Chapter 10: Tames Goats

by Daniel Defoe

　　I cannot say that after this, for five years, any extraordinarything happened to me, but I lived on in the same course, in thesame posture and place, as before; the chief things I was employedin, besides my yearly labour of planting my barley and rice, andcuring my raisins, of both which I always kept up just enough tohave sufficient stock of one year's provisions beforehand; I say,besides this yearly labour, and my daily pursuit of going out withmy gun, I had one labour, to make a canoe, which at last Ifinished: so that, by digging a canal to it of six feet wide andfour 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 withoutconsidering beforehand, as I ought to have done, how I should beable 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 wasas a memorandum to teach me to be wiser the next time: indeed, thenext time, though I could not get a tree proper for it, and was ina place where I could not get the water to it at any less distancethan, as I have said, near half a mile, yet, as I saw it waspracticable at last, I never gave it over; and though I was neartwo years about it, yet I never grudged my labour, in hopes ofhaving a boat to go off to sea at last.However, though my little periagua was finished, yet the size of itwas not at all answerable to the design which I had in view when Imade the first; I mean of venturing over to the terra firma, whereit was above forty miles broad; accordingly, the smallness of myboat assisted to put an end to that design, and now I thought nomore of it. As I had a boat, my next design was to make a cruiseround 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 thediscoveries I made in that little journey made me very eager to seeother parts of the coast; and now I had a boat, I thought ofnothing but sailing round the island.For this purpose, that I might do everything with discretion andconsideration, I fitted up a little mast in my boat, and made asail too out of some of the pieces of the ship's sails which lay instore, and of which I had a great stock by me. Having fitted mymast and sail, and tried the boat, I found she would sail verywell; then I made little lockers or boxes at each end of my boat,to put provisions, necessaries, ammunition, &c., into, to be keptdry, 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 mygun, 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, tostand over my head, and keep the heat of the sun off me, like anawning; and thus I every now and then took a little voyage upon thesea, but never went far out, nor far from the little creek. Atlast, being eager to view the circumference of my little kingdom, Iresolved upon my cruise; and accordingly I victualled my ship forthe voyage, putting in two dozen of loaves (cakes I should callthem) of barley-bread, an earthen pot full of parched rice (a foodI ate a good deal of), a little bottle of rum, half a goat, andpowder and shot for killing more, and two large watch-coats, ofthose which, as I mentioned before, I had saved out of the seamen'schests; these I took, one to lie upon, and the other to cover me inthe night.It was the 6th of November, in the sixth year of my reign - or mycaptivity, which you please - that I set out on this voyage, and Ifound it much longer than I expected; for though the island itselfwas not very large, yet when I came to the east side of it, I founda great ledge of rocks lie out about two leagues into the sea, someabove water, some under it; and beyond that a shoal of sand, lyingdry half a league more, so that I was obliged to go a great way outto sea to double the point.When I first discovered them, I was going to give over myenterprise, and come back again, not knowing how far it mightoblige me to go out to sea; and above all, doubting how I shouldget back again: so I came to an anchor; for I had made a kind of ananchor with a piece of a broken grappling which I got out of theship.Having secured my boat, I took my gun and went on shore, climbingup a hill, which seemed to overlook that point where I saw the fullextent of it, and resolved to venture.In my viewing the sea from that hill where I stood, I perceived astrong, 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 itbecause I saw there might be some danger that when I came into it Imight be carried out to sea by the strength of it, and not be ableto make the island again; and indeed, had I not got first upon thishill, I believe it would have been so; for there was the samecurrent on the other side the island, only that it set off at afurther distance, and I saw there was a strong eddy under theshore; 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 prettyfresh at ESE., and that being just contrary to the current, made agreat breach of the sea upon the point: so that it was not safe forme to keep too close to the shore for the breach, nor to go too faroff, 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 rashand ignorant pilots; for no sooner was I come to the point, when Iwas not even my boat's length from the shore, but I found myself ina great depth of water, and a current like the sluice of a mill; itcarried my boat along with it with such violence that all I coulddo could not keep her so much as on the edge of it; but I found ithurried me farther and farther out from the eddy, which was on myleft hand. There was no wind stirring to help me, and all I coulddo with my paddles signified nothing: and now I began to givemyself over for lost; for as the current was on both sides of theisland, I knew in a few leagues distance they