CONTENTS OF VOL. I.
CHAPTER I.
Giving an account of the authors birth and family—The fondness of his
mother—His being put to an academy at sixteen by the advice of his
friend—His thoughts of his own literatureCHAPTER II.
How he spent his time at the academy—An intrigue with a servant maid
there—She declares herself with child by him—Her expostulations with
him—He is put to it for money—Refused it from home by his friend, who
had married his mother—Is drawn in to marry the maid—She lies in at
her aunts—Returns to her service—He has another child by herCHAPTER III.
Minds his studies—Informs his master of his mother's marriage and usage
of him—Hears of her death—Makes his master his guardian—Goes with
him to take possession of his estate—Is informed all is given to his
father-in-law—Moral reflections on his condition and on his father's
crimesCHAPTER IV.
Departs secretly from his master—Travels to Bristol—Religious thoughts
by the way—Enters on shipboard, and is made captain's stewardCHAPTER V.
His first entertainment en board—Sets sail—His sickness—Engagement
with a French privateer—Is taken and laid in irons—Twenty-one
prisoners turned adrift in a small boat with only two days' provisionsCHAPTER VI.
The boat, two hundred leagues from land, makes no way, but drives more
to sea by the wind—The people live nine days at quarter allowance—Four
die with hunger the twelfth day—Five more the fourteenth day—On the
fifteenth they eat one just dead—Want of water excessive—They spy a
sail—Are taken up—Work their passage to the African shore—One sent on
a secret expedition—Are way-laid, taken, made slaves, and sent up the
countryCHAPTER VII.
The author escapes with Glanlepze, a native—His hardships
in travel—Plunder of a cottage—His fears—Adventure with a
crocodile—Passage of a river—Adventure with a lioness and
whelps—Arrives at Glanlepze's house—The trial of Glanlepze s wife's
constancy—The tender meeting of her and her husband—The author's
reflections thereuponCHAPTER VIII.
How the author passed his time with Glanlepze—His acquaintance with
some English prisoners—They project an escape—He joins them—They
seize a Portuguese ship and get off—Make a long run from land—Want
water—They anchor at a desert island—The boat goes on shore for
water—They lose their anchor in a storm—The author and one Adams drove
to sea—A miraculous passage to a rock—Adams drowned there—The authors
miserable conditionCHAPTER IX.
He thinks of destroying himself—His soliloquy—Strange accident in
the hold—His surprise—Can't climb the rock—His method to sweeten his
water—Lives many months on board—Ventures to sea in his boat several
times and takes many fish—Almost overcome by an eelCHAPTER X.
Lays in great store of provisions—Resolves to traverse the rock—Sails
for three weeks, still seeing it only—Is sucked under the rock, and
hurried down a cataract—Continues there five weeks—His description of
the cavern—His thoughts and difficulties—His arrival at a great lake,
and his landing in the beautiful country of GraundevoletCHAPTER XI.
His joy on his arrival at land—A description of the place—No
inhabitants—Wants fresh water—Resides in a grotto—Finds water—Views
the country—Carries his things to the grottoCHAPTER XII.
An account of the grotto—A room added to it—A view of that
building—The author makes a little cart—Also a wet dock for his
boat—Goes in quest of provision—A description of divers fruits and
plants—He brings home a cartload of different sorts—Makes experiments
on them—Loads his cart with others—A great disappointment—Makes good
bread—Never sees the sun—The nature of the lightCHAPTER XIII.
The author lays in a store against the dark weather—Hears voice—His
thoughts thereon—Persuades himself it was a dream—Hears them
again—Determines to see if any one lodged in the rock—Is satisfied
there is nobody—Observations on what he saw—Finds a strong weed
like whip-cord—Makes a dragnet—Lengthens it—Catches a monster—Its
description—Makes oil of itCHAPTER XIV.
The author passes the summer pleasantly—Hears the voices in the
winter—Ventures out—Sees a strange sight on the lake—His uneasiness
at it—His dream—Soliloquy—Hears the voices again, and perceives a
great shock on his building—Takes up a beautiful woman—He thinks her
dead, but recovers her—A description of her—She stays with himCHAPTER XV.
He is afraid of losing his new mistress—They live together all
winter—A remark on that—They begin to know each others language—A
long discourse between them at cross purposes—She flies—They engage to
be man and wifeCHAPTER XVI.
The author's disappointment at first going to bed with his new
wife—Some strange circumstances relating thereto—She resolves several
questions he asks her, and clears up his fears as to the voices—A
description of swangeansCHAPTER XVII.
Youwarkee cannot bear a strong light—Her husband makes her spectacles,
which help her—A description of themCHAPTER XVIII.
