beyond it, about fifty yards nearer to them
than where I was, which, by taking a small circle round, I might come at
undiscovered, & then I should be within half a shot of these devourers.
And this consideration alone, to be more perfectly revenged upon them,
made me withhold my passion, though I was enraged to the highest degree
imaginable; when going back about twenty paces I got behind some bushes,
which held all the way till I came to the other tree; and then I
ascended to a little rising ground, not above eighteen yards distance,
and there I had a full view of these creatures, and I could perceive all
their actions.
Such a fight did then appear, as obliged me not to lose a moment's time.
No less than nineteen of these dreadful wretches sat upon the ground,
close huddled together, expressing all the delight imaginable at so
barbarous an entertainment; and they had just sent the other two to
murder this poor unhappy Christian, and bring him limb by limb to their
fire; for they were then just going to untie the bands from his feet, in
order for death, as fetters are knocked off the feet of malefactors
before they go to the place of execution. Hereupon, immediately turning
to my man, 'now, Friday' said I 'mind what I say, fail in nothing, but
do exactly as you see me do'. All which he promising--he would perform,
I let down one of my muskets, and fowling-piece upon the ground, and
Friday did the same by his; and with the other musket I took my aim at
the savages, bidding him do the like: 'Are you ready' said I: _Yes,
Master,_ said he; 'why then fire at them,' said I; and that very moment
I gave fire likewise.
I only killed one and wounded two; but my man Friday, taking his aim
much better than I, killed two and wounded three. You may be sure they
were in a dreadful consternation, at, such an unexpected disaster, and
those who had yet escaped our penetrating shot, immediately jumped upon
their feet, but were in such a confusion, that they knew not which way
to run or look; not knowing from whence their destruction came. We threw
down our pieces, and took up others, giving a second dreadful volley;
but as they were loaded only with swan shot, or small pistol bullets, we
perceived only two of them fall; tho many were wounded, who run yelling
and screaming about like mad creatures. 'Now, Friday,' said I, 'lay down
your piece, and take up the musket, and follow me.' He did so, with
great courage, when showing ourselves to the savages we give a great
shout, and made directly to the poor victim, who would have been
sacrificed, had not our first fire obliged the butchers, with three
others, to jump into a canoe. By my order, Friday fired at them, at
which shot I thought he had killed them all, by reason of their falling
to the bottom of the boat; however, he killed two, and mortally wounded
a third. In the mean time, I cut the flags that tied the hands and feet
of the poor creature, and lifting him up asked him in the Portuguese
tongue, _What he was?_ He answered me in Latin, _Christiantis;_ but so
very weak and faint, that he could scarce stand or speak. Immediately I
gave him a dram; and a piece of bread to cherish him, and asked him,
What countryman he was? He said, _Hispaniola;_ and then uttered all the
thankfulness imaginable for his deliverance. 'Signior,' said I, with as
much Spanish as I was master of, 'let us talk afterwards, but fight now;
here, take this sword and pistol, and do what you can.' And, indeed, he
did so with much courage and intrepidity, that he cut two of them to
pieces in an instant, the savages not having the power to fly for their
lives. I ordered Friday to run for those pieces we had left at the tree,
which he brought me with great swiftness, and then I gave him my musket,
while I loaded the rest. But now their happened a fierce encounter
between the Spaniard & one of the savages who had made at him with one
of their wooden swords; and though the former was as brave as could be
expected, having twice wounded his enemy in the head, yet being weak &
faint, the Indian had thrown him upon the ground, & was wrestling my
sword out of his hand, which the Spaniard very wisely quiting, drew out
his pistol, and shot him through the body before I could come near him,
though I was running to his assistance.' As to Friday, he pursued the
flying wretches with his hatchet, dispatching three, but the rest were
too nimble for him. The Spaniard taking one of the fowling pieces,
wounded two, who running into the wood Friday pursued and killed; but
the other, notwithstanding his wounds, plunged himself into the sea &
swam to those who were left in the canoe; which, with one wounded, were
all that escaped out of one and twenty. The account is as follows.
_Killed at first shot from the tree ..... 3
At the second shot ...................... 2
By Friday in the boat ................... 2
Ditto of those first wounded ............ 2
Ditto in the wood ....................... 1
By the Spaniard ......................... 3
Killed or died of their wounds .......... 4
Escaped in the boat, whereof one wounded,
if not slain_ ......................... 4
--------
Total 21
--------
The savages in the canoe worked very hard to get out of our reach, and
Friday was as eager in pursuing them; and indeed I was no less anxious
about their escape, lest after the news had been carried to their
people, they should return in multitudes and destroy us. So being
resolved to pursue them, I jumped into one of the canoes and bid Friday
follow me; but no sooner was I in, than to my surprise, I found another
poor creature bound hand and foot for the slaughter, just as the
Spaniard had been, with very little life in him. Immediately I unbound
him, and would have helped him up; but he could neither stand nor speak,
but groaned so piteously, as thinking he was only unbound in order to be
slain. Hereupon I bid Friday speak to him, and tell him of his
deliverance; when pulling out my bottle I made the poor wretch drink a
dram; which, with the joyful news he had received, so revived his heart
that he sat up in the boat. As soon as Friday began to hear him speak,
and look more fully in his face, it would have moved any one to tears to
perceive his uncommon transports of joy; for he kissed, embraced him,
hugged him, cried, laughed, hollooed, jumped about, danced, sung, then
cried again, wrung his hands, beat his face and head, then sung and
jumped about again, like a distracted creature; so that it was a great
while before I could make him speak to me, or tell me what was the
matter with him; but when he came to the liberty of his speech at last,
he told me it was his father.