must join again, andthen I was irrecoverably gone; nor did I see any possibility ofavoiding it; so that I had no prospect before me but of perishing,not by the sea, for that was calm enough, but of starving fromhunger. I had, indeed, found a tortoise on the shore, as bigalmost as I could lift, and had tossed it into the boat; and I hada 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 athousand leagues at least?And now I saw how easy it was for the providence of God to makeeven the most miserable condition of mankind worse. Now I lookedback upon my desolate, solitary island as the most pleasant placein the world and all the happiness my heart could wish for was tobe but there again. I stretched out my hands to it, with eagerwishes - "O happy desert!" said I, "I shall never see thee more. Omiserable creature! whither am going?" Then I reproached myselfwith my unthankful temper, and that I had repined at my solitarycondition; and now what would I give to be on shore there again!Thus, we never see the true state of our condition till it isillustrated to us by its contraries, nor know how to value what weenjoy, but by the want of it. It is scarcely possible to imaginethe consternation I was now in, being driven from my beloved island(for so it appeared to me now to be) into the wide ocean, almosttwo leagues, and in the utmost despair of ever recovering it again.However, I worked hard till, indeed, my strength was almostexhausted, and kept my boat as much to the northward, that is,towards the side of the current which the eddy lay on, as possiblyI could; when about noon, as the sun passed the meridian, I thoughtI 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 gotat a frightful distance from the island, and had the least cloudyor hazy weather intervened, I had been undone another way, too; forI had no compass on board, and should never have known how to havesteered towards the island, if I had but once lost sight of it; butthe weather continuing clear, I applied myself to get up my mastagain, and spread my sail, standing away to the north as much aspossible, to get out of the current.Just as I had set my mast and sail, and the boat began to stretchaway, I saw even by the clearness of the water some alteration ofthe current was near; for where the current was so strong the waterwas foul; but perceiving the water clear, I found the currentabate; and presently I found to the east, at about half a mile, abreach of the sea upon some rocks: these rocks I found caused thecurrent to part again, and as the main stress of it ran away moresoutherly, leaving the rocks to the north-east, so the otherreturned by the repulse of the rocks, and made a strong eddy, whichran back again to the north-west, with a very sharp stream.They who know what it is to have a reprieve brought to them uponthe ladder, or to be rescued from thieves just going to murderthem, or who have been in such extremities, may guess what mypresent surprise of joy was, and how gladly I put my boat into thestream of this eddy; and the wind also freshening, how gladly Ispread my sail to it, running cheerfully before the wind, and witha strong tide or eddy underfoot.This eddy carried me about a league on my way back again, directlytowards the island, but about two leagues more to the northwardthan the current which carried me away at first; so that when Icame near the island, I found myself open to the northern shore ofit, that is to say, the other end of the island, opposite to thatwhich I went out from.When I had made something more than a league of way by the help ofthis current or eddy, I found it was spent, and served me nofurther. However, I found that being between two great currents -viz. that on the south side, which had hurried me away, and that onthe 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 atleast still, and running no way; and having still a breeze of windfair for me, I kept on steering directly for the island, though notmaking such fresh way as I did before.About four o'clock in the evening, being then within a league ofthe island, I found the point of the rocks which occasioned thisdisaster stretching out, as is described before, to the southward,and casting off the current more southerly, had, of course, madeanother eddy to the north; and this I found very strong, but notdirectly setting the way my course lay, which was due west, butalmost full north. However, having a fresh gale, I stretchedacross this eddy, slanting north-west; and in about an hour camewithin about a mile of the shore, where, it being smooth water, Isoon got to land.When I was on shore, God I fell on my knees and gave God thanksfor my deliverance, resolving to lay aside all thoughts of mydeliverance by my boat; and refreshing myself with such things asI had, I brought my boat close to the shore, in a little cove thatI had spied under some trees, and laid me down to sleep, beingquite spent with the labour and fatigue of the voyage.I was now at a great loss which way to get home with my boat! Ihad run so much hazard, and knew too much of the case, to think ofattempting it by the way I went out; and what might be at the otherside (I mean the west side) I knew not, nor had I any mind to runany more ventures; so I resolved on the next morning to make my waywestward along the shore, and to see if there was no creek where Imight lay up my frigate in safety, so as to have her again if Iwanted her. In about three miles or thereabouts, coasting theshore, I came to a very good inlet or bay, about a mile over, whichnarrowed till it came to a very little