Robinson Crusoe

TAMES GOATS

I cannot say that after this, for five years, any extraordinary thing
happened to me, but I lived on in the same course, in the same posture
and place, as before; the chief things I was employed in, besides my
yearly labour of planting my barley and rice, and curing my raisins, of
both which I always kept up just enough to have sufficient stock of one
year’s provisions beforehand; I say, besides this yearly labour, and my
daily pursuit of going out with my gun, I had one labour, to make a
canoe, which at last I finished: so that, by digging a canal to it of
six feet wide and four feet deep, I brought it into the creek, almost
half a mile. As for the first, which was so vastly big, for I made it
without considering beforehand, as I ought to have done, how I should
be able to launch it, so, never being able to bring it into the water,
or bring the water to it, I was obliged to let it lie where it was as a
memorandum to teach me to be wiser the next time: indeed, the next
time, though I could not get a tree proper for it, and was in a place
where I could not get the water to it at any less distance than, as I
have said, near half a mile, yet, as I saw it was practicable at last,
I never gave it over; and though I was near two years about it, yet I
never grudged my labour, in hopes of having a boat to go off to sea at
last.

However, though my little periagua was finished, yet the size of it was
not at all answerable to the design which I had in view when I made the
first; I mean of venturing over to the terra firma, where it was
above forty miles broad; accordingly, the smallness of my boat assisted
to put an end to that design, and now I thought no more of it. As I had
a boat, my next design was to make a cruise round the island; for as I
had been on the other side in one place, crossing, as I have already
described it, over the land, so the discoveries I made in that little
journey made me very eager to see other parts of the coast; and now I
had a boat, I thought of nothing but sailing round the island.

For this purpose, that I might do everything with discretion and
consideration, I fitted up a little mast in my boat, and made a sail
too out of some of the pieces of the ship’s sails which lay in store,
and of which I had a great stock by me. Having fitted my mast and sail,
and tried the boat, I found she would sail very well; then I made
little lockers or boxes at each end of my boat, to put provisions,
necessaries, ammunition, &c., into, to be kept dry, either from rain or
the spray of the sea; and a little, long, hollow place I cut in the
inside of the boat, where I could lay my gun, making a flap to hang
down over it to keep it dry.

I fixed my umbrella also in the step at the stern, like a mast, to
stand over my head, and keep the heat of the sun off me, like an
awning; and thus I every now and then took a little voyage upon the
sea, but never went far out, nor far from the little creek. At last,
being eager to view the circumference of my little kingdom, I resolved
upon my cruise; and accordingly I victualled my ship for the voyage,
putting in two dozen of loaves (cakes I should call them) of
barley-bread, an earthen pot full of parched rice (a food I ate a good
deal of), a little bottle of rum, half a goat, and powder and shot for
killing more, and two large watch-coats, of those which, as I mentioned
before, I had saved out of the seamen’s chests; these I took, one to
lie upon, and the other to cover me in the night.

It was the 6th of November, in the sixth year of my reign—or my
captivity, which you please—that I set out on this voyage, and I found
it much longer than I expected; for though the island itself was not
very large, yet when I came to the east side of it, I found a great
ledge of rocks lie out about two leagues into the sea, some above
water, some under it; and beyond that a shoal of sand, lying dry half a
league more, so that I was obliged to go a great way out to sea to
double the point.

When I first discovered them, I was going to give over my enterprise,
and come back again, not knowing how far it might oblige me to go out
to sea; and above all, doubting how I should get back again: so I came
to an anchor; for I had made a kind of an anchor with a piece of a
broken grappling which I got out of the ship.

Having secured my boat, I took my gun and went on shore, climbing up a
hill, which seemed to overlook that point where I saw the full extent
of it, and resolved to venture.

In my viewing the sea from that hill where I stood, I perceived a
strong, and indeed a most furious current, which ran to the east, and
even came close to the point; and I took the more notice of it because
I saw there might be some danger that when I came into it I might be
carried out to sea by the strength of it, and not be able to make the
island again; and indeed, had I not got first upon this hill, I believe
it would have been so; for there was the same current on the other side
the island, only that it set off at a further distance, and I saw there
was a strong eddy under the shore; so I had nothing to do but to get
out of the first current, and I should presently be in an eddy.

