stalk. Several other plants I likewise found, the virtues of which I did not understand. I searched a long time for the Cassava root, which I knew the Indians in that climate made their bread of; but all in vain. There were several plants of aloes, though at that time I knew not what they were: likewise I saw several sugarcanes, but imperfect for want of cultivation. With these few discoveries, I came back that night, and slept contentedly in my little castle.

The next day, being the 16th, going the same way, but farther than the day before, I found the country fore adorned with woods and trees. Here I perceived different fruits in great abundance. Melons in plenty lay on the ground, and clusters of grapes, ripe and very rich spread over the trees. You may imagine I was glad of this discovery, yet ate very sparingly, lest I should throw myself into a flux or fever. The grapes I found of excellent use; for when I dried thein in the sun, w which preserved them as dried raisins are kept, they proved very holesome and nourishing, and served me in those seasons when no grapes were to be had.

The night drawing on apace, I ascended a tree, and slept very comfortably, though it was the first time I had slept out of my habitation. And when the morning came. I proceeded with great pleasure on my way, travelling about four miles, as I imagined, by the length of the valJey. At the end of this valley, I came to an opening, where the country seemed to descend

to the west; there I found a spring of fresh water, proceeding out of the side of the hill, with its crystal streams running directly east.And indeed here my senses were charmed with the most beautiful landscane nature could afford; for the country appeared so flourishing, green and delightful, that to me it seemed like a planted garden. I then descended on the side of that delicious vale, when I found abundance of cocoa, orange, lemon, and citron trees, but very wild and barren at that tire. As for the limes, they were delightful and wholesome,

juice of which I afterwards used to mix in water, which made it very cool and refreshing. And now I was resolved to carry home and lay up a store of grapes, limes and lemons, against the approaching wet season. So laying them up in separate parcels, and then taking a few of each with me, I returned to my little castle, after having spent three days in this journey. Before I got home, the grapes were so bruised that they were utterly spoiled: the limes indeed were good, but of those I could bring only a few.

July 19. Having prepared two bags, I return ed thither again, but to my great surprise, found all the grapes spread about, trodden to pieces, and abundance eaten, which made me conclude there were wild beasts thereabouts. To prevent this happening again, I gathered a large quantity of the grapes, and hung them upon the out branches of the tree, both to keep them

unhurt, and that they might cure and dry in the sun and having well loaded myself with limes and lemons, I returned once more to my old place of residence.

And now, reflecting on the fruitfulness of this valley, the pleasantness of its situation, its security from storms, and the delightfulness of the adjacent woods, I concluded I was settled in the worst part of the country, and therefore was thinking to remove my habitation.

But when I considered again, that though it was pleasant, it was off from the sea-side, where there was a possibility, some time or other ship might either be driven or sail by: and that to inclose myself among hills and woods must certainly put an end to my hopes of deliverance; I resolved to let my castle remain where Providence had first placed it. Yet, so delighted was I with this place, that I made me a little kind of bower, surrounding it, with a double hedge as high as I could reach, well staked and filled with bulrushes: and having spent a great part of the month of July, I think it was the 1st of August. before I began to enjoy my labour.

Aug. 3. Perceiving my grapes to be dry, I took them from the trees, and they proved excellent good raisins of the sun; the most of which I carried to my cave; and happy for me I did so, by which I saved the best part of my winter food.

Aug. 14. This day it began to rain; and though I had made me a tent like the other, yet having no shelter of a hill to keep me from

storms, nor a cave behind me to retreat to, I was obliged to return to my old castle; the rain continued more or less every day, till the middle of October, and sometimes so violently that I could not stir out of my cave for several days. This season I found my family to increase; for one of my cats that had run away from me, and which I thought had been dead, returned about August, with three kittens at her heels, like herself; from these cats proceeded such numbers, that I was forced to kill and destroy them as I would do wild beasts or vermin.

To the 26th of this month, I could not stir out, it rained incessantly: when beginning to want food, I was compelled to venture twice, the first of which times, I shot a goat, and afterwards found a very large tortoise. The manner of regulating my food was thus: & bunch of raisins served me for my breakfast: a piece of goat's flesh or turtle boiled for my dinner, and two or three turtle eggs for my supper. While the rain lasted, I daily worked two or three hours at enlarging my cave, and by degrees worked it on towards one side of the hill, and made a door way out, which came beyond my fence or wall, and so I came in and out this way. But after I had done this, I was troubled to see myself thus exposed; though I could not perceive anything to fear, a goat being the biggest creature I had seen upon this Island.

Sept. 30. Casting up the notches on my post, they amounted to 365, I concluded this to be the anniversary of my landing; and therefore humbly prostrating myself on the ground, confessing my sins, acknowledging God's righteous judgment upon me, and praying to him to have mercy upon me, through Jesus Christ, I fasted for twelve hours till the going down of the sun; and then eating a biscuit and a bunch of grapes, laid me on a bed, and with great comfort took my night's repose. Till this time, though I had always put a larger notch than ordinary for each sabbath day, to my shame, I confess it, I had seldom observed it in any other way. My ink failing soon after, I omitted in my daily memorandum, things of an indifferent nature, and contented myself to write down only the most remarkable events of my life.The rainy and dry seasons appeared now regular to me, and experience taught me how to provide for them: yet in one thing I am going to relate, my experience very much failed me. You may call to mind, what I have mentioned of some barley and rice which I had saved; about thirty stalks of the former, and twenty of the latter; and, at that time, the sun being in its southern position, going from me, toge ther with the rains, made me conclude it a very proper season to sow it. Accordingly I dug up a piece of ground, with my wooden spade, and dividing it into two parts, sowed about two thirds of my seeds, preserving by me a handful of each.

And happy it was I did so; for no