rivulet or brook, where Ifound a very convenient harbour for my boat, and where she lay asif she had been in a little dock made on purpose for her. Here Iput in, and having stowed my boat very safe, I went on shore tolook about me, and see where I was.I soon found I had but a little passed by the place where I hadbeen before, when I travelled on foot to that shore; so takingnothing out of my boat but my gun and umbrella, for it wasexceedingly hot, I began my march. The way was comfortable enoughafter such a voyage as I had been upon, and I reached my old bowerin the evening, where I found everything standing as I left it; forI always kept it in good order, being, as I said before, my countryhouse.I got over the fence, and laid me down in the shade to rest mylimbs, for I was very weary, and fell asleep; but judge you, if youcan, that read my story, what a surprise I must be in when I wasawaked out of my sleep by a voice calling me by my name severaltimes, "Robin, Robin, Robin Crusoe: poor Robin Crusoe! Where areyou, Robin Crusoe? Where are you? Where have you been?"I was so dead asleep at first, being fatigued with rowing, or partof the day, and with walking the latter part, that I did not wakethoroughly; 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 dreadfullyfrightened, and started up in the utmost consternation; but nosooner were my eyes open, but I saw my Poll sitting on the top ofthe 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 andteach him; and he had learned it so perfectly that he would situpon my finger, and lay his bill close to my face and cry, "PoorRobin Crusoe! Where are you? Where have you been? How came youhere?" and such things as I had taught him.However, even though I knew it was the parrot, and that indeed itcould be nobody else, it was a good while before I could composemyself. First, I was amazed how the creature got thither; andthen, how he should just keep about the place, and nowhere else;but as I was well satisfied it could be nobody but honest Poll, Igot 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, ashe used to do, and continued talking to me, "Poor Robin Crusoe! andhow did I come here? and where had I been?" just as if he had beenoverjoyed 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 hadenough to do for many days to sit still and reflect upon the dangerI had been in. I would have been very glad to have had my boatagain on my side of the island; but I knew not how it waspracticable to get it about. As to the east side of the island,which I had gone round, I knew well enough there was no venturingthat 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 didnot know how it might be there; but supposing the current ran withthe same force against the shore at the east as it passed by it onthe other, I might run the same risk of being driven down thestream, and carried by the island, as I had been before of beingcarried away from it: so with these thoughts, I contented myself tobe without any boat, though it had been the product of so manymonths' labour to make it, and of so many more to get it into thesea.In this government of my temper I remained near a year; and lived avery sedate, retired life, as you may well suppose; and my thoughtsbeing very much composed as to my condition, and fully comforted inresigning myself to the dispositions of Providence, I thought Ilived really very happily in all things except that of society.I improved myself in this time in all the mechanic exercises whichmy necessities put me upon applying myself to; and I believe Ishould, upon occasion, have made a very good carpenter, especiallyconsidering how few tools I had.Besides this, I arrived at an unexpected perfection in myearthenware, and contrived well enough to make them with a wheel,which I found infinitely easier and better; because I made thingsround and shaped, which before were filthy things indeed to lookon. But I think I was never more vain of my own performance, ormore joyful for anything I found out, than for my being able tomake a tobacco-pipe; and though it was a very ugly, clumsy thingwhen it was done, and only burned red, like other earthenware, yetas it was hard and firm, and would draw the smoke, I wasexceedingly comforted with it, for I had been always used to smoke;and there were pipes in the ship, but I forgot them at first, notthinking there was tobacco in the island; and afterwards, when Isearched the ship again, I could not come at any pipes.In my wicker-ware also I improved much, and made abundance ofnecessary baskets, as well as my invention showed me; though notvery handsome, yet they were such as were very handy and convenientfor laying things up in, or fetching things home. For example, ifI 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; andthe like by a turtle; I could cut it up, take out the eggs and apiece or two of the flesh, which was enough for me, and bring themhome in a basket, and leave the rest behind me. Also, large deepbaskets were the receivers of my corn, which I always rubbed out assoon as it was dry and cured, and kept it in great baskets.I began now to perceive my powder abated considerably; this was awant which it was impossible for me to supply, and I beganseriously to consider what I must do when I should have no morepowder; that is to say, how I should kill any goats. I had, as isobserved in the third year of my being here, kept a young kid, andbred her up tame, and I was in hopes of getting a he-goat; but Icould not by any means bring it to pass, till my kid grew an oldgoat; and as I could never