I lay here, however, two days, because the wind blowing pretty fresh at
ESE., and that being just contrary to the current, made a great breach
of the sea upon the point: so that it was not safe for me to keep too
close to the shore for the breach, nor to go too far off, because of
the stream.

The third day, in the morning, the wind having abated overnight, the
sea was calm, and I ventured: but I am a warning to all rash and
ignorant pilots; for no sooner was I come to the point, when I was not
even my boat’s length from the shore, but I found myself in a great
depth of water, and a current like the sluice of a mill; it carried my
boat along with it with such violence that all I could do could not
keep her so much as on the edge of it; but I found it hurried me
farther and farther out from the eddy, which was on my left hand. There
was no wind stirring to help me, and all I could do with my paddles
signified nothing: and now I began to give myself over for lost; for as
the current was on both sides of the island, I knew in a few leagues
distance they must join again, and then I was irrecoverably gone; nor
did I see any possibility of avoiding it; so that I had no prospect
before me but of perishing, not by the sea, for that was calm enough,
but of starving from hunger. I had, indeed, found a tortoise on the
shore, as big almost as I could lift, and had tossed it into the boat;
and I had a great jar of fresh water, that is to say, one of my earthen
pots; but what was all this to being driven into the vast ocean, where,
to be sure, there was no shore, no mainland or island, for a thousand
leagues at least?

And now I saw how easy it was for the providence of God to make even
the most miserable condition of mankind worse. Now I looked back upon
my desolate, solitary island as the most pleasant place in the world
and all the happiness my heart could wish for was to be but there
again. I stretched out my hands to it, with eager wishes—“O happy
desert!” said I, “I shall never see thee more. O miserable creature!
whither am I going?” Then I reproached myself with my unthankful
temper, and that I had repined at my solitary condition; and now what
would I give to be on shore there again! Thus, we never see the true
state of our condition till it is illustrated to us by its contraries,
nor know how to value what we enjoy, but by the want of it. It is
scarcely possible to imagine the consternation I was now in, being
driven from my beloved island (for so it appeared to me now to be) into
the wide ocean, almost two leagues, and in the utmost despair of ever
recovering it again. However, I worked hard till, indeed, my strength
was almost exhausted, and kept my boat as much to the northward, that
is, towards the side of the current which the eddy lay on, as possibly
I could; when about noon, as the sun passed the meridian, I thought I
felt a little breeze of wind in my face, springing up from SSE. This
cheered my heart a little, and especially when, in about half-an-hour
more, it blew a pretty gentle gale. By this time I had got at a
frightful distance from the island, and had the least cloudy or hazy
weather intervened, I had been undone another way, too; for I had no
compass on board, and should never have known how to have steered
towards the island, if I had but once lost sight of it; but the weather
continuing clear, I applied myself to get up my mast again, and spread
my sail, standing away to the north as much as possible, to get out of
the current.

Just as I had set my mast and sail, and the boat began to stretch away,
I saw even by the clearness of the water some alteration of the current
was near; for where the current was so strong the water was foul; but
perceiving the water clear, I found the current abate; and presently I
found to the east, at about half a mile, a breach of the sea upon some
rocks: these rocks I found caused the current to part again, and as the
main stress of it ran away more southerly, leaving the rocks to the
north-east, so the other returned by the repulse of the rocks, and made
a strong eddy, which ran back again to the north-west, with a very
sharp stream.

They who know what it is to have a reprieve brought to them upon the
ladder, or to be rescued from thieves just going to murder them, or who
have been in such extremities, may guess what my present surprise of
joy was, and how gladly I put my boat into the stream of this eddy; and
the wind also freshening, how gladly I spread my sail to it, running
cheerfully before the wind, and with a strong tide or eddy underfoot.

