The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-12-01

In the November installment of his
Century articles on his ''single-hand-
ed" voyage around the world in his
sloop the Spray, Capt. Joshua Slocum
describes a visit to the Island where
Alexander Selkirk passed five solitary
years-an island which several times,
of late years, has been reported 40
sunk.
The Spray being secured, the island
ers returned to the coffee and dough-
nuts, and l was more than flattered
when they did not slight my buns, as
| the professor had done in the strait of
Magellan. Between buns and dough-
nuts there was little difference except
in nome. Both had been fried in
sallow, which was the strong point in
both, for there was nothing ON the is,
land fatter than a goat, and a goat is
but lean beast, to make the best of
| it. So with view to business hook
| ed my steelyards to the boom at once,
i ready to weigh out tallow, there being
do SO p and before the sun went down
the islanders had learned the art of
| making buns and doughnuts. I did
not charge high price for what l
sold, but the ancient and curious coins
got in payment, some of them from
the wreck of a galleon sunk in the bay
no one knows when, l sold afterward
to anti-quarians for more than face
value. In this way made a reason
able profit. l brought away money of
all denominations from the island, and
nearly all there was, SO far as / could
find out.
Juan Fernandez, as a place of call,
is lovely spot. The hills are we'll
wooded, the valleys fertile, and pour
ing down through many ravines are
streams of pure water. There are no
serpents on the islands, and no wild
beasts other than pigs and goats, Of
which / saw a number, with possibly
dog or two. The people lived with
out the use of rum or beer of any sort.
There was not a police officer or a
lawyer among them. The domestic
economy of the island was simplicity
itself. The fashions of Paris did not
affect the inhabitants; each dressed
according 70 his own taste. Although
there was no doctor, the people were
all healthy, and the children were all
beautiful. There were about forty
five souls on the island all told. The
adults were mostly from the mainland
of South America. One lady there,
from Chile, who made flying jib for
the Spray, taking her pay in tallow,
would be called belle at Newport.
Blessed island of Juan Fernandez
Why Alexander Selkirk ever left you
was more than could make out.
A large ship which had arrived some
time before, on fire, had been stranded |
at the head of the bay, and as the sea
smashed her to pieces on the rocks,
after the fire was drowned, the island |
ers picked up the timbers and utilized |
them in the construction of houses,
which naturally present ship-like |
appearance. The house of the king of |
Juan Fernandez, Manuel Carroza by |
name, besides resembling the ark,
wore a polished brass knocker on its |
only door, which was painted green. |
In front of this gorgeous entrance was |
a flag-mast all ataunto, and near 1t a |
smart whale-boat painted red and |
blue, the delight of tie kings old age.
l of course made pilgrimage to the |
old lookout place at the top of the |
mountain, where Selkirk spent many |
days peering into the distance for the |
ship which came at last. The
cave in which Selkirk dwelt while on |
the island is at the head of the bay,
now called Robinson Crusoe Bay. 1t |
is around q bold headland west of the |
present anchorage there, butt it affords |
a very Indifferent berth. Juan |
Fernandez was once convict station. |
A number of caves in which the prison |
ers were kept, damp, unwholesome |
dens, are no longer in use, and no more |
prisoners are sent to the island.