Youwarkee with child—The author's stock of provisions—No beast or
fish in Youwarkee's country—The voices again—Her reason for not
seeing those who uttered 'em—She bears a son—A hard speech in her
lying-in—Divers birds appear—Their eggs gathered—How the author kept
account of timeCHAPTER XIX.
His concern about clothing for Pedro, his eldest son—His discourse with
his wife about the ship—Her flight to it—His melancholy reflections
'till her return—An account of what she had done, and of what she
brought—She clothes her children and takes a second flightCHAPTER XX. (With three illustrations)
The author observes her flight—A description of a glumm in the
graundee—She finds out the gulf not far from the ship—Brings home more
goods—Makes her a gown by her husband's instructionCHAPTER XXI.
The author gets a breed of poultry—By what means—Builds them a
house—How he managed to keep them in winterCHAPTER XXII.
Reflections on mankind—The author wants to be with his ship—Projects
going, but perceives it impracticable—Youwarkee offers her service,
and goes—An account of her transactions on board—Remarks on her
sagacity—She despatches several chests of goods through the gulf to
the lake—An account of a danger she escaped—The author has a fit of
sicknessCHAPTER XXIII.
The religion of the author's familyCHAPTER XXIV.
An account of his children—Their names—They are exercised in
flying—His boat crazy—Youwarkee intends a visit to her father, but
first takes another flight to the ship—Sends a boat and chests through
the gulf—Clothes her children—Is with child again, so her visit is put
off—An inventory of the last freight of goods—The authors method of
treating his children—Youwarkee, her son Tommy, with her daughters
Patty and Hallycarnie, set out for her father'sCHAPTER XXV.
Youwarkee's account of the stages to Arndrumnstake—The author uneasy
at her flight—His employment in her absence, and preparations for
receiving her father—How he spent the evenings with the childrenHis concern at Youwarkee's stay—Reflections on his condition—Hears
a voice call him—Youwarkee's brother Quangrollart visits him with a
companion—He treats them at the grotto—The brother discovers himself
by accident—The author presents his children to himQuangrollarf s account of Youwarkee's journey, and reception at her
father's
THE INTRODUCTION.
It might be looked upon as impertinent in me, who am about to give the life of another, to trouble the reader with any of my own concerns, or the affairs that led me into the South Seas. Therefore I shall only acquaint him, that in my return on board the "Hector," as a passenger, round Cape Horn, for England, full late in the season, the wind and currents setting strong against us, our ship drove more southernly, by several degrees, than the usual course, even to the latitude of 75 or 76; when the wind chopping about, we began to resume our intended way. It was about the middle of June, when the days are there at the shortest, on a very starry and moonlight night, that we observed at some distance a very black cloud, but seemingly of no extraordinary size or height, moving very fast towards us, and seeming to follow the ship, which then made great way. Every one on deck was very curious in observing its motions; and perceiving it frequently to divide, and presently to close again, and not to continue long in any determined shape, our captain, who had never before been so far to the southward as he then found himself, had many conjectures what this phenomenon might portend; and every one offering his own opinion, it seemed at last to be generally agreed that there might possibly be a storm gathering in the air, of which this was the prognostic; and by its following, and nearly keeping pace with us, we were in great fear lest it should break upon and overwhelm us, if not carefully avoided. Our commander, therefore, as it approached nearer and nearer, ordered one of the ship's guns to be fired, to try if the percussion of the air would disperse it. This was no sooner done than we heard a prodigious flounce in the water, at but a small distance from the ship, on the weather-quarter; and after a violent noise, or cry in the air, the cloud, that upon our firing dissipated, seemed to return again, but by degrees disappeared. Whilst we were all very much surprised at this unexpected accident, I, being naturally very curious and inquisitive into the causes of all unusual incidents, begged the captain to send the boat to see, if possible, what it was that had fallen from the cloud, and offered myself to make one in her. He was much against this at first, as it would retard his voyage, now we were going so smoothly before the wind. But in the midst of our debate, we plainly heard a voice calling out for help, in our own tongue, like a person in great distress. I then insisted on going, and not suffering a fellow-creature to perish for the sake of a trifling delay. In compliance with my resolute demand, he slackened sail; and hoisting out the boat, myself and seven others made to the cry, and soon found it to come from an elderly man, labouring for life, with his arms across several long poles, of equal size at both ends, very light, and tied to each other in a very odd manner. The sailors at first were very fearful of assisting or coming near him, crying to each other, "He must be a monster!" and perhaps might overset the boat and destroy them; but hearing him speak English, I was very angry with them for their foolish apprehensions, and caused them to clap their oars under him, and at length we got him into the boat. He had an extravagant beard, and also long blackish hair upon his head. As soon as he could speak (for he was almost spent), he very familiarly took me by the hand, I having set myself close by him to observe him, and squeezing it, thanked me very kindly for my civility to him, and likewise thanked all the sailors. I then asked him by what possible accident he came there; but he shook his head, declining to satisfy my curiosity. Hereupon reflecting that it might just then be troublesome for him to speak, and that we should have leisure enough in our voyage for him to relate, and me to hear, his story (which, from the surprising manner of his falling amongst us, I could not but believe would contain something very remarkable), I waived any farther speech with him at that time.