This eddy carried me about a league on my way back again, directly
towards the island, but about two leagues more to the northward than
the current which carried me away at first; so that when I came near
the island, I found myself open to the northern shore of it, that is to
say, the other end of the island, opposite to that which I went out
from.

When I had made something more than a league of way by the help of this
current or eddy, I found it was spent, and served me no further.
However, I found that being between two great currents—viz. that on the
south side, which had hurried me away, and that on the north, which lay
about a league on the other side; I say, between these two, in the wake
of the island, I found the water at least still, and running no way;
and having still a breeze of wind fair for me, I kept on steering
directly for the island, though not making such fresh way as I did
before.

About four o’clock in the evening, being then within a league of the
island, I found the point of the rocks which occasioned this disaster
stretching out, as is described before, to the southward, and casting
off the current more southerly, had, of course, made another eddy to
the north; and this I found very strong, but not directly setting the
way my course lay, which was due west, but almost full north. However,
having a fresh gale, I stretched across this eddy, slanting north-west;
and in about an hour came within about a mile of the shore, where, it
being smooth water, I soon got to land.

When I was on shore, I fell on my knees and gave God thanks for my
deliverance, resolving to lay aside all thoughts of my deliverance by
my boat; and refreshing myself with such things as I had, I brought my
boat close to the shore, in a little cove that I had spied under some
trees, and laid me down to sleep, being quite spent with the labour and
fatigue of the voyage.

I was now at a great loss which way to get home with my boat! I had run
so much hazard, and knew too much of the case, to think of attempting
it by the way I went out; and what might be at the other side (I mean
the west side) I knew not, nor had I any mind to run any more ventures;
so I resolved on the next morning to make my way westward along the
shore, and to see if there was no creek where I might lay up my frigate
in safety, so as to have her again if I wanted her. In about three
miles or thereabouts, coasting the shore, I came to a very good inlet
or bay, about a mile over, which narrowed till it came to a very little
rivulet or brook, where I found a very convenient harbour for my boat,
and where she lay as if she had been in a little dock made on purpose
for her. Here I put in, and having stowed my boat very safe, I went on
shore to look about me, and see where I was.

I soon found I had but a little passed by the place where I had been
before, when I travelled on foot to that shore; so taking nothing out
of my boat but my gun and umbrella, for it was exceedingly hot, I began
my march. The way was comfortable enough after such a voyage as I had
been upon, and I reached my old bower in the evening, where I found
everything standing as I left it; for I always kept it in good order,
being, as I said before, my country house.

I got over the fence, and laid me down in the shade to rest my limbs,
for I was very weary, and fell asleep; but judge you, if you can, that
read my story, what a surprise I must be in when I was awaked out of my
sleep by a voice calling me by my name several times, “Robin, Robin,
Robin Crusoe: poor Robin Crusoe! Where are you, Robin Crusoe? Where are
you? Where have you been?”

I was so dead asleep at first, being fatigued with rowing, or paddling,
as it is called, the first part of the day, and with walking the latter
part, that I did not wake thoroughly; but dozing thought I dreamed that
somebody spoke to me; but as the voice continued to repeat, “Robin
Crusoe, Robin Crusoe,” at last I began to wake more perfectly, and was
at first dreadfully frightened, and started up in the utmost
consternation; but no sooner were my eyes open, but I saw my Poll
sitting on the top of the hedge; and immediately knew that it was he
that spoke to me; for just in such bemoaning language I had used to
talk to him and teach him; and he had learned it so perfectly that he
would sit upon my finger, and lay his bill close to my face and cry,
“Poor Robin Crusoe! Where are you? Where have you been? How came you
here?” and such things as I had taught him.

However, even though I knew it was the parrot, and that indeed it could
be nobody else, it was a good while before I could compose myself.
First, I was amazed how the creature got thither; and then, how he
should just keep about the place, and nowhere else; but as I was well
satisfied it could be nobody but honest Poll, I got over it; and
holding out my hand, and calling him by his name, “Poll,” the sociable
creature came to me, and sat upon my thumb, as he used to do, and
continued talking to me, “Poor Robin Crusoe! and how did I come here?
and where had I been?” just as if he had been overjoyed to see me
again; and so I carried him home along with me.

