two rocks; her stern and quarters beaten to pieces by the sea: her main-mast and fore-mast were brought off by the board; that is, broken short off. As I approached nearer, I perceived a dog on board, who, seeing me coming, yelped and cried and no sooner did I call himi, but the poor creature jumped into the sea, out of which I took him up almost famished with hunger and thirst; so that when I gave him a cake of bread, no ravenous wolf could devour it more greedily; and he drank to that degree of fresh water, that he would have burst himself had I suffered him.

The first sight I met with, in the ship, were two men drowned in the cock-room or forecastle, inclosed in one another's arms; hence I very probably supposed, that when the vessel struck in the storin, so high and incessantly did the waters break in and over her, that the men not being able to bear it, were strangled by the constant rushing of the waves. There were several casks of liquor, whether wine or brandy I could not be positive, which lay in the lower hold, as were plainly perceptible by the ebbing out of the water, yet were too large for me to pretend to meddle with: likewise I perceived several chests, which I supposed belonged to the seamen, two of which I took into my boat, without examining what was in them. What became of the rest of the sailors I could not 'certainly tell; and all her riches signified nothing at that time to any body.

Searching farther, I found a cask, containing

L

about twenty gallons full of liquor, which with some labour I got into my boat; in a cabin were several muskets, which I let remain there; but took away with me a great powder horn, with about four pounds of powder in it. I took also a fire shovel and tongs, with two kettles, a copper pot to make chololate, and a grid-iron, all which I thought must prove highly useful to me, especially the fire shovel and tongs. And so with the cargo, accompanied by my dog, I came away, the tide serving for that purpose; and the same evening about an hour within night, I attained the island, after the greatest toil and fatigue imaginable.

That night I reposed my weary limbs in the boat, resolving the next morning to har bour what I had gotten, in my new found

nder-ground grotto; and not carry my cargo home to my ancient castle. Having refreshed myself, and got all my effects on shore, I next proceeded to examine the particulars; and so tapping the cask, I found the liquor to be a kind of rum, but not like what we had at the Brazils, nor indeed near so good. At the opening of the chests several things appeared very useful to me; for instance, I found in one, a very fine case of bottles, containing the finest and best sort of cordial waters; each bottle held about three pints, and was curiously tipt with silver. I found also two pots full of the choicest sweetmeats, and two more which the water had utterly spoiled. There were likewise several good shirts, exceedingly welcome

to me, and about one dozen and a half of white linen hankerchiefs, and coloured neckcloths, the former of which was useful for wiping my face in a hot day; and in the till, I found three bags of money, in one of which, decently wrapt up in a piece of paper, were six doubloons of gold; and some small bars and wedges of the same metal, which I believe might weigh near a pound. In the other chests, I only found some clothes of very little value, and about two pounds of fine glazed powder, in three flasks, kept as I believe for charging their fow ling pieces on any occasion, so that, on the whole I made very little of this voyage. The money was indeed as mere dirt to me, useless and unprofitable; all which I would have freely parted with for two or three pair of English shoes and stockings, things that for many years I had not worn, except those which I had lately taken off the feet of the unfortunate men I found drowned in the wreck, yet not so good as English shoes, either for ease or service. I found no gold in the second chest; so concluded that what I took from the first belonged to an officer, the latter appearing to have a much inferior per son for its owner. However, as despicable as the money seemed, I likewise lugged it to my cave, laying it up securely, as I did the rest of iny cargo, and intending to seek out, and ro turn it to the family of the unfortunate owner, if ever I should return to Europe: and after I had done all this, as there was nothing more aboard which I could remove, I returned back

to my boat, rowing or paddling her along till I came to my old harbour, where I carefully laid her up, and so made the best of my way to my castle. When I arrived there, every thing seemed safe and quiet; so that now, my only business was to repose myself after my wonted manner, and take care of my domestic affairs. But though I might have lived very easy, as wanting for nothing absolutely needful; yet still I was more vigilant than usual, upon account of the savages, never going much abroad; or, if I did, it was to the east part of the island, where I was well assured that the savages never came, and where I might not be troubled to carry such a heavy load of weapons for mye defence, as I thought necessary to do if I went the other way."

Two years did I live in this anxious condi tion, in all which time, contrary to my former resolutions, my head was filled with nothing but projects and designs how I might escape from this island; and so much were my wan-i dering thoughts bent upon a rambling expedi tion, that had I had the same boat that I went from Salee in, I should have ventured once more to the uncertainty of the raging ocean,

Having retired to my castle, after my late voyage to the ship, my boat laid up and se cured, as usual, and my condition the same as before, except being richer, though I had as little occasion for riches as the Indians of Peru had for gold, before the Spaniards, came among them one night in March, being the

rainy season, in, the four and twentieth year of my solitude, I lay down to sleep, very well in health, without distemper, pain, or uncommon uneasiness either of body or mind; yet notwithstanding, I could not compose myself to sleep all the night long, All this tedious while, it is impossible to express what innumerable thoughts came into my head. I traced quite over, the whole history of my life in miniature, from my utmost remembrance of things till I came to this island; and then proceeded to examine every action and passage that had occurred since I had taken possession of my kingdom. In my reflections upon the latter, I was comparing the happy posture of my affairs in the beginning of my reign, to this life of anxiety, fear, and concern, since I had discovered the print of a foot in the sand; and that while I continued without apprehension I was incapable of feeling the dread, and terror I now suffered, How thankful rather ought I to have been for the knowledge of my danger, since the greatest happiness, a man can be possessed. of, is to have sufficient time to provide against it? How stupendous is the goodness of Provi dence, which sets such narrow bounds to the sight and knowledge of human nature, that while men walk in the midst of so many dangers, they are kept serene and calm, by having the events of things hid from, their eyes, and knowing nothing of those many dangers that surround them, till perhaps they are dissipated and vanished away.

nivít, sot mego mid 94