Here indeed I was infinitely moved to see that dutiful and tender
affection this poor savage had to his aged parent. He would sit down by
him in the boat, open his breast and hold his father's head close to his
bosom half an hour together to cherish him: then he took his arms &
ankles, which were stiff and numbed with binding, and chaffed and rubbed
them with his hands; by which means perceiving what the case was, I gave
him some rum, which proved of great benefit to him.
While we were busy in this action the savages had gotten almost out of
sight; and happy it was we did not pursue them: For there arose from the
north-west, which continued all night long, such a violent storm that I
could not suppose otherwise but that they were all drowned. After this I
called Friday to me, and asked him if he had given his father any bread?
He shook his head and said, _None, not one bit, me eat-a up all;_ so I
gave him a cake of bread out of a little pouch I carried for this end. I
likewise gave him a dram for himself, & two or three bunches of raisins
for his father. Both these he carried to him, for he would make him
drink the dram to comfort him.
Away then he runs out of the boat as if he was bewitched, with such an
extraordinary swiftness, that he was out of sight as it were in an
instant; but at his return I perceived him slacken his pace, because he
had something in his hand. And this I found to be as he approached
nearer, an earthen jug with some water for his father, with two more
cakes of bread, which he delivered into my hands. Being very thirsty
myself I drank some of the water, of which his father had drank
sufficiently, it more revived his spirits than all the rum I had
given him.
I then called Friday to me and ordered him to carry the Spaniard one of
the cakes and some water, who was reposing himself under a green place
under the shade of a tree, but so weak, that though he exerted himself
he could not stand upon his feet. Upon which I ordered Friday to rub and
bathe his ankles with rum as he did his father's. But every minute he
was employed in this he would cast a wishful eye towards the boat, where
he left his father sitting; who suddenly disappearing he flew like
lightning to him, and finding he had only laid himself down to ease his
limbs, he returned back to me presently; and then I spoke to the
Spaniard to let Friday help him and lead him to the boat, in order to be
conveyed to my dwelling where I would take care of him. Upon which
Friday took him upon his back and so carried him to the canoe, setting
him close by his father; and presently stepping out again, launched the
boat off and paddled it along the shore faster than I could walk, though
the wind blew very hard too, and having brought them safe to the creek,
away he runs to fetch the other canoe, which he brought to the creek
almost as soon as I got to it by land, when wafting me over, he took our
new guests out of the boat; but so weak were they that I was forced to
make a kind of a hand-barrow; and when I came to my castle, not being
willing to make an entrance into my wall, we made them a handsome tent
covered with old sails and boughs of trees, making two good beds of rice
straw, with blankets to lie upon and cover them. Thus like an absolute
king over subjects who owed their lives to me, I thought myself very
considerable, especially as I had now three religions in my kingdom, my
man Friday being a Protestant, his father a Pagan, and the Spaniard a
Papist: but I gave liberty of conscience to them all.
To get provisions for my poor weak subjects, I ordered Friday to kill me
a yearling goat; which when he had done I cut off the hinder quarters,
and chopping it into small pieces, boiled and stewed it, putting barley
and rice into the broth. This I carried into their tent, set a table,
dined with them myself and encouraged them. Friday was my interpreter to
his father, and indeed to the Spaniard too, who spoke the language of
the savages pretty well. After dinner I ordered Friday to fetch home all
our arms from the field of battle, and the next day to bury the dead
bodies, which he did accordingly.
And now I made Friday inquire of his father, whether he thought these
savages had escaped the late storm in their canoe? and if so, whether
they would not return with a power too great for us to resist? He
answered, _that he thought it impossible they could outlive the storm;
or, if they were driven southwardly, they would come to a land where
they would as certainly be devoured, as if they were drowned in the sea.
And suppose they had attained their own country, the strangeness of
their fatal and bloody attack, would make them tell their people, that
the rest of them were killed by thunder and lightning, not by the hand
of man, but by two heavenly spirits_ (meaning Friday and me) _who were
sent from above to destroy them. And this_, he said, _he knew because he
heard them say the same to one another_. And indeed he was in the right
on't; for I have heard since, that these four men gave out that whoever
went to that inchanted island, would be destroyed by fire from the gods.
No canoes appearing soon after, as I expected, my apprehensions ceased:
instead of which my former thoughts of a voyage took place, especially
when Friday's father assured me, I should have good usage in his nation.
As to the Spaniard, he told me, that sixteen more of his countrymen and
Portuguese, who had been shipwrecked, made their escape thither; that
though they were in union with the savages, yet they were very miserable
for want of provisions and other necessaries. When I asked him about the
particulars of his voyage, he answered that their ship was bound from
the Rio de la Plata to the Havannah; that when the ship was lost, only
five men perished in the ocean; the rest having saved themselves in the
boat, were now landed on the main continent. 'And what do they intend to
do there?' said I. He replied, they have concerted measures to escape,
by building a vessel, but that they had neither tools nor provisions,
for that all their designs came to nothing. 'Supposing, said I, I should
make a proposal, and invite them here, would they not carry me prisoner
to New Spain?' he answered no; for he knew them to be such honest men,
as would scorn to act such inhuman baseness to their deliverer: That, if
I pleased, he and the old savage would go over to them, talk with them
about it, and bring me an answer: That they should all swear fidelity to
me as their leader, upon the Holy Sacrament; and for his, part he would
not only do the same, but stand to the last drop of his blood should
there be occasion.