I had now had enough of rambling to sea for some time, and had enough
to do for many days to sit still and reflect upon the danger I had been
in. I would have been very glad to have had my boat again on my side of
the island; but I knew not how it was practicable to get it about. As
to the east side of the island, which I had gone round, I knew well
enough there was no venturing that way; my very heart would shrink, and
my very blood run chill, but to think of it; and as to the other side
of the island, I did not know how it might be there; but supposing the
current ran with the same force against the shore at the east as it
passed by it on the other, I might run the same risk of being driven
down the stream, and carried by the island, as I had been before of
being carried away from it: so with these thoughts, I contented myself
to be without any boat, though it had been the product of so many
months’ labour to make it, and of so many more to get it into the sea.

In this government of my temper I remained near a year; and lived a
very sedate, retired life, as you may well suppose; and my thoughts
being very much composed as to my condition, and fully comforted in
resigning myself to the dispositions of Providence, I thought I lived
really very happily in all things except that of society.

I improved myself in this time in all the mechanic exercises which my
necessities put me upon applying myself to; and I believe I should,
upon occasion, have made a very good carpenter, especially considering
how few tools I had.

Besides this, I arrived at an unexpected perfection in my earthenware,
and contrived well enough to make them with a wheel, which I found
infinitely easier and better; because I made things round and shaped,
which before were filthy things indeed to look on. But I think I was
never more vain of my own performance, or more joyful for anything I
found out, than for my being able to make a tobacco-pipe; and though it
was a very ugly, clumsy thing when it was done, and only burned red,
like other earthenware, yet as it was hard and firm, and would draw the
smoke, I was exceedingly comforted with it, for I had been always used
to smoke; and there were pipes in the ship, but I forgot them at first,
not thinking there was tobacco in the island; and afterwards, when I
searched the ship again, I could not come at any pipes.

In my wicker-ware also I improved much, and made abundance of necessary
baskets, as well as my invention showed me; though not very handsome,
yet they were such as were very handy and convenient for laying things
up in, or fetching things home. For example, if I killed a goat abroad,
I could hang it up in a tree, flay it, dress it, and cut it in pieces,
and bring it home in a basket; and the like by a turtle; I could cut it
up, take out the eggs and a piece or two of the flesh, which was enough
for me, and bring them home in a basket, and leave the rest behind me.
Also, large deep baskets were the receivers of my corn, which I always
rubbed out as soon as it was dry and cured, and kept it in great
baskets.

I began now to perceive my powder abated considerably; this was a want
which it was impossible for me to supply, and I began seriously to
consider what I must do when I should have no more powder; that is to
say, how I should kill any goats. I had, as is observed in the third
year of my being here, kept a young kid, and bred her up tame, and I
was in hopes of getting a he-goat; but I could not by any means bring
it to pass, till my kid grew an old goat; and as I could never find in
my heart to kill her, she died at last of mere age.

But being now in the eleventh year of my residence, and, as I have
said, my ammunition growing low, I set myself to study some art to trap
and snare the goats, to see whether I could not catch some of them
alive; and particularly I wanted a she-goat great with young. For this
purpose I made snares to hamper them; and I do believe they were more
than once taken in them; but my tackle was not good, for I had no wire,
and I always found them broken and my bait devoured. At length I
resolved to try a pitfall; so I dug several large pits in the earth, in
places where I had observed the goats used to feed, and over those pits
I placed hurdles of my own making too, with a great weight upon them;
and several times I put ears of barley and dry rice without setting the
trap; and I could easily perceive that the goats had gone in and eaten
up the corn, for I could see the marks of their feet. At length I set
three traps in one night, and going the next morning I found them, all
standing, and yet the bait eaten and gone; this was very discouraging.
However, I altered my traps; and not to trouble you with particulars,
going one morning to see my traps, I found in one of them a large old
he-goat; and in one of the others three kids, a male and two females.

