American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1827-09-14
ROBINSON CRjEssjr,.


II was in Dampier's last soyage that he fiscov<
cred Alexander Sekrk (the olginal R1bipson,
Crusoe OF De Foe) on the isie Of jaan Fernandez.
This individual was born at Large. 10 the county
of Fife. Scotland, and previous 10 ms remairina
on the Island, had been mastel Of the Cnnne Partss
under Captain Stradling. sie was CONSIDERED the
most able and intrepid seaman ainnns the t;ece
hooters. The occasion Of hi, htin. ett ash,rc
was, a quarrel with his Captain, and the shattered
state of the vessel. After a few days, hoy c'vr,
he was DESTROYS OF returning, but Strad'ng trins
ed to take him on board. Thus left alone antt
desolate, he sat night after night. and nay after
day. watching the periodical return Of the BIC
cancers sometimes with siimmerlns hope. aug
more frequently abandoning himself 2 tn ,}n1
| of despair, and never satisfying the rawlings
Of nature till compelled by extreme hunser: ous
man is the creature of habit. Sekltk, after sesea
or eight months, became accustomed u TIE sohale,
and shook oft his melancholy. lie omit hl'nset{
two huts of pimenta trees. matched with grass anR
covered with goats skins. These were stn-e1
with all the wealth he possessed, VIZ: his eotacss
bedding. musket, son.e powder and ball, Kettle
and knife, several books among which the
bible, and his nautical instruments In bis larger
hut he lived and slept; frequently employing him
self in reading and prayer, and occasionally Civ
ling vent to the funess OF his heart BY singing
plains, SO that lie afterwards observed. that he
was better Christian during his snlitarY reteeat
from the world. than he had ever been beurs. Or
The feared should ever be again. The sm.'r hue
was reserved fer cooking and other plrposr4.-.
Among his amusements, to while away tie deary
hours, was cutting Ills on trees. with the
date of his landing, and the duration Of hi. con-
fncment; looking forward to the time Mhet it
might possibly meet the eve OF . cnnntryman,
perhaps afterh his remains had mouldcrel into dust.
He was at first much annoyed By cats and rats,
(which had from time to time away from the
.I:.. ii, "A ,aI 81 i.anI and hpcn
very numerous. The rats gnawed his iect aa'i
CLOTHES. while he was sleeping; but the cats be-
came domestcated. and soon delivered him from,
the more destructive yermn. lie had also tanned
some young kids, and taught them a number of
tricks for his diversion. frequently singing and
dancing with them and his cats. Ills principal
food was goats hesh. and cray fish, dressed ID
rious WAYS, according TO his taste When his
powder failed, he hunted the goats down By speed
of foot; for his simple mode Of living, with the
continual exercise OF running, had rendered him
'amazil,gly swift in passing through woods, and
agile in climbing the bills and rocks. On one &C
casion. however, while pursuing the animal with
great eagerness, he caught his game on the brink
Of a steep precpice, concealed from his view by
TANGLED bushes so that he fell from the height. and
was 50 much injured as to lay, as he supposed. ior
"a hours without sense or motion. TN fevlvltg,
he found the goat lying dead beneath him. THIS
accident confined him nearly fortnight to his
HUT He had kept regular account 81 ne Enoi-
her of goats he had killed, which amounted y sG3
he had caught many more marked them IN tie
err. and then restored them to liberty. The in
siniduess Of his meals without bread and salt Was
ii first great Inconvenience. but Damplcrr having.
lin former voyage, sowed some turnips. they now
|produce, very abundartly, spreading over several
acres Of ground he had also plentiful snprv q
cabbage. from the cabbage palm; and these being
we'll seasoned, with the fruit OF the pinento, soon,
rave relish to his food. His clothes and shoes
We're speedily worn out. Toremeiy the first effect,
he made coat and cap Of goat skns, and shirts
from linen he had with him. using Il nail BY way Of
Ia needle. and the rayelngs Of worsted stocking
for thread but he was compelled 10 60 with bare
feet and the sulcs got, in time, 50 hard IS =" ena.
Die him to ascend the sharp rocks without material
Inconvenience. During his confinement, he had
seen several ships pass tue island; eat only NO.
nh,.h were Standards, came to an anchor but he
,mr,eucd The risk Of diving unhceded aud alanes
to ssrrenaesing bpse.f is.so tlisir powers drsaF.