第38章

While this Corn was growing，I made a little Discovery which was of use to me afterwards：As soon as the Rains were over，and the Weather began to settle，which was about the Month of November，I made a Visit up the Country to my Bower，where though I had not been some Months，yet I found all Things just as I left them. The Circle or double Hedge that I had made，was not only firm and entire；but the Stakes which I had cut out of some Trees that grew thereabouts，were all shot out and grown with long Branches，as much as a Willow-Tree usually shoots the first Year after lopping its Head. I could not tell what Tree to call it，that these Stakes were cut from. I was surpriz'd，and yet very well pleas'd，to see the young Trees grow；and I prun'd them，and led them up to grow as much alike as I could；and it is scarce credible how beautiful a Figure they grew into in three Years；so that though the Hedge made a Circle of about twenty five Yards in Diameter，yet the Trees，for such I might now call them，soon cover'd it；and it was a compleat Shade，sufficient to lodge under all the dry Season.

This made me resolve to cut some more Stakes，and make me a Hedge like this in a Semicircle round my Wall；I mean that of my first Dwelling，which I did；and placing the Trees or Stakes in a double Row，at about eight Yards distance from my first Fence，they grew presently，and were at first a fine Cover to my Habitation，and afterward serv'd for a Defence also，as I shall observe in its Order.

I found now，That the Seasons of the Year might generally be divided，not into Summer and Winter，as in Europe；but into the Rainy Seasons，and the Dry Seasons，which were generally thus，

Half February，March，Half April，

Rainy，the Sun being then on，or near the Equinox.

Half April，May，June，July，Half August，

Dry，the Sun being then to the North of the Line.

Half August，September，Half October，

Rainy，the Sun being then come back.

Half October，November，December，January，Half February，

Dry，the Sun being then to the South of the Line.

The Rainy Season sometimes held longer or shorter，as the Winds happen'd to blow；but this was the general Observation I made：After I had found by Experience，the ill Consequence of being abroad in the Rain. I took Care to furnish my self with Provisions before hand，that I might not be oblig'd to go out；and I sat within Doors as much as possible during the wet Months.

This Time I found much Employment，（and very suitable also to the Time） for I found great Occasion of many Things which I had no way to furnish my self with，but by hard Labour and constant Application；particularly，I try'd many Ways to make my self a Basket，but all the Twigs I could get for the Purpose prov'd so brittle，that they would do nothing. It prov'd of excellent Advantage to me now，That when I was a Boy，I used to take great Delight in standing at a Basketmaker's，in the Town where my Father liv'd，to see them make their Wicker-ware；and being as Boys usually are，very officious to help，and a great Observer of the Manner how they work'd those Things，and sometimes lending a Hand，I had by this Means full Knowledge of the Methods of it，that I wanted nothing but the Materials；when it came into my Mind，That the Twigs of that Tree from whence I cut my Stakes that grew，might possibly be as tough as the Sallow's，and Willows，and Osiers in England，and I resolv'd to try.

Accordingly the next Day，I went to my Country-House，as I call'd it，and cutting some of the smaller Twigs，I found them to my Purpose as much as I could desire；whereupon I came the next Time prepar'd with a Hatchet to cut down a Quantity，which I soon found，for there was great Plenty of them；these I set up to dry within my Circle or Hedge，and when they were fit for Use，I carry'd them to my Cave，and here during the next Season，I employ'd my self in making，as well as I could，a great many Baskets，both to carry Earth，or to carry or lay up any Thing as I had occasion；and tho' I did not finish them very handsomly，yet I made them sufficiently serviceable for my Purpose；and thus afterwards I took Care never to be without them；and as my Wicker-ware decay'd，I made more，especially，I made strong deep Baskets to place my Corn in，instead of Sacks，when I should come to have any Quantity of it.

Having master'd this Difficulty，and employ'd a World of Time about it，I bestirr'd my self to see if possible how to supply two Wants：I had no Vessels to hold any Thing that was Liquid，except two Runlets which were almost full of Rum，and some Glass-Bottles，some of the common Size，and others which were Case-Bottles square，for the holding of Waters，Spirits，etc. I had not so much as a Pot to boil any Thing，except a great Kettle，which I sav'd out of the Ship，and which was too big for such Use as I desir'd it，viz. To make Broth，and stew a Bit of Meat by it self. The Second Thing I would fain have had，was a Tobacco-Pipe；but it was impossible to me to make one，however，I found a Contrivance for that too at last.

I employ'd my self in Planting my Second Rows of Stakes or Piles and in this Wicker working all the Summer，or dry Season，when another Business took me up more Time than it could be imagin'd I could spare.

I mention'd before，That I had a great Mind to see the whole Island，and that I had travell'd up the Brook，and so on to where I built my Bower，and where I had an Opening quite to the Sea on the other Side of the Island；I now resolv'd to travel quite Cross to the Sea-Shore on that Side；so taking my Gun，a Hatchet，and my Dog，and a larger Quantity of Powder and Shot than usual，with two Bisket Cakes，and a great Bunch of Raisins in my Pouch for my Store，I began my Journey；when I had pass'd the Vale where my Bower stood as above，I came within View of the Sea，to the West，and it being a very clear Day，I fairly descry'd Land，whether an Island or a Continent，I could not tell；but it lay very high，extending from the West，to the W. S. W. at a very great Distance；by my Guess it could not be less than Fifteen or Twenty Leagues off.