As to the old one, I knew not what to do with him; he was so fierce I
durst not go into the pit to him; that is to say, to bring him away
alive, which was what I wanted. I could have killed him, but that was
not my business, nor would it answer my end; so I even let him out, and
he ran away as if he had been frightened out of his wits. But I did not
then know what I afterwards learned, that hunger will tame a lion. If I
had let him stay three or four days without food, and then have carried
him some water to drink and then a little corn, he would have been as
tame as one of the kids; for they are mighty sagacious, tractable
creatures, where they are well used.

However, for the present I let him go, knowing no better at that time:
then I went to the three kids, and taking them one by one, I tied them
with strings together, and with some difficulty brought them all home.

It was a good while before they would feed; but throwing them some
sweet corn, it tempted them, and they began to be tame. And now I found
that if I expected to supply myself with goats’ flesh, when I had no
powder or shot left, breeding some up tame was my only way, when,
perhaps, I might have them about my house like a flock of sheep. But
then it occurred to me that I must keep the tame from the wild, or else
they would always run wild when they grew up; and the only way for this
was to have some enclosed piece of ground, well fenced either with
hedge or pale, to keep them in so effectually, that those within might
not break out, or those without break in.

This was a great undertaking for one pair of hands; yet, as I saw there
was an absolute necessity for doing it, my first work was to find out a
proper piece of ground, where there was likely to be herbage for them
to eat, water for them to drink, and cover to keep them from the sun.

Those who understand such enclosures will think I had very little
contrivance when I pitched upon a place very proper for all these
(being a plain, open piece of meadow land, or savannah, as our people
call it in the western colonies), which had two or three little drills
of fresh water in it, and at one end was very woody—I say, they will
smile at my forecast, when I shall tell them I began by enclosing this
piece of ground in such a manner that, my hedge or pale must have been
at least two miles about. Nor was the madness of it so great as to the
compass, for if it was ten miles about, I was like to have time enough
to do it in; but I did not consider that my goats would be as wild in
so much compass as if they had had the whole island, and I should have
so much room to chase them in that I should never catch them.

My hedge was begun and carried on, I believe, about fifty yards when
this thought occurred to me; so I presently stopped short, and, for the
beginning, I resolved to enclose a piece of about one hundred and fifty
yards in length, and one hundred yards in breadth, which, as it would
maintain as many as I should have in any reasonable time, so, as my
stock increased, I could add more ground to my enclosure.

This was acting with some prudence, and I went to work with courage. I
was about three months hedging in the first piece; and, till I had done
it, I tethered the three kids in the best part of it, and used them to
feed as near me as possible, to make them familiar; and very often I
would go and carry them some ears of barley, or a handful of rice, and
feed them out of my hand; so that after my enclosure was finished and I
let them loose, they would follow me up and down, bleating after me for
a handful of corn.

This answered my end, and in about a year and a half I had a flock of
about twelve goats, kids and all; and in two years more I had
three-and-forty, besides several that I took and killed for my food.
After that, I enclosed five several pieces of ground to feed them in,
with little pens to drive them to take them as I wanted, and gates out
of one piece of ground into another.

But this was not all; for now I not only had goat’s flesh to feed on
when I pleased, but milk too—a thing which, indeed, in the beginning, I
did not so much as think of, and which, when it came into my thoughts,
was really an agreeable surprise, for now I set up my dairy, and had
sometimes a gallon or two of milk in a day. And as Nature, who gives
supplies of food to every creature, dictates even naturally how to make
use of it, so I, that had never milked a cow, much less a goat, or seen
butter or cheese made only when I was a boy, after a great many essays
and miscarriages, made both butter and cheese at last, also salt
(though I found it partly made to my hand by the heat of the sun upon
some of the rocks of the sea), and never wanted it afterwards. How
mercifully can our Creator treat His creatures, even in those
conditions in which they seemed to be overwhelmed in destruction! How
can He sweeten the bitterest providences, and give us cause to praise
Him for dungeons and prisons! What a table was here spread for me in
the wilderness, where I saw nothing at first but to perish for hunger!