We had him to the ship, and taking off his wet clothes, put him to bed in my cabin; and I having a large provision of stores on board, and no concern in the ship, grew very fond of him, and supplied him with everything he wanted. In our frequent discourses together, he had several times dropped loose hints of his past transactions, which but the more inflamed me with impatience to hear the whole of them. About this time, having just begun to double the Cape, our captain thought of watering at the first convenient place; and finding the stranger had no money to pay his passage, and that he had been from England no less than thirty-five years, despairing of his reward for conducting him thither, he intimated to him that he must expect to be put on shore to shift for himself, when we put in for water. This entirely sunk the stranger's spirits, and gave me great concern, insomuch that I fully resolved, if the captain should really prove such a brute, to take the payment of his passage on myself.
As we came nearer to the destined watering, the captain spoke the plainer of his intentions (for I had not yet hinted my design to him or any one else); and one morning the stranger came into my cabin, with tears in his eyes, telling me he verily believed the captain would be as good as his word, and set him on shore, which he very much dreaded. I did not choose to tell him immediately what I designed in his favour, but asked him if he could think of no way of satisfying the captain, or any one else, who might thereupon be induced to engage for him; and farther, how he expected to live when he should get to England, a man quite forgotten and penniless. Hereupon he told me he had, ever since his being on board, considering his destitute condition, entertained a thought of having his adventures written; which, as there was something so uncommon in them, he was sure the world would be glad to know; and he had flattered himself with hopes of raising somewhat by the sale of them to put him in a way of living; but as it was plain now he should never see England without my assistance, if I would answer for his passage, and write his life, he would communicate to me a faithful narrative thereof, which he believed would pay me to the full any charge I might be at on his account. I was very well pleased with this overture, not from the prospect of gain by the copy, but from the expectation I had of being fully satisfied in what I had so long desired to know; so I told him I would make him easy in that respect. This quite transported him: he caressed me, and called me his deliverer, and was then going open-mouthed to the captain to tell him so. But I put a stop to that: For, says I, though I insist upon hearing your story, the captain may yet relent of his purpose, and not leave you on shore; and if that should prove the case, I shall neither part with my money for you, nor you with your interest in your adventures to me. Whereupon he agreed I was right, and desisted.
When we had taken in best part of our water, and the boat was going its last turn, the captain ordered up the strange man, as they called him, and told him he must go on board the boat, which was to leave him on shore with some few provisions. I happening to hear nothing of these orders, they were so sudden, the poor man was afraid, after all, he should have been hurried to land without my knowledge: but begging very hard of the captain only for leave to speak with me before he went, I was called (though with some reluctance, for the captain disliked me for the liberties I frequently took with him, on account of his brutal behaviour). I expostulated with the cruel wretch on the inhumanity of the action he was about; telling him, if he had resolved the poor man should perish, it would have been better to have suffered him to do so when he was at the last extremity, than to expose him afresh, by this means, to a death as certain, in a more lingering and miserable way. But the savage being resolved, and nothing moved by what I said, I paid him part of the passage down, and agreed to pay the rest at our arrival in England.
Thus having reprieved the poor man, the next thing was to enter upon my new employ of amanuensis: and having a long space of time before us, we allotted two hours every morning for the purpose of writing down his life from his own mouth; and frequently, when wind and weather kept us below, we spent some time of an afternoon in the same exercise, till we had quite completed it. But then there were some things in it so indescribable by words, that if I had not had some knowledge in drawing, our history had been very incomplete. Thus it must have been, especially in the description of the Glumms and Gawrys therein mentioned. In order to gain (that so I might communicate) a clear idea of these, I made several drawings of them from his discourses and accounts; and, at length, after divers trials, I made such exact delineations, that he declared they could not have been more perfect resemblances if I had drawn them from the life. Upon a survey, he confessed the very persons themselves could not have been more exact. I also drew with my pencil the figure of an aerial engagement, which, having likewise had his approbation, I have given a draught of, plate the sixth.