find in my heart to kill her, she diedat last of mere age.But being now in the eleventh year of my residence, and, as I havesaid, my ammunition growing low, I set myself to study some art totrap and snare the goats, to see whether I could not catch some ofthem alive; and particularly I wanted a she-goat great with young.For this purpose I made snares to hamper them; and I do believethey 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 baitdevoured. At length I resolved to try a pitfall; so I dug severallarge pits in the earth, in places where I had observed the goatsused to feed, and over those pits I placed hurdles of my own makingtoo, with a great weight upon them; and several times I put ears ofbarley and dry rice without setting the trap; and I could easilyperceive that the goats had gone in and eaten up the corn, for Icould see the marks of their feet. At length I set three traps inone 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 withparticulars, going one morning to see my traps, I found in one ofthem a large old he-goat; and in one of the others three kids, amale and two females.As to the old one, I knew not what to do with him; he was so fierceI durst not go into the pit to him; that is to say, to bring himaway alive, which was what I wanted. I could have killed him, butthat was not my business, nor would it answer my end; so I even lethim out, and he ran away as if he had been frightened out of hiswits. But I did not then know what I afterwards learned, thathunger will tame a lion. If I had let him stay three or four dayswithout food, and then have carried him some water to drink andthen a little corn, he would have been as tame as one of the kids;for they are mighty sagacious, tractable creatures, where they arewell used.However, for the present I let him go, knowing no better at thattime: then I went to the three kids, and taking them one by one, Itied them with strings together, and with some difficulty broughtthem all home.It was a good while before they would feed; but throwing them somesweet corn, it tempted them, and they began to be tame. And now Ifound that if I expected to supply myself with goats' flesh, when Ihad 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 ofsheep. But then it occurred to me that I must keep the tame fromthe wild, or else they would always run wild when they grew up; andthe only way for this was to have some enclosed piece of ground,well fenced either with hedge or pale, to keep them in soeffectually, that those within might not break out, or thosewithout break in.This was a great undertaking for one pair of hands yet, as I sawthere was an absolute necessity for doing it, my first work was tofind out a proper piece of ground, where there was likely to beherbage for them to eat, water for them to drink, and cover to keepthem from the sun.Those who understand such enclosures will think I had very littlecontrivance when I pitched upon a place very proper for all these(being a plain, open piece of meadow land, or savannah, as ourpeople call it in the western colonies), which had two or threelittle 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 Ibegan by enclosing this piece of ground in such a manner that, myhedge or pale must have been at least two miles about. Nor was themadness of it so great as to the compass, for if it was ten milesabout, I was like to have time enough to do it in; but I did notconsider that my goats would be as wild in so much compass as ifthey had had the whole island, and I should have so much room tochase them in that I should never catch them.My hedge was begun and carried on, I believe, about fifty yardswhen this thought occurred to me; so I presently stopped short,and, for the beginning, I resolved to enclose a piece of about onehundred and fifty yards in length, and one hundred yards inbreadth, which, as it would maintain as many as I should have inany reasonable time, so, as my stock increased, I could add moreground to my enclosure.This was acting with some prudence, and I went to work withcourage. 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 ofit, and used them to feed as near me as possible, to make themfamiliar; and very often I would go and carry them some ears ofbarley, or a handful of rice, and feed them out of my hand; so thatafter my enclosure was finished and I let them loose, they wouldfollow 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 flockof about twelve goats, kids and all; and in two years more I hadthree-and-forty, besides several that I took and killed for myfood. After that, I enclosed five several pieces of ground to feedthem 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 feedon when I pleased, but milk too - a thing which, indeed, in thebeginning, I did not so much as think of, and which, when it cameinto my thoughts, was really an agreeable surprise, for now I setup 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 nevermilked a cow, much less a goat, or seen butter or cheese made onlywhen I was a boy, after a great many essays and miscarriages, madeboth butter and cheese at last, also salt (though I found it partlymade to my hand by the heat of the sun upon some of the rocks ofthe sea), and never wanted it afterwards. How mercifully can ourCreator treat His creatures, even in those conditions in which theyseemed to be overwhelmed in destruction! How can He sweeten thebitterest providences, and give us cause to praise Him for dungeonsand prisons! What a table was here spread for me in thewilderness, where I saw nothing at first but to perish for hunger!